PD_3/08/20(princeton 1014 --> SE --> Drill 4&5) Flashcards
valedictorian
noun [ C ] US
a student who has the highest grades in his or her graduating class in high school and who makes a speech at the graduation ceremony
listless
adjective
having no energy and enthusiasm and unwilling to do anything needing effort:
He’s seemed listless and a little depressed ever since he got his exam results.
enduring
adjective
existing for a long time:
the enduring appeal of cartoons
I shall be left with many enduring memories of the time I spent in India.
recant
verb [ I or T ] formal
to announce in public that your past beliefs or statements were wrong and that you no longer agree with them:
After a year spent in solitary confinement, he publicly recanted (his views).
dwindle
verb [ I ]
to become smaller in size or amount, or fewer in number:
The community has dwindled to a tenth of its former size in the last two years.
Her hopes of success in the race dwindled last night as the weather became worse.
pull over
— phrasal verb with pull verb
If a vehicle pulls over, it moves to the side of the road and stops:
Just pull over here, and I’ll get out and walk the rest of the way.
escalate
verb
to become or make something become greater or more serious:
His financial problems escalated after he became unemployed.
The row could escalate into full-blown conflict.
The decision to escalate UN involvement has been made in the hopes of a swift end to the hostilities.
The escalating rate of inflation will almost certainly bring escalating prices.
divulge
verb [ T ]
to make something secret known:
Journalists do not divulge their sources.
[ + question word ] The CEO refused to divulge how much she earned.
philanthropy
noun [ U ]
the activity of helping the poor, especially by giving them money:
He argues that corporate philanthropy transforms the culture of the firm concerned.
Many Americans value the role of private philanthropy in supporting our National Park system.
prohibitive
adjective
If the cost of something is prohibitive, it is too expensive for most people:
Hotel prices in the major cities are high but not prohibitive.
precursor
noun [ C ] formal
something that happened or existed before another thing, especially if it either developed into it or had an influence on it:
Sulphur dioxide is the main precursor of acid rain.
Biological research has often been a precursor to medical breakthroughs.
pseudo-science
noun [ C usually singular ]
a system of thought or a theory that is not formed in a scientific way
practitioner
noun [ C ]
someone who works in a job that involves long training and high levels of skill:
He has years of experience as a senior practitioner in the financial services industry.
a health/legal/medical practitioner
inclusive
adjective
An inclusive price or amount includes everything:
My rent is $700 a month inclusive (of bills).
[ after noun ]
including the first and last date or number stated:
I’ll be away from 20 to 31 May inclusive.
An inclusive group or organization tries to include many different types of people and treat them all fairly and equally:
Our aim is to create a fairer, more inclusive society.
conclusive
adjective
proving that something is true, or ending any doubt:
They had conclusive evidence/proof of her guilt.
a conclusive argument
chicanery
noun [ U ] formal
clever, dishonest talk or behaviour that is used to deceive people:
The investigation revealed political chicanery and corruption at the highest levels.
wile
NOUN
1. trickery, cunning, or craftiness
2. (usually plural)
an artful or seductive trick or ploy
overexposure
noun [ U ]
the fact of experiencing something or being affected by it because of being in a particular situation or place for too long:
A child’s development can be irreversibly stunted by overexposure to lead.
They were concerned about their children’s overexposure to violence.
the fact of a person, event, or information appearing or being discussed too much in newspapers, on the television, on social media, etc.:
He worries about overexposure and how his friends will react to his new level of fame.
The show died a sudden death from overexposure after ABC decided to air it four nights a week.
the fact of a piece of film being in the light for too long when a photograph is being taken:
He rescued the photo from overexposure and processed it in his darkroom.
The photographs were partially bleached by overexposure.
affectation
affectionate
VARIABLE NOUN
If you say that someone’s attitude or behaviour is an affectation, you disapprove of the fact that it is not genuine or natural, but is intended to impress other people.
[disapproval]
I wore sunglasses all the time and people thought it was an affectation.
Lawson writes so well: in plain English, without fuss or affectation.
expressing fondness.
