PD_28/07/20(Manhattan 8 ---> SE --> Drill : Answer Choice Analysis) Flashcards
(42 cards)
turbid
adjective formal
(of a liquid) not transparent because a lot of small pieces of matter are held in it:
Several different species of fish inhabit these turbid shallow waters.
self-effacing
ADJECTIVE
Someone who is self-effacing does not like talking about themselves or drawing attention to themselves.
As women we tend to be self-effacing and make light of what we have achieved.
…the slightly self-effacing manner adopted by many diplomats.
amicable
ADJECTIVE
When people have an amicable relationship, they are pleasant to each other and solve their problems without quarrelling.
The meeting ended on reasonably amicable terms.
Our discussions were amicable and productive.
Synonyms: friendly, kindly, brotherly, civil
succinct
ADJECTIVE
Something that is succinct expresses facts or ideas clearly and in few words.
[approval]
The book gives an admirably succinct account of the technology and its history.
If you have something to say make sure that it is accurate, succinct and to the point.
Synonyms: brief, to the point, concise, compact
slander
VARIABLE NOUN
Slander is an untrue spoken statement about someone which is intended to damage their reputation. Compare libel.
Dr. Bach is now suing the company for slander.
Synonyms: defamation, smear, libel, scandal
traduce
VERB [usually passive]
If someone has been traduced, unpleasant and untrue things have deliberately been said about them.
[formal]
We have been traduced in the press as xenophobic bigots. [be VERB-ed]
Synonyms: malign, abuse, knock [informal], rubbish [informal]
distend
VERB
If a part of your body is distended, or if it distends, it becomes swollen and unnaturally large.
[medicine, formal]
Through this incision, the abdominal cavity is distended with carbon dioxide gas. [be VERB-ed]
The colon, or large intestine, distends and fills with gas. [VERB]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: swell, stretch, expand, increase
collateral
UNCOUNTABLE NOUN [oft as N]
Collateral is money or property which is used as a guarantee that someone will repay a loan.
[formal]
Many people use personal assets as collateral for small business loans.
Most people here cannot borrow from banks because they lack collateral.
Synonyms: security, guarantee, deposit, assurance
prefatory
coming at the beginning of a piece of writing or a speech:
After a few prefatory comments/remarks, she began her speech.
ordinal
a number such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, that shows the position of something in a list of things:
Fifth and 200th are ordinal numbers.
earthy
ADJECTIVE
If you describe someone as earthy, you mean that they are open and direct, and talk about subjects which other people avoid or feel ashamed about.
[approval]
…his extremely earthy humour.
referring to sex and the human body in a direct way:
She has an earthy sense of humour.
ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe something as earthy, you mean it looks, smells, or feels like earth.
I’m attracted to warm, earthy colours.
The rooms had the clean earthy smell of wet clay.
hawkish
ADJECTIVE
Journalists use hawkish to describe politicians or governments who are in favour of using force to achieve something, rather than using peaceful and diplomatic methods.
He is one of the most hawkish members of the new cabinet.
cogent
ADJECTIVE
A cogent reason, argument, or example is strong and convincing.
[formal]
There were perfectly cogent reasons why Julian Cavendish should be told of the Major’s impending return.
bombastic
ADJECTIVE
using long and difficult words, usually to make people think you know more than you do:
a bombastic preacher
a bombastic statement
[disapproval]
He was vain and bombastic.
…the bombastic style adopted by his predecessor.
intelligible
ADJECTIVE
Something that is intelligible can be understood.
The language of Darwin was intelligible to experts and non-experts alike. [+ to]
The woman moaned faintly but made no intelligible response.
Synonyms: understandable, clear, distinct, lucid
turgid
ADJECTIVE
If you describe something such as a piece of writing or a film as turgid, you think it is boring and difficult to understand.
He used to make extremely dull, turgid and frankly boring speeches.
The rest of the arts scene looks increasingly turgid by comparison.
Synonyms: pompous, inflated, windy, high-flown
deviation
- VARIABLE NOUN
Deviation means doing something that is different from what people consider to be normal or acceptable.
Deviation from the norm is not tolerated. [+ from]
To abstain from meat was a serious deviation.
Synonyms: departure, change, variation, shift More Synonyms of deviation - VARIABLE NOUN
In statistics, deviation is the difference between the value of one number in a series of numbers and the average value of all the numbers in the series.
A 10 to 15 percent deviation is considered acceptable.
aberrant
ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Aberrant means unusual and not socially acceptable.
[formal]
Ian’s rages and aberrant behavior worsened.
adulation
noun [ U ]
very great admiration or praise for someone, especially when it is more than is deserved:
As a born performer, she loves the excitement and she loves the adulation.
contumely
noun [ U ] old use
criticisms or insults that show a lack of respect:
She was indifferent to praise and contumely alike.
machicolation
NOUN
- (esp in medieval castles) a projecting gallery or parapet supported on corbels having openings through which missiles could be dropped
- any such opening
(in medieval fortifications) an opening between the supporting corbels of a projecting parapet or the vault of a gate, through which stones or burning objects could be dropped on attackers.
a projecting structure containing a series of machicolations.
slake
to satisfy a feeling of being thirsty or of wanting something:
After our long game of tennis, we slaked our thirst with a beer.
I don’t think Dick will ever manage to slake his lust for power.
Synonyms: satisfy, gratify, assuage, quench
quench
verb [ T ]
to drink liquid so that you stop being thirsty:
When it’s hot, it’s best to quench your thirst with water.
literary
to use water to put out a fire:
The flames were quenched by heavy rain.
to satisfy a need or wish:
Her thirst for knowledge will never be quenched.
succour
UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Succour is help given to people who are suffering or in difficulties.
[formal]
…a commitment to give succour to populations involved in the conflict.
Synonyms: help, support, aid, relief