PD_31/07/20(princeton 1014 --> SE --> Drill 1-2) Flashcards
interminable
adjective
continuing for too long and therefore boring or annoying:
an interminable delay
his interminable stories
plaintive
adjective
used to describe something that sounds slightly sad:
the plaintive sound of the bagpipes
“What about me?” came a plaintive voice.
notwithstanding
preposition, adverb formal
despite the fact or thing mentioned:
Notwithstanding some members’ objections, I think we must go ahead with the plan.
Injuries notwithstanding, the team won the semifinal.
cessation
noun [ C or U ] formal
ending or stopping:
Religious leaders have called for a total cessation of the bombing campaign.
fervor
noun [ U ] US formal (UK fervour)
strong and sincere beliefs:
The country was swept by patriotic fervor.
nationalist/religious fervor
sedate
adjective
avoiding excitement or great activity and usually calm and relaxed:
The fight against a chemical storage site has transformed a normally sedate village into a battleground.
The speed limit is a sedate 55 mph.
lumber
verb [ I usually + adv/prep ]
to move slowly and awkwardly:
In the distance, we could see a herd of elephants lumbering across the plain.
abiding
An abiding feeling or memory is one that you have had for a long time:
My abiding memory is of him in the garden.
lasting for a long time:
Muir had an abiding interest in dogs.
protracted
adjective
lasting for a long time or made to last longer than necessary:
protracted negotiations
a protracted argument/discussion
tenuous
adjective
A tenuous connection, idea, or situation is weak and possibly does not exist:
The police have only found a tenuous connection between the two robberies.
tenacious
adjective
holding tightly onto something, or keeping an opinion in a determined way:
The baby took my finger in its tenacious little fist.
There has been tenacious local opposition to the new airport.
unwilling to accept defeat or stop doing or having something:
Seles is a tenacious opponent – she never gives in.
garner
verb [ T ] formal
to collect something, usually after much work or with difficulty:
Coppola garnered several Oscar awards for “The Godfather”.
aggravate
verb [ T ]
to make a bad situation worse:
Attempts to restrict parking in the city centre have further aggravated the problem of traffic congestion.
to make a disease worse:
The treatment only aggravated the condition.
to annoy someone:
Stop aggravating me, will you!
rife
adjective [ after verb ] formal
If something unpleasant is rife, it is very common or happens a lot:
Dysentery and malaria are rife in the refugee camps.
rife with sth
full of something unpleasant:
The office was rife with rumours.
replete
adjective [ after verb ] formal
full, especially with food:
After two helpings of dessert, Sergio was at last replete.
deplete
verb [ T ]
to reduce something in size or amount, especially supplies of energy, money, etc.:
If we continue to deplete the earth’s natural resources, we will cause serious damage to the environment.
The illness depletes the body of important vitamins.
humorous That last holiday seriously depleted my bank account
quirk
noun [ C ]
an unusual habit or part of someone’s personality, or something that is strange and unexpected:
You have to get used to other people’s quirks and foibles.
There is a quirk in the rules that allows you to invest money without paying tax.
By some strange quirk/By an odd quirk of fate (= unexpectedly), we ended up on the same train.
monumental
adjective
very big or very great:
Rebuilding the bridge proved to be a monumental job.
discomfit
VERB
If you are discomfited by something, it causes you to feel slightly embarrassed or confused.
[written]
He will be particularly discomfited by the minister’s dismissal of his plan. [be VERB-ed]
The opposition leader has regularly discomfited him in parliament. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: frustrate, beat, defeat, worst
incipient
adjective fml
just beginning:
signs of incipient public frustration
nascent
adjective formal
only recently formed or started, but likely to grow larger quickly:
a nascent political party
a nascent problem
in the earliest stages of development:
Everyone in this nascent business is still struggling with basic issues.
fervent
adjective formal
used to describe beliefs that are strongly and sincerely felt or people who have strong and sincere beliefs:
a fervent supporter of the communist party
It is his fervent hope that a peaceful solution will soon be found.
ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A fervent person has or shows strong feelings about something, and is very sincere and enthusiastic about it.
…a fervent admirer of Morisot’s work.
…the fervent hope that matters will be settled promptly.
