Week Seventeen Flashcards
Ruse
N: a trick intended to deceive someone
Example:
It was just a ruse to distract her while her partner took the money.
Perpetrate
V: to commit a crime or a violent or harmful act
Example:
In this country, half of all violent crime is perpetrated by people who have been drinking alcohol.
Consummate
Adj: perfect, or complete in every way
Example:
-a life of consummate happiness
-He’s a consummate athlete/gentleman/liar.
Allied
Adj: connected by a political or military agreement
Example:
allied bombers/forces
Ingenious
Adj: (of a person) very intelligent and skilful, or (of a thing) skilfully made or planned and involving new ideas and methods
Example:
-an ingenious idea/method/solution
-Johnny is so ingenious - he can make the most remarkable sculptures from the most ordinary materials.
Subterfuge
N: a trick or a dishonest way of achieving something; trick; ruse
Example:
It was clear that they must have obtained the information by subterfuge.
Concoct
V: to invent a story or excuse, esp. to deceive others; devise
Example:
He concocted the story because he did not want to do his chores.
Plant
V: to cause an idea or story to exist
Example:
-That incident planted doubts about him in my mind.
-Who planted these rumors?
Fallacious
Adj: not correct; misleading
Example:
His argument is based on fallacious reasoning.
Surmise
V: to guess something, without having much or any proof
Example:
The police surmise (that) the robbers have fled the country.
Swindle
V: to get money dishonestly from someone by deceiving or cheating them
Example:
They swindled local businesses out of thousands of dollars.
Escapade
N: an act involving some danger, risk, or excitement, because it is different from usual or expected behavior; adventure
Example:
Her latest escapade was to camp outside a department store on the night before the sale.
Manifold
Adj: many and of several different types; complex
Example:
Despite her manifold faults, she was a strong leader.
Assiduous
Adj: showing hard work, care, and attention to detail; devoted; attentive
Example:
-assiduous research/efforts
-an assiduous student
-The government has been assiduous in the fight against inflation.
Impeccable
Adj: perfect, with no problems or bad parts; faultless
Example:
impeccable taste/manners/credentials
His English is impeccable.
Credentials
N: abilities and experience that make someone suitable for a particular job or activity
Example:
-business/educational/professional credentials He is keen for people to know his business credentials.
-excellent/impeccable/impressive credentials She possesses impressive credentials and practical experience in both state and federal court.
Authenticity
N: the quality of being real or true
Example:
-Many people now question the authenticity of his claims.
-ensure/guarantee sth’s authenticity: Digital signatures ensure the authenticity of your documents.
Personal effects
N: things you own that you often carry with you, such as keys or clothing
Example:
After she had identified the body of her husband, the police asked her to collect his personal effects.
Fraught
Adj: filled
Fraught with something:
full of unpleasant things such as problems or dangers
Example:
fraught with difficulties: The negotiations have been fraught with difficulties right from the start.
Schemer
N: someone who makes clever, secret plans, often to deceive others
Example:
He’s a schemer who always finds a way of getting what he wants.
Resourceful
Adj: skilled at solving problems and making decisions on your own
Example:
She’s a very resourceful manager.
Permeat
V: to spread through something and be present in every part of it
Example:
Dissatisfaction with the government seems to have permeated every section of society.
Murky
Adj: dark and dirty or difficult to see through; obscure
Example:
The river was brown and murky after the storm.
Courier
N: a person who carries messages or documents for someone else
Example:
by courier I want to have this package delivered by motorcycle courier.
Component
N: a part that combines with other parts to form something bigger; element
Example:
-television/aircraft/computer components
-The factory supplies electrical components for cars.
Hoax
N: a plan to deceive a large group of people; a trick; deception
Example:
It is a cruel hoax, she said, to encourage people to think they have a real chance to win the lottery.
Thereafter
Adv: after that; from that time forward
Example: For the first month you’ll be working here, and thereafter in Chicago.
Embassy
N: the group of people who represent their country in a foreign country
Example:
at the embassy We used to be friendly with some people who worked at the Swedish Embassy.
