words L 64 -142 Flashcards

Question

palatable

Answer 1

Palatable food or drink has a pleasant taste: - a very palatable wine

Answer 2

a feeling of being bored and mentally tired caused by having nothing interesting or exciting to do: -The whole country seems to be affected by the ennui of winter. ## Footnote boredrom

Answer 3

preventing new ideas from developing: - These countries are trying to shake off the stultifying effects of several decades of state control.

Answer 4

An effervescent liquid produces bubbles of gas,active, positive, and full of energy: - She's one of those effervescent personalities that you often see hosting TV game shows. - effervescent vitamin C supplements

Answer 5

successful or making a profit,happy and confident:: -The housing market remains buoyant. - After reading the letter he was in a buoyant mood.

Answer 6

very annoying, unpleasant, or uncomfortable, and therefore extremely difficult to bear: -She disliked the president, whom she once described as an "insufferable bore". -The underground is insufferable in this heat.

Answer 7

morally unacceptable: -To make people feel shame or guilt for being ill is unconscionable.

Answer 8

rude and not showing respect, especially towards someone older or in a higher position than you: - I hope he didn't think I was being impertinent when I asked him about his private life.

Answer 9

not important, or not relating to the subject you are thinking about: - immaterial (to) Whether the book is well or badly written is immaterial (to me) - it has an important message.

Answer 10

An inflammable substance or material burns very easily: -a highly inflammable liquid such as petrol

Answer 11

to make someone feel less confident and slightly frightened: - I think it unnerved me to be interviewed by so many people.

Answer 12

Clear and persuasive. -He makes a cogent argument for improving early childhood education.

Answer 13

to build buttresses to support a building or structure: - It was decided to buttress the crumbling walls.

Answer 14

unpleasantly bright: - a pair of garish Bermuda shorts

Answer 15

unlucky and usually unhappy: - hapless victim Many children are hapless victims of this war

Answer 16

a stylish, original, and very confident way of doing things that makes people admire you: - The orchestra played with great panache. - He dressed with panache.

Answer 17

stupid, not correct, or not carefully thought about: a fatuous idea

Answer 18

easily and continuously changing: - the protean talents of this comedian

Answer 19

deep blue in colour

Answer 20

Yellowish green. The stained-glass windows were a mix of chartreuse and burgundy.

Answer 21

Pale purple. In the morning light, the clouds dotting the horizon were little daubs of mauve.

Answer 22

to leave someone in a place from which they cannot escape: Blackbeard deliberately wrecked his ship and marooned his men before making off with their treasure.

Answer 23

very confident in your behaviour, and liking to be noticed by other people, for example because of the way you dress, talk, etc.: - a flamboyant gesture - The writer's flamboyant lifestyle was well known.

Answer 24

to vote against allowing someone to be a member of an organization or group: - He was initially blackballed because of a dispute he once had with a couple of the committee members.

Answer 25

a person or thing that is so good or beautiful that it attracts a lot of attention

Answer 26

feeling or showing sadness उदास He's been a bit blue since she left him.

Answer 27

strange and unusual and difficult to accept or like: an outlandish hairstyle/outfit

Answer 28

used to avoid saying bloody to express anger: - Ruddy hell!

Answer 29

Describing writing that tries to be too elaborate and fancy.

Answer 30

careful when using money or food, or (of a meal) cheap or small in amount: - a frugal lifestyle - a frugal meal of bread and soup

Answer 31

very kind and generous towards an enemy or someone you have defeated: - The team's manager was magnanimous in victory, and praised the losing team.

Answer 32

very generous with money: - A former student has donated a munificent sum of money to the college.

Answer 33

someone who has a great desire to possess money and hates to spend it, sometimes living like a poor person because of this: - On environmental spending, the president is a miser.

Answer 34

willingness to give money, or money given to poor people by rich people: - The medical foundation will be the main beneficiary of the millionaire's largesse.

Answer 35

someone who tries to have as much pleasure as possible, according to the belief that the most important thing in life is to enjoy yourself: - The Marquis de Sade was a hedonist who believed there should be no limits on human behaviour. - Wilson, a bachelor, is a heavy drinker and a womanizer, but he's not a simple hedonist.

Answer 36

spending or using large amounts of money, time, energy, etc., especially in a way that is not very wise: The prodigal landlord spends the money as fast as he receives it.

Answer 37

A person who indulges in highly luxurious and sensual things. A sybarite could easily spend all day at a spa, getting one luxurious treatment after another

Answer 38

spending money or using something in a way that wastes it and is not wise: She is well-known for her profligate spending habits. The profligate use of antibiotics has led to the evolution of resistant bacteria. ## Footnote extravagant,spendthrift

Answer 39

getting pleasure from food and drink of high quality -Her sandwiches include such epicurean delights as liverwurst and jelly.

Answer 40

to limit the amount of something that can be done or the ability or power of someone to do something: The company was hamstrung by traditional but inefficient ways of conducting business.

Answer 41

of or like an eagle (= large bird): an aquiline nose (= a nose curved like an eagle's beak) He is tall and slender, with black hair, dark blue eyes, and an aquiline nose.

Answer 42

(of someone or someone's character) positive and hoping for good things: They are less sanguine about the prospects for peace.

Answer 43

very angry or easily annoyed

Answer 44

If someone is bilious, they are always in a bad mood,extremely unpleasant:: - a bilious old man - His shirt was a bilious shade of green.

Answer 45

relating to the making of clothes, usually men's clothes, or to a way of dressing: sartorial elegance

Answer 46

someone who has too much admiration for himself or herself

Answer 47

needing great strength and determination: - Herculean effort I sometimes feel so weak that even getting out of bed is a Herculean effort. - Herculean task She faces the Herculean task of bringing up four children single-handedly.

Answer 48

a hope or dream that is very unlikely ever to come true: Is the ideal of banishing hunger throughout the world just a chimera?

Answer 49

relating to heaven: - the Elysian fields of the next world

Answer 50

Relating to people’s rational side.

Answer 51

a beautiful and well-behaved child -Here he painted an arbor pierced by oculi opening to glimpses of playful cherubs.

Answer 52

extremely good, beautiful, or enjoyable: sublime beauty The book has sublime descriptive passages.

Answer 53

light and delicate, especially in an unnatural way: an ethereal being ethereal beauty ethereal music an ethereal beauty

Answer 54

beautiful in a way that suggests that someone is morally good and pure: a seraphic smile

Answer 55

the question of how God can exist when there is evil in the world, or a good reason or explanation for this : -Theodicy is the problem of how to reconcile a just God with a world containing evil. -It is impossible for her to produce a theodicy for horrendous infant suffering.

Answer 56

relating to heaven or the sky. "the empyrean domain where human will and God's will became as one"

Answer 57

having a deep spiritual (= religious) quality or connection: the numinous mysteries of Mozart, Schumann, and Mahler

Answer 58

to separate or divide, or cause something to separate or divide, often violently: - With one blow of the knight's axe, he clove the rock in twain (= into two pieces).

Answer 59

To penalize, punish or to allow, authorize. -The rogue regime was sanctioned by trade embargos from neighboring countries hoping to force the dictator out of power.

Answer 60

To fasten or to collapse. The racecar drivers buckled their belt harnesses to protect them in the event of a crash.

Answer 61

Lacking in worldly experience, innocent of the true ways of the world. -When the scammer called telling him he’d won a prize, Chester naïvely coughed up his credit card number

Answer 62

honest, sincere, and trusting, sometimes in a way that seems silly: -It has to be said it was rather ingenuous of him to ask a complete stranger to take care of his luggage.

Answer 63

A conniving person deceives others for their own advantage: He's a conniving bastard!

Answer 64

(of a person or their behaviour) slightly dishonest, or not speaking the complete truth: - It was disingenuous of her to claim she had no financial interest in the case.

Answer 65

dishonest talk or behaviour, especially by saying different things to two people: - duplicity in They were accused of duplicity in their dealings with both sides.

Answer 66

not telling the truth: Some of these statements are misleading and some are downright mendacious.

Answer 67

a person with a high level of knowledge or skill, especially someone who is less able in other ways: There are musical savants who are very awkward physically - until they sit at the piano.

Answer 68

A person who is new to learning something. -She was a Microsoft Excel neophyte one day, fiddling with simple equations, and a virtual savant the next, working pivot tables.