Synonyms: ardent, earnest, enthusiastic, fervid
long-winded
adjective
A long-winded speech, letter, article, etc. is too long, or uses too many words.
liberal
adjective
respecting and allowing many different types of beliefs or behaviour:
a liberal society/attitude
Her parents were far more liberal than mine.
giving or given in a generous way:
Some merchants offer very liberal return policies, but others are strict.
run off
— phrasal verb with run verb
to leave somewhere or someone suddenly:
You can’t run off (home) now, just when I need you!
My wife has run off with another man.
an extra competition or election to decide the winner, because the leading competitors have finished equal:
In a run-off for the presidency of the assembly, Santos beat Gutiérrez.
a run-off race/election
conduit
noun [ C ]
a pipe or passage for water or electrical wires to go through
a way of connecting two places:
There is growth in sales to Hong Kong, the conduit for Taiwan’s exports to China.
a way of connecting two people or organizations:
conduit between sb/sth and sb/sth The proposal that a board’s senior non-executive should become a prime conduit between a company and its shareholders is causing concern.
conduit for sth The new retail bank created by the merger might provide the insurance company with a conduit for selling its products to bank customers.
inveterate
adjective usually disapproving
someone who does something very often and cannot stop doing it:
I never trust anything he says - the man’s an inveterate liar.
transfixed
adjective literary
unable to move or stop looking at something because you are so interested, surprised, or frightened:
Rabbits transfixed in the glare of car headlights are common victims on the roads.
He sat transfixed all through the film.
enigma
noun [ C ]
something that is mysterious and seems impossible to understand completely:
She is something of an enigma.
The newspapers were full of stories about the enigma of the plane’s disappearance.
dulcet
ADJECTIVE [ADJECTIVE noun]
A dulcet voice is one that is gentle and pleasant to listen to.
[literary]
Quickly, in her dulcet voice, Tamara told him what had happened.
Synonyms: sweet, pleasing, musical, charming
comely
adjective old-fashioned or literary
A comely woman is attractive in appearance.
superannuated
adjective formal
old, and almost no longer suitable for work or use
antediluvian
adjective humorous
extremely old-fashioned:
My mother has some hopelessly antediluvian ideas about the role of women.
avant-garde
SINGULAR NOUN [the NOUN]
You can refer to the artists, writers, and musicians who introduce new and very modern ideas as the avant-garde.
In Paris he made friends among the avant-garde.
recalcitrant
adjective formal
(of a person) unwilling to obey orders or to do what should be done, or (of an animal) refusing to be controlled
philippic
a bitter or impassioned speech of denunciation; invective
jeremiad
noun [ C ] formal
a long list of complaints or problems:
The critic delivers regular jeremiads against the contemporary art world.
compendium
COUNTABLE NOUN
A compendium is a short but detailed collection of information, usually in a book.
The Roman Catholic Church has issued a compendium of its teachings. [+ of]
Synonyms: collection, summary, abstract, digest
encomium
noun formal
a piece of writing, speech, etc. that praises someone or something
elegy
noun [ C ]
a sad poem or song, especially remembering someone who has died or something in the past:
Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” is a famous English poem.
perfidious
adjective literary
unable to be trusted, or showing no loyalty:
She described the new criminal bill as a perfidious attack on democracy.
quaint
adjective
attractive because of being unusual and especially old-fashioned:
a quaint old cottage
Quaint can also be used to show that you do not approve of something, especially an opinion, belief, or way of behaving, because it is strange or old-fashioned:
“What a quaint idea!” she said, laughing at him.
gentrify
verb [ T often passive ] disapproving
to change a place from being a poor area to a richer one, by people of a higher social class moving to live there: The area where I grew up has been all modernized and gentrified, and has lost all its old character.
rancorous
adjective formal
having or showing a feeling of hate and continuing anger about something in the past:
a rancorous dispute
Government leaders appear increasingly rancorous.
quiescent
adjective formal
temporarily quiet and not active:
The political situation was now relatively quiescent.
tonic
noun
a liquid medicine that has the general effect of making you feel better rather than treating a particular health problem that you might have
[ S ] informal
something that makes you feel stronger or happier:
The magazine is lively and interesting - the pictures alone are a tonic.
slick
adjective
operating or performing skilfully and effectively, without problems and without seeming to need effort:
Manilow gave the slick, polished performance that we’ve come to expect.
