Michael Sec 2 Vol II (Adv Vacab Part 1) Flashcards

Question

melodramatic /ˌmelədrəˈmætɪk/

Answer 1

showing much stronger emotions than are necessary or usual for a situation; behaving or reacting to something in an exaggerated way "a melodramatic speech" "'Don't you think you're being rather melodramatic?' Jane asked." "

Answer 2

1) to circumvent a rule or restriction: to avoid having to obey the rule or restriction, in a clever and perhaps dishonest way. "They found a way of circumventing the law." "Military planners tried to circumvent the treaty." 2) to circumvent someone: cleverly prevent them from achieving something, especially when they are trying to harm you.

Answer 3

1) (in a battle) to move forward past an enemy position in order to attack it from the side or from the back "Instead of confronting the enemy directly, Napoleon simply outflanked them." 2) (outflank someone) succeed in getting into a position where you can win, for example in an argument "The government has outflanked the opposition by cutting taxes."

Answer 4

the state of being extremely poor. [synonym] poverty "He died in penury." "They were reduced to penury." "He was brought up in penury, without education."

Answer 5

[formal] A plutocracy is a country which is ruled by its wealthiest people, or a class of wealthy people who rule a country. "Financial, not moral, considerations will prevail in a plutocracy. " "It's time we put an end to plutocracy."

Answer 6

1) A garrison is a group of soldiers whose task is to guard the town or building where they live. "The 100-strong garrison had received no supplies for a week." 2) A garrison is the buildings which the soldiers live in. "The approaches to the garrison have been heavily mined."

Answer 7

[adj] not telling the truth [synonym] lying - A mendacious person is someone who tells lies. - A mendacious statement is one that is a lie. "Remember that you started all this for your own mendacious ends." "Some of these statements are misleading and some are downright mendacious."

Answer 8

one of the principles or beliefs that a theory or larger set of beliefs is based on "They are an extreme sect with their own tenets and doctrines." "Non-violence and patience are the central tenets of their faith." "It is a tenet of contemporary psychology that an individual's mental health is supported by having good social networks."

Answer 9

[noun] If one thing is a prerequisite for another, it must happen or exist before the other thing is possible. "Good self-esteem is a prerequisite for a happy life." "Passing a written test is a prerequisite for taking the advanced course." [adj] that must exist or happen before something else can happen or be done "prerequisite knowledge"

Answer 10

A felon is a person who is guilty of committing a felony, such as murder or rape. "The law requires convicted felons entering the state to register their address with the police." felony is the act of committing a serious crime such as murder or rape; a crime of this type "He pleaded guilty to six felonies."

Answer 11

[adj] If someone is cognizant of something, they are aware of it or understand it. "We should be cognizant of the fact that every complaint is not a justified complaint." "And judging by the repeated glances the woman gave the sky, she too was cognizant of the failing light." cognizance [noun]

Answer 12

[verb] to go somewhere or be present somewhere in large numbers "The children thronged into the hall." "The narrow streets were thronged with summer visitors." "Tourists throng the beaches between late June and early August." [noun] a crowd or large group of people: "A huge throng had gathered around the speaker."

Answer 13

brimful of something: completely full of something "She's certainly brimful of energy." "The United States is brimful with highly paid doctors." "Nobody could call this year's Cannes film festival brimful of wonderful surprises." brim [noun] the top edge of a cup, bowl, glass, etc. "two wine glasses, filled to the brim" "(figurative) She felt suddenly alive and full to the brim with enthusiasm."

Answer 14

unblemished: not spoiled, harmed, damaged or marked in any way "He had an unblemished reputation." "her pale unblemished skin" "The team had a previously unblemished record (= they had not lost any games)." blemish [noun] [ verb] "make-up to cover blemishes" "(figurative) His reputation is without a blemish." "He wasn't about to blemish that pristine record."

Answer 15

of or relating to feelings or expressions of sympathy or compassion for others Adjective form for commiserate: to feel or express sympathy or compassion (for) someone, + with

Answer 16

[formal] extremely unwilling to spend money or use a lot of something [synonym] mean "She's too parsimonious to heat the house properly." "I think that politicians are often parsimonious with the (= do not tell the complete) truth." "Even the most parsimonious student who goes through university will enter the job market weighed down by debt."

Answer 17

[formal] very unfair or morally bad. [synonym] wicked "In an iniquitous twist of fate, what should have protected him had ultimately cost him his life." "Non-transparent, iniquitous and inefficient taxation distorts resource allocation and hampers the growth of trade."

Answer 18

1) to leave somebody/something, especially when you have a responsibility to stay [synonym] abandon "He had made it clear to his wife that he would never forsake her." "I still love him and I would never forsake him." 2) to stop doing something, or leave something, especially something that you enjoy [synonym] renounce "She forsook the glamour of the city and went to live in the countryside." "He decided to forsake politics for journalism."

Answer 19

If you forswear something, you promise that you will stop doing it, having it, or using it. [synonym] renounce "The group forswears all worldly possessions." "The country has not forsworn the use of chemical weapons."

Answer 20

[formal] If you expiate guilty feelings or bad behaviour, you do something to indicate that you are sorry for what you have done. "Alice was expiating her father's sins with her charity work." "He had a chance to confess and expiate his guilt." "I am here to expiate my own sin of not paying the necessary attention."

Answer 21

1) [formal] The antithesis of something is its exact opposite. "Love is the antithesis of selfishness." "She is slim and shy - the very antithesis of her sister." "He is the exact antithesis of what I find attractive in men." "The little black dress is the antithesis of fussy dressing." 2) [formal] If there is an antithesis between two things, there is a contrast between them. "There is an antithesis between the needs of the state and the needs of the people." "Thanks to the collapse of communism the political antithesis between Left and Right is less important." Something that is antithetical to something else is the opposite of it and is unable to exist with it. "A culture of violence is antithetical to the church’s traditional teaching."

Answer 22

Someone who has come into a situation or a place where they are not wanted or do not belong. [synonym] intruder "She felt like an interloper in her own family." "Security did not prevent an interloper from getting onto the stage at the opening ceremony." "He can spot any interlopers among the stars immediately." "Sadly, it has been stolen by some foul interloper!"

Answer 23

[formal] a strong feeling of dislike or hostility towards someone or something. "Her antipathy towards/toward swimming dates back to childhood." "There was a lot of antipathy between the two doctors." "I feel a profound antipathy to using any weapon."

Answer 24

(of lifestyle or job) siting down a lot of the time and not taking much exercise. "My doctor says I should start playing sport because my lifestyle is too sedentary." "Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle has been linked with an increased risk of heart disease." "He became increasingly sedentary in later life."

Answer 25

always ready to quarrel or start a fight.

Answer 26

[formal] cleverly (sometimes dishonestly) persuade someone to do it when they do not really want to. "He inveigled himself into her affections (= dishonestly made her love him)." "Her son tried to inveigle her into giving him the money for a car." "She managed to inveigle her way into the club." Compare: coax; cajole; wheedle (disapproving)

Answer 27

to persuade somebody to give you something or do something by saying nice things that you do not mean [synonym] coax "The kids can always wheedle money out of their father." "She wheedled me into lending her my new coat." "I tried different approaches - I wheedled, threatened, demanded, cajoled."

