Lower-frecuency Words Flashcards
👽 He affirmed his allegiance to the president.
al•le•giance noun
NAmE /əˈliːdʒəns /
a person’s continued support for a political party, religion, ruler, etc.
👽People of various party allegiances joined the campaign.
👽 He affirmed his allegiance to the president.
Jane’s life revolves around her children.
The argument revolved around costs.
She seems to think that the world revolves around her (=that she is the only important person).
reˈvolve around/round something
to move around something in a circle
The earth revolves around the sun.
reˈvolve around/round somebody/something
to have somebody/something as the main interest or subject
His whole life revolves around surfing.
herald
her·ald verb
NAmE /ˈherəld/
(formal)
herald something. to be a sign that something is going to happen
These talks could herald a new era of peace.
She felt a dull ache in her right temple, heralding a migraine.
Bringing the baby home heralds the start of a very different lifestyle.
Voices and footsteps outside heralded their return.
refrain (from something) Please refrain from smoking.
They appealed to the protesters to refrain from violence.
re·frain verb
NAmE /rɪˈfreɪn/
(formal) to stop yourself from doing something, especially something that you want to do
➔ SYNONYM desist
refrain (from something) Please refrain from smoking.
They appealed to the protesters to refrain from violence.
favorable
favourable adjective
(especially US English fa·vor·able)
NAmE /ˈfeɪvərəbl/
making people have a good opinion of somebody/something
She made a favourable impression on his parents.
The biography shows him in a favourable light.
threshold
threshold noun
NAmE /ˈθreʃhoʊld/
- the level at which something starts to happen or have an effect
He has a low boredom threshold (= he gets bored easily).
I have a high pain threshold (= I can suffer a lot of pain before I start to react).
My earnings are just above the tax threshold (= more than the amount at which you start paying tax). - the point just before a new situation, period of life, etc. begins
She felt as though she was on the threshold of a new life.
For several minutes confusion reigned.
Silence reigned while we waited for news
reign noun
NAmE /reɪn/
2 literary if a feeling or quality reigns, it exists strongly for a period of time
Domestic prices have been aligned with those in world markets.
align verb
NAmE /əˈlaɪn/
2 align something (with/to something) to change something slightly so that it is in the correct relationship to something else
Domestic prices have been aligned with those in world markets.
to abstain from alcohol/sex/drugs
ab·stain verb
NAmE /əbˈsteɪn/
abstain (from something) to decide not to do or have something, especially something you like or enjoy, because it is bad for your health or considered morally wrong
to abstain from alcohol/sex/drugs
She was a popular and conscientious teacher.
a conscientious student/teacher/worker
con·scien·tious adjective
NAmE /ˌkɑːnʃiˈenʃəs/
taking care to do things carefully and correctly
a conscientious student/teacher/worker
She was a popular and conscientious teacher.
refrain (from something) Please refrain from smoking.
They appealed to the protesters to refrain from violence.
refrain verb
NAmE /rɪˈfreɪn/
to not do something that you want to do → abstain
refrain (from something) Please refrain from smoking.
They appealed to the protesters to refrain from violence.
The court was presented with compelling evidence that she’d murdered her husband
compelling adjective
NAmE /kəmˈpelɪŋ/
compelling reason/argument/case etc an argument etc that makes you feel certain that something is true or that you must do something about it
Persuasivo
As the situation at home got worse she increasingly took refuge in her work.
refuge noun
NAmE /ˈrefjuːdʒ/
1 shelter or protection from danger, trouble, etc.
A further 300 people have taken refuge in the US embassy.
refuge (from somebody/something) They were forced to seek refuge from the fighting.
a striking contrast between wealth and poverty
In striking contrast to their brothers, the girls were both intelligent and charming.
striking adjective
NAmE /ˈstraɪkɪŋ/
interesting and unusual enough to attract attention
➔ SYNONYM marked
a striking feature
She bears a striking resemblance to her older sister.
In striking contrast to their brothers, the girls were both intelligent and charming.
His actions were motivated by greed.
She killed him to satisfy her greed.
greed noun NAmE /ɡriːd/ (disapproving) 1 a strong desire for more wealth, possessions, power, etc. than a person needs SYN avarice
equate
NAmE /iˈkweɪt/
equate verb
NAmE /iˈkweɪt/
equate something. (with something). to think that something is the same as something else or is as important
Some parents equate education with exam success.
I donʼt see how you can equate the two things.
despise
NAmE /dɪˈspaɪz/
des·pise verb
NAmE /dɪˈspaɪz/
to dislike and have no respect for somebody/something
She despised gossip in any form.
He despised himself for being so cowardly.
She thoroughly despised him for his weakness.
upbringing
up·bring·ing noun
NAmE /ˈʌpbrɪŋɪŋ/
the way in which a child is cared for and taught how to behave while it is growing up
Her upbringing had given her the social skills to cope with such situations.
Mine was a conventional family upbringing.
My upbringing prepared me for anything.
Part of his upbringing had been not to question his elders.
bundle
bun·dle noun
NAmE /ˈbʌndl/
2 a number of things that belong, or are sold together
a bundle of ideas
a bundle of graphics packages for your PC
grievance
griev·ance noun
NAmE /ˈɡriːvəns/
grievance (against somebody) something that you think is unfair and that you complain or protest about
QUEJA
Parents were invited to air their grievances (= express them) at the meeting.
Does the company have a formal grievance procedure (= a way of telling somebody your complaints at work)?
outrage
out·rage noun
NAmE /ˈaʊtreɪdʒ/
1 a strong feeling of shock and anger
The judgeʼs remarks caused public outrage.
She was filled with an overwhelming sense of outrage.
Environmentalists have expressed outrage at the ruling.