A slick pass from Eaves to Brinkworth set up the goal.
synergy
noun [ U ] BUSINESS, MEDICAL specialized
the combined power of a group of things when they are working together that is greater than the total power achieved by each working separately:
Team work at its best results in a synergy that can be very productive.
conglomeration
noun [ C usually singular, + sing/pl verb ]
a large group or mass of different things all collected together in an untidy or unusual way:
There was a strange conglomeration of objects on the mantelpiece.
syllogism
noun [ C ] SOCIAL SCIENCES specialized
(in philosophy) a process of logic in which two general statements lead to a more particular statement
emanate
- VERB
If a quality emanates from you, or if you emanate a quality, you give people a strong sense that you have that quality.
[formal]
Intelligence and cunning emanated from him. [VERB + from]
He emanates sympathy. [VERB noun] - VERB
If something emanates from somewhere, it comes from there.
[formal]
The heady aroma of wood fires emanated from the stove. [VERB from noun]
…reports emanating from America. [VERB + from]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: flow, emerge, spring, proceed
euphony
noun [ U ] LANGUAGE, LITERATURE specialized
the quality of having a pleasant sound:
The poet has chosen her words more for euphony than factual accuracy.
revile
VERB
If someone or something is reviled, people hate them intensely or show their hatred of them.
[formal]
He was just as feared and reviled as his tyrannical parents. [be VERB-ed]
What right had the crowd to revile the team for something they could not help? [VERB noun]
Synonyms: malign, abuse, knock [informal], rubbish [informal]
reclusive
adjective
living alone and avoiding going outside or talking to other people:
a reclusive billionaire
She became increasingly reclusive after the tragedy.
inclusive
adjective
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.
An inclusive price or amount includes everything:
My rent is $700 a month inclusive (of bills).
ratification
noun [ U ] formal
the process of making an agreement official:
The agreement requires formal ratification by the league’s athletic directors.
If the resolution passes, the year-long ratification process will begin.
ramification
noun [ C usually plural ]
the possible results of an action:
Have you considered all the ramifications of your suggestion?
effectually
adverb formal
in an effective and successful way:
We can help you deliver training and support more effectually.
The barking of the dogs effectually kept me at a distance.
gaiety
noun [ U ] old-fashioned
happiness and excitement:
I felt there was an air of forced gaiety about her manner.
viscosity
UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Viscosity is the quality that some liquids have of being thick and sticky.
…the viscosity of the paint. [+ of]
laudatory
adjective formal
expressing praise
potpourri
noun
a mixture of dried flower petals and spices, used to make a room or drawer smell pleasant:
[ U ] She liked the scent of floral potpourri.
A potpourri is also a mixed grouping of things:
[ C ] a potpourri of scenes
multitude
noun formal
a large number of things:
[ U ] Two large circles are surrounded by a multitude of small, colorful squares.
[ pl ] As manager of the restaurant, his job is to feed the multitudes (= large numbers of people).
undemanding
adjective
not needing a lot of time, energy, or attention:
He is quiet and undemanding.
a relatively undemanding job
tenebrous
gloomy, shadowy, or dark
onerous
adjective formal
difficult to do or needing a lot of effort:
the onerous task of finding a peaceful solution
She found the duties of motherhood onerous.
inveigle
verb [ T ] formal
to persuade someone to do something in a clever and dishonest way, when they do not want to do it:
Her son tried to inveigle her into giving him the money for a car.
eviscerate
- VERB
To eviscerate a person or animal means to remove their internal organs, such as their heart, lungs, and stomach.
[formal]
…strangling and eviscerating rabbits for the pot. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: gut, draw, paunch, disembowel More Synonyms of eviscerate - VERB
If you say that something will eviscerate an organization or system, you are emphasizing that it will make the organization or system much weaker or much less powerful.
[formal, emphasis]
Democrats say the petition will eviscerate state government.
beguiling
adjective
interesting or attractive, but perhaps not to be trusted:
That’s a beguiling argument, but I’m not convinced by it.
bountiful
adjective literary
large in amount:
We found a bountiful supply of coconuts on the island.
generous in giving to others:
our bountiful benefactor
shoo
exclamation
said to animals or children to make them go away:
“Shoo!” she shouted at the cat.
sarcastic
ADJECTIVE
Someone who is sarcastic says or does the opposite of what they really mean in order to mock or insult someone.
She poked fun at people’s shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.
Synonyms: ironical, cynical, satirical, cutting
misanthropic
ADJECTIVE
If you describe a person or their feelings as misanthropic, you mean that they do not like other people.
[formal]
Synonyms: antisocial, suspicious, cynical, sceptical
picky
adjective informal disapproving
Someone who is picky is very careful about choosing only what they like:
The children are such picky eaters.
