Deck016 Flashcards
con·nive
verb
BrE /kəˈnaɪv/
NAmE /kəˈnaɪv/
formal, disapproving
1 [intransitive] connive at/in something to seem to allow something wrong to happen
She knew that if she said nothing she would be conniving in an injustice.
2 [intransitive] connive (with somebody) (to do something) to work together with somebody to do something wrong or illegal
➔ SYNONYM conspire
The government was accused of having connived with the security forces to permit murder.
▼︎ Word Origin
early 17th cent.: from French conniver or Latin connivere ‘shut the eyes (to)ʼ, from con- ‘togetherʼ + an unrecorded word related to nictare ‘to winkʼ.
beget
verb
BrE /bɪˈɡet/
NAmE /bɪˈɡet/
In sense 1 begat BrE /bɪˈɡæt/ ; NAmE /bɪˈɡæt/ ;is used for the past tense, and be·got·ten BrE /bɪˈɡɒtn/ ; NAmE /bɪˈɡɑːtn/ is used for the past participle.
1 (old use, for example in the Bible) beget somebody to become the father of a child
Isaac begat Jacob.
2 beget something (formal or old-fashioned) to make something happen
Violence begets violence.
▼︎ Word Origin
Old English begietan ‘get, obtain by effortʼ (see be-, get).
for·mid·able
adjective
BrE /ˈfɔːmɪdəbl/ , /fəˈmɪdəbl/
NAmE /ˈfɔːrmɪdəbl/ , /fərˈmɪdəbl/
if people, things or situations are formidable, you feel fear and/or respect for them, because they are impressive or powerful, or because they seem very difficult
In debate he was a formidable opponent.
Somehow the small but formidable woman fought her way through the crowd to reach her son.
She has a formidable list of qualifications.
The two players together make a formidable combination.
The task was a formidable one.
They had to overcome formidable obstacles.
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English: from French, or from Latin formidabilis, from formidare ‘to fearʼ.
en·join
verb
BrE /ɪnˈdʒɔɪn/
NAmE /ɪnˈdʒɔɪn/
1 [often passive] enjoin somebody to do something | enjoin something (formal) to order or strongly advise somebody to do something; to say that a particular action or quality is necessary 2 enjoin somebody from doing something (law) to legally prevent somebody from doing something, for example with an injunction ▼︎ Word Origin Middle English (formerly also as injoin): from Old French enjoindre, from Latin injungere ‘join, attach, imposeʼ, from in- ‘in, towardsʼ + jungere ‘to joinʼ.
cede
verb
BrE /siːd/
NAmE /siːd/
cede something (to somebody) (formal) to give somebody control of something or give them power, a right, etc., especially unwillingly
Cuba was ceded by Spain to the US in 1898.
➔ SEE ALSO cession
▼︎ Word Origin
early 16th cent.: from French céder or Latin cedere ‘to yieldʼ.
chol·er·ic
adjective
BrE /ˈkɒlərɪk/
NAmE /ˈkɑːlərɪk/
formal
easily made angry
➔ SYNONYM bad-tempered
He was a choleric, self-important little man.
▼︎ Word Origin
Middle English (in the sense ‘biliousʼ): from Old French cholerique, via Latin from Greek kholerikos, from kholera ‘diarrhoeaʼ, which in late Latin acquired the senses ‘bile or angerʼ, from Greek kholē ‘bileʼ.
de·plore
verb
BrE /dɪˈplɔː(r)/
NAmE /dɪˈplɔːr/
deplore something (formal) to strongly disapprove of something and criticize it, especially publicly
Like everyone else, I deplore and condemn this killing.
He deplored the fact that these criminals were treated by many as heroes and martyrs.
The leadership issued a statement deploring the action of some members.
We deplore all use of violence and provocation.
▼︎ Word Origin
mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘weep for, regret deeplyʼ): from French déplorer or Italian deplorare, from Latin deplorare, from de- ‘away, thoroughlyʼ + plorare ‘bewailʼ.
breach
noun
BrE /briːtʃ/
NAmE /briːtʃ/
formal
1 [countable, uncountable] breach of something a failure to do something that must be done by law
a breach of contract/copyright/warranty
They are in breach of Article 119.
