TC_SE_practice_words_2_reverse Flashcards
(adj) ordinary and not special or exciting in any way:
example: He gave a fairly run-of-the-mill speech.
run-of-the-mill
using too many words and therefore boring or difficult to read or listen to:
example: The author’s prolix style has done nothing to encourage sales of the book.
prolix
(adj) opposed to the idea of one country ruling or having a lot of power or influence over another country:
example: He relied on populist anti-imperialist rhetoric.
anti-imperialist
verb: to compete in order to win something:
example: There are three world-class tennis players contending for this title.
verb: to say that something is true or is a fact:
example: The lawyer contended (that) her client had never been near the scene of the crime.
contend
noun: A conception of something is an idea that you have of it in your mind.
example: My conception of a garden was based on gardens I had visited in England.
noun: Conception is the forming of an idea for something in your mind.
example: The other fundamental consideration in the conception of a plan is function.
noun: Conception is the process in which a woman ‘s egg is fertilized and she becomes pregnant.
example: Six weeks after conception your baby is the size of your little fingernail.
conception
adj: If you describe something as sacrosanct, you consider it to be special and are unwilling to see it criticized or change
example: Freedom of the press is sacrosanct
sacrosanct
adj: having good moral qualities and behaviour:
example: He described them as virtuous and hard-working people.
virtuous
noun: (disapproving) behaviour that shows you think you are more important or more intelligent than other people:
example: She answered him with such haughty condescension that his face went white.
condescension
noun: something that happened or existed before another thing, especially if it either developed into it or had an influence on it:
example: Sulphur dioxide is the main precursor of acid rain.
precursor
noun: the quality of being extremely skilled at something:
example: The technical virtuosity of the paintings is such that you can almost smell the flowers.
virtuosity
noun: the behaviour of someone who is not at all brave and tries to avoid danger:
example: You can accuse me of cowardice, but I still wouldn’t fight in a war.
cowardice
adj: Something that is impaired is less effective than it should be, or is damaged:
example: She suffers from impaired vision/hearing.
impaired
noun: approval or agreement, often given by an official group:
example: The council has finally indicated its approbation of the plans.
approbation
noun: the ability to draw well
draftsmanship
verb: to discover something:
example: The police have so far been unable to ascertain the cause of the explosion.
verb: to make certain of something:
example: I ascertained that no one could overhear us before I told Otto the news.
ascertain
verb: to make something bad such as pain or problems less severe:
example: The drugs did nothing to alleviate her pain/suffering.
alleviate
noun: If you describe an experience or situation as an ordeal, you think it is difficult and unpleasant.
example: …the painful ordeal of the last eight months.
ordeal
verb: to cause people to doubt someone’s character, qualities, or reputation by criticizing them:
example: Are you impugning my competence as a professional designer?
impugn
verb: to spoil something that is pure or someone’s perfect reputation:
example: His reputation, he said, had been unfairly sullied by half-truths and innuendos.
verb: to make something dirty:
example: No speck of dirt had ever sullied his hands.
sully
noun: the act of providing something:
example: Of course there’s provision in the plan for population increase.
provisions-> supplies of food and other necessary things:
example: provisions for the journey
provision(s)
noun: a complete change
example: Under the new editor, the magazine has undergone a metamorphosis.
metamorphosis
adj: often criticizing other people:
example: his censorious attitude to those who do not share his opinions
censorious
verb: to cause people to stop respecting someone or believing in an idea or person:
example:
- Evidence of links with drug dealers has discredited the mayor.
- discredited theories
discredit
noun: a new activity, usually in business, that involves risk or uncertainty:
example: She advised us to look abroad for more lucrative business ventures.
verb: to risk going somewhere or doing something that might be dangerous or unpleasant, or to risk saying something that might be criticized:
example: She rarely ventured outside, except when she went to stock up on groceries.
venture