Answer 69

One who is learned in a variety of different fields. Mike was a true polymath, able to talk about medieval history one moment and quantum physics the next.

Answer 70

a person who is not experienced in a job or situation: - I've never driven a car before - I'm a complete novice. - This plant can be difficult for novice gardeners to grow.

Answer 71

expert : Walter’s a baseball maven and knows Hank Aaron’s statistics by heart.

Answer 72

a person who is not experienced -I’m a greenhorn when it comes to skiing.

Answer 73

having or showing understanding and the ability to make good judgments: a sagacious person/comment/choice

Answer 74

a person who is new to an activity: I look forward to seeing this young tyro's next ballet.

Answer 75

without money, food, a home, or possessions: The floods left thousands of people destitute.

Answer 76

having a lot of money or owning a lot of things संपन्न, धनी affluent nations/neighbourhoods

Answer 77

to make or become firmly attached or closed: [ I ] This skirt fastens at the back. [ T ] Fasten your seatbelt.

Answer 78

a strong feeling of wanting to have something, especially money or possessions -Her theme is that a mixture of ignorance and cupidity on both sides produced a great many boomerang effects. ## Footnote avarice

Answer 79

expensive and luxurious: an opulent lifestyle an opulent hotel

Answer 80

an extremely strong wish to get or keep money or possessions: Her business empire brought her wealth beyond the dreams of avarice (= an extremely large amount of money).

Answer 81

extremely poor

Answer 82

having very little money: - impecunious student I first knew him as an impecunious student living in a tiny apartment.

Answer 83

a person, especially one in a news organization, who tries to find out unpleasant information about people or organizations in order to make it public: -He made a name for himself as a celebrity muckraker in this relatively quiet little city. -Muckrakers aren't likely to dredge secrets from his past.

Answer 84

One currently holding a political office. In the United States, a sitting president can be reelected as an incumbent only once, since no president can serve more than two terms.

Answer 85

to try to get political support or votes, especially by visiting all the houses in an area: I've been out canvassing for the Labour Party every evening this week.

Answer 86

To signal, usually with a ceremony, the beginning of a person’s term. - American presidents are always inaugurated on 20 January . -The European Community inaugurated the Single European Market in 1993. -The change of government inaugurated a new era of economic prosperity.

Answer 87

to travel to a lot of small towns and make political speeches to try to get people's votes or support: He plans to barnstorm across the state to generate public support.

Answer 88

the act of saying insulting or unfair things about someone, especially to try to damage their reputation: - political mud-slinging

Answer 89

a period when a country or organization does not have a leader, The period between one ruler leaving office and another taking over, or a slight pause in the government if a person in power is voted in for another term.

Answer 90

strongly supporting a person, principle, or political party, often without considering or judging the matter very carefully: - The audience was very partisan, and refused to listen to her speech. - partisan politics

Answer 91

to make a long speech in order to delay or prevent a new law being made: - Conceivably, supporters of the law could filibuster to prevent it from being revised.

Answer 92

A leader who manipulates the public’s emotions for his or her own ends. - Demagogues tend to be gifted orators who can rouse a crowd’s emotions.

Answer 93

an unsuccessful person or thing

Answer 94

A blindly loyal official in an (often political) organization. A former apparatchik in the Communist Party, she became a diplomat. To some political leaders, the results have shown the envoys to be nothing more than overrated apparatchiks who have made little difference. Most ex-guerilla fighters are in their forties now and have become party apparatchiks. She criticized him as a White House apparatchik who always backs the president.

Answer 95

A plenary meeting is one at which all the members of a group or organization are present, especially at a conference: a plenary session of the UN Security Council

Answer 96

an organized attempt by a group of people to defeat their government and take control of their country, usually by violence: armed insurrection

Answer 97

to stop something, especially by using force: Police in riot gear were called in to quell the disturbances/unrest. This latest setback will have done nothing to quell the growing doubts about the future of the club.

Answer 98

to cause trouble to develop: The song was banned on the grounds that it might foment racial tension.

Answer 99

an occasion when a group of people attempt to take control of their country by force: The government is reported to be concerned about the growing insurgency in the south.

Answer 100

to make someone feel worried or angry: I didn't want to agitate her by telling her.

Answer 101

intending to persuade other people to oppose their government: She was arrested after making a speech that the government considered to be seditious.

Answer 102

the fact of an event happening, an invention being made, or a person arriving:,The beginning of a major event or phenomenon.: -With the advent of television, the dominance of radio ended seemingly overnight. -Life was transformed by the advent of the steam engine.

Answer 103

a person who is blamed for something that someone else has done: The captain was made a scapegoat for the team's failure.

Answer 104

A sudden realization or insight. After years working in a large corporation, Carla had an epiphany that she wanted to start her own business.

Answer 105

very great admiration or respect for someone, often too great: idolatry of The youngster makes no attempt to conceal his idolatry of his team-mate,the act of praying to a picture or object as part of a religion: - Newton was revered to the point of idolatry. - Father Brown considers the notes and flowers left near the statue to be close to idolatry.

Answer 106

something that you do to show that you are sorry for something bad that you did: He said that young hooligans should do community service as atonement for their crimes.

Answer 107

a serious and growing problem: The report states that vandalism is a pestilence that must be stamped out.

Answer 108

something or someone that is extremely large and powerful: The US is seen as an economic leviathan.

Answer 109

to laugh, showing pleasure and satisfaction: She chortled with glee at the news.

Answer 110

not showing the expected respect for official, important, or holy things: - an irreverent comment/approach/attitude irreverent thoughts

Answer 111

humorous in an unkind way that shows you do not respect someone or something: a sardonic smile/look/comment

Answer 112

something that so obviously fails to achieve the effect that was intended that it is stupid: -"It was a parody of a trial," said one observer.

Answer 113

to laugh loudly, especially at something stupid that someone has said or done: -He guffawed with delight when he heard the news.

Answer 114

showing that you find a bad or difficult situation slightly funny: a wry smile/comment

Answer 115

extremely noisy and confused , extremely funny: - an uproarious debate - It's a very amusing play with an uproarious final act.

Answer 116

not serious about a serious subject, in an attempt to be funny or to appear clever: - a flippant remark/attitude - It's easy to be flippant, but we have a serious problem to deal with here. - I think she just thought I was being flippant.

Answer 117

Extremely serious. His expression was grave when he reported the people who’d gone missing.

Answer 118

To mourn and wail, or to express deep regret. As an old man, he lamented all the opportunities he’d wasted while younger.

Answer 119

behaviour that is controlled, calm, and polite: As young ladies we were expected to act/behave with proper decorum.

Answer 120

a slow sad song or piece of music, sometimes played because someone has died

Answer 121

correct moral behaviour or actions: -The director insisted that there was no question as to the propriety of how the funds were raised. -She was careful always to behave with propriety.

Answer 122

-extremely sad and disappointed: The players were disconsolate after losing what should have been an easy game.

Answer 123

Extremely mournful,relating to or similar to an elegy (= a sad poem or song, especially remembering someone who has died or something in the past): -She is a talented poet and it shows in her elegiac prose. -The music is elegiac and pessimistic but also passionately eloquent and uplifting.

Answer 124

not known to many people: -an obscure island in the Pacific

Answer 125

famous, well respected, and admired: -She comes from an illustrious political family that includes two former Cabinet ministers.

Answer 126

a person without strong character, ideas, or influence: - She was once a political nonentity, but has since won a formidable reputation as a determined campaigner.

Answer 127

the state of being famous for something bad: He achieved/gained notoriety for being difficult to work with as an actor.

Answer 128

great attention to and interest in something: much fanfare The new laws were passed after much fanfare.

Answer 129

to insult someone by not giving them any attention or treating them as if they are not important: -Lawrence attempted to draw me into conversation, but I snubbed him, and went to another part of the room.

Answer 130

A person of no importance.

Answer 131

not able or willing to take decisions or actions: an irresolute reply

Answer 132

used to describe a person who refuses to change their mind, or someone or something that is difficult to deal with or change: -Union leaders remain obdurate that working conditions and pay improve. -Several obdurate facts/differences remain, preventing a compromise solution.

Answer 133

to accept or agree to something, often unwillingly: - Reluctantly, he acquiesced to/in the plans.

Answer 134

(of a person) not willing to obey orders from people in authority, or (of actions and speech, etc.) showing that you are not willing to obey orders: an insubordinate child

Answer 135

easily influenced by other people, especially because you are young: -at that impressionable age He's at that impressionable age when he's very easily led by other children.