“an affectionate kiss”
gratification
noun [ U ]
pleasure or satisfaction, or something which provides this:
sexual gratification
Some people expect instant gratification (= to get what they want immediately).
concurrence
noun formal
a situation in which people agree or have the same opinion:
It will be difficult to get any sort of statewide concurrence.
[ C ] LAW specialized
a document in which someone writes that they agree with a legal judgment:
Justice Alberto Gonzales, who later served as White House counsel, wrote a concurrence.
A 1995 concurrence by Thomas is now required reading in some law school courses.
the fact of two or more events or circumstances happening or existing at the same time.
“the incidental concurrence of two separate tumours”
salubrious
adjective formal
A salubrious place is pleasant, clean, and healthy to live in:
He doesn’t live in a very salubrious part of town.
permissible
adjective formal
allowed:
[ + to infinitive ] Is it permissible to park my car here?
a permissible level for vehicle exhaust emissions
abhorrent
adjective formal
morally very bad:
an abhorrent crime
Racism of any kind is abhorrent to me.
invidious
adjective formal
likely to cause unhappiness or be unpleasant, especially because it is unfair:
Such a difficult choice placed her in an invidious position.
- ADJECTIVE
If you describe a task or job as invidious, you mean that it is unpleasant because it is likely to make you unpopular.
The local authority could find itself in the invidious position of having to refuse.
Synonyms: undesirable, unpleasant, hateful, thankless More Synonyms of invidious - ADJECTIVE
An invidious comparison or choice between two things is an unfair one because the two things are very different or are equally good or bad.
Police officers fear invidious comparisons.
It is invidious to make a selection.
Synonyms: unfair, unjust, unjustified, inequitable
recognition
noun
agreement that something is true or legal:
It’s a new country, hoping for diplomatic recognition from the international community.
[ + that ] There’s a growing recognition that this country can no longer afford to be a nuclear
If you are given recognition, people show admiration and respect for your achievements:
Ella complained that the company never gave her any recognition for her work.
He was presented with a gold watch in recognition of (= to show respect for) his years as club secretary.
rally
to (cause to) come together in order to provide support or make a shared effort:
Supporters/Opponents of the new shopping development are trying to rally local people in favour of/against it.
The president has called on the people to rally to/behind the government.
[ + obj + to infinitive ] The general rallied his forces to defend the town.
“Workers of the world unite!” was their rallying cry/call (= a phrase said to encourage support).
a public meeting of a large group of people, especially supporters of a particular opinion:
5,000 people held an anti-nuclear rally.
an election/campaign rally
curb
verb [ T ]
to control or limit something that is not wanted:
The government should act to curb tax evasion.
muster
verb [ I or T ]
to produce or encourage something such as an emotion or support:
She managed to muster the courage to ask him to the cinema.
The team will need all the strength they can muster to win this game.
Opponents are unlikely to be able to muster enough votes to override the veto.
layperson/layman
noun [ C ]
someone who is not an expert in or does not have a detailed knowledge of a particular subject:
Any layperson can sit down at this console and begin doing productive work in minutes.
To the layman these rules may seem unnecessarily complex.
Can you explain in layman’s terms exactly what your job involves?
liege
noun [ C ] old use
a lord or king:
No man would break an oath to his liege.
Yes, my liege.
lubricious
having or showing too great an interest in sex, especially in an unpleasant way
syn:lewd, lascivious
diaphanous
adjective literary
A diaphanous substance, especially cloth, is so delicate and thin that you can see through it:
a diaphanous silk veil
looming
adjective
(of something unwanted or unpleasant) about to happen soon and causing worry:
the looming crisis
deliquesce
to gradually disappear or be destroyed:
The mirage was already was beginning to deliquesce.
The apparatus of Control, the State, continues to deliquesce.
CHEMISTRY specialized
When a solid deliquesces, it becomes liquid as it absorbs moisture from the air:
Ascorbic acid deliquesces at 98% humidity.
to melt or turn into a liquid:
A series of candles encased in ice deliquesce into a puddle.
