How This Book Was Written— and Why Flashcards
temerity
temerity
noun [ U ]
formal disapproving
uk /təˈmer.ə.ti/
us /təˈmer.ə.t̬i/
a willingness to do or say something that shocks or upsets other people:
[ + to infinitive ] She had the temerity to call me a liar.
Synonym
audacity
Why, then, did I have the temerity to write another book?
sorely
sorely
adverb
formal
uk /ˈsɔː.li/
us /ˈsɔːr.li/
extremely; very much:
* I was sorely tempted to say exactly what I thought of his offer.
* You’ll be sorely missed by everyone here, and we wish you success in your new job.
But gradually, as the seasons passed, I realized that as sorely as these adults needed training in effective speaking, they needed still more training in the fine art of getting along with people in everyday business and social contacts.
appalled
appalled
adjective
uk /əˈpɔːld/
us /əˈpɑːld/
having strong feelings of shock or disapproval:
* an appalled silence/fascination
* I am absolutely appalled by/at the state of our cities.
See
appal
- She was appalled to see how much damage the storm had caused.
- An appalled silence fell over the room.
- He was appalled by the traffic.
As I look back across the years, I am appalled at my own frequent lack of finesse and understanding.
ascertain
ascertain
verb [ T ]
formal
uk /ˌæs.əˈteɪn/
us /ˌæs.ɚˈteɪn/
to discover something:
* The police have so far been unable to ascertain the cause of the explosion.
* [ + question word ] Have you ascertained whether she’s coming or not?
to make certain of something:
[ + that ] I ascertained that no one could overhear us before I told Otto the news.
poring over hundreds of articles, searching through countless biographies, trying to ascertain how the great leaders of all ages had dealt with people.
scores
scores
phrase [ plural ]
a lot of things or people:
* scores of Sean received cards from scores of local well-wishers.
* Witnesses claim scores of civilians died in the attack.
* Scores of volunteers have worked around the clock to save the birds.
* The tornado left three women dead and scores of others injured.
* The police raid led to scores of arrests.
* Reports say scores of villages have been affected.
See also
score noun (TWENTY)
I personally interviewed scores of successful people, some of them world-famous—
leaflet
leaflet
noun [ C ]
uk /ˈliː.flət/
us /ˈliː.flət/
B2
a piece of paper that gives you information or advertises something
folleto, prospecto
Demonstrators handed out leaflets to passers-by. Los manifestantes entregaron octavillas a los transeúntes.
A leaflet about the new bus services came through the door today. Hoy llegó al buzón un folleto sobre los nuevos servicios de autobús.
Compare
brochure
booklet
The next season we printed a larger card, then a leaflet, then a series of booklets,
condemned
condemn
verb [ T ]
uk /kənˈdem/
us condemn verb [T] (NOT APPROVE)
to say very strongly that you think something is wrong or very bad:
The Prime Minister was quick to condemn the terrorists.
condemn verb [T] (BUILDING)
to say that a building must be destroyed because it is not safe enough for people to use
he had driven and criticized and condemned his employees without pause or discretion.
infused
infuse
verb
uk /ɪnˈfjuːz/
us infuse verb (EMOTION)
to fill someone or something with a lot of a particular emotion or quality:
[ often passive ] His work is infused with a love for tradition.
infuse verb (LIQUID)
to put something into a liquid so that its taste goes into the liquid
His organization is now infused with a new loyalty, a new enthusiasm, a new spirit of teamwork.
leisure
leisure
noun [ U ]
uk /ˈleʒər/
us /ˈliːʒər/
B1
the time when you are not working:
* leisure activities
* Try to spend your leisure time doing activities you really enjoy.
at your leisure
If you do something at your leisure, you do it when you have the time:
Take it home and read it at your leisure.
This employer gained more profit, more leisure, and— what is infinitely more important—
slated
slate
verb
uk /sleɪt/
us [ T ] UK
to criticize someone or something severely:
[ often passive ] The film had been slated by critics.
be slated US
to be expected to happen in the future, or to be expected to be or do something in the future:
* [ + to do sth ] Filming is slated to begin next spring.
* The game is slated for next week.
an executive for the Philadelphia Gas Works Company, was slated for demotion when he was sixty-five years old because of his belligerence,
astonished
astonished
adjective
uk /əˈstɒnɪʃt/
us
B2
very surprised:
He was astonished at her behaviour.
People are frequently astonished at the results they achieve.
stirred
stir verb (FEEL)
to make someone feel a strong emotion:
The case has stirred great anger among the public.
stir
verb
uk /stɜːr/
us
present participle stirring | past tense and past participle stirred
stir verb (MIX)
B1
to mix food or liquid by moving a spoon, or similar object, round and round in it:
Stir the mixture until it is smooth.
Fewer examples
- Add milk to the mixture and stir until smooth.
- Carefully remove the lid, then stir the paint.
- I’ve been stirring the sauce for ages.
- You shouldn’t have stirred the mixture before it set.
- Stir the custard gently using a wooden spoon.
One man was so stirred by a talk on these principles that he sat far into the night discussing them with other members of the class.
forebears
forebear
noun [ C usually plural ]
formal (also forbear)
uk /ˈfɔː.beər/
us /ˈfɔːr.ber/
a relative who lived in the past
Synonym
ancestor
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
your ancestors
- ancestorI discovered that one of my ancestors was a member of King Henry VIII’s court.
- forebearMy forebears were enslaved and brought to this country.
- forefatherI visited the land of my forefathers.
- ancestryDNA tests tell me that I have Central Asian ancestry.
- extractionMy family is of Italian extraction.
- family treeSince many families will be gathering for the holiday, it’s a perfect time to create a family tree.
While writing this chapter, I received a letter from a German aristocrat whose forebears had served for generations as professional army officers under the Hohenzollerns.
Laughable
laughable
adjective
uk /ˈlɑː.fə.bəl/
us /ˈlæf.ə.bəl/
silly and not deserving to be seriously considered:
Privately they thought the idea laughable.
Synonyms
* comical
* preposterous formal
* ridiculous
* risible formal disapproving
Absurd? Laughable? Fantastic? Of course, you are welcome to dismiss this statement with whatever adjective you wish.
eminently
eminently
adverb
formal
uk /ˈem.ɪ.nənt.li/
us /ˈem.ə.nənt.li/
very and obviously:
* He is eminently qualified for the job.
* an eminently readable book
a declaration made by a conservative and eminently successful individual in a public address
