2015.02.04-[SGRE16]-6 Flashcards
(29 cards)
admonition
noun [C] /ˌæd.məˈnɪʃ.ən/ also admonishment /ədˈmɒn.ɪʃmənt/ /ədˈmɑː.nɪʃmənt/ formal ---------- admonitory
/ədˈmɒn.ɪ.tər.i/
/-ˈmɑː.nə.tɔː.ri/
adjective
formal
› a piece of advice that is also a warning to someone about their behavior:
› containing warning:
an a-y remark
inculcate
verb [T]
/ˈɪŋ.kʌl.keɪt/
formal
› to fix beliefs or ideas in someone’s mind, especially by repeating them often:
Our football coach has worked hard to i-e a team spirit in/into the players.
sententious
adjective
/senˈten.ʃəs/
formal
disapproving
› trying to appear wise, clever, and important:
The document was s-s and pompous.
› short and pithy, full of maxims/proverbs
nexus
noun
[C usually singular]
/ˈnek.səs/
formal
› an important connection between the parts of a system or a group of things; a connection, tie or link:
Times Square is the n-s of the New York subway.
fetid
adjective
formal
UK foetid
/ˈfet.ɪd/
› smelling extremely bad and stale; stinking:
f-d air
f-d breath
lugubrious
adjective
/luːˈɡuː.bri.əs/
literary
› sad and serious; mournful, excessively sad:
a l-s face
contemn
/kənˈtɛm/
verb
› to treat or regard with contempt; scorn or despise:
I cannot c-n a man for ignorance, but behold him with as much pity as I do Lazarus.
The King does not believe that I would c-n his commands–in his heart he does not, I am sure!
precept
noun [C]
/ˈpri•sept/
› a rule for action or behavior, esp. one based on moral consideration; rules establishing standards of conduct:
common p-s of decency
lull
verb [T]
/lʌl/
› to cause someone to feel calm, sleepy, or safe; become quiet or less active:
The music l-led the infant to sleep.
We were all l-led into thinking they wouldn’t do anything.
vacillate
verb [I]
/ˈvæs.ɪ.leɪt/
disapproving
› to be uncertain what to do, or to change often between two opinions; hesitating:
Her mood v-ed between hope and despair.
equipoise
/ˈɛkwɪˌpɔɪz/
noun
verb
› even balance of weight or other forces; equilibrium; equal distribution of weight:
› a counterbalance; counterpoise
› to offset or balance in weight or force; balance:
Tight-rope walkers have excellent e-e, as do balance beam gymnasts.
When broken down into its etymological parts, e-e is simply equi, meaning “equal,” plus “poise.” Equal poise: a balance of weight, forces or interests.
libertine
noun [C] /ˈlɪb.ə.tiːn/ /ˈlɪb.ɚ.tiːn/ formal disapproving
› a person, usually a man, who lives in a way that is not moral, having sexual relationships with many people; immoral person:
The famously l-e French have long professed Gallic indifference over the sexual peccadilloes of their elected officials.
propitiatory
adjective
/prəˌpɪʃ.iˈeɪ.tər.i/
/prəˈpɪʃ.i.ə.tɔːr-/
formal
› intended to please someone and make them calm; conciliatory, appeasing mitigating:
a p-y gesture
opprobrium
noun [U]
/əˈprəʊ.bri.əm/
/əˈproʊ.bri.əm/
formal
opprobrious
/əˈprəʊ.bri.əs/
adjective
› severe criticism and blame:
International o-m has been heaped on the country following its attack on its neighbors.
› showing scorn or reproach
picaresque
/ˌpɪkəˈrɛsk/
adjective
› (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) of or relating to a type of fiction in which the hero, a rogue, goes through a series of episodic adventures. It originated in Spain in the 16th century
› (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) of or involving clever rogues, adventurers or picaroons
Chang-rae Lee’s new novel is part folk tale, part p-e adventure, part dystopian satire.
stint
noun [C]
/stɪnt/
› a period of time spent doing a particular job or activity; to be thrifty to set limits:
He took up boxing during his s-t in the army.
baneful
/ˈbeɪnfʊl/
adjective
› destructive, poisonous, or fatal; causing harm or ruin, pernicious, destructive:
Steps had to be taken to counteract its b-l influence.
Give us attractions of a less b-l character, and wean us from these cesspools of infamy.
ferret
/ˈfer•ɪt/
/ˈfer•ət/
noun [C]
verb
› a type of weasel (= small animal with a long, thin body) that usually has black feet and black fur around its eyes.
› to discover someone or something, esp. information, after searching:
Officials are attempting to f-t out abuses in the welfare program.
If there are others who are responsible it might be worth an attempt to f-t them out.
amortize
verb [T]
UK also amortise
/əˈmɔːtaɪz/
› [ACCOUNTING, TAX] to spread the value or cost of an asset in accounts over a number of years:
Phrase: amortize sth over sth
Companies use depreciation to a-e fixed assets over their usable life.
The value of the machinery is a-ed over its estimated useful life.
› to reduce a debt by paying small regular amounts; end (a debt) by setting aside money:
When asked what tolls would be required to a-e the payments under the contracts, he said the figures were astronomical.
piquant
adjective
/ˈpi•kənt/
/piˈkɑnt/
› having a strong, slightly sour, slightly spicy taste or smell; agreeably pungent, stimulating:
a p-t sauce
quaff
verb [I or T]
/kwɒf/
/kwæf/
old-fashioned
› to drink something quickly or in large amounts; drink deeply:
After two days in desert and being wicked thirsty, he found an oasis and leaned over to quaff the water.
exscind
/ɛkˈsɪnd/
verb
› to cut off or out; excise:
The knife skipped off the stone and almost e-ded his index finger.
rec•re•ant
/rĕk′rē-ənt/ adjective noun ---------- recreancy
› unfaithful or disloyal to a belief, duty, or cause.
› craven or cowardly.
› a faithless or disloyal person; a coward.
cowardice, treason, or disloyalty; a cowardly giving up
r-y
recalcitrant
adjective
/rɪˈkæl•sɪ•trənt/
› unwilling to do what you are asked or ordered to do, even if it is reasonable; disobedient:
Tenants petitioned their r-t landlord to finish repairs to their building.