(British English) (a) breach of the peace (= the crime of behaving in a noisy or violent way in public)
Selling goods constituted a breach of regulation 10B.
2 [countable, uncountable] breach of something an action that breaks an agreement to behave in a particular way
a breach of confidence/trust
a breach of security (= when something that is normally protected is no longer secure)
3 [countable] a break in a relationship between people or countries
a breach in Franco-German relations
4 [countable] an opening that is created during a military attack or by strong winds or seas
They escaped through a breach in the wire fence.
A breach in the mountain wall permits warm sea air to penetrate inland.
▼︎ Word Origin
Middle English: from Old French breche, ultimately of Germanic origin; related to break.
▶︎ Extra examples
Idioms
step into the ˈbreach
to do somebodyʼs job or work when they are suddenly or unexpectedly unable to do it
aud·ible
adjective
BrE /ˈɔːdəbl/
NAmE /ˈɔːdəbl/
that can be heard clearly
Her voice was barely audible above the noise.
➔ OPPOSITE inaudible
cal·low
adjective
BrE /ˈkæləʊ/
NAmE /ˈkæloʊ/
formal, disapproving
young and without experience ➔ SYNONYM inexperienced a callow youth ▼︎ Word Origin Old English calu ‘baldʼ, of West Germanic origin, probably from Latin calvus ‘baldʼ. This was extended to mean ‘unfledgedʼ, which led to the present sense ‘immatureʼ.
bour·geois
adjective
BrE /ˈbʊəʒwɑː/ , /ˌbʊəˈʒwɑː/
NAmE /ˌbʊrˈʒwɑː/ , /ˈbʊrʒwɑː/
1 belonging to the middle class
a traditional bourgeois family
➔ SEE ALSO petit bourgeois
2 (disapproving) interested mainly in possessions and social status and supporting traditional values
bourgeois attitudes/tastes
Theyʼve become very bourgeois since they got married.
3 (politics) supporting the interests of capitalism
bourgeois ideology
▼︎ Word Origin
mid 16th cent.: from French, from late Latin burgus ‘castleʼ (in medieval Latin ‘fortified townʼ), ultimately of Germanic origin and related to borough.
cog·ni·zant
```
adjective
British English also -i·sant
BrE /ˈkɒɡnɪzənt/
NAmE /ˈkɑːɡnɪzənt/
[not before noun]
(formal)
~~~
having knowledge or understanding of something
cognizant of the importance of the case
edify
verb
BrE /ˈedɪfaɪ/
NAmE /ˈedɪfaɪ/
[intransitive, transitive] edify somebody (formal) to improve peopleʼs minds or characters by teaching them about something
It is not clear whether the purpose is to edify, or simply to make money.
No doubt Hamish will edify us on the subject.
▼︎ Word Origin
Middle English: from Old French edifier, from Latin aedificare ‘buildʼ, from aedis ‘dwellingʼ + facere ‘makeʼ (compare with edifice). The word originally meant ‘construct a buildingʼ, also ‘strengthenʼ, hence to “build up” morally.
col·lo·quy
```
noun
BrE /ˈkɒləkwi/
NAmE /ˈkɑːləkwi/
pl. col·lo·quies
(formal)
~~~
a conversation
the soulʼs colloquy with God
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English: from Latin colloquium ‘conversationʼ.
di·vulge
verb
BrE /daɪˈvʌldʒ/
NAmE /daɪˈvʌldʒ/
divulge something (to somebody) | divulge what, whether, etc… (formal) to give somebody information that is supposed to be secret
➔ SYNONYM reveal
Police refused to divulge the identity of the suspect.
She refused to divulge the information.
The plans must not be divulged to anyone.
