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40 Cards in this Set
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Castigate |
to criticize (someone) harshly 批评 The author castigated the prime minister as an ineffective leader. — often + for The judge castigated the lawyers for their lack of preparation. He was castigated in the media for making millions of dollars while the company went bankrupt. |
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Congenial |
a : suitable or appropriate 合适 The town is a congenial place for raising children. We studied in the congenial atmosphere of the library. — often + to a style congenial to modern tastes The library offers an atmosphere congenial to learning. b : pleasant and enjoyable He found the work to be congenial. 2 : very friendly a congenial [=genial] host/companion She was congenial and easygoing. |
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diatribe |
an angry and usually long speech or piece of writing that strongly criticizes someone or something 生气 The article is a diatribe against mainstream media. a bitter diatribe about/on how unfair the tax system is |
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Maudlin |
showing or expressing too much emotion especially in a foolish or annoying way 表达 He became maudlin and started crying like a child. a maudlin love story maudlin poetry |
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Maverick |
a person who refuses to follow the customs or rules of a group 扰乱规则的人 He's always been a (bit of a) maverick in the world of fashion. political mavericks [=nonconformists] — maverick adjective, always used before a noun a maverick director/musician maverick lawyers |
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Prurient |
having or showing too much interest in sex 性爱的 He took a prurient interest in her personal life. a book that appealed to the prurient curiosity of its readers — prurience /ˈprɚrijəns/ noun [noncount] — pruriently adverb |
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rectitude |
the quality of being honest and morally correct 正确的 No one questioned his moral rectitude. [=integrity] |
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veracity |
: truth or accuracy 事实 We questioned the veracity of his statements. 2 : the quality of being truthful or honest The jury did not doubt the veracity of the witness. |
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adversary |
an enemy or opponent 敌人 His political adversaries tried to prevent him from winning the nomination. |
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cavalier |
having or showing no concern for something that is important or serious 不关心的 They are too cavalier in their treatment of others. The writer is very cavalier [=careless] about the truth. She has a cavalier attitude about/towards spending money. He has a cavalier disregard for the rights of others. — cavalierly adverb He cavalierly disregarded their advice. |
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dispel |
to make (something, such as a belief, feeling, or idea) go away or end 结束 This report should dispel any doubts you have about the plan. She made an official statement to dispel any rumors about her retirement. The experience dispelled some of our fears about the process. |
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indelible |
: impossible to remove or forget 难以忘怀的 Her performance made an indelible [=unforgettable] impression on me. His achievements left an indelible [=enduring] mark on the era. an indelible image 2 : producing marks that cannot be erased an indelible pencil indelible [=permanent] ink — indelibly /ɪnˈdɛləbli/ adverb scenes/images indelibly captured on film two names indelibly [=permanently] linked in the public mind |
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palliate |
to make the effects of (something, such as an illness) less painful, harmful, or harsh 减轻 treatments that can palliate the painful symptoms of the disease — palliation /ˌpæliˈeɪʃən/ noun [noncount] palliation of pain |
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Perspicacious |
having or showing an ability to notice and understand things that are difficult or not obvious 引起注意 She considers herself a perspicacious [=shrewd, astute] judge of character. The critic made some perspicacious [=insightful] observations about the film. — perspicaciously adverb — perspicacity /ˌpɚspəˈkæsəti/ noun [noncount] her intellectual perspicacity |
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platitude |
a statement that expresses an idea that is not new 发言 His speech was filled with familiar platitudes about the value of hard work and dedication. — platitudinous /ˌplætəˈtuːdnəs/ Brit /ˌplætəˈtjuːdnəs/ adjective, formal [more platitudinous; most platitudinous] platitudinous remarks |
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quatidian |
: ordinary or very common 常见的 a quotidian existence/life 2 : done each day quotidian [=everyday] routines |
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Atheist |
a person who believes that God does not exist — compareagnostic 信神论者 — atheism /ˈeɪθiˌɪzəm/ noun [noncount] — atheistic /ˌeɪθiˈɪstɪk/ adjective [more atheistic; most atheistic] atheistic beliefs |
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colloquial |
used when people are speaking in an informal way 随口的 a colloquial word/expression 2 : using an informal style a colloquial writer — colloquially adverb The phrase is used colloquially but not in writing. The drink is known colloquially as a “brown cow.” |
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furrow |
a long and narrow cut in the ground 切片 We plowed furrows in the field. 2 : a narrow line or wrinkle in the skin of a person's face When he frowns a deep furrow forms in his brow. |
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quaff |
to drink a large amount of (something) quickly 快喝 We stopped at a bar and quaffed a few beers. quaffs; quaffed; quaffing |
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staunch |
