Week Ten Flashcards
Onset
N:
The onset of something:
the moment at which something begins, and especially something uncomfortable or unpleasant
Example:
the onset of winter
Inclement
Adj: Inclement weather is unpleasant, especially with cold wind and rain.
Incipient
Adj: just beginning
Example:signs of incipient public frustration
Peruse
V: to read through something, especially in order to find the part you are interested in
Example:He opened a newspaper and began to peruse the personal ads.
Gnawing
Adj: continuously uncomfortable, worrying, or painful
Example:
-I’ve had gnawing doubts about this project for some time.
-gnawing hunger: After three days, we felt an agonizing, gnawing hunger.
Tinge
N: a very slight amount of a colour or of a feeling
Example:
-His hair is starting to show tinges of grey.
-I felt a tinge of regret that I hadn’t accepted her offer.
Premonition
N: a feeling that something, especially something unpleasant, is going to happen
Example:
-He had a premonition that his plane would crash, so he took the train.
-She had a sudden premonition of what the future might bring.
Desist
V: to stop doing something; cease
Example:She was ordered to desist from playing music after 11 p.m.
Recoil
V: to move back because of fear or disgust (= dislike or disapproval)
Example:
-He leaned forward to kiss her and she recoiled in horror.
-I recoiled from the smell and the filth.
Admonish
V: to advise someone to do something
Example:
Her teacher admonished her to work harder for her exams.
Promulgate
V: to announce something publicly, especially a new law
Example:The new law was finally promulgated in the autumn of last year.
Pertinent
Adj: relating directly to the subject being considered; relevant; to the point
Example:a pertinent question
Dash
V: to go somewhere quickly
Example:
-The dog ran off, and she dashed after him.
-dash around: I’ve been dashing around all day.
Jostle
V: to push against someone in order to move past that person or get more space when you are in a crowd of people
Example:Someone jostled her from behind.
Implore
V: to ask for something in a sincere and emotional way
Example:She clasped her hands, and glancing upward, seemed to implore divine assistance.
Flagrant
Adj: shocking because of being so bad and so obvious
Example:a flagrant violation of the rules
Disregard
N: the fact of showing no care or respect for something
Example:disregard for: What amazes me is her complete disregard for anyone else’s opinion.
Interminable
Adj: continuing for too long and therefore boring or annoying
Example:
-an interminable delay
-his interminable stories
All the while
Idiom: for all of a period of time
Example:There I was thinking you were hard at work and you were upstairs in bed all the while!
Mastiff
N: a large, strong dog with short hair
Obsess
V: If something or someone obsesses you, or if you obsess about something or someone, you think about it, him, or her all the time
Example:
-The whole relationship obsessed me for years.
-She used to obsess about her weight.
Doleful
Adj: very sad; melancholy
Example:a doleful expression
Wan
Adj: (of a person’s face) more pale than usual and tired-looking
Histrionics
N: very emotional and energetic behaviour that is not sincere and has no real meaning
Example:I’d had enough of Lydia’s histrionics.
Rabies
N: a serious disease of the nervous system that can cause death. Rabies can be passed on to humans by other animals
Example:Dogs, cats, foxes, and bats can all carry rabies.
Elusive
Adj: difficult to describe, find, achieve, or remember
Example:
-The answers to these questions remain as elusive as ever.
-Success, however, remained elusive for her.
-elusive memories
Frustrate
V: to make someone feel annoyed or less confident because they cannot achieve what they want
Example:It frustrates me that I’m not able to put any of my ideas into practice.
Undergo
V: to experience something that is unpleasant or has a strong effect
Example:He recently underwent heart bypass surgery.
Interject
V: to say something while another person is speaking
Example:
“That’s absolutely ridiculous!” Mary interjected.
Repudiate
V: to refuse to accept or obey something or someone; reject
Example:The evidence presented at the trial has since been repudiated
Temperamental
Adj: A temperamental person is someone whose mood often changes very suddenly
Example:Be careful how you approach her - she’s very temperamental.
Sordid
Adj: morally ugly, so that being involved makes you feel dirty
Example:
-a sordid story
-sordid details
Rudimentary
Adj: basic
Example:
Her knowledge is still only rudimentary.
Inert
Adj: not moving or not able to move
Example:The inert figure of a man could be seen lying in the front of the car.
Saliva
N: the liquid produced in your mouth to keep the mouth wet and to help to prepare food to be digested
Salient
Adj: most noticeable or important
Example:The salient fact about the case is that it involves an American.
Imminent
Adj: coming or likely to happen very soon; impending
Example:
-imminent disaster/danger
-A strike is imminent.
Convulsion
N: a shaking movement of the body that cannot be controlled, often caused by illness
Example:The syndrome brought on convulsions.
Squeamish
Adj: easily shocked; over sensitive
Example:
-She’s really squeamish and can’t stand the sight of blood.
-Many cooks are squeamish about putting live shellfish into boiling water.
Engrossed
Adj: giving all your attention to something
Example:We were engrossed in conversation.
Gasp
V: to breathe loudly and with difficulty, trying to get more air
Example:
gasp for: He pulled her aboard the boat and she sprawled on the deck, coughing and gasping for breath.
Distraught
Adj: extremely worried, nervous, or upset
Example:The missing child’s distraught parents made an emotional appeal for information on TV.
Loathe
V: to hate someone or something
Example:From an early age the brothers have loathed each other.
Ironically
Adv: in a way that is interesting, strange, or funny because of being very different from what you would expect
Example:
Ironically, these technological tools that were supposed to liberate us have left us working longer hours than ever.
Spectacle
N: an unusual or unexpected event or situation that attracts attention, interest, or disapproval
Example:
It was a strange spectacle to see the two former enemies shaking hands and slapping each other on the back.
Mogul
N: an important person who is very rich or powerful
Example:
-movie/media/industry moguls
Magnet
N: a person, place, or thing that other people feel strongly attracted to
Example:
The United States has always acted as a magnet for people seeking fame and fortune.
Vulgar
Adj: not polite or socially acceptable; not suitable or acceptable in style
Example:
His manners were coarse and vulgar.
