Deck001

Question 1

extol ​

verb
BrE /ɪkˈstəʊl/
NAmE /ɪkˈstoʊl/
formal

Answer 1

to praise somebody/​something very much
 extol somebody/​something Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat.
 extol somebody/​something as something She was extolled as a genius.

Question 2

elu·ci·date ​

```
verb
BrE /iˈluːsɪdeɪt/
NAmE /iˈluːsɪdeɪt/
[transitive, intransitive]
formal
~~~

Answer 2

to make something clearer by explaining it more fully
➔ SYNONYM ​explain
 elucidate (something) He elucidated a point of grammar.
 The aim of the report is to elucidate the main points of the new regulations.
 Let me elucidate.
 elucidate what, how, etc… I will try to elucidate what I think the problems are.

Question 3

du·bi·ous ​

adjective
BrE /ˈdjuːbiəs/
NAmE /ˈduːbiəs/

Answer 3

1 [not usually before noun] dubious (about something)/​(about doing something) (of a person) not certain and slightly suspicious about something; not knowing whether something is good or bad
➔ SYNONYM ​doubtful
 I was rather dubious about the whole idea.
2 (disapproving) probably not honest
➔ SYNONYM ​suspicious
 They indulged in some highly dubious business practices to obtain their current position in the market.
3 that you cannot be sure about; that is probably not good
 They consider the plan to be of dubious benefit to most families.
 (ironic) She had the dubious honour of being the last woman to be hanged in England (= it was not an honour at all).

Question 4

ca·pri·cious ​

adjective
BrE /kəˈprɪʃəs/
NAmE /kəˈprɪʃəs/
formal

Answer 4

1 showing sudden changes in attitude or behaviour
➔ SYNONYM ​unpredictable
 a movie star who was capricious and difficult to please
2 changing suddenly and quickly
➔ SYNONYM ​changeable
 a capricious climate
 They had to contend with capricious economic forces.

Question 5

cand·our ​

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noun
especially US English can·dor
BrE /ˈkændə(r)/
NAmE /ˈkændər/
[uncountable]
~~~

Answer 5

the quality of saying what you think openly and honestly
➔ SYNONYM ​frankness
 ‘I donʼt trust him,ʼ he said in a rare moment of candour.
➔ SEE ALSO ​candid

Question 6

com·pla·cent ​

adjective
BrE /kəmˈpleɪsnt/
NAmE /kəmˈpleɪsnt/

Answer 6

complacent (about somebody/​something) (usually disapproving) too satisfied with yourself or with a situation, so that you do not feel that any change is necessary; showing or feeling complacency
 a dangerously complacent attitude to the increase in unemployment
 We must not become complacent about progress.

Question 7

en·gen·der ​

verb
BrE /ɪnˈdʒendə(r)/
NAmE /ɪnˈdʒendər/

Answer 7

engender something (formal) to make a feeling or situation exist
 The issue engendered controversy. 
 problems engendered by the restructuring of the company
 The place engendered immediate feelings of friendship and belonging.

Question 8

evan·es·cent ​

adjective
BrE /ˌiːvəˈnesnt/
NAmE usually /ˌevəˈnesnt/ , /ˌiːvəˈnesnt/
literary

Answer 8

disappearing quickly from sight or memory

 Talk is evanescent, writing leaves footprints.

Question 9

adu·la·tion ​

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noun
BrE /ˌædjuˈleɪʃn/
NAmE /ˌædʒəˈleɪʃn/
[uncountable]
formal
~~~

Answer 9

admiration and praise, especially when this is greater than is necessary
 The band enjoy the adulation of their fans wherever they go.

Question 10

fla·grant ​

adjective
BrE /ˈfleɪɡrənt/
NAmE /ˈfleɪɡrənt/

Answer 10

(of an action) shocking because it is done in a very obvious way and shows no respect for people, laws, etc.
➔ SYNONYM ​blatant
 a flagrant abuse of human rights
 a flagrant breach of copyright
 He showed a flagrant disregard for anyone elseʼs feelings.

Question 11

con·trite ​

adjective
BrE /kənˈtraɪt/ , also /ˈkɒntraɪt/
NAmE /kənˈtraɪt/
formal

Answer 11

very sorry for something bad that you have done
 Her expression was contrite.
 He looked so contrite that for a moment she nearly believed he really was sorry about what he had said.

