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.
