Words pertinent to CPE Flashcards
(n.) something that differs from the norm (In 1974, Poland won the World Cup, but the success turned out to be an –, and Poland have not won a World Cup since).
Aberration
(v.) to hate, detest (Because he always wound up getting hit in the head when he tried to play cricket, Marcin began to – the sport).
Abhor
(v.) to agree without protesting (Though Mr. Pospieszny wanted to stay outside and work in his garage, when his wife told him that he had better come in to dinner, he – to her demands.)
Acquiesce
(n.) eagerness, speed (For some reason, Simon loved to help his girlfriend whenever he could, so when his girlfriend asked him to set the table he did so with –.)
Alacrity
(adj.) friendly (An – fellow, Neil got along with just about everyone.)
Amiable
(v.) to calm, satisfy (When Jerry cries, his mother gives him chocolate to – him.) NOT PLACATE
Appease
(adj.) obscure, secret, known only by a few (The professor is an expert in – Kashubian literature.)
Arcane
(n.) excessive greed (The banker’s – led him to amass an enormous personal fortune.)
Avarice
(adj.) excessively bold, brash, clear and obvious (Critics condemned the writer’s – attempt to plagiarise Frankow-Czerwonko’s work.)
Brazen
(adj.) short, abrupt, dismissive (Simon’s – manner sometimes offends his colleagues.)
Brusque
(v.) to urge, coax (Magda’s friends – her into drinking too much.)
Cajole
(adj.) harsh, cold, unfeeling (The murderer’s – lack of remorse shocked the jury.)
Callous
(n.) honesty, frankness (We were surprised by the – of the politician’s speech because she is usually rather evasive.)
Candor
(v.) to voice disapproval (Hania – Gregory for his vulgar habits and sloppy appearance.)
Chide
(adj.) cautious (Though I promised Marta’s father I would bring her home promptly by midnight, it would have been more – not to have specified a time.)
Circumspect
(adj.) secret (Announcing to her boyfriend that she was going to the library, Maria actually went to meet George for a – liaison.)
Clandestine
(v.) to make somebody do something by force or threat (The court decided that David Beckham did not have to honor the contract because he had been – into signing it.)
Coerce
(adj.) logically consistent, intelligible (William could not figure out what Harold had seen because he was too distraught to deliver a – statement.)
Coherent
(n.) self-satisfied ignorance of danger (Simon tried to shock his friends out of their – by painting a frightening picture of what might happen to them.)
Complacency
(n.) a person entrusted with secrets (Shortly after we met, he became my chief – .)
Confidant
(v.) to plot, scheme (She – to get me to give up my plans to start up a new business.)
Connive
(adj.) increasing, building upon itself (The – effect of hours spent using the World English website was a vast improvement in his vocabulary and general level of English.)
Cumulative
(v.) to lower the quality or esteem of something (The large raise that he gave himself – his motives for running the charity.)
Debase
(v.) to criticize openly (Andrzej Lepper, the leader of the Polish Self Defence party – the appaling state of Polish roads.)
Decry
(adj.) showing respect for another’s authority (Donata is always excessively – to any kind of authority figure.)
Deferential
(adj.) quiet, modest, reserved (Though everyone else at the party was dancing and going crazy, she remained – .)
Demure
(v.) to laugh at mockingly, scorn (The native speaker often – the other teacher’s accent.)
Deride
(adj.) showing care in doing one’s work (The – researcher made sure to double check her measurements.)
Diligent
(adj.) overjoyed, thrilled (When he found out he had won the lottery, the postman was – .)
Elated
(adj.) expressive, articulate, moving (The best man gave such an – speech that most guests were crying.)
Eloquent
(v.) to steal money by falsifying records (The accountant was fired for – ,000 of the company’s funds.)
Embezzle
(n.) sensitivity to another’s feelings as if they were one’s own (I feel such – my dog when she’s upset so am I!)
Empathy
(n.) ill will, hatred, hostility (John and Scott have clearly not forgiven each other, because the – between them is obvious to anyone in their presence.)
Enmity
(adj.) learned (My English teacher is such an – scholar that he has translated some of the most difficult and abstruse Old English poetry.)
Erudite
(v.) to praise, revere (Kamila – the virtues of a vegetarian diet to her meat-loving boyfriend.)
Extol
(v.) to make up, invent (When I arrived an hour late to class, I –some excuse about my car breaking down on the way to work.)
Fabricate
(adj.) wild, savage (That beast looks so – that I would fear being alone with it.)
Feral
(adj.) astounded (Whenever I read an Agatha Christie mystery novel, I am always – when I learn the identity of the murderer.)
Flabbergasted
(v.) to give up, renounce (I won’t – my conservative principles.)
Forsake
(adj.) troublesome or irritable (Although the child insisted he wasn’t tired, his – behaviour - especially his decision to crush his jam sandwiches all over the floor - convinced everyone present that it was time to put him to bed.)
Fractious
(adj.) secretive, sly (Claudia’s placement of her drugs in her sock drawer was not as – as she thought, as the sock drawer is the first place most parents look.)
Furtive
(n.) overindulgence in food or drink (Helen’s fried chicken tastes so divine, I don’t know how anyone can call – a sin.)
Gluttony
(adj.) uncalled for, unwarranted (Every evening the guy at the fish and chip shop gives me a – helping of vinegar.)
Gratuitous
(adj.) disdainfully proud (The superstar’s – dismissal of her co-stars will backfire on her someday.)
Haughty
(n.) pretending to believe what one does not (Once the politician began passing legislation that contradicted his campaign promises, his – became apparent.)
Hypocrisy
(adj.) exemplary, flawless (If your grades were as – as your brother’s, then you too would receive a car for a graduation present.)
Impeccable
(adj.) rude, insolent (Most of your comments are so – that I don’t wish to dignify them with an answer.) NOT IMPUDENT
Impertinent
(adj.) incapable of being appeased or mitigated (Watch out: once you shun Grandmother’s cooking, she is totally – .)
Implacable
(adj.) casually rude, insolent, impertinent (The – young woman looked her teacher up and down and told him he was hot.)
Impudent
(adj.) clear, sharp, direct (The discussion wasn’t going anywhere until her – comment allowed everyone to see what the true issues were.)
Incisive
(adj.) lazy (Why should my – children, who can’t even pick themselves up off the sofa to pour their own juice, be rewarded with a trip to Burger King?)
Indolent
(adj.) not suitable or capable, unqualified (She proved how – she was when she forgot two orders and spilled a pint of cider in a customer’s lap.)
Inept
(n.) notoriety, extreme ill repute (The – of his crime will not lessen as time passes.)
Infamy
(v.) to prevent, restrain, stop (When I told you I needed the car last night, I certainly never meant to – you from going out.)
Inhibit
(adj.) inborn, native, inherent (His incredible athletic talent is – , he never trains, lifts weights, or practices.)
Innate
(adj.) incapable of being satisfied (My – appetite for blondes was a real problem on my recent holiday in Japan!)
Insatiable
(adj.) separated and narrow-minded; tight-knit, closed off (Because of the sensitive nature of their jobs, those who work for MI5 must remain – and generally only spend time with each other.)
Insular
(adj.) brave in the face of danger (After scaling a live volcano prior to its eruption, the explorer was praised for his – attitude.)
Intrepid
(adj.) stubbornly established by habit (I’m the first to admit that I’m an – cider drinker—I drink four pints a day.)
Inveterate
(adj.) extremely joyful, happy (The crowd was – when the firefighter carried the woman from the flaming building.)
Jubilant