Answer 136

willing to accept or be influenced by a suggestion: She might be more amenable to the idea if you explained how much money it would save.

Answer 137

Pliant people are easily influenced or controlled by other people: I don't think it's a good thing for children to be too pliant.

Answer 138

refusing to change your opinions or behaviour: Unions claim that the management continues to maintain an intransigent position.

Answer 139

not thinking or worrying about any pain caused to others; cruel निष्ठुर ruthless ambition

Answer 140

extremely honest : A scrupulous politician would not lie about her business interests.

Answer 141

(especially of activities) morally bad: The company's CEO seems to have been involved in some nefarious practices/activities.

Answer 142

without fault and therefore impossible to criticize: Her conduct throughout was irreproachable.

Answer 143

morally strong enough not to be persuaded to do something wrong: Most politicians genuinely believe they are incorruptible.

Answer 144

extremely bad or shocking: Conditions in the prison were diabolical. His driving is diabolical!

Answer 145

evil: acts/crimes of moral turpitude

Answer 146

to fail an exam or course of study: I flunked my Biology exam.

Answer 147

to show too much respect to someone in authority, always doing what you are told and changing what you do in order to please them: He has never kowtowed to the mainstream, but has remained true to his convictions. They were accused of kowtowing to a corrupt government.

Answer 148

unpleasantly proud and expecting to be obeyed,Extremely bossy and commanding, often without basis.: -an imperious manner/voice -She sent them away with an imperious wave of the hand.

Answer 149

behaving as if you are better than other people, and that their opinions, beliefs, or ideas are not important: He spoke in a haughty, supercilious voice. ## Footnote imperious

Answer 150

polite and showing respect: She is always extremely deferential towards anyone in authority.

Answer 151

rude and not showing respect, especially towards someone who is older or in a more important position: an impudent remark/child

Answer 152

unfriendly and seeming to consider yourself better than other people: She has a rather haughty manner. ## Footnote arrogant,supercilious

Answer 153

expecting to be obeyed immediately and without any questions: He started issuing peremptory instructions. She was highly critical of the insensitive and peremptory way in which the cases had been handled. ## Footnote imperious

Answer 154

surprised, confused, and not certain how to react: I was completely nonplussed by his reply.

Answer 155

feeling very sorry and guilty for something bad that you have done: a contrite apology/expression ## Footnote atonement , remorseful ,rueful

Answer 156

very emotional and energetic, but not sincere or without real meaning: a histrionic outburst She put on a histrionic display of grief at the funeral. ## Footnote melodramatic

Answer 157

to confuse and very much surprise someone, so that they are unable to explain or deal with a situation: - An elderly man from Hull has confounded doctors by recovering after he was officially declared dead. -The singer confounded her critics with a remarkable follow-up album.

Answer 158

slow and awkward because of being very heavy or large: He had a slow and ponderous manner.

Answer 159

behavior that is extremely confident and often rude, with no respect for the opinions or abilities of anyone else: -The movie was made with a little money and a lot of chutzpah. -I wonder who had the chutzpah to disagree with him?

Answer 160

A clumsy person. Her cast and crutches turned her into a total klutz, knocking over things every few seconds.

Answer 161

a person who is considered to be weak and lacking in confidence or courage: -A nebbish could never gain real power. -Sandler reprises once again his clueless, well-meaning nebbish who wants to be liked.

Answer 162

A schmaltzy song, book, film, etc. is intended to make people feel romantic or sad but has no real artistic value,Excessively sentimental: schmaltzy love songs

Answer 163

To chat, speak informally with someone.

Answer 164

the type of humour typical of a comedian (= person whose job is to make people laugh): Pratfalls and other physical gags are typical of Carey's shtick.

Answer 165

to complain: He was kvetching about the price.

Answer 166

a situation in which there is great confusion, violence, and destruction: The country is gradually being sucked into the maelstrom of civil war.

Answer 167

A marketplace, typically outdoors. She was able to find some exotic souvenirs at the bazaar.

Answer 168

a person who says they have powers to see the future or see things that other people cannot see: She went to see a clairvoyant who said he could communicate with her dead husband.

Answer 169

a long story about past events over a long period of time: Her new novel is a lengthy and compelling family saga.

Answer 170

very angry or out of control: My mother will go berserk (= be extremely angry) when she finds out I've ruined her favourite dress.

Answer 171

a place to which many people are attracted: His Indiana bookstore became a Mecca for writers and artists. The plans would transform the park into a tourist Mecca.

Answer 172

not very good: The film's plot is predictable and the acting is mediocre. Parents don't want their children going to mediocre schools.

Answer 173

of great importance: a cardinal rule/error/sin

Answer 174

second from the last: It's the penultimate episode of the series tonight.

Answer 175

very bad: abysmal working conditions The food was abysmal.

Answer 176

very ordinary and therefore not interesting: Mundane matters such as paying bills and shopping for food do not interest her.

Answer 177

better than any other: her nonpareil beauty

Answer 178

an event or person that causes great change: The high suicide rate acted as a catalyst for change in the prison system.

Answer 179

the main thing or person needed to support something or to make it work or happen: fulcrum of the debate/argument The fulcrum of the debate/argument is the individual's right to choose.

Answer 180

Disorganization, randomness. The school year had an entropic quality for Sarah; though organized and predictable at the beginning, it became increasingly chaotic and unmanageable toward the end.

Answer 181

to give a possible but not yet proved explanation for something: hypothesize that We hypothesized that children of alcoholic fathers will demonstrate more behavioural problems. hypothesize about There's no point hypothesizing about how the accident happened, since we'll never really know. This discovery led experts to hypothesize a different path of evolution for early man.

Answer 182

based on what is experienced or seen rather than on theory: empirical data/evidence This theory needs to be backed up with solid empirical data/evidence. empirical study Empirical studies show that some forms of alternative medicine are extremely effective.

Answer 183

moving towards the point around which it is turning: centripetal force

Answer 184

impossible to prove wrong: an irrefutable argument irrefutable evidence of health risks

Answer 185

present or noticeable in every part of a thing or place: The influence of Freud is pervasive in her books. a pervasive smell of diesel Reforms are being undermined by the all-pervasive corruption in the country.

Answer 186

seeming to be everywhere: Leather is very much in fashion this season, as is the ubiquitous denim. The Swedes are not alone in finding their language under pressure from the ubiquitous spread of English. The mobile phone, that most ubiquitous of consumer-electronic appliances, is about to enter a new age.

Answer 187

increasingly successful or powerful: He's very much in the ascendant in Hollywood.

Answer 188

to be the largest in number or the most important: In industrial areas, the dark-coloured variety of the moth now predominates.

Answer 189

small in numbers or amount, often spread over a large area: a sparse population/audience sparse vegetation/woodland a sparse beard

Answer 190

(of something bad) getting worse quickly and in an uncontrolled way: rampant corruption Rampant inflation means that our wage increases soon become worth nothing. He said that he had encountered rampant prejudice in his attempts to get a job. Disease is rampant in the overcrowded city.

Answer 191

If something unpleasant is rife, it is very common or happens a lot: Dysentery and malaria are rife in the refugee camps.

Answer 192

to reduce or be reduced in size or importance: I don't want to diminish her achievements, but she did have a lot of help. These memories will not be diminished by time. What he did has seriously diminished him in many people's eyes.

Answer 193

easily annoyed and complaining in a rude way like a child. When his wishes were not immediately satisfied, the lead actor became petulant.

Answer 194

easily annoyed: a peevish, bad-tempered person

Answer 195

to try very hard to persuade someone to do something: [ + to infinitive ] We would spend every meal time entreating the child to eat her vegetables.

Answer 196

to ask for something in a humble way,To beg for something earnestly.: I knew I could not go on supplicating for more.

Answer 197

to complain to someone or about something: - I went to the boss to remonstrate against the new rules. - The editor remonstrated with him about the inaccuracies in the story.

Answer 198

to refuse to accept something as the truth: - Certainly there's no gainsaying (= it is not possible to doubt) the technical brilliance of his performance.

Answer 199

to ask or order someone to do something: The judge adjured him to answer truthfully.