Answer 28

1) designed to cause fires "Five incendiary devices were found in her house." "(fig.) Thai food often is incendiary (= spicy hot)." 2) (formal) causing strong feelings or violence "Some incendiary issues should simply be avoided." "His incendiary talk has been matched by others in his administration."

Answer 29

a formal speech made in public, especially as part of a ceremony "a brief funeral oration"

Answer 30

1) (medical) deeply unconscious; in a coma "The right side of his brain had been so severely bruised that he was comatose for a month." 2) (humorous) extremely tired and having no energy; sleeping deeply "Grandpa lies comatose on the sofa." "By midnight I was virtually comatose."

Answer 31

[disapproval] very emotional, dramatic and exaggerated behaviour that is intended to attract attention in a way that does not seem sincere "I'd had enough of Lydia's histrionics." "Sorry about the histrionics, Bunny," he said apologetically." "So, if we're through with the histrionics, perhaps we can start again." "When I explained everything to my mum and dad, there were no histrionics."

Answer 32

additional, or providing additional support or help: [synonym] auxiliary "ancillary workers in the health service such as cooks and cleaners" "Ancillary charges are at least $30 per day. " "Scientific development meant the growth of numerous professions ancillary to medicine."

Answer 33

1) in or connected with a suburb "They live in suburban Washington." 2) dull and conventional. "His clothes are conservative and suburban."

Answer 34

[adj] showing emotion or love in an awkward or embarrassing way; sentimental and silly. "The film lapses into mawkish sentimentality near the end." "A sordid, sentimental plot unwinds, with an inevitable mawkish ending."

Answer 35

a private (sometimes secret )place or room where someone is never interrupted "His bedroom's his inner sanctum." "She once allowed me into her inner sanctum." "She never presumed on her friendship with Eve by expecting to be let in to the inner sanctum."

Answer 36

fratricide: the crime of killing one's brother or sister, or or killing members of one's own group or country matricide: the crime of killing one's mother patricide: the crime of killing one's father parricide: the crime of killing father, mother or siblings

Answer 37

[noun] the crime of killing a king or queen; a person who is guilty of this crime

Answer 38

Incest is the crime of two members of the same family having sexual intercourse

Answer 39

[verb] to take temporary possession of someone's property until they have paid money that is owed or until they have obeyed a court order "He tried to prevent union money from being sequestrated by the courts." [adj] A sequestered place is quiet and far away from busy places. "I found a sequestered spot in the park and lay down with my book."

Answer 40

[adj] connected with hearing and listening "He became famous as an inventor of astonishing visual and aural effects."

Answer 41

showing deep respect [synonym] respectful [Opposite] irreverent "A reverent silence fell over the crowd." "an irreverent attitude to tradition" "His irreverence for authority marks him out as a troublemaker."

Answer 42

[adj] definite and cannot be doubted [OPP] dubitable: open to doubt [Compare] dubious: doubtful or suspicious (probably not honest) "an indubitable fact"

Answer 43

a close relationship with someone in which feelings and thoughts are exchanged: "He found spiritual communion with her." "He lived in close communion with nature/God."

Answer 44

a type of work that you feel you are suited to doing and to which you give much of your time and energy "To work in medicine, you should have a vocation for it." "He is desperate to follow his vocation as an artist." "She is a doctor with a strong sense of vocation." "They are set on living out their vocation as priests."

Answer 45

(of a place) pleasant to live in; clean and healthy [opposite] insalubrious "He doesn't live in a very salubrious part of town." "We had to move to a house in a less salubrious area." "In the less salubrious neighbourhoods of Bombay it was a very different story."

Answer 46

sad rather than lively or cheerful [synonym] doleful "He played some passages so slowly that we all became lugubrious" "That long, lugubrious howl rose on the night air again!" "He remembered the merchant, long, lanky, and lugubrious of countenance."

Answer 47

1) To drink, especially alcohol "Have you been imbibing again?" "They were used to imbibing enormous quantities of alcohol." "No one believes that current nondrinkers should be encouraged to start imbibing." 2) If you imbibe ideas or arguments, you listen to them, accept them, and believe that they are right or true. "As a clergyman's son he'd imbibed a set of mystical beliefs from the cradle."

Answer 48

to include something in a larger group and not consider it separately "Soldiers from many different countries have been subsumed into the United Nations peace-keeping force." "All these different ideas can be subsumed under just two broad categories." "All the statistics have been subsumed under the general heading "Facts and Figures"."

Answer 49

to fill somebody/something with strong feelings, opinions or values [synonym] infuse "Her voice was imbued with an unusual seriousness." "He was imbued with a desire for social justice." "His poetry is imbued with deep, religious feeling."

Answer 50

to keep someone within limits or stop them from making progress; "He felt fettered by petty rules and regulations." "He felt fettered by a nine-to-five office existence." to tie someone to a place by putting chains around their ankles "A man lay fettered on the floor of the prison cell."

Answer 51

[noun] something that protects you from dangerous or unpleasant situations "Law is the bulwark of society." "Democracy is a bulwark of freedom." "My savings were to be a bulwark against unemployment." "At the time fascism had many supporters in the West, who saw it as a bulwark against communism."

Answer 52

showing many bright colours that change with movement "a bird with iridescent blue feathers" "Her latest fashion collection features shimmering iridescent materials."

Answer 53

an article about somebody’s life and achievements, that is printed in a newspaper soon after they have died "I read your brother's obituary in the Times."

Answer 54

incorrigible: having bad habits/behaviours that cannot be changed or improved [synonym] incurable "Those who are possessed of the view of emptiness are said to be incorrigible." " Incorrigible inmates should at least be excluded from most benefits." corrigible: capable of being corrected

Answer 55

having betrayed someone before hence cannot be trusted [synonym] treacherous "Woman is proven perfidious and disingenuous." "She described the new criminal bill as a perfidious attack on democracy." "When Caesar realized that Brutus had betrayed him, he reproached his perfidious friend."

Answer 56

(formal, disapproving) feeling or showing strong sexual desire "The man was lascivious, sexually perverted and insatiable." "In his old age Marcus Porcius Cato became lascivious and misconducted himself with a woman slave."

Answer 57

1) If something is pliable, you can bend it easily without cracking or breaking it [synonym] flexible "The plant has long pliable stems." "Some kinds of plastic become pliable if they're heated." "As your baby grows bigger, his bones become less pliable." 2) If someone who is pliable, he/she can be easily influenced and controlled by other people. [synonym] impressionable "He wanted a sweet, pliable, obedient wife."

Answer 58

[uncountable noun] [informal] strong & severe criticism or opposition "He's taken a lot of flak for his political views." "She took some flak from her parents about her new dress." "In recent years they have attracted more than their fair share of flak from the press."

Answer 59

1. (disapproving) (often after a plural noun) people or things that are considered to have only one use "People's fear of the unknown haws provided entertainment FODDER for screenwriters pf mystery thrills and horror movies." "Without education, these children will end up as factory fodder (= only able to work in a factory)." "He regarded lists of rules, regulations and procedures as dustbin fodder (= only fit to be thrown away)." "Old movies were the cheapest broadcast fodder." "This story will be more fodder for the gossip columnists." 2. food for horses and farm animals

Answer 60

The leaves of a plant are referred to as its foliage. "...shrubs with grey or silver foliage." "The dense foliage overhead almost blocked out the sun."