Big companies can afford to be picky about who they hire.
corpulent
adjective formal
fat:
a corpulent gentleman
finicky
ADJECTIVE
If you say that someone is finicky, you mean that they are worried about small details and are difficult to please.
[disapproval]
Even the most finicky eater will find something appetizing here.
Synonyms: fussy, difficult, particular, hard to please
gormandize
- to eat (food) greedily and voraciously
persnickety
ADJECTIVE
If you describe someone as persnickety, you think that they pay too much attention to small, unimportant details.
[US, informal, disapproval]
He is a very rigorous man, very persnickety.
attuned to
adjective
especially able to understand or deal with:
People in New York seem attuned to fashion.
to make someone able to understand or recognize something:
My ears are beginning to attune to the subtle differences in intonation.
His previous experience attuned him to the limitations and possibilities of government service.
recess
- COUNTABLE NOUN [oft in NOUN]
A recess is a break between the periods of work of an official body such as a committee, a court of law, or a government.
The conference broke for a recess.
Some in Congress are concerned the war option could be adopted in November when Congress is in recess.
Parliament returns to work today after its summer recess.
Synonyms: break, rest, holiday, closure - COUNTABLE NOUN
In a room, a recess is part of a wall which is built further back than the rest of the wall. Recesses are often used as a place to put furniture such as shelves.
…a discreet recess next to a fireplace.
Synonyms: alcove, corner, bay, depression - COUNTABLE NOUN [usually plural]
The recesses of something or somewhere are the parts of it which are hard to see because light does not reach them or they are hidden from view.
He emerged from the dark recesses of the garage. [+ of]
From the recesses of his coat Richard produced a bottle of champagne.
Synonyms: depths, reaches, heart, retreats
Stygian
adjective literary
extremely and unpleasantly dark:
Stygian gloom
gloomy
- ADJECTIVE
If a place is gloomy, it is almost dark so that you cannot see very well.
Inside it’s gloomy after all that sunshine.
…this huge gloomy church.
Synonyms: dark, dull, dim, dismal More Synonyms of gloomy - ADJECTIVE
If people are gloomy, they are unhappy and have no hope.
Graduates are feeling gloomy about the jobs market.
gloomily ADVERB [ADVERB with verb]
He tells me gloomily that he has been called up for army service. - ADJECTIVE
If a situation is gloomy, it does not give you much hope of success or happiness.
…a gloomy picture of an economy sliding into recession.
Officials say the outlook for next year is gloomy.
Synonyms: depressing, bad, dismal, dreary
delusion
COUNTABLE NOUN
A delusion is a false idea.
I was under the delusion that he intended to marry me.
Synonyms: misconception, mistaken idea, misapprehension, fancy
Scrooge
VARIABLE NOUN
If you call someone a Scrooge, you disapprove of them because they are very mean and hate spending money.
[disapproval]
What a bunch of Scrooges.
Synonyms: miser, penny-pincher [informal], skinflint, cheapskate [informal]
epicure
noun [ C ] formal
a person who enjoys high quality food and drink
skinflint
a person who is unwilling to spend money:
He’s a real skinflint.
hedonist
noun [ C ]
someone who tries to have as much pleasure as possible, according to the belief that the most important thing in life is to enjoy yourself:
The Marquis de Sade was a hedonist who believed there should be no limits on human behaviour.
Wilson, a bachelor, is a heavy drinker and a womanizer, but he’s not a simple hedonist.
plunder
verb
to steal goods violently from a place, especially during a war:
After the president fled the country, the palace was plundered by soldiers.
Tragically, the graves were plundered and the contents scattered.
pillage
verb [ I or T ] formal
to steal something from a place or a person by using violence, especially during war:
Works of art were pillaged from many countries in the dark days of the Empire.
rapacious
adjective formal
having or showing a strong wish to take things for yourself, usually using unfair methods or force:
a rapacious landlord/businessman
her rapacious appetite for fame
effusive
adjective formal
expressing welcome, approval, or pleasure in a way that shows very strong feeling:
They gave us such an effusive welcome it was quite embarrassing.
homicide
noun [ C or U ] LAW US formal or specialized
(an act of) murder:
He was convicted of homicide.
The number of homicides in the city has risen sharply.
hideout
noun [ C ]
a secret place where someone can go when they do not want to be found by other people
heinous
ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe something such as a crime as heinous, you mean that it is extremely evil or horrible.
