Review 2 Flashcards
Nadir
the worst moment, or the moment of least hope and least achievement:
The defeat was the nadir of her career.
Opposite
Zenith
the best or most successful point or time:
In the 1860s, Tolstoy was at the zenith of his achievement.
His career reached its zenith in the 1960s.
Decorum
behaviour that is controlled, calm, and polite:
As young ladies we were expected to act/behave with proper decorum.
Seemly
socially suitable and polite
Seemly behavior
Edgy
nervous; not calm:
He was feeling a little edgy about the whole thing.
unusual in a way that is fashionable or exciting:
edgy art installations
Afloat
floating on water:
She spent seven days afloat on a raft.
He managed to keep/stay afloat by holding on to the side of the boat.
having enough money to pay what you owe:
Many small businesses are struggling to stay/keep afloat.
Prod
[ C ] an act of pushing something or someone with your finger or with a pointed object:
He gave her a prod in the ribs.
[ S ] encouragement to do something:
She hasn’t ordered that book for me yet - I must give her a prod.
Verb
[ I or T ] to push something or someone with your finger or with a pointed object:
I prodded her in the back to get her attention.
She prodded the cake with her fork to see if it was cooked.
[ T ] to encourage someone to take action, especially when they are being slow or unwilling:
He gets things done, but only after I’ve prodded him into doing them.
Bemuse
to slightly confuse someone:
Her answer bemused us all.
Buff
Verb
Polish / to rub a surface with a soft material to make it shine:
First you apply the wax to the floor, let it dry, and then buff it.
Noun
a person who is very interested in a subject and knows a lot about it:
a history/movie buff
Adj
having a strong, healthy body with well-developed muscles:
He was spotted on the beach looking extremely buff.
Delve / rummage
to search, especially as if by digging, in order to find a thing or information:
She delved into her pocket to find some change.
She rummaged in/through all the drawers, looking for a pen.
Boulder
a very large rock
Exert
[ T ] to use something such as authority, power, influence, etc. in order to make something happen:
If you were to exert your influence they might change their decision.
Some managers exert considerable pressure on their staff to work extra hours without being paid.
**exert yourself
to make a mental or physical effort:
I was too tired to exert myself
Accord
(a formal) agreement:
On 31 May the two leaders signed a peace accord.
The project is completely in accord with government policy.
of your own accord
**If you do something of your own accord, you do it without being asked to do it:
She came of her own accord. No one asked her to come
Stupor
a state in which a person is almost unconscious and their thoughts are not clear:
He was lying under the table in a drunken stupor.
Proxy
[ C or U ] a written document that officially gives someone the authority to do something for another person, for example by voting at a meeting for them:
A creditor may give a proxy to any person of full age requiring him or her to vote for or against any specified resolution.
proxy materials/cards/forms
[ C or U ] a person who you choose to do something officially for you, for example to vote at a meeting or in an election when you are not able to vote yourself:
Your proxy does not necessarily have to sign the form himself or herself.
proxy votes/voting
Terse
using few words, sometimes in a way that seems rude or unfriendly:
“Are you feeling any better?” “No!” was the terse reply.
Curt
If someone’s manner or speech is curt, it is rude as a result of being very quick:
to give a curt nod/reply
Andy was very curt with him.
Ravine
a deep narrow valley with steep sides
Ascot
AmE
a wide, straight piece of material worn like a tie in the open neck of a shirt
BrE
a town in S England, in Bracknell Forest unitary authority, Berkshire: noted for its horse-race meetings, esp Royal Ascot, a four-day meeting held in June. Pop: 8755 (2001)
Gamut
The whole range of things that can be included in something
In her stories she expresses the whole gamut of emotions, from happiness to sorrow.
Jonson has run the gamut of hotel work, from porter to owner of a large chain of hotels.
Register
Voice
All the notes that a musical instrument or a person’s voice can produce, from the highest to the lowest
Music written mainly for the lower/higher register of the clarinet.
Nook / cranny
A small space that is hidden :
A cosy/sheltered/quiet nook
A small narrow opening in something solid:
There were small plants growing in every nook and cranny of the wall.
Dredge
To remove unwanted thing from the bottom of a river, lake using a boat or special device
They have to dredge the camel regularly to keep it open.
The police are dredging the lake for his body.
