Set 4

Question 1

barrage

Answer 1

bar‧rage
/ˈbærɑːʒ $ bəˈrɑːʒ/

1 A barrage is continuous firing on an area with large guns and tanks: BOMBARDMENT, attack, bombing, assault
…The artillery barrage on the city centre was the heaviest since the ceasefire.
…The two fighters were driven off by a barrage of anti-aircraft fire.

2 A barrage of something such as criticism or complaints is a large number of them directed at someone, often in an aggressive way: ABUNDANCE, mass, superabundance, plethora, profusion; DELUGE, stream, storm, torrent, onslaught, flood, spate, tide, avalanche, hail, burst, blaze; outburst, outpouring
…a barrage of questions
…a barrage of criticism
…He was faced with a barrage of angry questions from the floor.

> 1859, “action of barring; man-made barrier in a stream” (for irrigation, etc.), from French barrer “to stop,” from barre “bar,” from Old French barre (see bar (n.1)).
> The artillery sense is attested by 1916, from World War I French phrase tir de barrage “barrier fire” intended to isolate the objective. As a verb by 1917. Related: Barraged; barraging.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 2

contortion

Answer 2

con‧tor‧tion
/kənˈtɔːʃən $ -ɔːr-/

1 Contortions are movements of your body or face into unusual shapes or positions.
…I had to admire the contortions of the gymnasts.

2 something difficult you have to do in order to achieve something
…He went through a series of amazing contortions to get Karen a work permit.

> early 15c., contorsioun, “act of twisting or wrenching,” from Old French contorsion and directly from Latin contortionem (nominative contortio), noun of action from past-participle stem of contorquere (see contort). Meaning “a contorted state or form” is from 1660s.
> contort (v.): “to twist or wrench out of shape,” early 15c. (implied in contorted), from Latin contortus, past participle of contorquere “to whirl, twist together,” from assimilated form of com- “with, together,” here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-) + torquere “to twist” (from PIE root *terkw- “to twist”). Related: Contorting.
> Collins English Dictionary, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Etymonline

Question 3

enthrall

Answer 3

en‧thrall
/ɪnˈθrɔːl $ -ˈθrɒːl/

to make someone very interested and excited, so that they listen or watch something very carefully: CAPTIVATE, beguile, fascinate, enchant, bewitch, enrapture, delight, attract, allure, lure, mesmerize, hypnotize, grip, spellbind, arrest

→ be enthralled by sb/sth
or be enthralled with sb/sth
…The children were enthralled by the story she was telling.
…The passengers were enthralled by the scenery.

GRAMMAR
Enthrall is usually passive.

> late Middle English (in the sense ‘enslave’; formerly also as inthrall ): from en-1, in-2 (as an intensifier) + thrall: Old English thrǣl ‘slave’, from Old Norse thræll.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Dictionary of English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster

Question 4

be on a par with sth

Answer 4

be on a par with sth

to be at the same level or standard
…The wages of clerks were on a par with those of manual workers.
…The new version of the software is on a par with the old one.
…His new book is on par with his bestsellers.
…We will have Christmas decorations on a par with anything on show at the Metro Centre.

> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Merriam-Webster

Question 5

jarring

Answer 5

jarring

1 incongruous in a striking or shocking way; clashing
…The telephone struck a jarring note in those Renaissance surroundings.

2 causing a physical shock, jolt, or vibration.
…The truck came to a jarring halt.

jar

1 to make someone feel annoyed or shocked; to have a harshly disagreeable or disconcerting effect.

jar on
…The screaming was starting to jar on my nerves.

2 to shake or hit something in a way that damages it or makes it loose.

3 to be different in style or appearance from something else and therefore look strange.

jar with
…There was a modern lamp that jarred with the rest of the room.

> late 15th century (as a noun in the sense ‘disagreement, dispute’): probably imitative.
> Oxford Dictionary of English, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Merriam-Webster

Question 6

skirmish

Answer 6

skir‧mish
/ˈskɜːmɪʃ $ ˈskɜːr-/

noun
1 A skirmish is a minor battle: FIGTH, battle, clash, conflict, encounter, confrontation
…The young soldier was killed in a skirmish with government troops.

2 A skirmish is a short, sharp argument: ARGUMENT, quarrel, squabble

→ skirmish with/between/over
…Bates was sent off after a skirmish with the referee.
…a budget skirmish between the president and Congress

verb: FIGHT, do battle with, battle with.
…They skirmished briefly with soldiers from Fort Benton.

> Middle English (as a verb): from Old French eskirmiss-, lengthened stem of eskirmir, from a Germanic verb meaning ‘defend’.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 7

unwieldy

Answer 7

unwieldy

1 not easily managed, handled, or used (as because of bulk, weight, complexity, or awkwardness); If you describe an object as unwieldy, you mean that it is difficult to move or carry because it is so big or heavy: CUMBERSOME, unmanageable, unhandy, unmaneuverable
…They came panting up to his door with their unwieldy baggage.

2 An unwieldy system, argument, or organization is difficult to control or manage because it is too complicated.
…The system is outdated and unwieldy.
…an unwieldy machine that requires two people to operate it
…Some companies began to create their own large language model-type systems to protect their data from the more extensive training dataset of GPT, but this can be unwieldy for smaller firms.
—Emilia David, The Verge, 28 Aug. 2023
…Chinese officials are keen on expanding the bloc to a possibly far more unwieldy acronym, with countries like Indonesia, Nigeria, Argentina and Saudi Arabia all knocking on the door.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2023

> un- ‘not’ + wieldy “agile, easy to handle” ((14-20 centuries)), from wield
> The verb to wield means “to handle or exert something effectively.” A carpenter might wield a hammer with impressive dexterity, for example, or a talented orator might wield influence over an audience of listeners. Something that is “wieldy” is capable of being wielded easily, and while that adjective may not be particularly common, its antonym “unwieldy” finds ample use to describe anything that is awkward to handle, move, or manage. “Wield” and its relatives all derive via Middle English from Old English wieldan, meaning “to control.”
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus

Question 8

shut-eye

Answer 8

shut-eye

Question 9

run amok

Answer 9

run amok /əˈmɒk $ əˈmɑːk/

to suddenly behave in a very violent and uncontrolled way; If a person or animal runs amok, they behave in a violent and uncontrolled way: GO BERSERK, get out of control, rampage, run riot, riot, rush wildly/madly about, go on the rampage; storm, charge; behave like a maniac, behave wildly, behave uncontrollably; become violent, become destructive; go mad, go crazy, go insane
…Drunken troops ran amok in the town.
…A soldier was arrested after running amok with a vehicle through Berlin.

> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus

Question 10

serendipity

Answer 10

ser‧en‧dip‧i‧ty
/ˌserənˈdɪpəti/

[uncountable] Serendipity is the luck some people have in finding or creating interesting or valuable things by chance; If you find good things without looking for them, serendipity — unexpected good luck — has brought them to you.

Serendipity does not come from Latin or Greek, but rather was created by a British nobleman in the mid 1700s from an ancient Persian fairy tale. The meaning of the word, good luck in finding valuable things unintentionally, refers to the fairy tale characters who were always making discoveries through chance. You can thank serendipity if you find a pencil at an empty desk just as you walk into an exam and realize that you forgot yours.

…Some of the best effects in my garden have been the result of serendipity.

> “faculty of making happy and unexpected discoveries,” a rare word before 20c., coined by Horace Walpole in a letter to Horace Mann dated Jan. 28, 1754, but which apparently was not published until 1833. Walpole said he formed the word from the Persian fairy tale “The Three Princes of Serendip” (an English version was published in 1722) whose heroes “were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of” [Walpole].
> Collins English Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Etymonline

Question 11

inconsolable

Answer 11

in‧con‧so‧la‧ble
/ˌɪnkənˈsəʊləbəl◂ $ -ˈsoʊ-/

If you say that someone is inconsolable, you mean that they are very sad and cannot be comforted.
…After the death of her baby she was inconsolable.

—inconsolably adverb
…She wept inconsolably.

> from in- ‘not’ + consolabilis ‘able to be consoled’: from Latin consolari, from con- ‘with’ + solari ‘soothe’.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 12

platitude

Answer 12

plat‧i‧tude
/ˈplætɪtjuːd $ -tuːd/

a statement that has been made many times before and is not interesting or clever – used to show disapproval: CLICHÉ, truism, commonplace, hackneyed/trite/banal/overworked saying, banality
…He masks his disdain for her with platitudes about how she should believe in herself more.
…His excuse was the platitude ‘boys will be boys’.
…His speech was filled with familiar platitudes about the value of hard work and dedication.
…China may generously offer platitudes about peace but will try to avoid any kind of direct involvement, and Europe will find itself largely without leverage.
—Michael Kimmage and Hanna Notte, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2023
…This is a ridiculous truism and a stupid platitude.
—Joe Snell, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2023

> From platitude (1800-1900) French plat “flat, dull”
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Dictionary of English, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus

Question 13

sulk

Answer 13

verb

to be moodily silent; to be silent and refuse to smile or be pleasant to people because you are angry about something that they have done; When you are displeased by something and you let your gloomy mood show, you’re sulking; If you sulk, you are silent and bad-tempered for a while because you are annoyed about something: MOPE, brood, pout, be sullen, have a long face, be in a bad mood, be put out, be out of sorts, be out of humor, be grumpy, be despondent, be moody, be resentful, pine, harbor a grudge, eat one’s heart out, moon around; informal be in a huff, be down in the dumps, be miffed, glower
…He turned his back and sulked.
…Dad was sulking in his room.
…Dallas doesn’t have time to sulk after losing to the Packers.
—Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 14 Nov. 2022

noun

1 : the state of one sulking —often used in plural
…had a case of the sulks

2 : a sulky mood or spell: BAD MOOD, fit of bad humor, fit of ill humor, fit of pique, pet, mood, pout, temper, bad temper, the sulks, the doldrums, the blues; informal huff, grump; British informal strop, paddy

in/into a sulk
…He went off in a sulk.
…Mike could go into a sulk that would last for days.
…If she doesn’t get what she wants she goes into a sulk just like a child.
…She’s having a sulk.
…He spent the whole day in a sulk.
…The firm lips pouted in a sulk.

USAGE NOTES:
When you say someone sulks, the tone of the word suggests the person is overdoing it. You wouldn’t accuse a widow of sulking at her husband’s funeral, because she has a good reason to be sad and gloomy. Instead of sulking because you messed up your tuba solo during the concert, why not put your energy into practice? Or switch to violin.

> Back-formation from sulky, of uncertain origin. Probably from Middle English *sulke, *solke (attested in solcenesse (“idleness; laziness”), from Old English āsolcennys (“idleness; slothfulness; sluggishness; laziness”), from āsolcen (“sulky, languid”), from past participle of Old English āseolcan (“be idle; be lazy; be slow; be weak or slothful; languish”), from Proto-Germanic *selkaną (“to fall in drops; dribble; droop”), from Proto-Indo-European *sélǵ-o-nom, from *selǵ- (“to let go, send”).
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Vocabulary.com, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Wiktionary, Etymonline

Question 14

convergence

Answer 14

convergence

Question 15

lethargy

Answer 15

leth‧ar‧gy
/leh·thr·jee/
/ˈleθədʒi $ -ər-/

the feeling of having little energy or of being unable or unwilling to do anything: SLUGGISHNESS, inertia, inactivity, inaction, slowness, torpor, torpidity, lifelessness, dullness, listlessness, languor, languidness, stagnation, dormancy, laziness, idleness, indolence, shiftlessness, sloth, phlegm, apathy, passivity, ennui, weariness, tiredness, lassitude
…I snapped out of my lethargy and began cleaning the house.
…Apart from over-sleepiness, symptoms include: lethargy, overeating, depression, social problems and loss of libido.

> late 14c., litarge, “state of prolonged torpor or inactivity, inertness of body or mind,” from Medieval Latin litargia, from Late Latin lethargia, from Greek lēthargia “forgetfulness,” from lēthargos “forgetful,” apparently etymologically “inactive through forgetfulness,” from lēthē “a forgetting, forgetfulness” (see latent) + argos “idle” (see argon). The form with -th- is from 1590s in English. The Medieval Latin word also is the source of Old French litargie (Modern French léthargie), Spanish and Italian letargia.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 16

courtship

Answer 16

court‧ship
/ˈkɔːt-ʃɪp $ ˈkɔːrt-/

A courtship is a period in a romantic couple’s relationship when they are dating. Most partners go through a courtship before deciding to get married.

Courtship is an old-fashioned word, assuming that two people who love each other will eventually get married. If your uncle and aunt only met a few weeks before their wedding, you can say they had a brief courtship — and if you have friends who aren’t married but have been together for years, you could describe their decades-long courtship. The word is indeed old-fashioned, from the 16th century when it meant “paying court to a woman with intention of marriage.”

> Dictionary.com, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

Question 17

bludgeon

Answer 17

blud‧geon
/ˈblʌdʒən/

noun

a heavy stick with a thick end, used as a weapon
…guards armed with bludgeons roamed the compound
…The Second Amendment continues to be used as a bludgeon against new gun regulations despite many legal experts arguing that the founding fathers never intended to allow unfettered access to guns.
—Julian Zelizer, CNN, 1 Apr. 2023

verb

1 to hit with heavy impact; To bludgeon someone means to hit them several times with a heavy object: BATTER, cudgel, club, strike, hit, beat, beat up, hammer, thrash; informal clobber
…He broke into the old man’s house and bludgeoned him with a hammer.
…At 34 years old in 1994, the younger Dahmer was bludgeoned to death by a fellow inmate at Wisconsin’s Columbia Correctional Institution.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 6 Dec. 2023
…The enclave has been bludgeoned by nearly eight weeks of Israeli airstrikes, artillery and ground fighting that have caused more than 13,300 deaths, its Health Ministry reported last week, and displaced more than 1.7 million people, according to the United Nations — 80 percent of its population.
—Ruby Mellen, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2023
…An Orange County bartender accused of bludgeoning a woman to death with a fire extinguisher pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him Monday.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2023

2 to force or bully (someone) to do something; If someone bludgeons you into doing something, they make you do it by behaving aggressively: COERCE, force, compel, press, pressurize, pressure, drive, bully, browbeat, hector, badger, dragoon, steamroller; oblige, make, prevail on, constrain; informal strong-arm, railroad, bulldoze, put the screws on, turn/tighten the screws on
…She was determined not to be bludgeoned into submission.

3 bludgeon one’s way through/to/past etc sb/sth
to make one’s way by brute force
…He bludgeoned his way through the crowd.

> A plausible conjecture connects it with D[utch] blusden, blusten bruise, beat …. The E. word, if from this source may have been introduced as a cant term in the Elizabethan period, along with many other cant terms from the D[utch] which never, or not until much later, emerged in literary use. [Century Dictionary]
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 18

frothy

Answer 18

frothy

Question 19

drub

Answer 19

drub
/drəb/

1 to hit or beat (someone) repeatedly
…He was drubbed with tiresome regularity by his classmates.
…A crowd was drubbing the purse snatcher when the police arrived on the scene.

2 INFORMAL
to beat someone easily, especially in a sports competition
…Cleveland drubbed Baltimore 9–0.
…We drubbed our traditional football rivals so badly that it was basically no contest.
…Corporate America might not have supported the US team if they kept getting drubbed.
…Getting drubbed in the 1984 presidential election apparently took the ambition to seek office out of him.
…Fox News also continues drubbing CNN in the ratings.
—Erik Wemple, Washington Post, 7 June 2023

> “to beat soundly,” 1630s (in an Oriental travel narrative), probably ultimately from Arabic darb “a beating,” from daraba “he beat up” (see discussion in OED). Related: Drubbed; drubbing.
> Oxford Dictionary of English, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 20

suss out

Answer 20

suss out

1 to find or discover (something) by thinking
…They had to suss out whether he was telling the truth.
…I’m trying to suss him out. What kind of person is he?
…I think I’ve got him sussed out.

2 to inspect or investigate (something) in order to gain more knowledge
…He carefully sussed out the situation.

> Merriam-Webster

Question 21

delirious

Answer 21

de‧lir‧i‧ous
/dɪˈlɪriəs/

1 not able to think or speak clearly especially because of fever or other illness; Someone who is delirious is unable to think or speak in a sensible and reasonable way, usually because they are very ill and have a fever: INCOHERENT, raving, babbling, irrational, hysterical, wild, feverish, frenzied; DERANGED, demented, unhinged, mad, insane, crazed, out of one’s mind; British informal swivel-eyed
…As the child’s temperature went up, he became delirious and didn’t know where he was.
…He was delirious with fever.

2 extremely excited or happy; Someone who is delirious is extremely excited and happy: ECSTATIC, euphoric, elated, thrilled, overjoyed, beside oneself, walking on air, on cloud nine/seven, in seventh heaven, jumping for joy, in transports of delight, carried away, transported, rapturous, in raptures, exultant, jubilant, in a frenzy of delight, hysterical, wild with excitement, frenzied; informal blissed out, over the moon, on a high; North American informal wigged out
…His tax-cutting pledge brought a delirious crowd to their feet.
…a group of delirious fans celebrating the team’s victory

delirious with
…He was delirious with joy.

—deliriously adverb
…Dora returned from her honeymoon deliriously happy.
…Barking deliriously, the dog bounded towards his mistress.

> delirium (n.): 1590s, “a disordered state, more or less temporary, of the mind, often occurring during fever or illness,” from Latin delirium “madness,” from deliriare “deviate, be deranged, be crazy, rave,” literally “go off the furrow,” a plowing metaphor, from phrase de lire, from de “off, away” (see de-) + lira “furrow, earth thrown up between two furrows,” from PIE root *lois- “track, furrow.” Meaning “violent excitement, mad rapture” is from 1640s.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English , Britannica, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 22

cut and dried

Answer 22

ˌcut and ˈdried

1 (of a situation) completely settled or decided; If you say that a situation or solution is cut and dried, you mean that it is clear and definite: CLEAR-CUT, settled, fixed, organized
…We are aiming for guidelines, not cut-and-dried answers.
…But the reality of the app’s influence on discussions around the war isn’t cut-and-dried.
—David Ingram, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2023

2 lacking in originality or spontaneity; routine; boring:
…a lecture that was cut-and-dried

> early 18th century: originally used to distinguish the herbs of herbalists’ shops from growing herbs.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English, Dictionary.com, Merriam-Webster

Question 23

stodgy

Answer 23

stodg‧y
/ˈstɒdʒi $ ˈstɑː-/

1 moving in a slow struggling way especially as a result of physical bulkiness

2 Stodgy food is very solid and heavy. It makes you feel very full, and is difficult to digest: INDIGESTIBLE /ˌɪndɪˈdʒestəbəl◂/, starchy, filling, heavy, solid, substantial, lumpy, leaden /ˈledn/
…He was disgusted with the stodgy pizzas on sale in London.

3
dull and uninspired; If you describe someone or something as stodgy, you dislike them or are bored by them because they are very old-fashioned or serious: BORING, DULL, deadly dull, dull as ditchwater, uninteresting, dreary, turgid, tedious, dry, wearisome, heavy-going, unimaginative, uninspired, unexciting, unoriginal, derivative, monotonous, humdrum; labored, wooden, ponderous, plodding, pedantic, banal, verbose
…The sitcom was offbeat and interesting in its first season, but has since become predictable and stodgy.
…They’re not cultured or interesting, they are boring stodgy old things.
…Persuading the stodgy organization to invest in tech companies was a challenge.
—Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 21 Nov. 2023

> Unknown, but possibly from stodge (“to stuff, satiate”), from stog, or a blend of stuffy +‎ podgy.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Wiktionary, Etymonline

Question 24

delineate

Answer 24

de‧lin‧e‧ate
/duh·li·nee·ayt/
/dɪˈlɪnieɪt/

1 FORMAL
to describe, portray, or set forth with accuracy or in detail; to portray in words; describe or outline with precision; If you delineate something such as an idea or situation, you describe it or define it, often in a lot of detail: DESCRIBE, set forth, set out, present, outline, depict, portray, represent, characterize; map out, chart; define, detail, specify, identify, particularize
…The main characters are clearly delineated in the first chapter.
…The constitution carefully delineates the duties of the treasurer’s office.
…Kozol’s book delineates the differences between urban and suburban schools.
…Make certain that ideas are clearly delineated and most of all, avoid the use of professional jargon.
…Screenwriter Christopher Hampton introduces a large gallery of characters, subtly delineating the unspoken class biases that will keep Robbie, for all his confidence, charm and Cambridge education, an outsider.
—David Ansen, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2007

—delineation /dɪˌlɪniˈeɪʃən/ noun
…his razor-sharp delineation of ordinary life

2 FORMAL
to mark the outline of; If you delineate a border, you say exactly where it is going to be: OUTLINE, trace, draw the lines of, draw, sketch, block in, mark (out/off), delimit, mark the boundaries/limits of
…He delineated the state of Texas on the map with a red pencil.
…an agreement to delineate the border
…The boundary of the car park is delineated by a low brick wall.
…The smoking section has been clearly delineated.

—delineation /dɪˌlɪniˈeɪʃən/ noun
…differences in the delineation of the provincial borders

> 1550s, “to mark out in lines,” from Latin delineatus, past participle of delineare “to sketch out,” from de- “completely” (see de-) + lineare “draw lines,” from linea “line” (see line (n.)). From c. 1600 as “represent pictorially;” 1610s as “describe, represent to the mind or understanding, portray in words.” Related: Delineated; delineator; delineating.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Dictionary.com, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 25

budge

Answer 25

budge /bʌdʒ/ **1** : MOVE, SHIFT or to cause to move or change **2** to change your opinion, or to make someone change their opinion: CHANGE ONE'S MIND, GIVE WAY, GIVE IN, YIELD, acquiesce, compromise, adapt, retract, do a U-turn, eat one's words; British do an about-turn. ...The government has refused to **budge**. ...Both sides say they will not **budge**. budge on ...He won’t **budge on** the issue. budge from ...Treacy refuses to **budge from** his principles. \> 1580s (intransitive) "to move, stir, change position, give way a little;" 1590s (transitive) "change the position of;" from French bougier "to move, stir" (Modern French bouger), from Vulgar Latin *bullicare "to bubble; seethe; move; stir" (hence, "to be in motion"), from Latin bullire "to boil" (see **boil** (v.)). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Wiktionary, Etymonline

Question 26

incessant

Answer 26

in‧ces‧sant /uhn·**seh**·snt/ /ɪnˈsesənt/ USAGE NOTES: - **Incessant** implies ceaseless or uninterrupted activity. - annoyed by the *incessant* quarreling \> mid-15c., from Old French *incessant or directly from Late Latin incessantem (nominative incessans) "unceasing," from Latin in- "not" (see **in-** (1)) + cessans, present participle of cessare "to cease, go slow, give over, leave off, be idle," frequentative of cedere (past participle cessus) "go away, withdraw, yield" (from PIE root \*ked- "to go, yield"). Related: Incessantly (early 15c.). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Dictionary of English, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 27

shabby

Answer 27

shab‧by /ˈʃæbi/ \> 1660s, of persons, "poorly dressed;" 1680s of clothes, furniture, etc., "of mean appearance, no longer new or fresh;" with **-y** (2) + ***shab*** "a low fellow" (1630s), extended from the original sense, "scabies." This is from Middle English *shabbe* "skin disease characterized by eruptions, itching, etc.," from Old English *sceabb*, the native form of Modern English **scab** (n.), which was influenced by Scandinavian (see **sh**). \> *Shab* (n.) survives in reference to a disease of sheep, but in Middle English *shabbed* meant "suffering from scabies, mange, etc." (from Old English *sceabbed*). \> *Shabby* in the sense of "inferior in quality" is from 1805. The figurative meaning "contemptibly mean" is from 1670s. Similar formation in Middle Dutch *schabbich*, German *schäbig* "shabby." Related: *Shabbily; shabbiness*. Carlyle has *shabbish* "somewhat shabby." \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Etymonline

Question 28

bespoke

Answer 28

be‧spoke /bɪˈspəʊk $ -ˈspoʊk/ **1** specially made for a particular person, organization, or purpose : CUSTOM-MADE ...a wealthy man who can easily afford **bespoke** suits ...**bespoke** furniture ...**Bespoke** leather shoes cost an average 1,000 pounds a pair. ...**bespoke** software ...a **bespoke** wi-fi system **2** making and selling products, or providing services, specially for a particular person, organization, or purpose: ...a **bespoke tailor/shoe maker** ...a **bespoke travel agency** ...Eleven dining and drinking concepts, a spa, a kids club, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and even luxury helicopter tours round out this **bespoke** hotel. —Hannah Selinger, *Travel + Leisure*, 31 Dec. 2023 \> In sense “custom-made”, 1755, from earlier bespoken (c. 1600), form of bespeak, in sense “arrange beforehand” (1580s), a prefixed variant of speak; compare order, made-to-order. ~ Wiktionary \> The term was originally bespoken, meaning "spoken of or arranged beforehand." Obviously, if you wanted a custom-made suit, you had to make arrangements before buying it. ~ Vocabulary.com \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Merriam-Webster, Wiktionary

