Deck018 Flashcards
atone
verb
BrE /əˈtəʊn/
NAmE /əˈtoʊn/
[intransitive] atone (for something) (formal) to act in a way that shows you are sorry for doing something wrong in the past
➔ SYNONYM make amends
to atone for a crime
a desire to atone
▼︎ Word Origin
Middle English (originally in the sense ‘make or become united or reconciledʼ, rare before the 16th cent.): from at one in early use; later by back-formation from atonement.
con·tigu·ous
adjective
BrE /kənˈtɪɡjuəs/
NAmE /kənˈtɪɡjuəs/
formal or specialist
touching or next to something
The countries are contiguous.
contiguous with/to something The bruising was not contiguous to the wound.
▼︎ Word Origin
early 16th cent.: from Latin contiguus ‘touchingʼ, from the verb contingere ‘be in contact, befallʼ, from con- ‘together withʼ + tangere ‘to touchʼ. + -ous.
forgo (also fore·go) verb BrE /fɔːˈɡəʊ/ NAmE /fɔːrˈɡoʊ/
forgo something (formal) to decide not to have or do something that you would like to have or do
No one was prepared to forgo their lunch hour to attend the meeting.
She would willingly forgo a birthday treat if only her warring parents would declare a truce.
Time to prepare was a luxury he would have to forgo.
▼︎ Word Origin
Old English forgān (from for- and go).
do·cile
adjective
BrE /ˈdəʊsaɪl/
NAmE /ˈdɑːsl/
quiet and easy to control
a docile child/horse
▼︎ Word Origin
late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘apt or willing to learnʼ): from Latin docilis, from docere ‘teachʼ.
im·bibe
verb
BrE /ɪmˈbaɪb/
NAmE /ɪmˈbaɪb/
1 [intransitive, transitive] imbibe (something) (formal or humorous) to drink something, especially alcohol
2 [transitive] imbibe something (formal) to absorb something, especially information
He imbibed elements of oriental mysticism from the years he spent in India.
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English (in the senses ‘absorb or cause to absorb moistureʼ and ‘take into solutionʼ): from Latin imbibere, from in- ‘inʼ + bibere ‘to drinkʼ.
fer·vent
adjective
BrE /ˈfɜːvənt/
NAmE /ˈfɜːrvənt/
[usually before noun]
having or showing very strong and sincere feelings about something
➔ SYNONYM ardent
a fervent admirer/believer/supporter
a fervent belief/hope/desire
▼︎ Word Origin
Middle English: via Old French from Latin fervent- ‘boilingʼ, from the verb fervere. Compare with fervid and fervour.
atro·cious
adjective
BrE /əˈtrəʊʃəs/
NAmE /əˈtroʊʃəs/
1 very bad or unpleasant ➔ SYNONYM terrible She speaks French with an atrocious accent. Isnʼt the weather atrocious? 2 very cruel and shocking atrocious acts of brutality ▼︎ Word Origin mid 17th cent.: from Latin atrox, atroc- ‘cruelʼ + -ious.
com·pen·sate
verb
BrE /ˈkɒmpenseɪt/
NAmE /ˈkɑːmpenseɪt/
1 [intransitive] compensate (for something) to provide something good to balance or reduce the bad effects of damage, loss, etc.
➔ SYNONYM make up for
Nothing can compensate for the loss of a loved one.
2 [transitive] compensate somebody (for something) to pay somebody money because they have suffered some damage, loss, injury, etc.
Her lawyers say she should be compensated for the suffering she had been caused.
▼︎ Word Origin
mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘counterbalanceʼ): from Latin compensat- ‘weighed againstʼ, from the verb compensare, from com- ‘togetherʼ + pensare (frequentative of pendere ‘weighʼ).
cap·tiv·ate
verb
BrE /ˈkæptɪveɪt/
NAmE /ˈkæptɪveɪt/
[often passive] captivate somebody to keep somebodyʼs attention by being interesting, attractive, etc.
➔ SYNONYM enchant
The children were captivated by her stories.
Men were captivated by her charm.