They dredged up all sorts of rubbish from the bottom of the river.
Slug
Informal
A bullet
The poor guy wound up with a slug in his stomach.
Tycoon / mogul
A powerful and rich person
A business/property/shipping tycoon
Movie/media/industry moguls
Swerve
To change direction suddenly
The bus driver swerved to avoid hitting a cyclist.
If you do not swerve from a principle or certain actions, you continue to think or act as you did in the beginning / unswerving
She is one of those rare politicians whom one can trust not to swerve from policy and principle.
Unswerving loyalty/devotion/support/faith
Ford
An area in a river or stream that is not deep and can be crossed on foot
Daub
Smear / to spread a thick or sticky liquid on something or to cover something with a thick or sticky liquid, often quickly or carelessly:
The walls had been daubed with graffiti.
The baby had daubed butter all over his hair and face.
The children had smeared peanut butter all over the sofa.
Deride
Ridicule
to laugh at someone or something in a way that shows you think they are stupid or of no value:
He derided my singing as pathetic.
This building, once derided by critics, is now a major tourist attraction.
Sea dog
an old sailor with many years of experience at sea:
With his white beard and blue cap he looked like an old sea dog.
Denizen
Inhabitant / an animal, plant, or person that lives in or is often in a particular place:
Deer and squirrels are among the denizens of the forest.
Hoist
to lift something heavy, sometimes using ropes or a machine:
A helicopter hoisted the final section of the bridge into place.
With some difficulty he hoisted her onto his shoulders.
Insurgent
Rebel / someone who is fighting against the government in their own country:
All approaches to the capital are now under the control of the insurgents.
Tantalize
to excite or attract someone by offering or suggesting something that is unlikely to be provided or is not enough:
Her paintings tantalize the eye.
Earful
angry, complaining speech:
I’d better not be late for practice or the coach will give me an earful.
Slate / censure
uk informal to attack by criticizing; to write or say that something is very bad:
Her last book was slated by the critics.
Formal ; strong criticism or disapproval:
His dishonest behaviour came under severe censure.
Sot
someone who often drinks too much alcohol
Heathen
(of people or their way of life, activities, and ideas) having no religion, or belonging to a religion that is not Christianity, Judaism, or Islam
Onus
the responsibility or duty to do something:
[ + to infinitive ] The onus is on the landlord to ensure that the property is habitable.
We are trying to shift the onus for passenger safety onto the government.
Autocrat
absolute ruler
a ruler with unlimited power, or someone who demands that people completely obey them
Spot on
exactly right:
“How old do I reckon she is? I’d say 38.” “Spot on.”
Also ran
someone in a competition who is unlikely to do well or who has failed
Unplaced
Fret
to be nervous or worried:
Don’t fret - I’m sure he’s OK.
She spent the day fretting about/over what she’d said to Nicky.
Racket / din
[ S ] informal an unpleasant loud continuous noise:
They were making such a racket outside that I couldn’t get to sleep.
a loud, unpleasant confused noise that lasts for a long time:
the din of the traffic
I had to shout to make myself heard above the din.
The children were making a terrible din.
Fulcrum
จุดสมดุล
[ S ] formal the main thing or person needed to support something or to make it work or happen:
The fulcrum of the debate/argument is the individual’s right to choose.
Pivot
the central or most important person or thing in a situation:
The former guerrilla leader has become the pivot on which the country’s emerging political stability turns/revolves (= it depends on him).
to turn or twist:
She pivots her left foot.
He pivoted on his heels and headed out.
Future deals will pivot on (= depend on) easing commercial conflicts.
Ire
anger:
Petty restrictions easily raised/aroused the ire of such a creative artist.
Sham
Phoney (informal)
Something that is not what it seems to be and is intended to deceive people:
It turned out that he wasn’t a real doctor at all - he was just a sham.
They claimed that the election had been fair, but really it was a sham.
To pretend:
He isn’t really upset - he is just shamming.
Dolt
A stupid person
Ebb
(Water)
When the sea or tide ebbs, it moves away from the coast and falls to a lower level
We will sail on the ebb.
If a physical or emotional felling ebbs, it becomes less strong or disappear
He could feel his strength ebbing away.
Asunder
Into forcefully separated pieces
Their lives were torn asunder by the tragedy.