Question 29

nadir

Answer 29

na‧dir /ˈneɪdɪə $ -dər/ **1** the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the zenith and vertically downward from the observer **2** : the lowest point; The **nadir** of something such as someone's career or the history of an organization is its worst time: THE LOWEST POINT, the all-time low, the lowest level, low-water mark, the bottom, as low as one can get, rock-bottom, the depths; zero; *informal* the pits ...1945 to 1946 was the **nadir** of Truman's presidency. ...The relationship between the two countries reached a **nadir** in the 1920s. ...The discussion really reached its **nadir** when people resorted to name-calling. ...And then there was Justice League, which was supposed to be a zenith of Snyder’s directorial career but ended up being the **nadir**. —Borys Kit, *The Hollywood Reporter*, 29 Nov. 2023 ...Now, with bitcoin breaching $40,000 the crypto sector finally seems to be rising from its December 2022 **nadir**. —Nina Bambysheva, *Forbes*, 11 Dec. 2023 \> late Middle English (in nadir (sense 2 of the noun)): via French from Arabic naẓīr (as-samt) ‘opposite (to the zenith)’. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus

Question 30

assimilate

Answer 30

as‧sim‧i‧late /əˈsɪməleɪt/ **1** to become part of a group, country, society, etc., or to make someone or something become part of a group, country, society, etc.; When people such as immigrants **assimilate into** a community or when that community **assimilates** them, they become an accepted part of it: SUBSUME /səbˈsjuːm $ -ˈsuːm/, incorporate, integrate, absorb, engulf, swallow up, take over, co-opt, naturalize, adopt, embrace ...The Vietnamese are trying to **assimilate** themselves and become Americans. assimilate into ...His family tried to **assimilate into** the White and Hispanic communities. ...Refugees find it difficult to become **assimilated into** the community. **2a** to take into the mind and thoroughly understand; If you **assimilate** new ideas, techniques, or information, you learn them or adopt them: ABSORB, take in, acquire, pick up, grasp, comprehend, understand, learn, master; digest, ingest, imbibe, drink in, soak in; *informal* get the hang of, get ...I was speechless, still trying to **assimilate** the enormity of what he'd told me. ...It will take time to **assimilate** all these facts. ...There was a lot of information to **assimilate** at school. ...The person we are looking for must be flexible, creative, and able to **assimilate** new ideas. **2b** to take in and utilize as nourishment : to absorb into the system; to absorb food or a substance into the tissue of a living organism ...The plants do not **assimilate** nitrates fast enough ...In this form vitamins can be easily **assimilated** by the body. \> early 15c., in physiology, "absorb into and make part of the body," from Latin assimilatus, past participle of assimilare, assimulare "to make like, copy, imitate, assume the form of; feign, pretend," from assimilated form of ad "to" (see **ad-**) + simulare "make similar," from similis "like, resembling, of the same kind" (see **similar**). The meaning "make alike, cause to resemble," and the intransitive sense "become incorporated into" are from 1620s. In linguistics, "bring into accordance or agreement in speech," from 1854. Related: Assimilated; assimilating. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 31

daft

Answer 31

daft 1 If you describe a person or their behavior as daft, you think that they are stupid, impractical, or rather strange. ...He's not so **daft** as to listen to rumors. ...I can lose a few pounds without resorting to **daft** diets. ...Me, jealous? **Don’t be daft** (=that is a silly idea). ...She’s **as daft as a brush** (=extremely silly). 2 → be daft about something to be extremely interested in something. ...Tony’s still **daft about** cars! \> From Middle English dafte, defte (“gentle; having good manners; humble, modest; awkward; dull; boorish”), from Old English dæfte (“accommodating; gentle, meek, mild”) \> Sense deteriorated to "dull, awkward, uncouth, boorish" (c. 1300), perhaps via the notion of "humble." Further evolution to "foolish, simple, stupid" (mid-15c.) and "crazy" (1530s) probably was influenced by analogy with daffe "halfwit, fool, idiot" (see **daffy**); the whole group probably has a common origin. \> Collins English Dictionary, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Wiktionary, Etymonline

Question 32

dabble

Answer 32

dab‧ble /ˈdæbəl/ **1** to work or involve oneself superficially or intermittently especially in a secondary activity or interest; If you **dabble in** something, you take part in it but not very seriously: TOY WITH, dip into, scratch the surface of, flirt with, tinker with, trifle with, play with, fiddle with, dally with, have a smattering of dabble in/at/with ...people who **dabble in** painting as a way of relaxing ...The financial squeeze has tempted many more to **dabble in** fraud. ...The four members of Blackpink have **dabbled in** solo careers to varying degrees amidst the group’s global rise over the past few years. —Jon Blistein, *Rolling Stone*, 29 Dec. 2023 ...Like his big brother, Nathan has **dabbled in** the music industry. —Emily Weaver, Peoplemag, 12 Dec. 2023 **2** to paddle, splash, or play in or as if in water: SPLASH, dip, paddle, wet, moisten, dampen, immerse, trail ...She sat by the pool, **dabbling** her feet in the cool water. \> 1550s, "to dip a little and often," hence "to wet by splashing," probably a frequentative of **dab**. Figurative sense of "do superficially" attested by 1620s. Related: Dabbled; dabbling. An Ellen Dablewife is in the Lancashire Inquests from 1336. \> **dab (v.)**: early 14c., dabben "to strike," of unknown origin, perhaps imitative. Compare Old Norse dabba "to tap, slap." Modern sense of "strike gently with the hand, strike with a slight, quick pressure" developed by mid-16c., influenced by French dauber (see **daub**). Related: Dabbed; dabbing; dabber. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 33

replenish

Answer 33

re‧plen‧ish /rɪˈplenɪʃ/ to fill something up again; If you **replenish** something, you make it full or complete again: REFILL, fill up, recharge, reload; STOCK UP, restock, restore, fill up, make up; replace, renew ...He **replenished** his supply of wood in preparation for the winter. ...Manufacturers are scheduling overtime work to **replenish** low inventories. ...Drink this—you need to **replenish** your fluids after your hike. ...All creatures need sleep to **replenish** their energies for the next awakening. ...While the number of missiles and their price tag has yet to be decided, Onodera said Japan should move quickly to build more missiles to **replenish** its own stocks. —Isabel Reynolds and Yuki Hagiwara Bloomberg News (tns), *arkansasonline.com*, 26 Dec. 2023 ...Increases in taxes will help **replenish** the fund. ...As more workers retire, new employees are needed to **replenish** the workforce. \> mid-14c., replenishen, "provide" with food or drink, also riches, beauty, etc., from Old French repleniss-, extended present-participle stem of replenir "to fill up," from re-, here perhaps an intensive prefix based on the notion of "fill repeatedly," thus "fill completely" (see **re-**), + -plenir, from Latin plenus "full" (from PIE root **pele-** (1) "to fill"). \> **pele- (1)**: **pelə-*, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to fill," with derivatives referring to abundance and multitude. It forms all or part of: **accomplish**; **complete**; **compliment**; **comply**; **depletion**; **expletive**; **fele**; **fill**; **folk**; **full** (adj.); **gefilte fish**; **hoi polloi**; **implement**; **manipulation**; **nonplus**; **plebe**; **plebeian**; **plebiscite**; **pleiotropy**; **Pleistocene**; **plenary**; **plenitude**; **plenty**; **plenum**; **plenipotentiary**; **pleo-**; **pleonasm**; **plethora**; **Pliocene**; **pluperfect**; **plural**; **pluri-**; **plus**; **Pollux**; **poly-**; **polyamorous**; **polyandrous**; **polyclinic**; **polydactyl**; **polydipsia**; **Polydorus**; **polyethylene**; **polyglot**; **polygon**; **polygraph**; **polygyny**; **polyhedron**; **polyhistor**; **polymath**; **polymer**; **polymorphous**; **Polynesia**; **polyp**; **Polyphemus**; **polyphony**; **polysemy**; **polysyllabic**; **polytheism**; **replenish**; **replete**; **supply**; **surplus**; **volkslied**. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 34

retreat

Answer 34

re‧treat /rɪˈtriːt/ verb/noun **1** If you **retreat**, you move away from something or someone. **2** When an army **retreats**, it moves away from enemy forces in order to avoid fighting them. **3** If you **retreat from** something such as a plan or a way of life, you give it up, usually in order to do something safer or less extreme. ...To save yourself, you sometimes need to **retreat from** the world. ...From bouncing confidence she had **retreated into** self-pity. \> **retreat (n.)**: c. 1300, retrete, "a step backward;" late 14c., "act of retiring or withdrawing; military signal for retiring from action or exercise," from Old French retret, retrait, noun use of past participle of retrere "draw back," from Latin retrahere "draw back, withdraw, call back," from re- "back" (see **re-**) + trahere "to draw" (see **tract** (n.1)). Meaning "place of seclusion" is from early 15c.; sense of "establishment for mentally ill persons" is from 1797. Meaning "period of retirement for religious self-examination" is from 1756. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Etymonline

Question 35

resumption

Answer 35

re‧sump‧tion /rɪˈzʌmpʃən/ an act or instance of resuming : RESTART, RESTARTING, RECOMMENCEMENT, reopening, reinstitution; continuation, carrying on, taking up again, renewal resumption of ...Both countries are now hoping for a quick **resumption of** diplomatic relations. ...The rain has stopped, but we're still waiting for the **resumption of** the game. ...**Resumption of** peace talks is expected soon. ...Hundreds of people have been killed in Gaza since the **resumption of** fighting after a weeklong truce broke down last week, according to health authorities there. —Yuliya Talmazan, *NBC News*, 8 Dec. 2023 \> **resume (v.)**: c. 1400, resumen, "repossess, resume possession" (of goods, money, etc.); early 15c., "regain, take back, take to oneself anew" (courage, strength, hope, etc.); from Old French resumer (14c.) and directly from Latin resumere "take again, take up again, assume again," from re- "again" (denoting "repetition of an action;" see **re-**) + sumere "to take, obtain, buy," from sus‑, variant of sub‑ "up from under" + emere "to take" (from PIE root **em-** "to take, distribute"). From mid-15c. as "recommence, continue (a practice, custom, occupation, etc.), begin again after interruption;" also "begin again." The intransitive sense of "proceed after interruption" is from 1802. Related: Resumed; resuming. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 36

sore

Answer 36

sore /sɔː $ sɔːr/ adjective **1** If part of your body is **sore**, it causes you pain and discomfort: PAINFUL, in pain, hurting, hurt, aching, throbbing, smarting, stinging, burning, irritating, irritated, agonizing, excruciating; inflamed, angry, red, reddened, sensitive, tender, delicate, chafed, raw, bruised, wounded, injured ...It's years since I've had a **sore throat** like I did last night. sore from ...My arms are **sore from** all the lifting. ...My chest is still **sore from** the surgery. **2** INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN If you are **sore** about something, you are angry and upset about it: UPSET, ANGRY, annoyed, cross, angered, furious, enraged, in a temper, bothered, vexed, displeased, disgruntled, dissatisfied, indignant, exasperated, irritated, galled, irked, put out, aggrieved, offended, affronted, resentful, piqued, nettled, ruffled, in high dudgeon; informal aggravated, miffed, peeved, riled, hacked off, peed off; *British informal* narked, eggy, cheesed off, browned off, brassed off, not best pleased; *North American informal* teed off, ticked off, steamed; *vulgar slang* pissed off ...Mac’s still **sore** because I didn’t invite him. ...They are **sore** about losing to England in the quarter-finals. sore at ...Don’t be **sore at** me – I just forgot to tell you. **3** BRITISH used to emphasize how serious, difficult etc something is ...Inner city schools are **in sore need of** extra funds. noun a painful, often red, place on your body caused by a wound or infection; A **sore** is a painful place on the body where the skin is infected: INFLAMMATION, swelling, lesion; wound, scrape, abrasion, chafe, cut, laceration, graze, contusion, bruise; running sore, ulcer, ulceration, boil, abscess, carbuncle, canker ...They were starving and covered with **sores**. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary

Question 37

at any cost

Answer 37

**at any cost** (also **at all costs**) regardless of the price to be paid or the effort needed; If you say that something must be done **at any cost**, you are emphasizing that it must be done, even if this requires a lot of effort or money. ...He was anxious to avoid war **at all costs**. ...We realized we had to fight the lawsuit **at any cost**. ...This book is of such importance that it must be published **at any cost**. ...Please, save my husband **at any cost**—I can't live without him! ...He ordered the army to recapture the camp **at any cost**. \> Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, The Free Dictionary

Question 38

stout

Answer 38

stout /staʊt/ **1** A **stout** person is rather fat: FAT, fattish, plump, portly, rotund, roly-poly, pot-bellied, round, dumpy, chunky, broad in the beam, overweight, fleshy, paunchy, corpulent; buxom, well upholstered, well covered, well padded, of ample proportions, ample, rounded, well rounded; stocky, burly, bulky, hefty, meaty, heavily built, solidly built, thickset, heavyset, sturdy, well built; *informal* hulking, tubby, pudgy, beefy, porky, blubbery, poddy; *British informal* podgy, fubsy, lard-arsed; *North American informal* zaftig, corn-fed ...He was a tall, stout man with gray hair. **2** **Stout** shoes, branches, or other objects are thick and strong: STRONG, sturdy, heavy, solid, substantial, robust, tough, strongly made, durable, hardwearing; thick ...I hope you've both got **stout** shoes. ...The old man picked up a **stout** stick that lay by his feet. ...a **stout** oak door **3** If you use **stout** to describe someone's actions, attitudes, or beliefs, you approve of them because they are strong and determined: DETERMINED, full of determination, vigorous, forceful, spirited, stouthearted; STAUNCH, steadfast, stalwart, firm, resolute, unyielding, unbending, unfaltering, unswerving, unwavering, unflinching, stubborn, dogged; BRAVE, bold, plucky, courageous, valiant, valorous, gallant, fearless, undaunted, dauntless, doughty, mettlesome, unafraid, intrepid, manly, heroic, lionhearted; *North American* rock-ribbed; *informal* gutsy, spunky stout defense/support/resistance ...He put up a **stout** defense in court. —stoutly adverb ...She **stoutly** denied the rumors. USAGE NOTES: - **Stout** suggests an ability to endure stress, pain, or hard use without giving way. - *stout* hiking boots \> From Middle English stoute, from Old French estout (“brave, fierce, proud”) (Modern French dialectal stout (“proud”)), from earlier Old French estolt (“strong”), from Frankish \*stolt, \*stult (“bold, proud”), from Proto-Germanic \*stultaz (“bold, proud”), from Proto-Indo-European \*stel- (“to put, stand”). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Wiktionary

Question 39

unpalatable

Answer 39

un‧pal‧at‧a‧ble /ʌnˈpælətəbəl/ **1** not pleasant to taste; If you describe food as **unpalatable**, you mean that it is so unpleasant that you can hardly eat it: UNAPPETIZING, uninviting, unappealing, unsavory, off-putting, inedible, uneatable; bitter, sour, rancid; disgusting, revolting, nauseating, sickening, horrible, tasteless, flavorless, bland, insipid; *informal* yucky, sick-making, gross ...**unpalatable** wines **2** If you describe an idea as **unpalatable**, you mean that you find it unpleasant and difficult to accept : UNPLEASANT, DISAGREEABLE, displeasing, unattractive, regrettable, unwelcome, upsetting, distressing, lamentable, repugnant, nasty, horrible, dreadful, hateful, distasteful, offensive, objectionable, obnoxious, repulsive, repellent, vile, foul ...It is an **unpalatable** fact that rape makes a good news story. ...It was only then that I began to learn the **unpalatable truth** about John. ...The **unpalatable truth** is that the team isn’t getting any better. unpalatable to ...an idea that’s **unpalatable to** most people \> 1680s, from **un-** (1) "not" + **palatable** (adj.). Related: Unpalatably. \> **palatable (adj.)**: 1660s, "good-tasting, agreeable to the taste," from **palate** + **-able**. Figurative sense of "agreeable to the mind or feelings" is from 1680s. Related: Palatably; palatability \> **palate (n.)**: /ˈpælət/ late 14c., "roof of the mouth of a human or animal; the parts which separate the oral from the nasal cavity," from Old French palat and directly from Latin palatum "roof of the mouth," also "a vault," which is perhaps of Etruscan origin [Klein], but de Vaan suggests an IE root meaning "flat, broad, wide." It was popularly considered to be the seat of the sense of taste, hence transferred meaning "sense of taste" (late 14c.), which also was in classical Latin. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Etymonline

Question 40

incestuous

Answer 40

in‧ces‧tu‧ous /ɪnˈsestʃuəs/ **1** involving sexual activity between people who are closely related in a family ...an **incestuous** relationship **2** involving only a close or limited group of people, who do not communicate or do business with people outside the group – used to show disapproval; If you describe a group of people as **incestuous**, you disapprove of the fact that they are not interested in ideas or people from outside the group. ...lobbyists who have an **incestuous relationship** (=an excessively close relationship) with politicians ...Journalists and politicians often have a rather **incestuous relationship**. ...an **incestuous** political community ...Its inhabitants are a close and **incestuous** lot. ...Hospitals are very **incestuous** places. ...The music industry is an **incestuous** business. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Britannica, Oxford Learner's Dictionaries

Question 41

patio

Answer 41

pat‧i‧o /**pa**·tee·ow/ /ˈpætiəʊ $ -oʊ/ a paved outdoor area adjoining a house: TERRACE, courtyard, veranda, loggia, court, plaza, quadrangle, quad, cloister; *North American* sun deck, deck, porch \> Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus

Question 42

transpire

Answer 42

transpire 1 FORMAL If it transpires that something is true, you discover that it is true. ...**It transpired that** Paolo had left his driving licence at home. 2 FORMAL to happen: ...Exactly what **transpired** remains unknown. \> late Middle English (in the sense ‘emit as vapor through the surface’): from French transpirer or medieval Latin transpirare, from Latin trans- ‘through’ + spirare ‘breathe’. Sense 1 (mid 18th century) is a figurative use comparable with ‘leak out’, and the erroneous meaning "take place, happen" is almost as old, being first recorded 1755. Related: Transpired; transpiring. \> Oxford Dictionary of English, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Etymonline

Question 43

hubris

Answer 43

hu‧bris /**hyoo**·bruhs/ /ˈhjuːbrɪs/ FORMAL excessive pride, presumption or arrogance (originally toward the gods); If you accuse someone of **hubris**, you are accusing them of arrogant pride: ARROGANCE, conceit, conceitedness, haughtiness, pride, vanity, self-importance, self-conceit, pomposity, superciliousness, feeling of superiority; *French* hauteur; *informal* uppitiness, big-headedness ...The self-assuring **hubris** among economists was shaken in the late 1960s. ...His failure was brought on by his **hubris**. ...His **hubris** cost him whatever slim chance he had of actually pulling it off. ...The entrepreneur, who positioned himself as the face of the industry when the prices of digital coins like Bitcoin and Ether were surging, emerged last year as a cautionary tale of the unfettered **hubris** and risk-taking that cost customers billions of dollars when the crypto market crashed. —J. Edward Moreno, *New York Times*, 27 Oct. 2023 \> **Hubris Comes From Ancient Greece**: English picked up both the concept of hubris and the term for that particular brand of cockiness from the ancient Greeks, who considered hubris a dangerous character flaw capable of provoking the wrath of the gods. In classical Greek tragedy, hubris was often a fatal shortcoming that brought about the fall of the tragic hero. Typically, overconfidence led the hero to attempt to overstep the boundaries of human limitations and assume a godlike status, and the gods inevitably humbled the offender with a sharp reminder of their mortality. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Wiktionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus

Question 44

tertiary

Answer 44

ter‧tia‧ry /ˈtɜːʃəri $ ˈtɜːrʃieri, -ʃəri/ third in place, degree, or order \> 1650s, "of the third order, rank, degree, etc.," from Latin tertiarius "of or pertaining to a third," from tertius "third, a third," from root of tres "three" (see **three**). The geological sense (with capital T-) of "era after the Mesozoic" (which formerly was called the Secondary) is attested from 1794, after Italian terziari, used in this sense 1760 by Italian geologist Giovanni Arduino (1714-1795). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Etymonline

Question 45

reprisal

Answer 45

re‧pri‧sal /rɪˈpraɪzəl/ an act of retaliation; If you do something to a person **in reprisal**, you hurt or punish them because they have done something violent or unpleasant to you: RETALIATION, counterattack, counterstroke, comeback; revenge, vengeance, retribution, requital, recrimination, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, tit for tat, getting even, redress, repayment, payback; *Latin* lex talionis; *informal* a taste of one's own medicine ...Witnesses are unwilling to testify through fear of **reprisals**. ...They didn’t tell the police **for fear of reprisal**. ...Enemy officers suffered harsh **reprisals**. ...The toys’ **reprisal** comes after more than 25 years off the market. —Sabrina Weiss, *Peoplemag*, 21 Dec. 2023 reprisal against ...There were **reprisals against** unarmed civilians. ...The allies threatened economic **reprisals against** the invading country. in reprisal (for sth) ...There were fears that some of the Western hostages might be killed **in reprisal**. ...Alfred was shot **in reprisal for** the killing of a rival gang member. ...The hostages were taken **in reprisal for** the bombing. ...**In reprisal**, Hamas fired rockets at the city for the first time in seven years. —Jonah E. Bromwich, *New York Times*, 14 Dec. 2023 \> *Reprisal* comes from the French for taking back, and used to mean the seizure of property as a compensation for some earlier loss. Now we use it more in the sense of a retaliatory attack. When Germany bombed London during World War II, the British *reprisals* included the bombing of Berlin. *Reprisal* doesn't always have to be about war; you can use it for any act of retaliation. \> early 15c., reprisail, "the seizing of property or citizens of another nation in equivalent retaliation for loss inflicted on one's own," from Anglo-French reprisaille (mid-14c.), Old French reprisaille (Modern French représaille), from early Italian ripresaglia, from ripreso, past participle of riprendere "to take back," from Latin reprendere, earlier reprehendere "to seize, restrain," literally "pull back, hold back" (see **reprehend**). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Vocabulary.com, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 46

brainchild

Answer 46

brain‧child /ˈbreɪntʃaɪld/ a product of one's creative effort; Someone's **brainchild** is an idea or invention that they have thought up or created. brainchild of ...The festival was the **brainchild of** Reeves. \> "idea, creation of one's own mind," 1850, from **brain** (n.) + **child**. Earlier was the alliterative brain-brat (1630). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 47

valediction

Answer 47

val‧e‧dic‧tion /ˌvæləˈdɪkʃən/ FORMAL the act of saying goodbye, especially in a formal speech; FAREWELL, goodbye, adieu, leave-taking, parting, send-off; *Latin* vale ...He left her without a **valediction**. ...Dorfman’s new book, his thirty-eighth, feels like a **valediction** to a career that, until now, has been varied in its instruments but consistent in its vision. —Jonathan Dee, *The New Yorker*, 4 Sep. 2023 ...The film, which intersperses clips from Varda’s career with footage of her speaking to an adoring audience, is both an introduction and a **valediction**. —*New York Times*, 4 Oct. 2019 \> "a farewell, a bidding farewell," 1610s, from past participle stem of Latin valedicere "bid farewell, take leave," from vale "farewell!," second person singular imperative of valere "be well, be strong" (from PIE root \*wal- "to be strong") + dicere "to say" (from PIE root \*deik- "to show," also "pronounce solemnly"). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 48

gung-ho

Answer 48

gung-ho /ˌɡʌŋ ˈhəʊ $ -ˈhoʊ/ INFORMAL extremely or overly zealous or enthusiastic; If you say that someone is **gung ho**, you mean that they are very enthusiastic or eager to do something, for example to fight in a battle. ...The sporting opportunities here should suit the most **gung-ho** of tourists. ...We were really **gung ho** about joining the team. ...He was **gung ho** about his accounting class. ...Even financial firms, perhaps the most **gung ho** about return-to-office policies, have mostly caved, resigning themselves to a hybrid future that has, in many cases, stalled out at two-day-a-week callbacks. —*Curbed*, 15 June 2022 ...Casterline urged his client to jump on the next flight, but Adams — who was always **gung ho** for football — was suddenly hesitant. —*New York Times*, 9 Apr. 2021 \> Second World War: from Chinese gōnghé, taken to mean ‘work together’ and adopted as a slogan by US Marines: Gung ho!, motto (interpreted as meaning "work together") adopted by certain U.S. marines, from Chinese (Beijing) gōnghé, short for Zhōngguó Gōngyè Hézuò Shè Chinese Industrial Cooperative Society 工業合作社 \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 49