Question 12

pro·sa·ic ​

adjective
BrE /prəˈzeɪɪk/
NAmE /prəˈzeɪɪk/
usually disapproving

Answer 12

1 ordinary and not showing any imagination
➔ SYNONYM ​unimaginative
 a prosaic style
2 dull; not romantic
➔ SYNONYM ​mundane
 the prosaic side of life

Question 13

sur·rep·ti·tious ​

adjective
BrE /ˌsʌrəpˈtɪʃəs/
NAmE /ˌsɜːrəpˈtɪʃəs/

Answer 13

done secretly or quickly, in the hope that other people will not notice
➔ SYNONYM ​furtive
 She sneaked a surreptitious glance at her watch.
 They were seen leaving the premises in a surreptitious manner.

Question 14

pau·city ​

noun
BrE /ˈpɔːsəti/
NAmE /ˈpɔːsəti/

Answer 14

[singular] paucity (of something) (formal) a small amount of something; less than enough of something
 a paucity of information

Question 15

ac·qui·esce ​

verb
BrE /ˌækwiˈes/
NAmE /ˌækwiˈes/

Answer 15

[intransitive] acquiesce (in/​to something) (formal) to accept something without arguing, even if you do not really agree with it
 Senior government figures must have acquiesced in the cover-up.
 She explained her plan and reluctantly he acquiesced.

Question 16

im·mut·able ​

adjective
BrE /ɪˈmjuːtəbl/
NAmE /ɪˈmjuːtəbl/
formal

Answer 16

that cannot be changed; that will never change
➔ SYNONYM ​unchangeable
 This decision should not be seen as immutable.

Question 17

as·suage ​

verb
BrE /əˈsweɪdʒ/
NAmE /əˈsweɪdʒ/

Answer 17

assuage something (formal) to make an unpleasant feeling less severe
 His reply did little to assuage my suspicions.
 to assuage your guilt/​fears

Question 18

dis·par·age ​

verb
BrE /dɪˈspærɪdʒ/
NAmE /dɪˈspærɪdʒ/

Answer 18

disparage somebody/​something (formal) to suggest that somebody/​something is not important or valuable
➔ SYNONYM ​belittle
 I donʼt mean to disparage your achievements

Question 19

ex·pe·di·ent ​

adjective
BrE /ɪkˈspiːdiənt/
NAmE /ɪkˈspiːdiənt/

Answer 19

[not usually before noun] (of an action) useful or necessary for a particular purpose, but not always fair or right
 The government has clearly decided that a cut in interest rates would be politically expedient.
 The government found it expedient to relax censorship a little.
➔ OPPOSITE ​inexpedient

Question 20

as·cet·ic ​

adjective
BrE /əˈsetɪk/
NAmE /əˈsetɪk/
[usually before noun]

Answer 20

not allowing yourself physical pleasures, especially for religious reasons; related to a simple and strict way of living
 The monks lived a very ascetic life.
 Living hidden away in the mountains suited his ascetic character.

Question 21

ameli·or·ate ​

verb
BrE /əˈmiːliəreɪt/
NAmE /əˈmiːliəreɪt/

Answer 21

ameliorate something (formal) to make something better
 Steps have been taken to ameliorate the situation.
 The new laws were designed to ameliorate the problem of chronic debt.
 The side-effects of the treatment can be ameliorated to some extent.

Question 22

be·nevo·lent ​

adjective
BrE /bəˈnevələnt/
NAmE /bəˈnevələnt/

Answer 22

1 (formal) (especially of people in authority) kind, helpful and generous
 a benevolent smile/​attitude
 belief in the existence of a benevolent god
 a benevolent dictatorship
➔ OPPOSITE ​malevolent
2 used in the names of some organizations that give help and money to people in need
 the RAF Benevolent Fund

Question 23

dele·teri·ous ​

adjective
BrE /ˌdeləˈtɪəriəs/
NAmE /ˌdeləˈtɪriəs/
formal

Answer 23

harmful and damaging

 the deleterious effect of stress on health

Question 24

fas·tidi·ous ​

adjective
BrE /fæˈstɪdiəs/
NAmE /fæˈstɪdiəs/

Answer 24

1 being careful that every detail of something is correct
➔ SYNONYM ​meticulous
 Everything was planned in fastidious detail.
 He was fastidious in his preparation for the big day.
2 (sometimes disapproving) not liking things to be dirty or untidy
 She wasnʼt very fastidious about personal hygiene.

Question 25

dog·mat·ic ​

adjective
BrE /dɒɡˈmætɪk/
NAmE /dɔːɡˈmætɪk/
disapproving

Answer 25

being certain that your beliefs are right and that others should accept them, without paying attention to evidence or other opinions
 a dogmatic approach
 There is a danger of becoming too dogmatic about teaching methods.
 He was strident and dogmatic in giving his opinions.