Scrutinize
V: to examine something very carefully in order to discover information
Example:
He scrutinized the men’s faces carefully/closely, trying to work out who was lying.
Reseal
V: to close an envelope or container again by sticking the edges together
Example:
-The cigarette packet had been opened and re-sealed with sticky tape.
-The new packs will let customers reseal them to keep the contents crispier for longer.
Labyrinth
N: a confusing set of connecting passages or paths in which it is easy to get lost
Example:
Finally, through a labyrinth of corridors she found his office.
Evaluate
V: to judge or calculate the quality, importance, amount, or value of something
Example:
-Doctors evaluate the patient’s condition.
-Have they evaluated what their next step is?
Swallow the bait
Idiom: If you swallow the bait, you completely accept something, especially an offer that is a trick or way of getting something from you.
Appraise
V: to examine someone or something in order to judge their or its qualities, success, or needs
Example;
-appraise the situation: He coolly appraised the situation, deciding which person would be most likely to succeed.
Temerity
N: a willingness to do or say something that shocks or upsets other people; foolish boldness
Example:
[ + to infinitive ] She had the temerity to call me a liar.
Perpetrate
V: to commit a crime or a violent or harmful act
Example:
In this country, half of all violent crime is perpetrated by people who have been drinking alcohol.
Incisive
Adj: expressing an idea or opinion clearly and in a persuasive manner
Example:
The guide’s incisive comments give us a new perspective on the painting.
Majesty
N: His/Her/Your Majesty
used when you are speaking to or about a king or queen, or a ruler with a similar title
Example:
Her Majesty, the Empress of Japan
Conspirator
N: someone who conspires(= to plan secretly with other people to do something bad, illegal, or against someone’s wishes) with other people to do something; plotter
Exult
V: to express great pleasure or happiness, especially at someone else’s defeat or failure; rejoice greatly
Example:
-exult at: They exulted at their victory.
-exult over: Campaigners exulted over the ruling announced yesterday.
-exult in: She seems to exult in her power.
Attest
V: to show, say, or prove that something exists or is true; to certify
Example:
-Thousands of people came out onto the streets to attest their support for the democratic opposition party.
-attest to: The number of old German cars still on the road attests to the excellence of their manufacture.
Gullible
Adj: easily deceived or tricked, and too willing to believe everything that other people say
Example:
There are any number of miracle cures on the market for people gullible enough to buy them.
Deploy
V:
1. to use something or someone, especially in an effective way
Example:
deploy resources: The company is reconsidering the way in which it deploys its resources.
2.to position forces according to a plan
Inconsequential
Adj: not important
Example:
-an inconsequential matter/remark
-Most of what she said was pretty inconsequential.
Casualty
N: a person injured or killed in a serious accident or war
Example:
-suffer casualties: The rebels suffered heavy casualties.
-The train was derailed but there were no casualties, police said.
Enigma
N: something that is mysterious and seems impossible to understand completely; riddle
Example:
-She is something of an enigma.
-The newspapers were full of stories about the enigma of the plane’s disappearance.
Dupe
N: someone who has been tricked
Example:
an innocent dupe
Applaude
V: to say that you admire and agree with a person’s action or decision
Example:
We applaud the family’s decision to remain silent over the issue.
Masterpiece
N: something made or done with great skill, esp. an artist’s greatest work
Promulgate
V: to announce something publicly, especially a new law
Example:
The new law was finally promulgated in the autumn of last year.
Analogy
N: a comparison between things that have similar features, often used to help explain a principle or idea
Example:
He drew an analogy between the brain and a vast computer.
Contention
N: an opinion expressed in an argument
Example:
[ + that ] It is her contention that exercise is more important than diet if you want to lose weight.
Plead
V: to make an urgent, emotional statement or request for something
Example:
He was on his knees, pleading for mercy/forgiveness.
Appeal
N: a request to the public for money, information, or help
Example:
They’re launching (= starting) an appeal to raise money for famine victims.