petrified

Answer 49

petrified

Question 50

whammy

Answer 50

wham‧my /ˈwæmi/ INFORMAL **Whammy** is used in expressions such as **double whammy** and **triple whammy** to indicate that two or three unpleasant or difficult situations occur at the same time, or occur one after the other. → double/triple whammy two or three unpleasant things that happen at or around the same time and cause problems or difficulties for someone or for people in general ...This is a **double whammy for** public sector workers. ...The **triple whammy** of skyrocketing labor costs, the challenges of leading a hybrid remote team and a tightening economy that is forcing clients to question every budget line item has proven to be a challenge. —Expert Panel®, *Forbes*, 7 Mar. 2023 → put the whammy on somebody to use magic to make someone have bad luck ...If you tell anyone about this, I swear I'll **put the whammy on** you. \> often double whammy, "hex, evil eye," 1932, of unknown origin, popularized 1941 in Al Capp's comic strip "Li'l Abner," where it was the specialty of Evil-Eye Fleegle. \> The origin of *whammy* is not entirely certain, but it is assumed to have been created by combining *wham* (*a solid blow*) with the whimsical *-y* ending. The first example of *whammy* in print occured in 1940, but the word was popularized in the 1950s by the cartoonist Al Capp in the comic strip *Li'l Abner.* The character Evil-Eye Fleegle could paralyze someone with the sheer power of his gaze. The *single whammy* was a look with one eye, and the fearsome *double whammy* used both eyes. As you may know, *double whammy* has also found a place in English as a general term. It means "a combination of two adverse forces, circumstances, or effects" - in other words, a one-two punch. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 51

ebb

Answer 51

ebb noun **1** the reflux of the tide toward the sea; **The ebb** or the **ebb tide** is one of the regular periods, usually two per day, when the sea gradually falls to a lower level as the tide moves away from the land: RECEDING, going out, flowing back, retreat, retreating, drawing back, abating, subsiding ...the spring **ebb tide** ...We decided to leave on **the ebb** at six o'clock next morning. **2** a point or condition of decline: ABATEMENT, subsiding, easing, waning, dwindling, petering out, dying away, dying down, dying out, fading away, de-escalation, decrease, decline, diminution, diminishing, lessening ...Morale seems to have reached its lowest **ebb**. **be at a low ebb** to be in a bad state or condition ...Our spirits were **at a low ebb.** ...Moreover, many political experts in both Israel and the U.S. have strong doubts that Mr. Netanyahu, whose support in polls is **at low ebb**, can survive politically after the war. —Howard Lafranchi, *The Christian Science Monitor*, 7 Dec. 2023 verb **1** to recede from the flood; When the tide or the sea **ebbs**, its level gradually falls: RECEDE, GO OUT, retreat, flow back, draw back, fall back, fall away, abate, subside /səbˈsaɪd/ ...waiting for the tide to **ebb** **2** (also **ebb away**) to gradually decrease; If someone's life, support, or feeling **ebbs**, it becomes weaker and gradually disappears: DIMINISH, dwindle, wane, fade away, melt away, peter out, decline, die away, die down, die out, flag, let up, lessen, decrease, weaken, dissolve, disappear, come to an end; deteriorate, decay, degenerate ...Linda’s enthusiasm began to **ebb away**. ...His popularity **ebbed**. ...Food commodity prices are **ebbing** after being stirred up by the pandemic, extreme weather and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with a United Nations measure of global prices down nearly 11% in September from a year earlier. —Kate Gibson, *CBS News*, 15 Nov. 2023 \> Old English ebba "falling of the tide, low tide," perhaps from Proto-Germanic \*af- (source also of Old Frisian ebba, Old Saxon ebbiunga, Middle Dutch ebbe, Dutch eb, German Ebbe), from PIE root \*apo- "off, away." Figurative sense of "decline, decay, gradual diminution" is from late 14c. Ebb-tide is from 1776. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 52

finite

Answer 52

fi‧nite /ˈfaɪnaɪt/

Question 53

lucid

Answer 53

lu‧cid /ˈluːsɪd/ **1** expressed in a way that is clear and easy to understand: INTELLIGIBLE, comprehensible, understandable, cogent, coherent, communicative, articulate, eloquent; clear, clear-cut, crystal clear, transparent; plain, simple, direct, vivid, sharp ...You must write in a clear and **lucid** style. ...a **lucid** account of the history of mankind ...a **lucid** analysis of the situation ...Miranda Seymour's **lucid** biography arrives as the general reader's guide to Mary Shelley's ascent to academic cult status. ...Though small and frail, he was a powerful and **lucid** debater. ...Churchland's Matter and Consciousness is an equally **lucid** introduction to the philosophy of mind. **2** If someone is **lucid**, they are thinking clearly again after a period of illness or confusion: RATIONAL, sane, in one's right mind, in possession of one's faculties, of sound mind, able to think clearly; normal, balanced, well balanced, sensible, clearheaded, right-minded, sober; *Latin* compos mentis; *informal* all there, with all one's marbles ...In her more lucid moments the old lady would talk about her past. —lucidly adverb ...He was **lucidly** aware of political realities. \> Lucid comes from the Latin verb lucere, meaning "to shine," which is reflected in its meanings "filled with light" or "shining." It also describes someone whose mind is clear or something with a clear meaning. ~ Merriam-Webster \> late 16th century (in lucid (sense 2)): from Latin lucidus (perhaps via French lucide or Italian lucido) from lucere ‘shine’, from lux, luc- ‘light’. ~ Oxford Dictionary of English \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English, Merriam-Webster

Question 54

rigid

Answer 54

ri‧gid /ˈrɪdʒɪd/ **1** Laws, rules, or systems that are **rigid** cannot be changed or varied, and are therefore considered to be rather severe: STRICT, set, fixed, exact ...Several colleges in our study have **rigid** rules about student conduct. ...Hospital routines for nurses are very **rigid**. **2** If you disapprove of someone because you think they are not willing to change their way of thinking or behaving, you can describe them as **rigid**: INFLEXIBLE, harsh, stern, adamant ...She was a fairly **rigid** person who had strong religious views. ...My father is very **rigid** in his thinking. \> late Middle English: from Latin rigidus, from rigere ‘be stiff’. \> Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 55

cringe

Answer 55

cringe /krɪndʒ/ If you **cringe at** something, you feel embarrassed or disgusted, and perhaps show this feeling in your expression or by making a slight movement: SHRINK, FLINCH, QUAIL, RECOIL ...The acquisition announcement set off privacy alarms everywhere, and people **cringed at** the idea of Amazon gaining access to maps of millions of homes. —Scharon Harding, *Ars Technica*, 3 Nov. 2023 ...The **cringe** cartoon comedy from Mike Judge (Beavis and Butt-Head) and Greg Daniels (King of the Hill) aims at laughter from uncomfortable interviews with live guests like Hugh Laurie, Tegan and Sara, Mike Tyson and Jonathan Van Ness. —Etan Vlessing, *The Hollywood Reporter*, 4 Jan. 2024 ...Like the best **cringe** comedy, the whole thing started out serious, got sort of funny, then very funny, then gratingly unfunny and awkward, and finally just demonically hilarious. —Ian Crouch, *The New Yorker*, 24 Nov. 2023 \> The verb is derived from Middle English crengen (“to bend in a haughty manner; to condescend”) [and other forms], from Old English \*crenċan, \*crenċġan, \*crenġan (“to cause to fall or turn”), the causative of crinċġan (“to yield; to cringe; to fall; to die, perish”), from Proto-Germanic \*krangijaną (“to cause to fall; to cause to turn”), from Proto-Germanic \*kringaną, \*krinkaną (“to fall; to turn; to yield”) (from Proto-Indo-European \*grenǵʰ- (“to turn”)) + \*-janą (suffix forming causatives with the sense ‘to cause to do (the action of the verb)’ from strong verbs). The English word is cognate with Danish krænge (“to turn inside out, evert”), Dutch krengen (“to careen, veer”), Scots crenge, creenge, creinge, crienge (“to cringe; to shrug”), Swedish kränga (“to careen; to heel, lurch; to toss”), and West Frisian kringe (“to pinch; to poke; to push; to insist, urge”); and is a doublet of crinkle. \> Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Wiktionary

Question 56

oversold

Answer 56

o‧ver‧sold /ˌəʊvəˈsəʊldˌoʊvərˈsoʊld/ an oversold financial market has prices that have fallen too far ...“The market is **oversold**, ” he said. “It’s time to buy low-priced blue chips.” \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

Question 57

irrigation

Answer 57

irrigation /ˌɪrəˈɡeɪʃən/ **1** : the watering of land by artificial means to foster plant growth ...The destruction of Kakhovka Dam has eliminated **irrigation** for large areas of agricultural land in southern Ukraine, harming food production and the Ukrainian economy. —Ian James, *Los Angeles Times*, 28 Dec. 2023 **2** : the therapeutic flushing of a body part with a stream of liquid \> **irrigate (v.)**: "supply land with water," 1610s, from Latin irrigatus, past participle of irrigare "lead water to, refresh, irrigate, flood," from assimilated form of in- "into, in, on, upon" (from PIE root **en** "in") + rigare "to water, to moisten," of uncertain origin. Perhaps [Watkins] from PIE \*reg- (2) "moist" (see **rain** (n.)). De Vaan offers as possibilities the root of regere "to direct, lead," on the notion of leading water onto the fields, or to the root of rigere "be stiff," literally "stretch." The first better suits the sense, but has phonetic problems. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 58

toil

Answer 58

toil /tɔɪl/ verb **1** (also **toil away**) to work very hard for a long period of time; When people **toil**, they work very hard doing unpleasant or tiring tasks: WORK HARD, labor, work one's fingers to the bone, work like a dog, work day and night, exert oneself, keep at it, keep one's nose to the grindstone, grind away, grub away, plow away, plod away; *informal* slog away, peg away, beaver away, plug away, put one's back into something, work one's guts out, work one's socks off, knock oneself out, sweat blood; *British informal* graft away, fag; *British vulgar slang* work one's balls/arse/nuts off; *North American vulgar* slang work one's ass/butt off ...workers **toiling** in the fields ...Workers **toiled** long hours. ...People who **toiled** in dim, dank factories were too exhausted to enjoy their family life. ...Nora **toils away** serving burgers at the local cafe. ...Amid wild cost fluctuations and extreme weather conditions, a small army of workers **toiled** for years at Wyckoff’s Christmas Tree Farm in Belvidere, N.J. —Stefanos Chen Bryan Anselm, *New York Times*, 18 Dec. 2023 toil at ...She has **toiled away at** the violin for years. ...I’ve been **toiling away at** this essay all weekend. **2** to move slowly and with great effort; If you **toil** somewhere, you move there slowly and with difficulty, usually because you are very tired: STRUGGLE, move with difficulty, labor, trudge, tramp, traipse, slog, plod, trek, footslog, sweat, drag oneself, fight (one's way), push; *British informal* trog, yomp; *North American informal* schlep toil up/through/along etc ...They were **toiling up** a steep hill. ...They **toiled** slowly **up** the hill. ...She **toiled up** the stairs, and saw that a light showed on the landing above. noun hard unpleasant work done over a long period; **Toil** is unpleasant work that is very tiring physically: HARD WORK, toiling, labor, slaving, struggle, effort, exertion, application, industry, grind, slog, blood, sweat, and tears, drudgery; *informal* sweat, elbow grease; *British informal* graft ...Lindi has achieved her comfortable life only after years of hard **toil**. USAGE NOTES: - **Toil** implies prolonged and fatiguing labor. - his lot would be years of back-breaking **toil** \> **toil (n.1)**: "hard work," c. 1300, originally "turmoil, contention, dispute," from Anglo-French toil (13c.), from toiler "agitate, stir up, entangle, writhe about," from Old French toeillier "drag about, make dirty" (12c.), usually said to be from Latin tudiculare "crush with a small hammer," from tudicula "mill for crushing olives, instrument for crushing," from Latin tudes "hammer," from PIE \*tud-, variant of \*(s)teu- "to push, stroke, knock, beat" (see **obtuse**). Sense of "hard work, labor" (1590s) is from the related verb (see **toil** (v.)). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 59

pristine

Answer 59

pris‧tine /ˈprɪstiːn/ **1** **Pristine** things are extremely clean or new: IMMACULATE, in perfect condition, perfect, in mint condition, as new, unspoiled, spotless, flawless, clean, fresh, new, virgin, pure, unused; unmarked, unblemished, untarnished, untouched, unsullied, undefiled ...Now the house is in **pristine** condition. ...My office is a mess but her office is always **pristine**. ...He was wearing a **pristine** white shirt. **2** something that is pristine is in the same condition as when it was first made ...The car has been restored to **pristine condition**. ...The photographic archive of the Crown Agents in London contains a magnificent record of these stations in their **pristine condition**. **3** not spoiled or damaged in any way ...This small oceanside town is located on Anastasia Island, a **pristine** wildlife haven, and offers broad Atlantic beaches perfect for wandering. —Southern Living Editors, *Southern Living*, 16 Jan. 2024 \> 1530s, "pertaining to the earliest period, of a primitive style, ancient," from French pristin and directly from Latin pristinus "former, early, original," from Old Latin pri "before," from PIE root **per-** (1) "forward," hence "in front of, before, first." Meaning "unspoiled, untouched, pure" is from 1899 (implied in a use of pristinely) is extended from such expressions as pristine wilderness, but according to OED [2nd ed. print], this is regarded as ignorant "by many educated speakers." \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Etymonline

Question 60

pantheon

Answer 60

pan‧the‧on /ˈpænθiən $ -θiɑːn/ /**pan**·thee·aan/ **1a** all the gods of a people or religion collectively ...the Greek and Roman **pantheons** **1b** a temple dedicated to all the gods **2** a group of illustrious or notable persons or things; a small group of people or things that are considered to be the most important ones of their type ...a great album that guarantees her place in the **pantheon** of jazz singers ...The 38th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Friday, bringing Kate Bush, Willie Nelson, George Michael, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, Rage Against the Machine and the Spinners into pop music’s leading **pantheon**. —Ben Sisario, *New York Times*, 1 Nov. 2023 ...Who deserves a place in the **pantheon** of black civil rights heroes? ...Football aficionados¹ will argue for years about where to place this game in the **pantheon** of classics. ...That earthiness helps make a song that was already part of the modern folk **pantheon** seem eternal, as if etched in stone. —Stephen Thomas Erlewine, *Los Angeles Times*, 30 Nov. 2023 - ¹ a‧fi‧cio‧na‧do /əˌfɪʃəˈnɑːdəʊ $ -doʊ/: someone who is very interested in a particular activity or subject and knows a lot about it \> Old English pantheon (referring especially to the Pantheon, a large circular temple in Rome): via Latin from Greek pantheion, from pan ‘all’ + theion ‘holy’ (from theos ‘god’). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Dictionary of English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster

Question 61

proverbial

Answer 61

pro‧ver‧bi‧al /prəˈvɜːbiəl $ -ɜːr-/ **1** as used in a proverb or other phrase; (of a statement) commonly known, esp. because it is from a proverb or saying known by many people, or because it expresses a truth known by a particular group of people; You use **proverbial** to show that you know the way you are describing something is one that is often used or is part of a popular saying : commonly spoken of the proverbial something ...Yelling at me was **the proverbial** straw that broke the camel’s back. ...The limousine sped off down the road in **the proverbial** cloud of dust. ...I keep running across people who speak fondly about what they imagine to be the comforts of autocracy, who long for the assurances of **the proverbial** man on the white horse likely to do something hard and puritanical about the moral relativism that has made a mess of the cities, the schools, and prime-time television. —Lewis H. Lapham, *Harper's*, November 1990 ...January is the rainiest month, but there’s **the proverbial** silver lining. —Patricia Doherty, *Travel + Leisure*, 15 Jan. 2024 ...As another year comes to an end and the world seems to hit **the proverbial** pause button, the temptation to look ahead is too great to ignore. —Ed Silverman, *STAT*, 27 Dec. 2023 ...Now comes the hard work of threading the **proverbial** needle. —Matt Laslo, *WIRED*, 22 Dec. 2023 **2** well known by a lot of people; Something that is **proverbial** is very well-known by a lot of people: WELL KNOWN, famous, famed, renowned, traditional, time-honored, legendary; notorious, infamous ...His mastery of the French language was **proverbial**. \> **proverb (n.)**: /ˈprɒvɜːb $ ˈprɑːvɜːrb/ c. 1300, in boke of Prouerbyys, the Old Testament work, from Old French proverbe (12c.) and directly from Latin proverbium "a common saying, old adage, maxim," literally "words put forward," from pro "forth" (from PIE root **per-** (1) "forward") + verbum "word" (see **verb**). Hence, in the Scriptural sense, "an enigmatical utterance; a mysterious or oracular saying that requires interpretation." \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 62

pathologist

Answer 62

pa·thol·o·gist /pəˈθɒlədʒist $ -ˈθɑː-/ : a specialist in pathology specifically : a physician who interprets and diagnoses the changes caused by disease in tissues and body fluids ...The **pathologist**’s report found that Andrei died of swelling and hemorrhaging in the brain, but his parents got no answers about what happened. —Natalia Abbakumova, *Washington Post*, 14 Jan. 2024 ...McClain weighed 143 pounds, but was given a higher dose of ketamine than recommended for someone his size and overdosed, according to Adams County coroner's office **pathologist** Stephen Cina in his testimony. —Kiara Alfonseca, *ABC News*, 5 Jan. 2024 \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Merriam-Webster

Question 63

compartmentalize

Answer 63

com‧part‧men‧tal‧ize /ˌkɒmpɑːt-ˈmentl-aɪz $ kəmˌpɑːrt-/ to separate into isolated compartments or categories; To **compartmentalize** something means to divide it into separate sections: CATEGORIZE, sectionalize, pigeonhole, bracket, separate, distinguish, group; classify, characterize, stereotype, label, brand, tag, designate, grade, codify, sort, rank, rate. ...He **compartmentalizes** his life by keeping his job and his personal life separate. ...Some people **compartmentalize** their lives and don't mix their personal and professional pursuits. ...The company has **compartmentalized** its services. ...The anthropologists have worked in so many disaster zones, they’re used to **compartmentalizing**. —Jenny Jarvie, *Anchorage Daily News*, 1 Sep. 2023 ...As a result, this tradition is **compartmentalized** to regions of the country where the earth is hot enough to cook. —Erika Owen, *Condé Nast Traveler*, 23 Aug. 2023 \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus

Question 64

ostensibly

Answer 64

ostensibly in a way that appears or claims to be one thing when it is really something else; as appears or is stated to be true, though not necessarily so (used for saying that although someone pretends to have one reason for something, there is in fact another reason): APPARENTLY, seemingly, on the face of it, to all appearances, on the surface, to all intents and purposes ...She stayed behind at the office, **ostensibly** to work. ...He has spent the past three months in Florida, **ostensibly** for medical treatment, but in actual fact to avoid prosecution. ...The e-mail requested account information, **ostensibly** to help clear up a "billing error". ...He shut down the office, **ostensibly** out of concern for his staff's safety. ...Troops were sent in, **ostensibly** to protect the civilian population. ...He was **ostensibly** on holiday, but actually he was on a diplomatic mission. ...Melissa went to her room, **ostensibly** to do her homework. \> 1730, "capable of being shown, that can be shown or seen, presentable," from French ostensible, from Latin ostens-, past-participle stem of ostendere "to show, expose to view; to stretch out, spread before; exhibit, display," from assimilated form of ob "in front of" (see ob-) + tendere "to stretch" (from PIE root *ten- "to stretch"). Meaning "apparent, professed, put forth or held out as real" is from 1771 + -ly. \> Oxford Dictionary of English, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Cambridge Dictionary, Macmillan Dictionary, Oxford Learner's Dictionaries, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 65

wretch

Answer 65

wretch /retʃ/ **1** a miserable person : one who is profoundly unhappy or in great misfortune; You can refer to someone as a **wretch** when you feel sorry for them because they are unhappy or unfortunate: POOR CREATURE, poor soul, poor thing, miserable creature, sad case, unfortunate, poor unfortunate; *informal* poor devil, poor beggar, poor bastard, poor bunny; *British vulgar slang* sod, bugger ...The poor **wretch** lost his job. ...Had this poor **wretch** been well supplied with friends and money the result, as in numerous other instances, might have been different. —*San Diego Union-Tribune*, 3 Mar. 2023 **2** a base, despicable, or vile person; someone you are annoyed with; You can refer to someone as a **wretch** when you think that they are wicked or if they have done something you are angry about: SCOUNDREL, villain, ruffian, rogue, rascal, reprobate, criminal, delinquent, good-for-nothing, cad; informal heel, creep, jerk, louse, rat, swine, pig, skunk, dog, hound, weasel, toad, snake, snake in the grass, lowlife, scumbag, bad egg, stinker, nasty piece of work; *British informal* scrote, blighter, bad lot; Irish informal sleeveen, spalpeen; *North American informal* rat fink, varmint; *vulgar slang* shit, bastard, son of a bitch, SOB; *British vulgar slang* bugger ...ungrateful **wretches** ...Who trampled on my flowers? I bet it was those two little **wretches** who live next door. ...Stop pulling my hair, you **wretch**! ...Oh, what have you done, you **wretch**! ...That miserable little **wretch** would lie to anyone. \> Old English wrecca (also in the sense ‘banished person’) "wretch, stranger, exile," from Proto-Germanic *wrakjon "pursuer; one pursued" (source also of Old Saxon wrekkio, Old High German reckeo "a banished person, exile," German recke "renowned warrior, hero"), related to Old English wreccan "to drive out, punish" (see wreak). "The contrast in the development of the meaning in Eng. and German is remarkable" [OED]. Sense of "vile, despicable person" developed in Old English, reflecting the sorry state of the outcast, as presented in Anglo-Saxon verse (such as "The Wanderer"). Compare German Elend "misery," from Old High German elilenti "sojourn in a foreign land, exile." \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 66

hearse

Answer 66

hearse /hɜːs $ hɜːrs/ a large car used to carry a dead body in a coffin at a funeral ...Workers applauded as his **hearse** passed by. ...Crowds formed at the hospital when the **hearse** carrying her body departed Monday morning. —Danielle Paquette, *Washington Post*, 28 Nov. 2023 ...Rosalynn Carter’s **hearse** was driven slowly down the street, with members of her large family walking behind it. —Kevin Sullivan, *Washington Post*, 29 Nov. 2023 ...And just as is portrayed on the show, Prince Philip also planned his own funeral, modifying a Land Rover to carry his coffin instead of a traditional **hearse**. —K.j. Yossman, *Variety*, 14 Dec. 2023 \> c. 1300 (late 13c. in Anglo-Latin), "flat framework for candles, hung over a coffin," from Old French herse, formerly herce "large rake for breaking up soil, harrow; portcullis" ~ Etymonline \> An early form of French used the word *herce* for a harrow, a farm tool used to break up and smooth the soil. *Herce* was also applied to a triangular frame that was similar in shape to the frame of a harrow and was used for holding candles. *Herce* was borrowed into English as *hearse,* and both the literal sense of "harrow" and the extended sense of "a frame for holding candles" were kept. In those days a large and decorative framework might be raised over the tomb or coffin of an honored person. Because this framework was often decorated with candles, the word *hearse* was applied to it. A series of slightly changed meanings led to the use of *hearse* for a platform for a corpse or coffin, and from that to a vehicle to carry the dead to the grave. ~ Merriam-Webster \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 67

contraption

Answer 67

con‧trap‧tion /kənˈtræpʃən/ a machine that is complicated and precarious; You can refer to a device or machine as a **contraption**, especially when it looks strange or you do not know what it is used for : DEVICE, GADGET ...What's that strange **contraption** in the garage? ...Her father’s **contraptions** were serious machines for heavy industry. —Kat McGowan, *WIRED*, 4 Jan. 2024 ...It's a **contraption** for washing windows on tall buildings. ...Early cameras were large and expensive **contraptions**. \> a slighting word for "a device, a contrivance," 1825, western England dialect, origin obscure, perhaps from *con(trive)* + *trap*, or *deception*. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Wiktionary, Etymonline

Question 68

shard

Answer 68

**shard** (also **sherd**) /ʃɑːd $ ʃɑːrd/ a piece or fragment of a brittle substance; **Shards** are pieces of broken glass, pottery, or metal: PIECE, FRAGMENT, bit, sliver, splinter, shiver, chip, particle, scrap shard of ...a **shard of** pottery ...Everywhere you look, little **shards of** glass glistening in the lamplight. \> From Middle English shard, scherd, scheard, schord, from Old English sċeard (“a broken piece; shard”), from Proto-West Germanic \*skard, from Proto-Germanic \*skardą (“notch; nick”), from \*skardaz (“damaged; nicked; scarred”), from Proto-Indo-European \*(s)ker- (“to cut”). Akin to Scots schaird (“shard”), French écharde (“splinter”), Dutch schaarde (“tear; notch; fragment”), German Scharte (“notch”), Old Norse skarð (“notch, hack”) ( > Danish skår). \> *Shard* dates back to Old English (where it was spelled *sceard*) and is related to Old English *scieran*, meaning "to cut." English speakers have adopted the modernized *shard* spelling for most uses, but archaeologists prefer to spell the word *sherd* when referring to the ancient fragments of pottery (sometimes referred to specifically as potsherds) they unearth. While *shard* initially referred to exactly such items, today the word is also used more broadly to encompass slivers of intangible concepts. A baseless accusation may be made "without a shard of evidence," and fans of the losing team may "cling to a shard of hope" until the final score. The utility of *shard* is its, ahem, point. ~ Merriam-Webster \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Wiktionary

