Deck006 Flashcards
gul·lible
adjective
BrE /ˈɡʌləbl/
NAmE /ˈɡʌləbl/
too willing to believe or accept what other people tell you and therefore easily tricked
➔ SYNONYM naive
The advertisement is aimed at gullible young women worried about their weight.
ab·scond
verb
BrE /əbˈskɒnd/
NAmE /əbˈskɑːnd/
1 [intransitive] abscond (from something) to escape from a place that you are not allowed to leave without permission
She absconded from every childrenʼs home they placed her in.
2 [intransitive] abscond (with something) to leave secretly and take with you something, especially money, that does not belong to you
He absconded with the company funds.
pro·mul·gate
verb
BrE /ˈprɒmlɡeɪt/
NAmE /ˈprɑːmlɡeɪt/
formal
1 [usually passive] promulgate something to spread an idea, a belief, etc. among many people
2 promulgate something to announce a new law or system officially or publicly
The new constitution was promulgated in 2006
icono·clast
noun
BrE /aɪˈkɒnəklæst/
NAmE /aɪˈkɑːnəklæst/
formal
a person who criticizes popular beliefs or established customs and ideas
mun·dane
adjective
BrE /mʌnˈdeɪn/
NAmE /mʌnˈdeɪn/
often disapproving
not interesting or exciting ➔ SYNONYM dull, ordinary a mundane task/job I lead a pretty mundane existence. On a more mundane level, can we talk about the timetable for next week?
ener·vate
verb
BrE /ˈenəveɪt/
NAmE /ˈenərveɪt/
enervate somebody (formal) to make somebody feel weak and tired an enervating disease/climate
ef·fi·ca·cious
adjective
BrE /ˌefɪˈkeɪʃəs/
NAmE /ˌefɪˈkeɪʃəs/
formal
(of things, not of people) producing the result that was wanted or intended
➔ SYNONYM effective
They hope the new drug will prove especially efficacious in the relief of pain.
acri·mony
```
noun
BrE /ˈækrɪməni/
NAmE /ˈækrɪmoʊni/
[uncountable]
formal
~~~
angry bitter feelings or words
The dispute was settled without acrimony.
ab·er·ra·tion
```
noun
BrE /ˌæbəˈreɪʃn/
NAmE /ˌæbəˈreɪʃn/
[countable, uncountable]
formal
~~~
a fact, an action or a way of behaving that is not usual, and that may be unacceptable
a temporary aberration of his exhausted mind
A childless woman was regarded as an aberration, almost a social outcast.
im·pas·sive
adjective
BrE /ɪmˈpæsɪv/
NAmE /ɪmˈpæsɪv/
not showing any feeling or emotion
➔ SYNONYM emotionless
her impassive expression/face
The two men remained impassive throughout the trial.
ig·no·mini·ous
adjective
BrE /ˌɪɡnəˈmɪniəs/
NAmE /ˌɪɡnəˈmɪniəs/
formal
that makes, or should make, you feel ashamed
➔ SYNONYM disgraceful, humiliating
an ignominious defeat
He made one mistake and his career came to an ignominious end.
har·angue
verb
BrE /həˈræŋ/
NAmE /həˈræŋ/
harangue somebody to speak loudly and angrily in a way that criticizes somebody/something or tries to persuade people to do something
He walked to the front of the stage and began to harangue the audience.
gar·rul·ous
adjective
BrE /ˈɡærələs/ , also /ˈɡærjʊləs/
NAmE /ˈɡærələs/
talking a lot, especially about unimportant things
➔ SYNONYM talkative
He became positively garrulous after a few glasses of wine.
a garrulous old woman
another garrulous fool
ful·some
adjective
BrE /ˈfʊlsəm/
NAmE /ˈfʊlsəm/
disapproving
too generous in praising or thanking somebody, or in saying sorry, so that you do not sound sincere
a fulsome apology
He was fulsome in his praise of the Prime Minister.
for·bear·ance
```
noun
BrE /fɔːˈbeərəns/
NAmE /fɔːrˈberəns/
[uncountable]
formal
~~~
the quality of being patient and sympathetic towards other people, especially when they have done something wrong
The mortgage company had acted with forbearance, only taking them to court as a last resort.
We are very grateful for the cooperation and forbearance of all the staff.
fatu·ous
adjective
BrE /ˈfætʃuəs/
NAmE /ˈfætʃuəs/
formal
stupid
a fatuous comment/grin
Their arguments are completely fatuous.
fa·cile
adjective
BrE /ˈfæsaɪl/
NAmE /ˈfæsl/
disapproving
1 produced without effort or careful thought
➔ SYNONYM glib
a facile remark/generalization
It seems too facile to blame everything on his mishandling of the crisis.
2 [only before noun] (formal) obtained too easily and having little value
a facile victory
ex·on·er·ate
verb
BrE /ɪɡˈzɒnəreɪt/
NAmE /ɪɡˈzɑːnəreɪt/
exonerate somebody (from something) (formal) to officially state that somebody is not responsible for something that they have been blamed for
The police report exonerated Lewis from all charges of corruption.
The president cannot be exonerated from responsibility for this problem.
The report exonerates the president of any knowledge of the arms deal.
exi·gency
noun BrE /ˈeksɪdʒənsi/ , /ɪɡˈzɪdʒənsi/ NAmE /ˈeksɪdʒənsi/ , /ɪɡˈzɪdʒənsi/ [countable, usually plural, uncountable] (pl. exi·gencies) (formal)
an urgent need or demand that you must deal with
➔ SYNONYM demand
the exigencies of war
financial exigencies
The political exigencies facing both leaders mean they must resume talks if violence is to be avoided.
exe·crable
adjective
BrE /ˈeksɪkrəbl/
NAmE /ˈeksɪkrəbl/
formal
very bad
➔ SYNONYM terrible
execrable poetry
evince
verb
BrE /ɪˈvɪns/
NAmE /ɪˈvɪns/
evince something (formal) to show clearly that you have a feeling or quality He evinced a strong desire to be reconciled with his family. She evinced little enthusiasm for the outdoor life.
es·chew
verb
BrE /ɪsˈtʃuː/
NAmE /ɪsˈtʃuː/
eschew something (formal) to deliberately avoid or keep away from something He had eschewed politics in favour of a life practising law.
eru·dite
adjective
BrE /ˈerudaɪt/
NAmE /ˈerudaɪt/
formal
having or showing great knowledge that is gained from academic study
➔ SYNONYM learned
She could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion.
She was a well-respected and erudite scholar.
The professor was entertaining as well as erudite.
equa·nim·ity
```
noun
BrE /ˌekwəˈnɪməti/
NAmE /ˌekwəˈnɪməti/
[uncountable]
formal
~~~
a calm state of mind which means that you do not become angry or upset, especially in difficult situations
She accepted the prospect of her operation with equanimity.