Sepulcher
/‘sep e ker/
Tomb
Garret
Attic
Dip
To go down to a lower level
The sun dipped below the horizon.
Brink
The point where a new or different situation is about to begin
Scientists are on the brink of a major new discovery.
Butty
A sandwich
Bifid
Divided into two parts
A bifid leaf
Rid
to free a person or place of something unwanted or harmful:
In the city, it is hard to rid a building permanently of pests.
Sever
to break or separate, especially by cutting:
The knife severed an artery and he bled to death.
Her foot was severed from her leg in a car accident.
Livid
extremely angry:
He was livid when he found out.
(especially of marks on the skin) of an unpleasant purple or dark blue colour:
He had a long, livid scar across his cheek.
Intermittent
not happening regularly or continuously; stopping and starting repeatedly or with periods in between:
intermittent rain
an intermittent noise
Although she made intermittent movie appearances, she was essentially a stage actress.
Sporadic
happening sometimes; not regular or continuous:
sporadic gunfire
a sporadic electricity supply
More than 100 people have been killed this year in sporadic outbursts of ethnic violence.
Vim
energy and enthusiasm:
At 87, Minna’s still full of vim and vigour.
Canny
thinking quickly and cleverly, especially in business or financial matters:
These salesmen are a canny lot.
Meadow
a field with grass and often wild flowers in it:
There was a path through the meadow to the village.
Bleat
to produce the sound made by a sheep or goat:
The brass section bleated like goats with bad colds.
informal to complain in an annoying way:
She’s always bleating (on) about how badly she’s been treated.
Demure
(especially of women) quiet and well behaved:
She gave him a demure smile.
Dawdle
to do something or go somewhere very slowly, taking more time than is necessary:
Stop dawdling! You’ll be late for school!
Toot
to make a short sound or series of short sounds, especially with the horn of a car as a warning:
The driver tooted (her horn).
The waiting taxi gave a toot on its horn.
Intemperate
showing anger or violence that is too extreme and not well controlled:
an intemperate outburst
intemperate language
The governor said he would not be provoked into intemperate action.
Revel
to dance, drink, sing, etc. at a party or in public, especially in a noisy way
Wallow
(esp. of animals) to lie or roll about slowly in deep, wet earth, sand, or water:
The pig wallowed in the mud.
to allow yourself to enjoy something completely:
My idea of a holiday is to stay in a five-star hotel and just wallow in luxury for a week.
Gait
(formal) a particular way of walking:
He walked with a slow stiff gait.
the particular way a horse walks or runs:
The pony’s gait slowed from a canter to a trot.
Adonis
a very beautiful or sexually attractive young man:
She walked in on the arm of some blond Adonis.
Plunder
[ I or T ] 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.
[ T ] to steal or remove something precious from something, in a way that does not consider moral laws or is more severe than it need be:
Someone has been plundering funds from the company.
The future of our planet is in danger if we continue to plunder its resources as we do.
Loot
(usually of large numbers of people during a violent event) to steal from shops and houses:
During the riot shops were looted and cars damaged or set on fire.
(Indian English) to steal something from a place or person:
Burglars looted cash and mobiles from a shop in Tagore Town.
The passengers in the general compartment of Shramjivi Express were looted and robbed of their valuables.
Din / racket
a loud, unpleasant confused noise that lasts for a long time:
the din of the traffic
I had to shout to make myself heard above the din.
The children were making a terrible din.
Racket
informal an unpleasant loud continuous noise:
They were making such a racket outside that I couldn’t get to sleep.
Enact
[ T often passive ] specialized law to put something into action, especially to make something law:
A package of economic sanctions is to be enacted against the country.
[ T ] (formal) to perform a story or play:
The stories are enacted using music, dance and mime.
Ringlet
a curled piece of long hair:
Her hair hung down in ringlets.
Spoor
the marks left by a wild animal as it travels
Stray
Stray also means happening by chance and lacking direction:
It was just a stray thought I had while washing the dishes.
There are still a few stray spots of paint on the window pane.
Several journalists have been killed or injured by stray bullets while reporting on the civil war.
Tally
Agree
to match or agree with something else:
The numbers on your spreadsheet don’t tallywith ours.
Livid
extremely angry:
He was livid when he found out.
Assailant
a person who attacks another person:
Can you describe your assailant?
None of the witnesses could identify the assailant.
