New words fro everday life 1 Flashcards
1
Q
merit
A
- noun
the quality of being particularly good or worthy, especially so as to deserve praise or reward.
“composers of outstanding merit” - verb
deserve or be worthy of (reward, punishment, or attention).
“the results have been encouraging enough to merit further investigation”
2
Q
scintillating
A
- sparkling or shining brightly.
“the scintillating sun” - brilliantly and excitingly clever or skilful.
“the audience loved his scintillating wit”
3
Q
condemn
A
- express complete disapproval of; censure.
“most leaders roundly condemned the attack” - sentence (someone) to a particular punishment, especially death.
“the rebels had been condemned to death”
3
Q
solemn
A
- formal and dignified.
“a solemn procession” - characterized by deep sincerity.
“he swore a solemn oath to keep faith”
4
Q
demure
A
- reserved, modest, and shy (typically used of a woman).
“a demure young lady” - of clothing) giving a modest appearance.
“a demure knee-length skirt”
4
Q
accost
A
approach and address (someone) boldly or aggressively.
“reporters accosted him in the street”
5
Q
concoct
A
- make (a dish or meal) by combining various ingredients.
“she began to concoct a dinner likely to appeal to him” - create or devise (a story or plan).
“his cronies concocted a simple plan”
5
Q
presumption
A
- an idea that is taken to be true on the basis of probability.
“underlying presumptions about human nature” - behaviour perceived as arrogant, disrespectful, and transgressing the limits of what is permitted or appropriate.
“he lifted her off the ground, and she was enraged at his presumption”
5
Q
presumptuous
A
(of a person or their behaviour) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate/ oversteeping boundaries
“I hope I won’t be considered presumptuous if I offer some advice”
5
Q
incarcerate
A
imprison or confine.
“many are incarcerated for property offences”
6
Q
fastidious
A
- very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail; hard to please
“she dressed with fastidious care” - very concerned about matters of cleanliness.
“the child seemed fastidious about getting her fingers dirty
6
Q
dainty
A
- delicately small and pretty.
“a dainty lace handkerchief” - fastidious, especially concerning food.
“a dainty appetite”
7
Q
scrupulous
A
- (of a person or process) careful, thorough, and extremely attentive to details.
“the research has been carried out with scrupulous attention to detail” - very concerned to avoid doing wrong.
“she’s too scrupulous to have an affair with a married man”
7
Q
assiduous
A
showing great care and perseverance.
“she was assiduous in pointing out every feature”
8
Q
atavistic
A
relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral.
“atavistic fears and instincts”