Answer 61

(formal) to prove a person or an argument to be wrong, invalid, or mistaken "He confuted his opponents by facts and logic." "The lawyer confuted the testimony of the witness by showing actual photographs of the accident."

Answer 62

harmful and damaging "the deleterious effect of stress on health" "These drugs have a proven deleterious effect on the nervous system." "Petty crime is having a deleterious effect on community life. "

Answer 63

[noun] a strong desire to travel far away and to many different places "In July wanderlust takes over the whole nation in the US." "His wanderlust would not allow him to stay long in one spot."

Answer 64

[verb] to show clearly that you have a feeling or quality (often indirectly) "He evinced a strong desire to be reconciled with his family." "She evinced little enthusiasm for the outdoor life." "The new president has so far evinced no such sense of direction." "They have never evinced any readiness or ability to negotiate." "In all the years I knew her, she never evinced any desire to do such a thing." evincive [adj] serving to evince; indicative

Answer 65

most important or easy to notice "She pointed out the salient features of the new design." "He summarized the salient points." "Chronic fatigue is also one of the salient features of depression." "The article presented the salient facts of the dispute clearly and concisely."

Answer 66

something that will solve all the problems of a particular situation usually used as "not a panacea" "Technology is not a panacea for all our problems." "There is no single panacea for the problem of unemployment." "The proposal is not a panacea for Britain's economic problems." "Western aid may help but will not be a panacea."

Answer 67

[uncountable noun] If you do something with panache, you do it in a confident, stylish, and elegant way. "She carried off the performance with panache." "The orchestra played with great panache." "He dressed with panache." "Her panache at dealing with the world's media is quite astonishing. "

Answer 68

the practice of killing someone who is very ill and will never get better in order to end their suffering, usually done at their request or with their consent. [synonym] mercy killing "Although some people campaign for the right to euthanasia, it is still illegal in most countries." "They argued in favour of legalizing voluntary euthanasia"

Answer 69

the act of refusing to obey or respect the law in a way that shows contempt "He was found guilty of contumacy." "Twenty ministers were summoned to the court and charged with contumacy." "Failure to respond to the summons was regarded as an act of contumacy." [adj] contumacious "The court has the power to apply sanctions for contumacious conduct."

Answer 70

already decided or planned by God or by fate (inevitable; predestined or established beforehand) [synonym] predestined "They seemed preordained to meet." "Nora was adamant that all events are foreordained by God" "Some people believe that fate has preordained whether they will be happy or unhappy."

Answer 71

A shoal of fish is a large group of them swimming together. "shoals of herring" "Squid travel in shoals." "Among them swam shoals of fish. "

Answer 72

[verb 1, British] If a ball bobbles, it moves in an irregular and uncontrolled way. "The ball somehow bobbled into the net." [verb 2, US] If a player bobbles a ball, they drop it or fail to control it. "She tried to catch the ball but bobbled it." [noun] a small soft ball made of wool

Answer 73

[noun 1] an official pardon granted to a group of prisoners by the state. "The president granted a general amnesty for all political prisoners." "Guerrilla groups have accepted the government’s offer of amnesty and have begun demobilizing." [noun 2] a period of time during which people can admit to a crime or give up weapons without being punished. "2 000 knives have been handed in during the month-long amnesty." "The government has announced an immediate amnesty for rebel fighters."

Answer 74

a friendly relationship between people or countries "He wished to live in amity with his neighbour." "The two groups had lived in perfect amity for many years before the recent troubles." "She was not met with amity when she faced the younger of the two women."

Answer 75

connected with cooking and eating good food "This dish is a gastronomic delight." "Paris is the gastronomic capital of the world. " "She is sampling gastronomic delights along the coastline."

Answer 76

[adj] moving with smooth twists and turns; OR having many smooth turns and curves. "He enjoyed watching the sinuous bodies of the dancers." "...the silent, sinuous approach of a snake through the long grass." "The hikers followed the sinuous path through the trees." "I drove along sinuous mountain roads."

Answer 77

docile: quiet and easy to influence, persuade, or control indocile: not docile; not easy to teach or discipline "The animal looked remarkably docile." "It is a cheap and docile workforce." "The once docile population has finally risen up against the ruthless regime."

Answer 78

[noun] the quality of unwilling to obey rules or follow instructions, difficult to deal with "a fear of teenage recalcitrance" [adj] recalcitrant "He was like a teacher encouraging a recalcitrant pupil." "One option is to threaten recalcitrant ministers with the sack."

Answer 79

[noun] the fact of being fat. obesity "He was nicknamed “Hippo” because of his corpulence." "We know King Henry VIII for his wives, perhaps, or for his corpulence." [adj] corpulent: (of a person) fat "He is a short, somewhat corpulent, man."

Answer 80

[adj] showing that you are feeling confident, full of energy and pleased n happy "When he came back his hat was at a jaunty angle and he was smiling." "The drum-major was terrific, with his jaunty swagger, and the lads loved it." "They love him ... all that golden hair and the jaunty moustache."

Answer 81

connected with the sense of smell "This olfactory sense develops in the womb." "The entire region is an olfactory overload of pungent fruit."

Answer 82

[noun] [disapproval] If you refer to someone as a stooge, you are criticizing them because they are used by someone else to do unpleasant or dishonest tasks. "He has vehemently rejected claims that he is a government stooge. " "The latter had for decades acted largely as a stooge for the party leaders." "The newly appointed mayor is widely regarded as a government stooge."

Answer 83

a member of a low social class in medieval times who worked on the land and had to obey the person who owned that land

Answer 84

[verb] (of blood, fat, liquid etc.) to become thick and sticky and almost solid "The blood had started to congeal in thick black clots." " The oil at last is congealed into a white fat." "Gear lubricants may congeal in cold weather." "The cold remains of supper had congealed on the plate." "(figurative) The bitterness and tears had congealed into hatred."

Answer 85

[only before noun] (humorous or ironic) sounding sweet and pleasant, soft and pleasant to listen to. "I thought I recognized your dulcet tones" "Quickly, in her dulcet voice, Tamara told him what had happened." "The amusing story, the dulcet music, the warm human relationship"

Answer 86

[adj] (of an action) useful or necessary for a particular purpose, but not always fair or right. [opposite] inexpedient "The government found it expedient to relax censorship a little." "When things go wrong it is expedient to say it was a management failure." "The management has taken a series of expedient measures to improve the company's financial situation." [noun] "The disease was controlled by the simple expedient of not allowing anyone to leave the city."

Answer 87

looking very impressive and grand, and obviously very expensive "We dined in sumptuous surroundings." "The interior is decorated in sumptuous reds and golds." "The celebrity guests turned up dressed in sumptuous evening gowns."

Answer 88

auspicious [adj] showing signs that something is likely to be successful in the future [opposite] inauspicious [synonym] promising "It was an auspicious date for a wedding." "We waited for an auspicious moment to make our request." "Our first meeting was not auspicious - we had a huge argument." auspices [noun] under the auspices of somebody/something: with the help, support or protection of somebody/something "The community centre was set up under the auspices of a government initiative." "Financial aid is being provided to the country under the auspices of the International Monetary Fund."