Question 69

stench

Answer 69

stench /stentʃ/ **1** a very strong bad smell : STINK ...the **stench of** rotting meat ...the **stench of** urine ...The **stench of** burning rubber was overpowering. ...We finally discovered the dead rat that was causing the **stench** in the basement. ...The plan was to stay our final night at Eagle Lake, but after three nights and four days in the wilderness, the number of people at Eagle Lake felt a bit much — as did the weight of our bags and the **stench of** our hiking clothes. —Evie Carrick, *Travel + Leisure*, 24 Dec. 2023 **2** a characteristic repugnant quality; a bad effect that follows an unpleasant event or situation and is noticeable for a long time stench of ...a government filled with the **stench of** corruption ...For some time after the minister's resignation, the **stench of** scandal hung over the government. \> Middle English stench, from Old English stenc, stync "a smell, odor, scent, fragrance" (pleasant or unpleasant) \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 70

disparate

Answer 70

dis‧pa‧rate /ˈdɪspərət/ consisting of things or people that are very different and not related to each other; **Disparate** things are clearly different from each other in quality or type: DIFFERENT, contrasting, unlike, contrary ...a meeting covering many **disparate** subjects ...the difficulties of dealing with **disparate** groups of people ...Scientists are trying to pull together **disparate** ideas in astronomy. ...The nine republics are immensely **disparate** in size, culture and wealth. \> Borrowed from Middle French desparat, from Latin disparātus, past participle of disparō (“to divide”), from dis- (“apart”) + parō (“to make equal”), from par (“equal”). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Wiktionary

Question 71

pedestrian

Answer 71

pe‧des‧tri‧an /pəˈdestriən/ noun a person going on foot : WALKER adjective **1** If you describe something as **pedestrian**, you mean that it is ordinary and not at all interesting : COMMONPLACE, UNIMAGINATIVE ...a painting that is **pedestrian** and unimaginative ...a rather **pedestrian** student ...His speech was long and **pedestrian**. ...His style is so **pedestrian** that the book becomes a real bore. ...The lyrics are pretty **pedestrian**. **2a** : going or performed on foot ...**pedestrian** traffic ...a **pedestrian** tour of the village **2b** : of, relating to, or designed for walking ...a **pedestrian** mall ...a **pedestrian** bridge \> Most of us know *pedestrian* as a noun meaning someone who travels on foot. But the adjective sense of *pedestrian* as defined here is actually its original meaning. To be pedestrian was to be drab or dull, as if plodding along on foot rather than speeding on horseback or by coach. *Pedestrian* is often used to describe a colorless or lifeless writing style, but it can also describe politicians, public tastes, personal qualities, or possessions. In comparison with the elaborate stage shows put on by today's rock artists, for instance, most of the stage presentations of 1960s rock stars seem pedestrian. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster

Question 72

conniving

Answer 72

connive **1** If you say that someone **connives at** something or **connives in** something, you are critical of them because they allow or help it to happen even though they know that it is wrong and that they ought to prevent it: DELIBERATELY IGNORE, overlook, not take into consideration, disregard, pass over, gloss over; look the other way; *informal* let something ride ...He would not be the first politician to **connive at** a shady business deal. **2** If one person **connives with** another **to** do something, they secretly try to achieve something which will benefit both of them: CONSPIRE, collude, be in collusion, collaborate, intrigue, be hand in glove, plot, participate in a conspiracy, scheme; *informal* be in cahoots ...He accused ministers of **conniving with** foreign companies **to** tear up employment rights. con‧niv‧ing /kəˈnaɪvɪŋ/ A **conniving** person deceives others for their own advantage; If you describe someone as **conniving**, you mean you dislike them because they make secret plans in order to get things for themselves or harm other people: SCHEMING, plotting, colluding, cunning, crafty, calculating, devious, designing, wily, sly, tricky, artful, guileful, slippery, slick; MANIPULATIVE, Machiavellian, unscrupulous, unprincipled, disingenuous; duplicitous, deceitful, underhand, treacherous, Janus-faced; *informal* foxy ...The main character, Fleur, is a **conniving** woman who will do almost anything to defeat her rivals. ...McCarthy had years ago allowed Kevin Spacey to follow him around as the actor prepared for his role as **conniving** congressman Francis Underwood. —Jeffrey Fleishman, *Los Angeles Times*, 4 Oct. 2023 \> From French conniver (“to ignore and thus become complicit in wrongdoing”), or directly from its etymon Latin con(n)īvēre (“close or screw up the eyes, blink, wink; overlook, turn a blind eye, connive”) (perhaps alluding to two persons involved in a scheme together winking to each other), from con- (prefix indicating a being or bringing together of several objects) + \*nīvēre (related to nictō (“to blink, wink”), from Proto-Indo-European \*kneygʷʰ- (“to bend, droop”)). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Wiktionary

Question 73

tramp

Answer 73

tramp noun **1** someone who has no home or job and moves from place to place, often asking for food or money; A **tramp** is a person who has no home or job, and very little money. Tramps go from place to place, and get food or money by asking people or by doing casual work. ...The police encouraged the **tramps** who were sleeping in the park to spend the bitterly cold night in the homeless shelter. **2** a long or difficult walk: TREK, trudge, slog, hike, march, walk, constitutional, ramble, roam, wander; *informal* traipse ...a long **tramp** through the snow **3** AmE *old-fashioned* a woman who has too many sexual partners – used to show disapproval **4** the sound of heavy walking; The **tramp** of people is the sound of their heavy, regular walking: FOOTSTEP, step, footfall, tread, stamp, stomp, stomping. the tramp of feet/boots ...He heard the slow, heavy **tramp of feet** on the stairs. verb to walk somewhere slowly and with heavy steps; If you **tramp** somewhere, you walk there slowly and with regular, heavy steps, for a long time: TRUDGE, plod, stamp, trample, lumber, clump, clomp, stump, stomp, stumble, pad, march, thunder; *informal* traipse, galumph ...He **tramped** the streets looking for work. tramp through/across/around etc ...We spent the day **tramping through** the woods. ...Emma Corrin plays a Gen-Z Sherlock Holmes type, Clive Owen is a reclusive billionaire, and an icy, remote setting means everyone has to **tramp around** in the snow looking for clues while their eyes dart at one another with suspicion. —James Grebey, *Vulture*, 17 Nov. 2023 \> **tramp (v.)**: From Middle English trampen (“to walk heavily”), from Middle Low German trampen (“to stamp”) (trampeln (“to walk with heavy steps”), see trample), or Middle Dutch trampen (“to stamp”), from Proto-West Germanic \*trampan (“to step”). Doublet of tremp. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Wiktionary

Question 74

go haywire

Answer 74

go haywire INFORMAL If something **goes haywire**, it goes out of control or starts doing the wrong thing. ...My computer**’s gone haywire**. ...Many people think the legal system **has gone haywire**. \> Collins English Dictionary, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

Question 75

contradiction

Answer 75

con‧tra‧dic‧tion /ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkʃən $ ˌkɑːn-/ **1** : the act of saying something that is opposite or very different in meaning to something else ...No one was surprised by the defendant's **contradiction** of the plaintiff's accusations. ...Her rebuttal contained many **contradictions** to my arguments. ...I think I can say **without fear of contradiction** (=I can say with absolute certainty) that this year has been very successful for our company. **2** : a difference or disagreement between two things which means that both cannot be true ...There have been some **contradictions** in his statements. ...There is a **contradiction** between what he said yesterday and what he said today. ...Her statements are mired in **contradiction**. ...What he said yesterday is **in direct contradiction** to what he said today. **3** → a contradiction in terms a combination of words that is nonsense because some of the words suggest the opposite of some of the others: ...Many people think that an honest politician is **a contradiction in terms**. ...I think “working vacation” is **a contradiction in terms**. \> From Middle English contradiccioun, contradiction, from Old French contradiction, from Latin contrādictiō, from contrādīcō (“speak against”). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Cambridge Dictionary, Britannica, Wiktionary

Question 76

flog

Answer 76

flog **1a** to beat with or as if with a rod or whip; If someone **is flogged**, they are hit very hard with a whip or stick as a punishment: WHIP, SCOURGE, flagellate, lash, birch, switch, tan, strap, belt, cane, thrash, beat, leather, tan/whip someone's hide, give someone a hiding, beat the living daylights out of. ...He was publicly **flogged** and humiliated. ...The sailors were **flogged** for attempting a mutiny. **1b** to criticize harshly ...He was **flogged** in the press for failing to take action. **2** INFORMAL to sell, especially quickly or cheaply: SELL, put on sale, put up for sale, offer for sale, vend, retail, trade in, deal in, traffic in, peddle, hawk, advertise; *informal* push ...insurance brokers **flogging** life policies ...I’m going to **flog** all my old video tapes. ...He tried to **flog** his old car, but no one would buy it. ...The phone group plans to **flog** its new handsets for £30 apiece to people signing one-year contracts. ...John Szabo, the City librarian and sealer of the deal, promises the library won’t suddenly start **flogging** books for sale. —Boris Kachka, *Los Angeles Times*, 13 Jan. 2024 **3** → flog sth to death INFORMAL•BRITISH to repeat a story or use an idea etc so often that people become bored with it ...They take a good idea and **flog it to death**. \> late 17th century (originally slang): perhaps imitative, or from Latin flagellare ‘to whip’, from flagellum ‘whip’. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 77

renounce

Answer 77

re‧nounce /rɪˈnaʊns/ **1** : to say especially in a formal or official way that you will no longer have or accept (something) : to formally give up (something); If you **renounce** a claim, rank, or title, you officially give it up: GIVE UP, relinquish, abandon, resign, abdicate, surrender, sign away, waive, forgo ...The king **renounced** [=abdicated] the throne. ...She **renounced** her inheritance. ...We will not deal with them until they **renounce** (the use of) violence/terrorism. **2** : to say in a formal or definite way that you refuse to follow, obey, or support (someone or something) any longer; If you **renounce** a belief or a way of behaving, you decide and declare publicly that you no longer have that belief or will no longer behave in that way. ...Many of his former supporters have **renounced** him. ...He **renounced** his old way of life. ...psychiatrists who **renounce** [=reject] the teachings of Freud ...A substantial minority, unable to **renounce** Marxism, left to form a new party called Communist Refoundation. \> late 14c., renouncen, "give up (something, especially to another), resign, surrender," from Old French renoncier "give up, cede" (12c., Modern French renoncer) and directly from Latin renuntiare "bring back word; proclaim; protest against, renounce," from re- "against" (see **re-**) + nuntiare "to report, announce," from nuntius "messenger" (from PIE root **neu-** "to shout"). The sense of "abandon, discontinue" (a habit, practice, etc.) is from late 15c.. That of "disclaim relationship with or allegiance to" a person is by c. 1500. That of "to abandon or give up" a belief, opinion, etc. by open recantation, declare against" is from 1530s. Related: Renounced; renouncing; renouncement. \> Britannica, Collins English Dictionary, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 78

veracity

Answer 78

ve‧ra‧ci‧ty /vəˈræsəti/ /vr·**a**·suh·tee/ **Veracity** is the quality of being true or the habit of telling the truth: TRUTHFULNESS, truth, accuracy, accurateness, correctness, exactness, precision, preciseness, realism, authenticity, faithfulness, fidelity; reputability, honesty, sincerity, trustworthiness, reliability, dependability, scrupulousness, ethics, morality, righteousness, virtuousness, decency, goodness, probity ...He was shocked to find his **veracity** questioned. ...The blue checkmark that once conveyed **veracity** and denoted verified accounts, often those of government agencies, companies and prominent users, was now available to any account for $8 a month. —Steven Lee Myers, *New York Times*, 27 Oct. 2023 veracity of ...Has anyone checked the **veracity of** these allegations? ...We have total confidence in the **veracity of** our research. \> 1620s, from French véracité (17c.), from Medieval Latin veracitatem (nominative veracitas) "truthfulness," from Latin verax (genitive veracis) "truthful," from verus "true" (from PIE root **were-o-** "true, trustworthy"). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 79

emphatic

Answer 79

em‧phat‧ic /ɪmˈfætɪk/ /uhm·**fa**·tuhk/ **1** expressing an opinion, idea etc in a clear, strong way to show its importance; An **emphatic** response or statement is one made in a forceful way, because the speaker feels very strongly about what they are saying. If you are **emphatic about** something, you use forceful language which shows that you feel very strongly about what you are saying: VEHEMENT /ˈviːəmənt/, firm, wholehearted, forceful, forcible, energetic, vigorous, ardent, assertive; certain, direct, definite, out-and-out, one hundred percent; decided, determined, earnest; categorical, unqualified, unconditional, unequivocal ...The governor issued an **emphatic** denial of all charges. ...The discussion has drawn **emphatic** condemnation from European powers. —Joel Gehrke, *Washington Examiner*, 3 Jan. 2024 ...His response was immediate and **emphatic**. ...I answered both questions with an **emphatic** 'Yes'. emphatic that ...The rebels are **emphatic that** this is not a surrender. emphatic about ...He was pretty **emphatic about** me leaving. ...He is especially **emphatic about** the value of a precise routine. **2** → emphatic win/victory/defeat a win etc in which one team or player wins by a large amount: CONCLUSIVE, decisive, marked, pronounced, decided, unmistakable, positive, definite, strong, powerful, striking, distinctive; resounding, telling, momentous; *informal* thumping, thundering ...Yesterday's **emphatic** victory was their fifth in succession. \> **emphatic (adj.)**: "uttered, or to be uttered, with emphasis of stress or voice," 1708, from Latinized form of Greek emphatikos, variant of emphantikos, from stem of emphainein (see **emphasis**). Emphatical is earlier (1550s in rhetorical sense, 1570s as "strongly expressive"). Related: Emphatically (1580s). \> **emphasis (n.)**: mid 16th century: via Latin from Greek, originally ‘appearance, show’, later denoting a figure of speech in which more is implied than is said (the original sense in English), from emphainein ‘exhibit’, from em- ‘in, within’ + phainein ‘to show’. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 80

fiduciary

Answer 80

fi‧du‧ci‧a‧ry /fɪˈduːʃiəri-eri/ **Fiduciary** is used to talk about things which relate to a trust, or to the people who are in charge of a trust. ...In 2021, Boeing’s board famously paid a hefty $246 million fine to settle a shareholder lawsuit that accused it of failing in its **fiduciary** duty to monitor safety, and initially lying about its response to the first of two fatal 737 Max 8 crashes. —Lila MacLellan, *Fortune*, 16 Jan. 2024 ...Where corporate information is revealed legitimately to a consultant working for the corporation, they may become **fiduciaries** of the shareholders. \> From Latin fiduciarius (“held in trust”), from fiducia (“trust”). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline, Wiktionary

Question 81

collate

Answer 81

col‧late /kəˈleɪt/ **1** to collect and combine (texts, information, or sets of figures) in proper order; When you **collate** pieces of information, you gather them all together and examine them: COLLECT, gather, accumulate, assemble; COMBINE, aggregate, put together; ARRANGE, organize, order, put in order, sort, categorize, systematize, structure ...A computer system is used to **collate** information from across Britain. **2** to compare and analyze (texts or other data): COMPARE, contrast, set side by side, juxtapose, weigh against, set against, balance, differentiate, discriminate ...what follows is based mainly on **collating** these two sources **3** to assemble in proper order ...Please **collate** and staple ten copies of the report for the meeting. USAGE NOTES: - **Collate** implies minute and critical inspection in order to note points of agreement or divergence. - data from districts around the country will be *collated* \> **collate (v.)**: mid 16th century (in the sense ‘confer a benefice upon’): from Latin collat- ‘brought together’, from the irregular past participle of conferre (see **confer**). \> **confer (v.)**: late Middle English (in the general sense ‘bring together’, also in confer (sense 2)): from Latin conferre, from con- ‘together’ + ferre ‘bring’. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 82

laboratory

Answer 82

la‧bor‧a‧tory /ləˈbɒrətri $ ˈlæbrətɔːri/ / $ **la**·bruh·taw·ree/ a special room or building in which a scientist does tests or prepares substances ...Of course, the Hybrid FET is literally the first of its kind, built in a university **laboratory**. —*IEEE Spectrum*, 16 Jan. 2024 ...Alternatively, you can have a sample of blood taken and sent away to a **laboratory** for a much fuller analysis. ...The facility uses animals in **laboratory** tests for some of its drugs. \> c. 1600, "room or building set apart for scientific experiments," from Medieval Latin laboratorium "a place for labor or work," from Latin laboratus, past participle of laborare "to work" (see **labor** (v.)). Figurative use by 1660s. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 83

offshore

Answer 83

off‧shore /ˌɒfˈʃɔː◂ $ ˌɒːfˈʃɔːr◂/ **1** : situated off the shore but within waters under a country's control **2** → offshore banks/companies/investments etc banks etc that are based abroad in a country where you pay less tax than in your home country **3** → offshore wind/current etc a wind etc that is blowing or moving away from the land \> also offshore, 1720, "in a direction away from the shore," from off (prep.) + shore (n.). As an adjective in 19c., "carried on more than three miles from shore." American English use for "other than the U.S." is from 1948 and the Marshall Plan. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 84

farce

Answer 84

farce A *farce* is a broad satire or comedy, though now it's used to describe something that is supposed to be serious but has turned ridiculous. If a defendant is not treated fairly, his lawyer might say that the trial is a *farce*. **1a** : a light dramatic composition marked by broadly satirical comedy and improbable plot; A **farce** is a humorous play in which the characters become involved in complicated and unlikely situations. ...a bedroom **farce** (= a funny play about sex) **1b** : the broad humor characteristic of farce; **Farce** is the style of acting and writing that is typical of farces. ...The plot often borders on **farce**. **2** : an empty or patently ridiculous act, proceeding, or situation: ABSURDITY, mockery, travesty, sham, pretense, masquerade, charade, piece of futility, joke, waste of time, laughing stock; apology, excuse, poor substitute; *informal* shambles ...The trial became a **farce**. ...No one had prepared anything so the meeting was a bit of a **farce**. ...The election turned out to be a complete/utter **farce.** (=fiasco) \> Borrowed from Middle French farce (“comic interlude in a mystery play”, literally “stuffing”). late 14c., "force-meat, stuffing;" 1520s, in the dramatic sense "ludicrous satire; low comedy," from French farce "comic interlude in a mystery play" (16c.), literally "stuffing," from Old French farcir "to stuff," (13c.), from Latin farcire "to stuff, cram," which is of uncertain origin, perhaps from PIE *bhrekw- "to cram together," and thus related to frequens "crowded." \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Britannica, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Wiktionary, Etymonline

Question 85

bequeath

Answer 85

be‧queath /bɪˈkwiːð, bɪˈkwiːθ/ **1** FORMAL to give or leave by will; If you **bequeath** your money or property **to** someone, you legally state that they should have it when you die: LEAVE, leave in one's will, will, make over, pass on, hand on, hand down, cede, consign, commit, entrust, grant, transfer, convey; DONATE, give, give over, turn over, vouchsafe; bestow on, confer on; *Law* demise, devise bequeath sth to sb ...He **bequeathed** his paintings **to** the museum. bequeath sb sth ...His father **bequeathed** him a fortune. ...Fields's will **bequeathed** his wife Hattie and son Claude the sum of twenty thousand dollars. **2** FORAML to hand down : TRANSMIT; If you **bequeath** an idea or system, you leave it for other people to use or develop: HAND DOWN, hand on, pass on, impart, transmit ...He **bequeaths** his successor an economy that is doing quite well. ...It is true that colonialism did not **bequeath** much to Africa. ...Lessons of the past are **bequeathed** to future generations. \> From Middle English biquethen, from Old English becweþan (“to say, to speak, to address, exhort, admonish, blame, bequeath, leave by will”), equivalent to be- +‎ quethe, from cweðan "to say." Cognate with Old Frisian biquetha. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Wiktionary, Etymonline

Question 86

raring

Answer 86

rar‧ing /ˈreərɪŋ $ ˈrer-/ : full of enthusiasm or eagerness: EAGER, keen, enthusiastic, full of enthusiasm, impatient, longing, champing/chafing at the bit, desperate; ready, willing; *informal* dying, itching, gagging **1** → raring to go If you say that you are **raring to go**, you mean that you are very eager to start doing something. ...After a good night's sleep, Paul said he was **raring to go**. **2** → raring to do sth If you are **raring to** do something or are **raring for** it, you are very eager to do it or very eager that it should happen. ...Sarah's here and **raring to** meet you. ...The children were **raring to** get outdoors. ...The kids are **raring to** get to work on the tree house. \> mid 19th century (in sense ‘angry or excited’): present participle of rare, dialect variant of **roar** or **rear²** \> **rear²**: (of a horse or other animal) to raise itself upright on its hind legs \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 87

transgress

Answer 87

trans‧gress /trænzˈɡres $ træns-/ /tranz·**gres**/ : to do something that is not allowed : to disobey a command or law; If someone **transgresses**, they break a moral law or a rule of behavior: GO BEYOND, exceed, infringe, overstep ...He who **transgresses** must seek forgiveness. ...There are legal consequences for companies that **transgress** the rules. ...Those are the rules, and anyone who **transgresses** will be severely punished. ...The problem is that cutting-edge comedy becomes difficult if a joke that **transgresses** someone’s idea of good taste means that the comedian is banned for life. —Naman Ramachandran, *Variety*, 29 Oct. 2023 —transgression /-ˈɡreʃən/ noun **1** : OFFENSE /əˈfens/, crime, sin, wrong, wrongdoing, misdemeanor, felony, misdeed, lawbreaking, vice, evil-doing, indiscretion, peccadillo, mischief, mischievousness, wickedness, misbehavior, bad behavior; error, lapse, fault ...They were granted full amnesty for their **transgressions**. **2** : INFRINGEMENT, breach, contravention, violation, defiance, infraction, disobedience, breaking, flouting, nonobservance, overstepping, exceeding ...Adam's **transgression** of God's law \> late 15th century (earlier (late Middle English) as transgression): from Old French transgresser or Latin transgress- ‘stepped across’, from the verb transgredi, from trans- ‘across’ + gradi ‘go’. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Britannica, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 88

commendation

Answer 88

com‧men‧da‧tion /ˌkɒmənˈdeɪʃən $ ˌkɑː-/ an official statement praising someone, especially someone who has been brave or very successful ...Their hard work deserves **commendation**. ...The President issued a **commendation** praising the volunteers for their exceptional work during the relief effort. ...His accomplishments have garnered him numerous awards and **commendations** from organizations, and recognition from public servants on both sides of the aisle. —Travis Andersen, *BostonGlobe.com*, 16 Feb. 2023 \> Middle English: from Old French, from Latin commendatio(n-), from commendare ‘commit to the care of’ (see **commend**). Originally (in the plural) the term denoted a liturgical office ending with a prayer commending the souls of the dead to God. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 89

pompous

Answer 89

pom‧pous /ˈpɒmpəs $ ˈpɑːm-/ **1** If you describe someone as **pompous**, you mean that they behave or speak in a very serious way because they think they are more important than they really are: SELF-IMPORTANT, imperious, overbearing, domineering, magisterial, pontifical, sententious, grandiose, affected, stiff, pretentious, puffed up, arrogant, vain, haughty, proud, conceited, egotistic, supercilious, condescending, patronizing; informal snooty, uppity, uppish ...He was somewhat **pompous** and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. —pompously adverb ...Robin said **pompously** that he had an important business appointment. **2** A **pompous** building or ceremony is very grand and elaborate. ...The service was grand without being **pompous**. \> late 14c., "characterized by exaggerated self-importance or an ostentatiously dignified style," from Old French pompos (14c., Modern French pompeux) and directly from Late Latin pomposus "stately, pompous," from Latin pompa "pomp" (see pomp). More literal (but less common) meaning "characterized by magnificence and dignity" is attested from early 15c. In 15c. it also could mean "fierce, formidable." Related: Pompously; pompousness. \> **pomp (n.)**: c. 1300, "ostentation and display," especially on parade, from Old French pompe "pomp, magnificence" (13c.) and directly from Latin pompa "procession, pomp," from Greek pompē "solemn procession, display, escort," literally "a sending," from pempein "to send," which is of unknown etymology. In Church Latin, used in deprecatory sense for "worldly display, vain show." The meaning "feeling of arrogance and vanity" (usually paired alliteratively with pride) is from early 14c. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 90

to no avail

Answer 90

**to no avail** (also **of no avail**) without any success; If you do something **to no avail** or **to little avail**, what you do fails to achieve what you want. ...His efforts were **to no avail**. ...Our best efforts were **of no avail**. ...I apologized repeatedly, but **to little avail**. ...We searched the whole area but all **to no avail**. Robbie had disappeared. ...The students asked the school to help them raise the money, but **to no avail**. ...Source close to Blige tell Billboard that her representatives have demanded the removal of their client’s name from the poster multiple times in the past 24 hours **to no avail**. —Gil Kaufman, *Billboard*, 25 Jan. 2024 ...There is even a record of Roddenberry writing to contacts at the production house inquiring to get it back **to no avail**. —Samuel Axon, *Ars Technica*, 7 Nov. 2023 \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster

Question 91

schism

Answer 91

schis‧m /ˈskɪzəm, ˈsɪzəm/ a division into two groups caused by a disagreement about ideas, especially in a religious organization; When there is a **schism**, a group or organization divides into two groups as a result of differences in thinking and beliefs: DIVISION, SPLIT, rift, breach, rupture, break, separation, severance, estrangement, alienation, detachment; chasm, gulf; discord, disagreement, dissension, disunion ...a **schism** between leading members of the party ...The church was divided by **schism**. ...The shooting Saturday night revealed a **schism** between students who support Israel and those who oppose its presence in the Gaza Strip and other Palestinian territories. —Kaetlyn Liddy, *NBC News*, 29 Nov. 2023 \> late 14c., scisme, sisme, cisme, "outward dissension within the church," producing two or more parties with rival authorities, from Old French scisme, cisme "a cleft, split" (12c.) and directly from Church Latin schisma, scisma (in Medieval Latin also cisma), from Greek skhisma (genitive skhismatos) "division, cleft," from stem of skhizein "to split" (from PIE root **skei-** "to cut, split"). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 92

infer

Answer 92

in‧fer /ɪnˈfɜː $ -ɜːr/ **1** If you **infer** that something is the case, you decide that it is true on the basis of information that you already have: DEDUCE, reason, work out, conclude, come to the conclusion, draw the inference, conjecture, surmise, theorize, hypothesize; gather, understand, presume, assume, take it, come to understand, glean, extrapolate, reckon; read between the lines; *North American* figure; *British informal* suss, suss out ...I **inferred** from what she said that you have not been well. ...By measuring the motion of the galaxies in a cluster, astronomers can **infer** the cluster's mass. **2** Some people use **infer** to mean 'imply', but many people consider this use to be incorrect. ...The police **inferred that** they found her behavior rather suspicious. USAGE NOTES: - **Infer**, **Deduce**, **Conclude**, **Judge**, **Gather** mean to arrive at a mental conclusion. - **Infer** implies arriving at a conclusion by reasoning from evidence; if the evidence is slight, the term comes close to surmise. - from that remark, I *inferred* that they knew each other - **Deduce** often adds to INFER the special implication of drawing a particular inference from a generalization. - denied we could *deduce* anything important from human mortality \> in logic, "to 'bring in' as a conclusion of a process of reasoning," 1520s, from Latin inferre "bring into, carry in; deduce, infer, conclude, draw an inference; bring against," from in- "in" (from PIE root \*en "in") + ferre "to carry, to bear," from PIE root \*bher- (1) "to carry; to bear children." General sense of "draw a conclusion" is first attested 1520s; intransitive sense is from 1570s. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 93

wimp

Answer 93

wimp *Wimp* is an informal, derogatory way to refer to someone who's nervous or unadventurous, like calling them a "chicken" or "crybaby." And when you wimp out, you don't follow through on something because you're too scared: "I didn't mean to wimp out, but when I got up there, I changed my mind about bungee jumping." Experts aren't sure about the origin of *wimp* but think it may be connected to *whimper*, "cry softly and fearfully." **1** someone who has a weak character and is afraid to do something difficult or unpleasant; If you call someone a **wimp**, you disapprove of them because they lack confidence or determination, or because they are often afraid of things: COWARD, weakling, namby-pamby, mouse; informal drip, sissy, weed, snowflake, mama's boy, milksop, doormat, wuss, jellyfish, crybaby, scaredy-cat, chicken; *British informal* wet, big girl's blouse, jessie, chinless wonder, cream puff, yellow-belly; *North American informal* candy-ass, cupcake, pantywaist, milquetoast, nebbish, pussy ...I'm afraid I'm a **wimp** when it comes to climbing up ladders. ...I was too much of a **wimp** (=coward) to confront him. ...Don't be such a **wimp**, Simon. Tell her you want to break up. ...Because they don't risk money, corporate financiers are considered **wimps** by traders. **2** a man who is thin and physically weak ...Just because you can't lift 300 pounds doesn't mean you're a **wimp**. \> 1920s: origin uncertain, perhaps from **whimper**. \> **whimper (v.)**: 1510s, probably of imitative origin, or from German wimmern "to whimper, moan." Related: Whimpered; whimpering. The noun is attested by c. 1700. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Cambridge Dictionary, Britannica, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Oxford Dictionary of English, Etymonline

Question 94

underpin

Answer 94

un‧der‧pin /ˌʌndəˈpɪn $ -ər-/ **1** to give support, strength, or a basic structure to something : SUPPORT, SUBSTANTIATE; If one thing **underpins** another, it helps the other thing to continue or succeed by supporting and strengthening it: PROMOTE, NURTURE, ENCOURAGE, STIMULATE, develop, foster, cultivate, further, advance, boost, forward, contribute to, be conducive to, assist ...**underpin** a thesis with evidence ...He presented data to **underpin** his argument. ...the central beliefs that **underpin** a free society ...These two scientific discoveries have **underpinned** modern agriculture. ...America’s wealth is **underpinned** by a global system which exploits the world’s poor. ...The use of drones has **underpinned** many of Ukraine’s recent successes on the battlefield. —Eric Schmidt, *Foreign Affairs*, 22 Jan. 2024 **2** to form part of, strengthen, or replace the foundation of: SUPPORT, shore up, prop up, hold up, buttress, carry, bear, brace; strengthen, reinforce, fortify; archaic underprop ...When restoring the building, the first priority was to **underpin** the exterior walls by adding wooden supports along the foundations. \> "support or prop," 1520s (figurative); 1530s (literal), from **under** + **pin** (v.). Related: Underpinned; underpinning. \> **pin (v.)**: mid-14c., pinnen, "to affix with a pin," from **pin** (n.). Figurative uses, on the notion of "seize and hold fast in the same spot or position" are from 1570s. Related: Pinned; pinning. Sense of "to hold someone or something down so he or it cannot escape" is attested from 1740. In U.S. colleges, as a reference to the bestowal of a fraternity pin on a female student as an indication of a relationship, it is attested by 1938. Phrase pin down "define" is from 1951. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 95

candor

Answer 95

can‧dor /ˈkændə $ -ər/ the quality of being honest and telling the truth, even when the truth may be unpleasant or embarrassing; **Candor** is the quality of speaking honestly and openly about things: FRANKNESS, openness, honesty, candidness, truthfulness, sincerity, forthrightness, directness, lack of restraint, straightforwardness, plain-spokenness, plain dealing, plainness, calling a spade a spade, unreservedness, bluffness, bluntness, outspokenness; *informal* telling it like it is ...She spoke with **candor** about her life. ...Wire them up with microphones and start the camera rolling, however, and all **candor** vanished. ...After so many lies from politicians, Dunbar's **candor** is refreshing. \> "openness of mind, impartiality, frankness, freedom from reserve or disguise," c. 1600, from Latin candor "purity, openness," originally "whiteness, brightness, radiance," from candere "to shine, to be white" (from PIE root \*kand- "to shine"). It was borrowed earlier in English (c. 1500) in the Latin literal sense of "extreme whiteness." \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 96

exile

Answer 96

ex‧ile /ˈeksaɪl, ˈeɡzaɪl/ /**eg**·zile/ noun If someone is living **in exile**, they are living in a foreign country because they cannot live in their own country, usually for political reasons. verb If someone **is exiled**, they are living in a foreign country because they cannot live in their own country, usually for political reasons. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 97

desolate

Answer 97

des‧o‧late¹ /ˈdesələt/ adjective **1** A **desolate** place is empty of people and lacking in comfort. ...a **desolate** house abandoned many years ago **2** joyless, disconsolate, and sorrowful through or as if through separation from a loved one; If someone is **desolate**, they feel very sad, alone, and without hope: MISERABLE, sad, unhappy, melancholy, gloomy, glum, despondent, comfortless, depressed, mournful, disconsolate; broken-hearted, heavy-hearted, grief-stricken; wretched, downcast, cast down, dejected, downhearted, dispirited, devastated, despairing, inconsolable, anguished, crushed, forlorn, crestfallen, upset, distressed, grieving, woebegone, bereft, in low spirits; *informal* blue, down, cut up ...He was **desolate** without her. ...He was less **desolate** after adopting a rescue dog. USAGE NOTES: - **Alone**, **Solitary**, **Lonely**, **Lonesome**, **Lone**, **Forlorn**, **Desolate** mean isolated from others. - **Desolate** adds an element of utter remoteness or lack of human contact to any already disheartening aspect. - a *desolate* outpost des‧o‧late² /ˈdesəleɪt/ verb **1** to lay waste: DEVASTATE, ravage, ruin, make/leave desolate, leave in ruins, destroy, wreck, lay waste to, wreak havoc on; level, raze, demolish, wipe out, obliterate, annihilate, gut; depopulate, empty ...**desolating** the city with bombs **2** to make wretched; to make someone deeply dejected or distressed; If something **desolates** you, it upsets you and makes you very unhappy: DISHEARTEN, dispirit, daunt, distress, depress, make sad/unhappy, sadden, cast down, deject, make miserable, make gloomy/despondent, weigh down, oppress; *informal* shatter, floor ...I saw them walk away and felt absolutely **desolated**. ...They were **desolated** [=(more commonly) devastated] by the death of their son. \> mid-14c., of persons, "disconsolate, miserable, overwhelmed with grief, deprived of comfort;" late 14c., of persons, "without companions, solitary, lonely;" also, of places, "uninhabited, abandoned," from Latin desolatus, past participle of desolare "leave alone, desert," from de- "completely" (see **de-**) + solare "make lonely," from solus "alone" (see **sole** (adj.)). Related: Desolately; desolateness. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Britannica, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 98

sputter

Answer 98

sput‧ter /ˈspʌtə $ -ər/ **1** to make a series of soft explosive sounds, typically when being heated or as a symptom of a fault; If something such as an engine or a flame **sputters**, it works or burns in an uneven way and makes a series of soft popping sounds. ...Suddenly the engine **sputtered** and stopped. **1a** to proceed or develop in a spasmodic and feeble way; If a process, action, or state of affairs **sputters**, it progresses slowly and unevenly or starts to end. ...The economy is already **sputtering**, with low or no growth. ...The battle **sputtered** to a halt in mid-October. ...The whole thing **sputtered** out. ...Even with Herbert, the Chargers’ offense has **sputtered** of late, scoring 10, six and seven points over the last three games. —Jeff Miller, *Los Angeles Times*, 14 Dec. 2023 **2** to utter hastily or explosively in confusion or excitement; If you **sputter**, you speak with difficulty and make short sounds, especially because you are angry, shocked, or excited. ...He was **sputtering** with rage. ...“You, you have to be kidding!” he **sputtered**. \> late 16th century (as a verb): from Dutch sputteren, of imitative origin. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 99

ecology

Answer 99

e‧col‧o‧gy /ɪˈkɒlədʒi $ ɪˈkɑː-/ **1** a branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environments ...a senior lecturer in **ecology** **2** the totality or pattern of relations between organisms and their environment; When you talk about the **ecology** of a place, you are referring to the pattern and balance of relationships between plants, animals, people, and the environment in that place. ...This creates a problem for wildlife, as the lake is important to the region’s **ecology** and provides a crucial stopover habitat for migratory birds. —Margaret Osborne, *Smithsonian Magazine*, 12 Dec. 2023 \> late 19th century (originally as oecology): from Greek oikos ‘house’ + -logy. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 100

varnish

Answer 100

var‧nish /ˈvɑːnɪʃ $ ˈvɑːr-/ noun a liquid that is painted onto wood or paintings to protect the surface, or the hard shiny surface it produces when it dries ...The **varnish** comes in six natural wood shades. verb **1** to put varnish on a surface ...They decided to spend the weekend **varnishing** their boat. **2** to cover or conceal (something, such as something unpleasant) with something that gives an attractive appearance \> **varnish (n.)**: mid-14c., from Old French vernis "varnish" (12c.), from Medieval Latin vernix "odorous resin," of uncertain origin, perhaps from Late Greek verenike, from Greek Berenike, name of an ancient city in Libya (modern Bengasi) credited with the first use of varnishes. The town is named for Berenike II, queen of Egypt (see **Berenice**). Figurative sense of "specious gloss, pretense," is recorded from 1560s. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 101

flake

Answer 101

flake¹ **1** a small loose mass or bit; a small thin piece that breaks away easily from something else: SLIVER, wafer, shaving, paring, peeling; chip, shard, scale, crumb, grain, speck, spillikin; fragment, scrap, shred, bit, particle ...Spread a little peanut butter on top and sprinkle it with coconut **flakes**. —Cathryne Keller, *SELF*, 22 Dec. 2023 flake of ...**flakes of** snow **2** INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN someone who seems strange or who often forgets things verb **1** (also **flake off**) to break off in small thin pieces: PEEL OFF, peel, chip, scale off, blister, come off, come off in layers ...The paint is beginning to **flake off**. ...Use a moisturizing cream to stop your skin **flaking**. ...The surface corrosion was worst where the paint had **flaked off**. **2** to break fish or another food into small thin pieces, or to break in this way ...Poach the fish until it **flakes** easily. ...Remove the skin and **flake** the flesh. **3** (also **flake out**) INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN to fail or neglect to do or participate in something previously scheduled, agreed upon, or assigned ...Twice, you had plans, and both times you **flaked**. ...He **flakes out** on plans all the time for no good reason. ...Many volunteers **flake out** after the first meeting. → often used with *on* ...A real friend won't ever **flake on** you. ...Let's get him to sign his name to that before he **flakes out on** you! —Rhoda Janzen ...Kathy said she’d help but she **flaked out on** us. **3a** (of a piece of equipment or machinery) to break down or malfunction ...The optical component had a tendency to **flake out**. \> **flake¹ (n.)**: "thin flat piece of snow; a particle," early 14c., also flauke, flagge, which is of uncertain origin, possibly from Old English *flacca "flakes of snow," or from cognate Old Norse flak "flat piece," from Proto-Germanic *flakaz (source also of Middle Dutch vlac, Dutch vlak "flat, level," Middle High German vlach, German Flocke "flake"); from PIE root *plak- (1) "to be flat." From late 14c. as "a speck, a spot." flake² verb (**flake out**) INFORMAL•BRITISH to fall asleep because you are extremely tired: FALL ASLEEP, go to sleep, drop off; collapse, drop, keel over; faint, pass out, lose consciousness, black out; *informal* conk out, go out, go out like a light, nod off; *North American informal* sack out, zone out ...He **flaked out** on my bed. \> **flake² (v.)**: late 15th century (in the senses ‘become languid’ and (of a garment) ‘fall in folds’): variant of obsolete flack and the verb flag4. The current sense dates from the 1940s. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 102

pageantry

Answer 102

pag‧eant‧ry /ˈpædʒəntri/ impressive and colorful ceremonies: SPECTACLE, display, ceremony, ceremoniousness, magnificence, pomp, glory, splendor, grandeur, glamour, flourish, glitter, theatricality, drama, show, showiness; *informal* pizzazz /pəˈzæz/, razzle-dazzle, razzmatazz ...The trooping of the color brings Londoners out for a historic day of military **pageantry**. pag‧eant /ˈpædʒənt/ **1** A **pageant** is a colorful public procession, show, or ceremony. Pageants are usually held out of doors and often celebrate events or people from history. **2** A **pageant** or a **beauty pageant** is a competition in which young women are judged to decide which one is the most beautiful. \> **pageantry (n.)**: "splendid display," 1650s; see **pageant** + **-ry**. \> **pageant (n.)**: late 14c., pagent, "a play in a cycle of mystery plays," from Medieval Latin pagina, a word of uncertain origin, perhaps from Latin pagina "page of a book" (see **page** (n.1)) on notion of "manuscript" of a play. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 103

ensemble

Answer 103

en‧sem‧ble /ɒnˈsɒmbəl $ ɑːnˈsɑːm-/ /aan·**saam**·bl/ **1** a group of musicians, actors, or dancers who perform together: GROUP, band, orchestra, combo; company, troupe, cast, chorus, corps, circle, association; duo, trio, quartet, quintet, sextet, septet, octet, nonet ...The **ensemble** includes two flutes. ...a Bulgarian folk **ensemble** **1a** a scene or passage written for performance by a whole cast, choir, or group of instruments ...Cherubini's numbers, with solos and **ensembles** intermingled, have a freedom and originality. **1b** the coordination between performers executing an ensemble passage ...A high level of tuning and **ensemble** is guaranteed. **2** a group of items viewed as a whole rather than individually: WHOLE, whole thing, entity, unit, unity, body, piece, object, discrete item; collection, set, combination, package, accumulation, conglomeration, sum, total, totality, entirety, assemblage, aggregate, composite; *informal* whole caboodle ...The buildings in the square present a charming provincial **ensemble** **2a** [usually in singular] a set of clothes chosen to harmonize when worn together: OUTFIT, costume, suit, coordinates, matching separates, set of clothes; *informal* getup, rig-out ...She wore an elegant three-piece **ensemble**. ...She wore a pink and black **ensemble**. \> 1703, "union of parts, parts of a thing taken together," from French ensemblée "all the parts of a thing considered together," from Late Latin insimul "at the same time," from in- intensive prefix + simul "at the same time," related to similis "like, resembling, of the same kind" (see **similar**). Musical sense of "union of all parts in a performance" in English first attested 1844. Of women's dress and accessories, from 1927. Earlier in English as an adverb (mid-15c.), "together, at the same time." \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 104

spitball

Answer 104

spit‧ball /ˈspɪtbɔːl $ -bɒːl/ noun **1** a small piece of paper that children roll into a ball and then spit or throw at each other ...The kids were shooting **spitballs** at each other. **2** a ball which has been moistened with saliva prior to pitching ...He was frequently accused of throwing a **spitball**. —Jr Radcliffe, *Journal Sentinel*, 10 Oct. 2022 verb INFORMAL to propose (ideas, suggestions, etc.) for consideration in an informal, preliminary way ...I'm just **spitballing** a few ideas. ...The writers sat around for an hour, **spitballing** ideas for a character. \> **spitball (n.)**: also spit-ball, 1846 in the schoolboy sense of "bit of paper chewed and rounded as a missile;" 1904 in the baseball sense, in reference to a ball moistened on one side to curve, from **spit** (n.1) + **ball** (n.1). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English, Etymonline

Question 105

blab

Answer 105

**1** : to talk idly or thoughtlessly ...He was **blabbing** so much about skiing and all that junk. ...He kept **blabbing** on and on about politics. **2** : to reveal a secret especially by indiscreet chatter; If someone **blabs about** something secret, they tell people about it. ...OK I'll tell you, but you'd better not **blab**! ...Don't tell Mary. She'll **blab** it all over town. ...She'll **blab** it all over the school. ...She went and **blabbed about** Ernie's surprise party. blab to ...Don’t go **blabbing to** your friends **about** this. ...Better not say anything about it to Mickey — he'll just end up **blabbing to** someone. \> mid-15c., blabben, "to talk idly and foolishly, talk too much," apparently from Middle English noun blabbe "one who does not control his tongue" (late 13c.), which probably is echoic (compare Old Norse blabbra, Danish blabbre "babble," German plappern "to babble"). It is attested from c. 1600 as "to talk indiscreetly." Related: Blabbed; blabbing. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 106

whoop

Answer 106

whoop /wuːp, huːp/ verb **1** to utter a whoop in expression of eagerness, enthusiasm, or enjoyment; If you **whoop**, you shout loudly in a very happy or excited way: SHOUT ...She **whoops** with delight at a promise of money. ...The children **whooped** with joy at the sight of all the presents. **2** → whoop it up to celebrate riotously: CELEBRATE, rejoice, enjoy oneself, make merry, have fun, have a good/wild time, rave, party, have a party, revel, roister, carouse, kill the fatted calf, put the flag(s) out; *North American* step out; *informal* go out on the town, paint the town red, make whoopee, junket, have a night on the tiles, live it up, have a ball; *British informal* push the boat out ...The fans started to cheer and **whoop it up**. ...Drunken fans **whooped it up** in the streets. noun a loud, excited shout, especially showing your enjoyment of or agreement with something ...When the **whoops** and cheers had finally died down he started to speak. \> **whoop (v.)**: mid-14c., houpen, partly imitative, partly from Old French huper, houper "to cry out, shout," also imitative. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 107

amiable

Answer 107

a‧mi‧a‧ble /ˈeɪmiəbəl/ /**ay**·mee·uh·bl/ **1** : friendly, sociable, and congenial; Someone who is **amiable** is friendly and pleasant to be with: FRIENDLY, affable, cordial; warm, warmhearted, good-natured, nice, pleasant, agreeable, pleasing, likable, lovable, genial, good-humored, charming, winning, engaging, delightful, easy to get on/along with, obliging, kind, kindly; neighborly, hospitable, companionable, sociable, gregarious, convivial, clubbable, personable; *British informal* chummy, matey; *North American informal* regular ...**amiable** neighbors ...Cohen is soft-spoken and **amiable**. ...He was **amiable** and charming, and he possessed an ability to make people feel comfortable in his presence. **2** : generally agreeable ...an **amiable** movie \> **The Roots of Amiable Go Back to Love**: *Amiable* derives from the Late Latin adjective *amicabilis,* meaning "friendly," which in turn comes from the Latin word for "friend" and can ultimately be traced back to *amare,* meaning "to love." When *amiable* was adopted into English in the 14th century, it meant "pleasing" or "admirable," but that sense is now obsolete. The current, familiar senses of "generally agreeable" ("an amiable movie") and "friendly and sociable" came centuries later. *Amare* has also given English speakers such words as *amative* and *amorous* (both meaning "strongly moved by love"), *amour* ("a usually illicit love affair"), and even *amateur* (which originally meant "admirer"). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster

Question 108

realty

Answer 108

real‧ty /ˈrɪəlti/ /**reel**·tee/ real estate; real, fixed property. ...Bret Weinstein, owner of a **realty** firm in Denver, said politics has become the top issue for people buying a home. —Nicholas Riccardi, *Anchorage Daily News*, 6 July 2023 \> 1660s, "real estate, real property," from earlier meaning "a real possession" (1540s), earlier still "reality" (mid-15c.), from Old French realite, realte, from Medieval Latin realitatem (nominative realitas), from Late Latin realis "actual" (see **real** (adj.)). The notion behind the word is the immobility, or the fixed, permanent nature of certain kinds of property, especially landed. Also compare **reality**. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Dictionary of English, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 109

co-opt

Answer 109

co-opt /kəʊˈɒpt $ koʊˈɑːpt/ **1** to persuade someone to help or support you; If you **co-opt** someone, you persuade them to help or support you. ...Social scientists were **co-opted** to work with the development agencies. ...Nan was **co-opted into** the kitchen to make pastry. ...Mr Wallace tries to **co-opt** rather than defeat his critics. ...Sofia Petrovna **co-opted** Natasha as her assistant. ...Whether they liked it or not, local people were **co-opted into** the victory parade. ...The president **co-opted**(=to persuade someone who criticizes or disagrees with you to join your group so that the person can no longer oppose you) journalists by inviting them to private dinners in the White House. **2** (of an elected group) to make someone a member through the choice of the present members; If someone **is co-opted onto/into** a group, they are asked by that group to become a member, rather than joining or being elected in the normal way. ...She was **co-opted on to** the committee last June. ...The committee may **co-opt** additional members for special purposes. ...He was posted to Malta, where he **was co-opted into** MI5. ...He's been authorised to **co-opt** anyone he wants to join him. ...She **was coopted onto** the county education committee. **3** to use someone else's ideas; If a group or political party **co-opts** a slogan or policy, they take it, often from another group or political party, and use it themselves. ...He **co-opted** many nationalist slogans and cultivated a populist image. ...Rock and roll music was largely **co-opted** from the blues. ...Meta's Instagram helped connect and promote a network of pedophiles, Snapchat's disappearing messages have been **co-opted** by criminals who financially sextort young victims. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, *arkansasonline.com*, 1 Feb. 2024 \> **co-opt (v.)**: 1650s, "to select (someone) for a group or club by a vote of members," from Latin cooptare "to elect, to choose as a colleague or member of one's tribe," from assimilated form of com- "together" (see com-) + optare "choose" (see option (n.)). For some reason this defied the usual pattern of Latin-to-English adaptation, which should have yielded co-optate (which is attested from 1620s but now is rare or obsolete). Sense of "take over" is first recorded c. 1953. Related: Co-opted; co-opting. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 110

upsell

Answer 110

up‧sell /ˈʌpsel/ verb to persuade a customer to buy more or to buy something more expensive ...They are trained to **upsell** customers to a larger drink. ...At that point, Disney also plans to try to **upsell** Disney+ subs who do not have Hulu to subscribe to both. —Todd Spangler, *Variety*, 6 Dec. 2023 ...With a strong correlation between the amount of video consumed and the Internet speed that consumers think they need, providers could possibly **upsell** customers on costlier broadband packages. —Makeda Easter ...There are a growing number of privacy apps on the market, but Permission Slip stands out in part for being free, not trying to **upsell** you on a product like a VPN, and not needing access to more data like your email inbox to work. —Geoffrey A. Fowler, *Washington Post*, 3 Oct. 2023 ...There are lots of icky ways Amazon could use your health information: to **upsell** you on other services, to target marketing for its giant advertising business or to build out artificial intelligence or patient-risk models. —Geoffrey A. Fowler, *Washington Post*, 1 May 2023 ...They start **upselling** you before you book your vacation by offering upgrades to a higher-class cabin … —Christopher Elliott noun : an attempt to convince a customer to purchase something additional or more costly : the act or an instance of upselling ...We passed on the products they had used during the massage, which were for sale. Almost every activity, it would turn out, ended with a gentle **upsell**. —Dan Saltzstein \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Merriam-Webster

