Unit 15 Flashcards
Coalesce
(v) to cause to become one
e. g. President John F. Kennedy said that Americans should be vigilant so that the interests of business and the military do not coalesce and thus undermine those o society as a whole
Vigilant
(adj) keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties
e. g. The burglar was spotted by vigilant neighbors.
Coda
(n) concluding part of a literally or musical composition; something that summarizes or concludes
e. g. The coda of the Danish composer Per Norgard’s Sixth Symphony seems to return to the serene sounds of the opening.
Serene
(adj) calm, peaceful, and untroubled; tranquil
e. g. Her eyes were closed and she looked very serene.
Codify
(v) to systematize
(n) Codification
(adj) Codified
e.g. The state legislature voted to codify regulations governing banking fraud.
Cognizant
(adj) informed; conscious; aware
e. g. Cognizant of the importance of the case.
Collage
(n) artistic composition of materials pasted over a surface; an assemblage of diverse elements
e. g. A collage of musical genres.
Commensurate
(adj) proportional
e. g. In the United States, malpractice suits have raised the cost of medication because doctors must pay more for insurance, and thus increase their fees commensurately.
Compendium
(n) brief, comprehensive summary
e. g. An invaluable compendium of useful information about language.
Complacent
(adj) self-satisfied
e. g. You can’t afford to be complacent about security.
Complaisant
(adj) overly polite; willing to please; obliging
e. g. Although France and Germany have a close relationship, neither would consider the other a complaisant ally.
Complement
(n) something that completes or makes up a whole
e. g. The libretto proved a perfect complement to the music.
