Unit 46 Flashcards
Lambaste
(v) to thrash verbally or physically
e. g. The critic lambasted the movie in her column, calling it “the most insipid, jejune film made in our generation.”
Jejune
(adj) 1. naive, simplistic, and superficial
2. (of ideas or writings) dry and uninteresting
e.g. 1. Their entirely predictable and usually jejune opinions.
Lascivious
(adj) lustful
e. g. The court ruled that the movie could be censored because its sole aim was to promote lascivious thoughts.
Lassitude
(n) lethargy; sluggishness
e. g. After the death of his wife, Steven suffered a three-month period of lassitude and depression.
Latent
(adj) present but hidden; potential
e. g. Some experts in human psychology believe that we are just beginning to explore the latent powers of the human mind.
Laud
(v) to praise
e. g. The obituary lauded him as a great statesman and soldier.
Lethargic
(adj) inactive
e. g. After the 18-hour flight from New York to Singapore, the passengers were lethargic.
Levee
(n) an embankment that prevents a river from overflowing
e. g. An extensive system of levees is the only way to prevent the river from flooding the area during the periods of heavy rain.
Levity
(n) light manner or attitude
e. g. The comedian has a gift for finding an element of levity in the most serious subjects.
Liberal
(adj) tolerant; broad-minded; generous; lavish
e. g. Bankruptcy laws should not be too stringent, or not enough people will venture their capital; on the other hand they should not be too liberal, or entrepreneurs will take unreasonable risks and waste capital.
Libertine
(n) one without moral restraint
e. g. Don Juan is a legendary, archetypal libertine whose story has been told by many poets, such as Lord Byron.