Question 111

facetious

Answer 111

fa‧ce‧tious /fəˈsiːʃəs/ /fuh·**see**·shuhs/ Don’t take a *facetious* comment seriously because it’s supposed to be funny. Anything *facetious* is a joke. If you've just won a hotdog-eating contest and someone asks if you'd like to go out for burgers, they’re probably being *facetious*. treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; If you say that someone is being **facetious**, you are criticizing them because they are making humorous remarks or saying things that they do not mean in a situation where they ought to be serious: FLIPPANT, flip, glib, frivolous, tongue-in-cheek, waggish, whimsical, joking, jokey, jesting, jocular, playful, roguish, impish, teasing, arch, mischievous, puckish ...a **facetious** and tasteless remark about people in famine-stricken countries being spared the problem of overeating ...That was clever but **facetious**. —James Freeman, *WSJ*, 25 May 2021 ...The woman eyed him coldly. 'Don't be **facetious**,' she said. \> "sportive, playful," 1590s, from French facétieux (16c.), from facétie "a joke" (15c.), from Latin facetiae "jests, witticisms" (singular facetia), from facetus "witty, elegant, fine, courteous," which is of unknown origin, perhaps related to facis "torch." Formerly often in a good sense, "witty, full of fun, amusing," as Century Dictionary (1897) has it, "jocular, without lack of dignity;" but later implying a desire to be amusing that is often intrusive or ill-timed. Related: Facetiously; facetiousness. \> If you forget how to spell *facetious*, notice that it has all five vowels in a row. The word *facetious* comes from the French *facétie*, “joke,” and it has come to describe a joke with a little drop of sarcasm. It used to simply mean “funny and witty,” but now it often implies that someone is being inappropriately funny about a serious topic. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Vocabulary.com, Etymonline

Question 112

sacred

Answer 112

sa‧cred /ˈseɪkrɪd/ /**say**·kruhd/ **1** Something that is **sacred** is believed to be holy and to have a special connection with God: HOLY, hallowed, consecrated, blessed ...The owl is **sacred** for many Native American people. ...shrines and **sacred** places **2** Something connected with religion or used in religious ceremonies is described as **sacred**. ...**sacred** art ...**sacred** songs or music **3** You can describe something as **sacred** when it is regarded as too important to be changed or interfered with: INVIOLABLE /ɪnˈvaɪələbəl/, protected, sacrosanct, secure ...My memories are **sacred**. ...He said the unity of the country was **sacred**. ...They'll make jokes about anything. **Nothing is sacred** to those guys. ...I can't believe they would do that. **Is nothing sacred**? \> **sacred** (1300-1400) Past participle of sacre “to make holy” ((13-17 centuries)), from Old French sacrer, from Latin sacrare, from sacer “holy” \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster

Question 113

deface

Answer 113

de‧face /dɪˈfeɪs/ to spoil the surface or appearance of something, especially by writing on it or breaking it; If someone **defaces** something such as a wall or a notice, they spoil it by writing or drawing things on it: VANDALIZE, disfigure, mar, spoil, ruin, deform, sully, tarnish, damage; injure, uglify, blight, blemish, impair; *informal* tag, trash ...The building was **defaced** with graffiti. ...He was fined for **defacing** public property. \> Middle English: from Old French desfacier, from des- (expressing removal) + face ‘face’. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 114

delectable

Answer 114

de‧lec‧ta‧ble /dɪˈlektəbəl/ **1** extremely pleasant to taste or smell; If you describe something, especially food or drink, as **delectable**, you mean that it is very pleasant: DELICIOUS, mouthwatering, appetizing, flavorsome, flavorful, toothsome, inviting, very enjoyable, very palatable; succulent, luscious, rich, sweet; tasty, savory, piquant; *informal* scrumptious, delish, scrummy, yummy, yum-yum; *British informal* moreish, peng; *North American informal* finger-licking, nummy ...**delectable** desserts, cakes and puddings ...Fried onions make the final **delectable** touch. ...**Delectable** smells rose from the kitchen. ...Released earlier this week, the second cookbook from the Waco Wonder Woman is filled with **delectable** recipes for hits like Cajun shrimp sheet pan dinner, zucchini bread, oatmeal cream pies, and more. —Perri Ormont Blumberg, *Southern Living*, 10 Apr. 2020 **2** highly pleasing : DELIGHTFUL ...a **delectable** melody ...Succession did a lot of things right — hiring Nicholas Britell to compose its instantly **delectable** theme music and score the show, turning Mr. Darcy into the sniveling sycophant that is Tom Wambsgans, making Willa write the flop play Sands that bankrupts her sugar daddy. —*Vulture*, 21 Dec. 2023 **3** extremely beautiful or attractive; If you describe someone as **delectable**, you think that they are very attractive: DELIGHTFUL, lovely, adorable, captivating, charming, enchanting; *Scottish & Northern English* bonny; *informal* divine, heavenly, dreamy, adorbs, sensational, knockout, drop-dead; *British informal* fit, tasty; *North American informal* babelicious, bodacious, bootyliciou ...He didn't seem to notice the **delectable** Miss Campbell. \> c. 1400, "delightful to one of the senses, highly pleasing," from Middle English delectable, from Middle French délectable, from Old French delectable, from Medieval Latin delectare “to delight, allure, charm, please,” frequentative of delicere "entice" (see **delicious**). \> **delicious (adj.)**: c. 1300, "delightful to the senses, pleasing in the highest degree" (implied in deliciously), from Old French delicios (Modern French délicieux), from Late Latin deliciosus "delicious, delicate," from Latin delicia (plural deliciae) "a delight, allurement, charm," from delicere "to allure, entice," from de- "away" (see **de-**) + lacere "to lure, entice," which is of uncertain origin. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline, Wiktionary

Question 115

frown

Answer 115

frown

Question 116

top sth off

Answer 116

top sth off **1** to complete something successfully by doing one last thing; If you **top off** an event or period with a particular thing, you end it in an especially satisfactory, dramatic, or annoying way by doing that thing; used to indicate a final thing that happened that was even better, worse, etc., than what happened before ...He **topped off** his career with a gold medal. ...Let's **top off** the evening with a drink. ...The evening was **topped off** by a special showing of the museum's new Degas exhibit. ...To **top it all off** one of the catering staff managed to slice their finger cutting cheese. **2** to fill (something) completely with a liquid ...I added a little more coffee to **top off** the mug. ...He stopped at the gas station to **top off** the car's tank. ..."Could you **top** me **off**?" \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster

Question 117

brash

Answer 117

brash There's nothing warm and fuzzy about brash. New Yorkers are sometimes thought of as the poster children for brash behavior: they can be bold and brazen. Pushy even. You might find brashness offensive, or maybe you think it's refreshingly direct. If you're a cab driver, a tough exterior might be useful, but being brash probably won’t advance your career if you work in a hotel, where you’re supposed to be polite and welcoming. **1** showing too much confidence and too little respect; If you describe someone or their behavior as **brash**, you disapprove of them because you think that they are too confident and aggressive: BOLD, FORWARD, RUDE, ARROGANT ...a **brash** young banker ...His lawyer was **brash**, arrogant, and egocentric, but he usually won his cases. ...She asks such **brash** questions. ...a **brash** request to get something for free ...Legendary California politician Willie Brown, the **brash** liberal with a devilish grin as wide as a $100 bill, will be remembered as not just a powerbroker and master fundraiser, but also as a clothes horse with few peers. —Louis Sahagún, *Los Angeles Times*, 28 Jan. 2024 **2** very strong or harsh; a brash building, place, or object attracts attention by being very colorful, large, exciting etc ...The painting was bold, **brash**, and modern. ...a designer known for his **brash** and innovative style ...Don't you think that suit's a bit **brash** for a funeral? \> Uncertain. Perhaps from Scots brash, brasch (“a violent onset; an attack or assault”). Perhaps also related to Dutch bars (“stern; strict”), German barsch (“harsh; unfriendly”), Danish barsk (“harsh; rough; tough”), Swedish barsk (“harsh; impetuous”). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Britannica, Merriam-Webster, Wiktionary

Question 118

unscathed

Answer 118

un‧scathed /ʌnˈskeɪðd/ /uhn·**skaythd**/ : wholly unharmed : not injured; If you are **unscathed** after a dangerous experience, you have not been injured or harmed by it: UNHARMED, unhurt, uninjured, undamaged, in one piece, intact, safe, safe and sound, unmarked, untouched, unscarred, unscratched, secure, well, as (good as) new; *informal* like new ...She escaped from the wreckage **unscathed**. ...Tony emerged **unscathed** apart from a severely bruised finger. ...The east side of the city was left **unscathed** by the riots. ...Her husband died in the accident but she, amazingly, escaped **unscathed**. ...The administration was left **relatively unscathed** by the scandal. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus

Question 119

banter

Answer 119

ban‧ter /ˈbæntə $ -ər/ noun : good-natured and usually witty and animated joking; **Banter** is teasing or joking talk that is amusing and friendly. ...She heard Tom exchanging good-natured **banter** with Jane. ...Hendrickson and Chowdhury soon eased into a comfortable banter. —Elliot Ackerman, *WIRED*, 7 Feb. 2024 verb *transitive verb* : to speak to or address in a witty and teasing manner; ...She laughed and **bantered** him a little, remembering too late that she should have been dignified and reserved. —Kate Chopin *intransitive verb* : to speak or act playfully or wittily; If you **banter with** someone, you tease them or joke with them in an amusing, friendly way. ...The soldiers **bantered with** him as though he was a kid brother. ...We **bantered** a bit while I tried to get the car started. ...All this was said in a **bantering** tone. ...Earlier in the night, the song took the Best Pop Solo Performance category, which meant Cyrus scored her first-ever Grammy. Mark Ronson and his mother-in-law Meryl Streep presented the award, **bantering** back and forth about what the Record of the Year award really means. —Daniel Kreps, *Rolling Stone*, 4 Feb. 2024 \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster

Question 120

profiteer

Answer 120

prof‧i‧teer /ˌprɒfəˈtɪəˌprɑːfəˈtɪr/ /praa·fuh·**teer**/ a person or organization that makes unfairly large profits, for example by selling things that are hard to get at very high prices ...A handful of **profiteers** are using the legally protected monopoly to charge absurdly high prices for these drugs. ...black market **profiteers** —profiteering noun ...Airlines need fare increases of 2% to 3% to recover the **added** fuel costs. Anything beyond that is pure profiteering. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 121

proposition

Answer 121

prop‧o‧si‧tion /ˌprɒpəˈzɪʃən $ ˌprɑː-/ noun **1** If you describe something such as a task or an activity as, for example, a difficult **proposition** or an attractive **proposition**, you mean that it is difficult or pleasant to do. ...Making easy money has always been an attractive **proposition**. ...Even among seasoned mountaineers this peak is considered quite a tough **proposition**. **2** FORMAL A **proposition** is a statement or an idea which people can consider or discuss to decide whether it is true. ...The **proposition** that democracies do not fight each other is based on a tiny historical sample. **3** In the United States, a **proposition** is a question or statement about an issue of public policy which appears on a voting paper so that people can vote for or against it. ...I voted 'yes' on proposition 136, but 'no' on **propositions** 129, 133 and 134. **4** A **proposition** is an offer or a suggestion that someone makes to you, usually concerning some work or business that you might be able to do together: PROPOSAL, scheme, plan, project, program, manifesto, motion, bid, presentation, submission, suggestion ...You came to see me at my office the other day with a business **proposition**. ...I want to make you a **proposition**. **5** INFORMAL an offer of sex made to a person with whom one is not sexually involved, especially one that is made in an unsubtle or offensive way: SEXUAL ADVANCE, sexual overture, indecent proposal, improper suggestion, soliciting ...Needless to say, she refused his frank sexual **proposition**. verb to suggest to someone that they have sex with you ...Here, prostitutes constantly **proposition** tourists. ...He was **propositioned** by a prostitute. ...He got drunk and **propositioned** a woman sitting next to him in the bar. \> Middle English: from Old French, from Latin propositio(n-), from the verb proponere "put forth, set forth, lay out, display, expose to view" (see **propound**). Meaning "action of proposing something to be done, an offered plan of action," is from late 14c. General sense of "matter, problem, undertaking" recorded by 1877. Related: Propositional; propositionally. \> **propound (v.)**: "put forward, offer for consideration," a mid-16c. variant of Middle English proponen "to put forward, assert" (c. 1400), from Latin proponere "put forth, set forth, lay out, display, expose to view," figuratively "set before the mind; resolve; intend, design," from pro "before" (see **pro-**) + ponere "to put" (see **position** (n.)). With unetymological -d, perhaps by influence of compound, expound. The Latin verb in French was superseded by the word that became English **propose** (for which change see **pose** (v.1)). Related: Propounded; propounding. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 122

posse

Answer 122

pos‧se /ˈpɒsi $ ˈpɑːsi/ **1** INFORMAL a group of the same kind of people; a group of people who are together for a particular purpose posse of ...I was surrounded by a **posse of** photographers. ...A **posse of** reporters greeted the coach. ...The disgraced minister walked swiftly from the car to his house pursued by a whole **posse of** reporters. **2** In former times, in the United States, a posse was a group of men who were brought together by the local law officer to help him chase and capture a criminal. ...The sheriff rounded up a **posse** and went after the bank robbers. ...In February 1878, Tunstall was gunned down by a **posse** organized by Sheriff William Brady, who supported The House. —Angelica Stabile, *Fox News*, 23 Nov. 2023 **3** INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN a) someone’s group of friends : GANG ...I was hanging with my **posse**. ...I went to the game with my **posse**. ...The movie star and his **posse** [=(more formally) entourage] were seen at the new restaurant. b) a group of friends from a particular place who share an interest in rap, hip-hop, or house music \> 1640s (in Anglo-Latin from early 14c.), shortening of *posse comitatus* "the force of the county" (1620s, in Anglo-Latin from late 13c.), from Medieval Latin posse "body of men; power," from Latin posse "have power, be able" (see **potent**) + comitatus "of the county," genitive of Late Latin word for "court palace" (see **comitatus**). General sense of "an armed force" is from 1640s; the modern slang meaning "small gang" probably is from Western movies. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Britannica, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 123

cluck

Answer 123

cluck /klʌk/ verb **1** : to make a cluck; When a hen **clucks**, it makes short, low noises. ...Chickens **clucked** in the garden. **2** : to make a clicking sound with the tongue ...The driver **clucked** at the horses to get them moving. ...Jessica **clucked** her tongue in sympathy when she saw his bruised arm. **2a** to make a short, low sound with one's tongue to express concern or disapproval; To **cluck at** someone or something means to make disapproving noises or say things in a disapproving way. ...Superintendent Fairbairn was still **clucking at** the photographers, warning them he'd be speaking to their editor. ...He **clucks** in disapproval. ...He **clucks** his tongue, exasperated. **3** INFORMAL : to express interest or concern; to talk about something in an excited and often disapproving way; to express fussy concern about; to express an unnecessary amount of sympathy, worry, or approval towards someone cluck over/around etc ...Commentators have been **clucking over** his lack of experience. ...The attendants **clucked** and fussed **over** passengers. noun **1** : the characteristic sound made by a hen especially in calling her chicks **2** : a stupid or naive person ...a **dumb cluck** \> **cluck (v.)**: "to utter the call or cry of a hen," Old English cloccian originally echoic. Compare Turkish culuk, one of the words for "turkey;" Greek klozein, Latin glocire, German glucken. Related: Clucked; clucking. \> **cluck (n.)**: 1703, "sound made by a hen," from **cluck** (v.). Slang meaning "stupid person" (chickens and turkeys are famously foolish) is from 1927. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Dictionary of English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Britannica, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 124

squelch

Answer 124

squelch /skweltʃ/ verb **1** to make a sucking sound by walking or moving in something soft and wet; To **squelch** means to make a wet, sucking sound, like the sound you make when you are walking on wet, muddy ground. ...My hair was dripping and my shoes **squelched** as I walked. ...His sodden trousers were clinging to his shins and his shoes **squelched**. squelch through/along/up ...We **squelched across** the field. ...Ankle deep in mud, we **squelched across** the meadow. **2** INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN to completely suppress : QUELL; If you **squelch** something that is causing you trouble, for example rumors or opposition, you firmly put a stop to it. ...The President wants to **squelch** any opposition. ...His irritated glare **squelched** any other potential objectors. ...Barrett **squelched** rumors that the bank will change its name. ...He was also accused of trying to **squelch** a Justice Department investigation and influence an extradition case on behalf of China under the Trump administration. —Bill Donahue, *Billboard*, 25 Jan. 2024 ...Fed officials have tried to **squelch** speculation that the central bank will cut rates as soon as March. —Joe Wallace, *WSJ*, 20 Dec. 2023 ...State prosecutors **squelched** the defense through witness statements and recorded jail calls. —Julia Coin, *Charlotte Observer*, 8 Feb. 2024 —squelch noun \> early 17th century (originally denoting a heavy crushing fall on to something soft): imitative. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 125

aberrant

Answer 125

a‧ber‧rant /ˈæbərənt, əˈberənt/ not usual or normal; different from what is typical or usual, especially in an unacceptable way; For conduct that departs from the norm, **aberrant** is at hand to describe it if you want to set a formal, or even scientific tone to the discussion: DEVIANT /ˈdiːviənt/, deviating, divergent, abnormal, atypical, anomalous, digressive, irregular; nonconformist, rogue, transgressing; strange, odd, peculiar, uncommon, freakish, eccentric, quirky, exceptional, singular; twisted, warped, perverted ...Ian's rages and **aberrant** behavior worsened. ...a year of **aberrant** weather—record rainfall in the summer, record heat in the autumn \> "wandering from the usual course," 1798, originally in natural history, "differing somewhat from a group in which it is placed," from Latin aberrantem (nominative aberrans), present participle of aberrare "to wander away, go astray," literally and figuratively, from ab "off, away from" (see **ab-**) + errare "to wander, stray, roam, rove" (see **err**). Related: Aberrance; aberrancy (1660s). The verb aberrate is rare. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 126

bode

Answer 126

bode /bəʊd $ boʊd/ **1** the past tense of bide **2** → bode well/ill (for sb/sth) to indicate (something, such as a future event) by signs; If something **bodes** ill, it makes you think that something bad will happen in the future. If something **bodes** well, it makes you think that something good will happen. ...The opinion polls do not **bode well for** the Democrats. ...She says the way the bill was passed **bodes ill for** democracy. ...Her natural gift for reading **boded well for** her future in school. ...That kind of audience response plus the strong opening should **bode well for** the film’s run. —Jake Coyle, *Quartz*, 18 Feb. 2024 ...His strong all-court game and intense competitive style **bode well for** his Slam chances, whether in Australia or the rest of the year: Rune, in essence, is ready. —Nick Remsen, *Vogue*, 12 Jan. 2024 \> Old English bodian ‘proclaim, foretell’, from boda ‘messenger’, of Germanic origin; related to German **Bote**, also to **bid¹**. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 127

nebulous

Answer 127

neb‧u‧lous /ˈnebjələs/ **1** : of, relating to, or resembling a nebula(= any of numerous clouds of gas or dust in interstellar space) : NEBULAR **2** If you describe something as **nebulous**, you mean that it is vague and not clearly defined or not easy to describe : INDISTINCT, VAGUE ...These philosophical concepts can be **nebulous**. ...‘Normality’ is a rather **nebulous** concept. ...She has a few **nebulous** ideas about what she might want to do in the future, but nothing definite. ...But the timetable for the completion of the ambitious IDF offensive remains **nebulous**, as do the contours of a feasible endgame for Gaza. —Shalom Lipner, *Foreign Affairs*, 29 Dec. 2023 ...This will not only distort the 2024 presidential election but will also mire courts henceforth in political controversies over **nebulous** accusations of insurrection. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, *arkansasonline.com*, 28 Dec. 2023 ...a **nebulous** ghostly figure \> late Middle English (in the sense 'cloudy'): from French nébuleux or Latin nebulosus, from nebula 'mist'. nebulous (sense 2 of the adjective) dates from the early 19th century. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 128

sedition

Answer 128

se‧di‧tion /sɪˈdɪʃən/ /suh·**di**·shn/ : incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority; **Sedition** is speech, writing, or behavior intended to encourage people to fight against or oppose the government: INCITEMENT (TO RIOT/REBELLION), agitation, rabble-rousing, fomentation (of discontent), troublemaking, provocation, inflaming; REBELLION, revolt, insurrection, rioting, mutiny, insurgence, insurgency, subversion, civil disorder, insubordination, disobedience, resistance, defiance ...The leaders of the group have been arrested and charged with **sedition**. ...He is formally accused of **sedition**, collusion with foreign forces and conspiracy to produce and distribute seditious material. —The Editorial Board, *WSJ*, 15 Dec. 2023 ...Under the new national security law imposed on Hong Kong, Lai is awaiting trial for alleged **sedition** and other offenses related to his pro-democracy campaigning and publishing. —Janis MacKey Frayer, *NBC News*, 26 Sep. 2023 —seditious adjective ...a **seditious** speech \> mid-14c., sedicioun, "rebellion, uprising, revolt, factitious commotion in the state; concerted attempt to overthrow civil authority; violent strife between factions, civil or religious disorder, riot; rebelliousness against authority," from Old French sedicion (14c., Modern French sédition) and directly from Latin seditionem (nominative seditio) "civil disorder, dissension, strife; rebellion, mutiny," literally "a going apart, separation." This is from sed- "without, apart, aside" (see **se-**) + itio "a going," from ire "to go" (from PIE root **ei-** "to go"). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 129

hurtle

Answer 129

hur‧tle /ˈhɜːtl $ ˈhɜːr-/ /**hur**·tl/ *intransitive verb* : to move rapidly or forcefully; to move very fast, especially in a way that seems dangerous; If someone or something **hurtles** somewhere, they move there very quickly, often in a rough or violent way: RUSH, charge, race, shoot ...The truck came **hurtling** towards us. ...Boulders **hurtled** down the hill. ...All of a sudden, a car came **hurtling** round the corner. ...We kept to the side of the road as cars and trucks **hurtled** past us. ...Just consider that alongside the thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit, there are more than a million pieces of debris **hurtling** around at 17,500 miles an hour. —Khari Johnson, *WIRED*, 24 Jan. 2024 ...The explosion sent pieces of metal and glass **hurtling** through the air. *transitive verb* : HURL, FLING ...He **hurtled** himself into the crowd. ...After all, the most aggressive monetary policy campaign seen in decades was sure to **hurtle** the economy into a recession. —Alicia Wallace, *CNN*, 1 Feb. 2024 \> Middle English (in the sense ‘strike against, collide with’): frequentative of hurt. Intransitive meaning "to rush, dash, charge" is late 14c. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 130

preside

Answer 130

pre‧side /prɪˈzaɪd/ /pruh·**zide**/ Whether your title is President or not, when you preside, you're acting as a president or another kind of leader. A judge presides over a courtroom. The owner of a business presides over staff meetings. If you work in an office, your boss presides over the office. Presiding can mean ruling or just supervising something. If you preside over something, you're in charge of it. to be in charge of or to control a meeting or event; If you **preside over** a meeting or an event, you are in charge: OFFICIATE, CHAIR, moderate, be chairperson ...Who would be the best person to **preside over** the public enquiry? ...The vice president will **preside at** today’s meeting. ...The PM **presided over** a meeting of his inner Cabinet. ...The Chairman shall **preside at** meetings of the stockholders. ...He **presided at** the trial of the Maguire Seven. ...The **presiding** officer ruled that the motion was out of order. ...Court is now in session, Justice Raul Fernandez **presiding**. ...Judge Langdale is to **preside over** the official enquiry into the case. \> "be set over others, have place of authority, direct and control," 1610s, from French présider "preside over, govern" (15c.), from Latin praesidere "stand guard; superintend," literally "sit in front of," from prae "before" (see **pre-**) + sedere "to sit," from PIE root **sed-** (1) "to sit." Usually denoting temporary superintendence or direction. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 131

capisce

Answer 131

ca·​pisce /kuh·**peesh**/ *or* capiche *or* *less commonly* capeesh *or* capish INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN do you understand? —used to ask if a message, warning, etc., has been understood ..."Upstairs is off limits. **Capeesh**?" ...you must use this knowledge for good, not evil, and never for personal gain. **Capisce**? [=do you understand?] —Dutch Mandel ...If you didn't want the picture to be seen on the Web, you shouldn't have put it on a Web server, **capisce**? —Angela Gunn \> variant spelling of **capiche** (q.v.). \> **capiche (interj.)**: "do you understand?" 1940s slang, from Italian capisci? "do you understand?" from capire "to understand," from Latin capere "seize, grasp, take" (from PIE root *kap- "to grasp"). Also spelled coppish, kabish, capeesh, etc. \> Oxford Dictionary of English, Merriam-Webster

