UNIT4 Flashcards
ambivalence
n. the state of having conflicting emotional attitudes.
John felt some ambivalence about getting married before finishing college.
The adjective is ambivalent.
In public opinion surveys in the United States, scientists rank second only to physicians in public esteem, yet much of the public is increasingly ambivalent about some of the implications for society of
“Big Science” and its related technology.
ambrosia
n. something delicious; the food of the gods
The combination of flavors in the Moroccan baked eggplant was pure ambrosia.
The adjective is ambrosial.
The food critic praised the chef for preparing what he called an “ambrosial
meal.”
ameliorate
v. to improve
Knowing they could not stop the spread of a contagion in a few
days, health authorities worked to inhibit its spread and to ameliorate
its effects by issuing warnings to the public and initiating immunization
programs.
amenable
adj. agreeable; cooperative; suited
The young writer is amenable to suggestions for improving her
prose style to make it more interesting.
amenity
n. something that increases comfort
Many amenities considered normal and necessary by people in developed
countries, such as indoor plumbing, were luxuries only a few
generations ago.
amulet
n. ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
The early Christian Church forbade the use of amulets, which had
become common in the Roman Empire at the time the Christian
Church began to develop.
anachronism
n. something out of the proper time
Some experts regard the retirement age of 65 as an anachronism at
a time when people in the developed world have much longer life expectancies
than previously.
analgesic
n. medication that reduces or eliminates pain
Aspirin (the trademark of the drug acetylsalicylic acid) is a powerful
analgesic that was introduced in 1899 and is still one of the most effective
medicines available to alleviate pain, fever, and inflammation.
analogous
adj. comparable
The psychology researcher’s experiment postulates that the brain is
analogous to a digital computer.
Analogy is a noun meaning a similarity in some ways between things that are otherwise dissimilar.
The idea of evolution in nature is sometimes misconstrued and applied
by analogy to other areas in which there is scant evidence for its
existence; a notable example of this is Social Darwinism, in which it
is argued that society is like nature, and thus people, like animals, are
competing for survival, with those who are genetically superior at surviving
and reproducing.
Analog is a noun meaning something that is comparable to something else.
Some commentators have posited the existence of an analog to the
Protestant work ethic in Chinese culture, which they call the ‘‘Confucian
work ethic,” to explain the economic success of some countries
with large Chinese populations.
anarchy
n. absence of government; state of disorder
The American philosopher Robert Nozick does not advocate anarchy;
rather, he argues for the merits of a minimal state that would not
violate the natural rights of individuals.
The adjective anarchic means lacking order or control.
The student of mythology speculated that Dionysos was created as
a projection of the pleasure-loving, anarchic aspect of human nature.
The noun anarchism refers to the theory that all forms of government
are oppressive and should be abolished. It also means the
advocacy of this theory or the attempt to bring about anarchism.
Most political scientists do not believe anarchism to be a tenable
theory of government.
n. the state of having conflicting emotional attitudes.
ambivalence
n. something delicious; the food of the gods
ambrosia
v. to improve
ameliorate
adj. agreeable; cooperative; suited
amenable
n. something that increases comfort
amenity
n. ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
amulet
n. something out of the proper time
anachronism
n. medication that reduces or eliminates pain
analgesic
adj. comparable
analogous
n. absence of government; state of disorder
anarchy