Answer 89

[1] a group of people sharing the same profession, interests or beliefs "the legal fraternity (= lawyers)" "the criminal fraternity (= criminals)" "The racing world is a pretty close-knit fraternity." [2] (North American , informal frat) [countable] a club for a group of male students at an American college or university "The university suspended the fraternity for two years, during which it could not hold social or athletic activities."

Answer 90

[1] [of metal or substance] that can be hit or pressed into different shapes easily without breaking or cracking "Gold is the most malleable of all metals." [2] [of a person, idea etc] easily influenced or changed "She was young enough to be malleable." "He had an actor's typically malleable features." "Europe saw its colonies as a source of raw material and a malleable workforce."

Answer 91

[1] if skin chafes, or if something chafes it, it becomes painful because the thing is rubbing against it "Her wrists chafed where the rope had been." "Her skin chafed where the tops of the boots had rubbed her legs." "The collar was far too tight and chafed her neck." "The bracelet was so tight that it started to chafe my wrist." [2] chafe (at/under something): (formal) to feel annoyed and impatient about something, especially because it limits what you can do "He chafed at the stuffy formality of the music he was asked to play." "Young people often go through a phase of chafing under parental control."

Answer 92

[1] (of a wound or cut) to become painful and infected (= full of bacteria) "If you don’t take the splinter out, it will fester." [2] (of bad feelings or thoughts) to become much worse because you do not deal with them successfully "Resentments are starting to fester." "It's better to express your anger than let it fester inside you." "Instead of talking the matter over with him, she allowed her resentment to fester in her mind."

Answer 93

smelling extremely bad and stale. [synonym] stinking "She tried to inhale as little of the fetid air as possible." "The air of the room was fetid with stale tobacco smoke." "He felt the creature's hot, fetid breath against his skin."

Answer 94

(from French, disapproving) typical of people who have recently become rich and like to show how rich they are in a very obvious way; and who have tastes and manners that some people consider vulgar. "The nouveau riche have to find a way to be accepted. " "The restaurant is popular with the city's nouveau riche."

Answer 95

[noun] the practice of refusing to sell a house to someone after you have agreed to sell it to them, and selling it instead to someone who offers to pay more "An end to gazumping will also help home buyers." "During the 1980s, practices like gazumping gave the property business in England a bad name." [verb] gazump /ɡəˈzʌmp/ "Sally's offer for the house has been accepted, but she's worried she might be gazumped."

Answer 96

[disapproval] too eager to tell people what to do and having too high an opinion of your own importance. "They wouldn't welcome any officious interference from the police. " "When people put on uniforms, their attitude becomes more confident and their manner more officious." "He's an officious little man and widely disliked in the company." "He felt shamed and humiliated by the officious treatment he received at the hands of the pompous men at Immigration."

Answer 97

(disapproving) to show too much respect to somebody who is more important than you or who can give you something you want [synonym] crawl "He sent a grovelling note of apology." "I’ve made a terrible mistake. Now I have to go back and grovel for my job." "She was grovelling around on the floor, looking for her contact lens."

Answer 98

lattermost: last hindmost: last, furthest back

Answer 99

a tough material that is made by sticking together two or more layers of a particular substance. "The blade is suitable for cutting plastics or laminates." laminated [adj] covered with thin clear plastic for protection "laminated membership cards" "The photographs were mounted on laminated cards."

Answer 100

[verb] [disapproval] to protect somebody too much and make their life too comfortable and safe "You're not helping the children by mollycoddling them - they have to grow up sometime." "Stop mollycoddling those kids - they need to think for themselves." coddle: (often disapproving) to treat somebody with too much care and attention "She coddled her youngest son madly."

Answer 101

[verb] to emphasize something or make it easier to notice "Her short hair accentuated her huge eyes." "His shaven head accentuates his large round face." "The whole air of menace was accentuated by the fact that he was so cordial and soft-voiced." "Her dress was tightly belted, accentuating the slimness of her waist." "The new policy only serves to accentuate the inadequacy of help for the homeless."

Answer 102

(formal, disapproving) unpleasant or dangerous and develops gradually without being noticed "the insidious effects of polluted water supplies" "High blood pressure is an insidious condition which has few symptoms."

Answer 103

unpleasant and unfair; likely to offend somebody or make them jealous "Such a difficult choice placed her in an invidious position." "We were in the invidious position of having to choose whether to break the law or risk lives." "It would be invidious to rank one patient as more deserving of help than another." "Comparing teams from different eras is an invidious exercise."

Answer 104

to say or write unpleasant things about somebody/something so that other people will have a low opinion of them "They were vilified by the press as ‘international terrorists’." "His lawyer was vilified for representing him." "He was vilified, hounded, and forced into exile by the FBI." hound: to chase someone or to refuse to leave someone alone

Answer 105

a famous woman singer, especially an opera singer "pop divas like Beyoncé" "She jettisoned more than her diva status. "

Answer 106

(North American English usually dean) the most respected or most experienced member of a group or profession If you refer to someone as the doyen of a group or profession, you mean that they are the oldest and most experienced and respected member of it. "He has been described as the doyen of the ancient astronaut theory."

Answer 107

an expert on a particular subject. "She considers herself a self-proclaimed gossip maven." "A food maven could also be called a gourmet."

Answer 108

(formal) stupid, extremely silly, showing a lack of intelligence or thought. "a fatuous comment/grin" "Their arguments are completely fatuous." "The Chief was left speechless by this fatuous remark. "

Answer 109

something that makes a process or activity to develop more quickly [synonym] stimulus "The Prime Minister’s support will give (an) added impetus to the campaign against crime." "She was restless and needed a new impetus for her talent." "Each new rumour added fresh impetus to the smear campaign."

Answer 110

[1] being something in name only, and not in reality "the nominal leader of the party" "She's the nominal head of our college - the real work is done by her deputy." "he Sultan was still nominally the Chief of Staff." [2] (of a sum of money) very small and much less than the normal cost or charge "We make a nominal charge for use of the tennis courts." "The amounts involved are nominal." "For a nominal fee, they will deliver orders to customers' homes." "All the ferries carry bicycles free or for a nominal charge."

Answer 111

synonym showy [1. of something] expensive and is intended to impress people; or done in an exaggerated way to attract people's attention "...an ostentatious wedding reception." "They criticized the ostentatious lifestyle of their leaders." [2. of someone] showing your wealth or status in a way that is intended to impress people "She's got a lovely way with language without ever sounding ostentatious" "She waved her hand about, ostentatiously displaying her large diamond ring."

Answer 112

1. [disapproval] done casually, without serious or careful thought. "He drove with blithe disregard for the rules of the road." "Your editorial blithely ignores the hard facts. " "I am upset by the author’s blithe indifference toward facts." 2. [literary] (of someone) cheerful and has no serious problems. "a blithe and carefree girl" "Everyone loved her for her blithe spirit"

Answer 113

[1] to tell somebody strongly and clearly that you do not approve of something that they have done [synonym] reprove "She was admonished for chewing gum in class." "His mother admonished him for eating too quickly." [2] to strongly advise somebody to do something "Her teacher admonished her to work harder for her exams." "A warning voice admonished him not to let this happen."