Answer 200

to stop something from happening or someone from doing something: Our holiday plans were thwarted by the airline pilots' strike

Answer 201

to cause someone to suddenly take action, especially by shocking or exciting them in some way: Western charities were galvanized by TV pictures of starving people. galvanize someone into action The prospect of his mother coming to stay galvanized him into action and he started cleaning the house.

Answer 202

to prevent something from happening or someone from achieving a purpose: In our search for evidence, we were stymied by the absence of any recent documents.

Answer 203

Incapable of being stopped.continuing without any possibility of being stopped: the inexorable progress of science

Answer 204

something that makes you feel stronger or happier: The magazine is lively and interesting - the pictures alone are a tonic.

Answer 205

used to say that someone is strong, brave, determined, and difficult to defeat or frighten: The indomitable Mrs Furlong said she would continue to fight for justice.

Answer 206

a formal agreement between two countries or groups at war to stop fighting for a particular time, especially to talk about possible peace: A two-week armistice has been declared between the rival factions.

Answer 207

a friendly agreement or relationship between two countries -There is an entente between many prosperous nations today not to wage war against the other.

Answer 208

To give up or surrender,to allow someone else to have or own something, especially unwillingly or because you are forced to do so: Hong Kong was ceded to Britain after the Opium War.

Answer 209

(a formal) agreement: peace accord On 31 May the two leaders signed a peace accord. in accord with The project is completely in accord with government policy. A vague murmur of accord rose from around the table.

Answer 210

to take possession of an area of land or a country, usually by force or without permission: The UK annexed this small island west of Scotland in 1955.

Answer 211

go about in search of things to steal or people to attack. "war parties crossed the river to maraud" | raid

Answer 212

relating to soldiers, war, or life in the armed forces

Answer 213

a policy of seeking to retaliate, especially to recover lost territory. "a recipe for deep future resentment, revanchism and renewed conflict"

Answer 214

friendly, but formal and polite: a cordial smile/greeting/welcome/reception Relations between the two leaders are said to be cordial.

Answer 215

not friendly or willing to take part in things: She seemed rather aloof when in fact she was just shy.

Answer 216

A person who hates other people and shuns their company. He might have seemed a misanthrope in public—always scowling when others tried smiling at him—but at home he was a doting father

Answer 217

friendly and pleasant: congenial company/surroundings

Answer 218

pleasant and friendly: He seemed an amiable young man. So amiable was the mood of the meeting that a decision was soon reached.

Answer 219

very bad or unpleasant: The prisoners are forced to live in abominable conditions. The weather's been abominable all week.

Answer 220

extremely unpleasant and causing or deserving hate: an odious crime an odious little man

Answer 221

an old person who is often in a bad mood: Are you going to turn curmudgeon, too, like George and the rest of them? But he's a crusty old curmudgeon, and I never hanker much to have him around.

Answer 222

to criticize someone or something severely: His first novel was well and truly lambasted by the critics.

Answer 223

full of anger, arguments, and bad feeling: an acrimonious dispute Their marriage ended eight years ago in an acrimonious divorce.

Answer 224

To criticize extremely harshly.: His latest novel received excoriating reviews. The president excoriated the Western press for their biased views.

Answer 225

likely to cause unhappiness or be unpleasant, especially because it is unfair: Such a difficult choice placed her in an invidious position.

Answer 226

a criticism, suggestion, or remark that damages another person's reputation: She shrugs off the aspersions as an inevitable part of public life.

Answer 227

to complain angrily: He railed against/at the injustices of the system.

Answer 228

to strongly criticize something or someone: There were politicians who inveighed against immigrants to get votes.

Answer 229

A vituperative spoken or written attack is full of angry criticism: Miss Snowden yesterday launched a vituperative attack on her ex-boss and former lover.

Answer 230

perfectly clean or tidy: dressed in an immaculate white suit an immaculate garden

Answer 231

to spoil something or someone so that that thing or person is less beautiful or pure: It's a shame that such a beautiful area has been defiled by a rubbish dump. The soldiers deliberately defiled all the holy places.

Answer 232

to make food or drink weaker or to lower its quality, by adding something else: There were complaints that the beer had been adulterated with water.

Answer 233

to cause people to feel that they or other people have no value and do not have the respect or good opinion of others: Pornography degrades women.

Answer 234

a brief statement of a general truth, principle, or rule for behavior: She lived by the maxim, "Do right, risk consequences."

Answer 235

a rule for action or behaviour, especially obtained from moral thought: This policy goes against common precepts of decency.

Answer 236

a drug used to calm people who are very unhappy or worried: He took a/some bromide to calm his nerves.

Answer 237

to become less strong: The storm/wind/rain has started to abate. The fighting in the area shows no sign of abating.

Answer 238

to make something that is already bad even worse: This attack will exacerbate the already tense relations between the two communities.

Answer 239

to make something shorter or quicker, especially by removing the end of it: Television coverage of the event was truncated by a technical fault.

Answer 240

to become or make something become greater or more serious: His financial problems escalated after he became unemployed. The row could escalate into full-blown conflict.

Answer 241

to stop something before it is finished, or to reduce or limit something: to curtail your holiday/spending With all the snow, our daily walks have been severely curtailed.

Answer 242

to make unpleasant feelings less strong: The government has tried to assuage the public's fears.

Answer 243

to increase the size or value of something by adding something to it: He would have to find work to augment his income.

Answer 244

ending or stopping: Religious leaders have called for a total cessation of the bombing campaign.

Answer 245

doing or saying things to make yourself seem more powerful or important: His opponents sought to portray him as a self-aggrandizing fantasist. It's more difficult to make the case for yourself if you appear self-aggrandising.

Answer 246

trying to make yourself, your abilities, or your achievements seem less important: a self-deprecating manner/remark self-deprecating humour/jokes

Answer 247

showing a wish to help or bring advantages to others, even if it results in disadvantage for yourself: I doubt whether her motives for donating the money are altruistic - she's probably looking for publicity.

Answer 248

not large in size or amount, or not expensive: They live in a fairly modest house, considering their wealth. There has been a modest improvement/recovery in housing conditions for the poor. The party made modest gains in the elections, but nothing like the huge gains that were predicted.

Answer 249

caring more for what other people need and want rather than for what you yourself need and want: selfless devotion to duty

Answer 250

thinking only about yourself and considering yourself better and more important than other people: Finding herself world-famous by the time she was 18 only encouraged the actress's egotism.

Answer 251

not making yourself noticeable, or not trying to get the attention of other people: The captain was typically self-effacing when questioned about the team's successes, giving credit to the other players.

Answer 252

the act or habit of not allowing yourself to have what you like or want, often so that other people can have it : He seemed to believe that he could be purified through self-abnegation. This soulful portrait of grief, self-abnegation, and recovery seemed to appeal particularly to women.

Answer 253

to use something slowly or carefully because you only have a small amount of it: There wasn't much food left, but we just managed to eke it out. eke out a living He managed to eke out a living (= earn just enough to live on) one summer by selling drinks on a beach.

Answer 254

to spoil something, making it less good or less enjoyable: Sadly, the text is marred by careless errors. It was a really nice day, marred only by a little argument in the car on the way home. I hope the fact that Louise isn't coming won't mar your enjoyment of the evening.

Answer 255

a child that behaves badly, but in a way that is funny rather than serious: Come here, you little imp!

Answer 256

anger: Petty restrictions easily raised/aroused the ire of such a creative artist.

Answer 257

to compete with other people to achieve or get something: Six candidates are currently vying for the Democratic presidential nomination. The two older children tend to vie with the younger one for their mother's attention.

Answer 258

extreme sadness: Her face was lined and full of woe. tale of woe He told me a real tale of woe about how he had lost both his job and his house in the same week.

Answer 259

the most important or basic part of something: What do you think is the nub of the problem?

Answer 260

to burn and become black or to burn something so that it becomes black: Grill the peppers until the skin starts to char.

Answer 261

The essence of something. The pith of agnosticism is that, ultimately, there is no way of determining whether a higher being truly exists

Answer 262

To complain constantly over trivial matters. He carped at his colleagues, pointing out every small mistake they made.

Answer 263

work hard ,confusion "men who moiled for gold" "the moil of his intimate thoughts"

Answer 264

to prevent someone or something from being successful: The prisoners' attempt to escape was foiled at the last minute when police received a tip-off.

Answer 265

If someone's manner or speech is curt, it is rude as a result of being very quick: to give a curt nod/reply Andy was very curt with him.