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English (in the sense ‘announce publiclyʼ): from Latin divulgare, from di- ‘widelyʼ + vulgare ‘publishʼ (from vulgus ‘common peopleʼ).
im·pec·cable
adjective
BrE /ɪmˈpekəbl/
NAmE /ɪmˈpekəbl/
without mistakes or faults
➔ SYNONYM perfect
impeccable manners/taste
Her written English is impeccable.
He was dressed in a suit and an impeccable white shirt.
▼︎ Word Origin
mid 16th cent. (in the theological sense): from Latin impeccabilis, from in- ‘notʼ + peccare ‘to sinʼ.
equivo·cate
verb
BrE /ɪˈkwɪvəkeɪt/
NAmE /ɪˈkwɪvəkeɪt/
[intransitive, transitive] (+ speech) (formal) to talk about something in a way that is deliberately not clear in order to avoid or hide the truth
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English (in the sense ‘use a word in more than one senseʼ): from late Latin aequivocat- ‘called by the same nameʼ, from the verb aequivocare, from aequivocus, from Latin aequus ‘equallyʼ + vocare ‘to callʼ.
ex·tant
adjective
BrE /ekˈstænt/ , /ˈekstənt/
NAmE /ekˈstænt/ , /ˈekstənt/
formal
(of something very old) still in existence
extant remains of the ancient wall
A limited number of documents from the period are still extant.
▼︎ Word Origin
mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘able to be publicly seen or reachedʼ): from Latin exstant- ‘being visible existingʼ, from the verb exstare, from ex- ‘outʼ + stare ‘to standʼ.
de·face
verb
BrE /dɪˈfeɪs/
NAmE /dɪˈfeɪs/
deface something to damage the appearance of something especially by drawing or writing on it
They were charged with defacing public property.
▼︎ Word Origin
Middle English: from Old French desfacier, from des- (expressing removal) + face ‘faceʼ.
defer
verb
BrE /dɪˈfɜː(r)/
NAmE /dɪˈfɜːr/
defer (doing) something (formal) to delay something until a later time
➔ SYNONYM put off
The department deferred the decision for six months.
She had applied for deferred admission to college.
▼︎ Word Origin
verb late Middle English (also in the sense ‘put on one sideʼ): from Old French differer ‘defer or differʼ, from Latin differre, from dis- ‘apartʼ + ferre ‘bring, carryʼ. Compare with differ.
defer to somebody/something.
late Middle English: from Old French deferer, from Latin deferre ‘carry away, refer (a matter)ʼ, from de- ‘away fromʼ + ferre ‘bring, carryʼ.
im·par·tial
adjective
BrE /ɪmˈpɑːʃl/
NAmE /ɪmˈpɑːrʃl/
not supporting one person or group more than another ➔ SYNONYM neutral, unbiased an impartial inquiry/observer to give impartial advice As chairman, I must remain impartial. ➔ OPPOSITE partial
er·ro·ne·ous
adjective
BrE /ɪˈrəʊniəs/
NAmE /ɪˈroʊniəs/
formal
not correct; based on wrong information
erroneous conclusions/assumptions
He seems to be under the erroneous impression that she is in love with him.
The theory is based on several erroneous beliefs.
Their conclusions are quite erroneous.
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English: from Latin erroneus (from erro(n-) ‘vagabondʼ, from errare ‘to stray, errʼ) + -ous.
ex·uber·ance
noun
BrE /ɪɡˈzjuːbərəns/
NAmE /ɪɡˈzuːbərəns/
[uncountable]
the quality of being full of energy, excitement and happiness
We can excuse his behaviour as youthful exuberance.
Nothing will curb her natural exuberance.
hin·drance
noun
BrE /ˈhɪndrəns/
NAmE /ˈhɪndrəns/
1 [countable, usually singular] a person or thing that makes it more difficult for somebody to do something or for something to happen
To be honest, she was more of a hindrance than a help.
hindrance to something/somebody The high price is a major hindrance to potential buyers.
2 [uncountable] (formal) the act of making it more difficult for somebody to do something or for something to happen
They were able to complete their journey without further hindrance.
➔ SEE ALSO hinder