Answer 114

(old-fashioned) willing to accept what other people are doing without complaining; willing to satisfy others "The people in our village proved complaisant and cordial." "a complaisant opposition would fail to hold the government to account" "She carried on passionate love affairs with the consent of her complaisant husband."

Answer 115

If someone has hypochondria, they continually worry about their health and falsely imagine that they are ill "I thought the doctor was going to accuse me of hypochondria."

Answer 116

a personality trait characterized by instability, anxiety, etc neurotic [dj] not behaving in a reasonable, calm way, because you are worried about something. [Synonym] nervous "She became neurotic about keeping the house clean."

Answer 117

giving unfair advantages to your own family if you are in a position of power, especially by giving them jobs "Many will regard his appointment as the kind of nepotism the company ought to avoid. "

Answer 118

a solid white substance made from the melted fat of pigs that is used in cooking "Use sunflower oil instead of lard.'

Answer 119

full of confidence, energy and good humour "The Prime Minister was in ebullient mood." "He was accompanied by an ebullient, talkative blonde." ebullience [noun] "His natural ebullience began to return."

Answer 120

dealing with or treating the whole of something or someone and not just a part "My doctor takes a holistic approach to disease." "Ecological problems usually require holistic solutions." "The course aims to develop in students a holistic approach to design."

Answer 121

to trick somebody "She had been hoodwinked into buying a worthless necklace." "People expect others to be honest, which is why conmen find it so easy to hoodwink people."

Answer 122

overt: /əʊˈvɜːt/ done in an open way and not secretly "He shows no overt signs of his unhappiness." "Although there is no overt hostility, Black and White students do not mix much." covert: /ˈkəʊvɜːt/ secret or hidden, making it difficult to notice "He stole a covert glance at her across the table." "Every measure, both overt and covert, is being taken against terrorists."

Answer 123

to make someone's hair untidy, for example by rubbing it, or, of the wind, by blowing it "She tousled her niece's hair, and went out." "The wind tousled their hair."

Answer 124

to make something clearer by explaining it more fully "I don't understand. You'll have to elucidate." "The aim of the report is to elucidate the main points of the new regulations." "The exact details of the process have not yet been elucidated."

Answer 125

[1] a mixture of different things, especially tunes put together to form a longer piece of music "...a medley of traditional songs. " "The menu described the dessert as "a medley of exotic fruits"." [2] a swimming competition in which each of four swimmers in a team uses a different method of swimming

Answer 126

The gamut of something: the complete range of a particular kind of thing "The network will provide the gamut of computer services to your home." "She felt she had run the (whole) gamut of human emotions from joy to despair." "The exhibition runs the whole gamut of artistic styles."

Answer 127

[adj] (of hair) carefully arranged in an attractive style: "Her makeup was immaculate, her blonde hair perfectly coiffed." "How do those TV mothers always manage to look so immaculately coiffed as they do the housework?'

Answer 128

[adj] (of a person’s hair) in a style that raises it up and back from the head in a high round shape "Hair in the 1980s was generally big, curly, bouffant and heavily styled.'

Answer 129

[disapproval] showing no sign of intelligence or sensitive feelings "Models are not always as vacuous as they are made out to be." "...the usual vacuous comments by some faceless commentator."

Answer 130

a part of a city in which many poor people or many people of a particular race, religion, or nationality live separately from everyone else. "a poor kid who grew up in the ghetto" "'As a child she lived in one of New York's poorest ghettos.

Answer 131

[1] (of prices, values, or sales) to fall suddenly "The value of property has slumped." "Car sales have slumped dramatically over the past year." "The paper's circulation has slumped to 90 000." [2] to sit or fall heavily and suddenly: "She slumped into the chair, exhausted." "He was found slumped in a pool of blood by security guards.'

Answer 132

a room, often a small dark unpleasant one, at the top of a house, especially in the roof. [Similar to] attic, loft

Answer 133

tending or able to infuse infuse: to fill someone or something with an emotion or quality

Answer 134

an action that is wrong but can be dealt with in a civil court rather than a criminal court "We have considered the tort of private nuisance; public nuisance should also be mentioned."

Answer 135

a large number of bullets fired at the same time or one after another very quickly "Both were killed in a fusillade of bullets fired at close range." " (figurative) He faced a fusillade of questions from the waiting journalists."

Answer 136

If you pre-empt an action, you prevent it from happening by doing something which makes it unnecessary or impossible. "You can pre-empt pain by taking a painkiller at the first warning sign." "She was just about to apologize when he pre-empted her." ""You need to be prepared and preempt the impact of the change before it happens.

Answer 137

"They took out a £400,000 mortgage (= they borrowed £400,000) to buy the house." "He's been having trouble keeping up with his monthly mortgage repayments." "He had to mortgage his house to pay his legal costs." "Having a big mortgage is a real drain on your earnings. "After falling behind with his mortgage repayments he now faces eviction from his home." "She got behind with her mortgage and the house was repossessed."

Answer 138

careless, untidy or dirty in appearance or habits "Better a bachelor's life than a slovenly wife." "Lisa was irritated by the slovenly attitude of her boyfriend" "I'll have to improve my slovenly habits - my mother's coming to stay." "Don't slouch in that slovenly way!" slouch [verb] /slaʊtʃ/ to stand, sit or move in a lazy way, often with your shoulders and head bent forward "Sit up straight. Don't slouch."

Answer 139

[1] (of a person) giving the impression of being unfriendly and very serious "He was a striking figure with a long, dour face." "They were barely acknowledged by a dour receptionist." "The normally dour Mr James was photographed smiling."

Answer 140

[noun] an amount that is too large. [synonym] excess "A surfeit of rich food is bad for you." "The country has a surfeit of cheap labour." "The school has a surfeit of mediocre teachers." "Rationing had put an end to a surfeit of biscuits long ago."

Answer 141

[noun] a supply of something that is much greater than can be sold or is needed or wanted. [SIMILAR to] surfeit "The fall in demand for coffee could cause a glut on/in the market." "The current glut of graduates means that many of them will not be able to find jobs.' [verb] to supply or provide something with too much of something "The market has been glutted with foreign cars." "Soldiers returning from the war had glutted the job market." "Higher mortgage rates and over-building left some markets glutted with unsold houses.'

Answer 142

If there is a preponderance of one type of person or thing in a group, there is more of that type than of any other. [synonym] predominance "There is still a preponderance of male managers in the profession." "The company, which has a preponderance of middle-aged customers, is now hoping to attract a younger clientele." "Many families live in the area, thank to a preponderance of spacious homes." "The disease has a sexual preponderance; it is two times more common in women than men." [adj] "Yellow was the preponderant color in the room." "Melancholy is the preponderant mood of the poem."

Answer 143

[1] disgorge something: to pour something out in large quantities "The pipe disgorges sewage into the sea." "Flies disgorge digestive fluid onto their food to soften it up." "The pipe was found to be disgorging dangerous chemicals into the sea." [2] vehicle or building disgorges people: people come out of it in large numbers "The bus disgorged a crowd of noisy children." "The delayed commuter train disgorged hundreds of angry passengers."

