Deck001 Flashcards
extol
verb
BrE /ɪkˈstəʊl/
NAmE /ɪkˈstoʊl/
formal
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.
elu·ci·date
```
verb
BrE /iˈluːsɪdeɪt/
NAmE /iˈluːsɪdeɪt/
[transitive, intransitive]
formal
~~~
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.
du·bi·ous
adjective
BrE /ˈdjuːbiəs/
NAmE /ˈduːbiəs/
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).
ca·pri·cious
adjective
BrE /kəˈprɪʃəs/
NAmE /kəˈprɪʃəs/
formal
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.
cand·our
```
noun
especially US English can·dor
BrE /ˈkændə(r)/
NAmE /ˈkændər/
[uncountable]
~~~
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
com·pla·cent
adjective
BrE /kəmˈpleɪsnt/
NAmE /kəmˈpleɪsnt/
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.
en·gen·der
verb
BrE /ɪnˈdʒendə(r)/
NAmE /ɪnˈdʒendər/
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.
evan·es·cent
adjective
BrE /ˌiːvəˈnesnt/
NAmE usually /ˌevəˈnesnt/ , /ˌiːvəˈnesnt/
literary
disappearing quickly from sight or memory
Talk is evanescent, writing leaves footprints.
adu·la·tion
```
noun
BrE /ˌædjuˈleɪʃn/
NAmE /ˌædʒəˈleɪʃn/
[uncountable]
formal
~~~
admiration and praise, especially when this is greater than is necessary
The band enjoy the adulation of their fans wherever they go.
fla·grant
adjective
BrE /ˈfleɪɡrənt/
NAmE /ˈfleɪɡrənt/
(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.
con·trite
adjective
BrE /kənˈtraɪt/ , also /ˈkɒntraɪt/
NAmE /kənˈtraɪt/
formal
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.
pro·sa·ic
adjective
BrE /prəˈzeɪɪk/
NAmE /prəˈzeɪɪk/
usually disapproving
1 ordinary and not showing any imagination ➔ SYNONYM unimaginative a prosaic style 2 dull; not romantic ➔ SYNONYM mundane the prosaic side of life
sur·rep·ti·tious
adjective
BrE /ˌsʌrəpˈtɪʃəs/
NAmE /ˌsɜːrəpˈtɪʃəs/
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.
pau·city
noun
BrE /ˈpɔːsəti/
NAmE /ˈpɔːsəti/
[singular] paucity (of something) (formal) a small amount of something; less than enough of something
a paucity of information
ac·qui·esce
verb
BrE /ˌækwiˈes/
NAmE /ˌækwiˈes/
[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.
im·mut·able
adjective
BrE /ɪˈmjuːtəbl/
NAmE /ɪˈmjuːtəbl/
formal
that cannot be changed; that will never change
➔ SYNONYM unchangeable
This decision should not be seen as immutable.
as·suage
verb
BrE /əˈsweɪdʒ/
NAmE /əˈsweɪdʒ/
assuage something (formal) to make an unpleasant feeling less severe
His reply did little to assuage my suspicions.
to assuage your guilt/fears
dis·par·age
verb
BrE /dɪˈspærɪdʒ/
NAmE /dɪˈspærɪdʒ/
disparage somebody/something (formal) to suggest that somebody/something is not important or valuable
➔ SYNONYM belittle
I donʼt mean to disparage your achievements
ex·pe·di·ent
adjective
BrE /ɪkˈspiːdiənt/
NAmE /ɪkˈspiːdiənt/
[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
as·cet·ic
adjective
BrE /əˈsetɪk/
NAmE /əˈsetɪk/
[usually before noun]
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.
ameli·or·ate
verb
BrE /əˈmiːliəreɪt/
NAmE /əˈmiːliəreɪt/
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.
be·nevo·lent
adjective
BrE /bəˈnevələnt/
NAmE /bəˈnevələnt/
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
dele·teri·ous
adjective
BrE /ˌdeləˈtɪəriəs/
NAmE /ˌdeləˈtɪriəs/
formal
harmful and damaging
the deleterious effect of stress on health
fas·tidi·ous
adjective
BrE /fæˈstɪdiəs/
NAmE /fæˈstɪdiəs/
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.
dog·mat·ic
adjective
BrE /dɒɡˈmætɪk/
NAmE /dɔːɡˈmætɪk/
disapproving
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.
