new words i didn't know in elevate Flashcards
cavil
to quibble or make unnecessary objections
= grumble
fret
to worry or feel anxious
instigate
to cause sth to happen or begin
= provoke
mild
gentle and easygoing
notorious
famous, typically for bad quality or deed
ex: Los Angeles is notorious for its smog
ex: Justin bieber
punctual
prompt and on time
revitalize
to refresh and restore with clean water
= revive, reform
ex: a package of spending cuts to revitalize the economy
upbeat
cheerful and positive
unclutter
to make neat and orderly
ex: unclutter the garbage
transgress
to pass over the limit, violate the law
abridged
shorten a piece of writing w/o losing the sense
alterable
changeable, can be updated, enhanced or fixed
bestow
to give or present
catastrophic
involving great damage or suffering
flaunt
show off
mourn
express grieve or sorrow
negligent
careless
ex: directors have been negligent in the performance of their duties
philanthropy
activities of helping the poor
= generosity, altruism, benevolence
ex: he acquired a considerable fortune and was noted for his philanthropy
precede
come before in time
rectitude
righteousness
surly
bad-tempered, irritable
= ill-natured, prickly
ex: he left with a surly expression
vital
1. absolutely essential = crucial, key ex: secrecy is of vital importance 2. full of energy; lively = sprightly, energetic ex: a beautiful, vital girl
cadence
a modulation or inflection of the voice/motion
= rhythm, tempo
ex: the steady cadence of the drums
erosion
the gradual destruction by wind, water, or any other natural agents
= wearing away, dissolving
ex: the problem of soil erosion
ladle
giá múc canh
ludicrous
so foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to be ridiculous
= absurd, laughable, nonsensical
ex: it’s ludicrous that I’ve been fined
perpetual
never-ending or changing
= everlasting, timeless, immortal, eternal
ex: deep caves in perpetual darkness
sufficient
enough, adequate
ex: they had sufficient resources to survive
cavernous
large enclosed space like a cavern
commodify
to make sth commercial, sometimes inappropriately
disgruntled
angry or dissatisfied
= fed up, aggrieved, resentful
ex: judges receive letters from disgruntled members of the public
eccentric
unconventional or slightly strange
= bizarre, freakish, abnormal
ex: my favorite aunt is very eccentric
intrepidity
resolute courageousness
= fearless, undaunted, unalarmed, unflinching
ex: we’re all charmed by his intrepidity
pristine
in its original condition; unspoiled, free from dirt or contamination
= immaculate, in mint condition
ex: pristine copies of an early magazine
adversary
one’s opponent in a contest, conflict
= enemy, nemesis, rival, foe
ex: Davis beat his own adversary in the quaterfinals
causation
the action of causing sth
ex: investigate the role of the nitrate in the causation of cancer
exhilarating
making one feel very happy, animated
= thrill, exciting
ex: an exhilarating two-hour rafting experience
hinder
prevent progress, results in delay or obstruction
= hamper, be a hindrance to
ex: various family stalemates was hindering communication
upbraid
find fault with (someone); scold
= give s/o an earful, rebuke
ex: he was upbraided for his slovenly apperance
valiant
brave, determined, and courageous
= heroic, fearless, lionhearted
ex: she makes a valiant effort to hold her anger in check
waver
1. shake with a quivering motion = flicker, tremble ex: the flame wavered in the draft 2. become unsteady or unreliable = falter, wobble ex: his love for her had never wavered 3. be undecided between two opinions or courses of action; be irresolute = be indecisive ex: she never wavered from her intention
winsome
attractive or appealing in appearance or character
= engaging, enchanting
ex: a winsome smile
acrobatic
having balance, agility and other gymnastic ability
= gymnastic
ex: she sealed the title with a powerful display of acrobatics and tumbling
enigmatic
puzzling or difficult to interpret
= mysterious, inexplicable
ex: he took the money with an enigmatic smile
paroxysm
sudden outburst of emotion or activity
= burst, seizure
ex: a paroxysm of weeping
dismay
(n) concern and distress caused by sth unexpected
= shock, alarm
ex: to his dismay, she left him
(v) cause s.o to feel concerned and distress
= horrify, startle, frighten
ex: villagers react with dismay to the news of the death
intertwined
(v) twist or twine together
= entwine, interlace, intertwist
ex: his fate is intertwined with hers
misgiving
(n) a feeling of doubt about the outcome of sth
= doubt, reservation, mistrust
ex: my misgiving about him grew stronger after I learned that my daughter’s boyfriend had been released from prison
periphery
(n) the outside of the boundary of sth
= edge, border, verge
ex: new buildings on the periphery of the hospital site
convergent
(adj) coming closer together
= connecting, intersecting, assembling, concentrating
ex: convergent light??
