IELTS, TOIEC book Flashcards
a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically an unwelcome one.
aberration
they described the outbreak of violence in the area as an aberration
leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to escape from custody or avoid arrest.
abscond
the barman absconded with a week’s takings
the action of renouncing or rejecting something.
abnegation
abnegation of political power
difficult to understand
2
obscure,
abstruse
an abstruse philosophical inquiry
accept something reluctantly but without protest.
acquiesce
Sara acquiesced in his decision
(typically of speech or discussion) angry and bitter.
acrimonious
“an acrimonious dispute about wages
a proverb or short statement expressing a general truth.
adage
“the old adage ‘out of sight out of mind’”
urge or request (someone) solemnly or earnestly to do something
adjure
“I adjure you to tell me the truth
clever or skillful
adroit
“he was adroit at tax avoidance
excessive praise or admiration
adulation
he found it difficult to cope with the adulation of the fans
render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance.
adulterate
“the brewer is said to adulterate his beer”
To describe roughly or briefly or
give the main points or
summary of
adumbrate
a difficult or unpleasant situation.
adversity
“resilience in the face of adversity”
behaviour, speech, or writing that is pretentious and designed to impress.
affectation
“the affectation of a man who measures every word for effect”
form or group into a class or cluster.
aggregate
“socio-occupational groups aggregate men sharing similar kinds of occupation”
the state of mind in which someone acts against their better judgement through weakness of will.
akrasia
brisk and cheerful readiness.
alacrity
“she accepted the invitation with alacrity”
a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
allegory
“Pilgrim’s Progress is an allegory of the spiritual journey”
make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe.
alleviate
“he couldn’t prevent her pain, only alleviate it”
an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.
allusion
“an allusion to Shakespeare”
combine or unite to form one organization or structure.
amalgate
“he amalgamated his company with another”
the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.
ambivalence
“the law’s ambivalence about the importance of a victim’s identity”
characterized by friendliness and absence of discord.
amicable
“an amicable settlement of the dispute”
belonging to a period other than that being portrayed.
belonging or appropriate to an earlier period, especially so as to seem conspicuously old-fashioned.
anachronistic
“‘Titus’ benefits from the effective use of anachronistic elements like cars and loudspeakers”
she is rebelling against the anachronistic morality of her parents”
Is a word or phrase made by
transposing the letters of
another word or phrase. In other
words, any phrase or word that
exactly reproduces the letters in
another order is
anagram
secure is
an anagram of rescue; angel is
an anagram of glean; state is an
anagram of taste, etc
in a new or different and typically more positive way.
once more; again.
anew
“her career had begun anew, with a lucrative Japanese modelling contract”
“tears filled her eyes anew”
complete destruction or obliteration.
annihilation
“the threat of global annihilation”
an official or legal cancellation
annulment
the act of annulling something.
“the applicant sought the annulment of the decision”
ack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
apathy
“widespread apathy among students”
regard w disgust and hatred
abhor
he abhorred sexism in any way or form.
the highest point in the development of something; a climax or culmination.
apogee
“a film which was the apogee of German expressionist cinema”
2.
ASTRONOMY
the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is furthest from the earth.
the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief or principle.
apostasy
“the execution of their leader for apostasy brought widespread criticism”
the highest point in the development of something; a culmination or climax.
2.
the elevation of someone to divine status.
apotheosis
“his appearance as Hamlet was the apotheosis of his career”
Similar:
culmination
climax
crowning moment
peak
pinnacle
summit
zenith
apex
acme
apogee
high point
highest point
height
high water mark
Opposite:
nadir
“death spared Pompey the task of having to account for the apotheosis of Caesar”
pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands.
2.
assuage or satisfy (a demand or a feeling).
appease
“amendments have been added to appease local pressure groups”
“we give to charity because it appeases our guilt”
inform or tell (someone).
apprise
“I thought it right to apprise Chris of what had happened”
a thing that is very old or old-fashioned, especially an archaic word or style of language or art.
archaism
“conscious archaisms inspired by French harpsichord music”
the use or conscious imitation of archaic styles or features in language or art.
“Mozart’s use of archaism”
1.
a very typical example of a certain person or thing.
2.
PSYCHOANALYSIS
(in Jungian theory) a primitive mental image inherited from the earliest human ancestors, and supposed to be present in the collective unconscious.
archetype
“he was the archetype of the old-style football club chairman”
(of land or a climate) having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation.
2.
lacking in interest, excitement, or meaning.
arid
“the arid plains north of Cape Town”
“his arid years in suburbia”
a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief.
“his assertion that his father had deserted the family”
assertion
“the assertion of his legal rights”
showing great care and perseverance.
assiduous
“she was assiduous in pointing out every feature”
make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense.
satisfy (an appetite or desire).
assuage
“the letter assuaged the fears of most members”
“an opportunity occurred to assuage her desire for knowledge”
severe or strict in manner or attitude.
(of living conditions or a way of life) having no comforts or luxuries.
having a plain and unadorned appearance.
austere
“he was an austere man, with a rigidly puritanical outlook”
“conditions in the prison could hardly be more austere”
“the cathedral is impressive in its austere simplicity”
LITERARY
help or benefit.
2.
INDIAN
use or take advantage of (an opportunity or available resource).
avail
“no amount of struggle availed Charles”
“you can avail discounts on food”
“he begged her to reconsider, but to no avail”
extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
avarice
“he was rich beyond the dreams of avarice”
a statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true.
axiom
“the axiom that sport builds character”
the playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks.
verb
exchange remarks in a good-humoured teasing way.
banter
“there was much good-natured banter”
“the men bantered with the waitresses”
reluctant to draw attention to oneself; shy.
bashful
“everything you need to know but have been too bashful to ask”
demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.
bellicose
“a mood of bellicose jingoism”
well meaning and kindly.
(of an organization) serving a charitable rather than a profit-making purpose.
benevolent
“he was something of a benevolent despot”
“a benevolent fund”
cause (someone) to become perplexed and confused.
bewilder
“she was bewildered by his sudden change of mood”
a thing that is helpful or beneficial.
boon
“the route will be a boon to many travellers”
(of water) slightly salty, as in river estuaries.
brackish
“a cup of brackish water”
bold and without shame.
verb
endure an embarrassing or difficult situation by behaving with apparent confidence and lack of shame.
brazen
“he went about his illegal business with a brazen assurance”
“there was nothing to do but brazen it out”
begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish.
burgeon
“the city’s suburbs have burgeoned, sprawling out from the centre”
persuade (someone) to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery.
cajole
“he hoped to cajole her into selling the house”
mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together.
camaraderie
“the enforced camaraderie of office life”
the quality of being open and honest; frankness.
candor
“a man of refreshing candor”
bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.
cantankerous
“he can be a cantankerous old fossil at times”
To criticize someone or
something severely; verbal
punishment.
castigate
“he was castigated for not setting a good example”
the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.
catharsis
“music is a means of catharsis for them”
make petty or unnecessary objections.
cavil
“they cavilled at the cost”
(of a route or journey) longer than the most direct way.
circuitous
“the canal followed a circuitous route”
