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40 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Byzantine |
very complicated, secret, and hard to understand 复杂的
complicated, tough
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chary |
cautious about doing something — + about or of 小心的
careful cautious
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dearth |
the state or condition of not having enough of something : lack —+ of 足够的
The dearth [=scarcity] of jobs in the city forced many families to leave the area. a dearth of evidence
enough
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dogmatic |
expressing personal opinions or beliefs as if they are certainly correct and cannot be doubted 抒发言论
— dogmatically /dɑgˈmætɪkli/ adverb [more dogmatically; most dogmatically] — dogmatism /ˈdɑːgməˌtɪzəm/ noun [noncount] moral/religious/political dogmatism — dogmatist /ˈdɑːgmətɪst/ noun, plural dogmatists [count] a political dogmatist [=a person with dogmatic political opinions]
express feelings
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exculpate |
to prove that someone is not guilty of doing something wrong The court exculpated him after a thorough investigation. 证明无罪
exculpates; exculpated; exculpating — exculpation /ˌɛkˌskʌlˈpeɪʃən/ noun [noncount] — exculpatory /ɛkˈskʌlpəˌtori/ Brit /ɛkˈskʌlpətri/ adjective exculpatory evidence
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expedient |
providing an easy and quick way to solve a problem or do something 捷径
They found it expedient to negotiate with the terrorists. a politically expedient solution Do the right thing, not the expedient thing. — expediently adverb We want to resolve this issue as expediently [=quickly] as possible. — expedience /ɪkˈspiːdijəns/ or expediency /ɪkˈspiːdijənsi/ noun [noncount]
political expedience/expediency for reasons of expediency |
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fervid |
having or showing feelings that are very strong or too strong 强烈的感情
fervid fans — fervidly adverb
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forestall |
to stop (something) from happening or to cause (something) to happen at a later time 阻止
to act before (someone else) in order to prevent something
Negotiations failed to forestall the conflict. His comments were meant to forestall criticism of his proposal. He forestalled critics by offering a defense of the project. |
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harbinger |
something that shows what is coming — usually + of 征兆 * |
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interminable |
having or seeming to have no end : continuing for a very long time 无止境的
* |
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myriad |
a very large number of things 大量的 The car comes in a myriad of colors. [=in many colors] There are a myriad of possibilities. — often plural myriads of stars/insects
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obtuse |
formal : stupid or unintelligent : not able to think clearly or to understand what is obvious or simple 愚蠢的 * |
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paragon |
a person or thing that is perfect or excellent in some way and should be considered a model or example to be copied He's no moral paragon. — often + of The company is a paragon of modern manufacturing techniques. He is a paragon of virtue. [=he is a very virtuous person) |
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prolific |
producing a large amount of something 大量生产 a prolific author [=an author who writes many books] a prolific inventor She's a prolific scorer. [=she scores many points/goals] |
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serendipity |
luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for 运气
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amiable |
friendly and pleasant 友好的 Everyone knew him as an amiable fellow. She had an amiable conversation with her friend. — amiability /ˌeɪmijəˈbɪləti/ noun[noncount] the amiability of their conversation [singular] She has a warm amiability. — amiably /ˈeɪmijəbli/ adverb They chatted amiably with one another. |
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coerce |
: to make (someone) do something by using force or threats —usually + into 强迫某人做某事 He was coerced into signing the confession. Soldiers coerced the residents into giving them food. The singer was coerced into a contract with the record company. 2 : to get (something) by using force or threats A confession was coerced from the suspect by police. — coercion /koʊˈɚʒən/ /koʊˈɚʃən/ noun [noncount] They used coercion to obtain the confession. |
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condone |
to forgive or approve (something that is considered wrong) : to allow (something that is considered wrong) to continue 原谅 a government that has been accused of condoning racism — often used in negative statements We cannot condone [=excuse] that kind of behavior. |
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contentious |
a : likely to cause people to argue or disagree 引起争论 I think it's wise to avoid such a highly contentious[=controversial] topic/issue at a dinner party. b : involving a lot of arguing After a contentious debate, members of the committee finally voted to approve the funding. They have a contentious relationship. [=they argue with each other a lot] 2 : likely or willing to argue a contentious student The dispute involves one of the region's most contentiousleaders. — contentiously adverb — contentiousness noun [noncount] |
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disparage |
to describe (someone or something) as unimportant, weak, bad, etc. 很弱 Voters don't like political advertisements in which opponentsdisparage one another. It's a mistake to disparage their achievements. The article disparaged polo as a game for the wealthy. — disparagement /dɪˈsperɪʤmənt/ noun [noncount] a term of disparagement the author's relentless disparagement of politicians — disparaging adjective [more disparaging; most disparaging] I heard her making disparaging remarks about her coworkers. — disparagingly adverb He referred disparagingly to his car as “an old clunker.” |
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dormant |
not doing anything at this time : not active but able to become active 无所事事的 a dormant volcano The seeds will remain/lie dormant until the spring. Her emotions have lain dormant for many years. — dormancy /ˈdoɚmənsi/ noun [noncount] The volcano has been in a state of dormancy for many years. a period of dormancy |
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idiosyncratic |
an unusual way in which a particular person behaves or thinks 失常 Her habit of using “like” in every sentence was just one of her idiosyncrasies. 2 : an unusual part or feature of something The current system has a few idiosyncrasies. — idiosyncratic /ˌɪdijoʊˌsɪnˈkrætɪk/ adjective [more idiosyncratic; most idiosyncratic] She has an idiosyncratic [=unusual] singing voice. His taste in music was very idiosyncratic. an idiosyncratic writing style — idiosyncratically /ˌɪdijoʊˌsɪnˈkrætɪkli/ adverb |
