Week Thirteen Flashcards
Importune
V: to make repeated, forceful requests for something, usually in a way that is annoying or causing slight problems; ask urgently
Example:
be importuned for: As a tourist, you are importuned for money the moment you step outside your hotel.
All-out
Adj: using as much effort, as many different methods, etc. as possible in order to achieve something
Example:
all-out effort: We made an all-out effort to get the project finished on time.
Incontrovertible
Adj: impossible to doubt because of being obviously true; undeniable
Example:
-incontrovertible proof/evidence
-Her logic is utterly incontrovertible.
Surreptitious
Adj: done secretly, without anyone seeing or knowing; stealthy
Example:
She seemed to be listening to what I was saying, but I couldn’t help noticing her surreptitious glances at the clock.
Haven
N: a safe or peaceful place
Example:
haven from: The garden was a haven from the noise and bustle of the city.
safe haven: They wanted to provide safe havens for the refugees.
Subjugate
V: to defeat people or a country and rule them in a way that allows them no freedom; conquer
Supremacy
N: the highest authority or greatest power
Example:
He approved the supremacy of a strong federal government over the demands of states.
Duplicity
N: dishonest talk or behaviour, especially by saying different things to two people; double-dealing
Example:
duplicity in:They were accused of duplicity in their dealings with both sides.
Corraborate
V: to add information in support of an idea, opinion, or statement
Example:
Recent research seems to corroborate the theory.
Ultimate
Adj: most important, highest, last, or final
Example:Your ultimate goal is to play the game as well as you can.
Eventuate
V: to happen, or lead to something happening
Example:
-They are taking precautions against a possibility that may never eventuate.
-eventuate in: A chain of events could occur that will eventuate in a person getting killed.
Chain reaction
N: a set of related events in which each event causes the next one
Example:The accident caused a chain reaction in which seven trucks piled up on the bridge.
Chunk
N: a part of something, especially a large part
Example:
-a chunk of text
-a substantial chunk of our profits
-Three hours is quite a chunk out of my working day.
Emit
V: to send out a beam, noise, smell, or gas
Example:
-The alarm emits infrared rays which are used to detect any intruder.
-The machine emits a high-pitched sound when you press the button.
Fission
N: the process of dividing the nucleus of an atom, resulting in the release of a large amount of energy
Example:
In nuclear fission, a uranium atom is divided into 2 small atoms.
Subterranean
Adj: under the ground
Example:
-subterranean passages
-a subterranean river
Viable
Adj: able to work as intended or able to succeed; practicable; workable
Example:I am afraid your plan is not commercially/economically/financially/politically viable.
Confinement
N: the situation in which a person or animal is kept somewhere, usually by force
Example:
She spent most of those years under house arrest or close confinement.
Premise
N: an idea or theory on which a statement or action is based; assumption
Example:
-They had started with the premise that all men are created equal.
-The research project is based on the premise stated earlier.
Jeopardize
V: to cause something to be harmed or damaged, or to put something in danger; endanger
Example:
She knew that failing her exams could jeopardize her whole future.
Incredulous
Adj: not wanting or not able to believe, and usually showing this; skeptical
Example:
“Why am I here?” the witness responded in an incredulous tone.
Permeate
V: to spread through something and be present in every part of it; to spread through
Example:
-Dissatisfaction with the government seems to have permeated every section of society.
-A foul smell of stale beer permeated the whole building.
-The table has a plastic coating which prevents liquids from permeating into the wood beneath.
Propitious
Adj: likely to result in success, or showing signs of success; favorable
Example:
With the economy in recession, it was not a propitious time to start a company.
Squeamish
Adj: easily upset or shocked by things that you find unpleasant or that you do not approve of
Example:
-She’s really squeamish and can’t stand the sight of blood.
-Many cooks are squeamish about putting live shellfish into boiling water.
Handler
N:
1.a person who trains and is in charge of animals, especially dogs
Example:
police dog handlers
- someone who carries or moves things as part of their job
Example:
airport baggage handlers
Navigator
N: a person in a vehicle who decides the direction in which the vehicle travels
Surmise
N: a guess
Example:
-My surmise turned out to be right.
-The article is pure surmise and innuendo.
Curtail
V: to reduce or limit something, or to stop something before it is finished; to cut short
Example:
He had to curtail his speech when time ran out.
Repress
V: to prevent feelings, desires, or ideas from being expressed
Example:
-In the end, it was impossible to repress her emotions.
-The government repressed all reports from the region.
Tremendous
Adj: very great in amount or level, or extremely good
Example:
-They were making a tremendous amount of noise last night.
-She’s been a tremendous (= very great) help to me over the last few months.
-You won? That’s tremendous!
Soberly
Adv: seriously and reasonably
Example:
She was dressed very soberly in a plain grey suit.
Relay
V: to repeat something you have heard, or to broadcast a signal, message, or programme on television or radio
Example:
-I was told the news first and then I relayed it to the others.
-TV pictures of the war were relayed around the world by satellite.
Cryptic
Adj: mysterious and difficult to understand; puzzling
Example:I got a cryptic text message from Sam.
Inchoate
Adj: only recently or partly formed, or not completely developed or clear; basic; rudimentary
Example:
She had a child’s inchoate awareness of language.
Lurid
Adj: (especially of a description) shocking because involving violence, sex, or immoral activity
Example:You can read all the lurid details of the affair in today’s paper.
Outrage
V: to cause someone to feel very angry, shocked, or upset
Example:The proposed pay cut outraged the staff.
Sniff
V: to smell something by taking air in through your nose
Example:
He sniffed his socks to see if they needed washing.
Canine
Adj: of or relating to dogs
Example:The city’s canine population (= the number of dogs in the city) has grown dramatically over recent years.
