TC_SE_practice_words_4 Flashcards
short of something
idiom: not having enough of something:
I’m a little short of cash right now, so I can’t lend you anything.
idiom: Short of something also means not including something:
There must be some punishment you can give him short of expelling him from school.
misapprehension
noun: a failure to understand something, or an understanding or belief about something that is not correct:
example: Most industrialists labour under a misapprehension (= wrongly believe) that unrestrained economic growth can be achieved without damaging the environment.
cant
noun: If you refer to moral or religious statements as cant, you are criticizing them because you think the person making them does not really believe what they are saying.
example; ..politicians holding forth with their usual hypocritical cant.
propensity
noun: A propensity to do something or a propensity for something is a natural tendency that you have to behave in a particular way.
example: She hasn’t reckoned on his propensity for violence.
obviate
verb: To obviate something such as a problem or a need means to remove it or make it unnecessary.
example: Our old-fashioned push-mower, for instance, obviates the needs for extension leads.
proclivity
noun: A proclivity is a tendency to behave in a particular way or to like a particular thing, often a bad way or thing.
example: He was indulging his own sexual proclivities.
uninitiated
adj: not having knowledge or experience of a particular subject or activity:
example: The author’s goal was to introduce uninitiated readers to the area.
tenor
noun: a male singer with a high voice, or (especially in combinations) a musical instrument that has the same range of notes as the tenor singing voice:
example: a tenor saxophone
noun: the general meaning, character, or pattern of something:
example: What was the general tenor of his speech?
consensus
a generally accepted opinion or decision among a group of people:
example: The general consensus in the office is that he can’t do his job.
recitals
noun: a performance of music or poetry, usually given by one person or a small group of people:
example: I went to a violin recital today.
ballads
noun: a song or poem that tells a story, or (in popular music) a slow love song
bask in something
verb: to take pleasure from something that makes you feel good:
example: He basked in his moment of glory, holding the trophy up to the crowd.
chorales
noun: a formal song written to be sung by a choir, especially in a church
gloat
verb: If someone is gloating, they are showing pleasure at their own success or at other people’s failure in an arrogant and unpleasant way.
example: He had never been a malicious man, certainly not one to gloat over the tragedies of others.
chantey
noun: a small, badly built house, usually made from pieces of wood, metal, or cardboard, in which poor people live:
despair
noun: the feeling that there is no hope and that you can do nothing to improve a difficult or worrying situation:
example: Hope began to fade, leaving a mood/sense of despair.
shrug something off
phrasal verb: to treat something as if it is not important or not a problem:
example: The stock market shrugged off the economic gloom and rose by 1.5 percent.
impeding
used to refer to an event, usually something unpleasant or unwanted, that is going to happen soon:
example: impending disaster/doom
rift
noun: a serious disagreement that separates two people who have been friends and stops their friendship continuing:
example: The marriage caused a rift between the brothers and they didn’t speak to each other for ten years.
descry
verb: to see or notice something or someone:
example: Miss Bates, passing near the window, descried Mr Knightley on horseback not far off.
chastisement
noun: a severe criticism or punishment:
example: His bad behaviour invited chastisement.
moral obligation
Moral obligation refers to a duty or responsibility to act in a certain way based on ethical principles, conscience, or societal values, rather than legal requirements.
balm
noun: something that gives comfort:
example: Her gentle words were a balm to me.
prompting
noun: the act of trying to make someone say something:
example: Kids of that age really shouldn’t need prompting to say thank you for things.
divesting
verb: to sell something, especially a business or a part of a business:
example: The company is divesting its less profitable business operations.
Regalities
Regalities generally refers to royal rights, privileges, or powers. It can also mean territories or lands under royal jurisdictio
customarily
adverb: in a way that follows the usual or traditional way of doing something:
example: Bells are customarily used to convey the joy of weddings and the sorrow of funerals.
forfeit
verb: to lose the right to do or have something because you have broken a rule:
example: If you cancel now, you forfeit your deposit.
introspection
noun: examination of and attention to your own ideas, thoughts, and feelings:
example: His defeat in the world championship led to a long period of gloomy introspection.
sustained
adj: continuing for a long time:
example: The president’s speech was greeted by sustained applause.
tentative
adj: (of a plan or idea) not certain or agreed, or (of a suggestion or action) said or done in a careful but uncertain way because you do not know if you are right:
example: I have tentative plans to take a trip to Seattle in July.
hoard
verb: to collect large amounts of something and keep it for yourself, often in a secret place:
example: During the siege people began hoarding food and supplies.
consult
verb: to discuss something with someone before you make a decision:
example: Why didn’t you consult me about this?
merit
noun: the quality of being good and deserving praise:
an entertaining film with little artistic merit
verb: If something merits a particular treatment, it deserves or is considered important enough to be treated in that way:
example: This plan merits careful attention.
toppled
verb : to (cause to) lose balance and fall down:
example: The statue of the dictator was toppled (over) by the crowds.
trample
verb: to step heavily on something or someone, causing damage or injury:
example: Somebody trampled all over my flowerbeds!
circumstantial
adj: containing information, especially about a crime, that makes you think something is true but does not completely prove it:
example: circumstantial evidence
restitution
noun: the return of objects that were stolen or lost:
example: They are demanding the restitution of ancient treasures that were removed from the country in the 16th century.
dissolution
noun: the act or process of ending an official organization or legal agreement:
example: the dissolution of parliament
ascent
noun: the act of climbing or moving upwards:
example: She made her first successful ascent of Everest last year.