Answer 266

skilful, clever, or quick: Her movements were deft and quick. She answered the journalist's questions with a deft touch.

Answer 267

the most important or serious part of a matter, problem, or argument: The crux of the country's economic problems is its foreign debt. The issue of an arms embargo will be at the crux of the negotiations in Geneva.

Answer 268

always determined and energetic in trying to achieve something and never willing to admit defeat: Annie was an indefatigable campaigner for better community services.

Answer 269

extremely small: The amounts of radioactivity present were infinitesimal.

Answer 270

in a correct and suitable amount compared to something else: commensurate with I am looking for a salary that is commensurate with my skills and experience.

Answer 271

a feeling of no longer believing in the value of something, especially having learned of the problems with it: disenchantment with There is growing disenchantment with the way the club is being run. Young people felt locked out of politics, which led to apathy and disenchantment.

Answer 272

a judgment or the act of making a judgment about what is likely to happen in the future: optimistic economic prognostications his powers of prognostication

Answer 273

the act of protecting someone against legal responsibility for their actions: All of our employees receive indemnification against legal action. Before I will say anything, I want full indemnification.

Answer 274

not interesting, attractive, or impressive: We were disappointed at the unprepossessing exterior of the hotel.

Answer 275

beautiful: Last year a pulchritudinous gal from Ohio won the competition. Her pulchritudinous likeness adorns everything from bestselling books to ski boards.

Answer 276

awkward because of being large, heavy, or not effective: cumbersome equipment cumbersome bureaucracy

Answer 277

so obvious that it can easily be seen or known, or (of a feeling) so strong that it seems as if it can be touched or physically felt: a palpable effect Her joy was palpable.

Answer 278

very delicate and light: gossamer wings a gossamer veil

Answer 279

impossible to see, see clearly, or understand: an indiscernible change/shape/reason

Answer 280

not enough or not strong enough: an insubstantial meal

Answer 281

impossible to touch, to describe exactly, or to give an exact value: She has that intangible quality which you might call charisma. intangible assets such as goodwill

Answer 282

If an object or a substance is translucent, it is almost transparent, allowing some light through it in an attractive way: translucent plastic/glass This china is so fine and delicate that it's translucent. Laura's skin has a translucent quality.

Answer 283

a noisy argument or fight: He was injured in a Saturday-night fracas outside a disco. fracas over The prime minister has joined the fracas over the proposed changes.

Answer 284

a sudden excited or angry reaction to something by a lot of people: The government's decision to raise taxes has caused a great furor. furor over the furor over his latest movie

Answer 285

an improvement in the relationship between two countries that in the past were not friendly and did not trust each other: détente between The talks are aimed at furthering détente between the two countries.

Answer 286

a loud noise made by people who are angry or annoyed; a lot of angry comments made in public about someone or something: make a hullabaloo There's a crowd of angry demonstrators making a real hullabaloo outside the Houses of Parliament.

Answer 287

a lot of activity, worry, or excitement that is unnecessary or greater than the situation deserves: Most state flags were adopted with little ado many years ago. Without ado, it became the most widely used system in the world. ## Footnote fuss

Answer 288

something planned that goes wrong and is a complete failure, usually in an embarrassing way: The show was a fiasco - one actor forgot his lines and another fell off the stage.

Answer 289

a situation in which two people or groups of people become friendly again after they have argued: It took hours of negotiations to bring about a reconciliation between the two sides.

Answer 290

a serious disagreement that separates two people who have been friends and stops their friendship continuing: The marriage caused a rift between the brothers and they didn't speak to each other for ten years.

Answer 291

If something is derivative, it is not the result of new ideas, but has been developed from or copies something else: His painting/style is very derivative.

Answer 292

considered traditional, normal, and acceptable by most people: orthodox treatment/methods orthodox views/opinions We would prefer a more orthodox approach/solution to the problem.

Answer 293

not interesting; showing very little imagination: Her books, with few exceptions, are workmanlike but pedestrian. His speech was long and pedestrian.

Answer 294

boring, ordinary, and not original: He just sat there making banal remarks all evening. banal pop songs

Answer 295

A hackneyed phrase or idea has been said or used so often that it has become boring and has no meaning: The plot of the film is just a hackneyed boy-meets-girl scenario.

Answer 296

expressed too often to be interesting or seem sincere: His lyrics about love and peace are too trite for me to take them seriously. I know it will sound trite, but I've loved being part of this club.

Answer 297

without interest, imagination, and excitement: If only she'd been called Camilla or Flavia instead of the prosaic Jane. He asked if I'd got my black eye in a fight - I told him the prosaic truth that I'd banged my head on a door.

Answer 298

ordinary: Television has become part of our quotidian existence. ## Footnote everyday,mundane

Answer 299

using ideas and methods that have never been used before: pioneering techniques a pioneering surgeon

Answer 300

Avant-garde ideas, styles, and methods are very original or modern in comparison to the period in which they happen: avant-garde art/cinema/painting It was one of the first avant-garde works to appeal to a wide audience.

Answer 301

a person who thinks and acts in an independent way, often behaving differently from the expected or usual way: a political maverick He was considered as something of a maverick in the publishing world.

Answer 302

with the ability to imagine how a country, society, industry, etc. will develop in the future: a visionary author visionary thinking

Answer 303

different from what is usual or from the way most people do things: an unconventional childhood/lifestyle/marriage

Answer 304

believing or expressing the belief that there should be great or extreme social or political change: He was known as a radical reformer/thinker/politician. These people have very radical views.

Answer 305

to encourage or persuade someone to do something in a way that is gentle rather than forceful or direct: He cleverly nudges us towards the conclusion he himself has reached. Do you find your parents nudging you in the direction of further study?

Answer 306

to persuade someone forcefully to do something that they are unwilling to do: be coerced into The court heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. ## Footnote force

Answer 307

threats used to force a person to do something: under duress He claimed that he signed the confession under duress.

Answer 308

to persuade someone gently to do something or go somewhere, by being kind and patient, or by appearing to be: coax someone into doing something Perhaps you could coax your father into taking you to the station. coax someone to do something I coaxed her to eat a little bit. A mother was coaxing her reluctant child into the water. a coaxing voice

Answer 309

to make a person or an animal react or do something by continuously annoying or upsetting them: goad someone into something She seemed determined to goad him into a fight. He refused to be goaded by their insults. be goaded on The runner was goaded on by his desire to keep up with the others. A group of children were goading (= laughing at or pushing) another child in the school playground.

Answer 310

to persuade someone to do something: induce someone to do something They induced her to take the job by promising editorial freedom. nothing could induce Nothing could induce me (= I definitely cannot be persuaded) to climb a mountain/ride a bike.

Answer 311

to persuade someone to do something they might not want to do, by pleasant talk and promises, sometimes ones which are false: cajole someone into something/doing something He really knows how to cajole people into doing what he wants. I managed to cajole her out of leaving too early. The most effective technique is to cajole rather than to threaten.

Answer 312

a flattering or pleasing statement or action used as a means of gently persuading someone to do something. "the blandishments of the travel brochure"

Answer 313

confused, because something is difficult to understand or solve: The students looked perplexed, so the teacher tried to explain once again. Police were perplexed by the killing because there didn't seem to be any motive.

Answer 314

a calm mental state, especially after a shock or disappointment or in a difficult situation: He received the news of his mother's death with remarkable equanimity. Three years after the tragedy she has only just begun to regain her equanimity.

Answer 315

staying calm and controlled despite problems or difficulties: He was imperturbable in a crisis.

Answer 316

ready to do a particular thing at any moment: [ + to infinitive ] The company is poised to launch its new advertising campaign. The military forces are poised for attack.

Answer 317

to confuse someone so much that they do not know what to do: I have to say that last question flummoxed me. ## Footnote baffle,puzzle

Answer 318

to confuse someone or make someone feel uncomfortable

Answer 319

confidence and style: Rosalind conducted the meeting with characteristic aplomb/with her usual aplomb.

Answer 320

to cause someone to be completely unable to understand or explain something: She was completely baffled by his strange behaviour.

Answer 321

the activity of guessing possible answers to a question without having enough information to be certain: Rumours that they are about to marry have been dismissed as pure speculation. Speculation about his future plans is rife. [ + that ] News of the president's illness fuelled/prompted speculation that an election will be held later in the year.

