Words 0008 Flashcards
commensalism
a relationship between two species in which one gets an advantage from living closely with the other and the other is not affected by it
commensurate
in a correct and suitable amount compared to something else
• a salary that is commensurate with skills and experience
remuneration
payment for work or services
- They demanded adequate remuneration for their work.
- In return for some caretaking duties, we are offering a free flat and a small remuneration.
- a remuneration package
Commiseration
- commiserations
an expression of sympathy for someone, especially someone who has lost a competition - Commiserations on losing the match!
- Our commiserations to the losing side!
- a feeling or expression of sympathy for someone about some bad luck
• She gave me a look of commiseration as I entered the room.
Susceptibility
- when someone or something is easily influenced, harmed or infected
- the feelings someone has which are likely to be hurt
• I didn’t mean to offend/upset/hurt your susceptibilities.
Content
/kənˈtent/
pleased with your situation and not hoping for change or improvement
• He seems fairly content with (his) life.
• They’re content to socialize with a very small circle of people.
- contentment
• His face wore a look of pure contentment.
- [verb]
to make someone feel happy and satisfied - You’re quite easily contented, aren’t you?
- My explanation seemed to content him.
Inflexible
(especially of opinions and rules) fixed and unable or unwilling to change
• The prime minister has adopted an inflexible position on immigration.
• This type of computer is too slow and inflexible to meet many business needs.
- inflexibility
Celibate
not having sexual activity, especially because of making a religious promise to do this
• celibacy
Lithe
young, healthy, attractive and able to move and bend smoothly
- He had the lithe, athletic body of a ballet dancer.
- lithely
Pasture
grass or similar plants suitable for animals such as cows and sheep to eat, or an area of land covered in this
- The sheep were grazing on the lush green pastures.
- Some fields are planted with crops for several years, and then returned to pasture for the cattle.
Motley
consisting of many different types and therefore appearing strange or of low quality
- There’s a motley assortment/collection of old furniture in the house we’re renting at the moment.
- The people who turned up to the meeting were a motley crew (= a group consisting of many different types of people).
Stoicism
the quality of experiencing pain or trouble without complaining or showing your emotions
• He endured the pain of his wounds with great stoicism.
Marvel
- to show or experience great surprise or admiration
- We paused to marvel at the view.
- I often marvel that humans can treat each other so badly.
- “Just look at that waterfall! Isn’t it amazing?” she marvelled.
- a thing or person that is very surprising or causes a lot of admiration
- This miniature TV is the latest technological marvel from Japan.
- It’s a marvel (to me) how they’ve managed to build the tunnel so quickly.
Prance
- to walk in an energetic way and with more movement than necessary
- It’s pathetic to see fifty-year-old rock stars prancing around on stage as if they were still teenagers.
- She pranced into the office and demanded to speak to the manager.
- When a horse prances it takes small, quick steps and raises its legs higher than usual.
Goad
to make a person or an animal react or do something by continuously annoying or upsetting them
- Will the pressure applied by environmentalists be enough to goad the industrialized nations into using less fossil fuels?
- He refused to be goaded by their insults.
- The team were goaded on by their desire to be first to complete the course.
- A group of children were goading (= laughing at or pushing) another child in the school playground.
- The thought of exams next week is a great goad to the students to work hard.