One or two of these mushrooms are deliquescing already.
jilt
verb [ T ]
to finish a romantic relationship with someone suddenly and unkindly:
He jilted her for his best friend’s sister.
viscerally
adverb
in a way that is based on deep feeling and emotional reactions rather than on reason or thought:
The performance was both viscerally exciting and intellectually satisfying.
squeamish
adjective
easily upset or shocked by things that you find unpleasant or that you do not approve of:
She’s really squeamish and can’t stand the sight of blood.
Many cooks are squeamish about putting live shellfish into boiling water.
stodgy
- ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Stodgy food is very solid and heavy. It makes you feel very full, and is difficult to digest.
He was disgusted with the stodgy pizzas on sale in London.
Synonyms: heavy, filling, substantial, leaden More Synonyms of stodgy - GRADED ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe someone or something as stodgy, you dislike them or are bored by them because they are very old-fashioned or serious.
[disapproval]
They’re not cultured or interesting, they are boring stodgy old things.
obliterate
obliterateEnglish: obliterateAmerican: obliterateExample sentencesTrendsIn other languages
Definition of ’obliterate’
Word Frequency
obliterate
(əblɪtəreɪt )
Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense obliterates , present participle obliterating , past tense, past participle obliterated
1. VERB
If something obliterates an object or place, it destroys it completely.
Their warheads are enough to obliterate the world several times over. [VERB noun]
Whole villages were obliterated by fire. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: destroy, eliminate, devastate, waste More Synonyms of obliterate
obliteration (əblɪtəreɪʃən ) UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
…the obliteration of three isolated rainforests. [+ of]
Synonyms: wiping out, elimination, eradication, blotting out More Synonyms of obliterate
Synonyms: destruction, ruin, wiping out, elimination More Synonyms of obliterate
2. VERB
If you obliterate something such as a memory, emotion, or thought, you remove it completely from your mind.
[literary]
There was time enough to obliterate memories of how things once were for him. [VERB
muddle
noun [ S or U ]
an untidy or confused state:
The documents were in a muddle.
Whenever I go to Europe I get in a muddle about/over (= become confused about) how much things cost.
bewilder
verb [ T ]
to confuse someone:
The instructions completely bewildered me.
serpentine
adjective literary
curving and twisting like a snake:
We followed the serpentine course of the river.
complicated and difficult to understand:
The film’s serpentine plot was difficult to follow.
tortuous
adjective
with many turns and changes of direction; not direct or simple:
He took a tortuous route through back streets.
The path to peace seems at last to be clear, although it may be a long and tortuous one.
asinine
adjective formal
extremely stupid:
an asinine comment
astute
adjective
able to understand a situation quickly and see how to take advantage of it:
an astute investor/businesswoman
his astute handling of the situation
an astute observer of human behaviour
idyllic
adjective
An idyllic place or experience is extremely pleasant, beautiful, or peaceful:
an idyllic childhood/summer
an idyllic village in the Yorkshire Dales
antiquity
noun
the distant past (= a long time ago), especially before the sixth century:
Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes since antiquity.
Before creating this sculpture, she studied all the masterpieces of classical antiquity.
[ C ]
an object that was created a very long time ago:
Under Greek law, all antiquities that are discovered in Greece belong to the government.
archetype
noun [ C ]
a typical example of something, or the original model of something from which others are copied:
The United States is the archetype of a federal society.
primogenitor
- a forefather; ancestor
2. an earliest parent or ancestor, as of a race
felony
noun [ C or U ] LAW mainly US
(an example of) serious crime that can be punished by one or more years in prison:
a felony charge
He was convicted of a felony.
calamitous
adjective
causing great damage or suffering:
The bank went bust, with calamitous consequences for global markets.
a calamitous war
natatory
ADJECTIVE
of or relating to swimming
resplendent
adjective literary
having a very bright or beautiful appearance:
the queen’s resplendent purple robes
I saw Anna at the other end of the room, resplendent in a red cocktail dress.
neoteric
ADJECTIVE 1. belonging to a new fashion or trend; modern a neoteric genre NOUN 2. a new writer or philosopher
iniquitous
adjective formal
very wrong and unfair:
It is an iniquitous system that allows a person to die because they have no money to pay for medicine.
penchant
noun [ C usually singular ]
Trenchant
a liking for, an enjoyment of, or a habit of doing something, especially something that other people might not like:
a penchant for melodrama/skiing/exotic clothes
Her penchant for disappearing for days at a time worries her family.