▼︎ Word Origin
early 16th cent.: from late Latin captivat- ‘taken captiveʼ, from the verb captivare, from captivus, from capere ‘seize, takeʼ.
con·sign
verb
BrE /kənˈsaɪn/
NAmE /kənˈsaɪn/
formal
1 consign somebody/something to something to put somebody/something somewhere in order to get rid of them/it
I consigned her letter to the wastebasket.
What I didnʼt want was to see my mother consigned to an old peopleʼs home.
2 consign somebody/something to something to put somebody/something in an unpleasant situation
The decision to close the factory has consigned 6 000 people to the scrapheap.
A car accident consigned him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
3 consign something to somebody to give or send something to somebody
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English (in the sense ‘mark with the sign of the crossʼ, especially at baptism or confirmation, as a sign of dedication to God): from French consigner or Latin consignare ‘mark with a sealʼ.
gam·bol
verb
BrE /ˈɡæmbl/
NAmE /ˈɡæmbl/
[intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to jump or run about in a lively way
lambs gambolling in the meadow
▼︎ Word Origin
early 16th cent.: alteration of gambade, from Spanish gambada, via French from Italian gambata ‘trip upʼ, from gamba ‘legʼ.
di·ur·nal
adjective
BrE /daɪˈɜːnl/
NAmE /daɪˈɜːrnl/
1 (biology) (of animals) active during the day
Unlike most other bats, this species is diurnal.
➔ OPPOSITE nocturnal
2 (astronomy) taking one day
the diurnal rotation of the earth
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English (as a term in astronomy): from late Latin diurnalis, from Latin diurnus ‘dailyʼ, from dies ‘dayʼ.
em·bel·lish
verb
BrE /ɪmˈbelɪʃ/
NAmE /ɪmˈbelɪʃ/
formal
1 embellish something to make something more beautiful by adding decorations to it
➔ SYNONYM decorate
The huge carved door was embellished with brass door knockers.
embellished with gold lettering/golden embroidery/jewellery/precious metal/sweeping chintz curtains
2 embellish something to make a story more interesting by adding details that are not always true
➔ SYNONYM embroider
His account of his travels was embellished with details of famous people he met.
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English: from Old French embelliss-, lengthened stem of embellir, based on bel ‘handsomeʼ, from Latin bellus.
chas·tise
verb
BrE /tʃæˈstaɪz/
NAmE /tʃæˈstaɪz/
1 chastise somebody (for something/for doing something) (formal) to criticize somebody for doing something wrong
He chastised the team for their lack of commitment.
2 chastise somebody (old-fashioned) to punish somebody physically
➔ SYNONYM beat
Parents are no longer allowed to chastise their children as they did in the past.
▼︎ Word Origin
Middle English: apparently formed irregularly from the obsolete verb chaste, from Old French chastier, from Latin castigare ‘castigateʼ, from castus ‘morally pure, chasteʼ.
con·vene
verb
BrE /kənˈviːn/
NAmE /kənˈviːn/
formal
1 [transitive] convene something to arrange for people to come together for a formal meeting
to convene a meeting
A Board of Inquiry was convened immediately after the accident.
They decided to convene an extraordinary general meeting.
2 [intransitive] to come together for a formal meeting
The committee will convene at 11.30 next Thursday.
▶︎ Wordfinder
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English: from Latin convenire ‘assemble, agree, fitʼ, from con- ‘togetherʼ + venire ‘comeʼ.
col·lat·eral
noun
BrE /kəˈlætərəl/
NAmE /kəˈlætərəl/
[uncountable] (finance) property or something valuable that you promise to give to somebody if you cannot pay back money that you borrow
We had put our house up as collateral for our bank loan.
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English (as an adjective): from medieval Latin collateralis, from col- ‘together withʼ + lateralis (from latus, later- ‘sideʼ). Sense (1) of the noun (originally US) is from the phrase collateral security, denoting something pledged in addition to the main obligation of a contract.
broach
verb
BrE /brəʊtʃ/
NAmE /broʊtʃ/
broach something (to/with somebody) to begin talking about a subject that is difficult to discuss, especially because it is embarrassing or because people disagree about it
She was dreading having to broach the subject of money to her father.