[formal]
Her life has been permanently blighted by his heinous crime.
They are capable of the most heinous acts.
Synonyms: shocking, evil, monstrous, grave
pulchritude
noun [ U ] formal
beauty, especially a woman’s beauty
iniquity
VARIABLE NOUN
You can refer to wicked actions or very unfair situations as iniquity.
[formal]
He rails against the iniquities of capitalism. [+ of]
A disco isn’t exactly a den of iniquity.
Synonyms: wickedness, wrong, crime, evil
canniness
the quality of being canny(thinking quickly and cleverly, especially in business or financial matters)
propensity
noun [ S ] formal
indiscretion
the fact that someone is likely to behave in a particular way, especially a bad way:
[ + to infinitive ] She’s inherited from her father a propensity to talk too much.
He’s well-known for his natural propensity for indiscretion.
VARIABLE NOUN
If you talk about someone’s indiscretion, you mean that they have done or said something that is risky, careless, or likely to upset people.
Occasionally they paid for their indiscretion with their lives.
…punishing me for an indiscretion committed a decade ago.
Synonyms: folly, foolishness, recklessness, imprudence
affront
noun [ C ]
a remark or action intended to insult or offend someone:
He regarded the comments as an affront to his dignity.
condone
verb [ T ]
to accept or allow behaviour that is wrong:
If the government is seen to condone violence, the bloodshed will never stop.
expatiate
verb [ I ] formal disapproving
to speak or write about something in great detail or for a long time:
She expatiated on/upon her work for the duration of the meal.
tapestry
noun [ C ]
a strong cloth with colored threads woven into it to create a picture or design, usually hung on a wall or used to cover furniture:
[ C ] Mitchell creates tapestries that depict river landscapes.
pennant
noun [ C ]
a flag in the shape of a triangle
bedizen
to dress or decorate gaudily or tastelessly
caparison
- a decorated covering for a horse or other animal, esp (formerly) for a warhorse
- rich or elaborate clothing and ornaments
extirpate
verb [ T ] formal
to remove or destroy something completely
startle
verb [ T ]
to do something unexpected that surprises and sometimes worries a person or animal:
She was concentrating on her book and his voice startled her.
The noise of the car startled the birds and the whole flock flew up into the air.
Her article on diet startled many people into changing their eating habits.
parishioner
noun [ C ]
a member of a particular parish under the care of a priest, especially one who often goes to its church
self-righteous
adjective disapproving
believing that your ideas and behaviour are morally better than those of other people:
He’s so self-righteous - like he’s never done anything wrong in his life.
salacious
adjective disapproving
causing or showing a strong interest in sexual matters:
a salacious book/joke/comment
collegial
adjective formal
relating to a friendly relationship between colleagues (= people who work together):
The organization has a welcoming collegial atmosphere.
used to describe a method of working in which responsibility is shared between several people:
The new chair quickly upset committee members, who were used to a more collegial style.
egalitarian
adjective formal
believing that all people are equally important and should have the same rights and opportunities in life:
an egalitarian society
The party’s principles are basically egalitarian.
ignominious
adjective literary
(especially of events or behaviour) embarrassing because of being a complete failure:
an ignominious defeat/failure/retreat
ADJECTIVE
If you describe an experience or action as ignominious, you mean it is embarrassing because it shows a great lack of success.
[formal]
…their ignominious defeat.
Many thought that he was doomed to ignominious failure.
Synonyms: humiliating, disgraceful, shameful, sorry
peremptory
adjective formal
expecting to be obeyed immediately and without any questions:
He started issuing peremptory instructions.
She was highly critical of the insensitive and peremptory way in which the cases had been handled.
saturnine
adjective literary
serious and unfriendly:
a saturnine character/look
worldliness
noun [ U ]
the quality of being practical and having a lot of experience of life:
What he lacked in worldliness he made up for in skill and eagerness.
She’s won practically every competition up to this point, thanks to her dance training, worldliness, and self-confidence.
venal
adjective formal
A venal person is willing to behave in a way that is not honest or moral in exchange for money:
a venal ruler
A venal activity is done in order to get money:
a venal regime
They are accused of being involved in venal practices.
indolent
ADJECTIVE Someone who is indolent is lazy. [formal] ...indolent teenagers who won't lift a finger to help. Synonyms: lazy, slack, idle, slow
showing no real interest or effort:
an indolent wave of the hand
an indolent reply
