Deck004 Flashcards
ca·pitu·late
verb
BrE /kəˈpɪtʃuleɪt/
NAmE /kəˈpɪtʃuleɪt/
1 [intransitive] capitulate (to somebody/something) to agree to do something that you have been refusing to do for a long time
➔ SYNONYM give in (to somebody/something)
➔ SYNONYM yield
They were finally forced to capitulate to the terroristsʼ demands.
2 [intransitive] capitulate (to somebody/something) to stop resisting an enemy and accept that you are defeated
➔ SYNONYM surrender
The town capitulated after a three-week siege.
cap·acious
adjective
BrE /kəˈpeɪʃəs/
NAmE /kəˈpeɪʃəs/
formal
having a lot of space to put things in
➔ SYNONYM roomy
capacious pockets
cal·umny
```
noun
BrE /ˈkæləmni/
NAmE /ˈkæləmni/
pl. cal·umnies
(formal)
~~~
1 [countable] a false statement about a person that is made to damage their reputation
He accused the press of publishing vicious calumnies.
2 [uncountable] the act of making such a statement
➔ SYNONYM slander
a campaign of gossip and calumny
brusque
adjective
BrE /bruːsk/ , /brʊsk/
NAmE /brʌsk/
using very few words and sounding rude
➔ SYNONYM abrupt, curt
The doctor spoke in a brusque tone.
ar·ro·gate
verb
BrE /ˈærəɡeɪt/
NAmE /ˈærəɡeɪt/
arrogate something (to yourself) (formal) to claim or take something that you have no right to I do not arrogate to myself the right to decide.
ar·dour (especially US English ardor) noun BrE /ˈɑːdə(r)/ NAmE /ˈɑːrdər/ [uncountable] (formal)
very strong feelings of enthusiasm or love
➔ SYNONYM passion
His revolutionary ardour was an example to his followers.
romantic ardour
ap·pro·ba·tion
```
noun
BrE /ˌæprəˈbeɪʃn/
NAmE /ˌæprəˈbeɪʃn/
[uncountable]
formal
~~~
approval or agreement
a shout of approbation
The King received the official approbation of the church.
ante·di·lu·vian
adjective
BrE /ˌæntidɪˈluːviən/
NAmE /ˌæntidɪˈluːviən/
formal or humorous
very old-fashioned. Before the great flood.
criticism of Britainʼs antediluvian blasphemy law
anath·ema
```
noun
BrE /əˈnæθəmə/
NAmE /əˈnæθəmə/
[uncountable, countable, usually singular]
formal
~~~
a thing or an idea which you hate because it is the opposite of what you believe
Racial prejudice is (an) anathema to me.
allay
verb
BrE /əˈleɪ/
NAmE /əˈleɪ/
allay something (formal) to make something, especially a feeling, less strong to allay fears/concern/suspicion
alac·rity
```
noun
BrE /əˈlækrəti/
NAmE /əˈlækrəti/
[uncountable]
formal
~~~
great willingness or enthusiasm
They accepted the offer with alacrity.
acu·men
noun
BrE /ˈækjəmən/ , /əˈkjuːmən/
NAmE /ˈækjəmən/ , /əˈkjuːmən/
[uncountable]
the ability to understand and decide things quickly and well
business/commercial/financial acumen
He had demonstrated considerable business acumen.
She has great financial acumen.
ab·struse
adjective
BrE /əbˈstruːs/ , /æbˈstruːs/
NAmE /əbˈstruːs/ , /æbˈstruːs/
formal, often disapproving
difficult to understand
an abstruse argument
ab·ro·gate
verb
BrE /ˈæbrəɡeɪt/
NAmE /ˈæbrəɡeɪt/
abrogate something (specialist) to officially end a law, an agreement, etc.
➔ SYNONYM repeal
The rule has been abrogated by mutual consent.
ab·jure
verb
BrE /əbˈdʒʊə(r)/
NAmE /əbˈdʒʊr/
abjure something (formal) to promise publicly that you will give up or reject a belief or a way of behaving ➔ SYNONYM renounce
abet
verb
BrE /əˈbet/
NAmE /əˈbet/
abet somebody to help or encourage somebody to do something wrong
He was abetted in the deception by his wife.
Idioms
ˌaid and aˈbet
(law) to help somebody to do something illegal or wrong
She stands accused of aiding and abetting the crime.
He was charged with aiding and abetting the robbers.
abase
verb
BrE /əˈbeɪs/
NAmE /əˈbeɪs/
abase yourself (formal) to act in a way that shows that you accept somebodyʼs power over you
co·alesce
verb
BrE /ˌkəʊəˈles/
NAmE /ˌkoʊəˈles/
[intransitive] coalesce (into/with something) (formal) to come together to form one larger group, substance, etc.
➔ SYNONYM amalgamate
The puddles had coalesced into a small stream.
the markets have coalesced into a single global market.
gre·gari·ous
adjective
BrE /ɡrɪˈɡeəriəs/
NAmE /ɡrɪˈɡeriəs/
1 liking to be with other people ➔ SYNONYM sociable Sheʼs very outgoing and gregarious. Hugh was a popular and gregarious man. 2 (biology) (of animals or birds) living in groups
ef·front·ery
```
noun
BrE /ɪˈfrʌntəri/
NAmE /ɪˈfrʌntəri/
[uncountable]
formal
~~~
behaviour that is confident and very rude, without any feeling of shame
➔ SYNONYM nerve
He had the effrontery to accuse me of lying!
dila·tory
adjective
BrE /ˈdɪlətəri/
NAmE /ˈdɪlətɔːri/
dilatory (in doing something) (formal) not acting quickly enough; causing delay
The government has been dilatory in dealing with the problem of unemployment.
con·son·ant
adjective
BrE /ˈkɒnsənənt/
NAmE /ˈkɑːnsənənt/
consonant with something (formal) agreeing with or being the same as something else
con·flu·ence
noun
BrE /ˈkɒnfluəns/
NAmE /ˈkɑːnfluəns/
[usually singular]
1 (specialist) the place where two rivers flow together and become one
the confluence of the Blue Nile and the White Nile
2 (formal) the fact of two or more things becoming one
a confluence of social factors
ca·jole
verb
BrE /kəˈdʒəʊl/
NAmE /kəˈdʒoʊl/
[transitive, intransitive]
to make somebody do something by talking to them and being very nice to them
➔ SYNONYM coax
cajole somebody (into something/into doing something) He cajoled me into agreeing to do the work.
cajole something out of somebody I managed to cajole his address out of them.
(+ speech) ‘Please say yes,ʼ she cajoled.
Her voice was soft and cajoling.
co·agu·late
verb
BrE /kəʊˈæɡjuleɪt/
NAmE /koʊˈæɡjuleɪt/
[intransitive, transitive] coagulate (something) if a liquid coagulates or something coagulates it, it becomes thick and partly solid
➔ SYNONYM congeal
Blood began to coagulate around the edges of the wound.