Answer 322

a guess about something based on how it seems and not on proof: There's been a lot of conjecture in the media recently about the marriage.

Answer 323

the act of believing that something is true without having any proof: The presumption of innocence is central to American law. There is no scientific evidence to support such presumptions. [ + that ] The decision is based on the presumption that all information must be freely available.

Answer 324

to say that something is certainly true: The lawyer averred her client's innocence. [ + speech ] "He's guilty, I tell you," she averred. [ + that ] She averred that he was guilty.

Answer 325

to suggest a theory, idea, etc. as a basic principle from which a further idea is formed or developed: [ + that ] It was the Greek astronomer, Ptolemy, who postulated that the earth was at the centre of the universe.

Answer 326

to suggest something as a basic fact or principle from which a further idea is formed or developed: [ + that ] If we posit that wage rises cause inflation, it follows that we should try to minimize them.

Answer 327

completely harmless (= causing no harm): Some mushrooms look innocuous but are in fact poisonous.

Answer 328

(of something unpleasant or dangerous) gradually and secretly causing harm: High blood pressure is an insidious condition which has few symptoms.

Answer 329

A salubrious place is pleasant, clean, and healthy to live in: He doesn't live in a very salubrious part of town.

Answer 330

to give new life, energy, activity, or success to something: Japanese investment has revitalized this part of Britain.

Answer 331

having a very harmful effect or influence: The cuts in government funding have had a pernicious effect on local health services.

Answer 332

something that makes you feel better or more energetic if you are feeling tired or ill: After a hard day at the office, a hot bath is a welcome restorative.

Answer 333

harmful: These drugs have a proven deleterious effect on the nervous system.

Answer 334

angry because of something that is wrong or not fair: She wrote an indignant letter to the paper complaining about the council's action. He became very indignant when it was suggested he had made a mistake.

Answer 335

to react angrily: She bristled at the suggestion that she had in any way neglected the child.

Answer 336

unhappy, annoyed, and disappointed about something: A disgruntled former employee is being blamed for the explosion. disgruntled with The players were disgruntled with the umpire. ## Footnote dissatisfied

Answer 337

extremely angry: incensed at The villagers are incensed at the decision to close the railway station. He was incensed by the suggestion that he'd leaked details of a confidential conversation

Answer 338

to annoy someone: What peeved her most was his thoughtlessness. [ + that ] It peeves me that she didn't bother to phone.

Answer 339

slightly angry, especially because someone has damaged your feeling of being proud of yourself: The scientists were piqued because science and hard work made their colleague wealthy. She felt piqued at being excluded from the meeting.

Answer 340

very angry: We have received some irate phone calls from customers.

Answer 341

extreme anger: The people feared the wrath of God.

Answer 342

extremely brave and showing no fear of dangerous situations: a team of intrepid explorers

Answer 343

causing you to have fear or respect for something or someone because that thing or person is large, powerful, or difficult: a formidable obstacle/task a formidable adversary/enemy/opponent a formidable intellect

Answer 344

very cowardly (= not at all brave): a craven act of terrorism Politicians are too craven to tackle this problem

Answer 345

still determined and enthusiastic, despite problems or no success: Undaunted by the cold and the rain, people danced until 2 a.m. The team remain undaunted, despite three defeats in a row.

Answer 346

brave: It was plucky of you to chase after the burglar. ## Footnote brave

Answer 347

showing great courage: She will receive the Bronze Star Medal for exceptionally valorous actions while under enemy fire.

Answer 348

weak and cowardly (= not brave); frightened of taking risks: He's too pusillanimous to stand up to his opponents.

Answer 349

very strong, especially in character; producing respect and a little fear in others: Tonight he faces the most redoubtable opponent of his boxing career.

Answer 350

an official order, especially one that is given in a forceful and unfair way: The City Council issued an edict against spitting in the street. a religious edict ## Footnote decree,flat , proclamation

Answer 351

to end a law, agreement, or custom formally,to avoid something that you should do:: The treaty was abrogated in 1929. Companies are really abrogating responsibility for safety. He seemed to abrogate his duty to uphold law and order.

Answer 352

to announce something publicly, especially a new law: The new law was finally promulgated in the autumn of last year.

Answer 353

to put something into action, especially to make something law: A package of economic sanctions is to be enacted against the country.

Answer 354

to officially announce that something such as a law, agreement, or marriage no longer exists: His second marriage was annulled because he never divorced his first wife.

Answer 355

an order given by a person in authority: by fiat No company can set industry standards by fiat.

Answer 356

to make a law, agreement, order, or decision no longer have any (legal) power: The policy of charging air travellers for vegetarian meals proved unpopular and has already been rescinded. ## Footnote annul

Answer 357

stupid and slow to understand, or unwilling to try to understand: The answer's obvious - or are you being deliberately obtuse?

Answer 358

One’s special area of expertise. His niche was go-kart racing, and he had at one point taken part in a national competition.

Answer 359

able to understand a situation quickly and see how to take advantage of it: an astute investor/businesswoman his astute handling of the situation an astute observer of human behaviour

Answer 360

skill in making correct decisions and judgments in a particular subject, such as business or politics: She has considerable business/financial acumen.

Answer 361

having or based on a clear understanding and good judgment of a situation, resulting in an advantage: [ + to infinitive ] He was shrewd enough not to take the job when there was the possibility of getting a better one a few months later. She is a shrewd politician who wants to avoid offending the electorate unnecessarily. It was a shrewd move to buy your house just before property prices started to rise.

Answer 362

very serious, extreme, or severe: -The area has an acute water shortage. used to describe intelligence, senses, etc. that are very good, accurate, and able to notice very small differences: acute eyesight/hearing an acute sense of smell a woman of acute intelligence/judgment

Answer 363

the area that a person or an organization is interested in, is responsible for, or controls: He had been commenting on matters that were, strictly speaking, outside his bailiwick.

Answer 364

pleasant and kind; not harmful or severe: a benign smile His humor was benign, never cruel or hurtful.

Answer 365

someone who gives money to a person or organization, usually without expecting anything back in return: They hope to find a benefactor, and turn the factory into a museum.

Answer 366

A blessing. The new converts traveled thousands of miles to hear the benediction of their religious leader.

Answer 367

helpful, useful, or good: The improvement in sales figures had a beneficial effect/influence on the company as a whole. A stay in the country will be beneficial to his health.

Answer 368

the quality of being kind and helpful: His sunny, calm tone suggested a man of deep benevolence.

Answer 369

a person or group who receives money, advantages, etc. as a result of something else: Her wife was the chief beneficiary of her will.

Answer 370

A disease carried by mosquitos. Malaria is endemic in many parts of Africa.

Answer 371

an example of dishonest and illegal behaviour, especially by a person in authority: Several cases of malpractice and malfeasance in the financial world are currently being investigated.

Answer 372

An unintended—usually humorous—misuse of a word or words. He was notorious for his malapropism, once claiming he hated “oven guard” (not avant-garde) art, especially because the art had nothing to do with ovens.

Answer 373

having an unpleasant smell: The town is built on a malodorous swamp.

Answer 374

a disease: All the rose bushes seem to be suffering from the same mysterious malady.

Answer 375

the wish to harm or upset other people: There certainly wasn't any malice in her comments. formal I bear him no malice (= do not want to harm or upset him).

Answer 376

causing or intending to cause harm or evil: Foreign domination had a malign influence on local politics. She describes pornography as "a malign industry".

Answer 377

bad or harmful: He denied any maleficent intent.

Answer 378

Literally “distant sound” (think of telepathy, or the ability to read minds). You’ve probably heard telephone countless times. But you might not have known that it relies on the root tele-, meaning “distant,” and phon-, meaning “sound.”

Answer 379

Relating to the way words are spoken. He was able to learn Spanish phonetically, listening to how it was spoken without having to rely on a book. Pronunciations are shown in this dictionary using the International Phonetic Alphabet.

Answer 380

an unpleasant mixture of loud sounds: What a cacophony! As we entered the farmyard we were met with a cacophony of animal sounds.

Answer 381

a long piece of music for an orchestra, usually with four movements (= parts): Mahler's ninth symphony

Answer 382

a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning, or a different spelling and meaning: The words "sow" and "sew" are homophones. Readers often wrote in to complain about homophones (complement, not compliment) and poor grammar.

