New words fro everday life 1 Flashcards
merit
- 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”
scintillating
- sparkling or shining brightly.
“the scintillating sun” - brilliantly and excitingly clever or skilful.
“the audience loved his scintillating wit”
condemn
- 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”
solemn
- formal and dignified.
“a solemn procession” - characterized by deep sincerity.
“he swore a solemn oath to keep faith”
demure
- reserved, modest, and shy (typically used of a woman).
“a demure young lady” - of clothing) giving a modest appearance.
“a demure knee-length skirt”
accost
approach and address (someone) boldly or aggressively.
“reporters accosted him in the street”
concoct
- 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”
presumption
- 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”
presumptuous
(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”
incarcerate
imprison or confine.
“many are incarcerated for property offences”
fastidious
- 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
dainty
- delicately small and pretty.
“a dainty lace handkerchief” - fastidious, especially concerning food.
“a dainty appetite”
scrupulous
- (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”
assiduous
showing great care and perseverance.
“she was assiduous in pointing out every feature”
atavistic
relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral.
“atavistic fears and instincts”
ingenious
(of a person) clever, original, and inventive.
“he was ingenious enough to overcome the limited budget”
reiterate
say something again or a number of times, typically for emphasis or clarity.
“she reiterated that the government would remain steadfast in its support”
ingenuous
(of a person or action) innocent and unsuspecting; honest sincere
“he eyed her with wide, ingenuous eyes”
coercion
the practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.
“our problem cannot be solved by any form of coercion but only by agreement”
smite
- strike with a firm blow.
“he smites the water with his sword” - be strongly attracted to someone or something.
“she was smitten with the boy”
plod
to work slowly and continuously, but without imagination, enthusiasm, or interest;a slow, heavy walk.
kin
- one’s family and relations.
“many elderly people have no kin to turn to for assistance” - (of a person) related.
“he was kin to the brothers”
philately
the collection and study of postage stamps.
encapsulate
- express the essential features of (something) succinctly.
“the conclusion is encapsulated in one sentence” - enclose (something) in or as if in a capsule.
“the company would encapsulate the asbestos waste in concrete pellets”
invigorate
give strength or energy to.
“the shower had invigorated her”