The report fails to broach some important questions.
▼︎ Word Origin
Middle English: from Old French brochier, based on Latin brocchus, broccus ‘projectingʼ. The earliest recorded sense was ‘prick with spursʼ, generally ‘pierceʼ. The current sense is a figurative use of this and dates from the late 16th cent.
belie verb
BrE /bɪˈlaɪ/
NAmE /bɪˈlaɪ/
(formal)
1 belie something to give a false impression of somebody/something
Her energy and youthful good looks belie her 65 years.
2 belie something to show that something cannot be true or correct
Government claims that there is no poverty are belied by the number of homeless people on the streets.
▼︎ Word Origin
Old English belēogan ‘deceive by lyingʼ, from be- ‘aboutʼ + lēogan ‘to lieʼ. Current senses date from the 17th cent.
decry
verb
BrE /dɪˈkraɪ/
NAmE /dɪˈkraɪ/
decry somebody/something (as something) (formal) to strongly criticize somebody/something, especially publicly
➔ SYNONYM condemn
The measures were decried as useless.
▼︎ Word Origin
early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘decrease the value of coins by royal proclamationʼ): from de- ‘downʼ + cry, on the pattern of French décrier ‘cry downʼ.
ca·rouse
```
verb
BrE /kəˈraʊz/
NAmE /kəˈraʊz/
[intransitive]
literary
~~~
to spend time drinking alcohol, laughing and enjoying yourself in a noisy way with other people
His paintings depict lively scenes of peasants carousing in crowded taverns.
▼︎ Word Origin
mid 16th cent.: originally as an adverb meaning ‘right out, completelyʼ in the phrase drink carouse, from German gar aus trinken; hence ‘drink heavily, have a drinking boutʼ.
com·ple·ment
verb
BrE /ˈkɒmplɪment/ NAmE /ˈkɑːmplɪment/
complement something to add to something in a way that improves it or makes it more attractive
The excellent menu is complemented by a good wine list.
The team needs players who complement each other.
The dishes on the menu complement each other perfectly.
The flavours in the dish complement each other perfectly.
▼︎ Which Word?
compliment / complement
These words have similar spellings but completely different meanings. If you compliment someone, you say something very nice to them: She complimented me on my English. If one thing complements another, the two things work or look better because they are together: The different flavours complement each other perfectly.
The adjectives are also often confused. Complimentary: She made some very complimentary remarks about my English. It can also mean ‘freeʼ: There was a complimentary basket of fruit in our room. Complementary: The team members have different but complementary skills.
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English (in the sense ‘completionʼ): from Latin complementum, from complere ‘fill upʼ, from com- (expressing intensive force) + plere ‘fillʼ. Compare with compliment.
awry
adverb, adjective
BrE /əˈraɪ/
NAmE /əˈraɪ/
1 if something goes awry, it does not happen in the way that was planned
All my plans for the party had gone awry.
All her carefully laid plans had gone awry.
2 not in the right position
➔ SYNONYM untidy
She rushed out, her hair awry.
▼︎ Word Origin
late Middle English: from a- ‘onʼ + wry.
head
noun
BrE /hed/
NAmE /hed/
[countable, uncountable] the person in charge of a group of people or an organization
the heads of government/state
She resigned as head of department.
the crowned heads (= the kings and queens) of Europe
the head gardener/waiter, etc.
(British English) the head boy/girl (= a student who is chosen to represent the school)
di·vine
adjective
BrE /dɪˈvaɪn/
NAmE /dɪˈvaɪn/
1 [usually before noun] coming from or connected with God or a god
divine law/love/will
divine intervention (= help from God to change a situation)
2 (old-fashioned) wonderful; beautiful
That mango tasted divine!
▼︎ Word Origin
adjective late Middle English: via Old French from Latin divinus, from divus ‘godlikeʼ (related to deus ‘godʼ).