Answer 144

[1] to succeed in achieving or winning something "They clinched a place in the semi-finals." "She needs 9.75 to clinch the title." "I hear he finally clinched the deal to buy the house he wanted." [2] to provide the answer to something; to settle something that was not certain "These findings clinched the matter." ‘I'll pay your airfare.’ ‘OK, that clinches it—I'll come with you.’

Answer 145

poisonous or harmful "...carbon monoxide and other noxious gases." "They died from inhaling noxious fumes." "It is a noxious and insidious notion that insults the intellectual abilities of black students."

Answer 146

to (suddenly) see or notice something or someone: "Miss Bates, passing near the window, descried Mr Knightley on horseback not far off." "He can descry a way of overcoming the difficulty." "He can descry a way of overcoming the difficulty." "Learn to foster an ardent imagination; so shall you descry beauty which others unheeded."

Answer 147

[1] (plural lice) a small insect that lives on the bodies of humans and animals "The only thing they warned us about was lice." [2] (plural louses) (informal, disapproving) a very unpleasant person "Steve had let her down; she should never have trusted the louse."

Answer 148

to officially state that a law, contract, decision, etc. no longer has any legal force [synonym] revoke "The agreement was rescinded on 20 March 1993." "Trade Union leaders have demanded the government rescind the price rise." "Both parties may rescind or renew the contract via mutual consultation."

Answer 149

[adj] (old-fashioned) funny, clever and not serious "waggish remarks" "The piece, as one waggish writer put it, "begins like Bach and ends like Offenbach."" A wag is someone who makes jokes.

Answer 150

(of a person) pleasant and funny but looking as if they might do something wrong "She was a mature woman with red hair and a roguish grin." "She must choose between her cold fiancé and the somewhat more roguish fellow she met on a trip to Italy." "In all these novels, there's a roguish dark stranger who's sexy and attractive and not to be relied upon."

Answer 151

to accept something without arguing, even if you do not really agree with it "Senior government figures must have acquiesced in the cover-up." "She explained her plan and reluctantly he acquiesced." "Her parents will never acquiesce in such an unsuitable marriage."

Answer 152

[1] (formal) showing no respect for a god or a religion, often through language "profane language" "Funny, profane, and fearless, she has become one of America's biggest television celebrities." [2] (specialist) not connected with religion or holy things [synonym] secular "songs of sacred and profane love"

Answer 153

[1] a man, especially in the past, who dressed in expensive, fashionable clothes and was very interested in his own appearance "He was handsome and a dandy." "He dressed like a dandy in a Prince Albert coat, derby hat, and stiff collar."

Answer 154

(humorous) to sing, especially in a high voice that is not very steady "He warbled his way through the song." "She warbled as she worked. " "Was that you I heard warbling in the bathroom this morning?" (of a bird) to sing pleasantly (often with rapidly changing notes) "A flock of birds was already warbling a cheerful morning chorus."

Answer 155

existing in all parts of a place or thing; spreading gradually to affect all parts of a place or thing "Her influence is all-pervasive (= it affects everyone and everything)." "She lives with a pervasive sense of guilt." "Alcohol is still a pervasive problem with high - school students."

Answer 156

(formal, disapproving) often complaining, especially in a weak high voice [synonym] peevish; fretful; whining "He complained in a querulous voice about having been woken up." "A querulous male voice said, 'Look, are you going to order, or what?' ' "He became increasingly dissatisfied and querulous in his old age."

Answer 157

(of speakers and speech) using words that are clever, but are not sincere, and do not show much thought "a glib salesman" "He had assumed that his glib explanations would convince us." "No one was convinced by his glib answers/explanations."

Answer 158

very determined and refusing to be defeated by problems [SYN] tenacious, dogged, persistent, relentless "His pertinacious endeavours to arrange a summit ran into the sand." "Like most successful politicians, she is pertinacious and single-minded in the pursuit of her goals." pernicious : highly injurious or destructive

Answer 159

having the shape of a bulb; round and fat in an ugly way "...his bulbous purple nose." "He had a huge, bulbous nose."

Answer 160

(disapproving) too worried about small details or formal rules "a pedantic insistence on the correct way of doing things" "His lecture was so pedantic and uninteresting. " "They were being unnecessarily pedantic by insisting that Berry himself, and not his wife, should have made the announcement."

Answer 161

to cause air or gas to pass through "Earthworms do the important job of aerating the soil." "Aerate the soil by spiking with a fork."

Answer 162

[usually plural] a fault in something or a disadvantage of something "...articles debating the merits and demerits of the three candidates." "We need to consider the merits and demerits of the plan." "We need to consider the merits and demerits of the plan."

Answer 163

[law, formal] generally thought to be or to exist, even if this may not really be true "the putative father of this child" "The putative leader of the terrorist organization was arrested by police in Birmingham yesterday."

Answer 164

a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one written for a university degree "He wrote his Master's dissertation on rats." "His doctoral dissertation was entitled History, Historians and Poetry?" "Some Diplomas also require submission of a dissertation." "Students can either do a dissertation or take part in a practical project."

Answer 165

[1] to talk in an incoherent, meaningless & rambling way (often boring or annoying) "Tony continued to maunder on about his great passion." "He maundered about her being the best thing that had ever happened to him." [2] to move, go, or act in an aimless, confused manner "He maundered through life without a single ambition"

Answer 166

having a strong effect on your body or mind, powerful, forceful, or effective "Beauty is potent; but money is omnipotent." "That chilli sauce is pretty potent stuff." "This is a very potent drug and can have unpleasant side-effects." potency [noun] "This new drug's potency is not yet known." "If you keep a medicine too long, it may lose its potency." "Sunscreen can lose its potency if left over winter in the bathroom cabinet."

Answer 167

to give, offer or tell something to somebody, especially in order to give them a special advantage "He vouchsafed to me certain family secrets." "I can vouchsafe that we all think very highly of you." "He thinks himself so important that he won't vouchsafe to visit us any more."

Answer 168

[noun] a person who believes that having pleasure is the most important thing in life "As a hedonist, he survived only for pleasure." "The Marquis de Sade was a hedonist who believed there should be no limits on human behaviour." [adj hedonistic: "the hedonistic philosophy of ‘eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die!’"

Answer 169

[noun] (disapproving) a person who does not like or understand art, literature, music, etc. "In artistic matters he’s a complete philistine." "I wouldn't have expected them to enjoy a film of that quality anyway - they're just a bunch of philistines!" [adj] "...a philistine government that allowed the arts to decline." "...a philistine city lacking in elegance."

Answer 170

using very few words to say something "His laconic comment was, ‘Too bad!’' "He sent me a laconic private message." "The laconic Joey Ramone rarely spoke.'

Answer 171

using your power or influence to get good jobs or unfair advantages for members of your own family "She has a nepotistic connection to the president." "She spoke out against the group's corrupt and nepotistic practices." nepotism [noun]

Answer 172

(formal) going from one thing to another, without a definite plan and without enthusiasm "She made a desultory attempt at conversation." "He wandered around, cleaning up in a desultory way." "The meeting ended up a desultory conversation with no clear direction."

Answer 173

nervous and easily frightened synonym timid "He is a reclusive, timorous creature." "Some delegates believe the final declaration is likely to be too timorous."