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infallible |
not capable of being wrong or making mistakes : not fallible 不行的 I never claimed to be infallible. an infallible memory 2 : certain to work properly or succeed There is no infallible remedy to these problems. — infallibility /ɪnˌfæləˈbɪləti/ noun [noncount] I never made any claims of infallibility. — see also papal infallibility — infallibly /ɪnˈfæləbli/ adverb The computer program can infallibly identify each type of file. |
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mundane |
dull and ordinary 普通的 mundane chores, like washing dishes They lead a pretty mundane life. 2 : relating to ordinary life on earth rather than to spiritual things prayer and meditation helped her put her mundane worries aside |
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myriad |
a very large number of things 很多东西 The car comes in a myriad of colors. [=in many colors] There are a myriad of possibilities. — often plural myriads of stars/insects |
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peripheral |
not relating to the main or most important part 无关紧要的 If we focus too much on peripheral issues, we will lose sight of the goal. — often + to His role in the negotiations was peripheral to the outcome. [=his role in the negotiations was not important in deciding the outcome] 2 computers : connected to a computer but not an essential part of it peripheral devices/equipment such as modems and scanners 3 : of or relating to the area that is to the side of the area you are looking at He saw in his peripheral vision that a car was trying to pass him. 4 medical : of or relating to the part of the nervous system that is separate from the brain and spinal cord peripheral nerves the peripheral nervous system — peripherally adverb |
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placat |
to cause (someone) to feel less angry about something 引起 The administration placated protesters by agreeing to consider their demands. The angry customer was not placated by the clerk's apology. |
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recondite |
not understood or known by many people 无法理解 a recondite subject/fact |
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revere |
to have great respect for (someone or something) : to show devotion and honor to (someone or something) 尊重 The family reveres old traditions. — often + as The town reveres him as a hero. — often used as (be) revered He is revered as a hero. Her poems are revered by other poets. |
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zenith |
1 formal : the strongest or most successful period of time 成功时 At its zenith [=peak] in the 1980s, the company employed more than 300 people. That was the zenith [=the highest point] of her career. — opposite nadir 2 technical : the highest point reached in the sky by the sun, moon, etc. |
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ejaculate |
medical : to release semen from the penis [+ object] 治病 ejaculate semen [no object] He was unable to ejaculate. 2 [+ object] old-fashioned : to say (something) suddenly and forcefully “Good God!” he ejaculated. — ejaculatory /ɪˈʤækjələˌtori/ adjective, medical ejaculatory ducts |
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ludicrous |
very foolish : ridiculous 荒唐的 ludicrous ideas/thoughts a ludicrous statement/suggestion It's ludicrous [=absurd] to think that he can solve these problems himself. — ludicrously adverb a ludicrously improbable idea — ludicrousness noun [noncount] |
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abyss |
a hole so deep or a space so great that it cannot be measured 洞穴 the ocean's abysses I stood at the edge of the cliff and gazed down into the yawning/gaping abyss. [=chasm] — often used figuratively He says that there is a widening abyss between the rich and the poor. She was pulled down into an abyss of despair. |
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dangle |
to hang down loosely especially in a way that makes it possible to swing freely 悬挂 [no object] Let your arms dangle at your sides. dangling earrings — often + from Diamonds and pearls dangled from her ears. Wires were dangling dangerously from the ceiling. A cigarette dangled from his lips. [+ object] She sat on the edge of the pool, dangling her feet in the water. He dangled a piece of string in front of the cat. 2 [+ object] informal : to offer (something) in order to persuade someone to do something The money she dangled in front of him wasn't enough to convince him to sell. They refused to accept the money that was dangled before their eyes. |
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ghastly |
1 : very shocking or horrible 令人震惊的 a ghastly [=gruesome, hideous] crime/ritual Her behavior was truly ghastly. [=dreadful, appalling] 2 : very bad : terrible, awful You're making a ghastly mistake. His room was a ghastly mess. I feel ghastly. [=I feel very unwell] — ghastliness noun [noncount] the ghastliness of the crime — ghastly adverb Her face was ghastly [=ghostly] pale/white. |
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flimsy |
: easily broken, torn, etc. : not strong or solid 容易坏的 a flimsy building flimsy construction a flimsy piece of material 2 : not likely to be true or to be believed a flimsy [=weak] excuse They have only the flimsiest of evidence against him. a movie with a flimsy plot — flimsily /ˈflɪmzəli/ adverb [more flimsily; most flimsily] flimsily [=weakly] constructed — flimsiness /ˈflɪmzinəs/ noun [noncount] |
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chary |
cautious about doing something — + about or of 小心的
careful cautious |
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exculpate |
to prove that someone is not guilty of doing something wrong The court exculpated him after a thorough investigation. 证明无罪
exculpates; exculpated; exculpating — exculpation /ˌɛkˌskʌlˈpeɪʃən/ noun [noncount] — exculpatory /ɛkˈskʌlpəˌtori/ Brit /ɛkˈskʌlpətri/ adjective exculpatory evidence |
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appraisal |
the act of judging the value, condition, or importance of something : the act of appraising something 辨别价值 [noncount] the appraisal of some jewelry [count] real estate appraisals I made a quick appraisal of the situation and decided to leave right away. Your annual job/performance appraisal [=review, evaluation] will be in July. [=your boss will meet with you to tell you if you are doing a good or bad job in July] 2 [count] : something that states an opinion about the value, condition, or importance of something The book is an excellent appraisal of the influences that have shaped our government. |
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pander |
to do or provide what someone wants or demands even though it is not proper, good, or reasonable — usually + to The film panders to the popular taste for violence in entertainment. |