Question 132

off-putting

Answer 132

off-putting

Question 133

detriment

Answer 133

det‧ri‧ment /ˈdetrəmənt/ *Detriment* is the hurt or harm as a result of damage, loss, or a bad decision. The developers won the lawsuit, much to the *detriment* of the people who live near the construction site. **1** harm or damage: HARM, damage, injury, hurt, impairment, loss; *British* disbenefit ...Are you sure that I can follow this diet **without detriment to** my health? ...She was able to work long hours **without detriment to** her health. (=without harming her health) to the detriment of sth (=resulting in harm or damage to something) ...He worked very long hours, **to the detriment of** his marriage. ...She was very involved with sports at college, **to the detriment of** (= harming) her studies. ...He puts all his time into his career, **to the detriment of** (=in a way that is harmful to) his personal life. ...The idea is to make as much money as possible from news departments, sometimes **to the detriment of** truth and journalism. ...relying on bad advice, much **to your detriment** (=in a way that is harmful to you) ...Scientists have long known that artificial light affects wildlife—often to the animals’ **detriment**. —Sarah Kuta, *Smithsonian Magazine*, 31 Jan. 2024 **1a** a cause of harm or damage: ...Opponents of casino gambling claim that it is **a detriment to** society at large. ...He saw the new regulations as **a detriment to** progress. \> early 15c., "incapacity;" mid-15c., "any harm or injury," from Old French détriment or directly from Latin detrimentum "a rubbing off; a loss, damage, defeat," from past-participle stem of detere "to wear away," figuratively "to weaken, impair," from de "away" (see **de-**) + terere "to rub, wear" (from PIE root **tere-** (1) "to rub, turn"). Meaning "that which causes harm or injury" is from c. 1500. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Dictionary of English, Cambridge Dictionary, Britannica, Vocabulary.com, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 134

folly

Answer 134

fol‧ly /ˈfɒli $ ˈfɑːli/ **1** FORMAL a very stupid thing to do, especially one that is likely to have serious results; If you say that a particular action or way of behaving is **folly** or a **folly**, you mean that it is foolish: FOOLISHNESS, foolhardiness, stupidity, idiocy, imbecility, silliness, inanity, lunacy, madness, rashness, recklessness, imprudence, injudiciousness; *informal* craziness; *British informal* daftness ...Somerville bitterly regretted his **folly** at becoming involved. ...his **folly** in thinking that he would not be noticed it would be folly to do something ...**It would be folly to** attempt a trip in this snowstorm. ...**It would be sheer folly to** reduce spending on health education. ...**It's sheer folly to** build nuclear power stations in a country that has dozens of earthquakes every year. **2** A **folly** is a small tower or other unusual building that is built as a decoration in a large garden or park, especially in Britain in former times. \> early 13c., "mental weakness; foolish behavior or character; unwise conduct" (in Middle English including wickedness, lewdness, madness), from Old French folie "folly, madness, stupidity" (12c.), from fol (see **fool** (n.)). From c. 1300 as "an example of foolishness;" sense of "costly structure considered to have shown folly in the builder" is attested from 1650s. But used much earlier, since Middle English, in place names, especially country estates, probably as a form of Old French folie in its meaning "delight." Related: **Follies**. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 135

insatiable

Answer 135

insatiable

Question 136

crutch

Answer 136

**1a** : a support typically fitting under the armpit for use by the disabled in walking on crutches (=using crutches) ...I was **on crutches** for three months after the operation. **1b** : a source or means of support or assistance that is relied on heavily or excessively ...As things got worse at work, he began to use alcohol as a **crutch**. ...She eventually realized that alcohol had become a **crutch** (=that she was drinking too much alcohol as a way of dealing with her problems). ...They refuse to take any pills. They don't want to use drugs as a **crutch**. —Maya Pines ...As an atheist, he believes that religion is just an emotional **crutch**. ...Don't use an online translator as a **crutch** for your own laziness. ...Reading myself to sleep became a **crutch** that I depended on. **2** BRITISH Your **crutch** is the same as your crotch. \> Middle English crucche, "a support for the lame in walking consisting of a staff of proper length with a crosspiece at one end shaped to fit conveniently under the armpit," from Old English crycce "crutch, staff," from Proto-Germanic *krukjo (source also of Old Saxon krukka, Middle Dutch crucke, Old High German krucka, German Kröcke "crutch," related to Old Norse krokr "hook;" see **crook** (n.)). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Britannica, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 137

posterity

Answer 137

posterity all future generations of people. \> "a person's offspring, descendants collectively," late 14c., posterite, from Old French posterité (14c.), from Latin posteritatem (nominative posteritas) "future, future time; after-generation, offspring;" literally "the condition of coming after," from posterus "coming after, subsequent," from post "after" (see post-). Old English words for this included æftercneoreso, framcynn. \> Oxford Dictionary of English, Etymonline

Question 138

provisional

Answer 138

pro‧vi‧sion‧al /prəˈvɪʒənəl/ /pruh·**vi**·zhuh·nuhl/ Something *provisional* is temporary, in the sense that it's only valid for a while. You'll often hear *provisional* used to describe things such as governments, elections, contracts, and agreements, all of which can change into something permanent. serving for the time being : TEMPORARY; You use **provisional** to describe something that has been arranged or appointed for the present, but may be changed in the future: INTERIM /ˈɪntərɪm/, TEMPORARY, pro tem; transitional, changeover, stopgap, short-term, fill-in, make-do, acting, caretaker, TBC (to be confirmed), subject to confirmation; penciled in, working, conditional, qualified, tentative, contingent, makeshift, improvised, preliminary; *Latin* pro tempore ...The government has given **provisional** approval for the use of the new drug. ...will form a **provisional** government until a new leader can be elected ...If you have never held a driving license before, you should apply for a **provisional** license. ...Rather, the **provisional** measures aim to prevent the situation from getting worse while the case proceeds. —Steve Hendrix, *Washington Post*, 26 Jan. 2024 —provisionally adverb : SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION, in an acting capacity, as a fill-in, short-term, pro tem, temporarily, for the interim, for the present, for the time being, for now, for the nonce; conditionally, tentatively; *Latin* ad interim, pro tempore ...The meeting has been **provisionally** arranged for the end of May. ...The seven republics had **provisionally** agreed to the new relationship on November 14th. \> **provision (n.)**: late 14c., provisioun, "foresight, prudence, care;" also "a providing beforehand, action of arranging in advance" (at first often in reference to ecclesiastical appointments made before the position was vacant), from Old French provision "precaution, care" (early 14c.), from Latin provisionem (nominative provisio) "a foreseeing, foresight, preparation, prevention," noun of action from past-participle stem of providere "look ahead" (see **provide**). The meaning "something provided, supply of necessary things" is attested from mid-15c.; specific sense of "supply of food" (provisions) is by c. 1600. In law, "a stipulation, a distinct clause in a statute, etc.; a rule or principle," late 15c. A **provision-car** (by 1864) was a railroad car with refrigeration for preserving perishable products during transportation. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 139

titular

Answer 139

tit‧u‧lar /ˈtɪtʃələ $ -ər/ /**ti**·chuh·lr/ **1** A **titular** job or position has a name that makes it seem important, although the person who has it is not really important or powerful: IN NAME ONLY, so-called, token, theoretical ...He is **titular** head, and merely signs laws occasionally. ...He's the **titular** head of the department, though it's the assistant managers who largely run things around here. ...Although retired, he remains the **titular** chairman of the company. **2** : of, relating to, or constituting a title ...the **titular** hero of the play ...Dakota Johnson may play the **titular** heroine in Madame Web, but the film also introduces a whole squad of new superheroes. —Devan Coggan, *EW.com*, 14 Feb. 2024 \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster

Question 140

all but

Answer 140

all but **1** almost completely; very nearly : ALMOST ...Britain's coal industry has **all but** disappeared. ...We had **all but** given up hope. ...His left arm was **all but** useless. ...His addiction to gambling **all but** ruined him. ...Without you the job would have been **all but** impossible. **2** all except; **All but** a particular person or thing means everyone or everything except that person or thing. ...The general was an unattractive man to **all but** his most ardent admirers. ...The plant will stand **all but** the worst winters out of doors. cf. anything but: not at all (used for emphasis). ...This problem is **anything but** new. \> Oxford Dictionary of English, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster

Question 141

extemporaneous

Answer 141

ex‧tem‧po‧ra‧ne‧ous /ɪkˌstempəˈreɪniəs◂/ /uhk·stem·pr·**ay**·nee·uhs/ **1a** spoken or done without any preparation or practice: EXTEMPORE /ɪkˈstempəri/, extemporary, impromptu, spontaneous, unscripted, ad lib, on-the-spot; improvised, improvisatory, unrehearsed, unplanned, unprepared, unarranged, unpremeditated; makeshift, thrown together, cobbled together; informal off-the-cuff, spur-of-the-moment, off the top of one's head ...Caught by surprise, I had to make an **extemporaneous** speech at the awards banquet /ˈbæŋkwɪt/. **1b** carefully prepared but delivered without notes or text ...**extemporaneous** lectures \> "made, done, procured, or furnished 'at the time,'" hence "unpremeditated," 1650s, from Medieval Latin extemporaneus, from Latin ex tempore (see **extempore**). Earlier was extemporal (1560s); extemporanean (1620s). Related: Extemporaneously; extemporaneousness. \> **extempore (adv.)**: 1550s, from Latin phrase ex tempore "offhand, in accordance with (the needs of) the moment," literally "out of time," from ex "out of" (see **ex-**) + tempore, ablative of tempus (genitive temporis) "time" (see **temporal** (adj.1)). Of speaking, strictly "without preparation, without time to prepare," but now often with a sense merely of "without notes or a teleprompter." As an adjective and noun from 1630s. ~ Etymonline \> *Extemporaneous* comes from the Latin phrase *ex tempore*, literally meaning "out of time." The words in this family (*extemporary, extemporaneously, extemporize*, etc.) almost always refer to speaking or composing something on the spot — without time or enough preparation. ~ Vocabulary.com \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Dictionary.com, Vocabulary.com, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 142

lubricate

Answer 142

lu‧bri‧cate /ˈluːbrɪkeɪt/ **1** to put a lubricant on something in order to make it move more smoothly; If you **lubricate** something such as a part of a machine, you put a substance such as oil on it so that it moves smoothly: OIL, GREASE, make slippery, make smooth, smear with oil, cover with oil, rub with oil, moisturize, wax, polish ...**Lubricate** all moving parts with grease. **2** INFORMAL to help things to happen without any problems; If you say that something **lubricates** a particular situation, you mean that it helps things to happen without any problems: FACILITATE, ease, ready, make smooth, smooth the way for, oil the wheels for, pave the way for ...Firms would invite clients in the hope that the goodwill created would **lubricate** some future deal. ...Money can **lubricate** a deal by making minor concessions easier to accept. ...It is perfectly legal for them to **lubricate** lobbying with big campaign donations. \> early 17th century: from Latin lubricat- ‘made slippery’, from the verb lubricare, from lubricus ‘slippery’. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 143

tongue in cheek

Answer 143

**ˌtongue-in-ˈcheek** *adjective* : cleverly amusing in tone; characterized by insincerity, irony, or whimsical exaggeration; A **tongue-in-cheek** remark or attitude is not serious, although it may seem to be. ...The movie is half serious and half **tongue-in-cheek**. ...I love that kind of **tongue-in-cheek** wit. ...Offscreen, the actor has proven to be a man of many talents, penning a series of comedic books with **tongue-in-cheek** titles like A Goomba's Guide to Life. —Chris Snellgrove, *EW.com*, 11 Feb. 2024 **tongue in cheek** *adverb* : in a way that is not serious and that is meant to be funny; with insincerity, irony, or whimsical exaggeration ...The whole interview was done **tongue in cheek**. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Britannica, Merriam-Webster

Question 144

incidental

Answer 144

/ˌɪnsəˈdentl◂/ 1 less important than the thing something is connected with or part of: LESS IMPORTANT, of less importance, secondary; MINOR → incidental to ...companies that carry out investment business that is **incidental to** their main activity 2 [not before noun] naturally happening as a result of something: CONNECTED WITH, related to, associated with, accompanying → incidental to ...Drinking too much is almost **incidental to** bartending. \> Recorded since 1412, from Middle French incident, from Latin incidens, the present active participle of incidō (“to happen, befall”), itself from in- (“on”) + -cidō, the combining form of cadere (“to fall”); ‘falling upon, happening to’ (from the verb incidere) + -al. \> Oxford Dictionary of English, Cambridge Dictionary, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Wiktionary, Etymonline

Question 145

devout

Answer 145

de‧vout /dɪˈvaʊt/ **1** having or showing deep religious feeling or commitment: PIOUS, religious, devoted, dedicated, reverent, God-fearing, believing, spiritual, prayerful, holy, godly, saintly, faithful, dutiful, righteous, churchgoing, orthodox ...a **devout** Catholic ...Rachel's parents are **devout** Mormons. **2a** : loyal to something : devoted to a particular belief, organization, person, etc.: DEDICATED, devoted, committed, loyal, faithful, staunch, genuine, firm, steadfast, resolute, unwavering, sincere, wholehearted, keen, earnest, enthusiastic, zealous, passionate, ardent, fervent, intense, vehement, active, sworn, pledged; *informal* card-carrying, red-hot, true blue, mad keen, deep-dyed ...a **devout** soccer fan ...**devout** Marxists ...His parents are **devout**(=staunch) believers in the value of a good education. **2b** : serious and sincere ...It is his **devout** wish to help people in need. ...It is my **devout** hope that we can work together in peace. \> c. 1200, of persons, "yielding reverential devotion to God," especially in prayer, "pious, religious," from Old French devot "pious, devoted, assiduous" (Modern French dévot) and directly from Latin devotus "given up by vow, devoted" (source also of Spanish and Portuguese devoto), past participle of devovere "dedicate by vow" (see **devotion**). Of actions, "expressing devotion or piety," late 14c. Meaning "sincere, solemn" is from mid-15c. Related: Devoutly; devoutness. \> **devotion (n.)**: c. 1200, devocioun, "profound religious emotion, awe, reverence," from Old French devocion "devotion, piety" and directly from Latin devotionem (nominative devotio), noun of action from past-participle stem of devovere "dedicate by a vow, sacrifice oneself, promise solemnly," from de "down, away" (see **de-**) + vovere "to vow" (see **vow** (n.)). From late 14c. as "an act of religious worship, a religious exercise" (now usually devotions). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Britannica, Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 146

hoot

Answer 146

hoot verb **1** If you hoot the **horn** on a vehicle or if it **hoots**, it makes a loud noise on one note. ...Somewhere in the distance a siren **hooted**. ...It felt good to drive down the middle of the road, **hooting** at every junction. **2** If you **hoot**, you make a loud high-pitched noise when you are laughing or showing disapproval. ...The protesters chanted, blew whistles and **hooted** at the name of Governor Pete Wilson. ...Bev **hooted** with laughter. **3** When an owl **hoots**, it makes a sound like a long 'oo'. noun **1** See **hoot** (v.1) **2** See **hoot** (v.2) ...**Hoots** of laughter rose from the audience. **3** INFORMAL If you say that someone or something is a **hoot**, you think they are very amusing. ...Michael is a **hoot**, a real character. ...Your mom's a real **hoot**—I always have a giggle with her. \> Middle English (in the sense ‘make sounds of derision’): perhaps imitative. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus

Question 147

imbibe

Answer 147

im‧bibe /ɪmˈbaɪb/ FORMAL **1** to drink something, especially alcohol – sometimes used humorously ...Both men **imbibed** considerable quantities of gin. ...They were **imbibing** far too many pitchers of beer. ...She **imbibed** vast quantities of coffee. ...And for underage children and adults who don’t **imbibe**, a pineapple-lime soda hits the spot. —Ali Francis, *Bon Appétit*, 13 Jan. 2024 **1b** : to take in or up ...a sponge **imbibes** moisture **2** to accept and be influenced by qualities, ideas, values etc: ASSIMILATE, absorb, soak up, take in, digest, ingest, drink in, learn, acquire, grasp, gain, pick up, familiarize oneself with ...She had **imbibed** the traditions of her family. ...She had **imbibed** the gospel of modernism from Kandinsky. \> late 14c., from Old French imbiber, embiber "to soak into," and directly from Latin imbibere "absorb, drink in, inhale," from assimilated form of in- "into, in, on, upon" (from PIE root **en** "in") + bibere "to drink," related to potare "to drink," from PIE root **po(i)-** "to drink." Figurative sense of "mentally drink in" (knowledge, ideas, etc.) was the main one in classical Latin, first attested in English 1550s. Related: Imbibed; imbibing. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 148

impound

Answer 148

impound \> early 15c., "to shut up in a pen or pound," from assimilated form of in- "into, in" (from PIE root *en "in") + **pound** (n.). Originally of cattle seized by law. Related: Impounded; impounding. \> **pound (n.)**: **1** (길 잃은 양·소 등을 수용해 놓는) 공설 울타리; 우리 **2** (물고기 잡는) 둘러치는 어망 **3** 유치장, 구치소 **4** 갑문 구간 \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, New Ace English-Korean Dictionary, Etymonline

Question 149

epoch

Answer 149

e‧poch /ˈiːpɒk $ ˈepək/ **1a** : an event or a time marked by an event that begins a new period or development **1b** : a memorable event or date **2a** : an extended period of time usually characterized by a distinctive development or by a memorable series of events **2b** TECHNICAL An **epoch** is a very long period of time in the earth's development, marked by particular physical or biological characteristics. ...Two main glacial **epochs** affected both areas during the last 100 million years of Precambrian times. More Examples: - The development of the steam engine marked an important **epoch** in the history of industry. - The treaty ushered in an **epoch** of peace and good will. - The president said that his country was moving into a new **epoch**, which would be one of lasting peace. - By facilitating unfettered access to financial services and reducing the dependency on intermediaries, Ethereum is driving the momentum toward a new **epoch** of financial freedom. — Jon Stojan, *USA TODAY*, 28 Jan. 2024 - The splitting of the atom marked an **epoch** in scientific discovery. - The Russian Revolution marked the beginning of a new **epoch** in history. \> 1610s, epocha, "point marking the start of a new period in time" (such as the founding of Rome, the birth of Christ, the Hegira), from Medieval Latin epocha, from Greek epokhe "stoppage, fixed point of time," from epekhein "to pause, take up a position," from epi "on" (see **epi-**) + ekhein "to hold" (from PIE root **segh-** "to hold"). Transferred sense of "a period of time" is 1620s; geological usage (not a precise measurement) is from 1802. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Dictionary.com, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 150

limber

Answer 150

lim‧ber /ˈlɪmbə $ -ər/ adjective **1** : having a supple and resilient quality (as of mind or body) : AGILE, NIMBLE ...For those who like to keep their brains **limber** by reading about the latest developments in quantum physics, here’s a mind-bending achievement: a group of researchers in China conducted an experiment to demonstrate something called quantum pseudotelepathy. —Amanda Montañez, *Scientific American*, 14 Dec. 2022 **2** : capable of being shaped : FLEXIBLE ...**limber** graphite fishing rods verb to become limber or to cause to become limber → limber up to prepare for physical activity by doing exercises so that one's body can move and bend more easily; If you **limber up**, you prepare for an energetic physical activity such as a sport by moving and stretching your body: WARM UP, loosen up, get into condition, get into shape, get ready, prepare, practice, train, drill; stretch, exercise, work out ...Next door, 200 girls are **limbering up** for their ballet exams. ...She **limbered up** for a few minutes before starting to run. ...She **limbered up** for the election by learning the relevant statistics. ...Already, Mideast heavyweights Iran and Saudi Arabia are **limbering up** for a new round of their strategic tug of war. —Ned Temko, *The Christian Science Monitor*, 11 Oct. 2023 \> **limber (adj.)**: "pliant, flexible," 1560s, of uncertain origin, possibly from limb (n.1) on notion of supple boughs of a tree [Barnhart], or from limp (adj.) "flaccid" [Skeat] \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 151

oxymoron

Answer 151

ox‧y‧mo‧ron /ˌɒksiˈmɔːrɒn $ ˌɑːksiˈmɔːrɑːn/ : a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (such as *cruel kindness*); If you describe a phrase as an **oxymoron**, you mean that what it refers to combines two opposite qualities or ideas and therefore seems impossible. ...This has made many Americans conclude that business ethics is an **oxymoron**. ...Each pound of jumbo shrimp (one of my favorite **oxymorons**) serves about 3 people at 7 shrimp each. —Caron Golden, *San Diego Union-Tribune*, 5 July 2023 ...Most would agree that healthy Cheetos is an **oxymoron**. —Nicole Kagan, *BostonGlobe.com*, 8 Aug. 2023 **What is the difference between** ***oxymoron*** **and** ***paradox*****?** An oxymoron is a self-contradicting word or group of words (as in Shakespeare’s line from *Romeo and Juliet*, "Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!"). A paradox is a statement or argument that seems to be contradictory or to go against common sense, but that is yet perhaps still true—for example, "less is more." \> in rhetoric, "a figure conjoining words or terms apparently contradictory so as to give point to the statement or expression," 1650s, from Greek oxymōron, noun use of neuter of oxymōros (adj.) "pointedly foolish," from oxys "sharp, pointed" (from PIE root **ak-** "be sharp, rise (out) to a point, pierce") + mōros "stupid" (see **moron**). The word itself is an illustration of the thing. Now often used loosely to mean "contradiction in terms." Related: Oxymoronic. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 152

en masse

Answer 152

en masse /ˌɒn ˈmæs $ ˌɑːn-/ all together and at the same time, in large numbers; If a group of people do something **en masse**, they do it all together and at the same time: ALL TOGETHER, as a group, in a body, as one, as a whole, in a mass, wholesale; simultaneously, all at once, at the same time, at one and the same time, at the same instant, at the same moment, contemporaneously; in unison, in concert, in chorus; *French* en bloc, ensemble ...moved the inmates **en masse** to the new prison ...The people marched **en masse**. ...The shop's 85 workers have resigned **en masse**. ...Her supporters arrived **en masse** for the rally. ...By early summer, hiking is less enjoyable because the mosquitoes are out **en masse**. ...He ripped up the papers **en masse** without looking at any of them. ...Pride flags have been banned, and the school library's shelves are largely empty as books go under review **en masse** over concerns about their coverage of topics such as LGBTQ+ issues. —*USA TODAY*, 22 Feb. 2024 \> late 18th century: French, ‘in mass’. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus

Question 153

atrocity

Answer 153

a‧troc‧i‧ty /əˈtrɒsəti $ əˈtrɑː-/ **1** an extremely cruel, violent, or shocking act; An **atrocity** is a very cruel, shocking action. ...They are on trial for **committing atrocities against** the civilian population. ...**Atrocities** were committed by forces on both sides of the conflict. **2** the quality or state of being atrocious; enormous wickedness; extreme criminality or cruelty ...These people are guilty of acts of appalling **atrocity** (= cruelty). ...Who could be capable of such **atrocity**? **3** INFORMAL a highly unpleasant or distasteful object ...The house was a split-level **atrocity**. \> 1530s, "enormous wickedness," from French atrocité or directly from Latin atrocitatem (nominative atrocitas) "cruelty, fierceness, harshness," noun of quality from atrox "fierce, cruel, frightful," from PIE *atro-ek-, from root **ater-** "fire" + root **okw-** "to see;" thus "of fiery or threatening appearance." The meaning "atrocious deed" is from 1793. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English, Wiktionary, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 154

alas

Answer 154

a‧las /əˈlæs/ FORMAL an expression of sadness or disappointment, especially when there is no hope that a situation will change; You use **alas** to say that you think that the facts you are talking about are sad or unfortunate: SADLY, unfortunately, inopportunely ..."**Alas**!" cried the man. ...I love football but, **alas**, I have no talent as a player. ..."Will you be able to come tomorrow?" "**Alas**, no." ...Such scandals have not, **alas**, been absent. \> mid-13c., from Old French ha, las (later French hélas), from ha "ah" + las "unfortunate," originally "tired, weary," from Latin lassus "weary" (from PIE root **‌lē-** "to let go, slacken"). At first an expression of weariness rather than woe. \> **lē-**: Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to let go, slacken." It forms all or part of: alas; allegiance; lassitude; last (adj.) "following all others;" late; latter; lenient; lenitive; lenity; **let** (v.) "allow;" **let** (n.) "stoppage, obstruction;" **liege**. It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Greek ledein "to be weary;" Latin lenis "mild, gentle, calm," lassus "faint, weary;" Lithuanian lėnas "quiet, tranquil, tame, slow," leisti "to let, to let loose;" Old Church Slavonic lena "lazy," Old English læt "sluggish, slow," lætan "to leave behind." \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 155

seldom

Answer 155

seldom

Question 156

ponderous

Answer 156

pon‧der‧ous /ˈpɒndərəs $ ˈpɑːn-/ **1** : of very great weight **2** : unwieldy or clumsy because of weight and size; A movement or action that is **ponderous** is very slow or clumsy: CLUMSY, SLOW, heavy, awkward, lumbering, slow-moving, cumbersome, heavy-footed; *informal* clodhopping, clunky ...His steps were heavy and **ponderous**. **3** : oppressively or unpleasantly dull : LIFELESS; **Ponderous** writing or speech is very serious, uses more words than necessary, and is rather dull: LABORED, laborious, dull, awkward, clumsy, forced, stilted, unnatural, artificial, turgid, stodgy, stolid, lifeless, plodding, pedestrian, boring, uninteresting, solemn, serious, tedious, monotonous, dry, dreary, pedantic; ornate, elaborate, overelaborate, intricate, convoluted, verbose, long-winded, windy, prolix ...**ponderous** prose ...students struggling to stay awake during a **ponderous** lecture ...fell asleep during the **ponderous** speech ...The **ponderous** reporting style makes the evening news dull viewing. \> c. 1400, "thick;" early 15c., "heavy, weighty, clumsy by reason of weight," from Latin ponderosus "of great weight; full of meaning," from pondus (genitive ponderis) "weight," from stem of pendere "to hang, cause to hang; weigh" (from PIE root **(s)pen-** "to draw, stretch, spin"). From late 15c. as "important." Meaning "tedious" is first recorded 1704. Related: Ponderously; ponderousness; ponderosity (1580s in the figurative sense). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 157

marginalize

Answer 157

mar‧gin‧al‧ize /ˈmɑːdʒənəlaɪz $ ˈmɑːr-/ verb to treat (a person, group, or concept) as insignificant or peripheral; To **marginalize** a group of people means to make them feel isolated and unimportant. ...Female employees complained of being **marginalized** by management. ...Year after year, the political system further **marginalizes** average citizens while empowering those with money. ...Now that English has taken over as the main language, the country's native language has been **marginalized**. marginalized adjective (of a person, group, or concept) treated as insignificant or peripheral ...members of **marginalized** cultural groups ...The program helps people from **marginalized** groups. ...Belinda Joyner is among a growing number of critics who say the industry puts the environment and **marginalized** communities at risk. —Alfredo Sosa, *The Christian Science Monitor*, 6 Mar. 2024 \> Oxford Dictionary of English, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster

Question 158

short-change

Answer 158

ˌshort-ˈchange **1** to give someone too little change (=money given back to someone when they have paid more than the exact price); If someone **short-changes** you, they do not give you enough change after you have bought something from them. ...I later discovered that the store had **short-changed** me by $10. ...The cashier **shortchanged** me. I gave her 10 dollars to pay for an $8.95 book, and she only gave me a dollar back. ...The cashier made a mistake and **short-changed** him. ...I think I was **shortchanged** in the café, because I've only got £5 in my purse when I should have £10. **2** to treat someone unfairly by cheating them or not giving them what they deserve; If you **are short-changed**, you are treated unfairly or dishonestly, often because you are given less of something than you deserve. ...Many people felt they were being **shortchanged** by the policy. = Many people **felt shortchanged** by the policy. ...When the band only played for 15 minutes, the fans felt they had been **short-changed**. ...The case alleges that the company **shortchanged** female employees on opportunities for promotion. ...Children who leave school unable to read and write are being tragically **shortchanged**. ...The report claimed that girls were being **shortchanged** in public education, particularly in math and science. ...TikTok’s tactics are obvious: use its platform power to hurt vulnerable artists and try to intimidate us into conceding to a bad deal that undervalues music and **shortchanges** artists and songwriters as well as their fans. —Jess Weatherbed, *The Verge*, 31 Jan. 2024 ...Some essential items that often get **shortchanged** when families reduce their income and seek to cut expenses include saving for college and retirement. —Mia Taylor, *Parents*, 20 Jan. 2024 \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Britannica

Question 159

calamity

Answer 159

ca‧lam‧i‧ty /kəˈlæməti/ Use the word *calamity* to describe an event that causes great harm and misery, or a general state of distress or misery: the *calamity* of war. **1** : a disastrous event marked by great loss and lasting distress and suffering; A **calamity** is an event that causes a great deal of damage, destruction, or personal distress: DISASTER, catastrophe, tragedy, cataclysm, devastating blow, crisis, adversity, blight, tribulation, woe, affliction, evil; misfortune, misadventure, accident, stroke of bad luck, reverse of fortune, setback, mischance, mishap; *British informal* car crash ...It will be a **calamity** for farmers if the crops fail again. ...The factory closings were a **calamity** for the whole city. ...Hurricane George was just the latest **calamity** to hit the state. ...Singh told reporters that he had not seen such human suffering in any previous natural **calamity**. ...In Forbes, senior contributor Edward Segal compared Lahaina to California’s 2018 Camp Fire, noting similarities and gleaning insights that may help avoid another **calamity** in the wake of the next fire that threatens a community. —Richard Danforth, *Forbes*, 23 Feb. 2024 ...As tangible evidence of the widening economic **calamities** in San Francisco, while the San Francisco-San Mateo metro region got off to a strong start in job creation over the first six months of 2023, the final half of last year told a more ominous tale. —George Avalos, *The Mercury News*, 5 Mar. 2024 **2** : a state of deep distress or misery caused by major misfortune or loss \> From Middle French calamité, from Latin calamitās (“loss, damage; disaster”). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Wiktionary

Question 160

test the waters

Answer 160

test the waters

Question 161

abode

Answer 161

abode

Question 162

maroon

Answer 162

ma‧roon¹ /məˈruːn/ noun a dark brownish red colour ...**maroon** velvet curtains ma‧roon² verb to leave someone in a place from which they cannot escape; If someone **is marooned** somewhere, they are left in a place that is difficult for them to escape from: STRAND, leave stranded, cast away, cast ashore, abandon, leave behind, leave, leave in the lurch, desert, turn one's back on, leave isolated; *informal* leave high and dry ...a novel about English schoolboys **marooned** on a desert island ...The car broke down and left us **marooned** in the middle of nowhere. ...Five couples **were marooned** in their caravans when the River Avon broke its banks. ...The sailors were **marooned** (=stranded) on the island for six months. ...She was **marooned** (=stuck) at the office without a ride home. \> **maroon (v.)**: "put ashore on a desolate island or coast" by way of punishment, 1724 (implied in *marooning*), earlier "to be lost in the wild" (1690s); from *maroon*, *maron* (n.) "fugitive black slave living in the wilder parts of Dutch Guyana or Jamaica and other West Indies islands" (1660s), earlier *symeron* (1620s), from French *marron, simarron*, said to be a corruption of Spanish *cimmaron* "wild, untamed, unruly, fugitive" (as in Cuban *negro cimarron* "a fugitive black slave"). This is from Old Spanish *cimarra* "thicket," which is probably from *cima* "summit, top" (from Latin *cyma* "sprout"), and the notion is of living wild in the mountains. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Britannica, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 163

extradition

Answer 163

ex‧tra‧dite /ˈekstrədaɪt/ to use a legal process to send someone who may be guilty of a crime back to the country where the crime happened in order to judge them in a court of law extradition /ˌekstrəˈdɪʃən/ the surrender of an alleged criminal usually under the provisions of a treaty or statute by one authority (such as a state) to another having jurisdiction to try the charge; DEPORTATION, handover, repatriation, refoulement, expulsion, banishment ...Both South Korea and the U.S. have requested Kwon’s **extradition** from Montenegro. —Predrag Milic, *Quartz*, 22 Feb. 2024 ...Assange stands at a critical juncture in his fight against **extradition** to the United States. —Susie Violet Ward, *Forbes*, 20 Feb. 2024 ...Following an application for **extradition** from the US, Kenyan authorities began the formal process to send him back to Boston to face murder charges. —Larry Madowo, *CNN*, 14 Feb. 2024 \> **extradition (n.)**: 1833, from French extradition (18c.), apparently a coinage of Voltaire's, from Latin ex "out" (see **ex-**) + traditionem (nominative traditio) "a delivering up, handing over," noun of action from tradere "to hand over" (see **tradition**). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 164

dud

Answer 164

dud /dʌd/ noun **1** a thing that fails to work properly or is otherwise unsatisfactory or worthless: FAILURE, flop, letdown, disappointment; *British* damp squib; *informal* washout, lemon, loser, no-hoper, nonstarter, dead loss, dead duck, lead balloon, fail; *North American informal* clinker ...All three bombs were **duds**. ...Are there any more batteries? This one's a **dud**. ...The seeds must have been **duds** because the plants never grew. ...Their new product turned out to be a complete **dud**. ...Possibly the most visible challenge will be revitalizing the company's film division after successive box office **duds** in 2023. —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, *Fortune*, 9 Feb. 2024 **1a** an ineffectual person ...a complete dud, incapable of even hitting the ball. **2** (**duds**) clothes ...Buy yourself some new **duds**. ...She put on her new **duds** for the party. ...Washington is younger and dressed in his military **duds** but the look is ever-so-wooden, and Rembrandt is not as famous as his father. —Brian T. Allen, *National Review*, 27 Jan. 2024 adjective **1** INFORMAL not working or meeting standards; faulty: DEFECTIVE, faulty, unsound, inoperative, broken, broken-down, not working, not in working order, not functioning, malfunctioning, failed; *informal* bust, busted, kaput, on its last legs, conked out, done for; *British informal* duff, knackered; *British vulgar slang* buggered ...a **dud** ignition switch ...He replaced a **dud** valve. ...Russian cluster munitions reportedly have a **dud** rate of as high as 40%. —Riley Rogerson, *Anchorage Daily News*, 21 July 2023 **2a** counterfeit: COUNTERFEIT, fraudulent, forged, fake, faked, false, bogus, spurious; bad, invalid, worthless; *informal* phoney ...charged with issuing **dud** checks \> **dud (n.)**: 1825, "person in ragged clothing," From Middle English dudde (“cloak, mantle, kind of cloth; ragged clothing or cloth”),[1] from Old English *dudda (attested only as personal name Dudda, part of modern English Dudley), akin to Old Norse dúði (“swaddling clothes”), Low German dudel. Possibly borrowed from the Old Norse word and related to dyja (“to shake, tremble”). Sense extended by 1897 to "counterfeit thing," and 1908 to "useless, inefficient person or thing." This led naturally in World War I to "shell which fails to explode," and thence to "expensive failure." \> Oxford Dictionary of English, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Wiktionary, Etymonline

Question 165

logy

Answer 165

logy /ˈloʊgi/ dull and heavy in motion or thought; sluggish; feeling unwilling or unable to do anything or think clearly, usually because of tiredness ...The beer made them **logy** and disinclined to move. ...The next morning I was feeling **logy**, having stayed up half the night. ...After only a few hours sleep, she woke up **logy** and depressed. ...The scented steam made him **logy** and reminded him that he needed sleep. ...The audience was **logy**, having had to wait an extra half-hour for the start, due to some backstage adjustments in the stage floor. \> also *loggy*, "dull and heavy," 1847, American English, perhaps from Dutch *log* "heavy, dull" + **-y** (2); compare Middle Low German *luggich* "sleepy, sluggish." \> Oxford Dictionary of English, Cambridge Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Merriam-Webster, Etymonline

Question 166

irate

Answer 166

i‧rate /ˌaɪˈreɪt◂/ /ai·**rayt**/ extremely angry, especially because you think you have been treated unfairly; If someone is **irate**, they are very angry about something: ANGRY, very angry, furious, infuriated, incensed, enraged, incandescent, fuming, seething, ireful, cross, mad; raging, ranting, raving, frenzied, in a frenzy, beside oneself, outraged, up in arms; indignant, annoyed, irritated, aggrieved, vexed, exasperated, frustrated, irked, piqued; *informal* foaming at the mouth, hot under the collar, hacked off ...The owner was so **irate** he almost threw me out of the place. ...She then wrote an extremely **irate** letter to the New Statesman about me. ...**Irate** viewers called the television network to complain about the show. ...The big increase in cable rates prompted a flood of **irate** calls and letters. ...The tour did not go as planned, as **irate** Hong Kong fans demanded and received partial refunds after not getting to see Messi play. —Michelle Kaufman, *Miami Herald*, 14 Feb. 2024 ...Monday's defeat prompted some **irate** Ivorian fans to vandalize commuter buses outside the stadium. —CiarÁn Fahey, *USA TODAY*, 24 Jan. 2024 \> 1838, from Latin iratus "angry, enraged, violent, furious," past participle of irasci "grow angry," from ira "anger" (see **ire**). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 167

frag

Answer 167

frag /fræɡ/ US military slang noun **1** a grenade that explodes into very small pieces **2** (video games, slang) a successful kill in a deathmatch game. ...I'd been fighting him for ages, and then you stole my **frag**! verb **1** to intentionally kill or wound (one's superior officer, etc.), esp. with a hand grenade **2** (video games) to kill \> by 1970, U.S. military slang, back-formed verb from slang noun shortening of fragmentation grenade (1918), which was said to have been the weapon of choice over a firearm because the evidence is destroyed in the act. Related: Fragged; fragging. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Wiktionary, Etymonline

Question 168

wilderness

Answer 168

wil‧der‧ness /ˈwɪldənəs $ -dər-/ \> c. 1200, "wild, uninhabited, or uncultivated place," with **-ness** + Old English wild-deor "wild animal, wild deer;" see **wild** (adj.) + **deer** (n.). Similar formation in Dutch wildernis, German Wildernis, though the usual form there is Wildnis. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Etymonline

Question 169

suitor

Answer 169

sui‧tor /ˈsuːtə, ˈsjuː- $ ˈsuːtər/ /**soo**·tr/ **1** : one who courts a woman or seeks to marry her; A person's **suitor** is someone who wants to marry them: ADMIRER, beau, wooer, boyfriend, sweetheart, lover, inamorato, escort ...My mother had a **suitor** who adored her. ...He was her most persistent **suitor**, and she eventually agreed to marry him. ...It's the story of a young woman who can't make up her mind which of her many **suitors** she should marry. **2** : one who seeks to take over a business; A **suitor** is a company or organization that wants to buy another company: BIDDER, customer, candidate, applicant ...The company was making little progress in trying to find a **suitor**. ...Whatever is offered by the bank is unlikely to be improved on by any rival **suitor**. ...PJH Corporation said it had been approached by two possible **suitors** who had submitted bids to buy the company. ...Potential **suitors** for the bank have not yet come up with any firm bids. **3** : one that petitions or entreats **4** : a party to a suit at law \> From Middle English sutour, from Anglo-Norman suytour, seuter, from Late Latin secutor (“follower, pursuer”), from sect- past participle stem of sequi "to follow" (from PIE root *sekw- (1) "to follow"). \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Wiktionary, Etymonline

Question 170

concoct

Answer 170

con‧coct /kənˈkɒkt $ -ˈkɑːkt/ **1** to prepare by combining raw materials: PREPARE, make, put together, assemble; cook; *informal* fix, rustle up; *British informal* knock up ...She began to **concoct** a dinner likely to appeal to him. ...Jean **concocted** a great meal from the leftovers. ...He **concocted** the most amazing dish from all sorts of leftover food. **2** to invent a clever story, excuse, or plan, especially in order to deceive someone: MAKE UP, think up, dream up, fabricate, invent, contrive, manufacture, trump up; DEVISE, create, form, formulate, fashion, forge; hatch, brew, plot, scheme; *informal* cook up ...John **concocted** an elaborate excuse for being late. ...He **concocted** a story about working late at the office. ...Mr Ferguson said the prisoner **concocted** the story to get a lighter sentence. \> from assimilated form of com "together" (see **con-**) + coquere "to cook, prepare food, ripen, digest," from PIE root **pekw-** "to cook, ripen /ˈraɪpən/." \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline

Question 171

glum

Answer 171

glum /ɡlʌm/ sad and discouraged; Someone who is **glum** is sad and quiet because they are disappointed or unhappy about something: GLOOMY, downcast, downhearted, dejected, disconsolate, dispirited, despondent, crestfallen, cast down, depressed, disappointed, disheartened, discouraged, demoralized, desolate, heavy-hearted, in low spirits, low-spirited, sad, unhappy, doleful, melancholy, miserable, woebegone, mournful, forlorn, long-faced, fed up, in the doldrums, wretched, lugubrious, morose; *informal* blue, down, down in the mouth, down in the dumps; *British informal* brassed off, cheesed off, looking as if one had lost a pound and found a penny ...Anna **looked glum**. ...There's no need to look so **glum**—things will get better soon. ...After dinner, Kate lapsed into a **glum silence**. ...South Carolina residents feel pretty **glum** about both the state and national economy, as well as their personal finances, according to a Winthrop University poll from May 2023. —Tami Luhby, *CNN*, 24 Feb. 2024 ...That outcome adds to a **glum** picture for developers like Fortnite maker Epic, consumers, and governments from around the world that have been trying for years to loosen the restrictions Apple and Google maintain over downloading, paying for, and using apps on mobile devices. —Paresh Dave, *WIRED*, 18 Jan. 2024 ...There was one glimmer of good news in an otherwise **glum** week for Ukraine when the European Union agreed on Thursday to open negotiations for Ukraine to join the bloc, following through on pledges made soon after Russia’s invasion last year. —Constant Méheut, *New York Times*, 15 Dec. 2023 USAGE NOTES: - **Glum** suggests a silent dispiritedness. - a *glum* candidate left to ponder a stunning defeat \> Probably from Middle Low German glum (“glum”), related to German dialectal glumm (“gloomy, troubled, turbid”); see **gloom**. \> **gloom (n.)**: 1590s, originally Scottish, "a sullen look," probably from gloom (v.) "look sullen or displeased" (late 14c., gloumen), of unknown origin; perhaps from an unrecorded Old English verb or from a Scandinavian source (compare Norwegian dialectal glome "to stare somberly"), or from Middle Low German glum "turbid," Dutch gluren "to leer." \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Wiktionary, Etymonline

Question 172

splurge

Answer 172

splurge /splɜːdʒ $ splɜːrdʒ/ verb to spend more money than you can usually afford; If you **splurge on** something, you spend a lot of money, usually on things that you do not need. splurge (sth) on sth ...Within a couple of months, I’d **splurged** about £2,500 **on** clothes. ...We **splurged on** Bohemian glass for gifts, and for ourselves. noun : an ostentatious effort, display, or expenditure ...I'm confident that there's enough in the bank for a **splurge on** a great pair of shoes. ...Our big **splurge** was an omakase dinner at the eight-seat Sushi Hōseki restaurant at the Bulgari Hotel Tokyo, opened under the direction of chef Kenji Gyoten. —Helen Schulman, *Travel + Leisure*, 2 Mar. 2024 \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster

Question 173

livid

Answer 173

liv‧id /ˈlɪvəd/ **1** extremely angry : FURIOUS, angry, infuriated, irate, fuming, raging, seething, incensed, enraged, angered, beside oneself, wrathful, ireful, maddened, cross, annoyed, irritated, exasperated, indignant; *informal* mad, boiling, wild, seeing red, hot under the collar, up in arms, foaming at the mouth, on the warpath, steamed up, fit to be tied ...The boss was **livid** when yet another deadline was missed. ...She was absolutely **livid that** he had lied. ...She is **livid that** I have invited Dick. ...Several people close to him described him as **livid about** the trial. —Isaac Arnsdorf, *Washington Post*, 1 Nov. 2023 **2** dark bluish gray in color: PURPLISH, bluish, dark, discolored, black and blue, purple, grayish blue; bruised; angry ...**livid** bruises ...Quinn had a **livid** bruise on the side of his jaw \> late Middle English (in the sense ‘of a bluish leaden color’): from French livide or Latin lividus, from livere ‘be bluish’. The sense ‘furiously angry’ dates from the early 20th century. \> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Oxford Dictionary of English

Question 174

voracity

Answer 174

vo·​rac·​i·​ty /vəˈræsəti/ **1** the fact that an animal or a person wants to eat a large amount of food ...The requirement for prey depended on the **voracity** of the beetles. ...The young insects feed with astonishing **voracity**. ...The **voracity** of the seals creates a problem - the fish cannot breed faster than the seals can eat them. **2** the state of being very eager to have a lot of something ...The scale and **voracity** of his betting was shocking. ...There were rumors about his sexual **voracity**. \> Cambridge Dictionary

Question 175

neophyte

Answer 175

neophyte ...

Question 176

nugget

Answer 176

nugget ...

Question 177

malignant

Answer 177

malignant ...

Question 178

upkeep

Answer 178

upkeep ...

Question 179

intransigence | /ɪnˈtrænsɪdʒəns/

Answer 179

(n.) refusal to change one's views or to agree about something; stubbornness ##Footnote The negotiations broke down due to the intransigence of both parties involved.

Question 180

on a scale of 1 to 10 | /ɔn ə skeɪl əv wʌn tu tɛn/

Answer 180

(phr.) a way to rate or measure something, where 1 is the lowest and 10 is the highest ##Footnote - On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your experience with the product? - Could you please rate your satisfaction with our new website design on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being very dissatisfied and 10 being extremely satisfied?"

Question 181

landfall

Answer 181

landfall ...

Question 182

sus | /sʌs/

Answer 182

(adj.) suspicious or questionable, often implying dishonesty or deceit ##Footnote - He seemed pretty sus when he couldn't explain where he had been all night. - That guy lurking around the parking lot looks pretty sus; we should call security.

Question 183

improvise | /ˈɪmprəˌvaɪz/

Answer 183

(v.) to create or perform something spontaneously without preparation ##Footnote When the microphone stopped working, the speaker had to improvise and speak louder to the audience.

Question 184

fallout | /ˈfɔːlaʊt/

Answer 184

(n.) the adverse effects or results of a situation or action ##Footnote The political fallout from the scandal was enormous.

Question 185

to boot | /tə buːt/

Answer 185

(phr.) in addition to what has already been mentioned : ON TOP OF THAT ##Footnote - She managed to finish the project early, and to boot, it was done perfectly. - The new phone is faster, has more storage, and is waterproof to boot.

Question 186

motorway | /ˈməʊtəweɪ/

Answer 186

(n.) a wide road designed for fast-moving traffic, especially for long-distance travel ##Footnote We took the motorway to avoid traffic in the city center.

Question 187

homogenization | /həˌmɒdʒənaɪˈzeɪʃən/

Answer 187

(n.) the process of making things uniform or similar ##Footnote - The homogenization of global culture is often seen in the spread of popular brands across countries. - Globalization has led to the homogenization of cultures in many parts of the world.

Question 188

prescriptive

Answer 188

prescriptive ...

Question 189

brownout | /ˈbraʊnaʊt/

Answer 189

(n.) a reduction in or restriction on the availability of electrical power in a particular area ##Footnote The city experienced a brownout due to the high demand for electricity during the heatwave.

Question 190

supplement

Answer 190

supplement ...

Question 191

splice

Answer 191

splice ...

Question 192

take sb up on sth | /teɪk ʌp ɒn/

Answer 192

(phr.) to accept an offer or invitation ##Footnote When she offered to help me move, I decided to take her up on it.

Question 193

matchbox | /ˈmætʃbɒks/

Answer 193

(n.) a small box containing matches ##Footnote He pulled a match from the matchbox to light the candle during the power outage.

Question 194

all bets are off | /ɔːl bets ɑːr ɒf/

Answer 194

(phr.) used to say that a situation has become unpredictable ##Footnote If it rains on the day of the outdoor concert, all bets are off regarding attendance numbers.

Question 195

on-ramp | /ˈɒnræmp/

Answer 195

(n.) a short road for entering a highway ##Footnote - We missed the on-ramp and had to take a detour to get back on the highway. - The driver accelerated as he merged onto the highway from the on-ramp.

Question 196

touchy-feely | /ˌtʌtʃi ˈfiːli/

Answer 196

(adj.) openly expressing affection or emotions; overly sensitive ##Footnote The new manager's touchy-feely approach made some employees uncomfortable in the workplace.

Question 197

about time | /əˈbaʊt taɪm/

Answer 197

(phr.) used to express that something should have happened or been done sooner ##Footnote It's about time they fixed the heating system; we've been cold for weeks!

Question 198

bare naked | /bɛə ˈneɪkɪd/

Answer 198

(adj.) completely unclothed; without any covering ##Footnote He stood bare naked after jumping into the lake for a swim.

Question 199

premise

Answer 199

premise ...

Question 200

swamp | /swɒmp/

Answer 200

(n.) an area of low-lying, uncultivated ground where water collects; a marsh or bog (v.) to overwhelm with an excessive amount of something ##Footnote The company was swamped with customer complaints after the product launch.