Answer 174

(especially of older people) full of life and energy "She’s very sprightly for her age." "He's a sprightly old man of 75."

Answer 175

to avoid giving a direct answer to a question in order to hide the truth "Stop prevaricating and come to the point." "He accused the minister of prevaricating." "After months of prevarication, the political decision had at last been made." [synonym] beat about the bush: to talk about something for a long time without coming to the main point "Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want."

Answer 176

based on experiments or experience rather than ideas or theories "There is no empirical evidence to support his thesis." "This theory needs to be backed up with solid empirical data/evidence."

Answer 177

very sorry and guilty for something bad that you have done "He looked so contrite that for a moment she nearly believed he really was sorry about what he had said." "Mercy should be shown to the contrite, but the community needed to be reassured that the contrition was genuine."

Answer 178

[uncountable] plates, cups, saucers, and dishes that you use at meals. "We had no fridge, cooker, cutlery or crockery." "They would like crockery and cutlery as wedding presents."

Answer 179

tending to argue or become angry; bad-tempered and aggressive "He was truculent and difficult to deal with." "‘What do you want?’ he asked, sounding slightly truculent." "Your secretary said you'd be wanting a cleaner,' she announced with her usual truculence. "

Answer 180

the period of life when you are old and not always able to think clearly " I need you to look after me in my dotage." "The women now share their dotage in the old folks' home." "Even in his dotage, the Professor still sits on the committee. "

Answer 181

(of people) easy to control; willing to be influenced by somebody/something "They had three very amenable children." "She might be more amenable to the idea if you explained how much money it would save." "You should find him amenable to reasonable arguments."

Answer 182

(often in negative sentences) + of: liking or admiring something a lot. If you are not enamoured of something, you dislike or disapprove of it. "I'm not exactly enamoured with the idea of spending a whole day with them." "I have to say I'm not exactly enamoured with/of this part of the country." "I remember being very young and being totally enamored of him. (in love with him)"

Answer 183

[noun] [uncountable] (literary) help that you give to somebody who is suffering or having problems "Her organization gave succour and strength to those who had been emotionally damaged." [verb] "Helicopters fly in appalling weather to succour shipwrecked mariners."

Answer 184

[verb] (of a court or other official body, especially in the US) to charge an important public figure with a serious crime "The President was impeached by Congress for lying." "The governor was impeached for wrongful use of state money."

Answer 185

(+ on/upon) to have a clear and definite effect on something/somebody, especially a bad one "He never allowed his work to impinge on his private life." "The government's spending limits will seriously impinge on the education budget." "The Supreme Court will decide if the new communications bill impinges on the Constitutional right to free speech." "High tariffs impinge on businesses and raise costs for consumers."

Answer 186

a condition in which your bones lose calcium and become more likely to break "Osteoporosis afflicts many older women." "The osteoporosis danger came as a surprise to her."

Answer 187

a medical condition in which the flow of blood in the body is blocked by a clot (= partly solid mass) of blood - coronary thrombosis (a blood clot in an artery) - deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot forming in a vein)

Answer 188

a belief which rejects all political and religious authority and current ideas in favour of the individual, a belief that life has no meaning or purpose and that religious and moral principles have no value "Nihilism rejects any objective basis for society and its morality."

Answer 189

(1) If you exude love, confidence, pain, etc., you show that you have a lot of that feeling "She exudes an air of relaxed calm." "The guerrillas exude confidence. Every town, they say, is under their control." (2) exudes a liquid or smell etc. "The plant exudes a sticky fluid." "Nearby was a factory which exuded a pungent smell."

Answer 190

to suggest or accept that something is true so that it can be used as the basis for a theory, etc. "They postulated a 500-year lifespan for a plastic container." "It was the Greek astronomer, Ptolemy, who postulated that the earth was at the centre of the universe."

Answer 191

(1) If you enthuse about something, you talk about it in a way that shows how excited you are about it. "'I've found the most wonderful house to buy!' she enthused." "He was enthusing over a wonderful restaurant he'd been to." (2) If you are enthused by something, it makes you feel excited and enthusiastic "I was immediately enthused." "Find a hobby or interest which enthuses you." "He was passionately interested in classical music but failed to enthuse his children (with it)."

Answer 192

[noun] [uncountable] (formal) behaviour or humour showing lack of respect or seriousness, especially during a serious occasion [synonym] frivolity "It was cruel levity in you to do that." "The joke provided a moment of levity in an otherwise dreary meeting." "Dr. Watkins brought some much-needed levity into his lecture on economic theory."

Answer 193

/ˈtʃæs.tə.ti/ [noun] being chaste; the state of not having sexual relationships or never having had sex "As a monk, he took vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience." chastity vs celibacy celibacy /ˈselɪbəsi/ is a broader commitment that includes both sexual abstinence and not marrying; chastity is about engaging in morally appropriate sexual behavior

Answer 194

(1) unlawfully hunt or take animals from a protected area without permission "The elephants are poached for their tusks." (2) to persuade someone who works for someone else to come and work for you "They were furious when one of their best managers was poached by another company." "The company authorised its staff to poach customers from the opposition."

Answer 195

(1) (of a liquid, gas, etc.) to move gradually through a surface that has very small holes or spaces in it "Water had percolated down through the rocks." (2) [intransitive] to gradually become known or spread through a group or society "It had percolated through to us that something interesting was about to happen." "Changes percolate through gradually."

Answer 196

[noun] A fete is an event that is usually held outdoors and includes competitions, entertainments, and the selling of used and home-made goods. [verb] If someone is feted, they are celebrated, welcomed, or admired by the public.

Answer 197

(1) relating to the brain "He suffered a cerebral haemorrhage. /ˈhem.ər.ɪdʒ/" (severe loss of blood from a damaged blood vessel ) (2) (formal) intellectual rather than emotional; relating to the mind rather than the feelings "His problem wasn't his policies; it was his personality. He was simply too cerebral and too out of touch with Middle America."

Answer 198

strongly disagree with something/someone and do not want to be connected with them in any way. [synonym] reject, deny, disown "He repudiated the allegation/charge/claim that he had tried to deceive them." "The buyer is entitled to repudiate the contract within a reasonable period of time." "His party repudiated him after the scandal."

Answer 199

unit of volume that is used for measuring agricultural produce such as corn or beans. (approximately 35.2 liters) [phrase] hide your light under a bushel: you keep your abilities or good qualities hidden from other people.

Answer 200

1. (of someone) being sad and sentimental in a foolish way, perhaps because of drinking alcohol. "Jimmy turned maudlin after three drinks" 2. (of a song, book, or film) (disapproval) being very sentimental "...the most maudlin song of all time."

Answer 201

(of someone or something) that lags (very slow), not performing as well as its competitors "The last remaining laggards have now bought mobile phones." "The company has developed a reputation as a technological laggard."

Answer 202

tight-fitting underwear for women that covers the body from just under the arms to the tops of the legs

Answer 203

(disapproving) behaving as if you are better than other people, and that their opinions, beliefs, or ideas are not important [synonym] superior "He spoke in a haughty, supercilious voice." "The dress shop assistant was very supercilious." "His manner is supercilious and arrogant. "

Answer 204

cloth that is color fast will not lose color when it is washed "Do we not buy materials that are colour-fast?"

