Week 6 Flashcards
Paramount
more important than anything else
This matter is of paramount importance.
(formal) having the highest position or the greatest power
China’s paramount leader
Amalgam
[countable, usually singular] amalgam (of something) (formal) a mixture or combination of things
an amalgam of several companies and organizations
Estrangement
the fact of no longer living with your husband, wife or partner
estrangement from somebody/something
a period of estrangement from his wife
estrangement between A and B
the bitter estrangement between husband and wife
the fact of no longer being friendly or in contact with somebody
estrangement from somebody/something
her estrangement from her family
estrangement between A and B
The misunderstanding had caused a seven-year estrangement between them.
Acquiesce
acquiesce (in/to something) to accept something without arguing, even if you do not really agree with it
Senior government figures must have acquiesced in the cover-up.
She explained her plan and reluctantly he acquiesced.
Vomit
to bring food from the stomach back out through the mouth-throw up
The smell made her want to vomit
Throw up
to vomit food
SYNONYM sick something up
The baby’s thrown up her dinner.
to make people notice something
Her research has thrown up some interesting facts.
to build something suddenly or in a hurry
They’re throwing up new housing estates all over the place.
to leave your job
to throw up your career
Squarely
directly; not at an angle or to one side
She looked at me squarely in the eye.
He stood squarely in front of them, blocking the entrance.
(figurative) We must meet the challenge squarely (= not try to avoid it).
directly or exactly; without doubt
The responsibility for the crisis rests squarely on the government.
This case falls squarely into the category of abuse.
The party puts its support squarely behind the minister.
Implicate
implicate somebody (in something) to show or suggest that somebody is involved in something bad or criminal He tried to avoid saying anything that would implicate him further.
implicate something (in/as something) to show or suggest that something is the cause of something bad The results implicate poor hygiene as one cause of the outbreak.
Vengeance
the act of punishing or harming somebody in return for what they have done to you, your family or friends
SYNONYM revenge
a desire for vengeance
vengeance on/upon somebody
to take vengeance on somebody
She is determined to wreak vengeance on those who killed her cousin.
He swore vengeance on his child’s killer.
vengeance against somebody
He sought vengeance against those who had humiliated his country.
Wreak
Cause (a large amount of damage or harm)
Overcome
overcome somebody/something to defeat somebody
In the final game Sweden easily overcame France.
Meet out
mete something out (to somebody)
(formal) to give somebody a punishment; to make somebody suffer bad treatment
Severe penalties were meted out by the court.
the violence meted out to the prisoners
Reparation
reparations [plural] money that is paid by a country that has lost a war, for the damage, injuries, etc. that it has caused
[uncountable] the act of giving something to somebody or doing something for them in order to show that you are sorry that you have caused them to suffer
Offenders should be forced to make reparation to the community.
Proceeding
[countable, usually plural] the process of using a court to settle an argument or to deal with a complaint
court/legal/judicial proceedings
proceeding (against somebody) (for something)
There was enough evidence to bring criminal proceedings against her.
proceedings [plural] an event or a series of actions
The Mayor will open the proceedings at the City Hall tomorrow.
We watched the proceedings from the balcony.
proceedings [plural] the official written report of a meeting, etc.
His paper is published in the new issue of the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Outright
complete and total
an outright ban/rejection/victory
She was the outright winner.
No one party is expected to gain an outright majority.
open and direct
There was outright opposition to the plan.