ADJECTIVE
You can use trenchant to describe something such as a criticism or comment that is very clear, effective, and forceful.
[formal]
He was shattered and bewildered by this trenchant criticism.
His comment was trenchant and perceptive.
Synonyms: clear, driving, strong, powerful
composure
noun [ U ]
the feeling of being calm, confident, and in control:
I didn’t want to lose my composure in front of her.
rector
noun [ C ]
a priest in charge of a parish (= area) in the Church of England
an important official at some colleges in Scotland, elected by the students
US
the person in charge of a university or school
regent
noun [ C ]
a person who rules a country for a limited period, because the king or queen is absent or too young, too ill, etc.
toady
noun [ C ] disapproving
a person who praises and is artificially pleasant to people in authority, usually in order to get some advantage from them:
Everywhere he goes he is surrounded by an entourage of toadies.
Shostakovich was often seen as a political toady to Stalin.
encomium
noun formal
a piece of writing, speech, etc. that praises someone or something
auspice
a sign or omen, esp one that is favourable
coda
noun [ C ]
a piece of music at the end of a longer piece of music, usually separate from the basic structure:
The coda is often more technically difficult than the rest of the piece.
formal
the final or extra part of a speech, event, or piece of writing:
In a coda to the main exhibition are various works that were once attributed to Rembrandt.
PHONETICS specialized
the end of a syllable
perigee
noun [ C or U ] PHYSICS specialized
the point in the orbit (= curved path) of the moon or a satellite when it it is closest to the earth :
The moon will be at perigee, its closest to the earth, on the 8th of the month.
libertine
noun [ C ] formal disapproving
a person, usually a man, who lives in a way that is not moral, having sexual relationships with many people
premise
- PLURAL NOUN [oft on the N]
The premises of a business or an institution are all the buildings and land that it occupies in one place.
There is a kitchen on the premises.
The business moved to premises in Brompton Road. - COUNTABLE NOUN [oft NOUN that]
A premise is something that you suppose is true and that you use as a basis for developing an idea.
[formal]
The premise is that schools will work harder to improve if they must compete.
The programme started from the premise that men and women are on equal terms in this society.
Synonyms: assumption, proposition, thesis, ground
embezzlement
noun [ U ]
the crime of secretly taking money that is in your care or that belongs to an organization or business you work for:
They were arrested for embezzlement of company funds.
He’s accused of tax evasion, embezzlement, and fraud.
cachinnate
to laugh loudly
blandish
Brandish
VERB
(transitive)
to seek to persuade or influence by mild flattery; coax
to try to persuade someone by saying pleasant things:
Artfully he flattered and blandished him.
VERB
If you brandish something, especially a weapon, you hold it in a threatening way.
He appeared in the lounge brandishing a knife. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: wave, raise, display, shake
lambaste
to criticize someone or something severely:
His first novel was well and truly lambasted by the critics.
cavil
verb [ I ] formal
to make unreasonable complaints, especially about things that are not important
simper
verb [ I ]
to smile in a silly or annoying way:
She gave her teacher a simpering smile.
gustatory
adjective formal
connected with taste:
gustatory pleasures
dictum
noun [ C ]
a short statement, especially one expressing advice or a general truth:
He followed the famous American dictum “Don’t get mad, get even”.
invective
noun [ U ] formal
criticism that is very forceful, unkind, and often rude:
A stream of invective from some sectors of the press continues to assail the government.
die-cast
verb [ T ]
to make something by pouring liquid metal, plastic, etc., usually under pressure, into a mould (= hollow container)
rarefy
verb [ I or T ] (also rarify)
to become less solid or dense; to make something do this:
The primordial cosmic soup is full of sound waves compressing and rarefying matter and light.
subtilize
VERB 1. (transitive) to bring to a purer state; refine 2. to debate subtly 3. (transitive) to make (the mind, etc) keener
