New words from everyday life 5

Question 1

launder

Answer 1

• wash and iron (clothes or linen).
  “he wasn’t used to laundering his own bed linen”

Question 2

amiss

Answer 2

• not quite right; inappropriate or out of place.
  “there was something amiss about his calculations”

Question 3

abseces

Answer 3

a swollen area within body tissue, containing an accumulation of pus.
“once the abscesses burst, they usually discharge for several days before gradually healing up”

Question 4

alumnus/alumni

Answer 4

• a graduate or former student of a particular school, college, or university.
  “a Harvard alumnus”
• a former member of a group, company, or organization.
  “a Royal Ballet alumnus”

Question 5

slain/slay

Answer 5

kill (a person or animal) in a violent way.

Question 6

destitute

Answer 6

• extremely poor and lacking the means to provide for oneself.
  “the charity cares for destitute children”

Question 7

seminar

Answer 7

• a conference or other meeting for discussion or training.
• a class at university in which a topic is discussed by a teacher and a small group of students.
  “a seminar group of sixteen students”

Question 8

reuminate

Answer 8

think deeply about something.
“we sat ruminating on the nature of existence”

Question 8

secluded

Answer 8

(of a place) not seen or visited by many people; sheltered and private.
“the gardens are quiet and secluded”

Question 9

tenacious

Answer 9

tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely.
“a tenacious grip”
* showing power to resist or to endure.

Question 9

fare

Answer 9

• the money paid for a journey on public transport.
  “we should go to Seville, but we cannot afford the air fare”
• a range of food of a particular type.
  “traditional Scottish fare”
• perform in a specified way in a particular situation or over a particular period.
  “his business has fared badly in recent years”

Question 10

grevious

Answer 10

(FORNAL) (of something bad) very severe or serious.
“his death was a grievous blow”

Question 11

uphold

Answer 11

• confirm or support (something which has been questioned) / stick up for
  “the court upheld his claim for damages”
• maintain (a custom or practice).
  “they uphold a tradition of not causing distress to living creatures”

Question 12

proficient

Answer 12

competent or skilled in doing or using something.
“I was proficient at my job”

Question 13

embelish

Answer 13

• make (something) more attractive by the addition of decorative details or features.
  “blue silk embellished with golden embroidery”
• make (a statement or story) more interesting by adding extra details that are often untrue.
  “followers often embellish stories about their heroes”

Question 14

duly

Answer 14

• in accordance with what is required or appropriate; following proper procedure or arrangement.
  “a document duly signed and authorized by the inspector”
• as might be expected or predicted.
  “I used the tent and was duly impressed
  / properly

Question 14

temperament

Answer 14

a person’s or animal’s nature, especially as it permanently affects their behaviour.
“she had an artistic temperament”

Question 15

permeate

Answer 15

spread throughout (something); pervade.
“the aroma of soup permeated the air”

Question 16

staggering

Answer 16

deeply shocking; astonishing.
“the staggering bills for maintenance and repair”

Question 17

adhere

Answer 17

• stick fast to (a surface or substance).
  “paint won’t adhere well to a greasy surface”
• believe in and follow the practices of.
  “I do not adhere to any organized religion”
• closely follow, observe, or represent.
  “the account adhered firmly to fact”

Question 18

relinquish

Answer 18

voluntarily cease to keep or claim; give up.
“he relinquished his managerial role to become chief executive”

Question 19

pervade

Answer 19

(especially of a smell) spread through and be perceived in every part of.
“a smell of stale cabbage pervaded the air”

Question 20

looming

Answer 20

• (of an event) seemingly about to happen and regarded as ominous or worrying.
  “the looming threat of social unrest”
• appearing as a vague or shadowy form, especially one that is large or threatening.
  “he almost expected to see Jason’s looming figure suddenly appear”

Question 21

isle

Answer 21

literary)) an island or peninsula, especially a small one.
“Crusoe’s fabled isle”

Question 22

valiant

Answer 22

possessing or showing courage or determination.
“she made a valiant effort to hold her anger in check”