Answer 205

[verb] to get enough food or money to stay alive, but no more "Old people often subsist on very small incomes." "The prisoners were subsisting on a diet of bread and water." "Almost every employee must moonlight in second jobs simply to subsist." "The terms of the contract subsist."

Answer 206

behaving in an angry or sulky way, especially because you cannot do or have what you want [synonym] pettish "He behaved like a petulant child and refused to cooperate." "He plays the part of a petulant young man in the film."

Answer 207

1. (of a person, their face, etc.) pale, especially because of illness "She found him on the bed, pallid and shivering." "Next to his tanned face, hers seemed pallid and unhealthy." 2. (of colours or light) not strong or bright, and therefore not attractive, not exciting "...a pallid unsuccessful romance." "This is a pallid production of what should be a great ballet."

Answer 208

a period of time when somebody, especially a teacher at a university, is allowed to stop their normal work in order to study or travel "He's on sabbatical this term." "She's been on sabbatical writing a novel." "He took a year's sabbatical from the Foreign Office."

Answer 209

a pause in which nothing happens, or a gap where something is missing "After a five-month hiatus, the talks resumed." "Diplomatic efforts to reach a settlement resume today after a two-week hiatus." "The company expects to resume production of the vehicle again after a two-month hiatus."

Answer 210

to put things or people that are not similar next to each other, so that the differences between them are emphasized "In the exhibition, abstract paintings are juxtaposed with shocking photographs." "The exhibition juxtaposes Picasso's early drawings with some of his later works."

Answer 211

(=bedspread) a type of bedspread to cover a bed "She puts the light cotton coverlet from her bed on a chair."

Answer 212

a warm cover for a bed, made of two layers with soft material between them, often held in place and decorated with lines of stitching "This project involved a woman producing quilts which we use for refugees."

Answer 213

(law) the crime of stealing something from somebody; an occasion when this takes place [synonym] theft "The couple were charged with grand/petty larceny (= stealing things that are valuable/not very valuable)." "He now faces two to 20 years in prison on grand larceny charges"

Answer 214

(of an action) done as a duty or habit, without real interest, attention or feeling "She gave the list only a perfunctory glance." "He is never serious and works in a perfunctory manner."

Answer 215

happening or existing a long time ago "The horse and cart belongs to a bygone era." "The book recalls other memories of a bygone age."

Answer 216

[disapproval] having very strict moral attitudes, with the belief that it is important to work hard and control yourself, and that pleasure is wrong or unnecessary "He rebelled against his puritanical upbringing." "Her father has a puritanical attitude towards sex without marriage." "Their parents had a puritanical streak and didn't approve of dancing."

Answer 217

to make something stronger, more active or more healthy again "The local economy has been revitalized." "Gentle massage will revitalize your skin." "This hair conditioner is excellent for revitalizing dry, lifeless hair."

Answer 218

talking a lot, especially about unimportant things [synonym] talkative "I had talked too much about myself and felt like a garrulous old fool." "The normally garrulous commentator had nothing to say."

Answer 219

an organ in the brain that produces a hormone called melatonin: The pineal produces its hormone melatonin only during the dark. melatonin : a hormone that helps regulate (= control) waking and sleeping in humans and animals, and which is sometimes used to treat insomnia (= the condition of being unable to sleep)

Answer 220

to be a sign or warning of something that is going to happen in the future, especially something bad or unpleasant [synonym] foreshadow "The change did not portend a basic improvement in social conditions." "It was a deeply superstitious country, where earthquakes were commonly believed to portend the end of dynasties."

Answer 221

a person who is in charge of work done in a particular department, office, etc., or who is responsible for keeping a building or place in good condition "He was stopped at the airport by an assistant superintendent of police." "He became superintendent of the bank's East African branches." "In the US, a school superintendent is in charge of the schools in a particular area." "We asked the superintendent (also US informal super) to fix the broken window in our apartment."

Answer 222

(formal, disapproval) refusing to change your mind or your actions in any way (extremely determined) [synonym] stubborn, obstinate "Some members of the committee are likely to prove obdurate on this matter." "Union leaders remain obdurate that working conditions and pay improve."

Answer 223

1. (of a young bird) that has just learnt to fly 2. (of a person, an organization or a system) that is new and without experience [adj] new and without experience: "Many fledgling companies need financial assistance." "Still in his teens, he pursued his fledgling career in journalism." "The current economic climate is particularly difficult for fledgling businesses."

Answer 224

a person who has little or no experience of something or is beginning to learn something [synonym] novice "...a tyro journalist." "I look forward to seeing this young tyro's next ballet."

Answer 225

(on) (about something) to talk or complain about something in a boring and/or annoying way "Tony continued to maunder on about his great passion." "He maundered about her being the best thing that had ever happened to him."

Answer 226

(formal) (of music or of somebody’s voice) sounding sweet and smooth; very pleasant to listen to "I grew up around people who had wonderful, mellifluous voices. " "Soon the room is filled with Bates' mellifluous tones."

Answer 227

having an unpleasant smell "...tons of malodorous garbage bags." "The town is built on a malodorous swamp." odorous /ˈəʊdərəs/ having a smell

Answer 228

a person who has a strong desire, which they cannot control, to steal things, usually of a type of mental illness "I knew she was a kleptomaniac of extraordinary skill." "He has severe kleptomaniac tendencies."

Answer 229

1) (geology) a layer or set of layers of rock, earth, etc. "Excavated coins can often be dated from other objects in the same stratum." 2) A stratum of society: a group of people in it who are similar in their education, income, or social status. "It was an enormous task that affected every stratum of society. [+ of] " "The rebels came overwhelmingly from the poorest strata of rural society."

Answer 230

a statement that expresses something that people believe is always true or should be followed "He followed the famous American dictum "Don't get mad, get even"." "Every storyteller should remember Aristotle’s dictum that a story must have a beginning, a middle and an end."

Answer 231

[noun] a person who is blamed for something that someone else has done. [synonym] fall guy "The captain was made a scapegoat for the team's failure." "She felt she had been made a scapegoat for her boss's incompetence." "People always need convenient scapegoats to blame for society's problems." [verb] "The community chose to ignore its own failings and to scapegoat her instead."

Answer 232

someone who does unpleasant or illegal things for a powerful person "He sent one of his henchmen with orders to seize the pictures." "Like other dictators, he tried to distance himself from the dirty deeds carried out by his henchmen."

Answer 233

1. (for a king or queen) to give up the position of being king, queen or emperor "The emperor abdicated in favour of his younger son." "She was forced to abdicate the throne of Spain." 2. abdicate responsibility: to stop controlling or managing something that you are in charge of "She abdicated all responsibility for the project."

Answer 234

1. to end a law, agreement, or custom formally. [synonym] repeal "The rule has been abrogated by mutual consent." 2. to fail to carry out a responsibility or duty "We believe the board is abrogating its responsibilities."

Answer 235

a feeling of cheerful friendship, happy, good-natured friendliness. "There was a casual bonhomie between the actors at rehearsals." "There was a lot of cheerful bonhomie amongst the people on the trip." "He was full of bonhomie."

Michael Sec 2 Vol II (Adv Vacab Part 1) Flashcards

(260 cards)