Answer 383

speaking French as the main or official language: francophone Africa

Answer 384

a person who speaks English, especially in countries where other languages are also spoken

Answer 385

A unit of sound in a language. The difference between "pin" and "pan" depends on the vowel, i.e. the different phonemes /ɪ/ and /æ/.

Answer 386

extreme happiness, sometimes more than is reasonable in a particular situation: They were in a state of euphoria for days after they won the prize.

Answer 387

a word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word: "Senior citizen" is a euphemism for "old person". The article made so much use of euphemism that often its meaning was unclear.

Answer 388

the idea that it is possible to improve humans by allowing only particular people to produce children, which most people now do not accept or support because of the idea's connection with racist and Nazi theories and actions: Eugenics is a philosophy rather than a science. There was concern that genetic profiling might lead to a form of eugenics, in which parents are told which children they can bring into the world.

Answer 389

the act of killing someone who is very ill or very old so that they do not suffer any more: Although some people campaign for the right to euthanasia, it is still illegal in most countries. ## Footnote mercy killing

Answer 390

a speech, piece of writing, poem, etc. containing great praise, especially for someone who recently died or retired from work: He was the most self-effacing of men - the last thing he would have relished was a eulogy. The song was a eulogy to the joys of travelling.

Answer 391

used to show that you have been successful in something you were trying to do: "Eureka!" she shouted as the engine started.

Answer 392

the quality of having a pleasant sound: The poet has chosen her words more for euphony than factual accuracy. Every word in Swahili ends in a vowel, giving it an unparalleled euphony.

Answer 393

producing happiness

Answer 394

The study of humankind. The anthropology major decided to spend the summer in Papua New Guinea, studying a forest tribe that had been “discovered” only a few years earlier

Answer 395

Viewing humankind as the center of the universe. If we are alone in the universe, an anthropocentric stance seems reasonable, but even the existence of one alien species would cast our primacy into doubt. Literally “man center.” The noun form of anthropocentric is anthropocentrism.

Answer 396

treating animals, gods, or objects as if they are human in appearance, character, and behaviour: His drawings of birds are vaguely anthropomorphic. anthropomorphic sculptures/robots

Answer 397

caused by humans or their activities: anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases

Answer 398

the eating of human flesh by human beings.

Answer 399

The current geological age : =Arguments occur as to when, if at all, the Holocene ended and the Anthropocene began. =To assign a specific date to the onset of the "Anthropocene" seems somewhat arbitrary, but we propose the latter part of the 18th century. =The Anthropocene represents a new phase in the history of both humankind and of the Earth, when natural forces and human forces became intertwined.

Answer 400

careful not to take risks: Officials were circumspect about saying what the talks had achieved.

Answer 401

To figure out a way around an obstacle.: Ships were registered abroad to circumvent employment and safety regulations. Some citizens have circumvented the ordinance against putting garbage in the recycling bin by putting the garbage in first and then covering it with recyclables.

Answer 402

to limit something: Their movements have been severely circumscribed since the laws came into effect. There followed a series of tightly circumscribed visits to military installations.

Answer 403

(an example of) an indirect way of saying something, especially something unpleasant: "Economical with the truth" is a circumlocution for "lying". Politicians are experts in circumlocution.

Answer 404

a fact or event that makes a situation the way it is: under the circumstances I think she coped very well under the circumstances. Obviously we can't deal with the problem until we know all the circumstances. suspicious circumstances She died in suspicious circumstances.

Answer 405

To walk around something.

Answer 406

a system for controlling or managing a country, company, or organization that is operated by a large number of officials employed to follow rules carefully: I had to deal with the university's bureaucracy when I was applying for financial aid.

Answer 407

A dictatorship. Not all autocracies are malevolent; in fact, some are benign as long as the prevailing order goes unchallenged.

Answer 408

a system of government in which the richest people in a country rule or have power: It's time we put an end to plutocracy.

Answer 409

a class of people who hold high social rank: members of the aristocracy

Answer 410

a country that is ruled by religious leaders

Answer 411

a government or social system that is controlled or influenced by experts in science or technology; the fact of a government or social system being influenced by such experts : We live in a technocracy where progress involves the mastering of increasingly complex data. In her opinion, technocracy was not incompatible with democracy.

Answer 412

Rule by old people.

Answer 413

the division of two things that are completely different: I try to examine the dichotomy between what people think they are and what they do. The dichotomy between art and technology is not as clear-cut as we think— take the latest smartphone, for instance, which combines elegance with function.

Answer 414

to (cause a part of the body to) become wider or further open: The pupils of the eyes dilate as darkness increases. This drug will dilate the arteries.

Answer 415

being active or happening during the day rather than at night: The Ethiopian wolf is mostly diurnal, but becomes nocturnal in areas where it is persecuted. diurnal activity

Answer 416

including many different types of people or things: Students from countries as diverse as Colombia and Lithuania use Cambridge textbooks. New York is a very culturally/ethnically diverse city.

Answer 417

to follow a different direction, or to be or become different: They walked along the road together until they reached the village, but then their paths diverged. Although the two organizations have worked together for many years, their objectives have diverged recently.

Answer 418

to examine or consider something in detail: He's the kind of person who watches a movie and then dissects it for hours.

Answer 419

to reduce the strength of a feeling, action, etc.: These measures are designed to dilute public fears about the product's safety.

Answer 420

a judgment about what a particular illness or problem is, made after examining it: "What was the diagnosis?" "Arthritis in both joints." make a diagnosis The doctor has made an initial diagnosis. diagnosis of Diagnosis of the disease is difficult in the early stages.

Answer 421

A small model representing a scene in three dimensions. Dioramas are three-dimensional. At the museum there was a diorama of local wildlife.

Answer 422

a small crown (= a circular decoration for the head) with jewels in it

Answer 423

relating to the changes in something, especially a language, that happen over time

Answer 424

a burst of sound diapasons of laughter

Answer 425

the appearance of a particular disease in a large number of people at the same time: a flu epidemic

Answer 426

the typical or highest example of a stated quality, as shown by a particular person or thing: Even now in her sixties, she is the epitome of French elegance. He was the epitome of the fashionable gentleman.

Answer 427

involving or consisting of letter writing: She wrote an epistolary novel. They had an epistolary relationship. They've published their epistolary relationship in a book. Woven throughout the film are poignant epistolary reflections of life before the war. The first story takes the epistolary form

Answer 428

A phrase written on a tombstone.

Answer 429

an adjective added to a person's name or a phrase used instead of it, usually to criticize or praise them: The singer's 104-kilo frame earned him the epithet of "Man Mountain" in the press. a racial epithet His stubbornness earned him the epithet “Senator No.”

Answer 430

a short saying or poem that expresses an idea in a clever, funny way: One of Oscar Wilde's most frequently quoted epigrams is "I can resist everything except temptation".

Answer 431

words that are written on or cut into a surface: The value of the bronzes was directly dependent on whether they carried epigraphs.

Answer 432

used to refer to something very old that is still existing: We have some extant parish records from the 16th century. Extant recordings of great nineteenth-century musicians exist, though the quality is not very good.

Answer 433

very beautiful and delicate: an exquisite piece of china Look at this exquisite painting. She has exquisite taste. a vase of exquisite workmanship

Answer 434

To banish or no longer allow a person to be part of a group. For questioning the legitimacy of the pope, the iconoclastic priest was excommunicated.

Answer 435

to use something such as authority, power, influence, etc. in order to make something happen: exert your influence If you were to exert your influence they might change their decision. exert pressure on Some managers exert considerable pressure on their staff to work extra hours without being paid.

Answer 436

to excuse someone or something from a duty, payment, etc.: be exempted from Small businesses have been exempted from the tax increase.

Answer 437

to demand and get something, sometimes using force or threats: to exact revenge on someone The blackmailers exacted a total of $100,000 from their victims.

Answer 438

extremely painful: excruciating pain an excruciating pain in the lower back

Answer 439

a typical or good example of something: exemplar of It is an exemplar of a house of the period. I’ve never regarded myself as an exemplar of virtue.

Answer 440

To dig up out of the ground. Sally and her friend had buried a toy jewelry box with a friendship bracelet and exhumed it a year later to find it intact.

Answer 441

To remove or purge something undesirable. By lowering interest rates, the Fed has exorcised any concerns that it would raise them. It will take a long time to exorcise the memory of the accident.

