PD_4/08/20(princeton 1014 --> SE --> Drill 6) Flashcards
Meaning of con in English
con
verb [ T ] informal
a trick to get someone’s money or make someone do what you want:
It’s a con - you get half the food for twice the price!
a con trick
to make someone believe something false, usually so that that person will give you
their money or possessions:
She felt she had been conned into buying the car.
Thieves conned him out of his life savings.
He managed to con £20 out of them (= get that amount from them by deceiving them).
vigilant
adjective
always being careful to notice things, especially possible danger:
Following the bomb scare at the airport, the staff have been warned to be extra vigilant.
mindful
adjective
careful not to forget about something:
Mindful of the poor road conditions, she reduced her speed to 30 mph.
Politicians are increasingly mindful that young voters are turning away from traditional parties.
deliberately aware of your body, mind, and feelings in the present moment, in order to create a feeling of calm:
I’m trying to be more mindful and I think it helps me with stress.
ambience
noun [ S ] (also ambiance)
the character of a place or the quality it seems to have:
Despite being a busy city, Dublin has the ambience of a country town.
discourse
noun formal
communication in speech or writing
[ C ]
a speech or piece of writing about a particular, usually serious, subject:
a discourse on/upon the nature of life after death
gala
noun [ C ]
a special public occasion at which there is a lot of entertainment, usually in the form of different types of performances:
There will be many stars performing in the Royal Ballet’s Gala Night, held in aid of children’s charities.
embark on/upon something
— phrasal verb with embark verb [ I ]
to start something big or important:
We’ve embarked on an exciting new project.
exigent
adjective formal
needing urgent attention, or demanding too much from other people:
an exigent problem
an exigent manager
cadency
the line of descent from a younger member of a family
the regular rise and fall of the voice
loquacious
adjective formal
Someone who is loquacious talks a lot.
repel
verb [ T ]
repulse
a substance used to repel (to force someone or something to stop moving towards you or attacking you:
)something:
insect/mosquito repellent
If something repulses you, it causes you to have a strong feeling of dislike, disapproval, or disgust:
The tourists were repulsed by the filthy conditions.
to push away or refuse something or someone unwanted, especially to successfully stop a physical attack against you:
The enemy attack was quickly repulsed.
capacious
adjective formal
having a lot of space and able to contain a lot:
a capacious pocket/handbag
abiding
adjective [ before noun ]
An abiding feeling or memory is one that you have had for a long time:
My abiding memory is of him in the garden.
noxious
adjective formal
Something, especially a gas or other substance, that is noxious is poisonous or very harmful:
They died from inhaling noxious fumes.
harmful and unpleasant:
a noxious smell/influence
vapid
adjective formal
tepid
showing no intelligence or imagination:
a vapid reality TV show
He’s attractive, but vapid.
- ADJECTIVE
Water or another liquid that is tepid is slightly warm.
She bent her mouth to the tap and drank the tepid water.
Synonyms: lukewarm, warmish, slightly warm More Synonyms of tepid - ADJECTIVE
If you describe something such as a feeling or reaction as tepid, you mean that it lacks enthusiasm.
His nomination, while strongly backed by the President, has received tepid support in the Senate.
Synonyms: unenthusiastic, half-hearted, indifferent, cool
expedient
adjective formal
helpful or useful in a particular situation, but sometimes not morally acceptable:
It might be expedient not to pay him until the work is finished.
The management has taken a series of expedient measures to improve the company’s financial situation.
perspicacious
ADJECTIVE
Someone who is perspicacious notices, realizes, and understands things quickly.
[formal]
…one of the most perspicacious and perceptive historians of that period.
Synonyms: perceptive, aware, sharp, keen
rebuke
verb [ T ] formal
to speak angrily to someone because you disapprove of what they have said or done:
I was rebuked by my manager for being late.
The Justice Department publicly rebuked him over a leaked memorandum.
amass
verb [ T ]
to get a large amount of something, especially money or information, by collecting it over a long period:
She has amassed a huge fortune from her novels.
Some of his colleagues envy the enormous wealth that he has amassed.
relinquish
verb [ T ] formal
to give up something such as a responsibility or claim:
He has relinquished his claim to the throne.
She relinquished control of the family investments to her son.
to unwillingly stop holding or keeping something:
She relinquished her hold/grip on the steering wheel.
vilipend
helipad
VERB
to treat or regard with contempt
COUNTABLE NOUN
A helipad is a place where helicopters can land and take off.
drivel
noun [ U ] disapproving
nonsense or boring and unnecessary information:
You don’t believe the drivel you read on the internet, do you?
You’re talking drivel as usual!
natty
adjective old-fashioned informal
stylish and tidy in every detail:
He’s always been a natty dresser.
platitudinous
adjective formal disapproving
boring and having no meaning because of being said so many times before:
The speech was long and rather platitudinous.
After a few moments more of this platitudinous chat we bowed and went on our way.
