Chp2

Question 1

Why entertain the prospect of failure?

Answer 1

Entertain:
To consider; contemplate: entertain an idea.
To hold in mind; harbor: entertained few illusions.

Question 2

mischievous

Answer 2

adj.

1. Causing mischief.
2. Playful in a naughty or teasing way.
3. Troublesome; irritating: a mischievous prank.
4. Causing harm, injury, or damage: mischievous rumors and falsehoods.

Question 3

cutup

Answer 3

n. Informal
A mischievous person; a prankster(n.
One who plays tricks or pranks.)

Question 4

Column

Answer 4

n.

列，栏

Question 5

Swell

Answer 5

v. intr.
To increase in size or volume as a result of internal pressure; expand.
To increase in force, size, number, or degree: Membership in the club swelled.
To grow in loudness or intensity: “The din in front swelled to a tremendous chorus” (Stephen Crane).
To bulge out, as a sail.
To rise or extend above the surrounding level, as clouds.
To rise in swells, as the sea.
To be or become filled or puffed up, as with pride, arrogance, or anger.
To rise from within: Rage swelled within me.

Question 6

subside

Answer 6

► verb [no obj.]
1. become less intense, violent, or severe: I’ll wait a few minutes until the storm subsides.
■ lapse into silence or inactivity: Fergus opened his mouth to protest again, then subsided.
■ (subside in/into) give way to (an overwhelming feeling, especially laughter): Anthony and Mark subsided into mirth.
2. (of water) go down to a lower or the normal level: the floods subside almost as quickly as they arise.
■ (of the ground) cave in; sink: the island is subsiding.
■ (of a building or other structure) sink lower into the ground: a ditch which caused the tower to subside slightly.
■ (of a swelling) reduce until gone: it took seven days for the swelling to subside completely.
■ [no obj., with adverbial] sink into a sitting, kneeling, or lying position: Patrick subsided into his seat.

Question 7

Aberrant

Answer 7

adj.
Deviating from what is considered proper or normal: aberrant behavior.
Deviating from what is typical for a specified thing: an aberrant form of a gene.

Question 8

Abet

Answer 8

► verb
(abets, abetting, abetted) [with obj.] encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular to commit a crime: he was not guilty of murder, but guilty of aiding and abetting others.
■ encourage or assist someone to commit (a crime): we are aiding and abetting this illegal traffic.

Question 9

Abeyance

Answer 9

► noun

[mass noun] a state of temporary disuse or suspension: matters were held in abeyance pending further enquiries.

Question 10

Abject

Answer 10

adj.
1. Extremely contemptible or degrading: abject cowardice.
See Synonyms at base 2.
2. Being of the most miserable kind; wretched:
abject poverty;
abject grief.
3. Thoroughgoing; complete. Used to modify pejorative nouns: an abject failure.
4. Extremely submissive or self-abasing: abject apologies.

Question 11

Repudiate

Answer 11

tr. v.
1. To reject the validity or authority of: “Chaucer … not only came to doubt the worth of his extraordinary body of work, but repudiated it” (Joyce Carol Oates).
2. To reject emphatically (forceful) as unfounded, untrue, or unjust: repudiated the accusation.
3. To refuse to recognize or pay: repudiate a debt.
4. To disown (a child, for example).
5. To refuse to have any dealings with.

Question 12

abnegate

Answer 12

tr.v.
ab‧ne‧gat‧ed, ab‧ne‧gat‧ing, ab‧ne‧gates
1. To give up (rights or a claim, for example); renounce.
2. To deny (something) to oneself: The minister abnegated the luxuries of life. Similar to abstain

Question 13

Abnegation

Answer 13

Self-denial. Self-sacrifice

Question 14

Abstemious

Answer 14

adj.
Eating and drinking in moderation.
Characterized by abstinence or moderation: an abstemious way of life.

Question 15

Abut

Answer 15

V. Border upon; adjoin. Where our estate abuts, we must build a fence.

Question 16

Abysmal

Answer 16

Adj. bottomless. His arrogance is only exceeded by his abysmal ignorance.

Question 17

Accede to

Answer 17

Agree to/ agree on

Question 18

Accolade

Answer 18

N. Award of merit. In Hollywood, an “Oscar” is the highest accolade

Question 19

Acerbic/acerbity

Answer 19

Bitterness of speech and temper, especially sharp and forthright
His acerbic wit.

Question 20

Acetic

Answer 20

adj.ə‑si′tĭk
Of, relating to, or containing acetic acid or vinegar.(醋)
Vinegary

Question 21

Acidulous

Answer 21

sharp-tasting; sour.
■ (of a person’s remarks or tone) bitter; cutting.
James was unpopular because of his sarcastic and acidulous remarks.

Question 22

accoutre

Answer 22

Or accouter /ə‑ko͞otər/

V. Equip. The fisherman was accoutred with the best that the sporting store could supply. Accoutrement

Question 23

Acquiesce

Answer 23

intr.v. /ăk′wē‑ĕs′/
ac‧qui‧esced, ac‧qui‧esc‧ing, ac‧qui‧esc‧es
To consent or comply passively or without protest: “The newest protocols require that the subjects of research … acquiesce to the ultimate objectives” (Steve Olson). “Socrates acquiesced in his own execution” (William H. Gass).
See Synonyms at assent.
Acquiesce to one’s suggestions

Acquiescence / acquiescent

Question 24

Acme

Answer 24

N. top; pinnacle. His success in this role marked the acme of his career as an actor.

Question 25

Acquittal

Answer 25

N. deliverance from a charge. V. Acquit.

His acquittal by the jury surprised those who had thought him guilty.

Question 26

Acrid

Answer 26

Adj. sharp;bitterly pungent. The acrid odor of burnt gunpowder filled the room after the pistol had been fired.
adj.
1. Unpleasantly sharp, pungent, or bitter to the taste or smell.
See Synonyms at bitter.
2. Caustic in language or tone: an acrid political campaign.

Question 27

Acrimonious

Answer 27

adj.

Bitter and sharp in language or tone; rancorous: an acrimonious debate between the two candidates.

Question 28

都有harsh, bitter, sharp意思的 词汇，也可以指讽刺言语

Answer 28

acerbic
Acetic
Acidulous
Acrimonious
Acrid-sharp

Question 29

Acrophobia

Answer 29

n.

An abnormal fear of high places.

Question 30

Actuate

Answer 30

Motivate.

I fail to understand what actuate you to reply to this letter so nastily.