Answer 442

living in a country that is not your own country, or relating to people that do this: an expatriate Scot expatriate communities The group was expatriated from Europe and now lives near the river.

Answer 443

helpful or useful in a particular situation, but sometimes not morally acceptable: It might be expedient not to pay him until the work is finished. The management has taken a series of expedient measures to improve the company's financial situation.

Answer 444

quick: The bank was expeditious in replying to my letter.

Answer 445

to use or spend something, esp. time, effort, or money: They expend all their energy fixing up their house.

Answer 446

to explain something in detail, especially a piece of writing or an idea: This is a book which clearly explicates Marx's later writings.

Answer 447

to use something in a way that helps you: exploit your resources We need to make sure that we exploit our resources as fully as possible.

Answer 448

A piece of usually sensational journalism that uncovers corruption and scandal. The exposé revealed what many in the town had long known: that the water running through the old mill was toxic.

Answer 449

done or said without any preparation or thought: an extemporaneous speech

Answer 450

to express disagreement or complaint: expostulate with someone about something Walter expostulated with the waiter about the size of the bill.

Answer 451

to get something by force or threats, or with difficulty: extort something from someone He had been extorting money from the old lady for years. Police have not so far been able to extort a confession from the people accused of the bombing.

Answer 452

to make someone return for trial to another country or state where they have been accused of doing something illegal: be extradited from He was extradited from Greece earlier this year.. be extradited to He will be extradited to Arizona from Florida.

Answer 453

explaining or describing something: expository writing

Answer 454

to express great pleasure or happiness, especially at someone else's defeat or failure: exult at They exulted at their victory. exult over Campaigners exulted over the ruling announced yesterday.

Answer 455

to remove something or set something free with difficulty: extricate something from something It took hours to extricate the car from the sand. I tried to extricate myself from the situation.

Answer 456

to drink, especially alcohol: Have you been imbibing again?

Answer 457

To charge with wrongdoing. The op-ed columnist impeached the business mogul’s integrity, implying that all of his charity had been self-serving. The governor was impeached for wrongful use of state money.

Answer 458

to become completely involved in something: She got some books out of the library and immersed herself in Jewish history and culture.

Answer 459

to spoil something or make it weaker so that it is less effective: A recurring knee injury may have impaired his chances of winning the tournament.

Answer 460

to communicate information to someone: to impart the bad news I was rather quiet as I didn't feel I had much wisdom to impart on the subject.

Answer 461

to fill something or someone with a particular feeling, quality, or idea,something/someone with something: His poetry is imbued with deep, religious feeling.

Answer 462

to make someone feel that they must do something: [ + to infinitive ] She was in such a mess I felt impelled to (= felt I had to) offer your services. impel someone to do something I wonder what it is that impels him to exercise all the time.

Answer 463

impossible to see through or go through: Outside, the fog was thick and impenetrable. an impenetrable barrier

Answer 464

difficult to believe, or unlikely: The whole plot of the film is ridiculously implausible.

Answer 465

to beg : , implore someone to do something She implored her parents not to send her away to school.

Answer 466

difficult to grasp There are too many imponderables to make an accurate forecast.

Answer 467

very poor: an impoverished young actor

Answer 468

Not powerful.

Answer 469

not intentional: All authors need to be wary of inadvertent copying of other people's ideas. ## Footnote accidental

Answer 470

to fix beliefs or ideas in someone's mind, especially by repeating them often: inculcate something in/into someone Our coach has worked hard to inculcate a team spirit in/into the players. ## Footnote infuse

Answer 471

a woman someone is in love with: He's had a tattoo with the name of a former lover removed, to avoid hurting the feelings of his current inamorata.

Answer 472

extremely silly or with no real meaning or importance: He's always making inane remarks. There are too many inane quiz shows on television these days.

Answer 473

not suitable for the situation: His comments were perhaps inapt.

Answer 474

extremely bright: The mountain's snow-white peak was incandescent against the blue sky.

Answer 475

unable to be accepted in a law court: Her confession was ruled inadmissible as evidence because it was given under pressure from the police.

Answer 476

To imprison. He’d been incarcerated several times before he was 25, when he finally turned his life around

Answer 477

(of weather) unpleasant, esp. cold or stormy: The concert in the park was postponed because of the inclement weather.

Answer 478

just beginning: signs of incipient public frustration

Answer 479

to make someone want to do something,To provide rewards to stimulate one to action. : We need to incentivize our sales managers to achieve these targets.

Answer 480

the beginning of an organization or official activity: since something's inception Since its inception in 1968, the company has been at the forefront of computer development.

Answer 481

to burn something completely: to incinerate waste The spacecraft and its crew were incinerated by the billion-degree temperatures generated by the fireball.

Answer 482

to encourage someone to do or feel something unpleasant or violent: She incited racial hatred by distributing anti-Semitic leaflets. [ + to infinitive ] She was expelled for inciting her classmates to rebel against their teachers. incite someone to something They denied inciting the crowd to violence.

Answer 483

unusual or different from what is around or from what is generally happening: The new computer looked incongruous in the dark book-filled library. seem incongruous It seems incongruous to have a woman as the editor of a men's magazine.

Answer 484

so sad or disappointed that it is impossible for anyone to make you feel better: They were inconsolable after the death of their young son.

Answer 485

An incorrigible person or incorrigible behaviour is bad and impossible to change or improve: an incorrigible liar/rogue Niles was an incorrigible nail-biter, working his way through an entire thumb during a red light.

Answer 486

not wanting or not able to believe something, and usually showing this: A few incredulous spectators watched on as Paterson, ranked 23rd in the world, beat the champion.

Answer 487

not showing careful choice or planning, especially so that harm results: an indiscriminate terrorist attack on civilians The indiscriminate use of fertilizers can cause long-term problems.

Answer 488

impossible to doubt because of being obviously true: incontrovertible proof/evidence Her logic is utterly incontrovertible.

Answer 489

allowing someone to have or do what they want, especially when this is not good for them: indulgent relatives an indulgent smile He had been a strict father but was indulgent to/towards his grandchildren.

Answer 490

causing so much emotion, especially pleasure, that it cannot be described: ineffable joy/beauty

Answer 491

to often repeat an idea or belief to someone until they accept it without criticism or question: indoctrinate someone in something Some parents were critical of attempts to indoctrinate children in green ideology. They have been indoctrinated by television to believe that violence is normal.

Answer 492

(of a disease) able to be passed from one person, animal, or plant to another: an infectious disease

Answer 493

to bury a dead body: be interred in Many of the soldiers were interred in unmarked graves.

Answer 494

the fact that a situation is not fair, or something that is not fair in a situation: inequities in the healthcare system gender inequity in the classroom

Answer 495

harmful or limiting: inimical to Excessive managerial control is inimical to creative expression.

Answer 496

a very wrong and unfair action or situation: They fought long and hard against the iniquities of apartheid. The writer reflects on human injustice and iniquity.

Answer 497

to suggest, without being direct, that something unpleasant is true: [ + (that) ] Are you insinuating (that) I'm losing my nerve? What are you insinuating, Daniel?

Answer 498

to make someone unable to work or do things normally, or unable to do what they intended to do: The accident left me incapacitated for seven months. Rubber bullets are designed to incapacitate people rather than kill them.

Answer 499

to slow down a process or the growth of something: This drug inhibits the growth of tumours.

Answer 500

too many to be counted: The project has been delayed by innumerable problems. ## Footnote countless , infinte

Answer 501

To start something, usually bad.: The government will instigate new measures to combat terrorism. The revolt in the north is believed to have been instigated by a high-ranking general.

Answer 502

to mix one thing in with another in a way that is not regular: The documentary intersperses graphical animations with film clips of the actual event. Her handwritten notes were interspersed throughout the text.

Answer 503

to ask someone a lot of questions for a long time in order to get information, sometimes using threats or violence: Thousands of dissidents have been interrogated or imprisoned in recent weeks.

Answer 504

to use your influence to persuade someone in authority to forgive another person, or save this person from punishment: intercede with Several religious leaders have interceded with the authorities on behalf of the condemned prisoner.

Answer 505

To prohibit.

Answer 506

temporary and intended to be used or accepted until something permanent exists: an interim solution An interim government was set up for the period before the country's first free election.

Answer 507

to say something while another person is speaking: [ + speech ] "That's absolutely ridiculous!" Mary interjected.

words L 64 -142 Flashcards

(532 cards)