very devoted or loyal to a person, belief, or cause 投入的 She is a staunch advocate of women's rights. He's a staunch believer in the value of regular exercise. I'm one of his staunchest supporters. — staunchly adverb She is staunchly opposed to the death penalty. |
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pallid |
very pale in a way that suggests poor health 苍白的 the patient's pallid face 2 : dull and uninteresting a pallid performance The movie is a pallid version of the classic novel. |
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parity |
the state of being equal 平等的 the struggle for gender/racial/social parity [=(more commonly) equality] Women have fought for parity with men in the workplace. The two currencies are approaching parity for the first time in decades. [=they are coming close to having the same value] Currently, there is rough parity in the number of students entering and graduating from the school system. [=the number of students entering and graduating from the school system is about the same] |
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usurp |
to take and keep (something, such as power) in a forceful or violent way and especially without the right to do so 抢夺 Some people have accused city council members of trying tousurp the mayor's power. attempting to usurp the throne — sometimes used figuratively Have we allowed their lies to usurp the truth? — usurpation /ˌjuːsɚˈpeɪʃən/ Brit /ˌjuːzəːˈpeɪʃən/ noun[noncount] the usurpation of power/authority — usurper /jʊˈsɚpɚ/ Brit /jʊˈzəːpə/ noun, plural usurpers[count] |
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servile |
very obedient and trying too hard to please someone 谄媚的 In the presence of an authority, he immediately adopted aservile [=submissive] attitude. a servile assistant — servility /sɚˈvɪləti/ noun [noncount] |
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fecund |
producing or able to produce many babies, young animals, or plants : fertile 多产的 fecund fields a fecund breed of cattle — sometimes used figuratively She has a fecund [=(more commonly) fertile] imagination. a fecund source of ideas — fecundity /fɪˈkʌndəti/ noun [noncount] |
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marshal |
an officer of the highest rank in some military forces — see alsofield marshal 长官 2 US : a federal official who is responsible for doing the things that are ordered by a court of law, finding and capturing criminals, etc. 3 US : the head of a division of a police or fire department a fire marshal 4 : person who arranges and directs ceremonies or parades a parade marshal |
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demerit |
US : a mark that is made on the school record of a student who has done something wrong 记号 Students are given demerits if they arrive late for classes. 2 formal : a bad quality in something or someone : a feature or part of something or someone that is unpleasant — usually plural The demerits of that job outweigh the benefits. We considered both the merits and demerits of the plan. |
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fecund |
producing or able to produce many babies, young animals, or plants : fertile 多产的 fecund fields a fecund breed of cattle — sometimes used figuratively She has a fecund [=(more commonly) fertile] imagination. a fecund source of ideas — fecundity /fɪˈkʌndəti/ noun [noncount] |
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bane |
a cause of trouble, annoyance, or unhappiness — usually used in the phrase the bane of 麻烦 The ugly school uniforms were the bane of the students' lives. She was the bane of my existence. [=she made my life very unhappy, difficult, etc.] |
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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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eclectic |
including things taken from many different sources 多资源的 The collection includes an eclectic mix of historical artifacts. a person with eclectic tastes [=a person who likes many different kinds of things] — eclectically /ɪˈklɛktɪkli/ /ɪˈklɛktɪkli/ adverb an eclectically decorated room — eclecticism /ɪˈklɛktəˌsɪzəm/ /ɪˈklɛktəˌsɪzəm/ noun[noncount] the eclecticism of her tastes |
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genre |
a particular type or category of literature or art 艺术 a literary/film/musical genre This book is a classic of the mystery genre. |
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Irascible |
becoming angry very easily : having a bad temper 脾气差的 an irascible old football coach He has an irascible disposition/temper. |
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mundane |
dull and ordinary 无聊的 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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rancor |
an angry feeling of hatred or dislike for someone who has treated you unfairly 讨厌 She answered her accusers calmly and without rancor. In the end, the debate created a degree of rancor among the committee members. — rancorous (US) or British rancourous /ˈræŋkərəs/ adjective [more rancorous; most rancorous] a rancorous debate |
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strut |
to walk in a confident and proud way 自信的走 She strutted across the stage. strut your stuff informal: to proudly show your abilities The audition gave aspiring actors a chance to strut their stuff. — strutter noun, plural strutters [count] |
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voluble |
talking a lot in an energetic and rapid way 讲话快 a voluble host — volubly /ˈvɑːljəbli/ adverb
loud |
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bellicose |
having or showing a tendency to argue or fight 争吵倾向 a bellicose general bellicose [=combative] behavior bellicose language/statements — bellicosity /ˌbɛlɪˈkɑːsəti/ noun [noncount] |
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nettle |
a tall plant that has leaves with hairs that sting you if you touch them 植物 grasp the nettle British: to deal with an unpleasant situation without delay He decided to grasp the nettle and try to solve the problem himself. |
