Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
300 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
aggregate (adj.)
|
gathered into or amounting to a whole
|
Ex: It is impossible to judge last year's performance without knowing the ~ sales numbers.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by a term like sum, total, or numbers. |
|
intensify (v.)
|
to increase in power; to act with increased strength
|
Ex: Jacob's long absence ~+ his certainty that he should marry Rose.
|
|
precipitation (n.)
|
water that falls to the Earth's surface
|
Ex: In the Pacific Northwest, the high level of ~ ensures rich, green plant life.
|
|
collide (v.)
|
to come together with great or violent force
|
Ex: As usual, their holiday was ruined when their in-laws' views on politics ~+ with their own.
|
|
eruption (n.)
|
a sudden, often violent, outburst
|
Ex: The ~ of Mount St. Helens in 1980 caused 57 deaths and immeasurable change to the face of the mountain.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by an of phrase. |
|
persevere (v.)
|
to keep going, despite obstacles or discouragement; to maintain a purpose
|
Ex: The hikers ~+ despite the bad weather and the icy trail.
|
|
plunge (v.)
|
to go down suddenly; to decrease by a great amount in a short time
|
Ex: He jumped off the diving board and ~+ into the pool.
Ex: The value of the company's stock ~+ after its chief executive was arrested. Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by an into phrase. |
|
inherent (adj.)
|
naturally characteristic; always found within something, because it's a basic part of that thing
|
Ex: No job can be interesting all the time. Boredom is ~ in any kind of work.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by in. |
|
deplete (v.)
|
to greatly decrease the supply of a resource or material
|
Ex: The prolonged war ~+ the country's national treasury.
|
|
emission (n.)
|
sending out from a small space into the general environment; a substance discharged into the air
|
Ex: The Environmental Protection Agency regulates the ~ of pollutants into the air.
Usage Tips: ~ is usually followed by an of phrase. |
|
retain (v.)
|
to keep or hold
|
Ex: The rain fell so heavily that the banks of the river could not ~ all the water.
|
|
seep (v.)
|
to pass slowly for a long time, as a liquid or gas might
|
Ex: As the containers rusted, the toxic waste ~+ into the ground.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by into or through. |
|
corrode (v.)
|
to be slowly weakened by chemical reactions
|
Ex: Sitting in salt water, the old coins ~+ and became very easy to break.
Usage Tips: A familiar kind of ~+ produces rust, the reddish coating on iron or steel that has been exposed to air and water. |
|
expeditiously (adv.)
|
quickly and efficiently
|
Ex: Using carrier pigeons, the military commanders exchanged messages ~.
|
|
combustion (n.)
|
the process of burning
|
Ex: When air quality is poor, ~ of materials in a fireplace is prohibited.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by of. |
|
discretely (adv.)
|
separately; distinctly
|
Ex: In order to understand how the engine worked, each component needed to be studied ~.
|
|
permeate (v.)
|
to spread or flow through out ; to pass through or penetrate
|
Ex: The smell of cooking ~+ the entire apartment building.
|
|
degrade (v.)
|
to reduce in value or strength
|
Ex: The roads in cold or wet areas of the United States ~ faster than those in warm, sunny regions.
|
|
contemplate (v.)
|
to consider thoughtfully
|
Ex: If you contemplate each step for so long, we will never complete this project on time.
|
|
ecclesiastical (adj.)
|
relating to a church
|
Ex: He was looking specifically for a university where he could study ~ history.
|
|
exalt (v.)
|
to praise or honor
|
Ex: He would often ~ the virtues of his new wife.
|
|
pious (adj.)
|
having or exhibiting religious reverence
|
Ex: Sometimes she was so ~ that the rest of us felt like heathens.
|
|
aggravate (v.)
|
to make worse; to anger or intensify
|
Ex: Running will ~ your sore knees.
|
|
decrepit (adj.)
|
weakened or worn out because of age, illness, or excessive use
|
Ex: The once-beautiful building was now dirty, ~, and roofless.
|
|
persist (v.)
|
to continue to exist; to hold to a purpose, despite any obstacle
|
Ex: If your symptoms ~, you should go see a doctor.
Ex: Lola ~+ in her efforts to become a lawyer. |
|
augment (v.)
|
to make bigger or better by adding to
|
Ex: In some types of popular cosmetic surgery people ~ parts of their bodies.
Ex: The college ~+ its course offerings because students complained that there were too few choices. |
|
complication (n.)
|
a factor that makes something more difficult or complex
|
Ex: The surgeons could not easily stop the bleeding because of ~+ related to the patient's diabetes.
|
|
divination (n.)
|
foretelling the future by finding patterns in physical objects
|
Ex: In Turkey, women offer ~+ by reading the dregs from a coffee cup.
|
|
horror (n.)
|
strong fear mixed with disgust
|
Ex: On Halloween night, all the ~ movies were rented out.
|
|
intermediary (n.)
|
acting as an agent between people or things
|
Ex: The plaintiff's lawyer suggested that they hire an ~ to help them discuss their case.
Usage Tips: ~ comes from the Latin words meaning "between the ways". |
|
invoke (v.)
|
to call on for support
|
Ex: In many religions, believers ~ their god by holding out their hands.
|
|
self-perpetuating (adj.)
|
having the power to renew oneself for an indefinite period of time
|
Ex: It is difficult to escape from a lie, as they are often ~.
|
|
assimilate (v.)
|
to consume and incorporate; to become similar
|
Ex: Not all of the overseas students could ~ into the rigidly controlled school.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by into. |
|
relic (n.)
|
something left from a long-ago culture, time period, or person
|
Ex: ~+ of the war can still be found in the sand dunes along this shore.
|
|
saga (n.)
|
a long story about important events long ago; a long story of heroic achievement
|
Ex: Many American families tell ~+ about their ancestors' arrival in the United States.
|
|
vestige (n.)
|
a visible trace that something once existed
|
Ex: The wilted flowers were the only ~ of their romantic weekend.
|
|
de facto (adj.)
|
truly doing a job, even if not officially
|
Ex: Popular support established the Citizens Party as the ~ government.
|
|
discriminate (v.)
|
to choose carefully among options; make an unjust or prejudicial distinction in the treatment of different categories of people or things, esp. on the grounds of race, sex, or age
|
Ex: The governor wisely ~+ between urgent issues and those that could wait.
|
|
notion (n.)
|
A belief; a fanciful impulse, a conception of or belief about something; an impulse or desire, esp. one of a whimsical kind
|
Ex: The ~ that older office equipment is unreliable is inaccurate.
Ex: One morning, she suddenly took the ~ to paint her kitchen red. Usage Tips: ~ can be followed by a that clause or a to phrase. |
|
oppress (v.)
|
to keep down by force; to weigh heavily on, by the unjust exercise of authority
|
Ex: Factory management ~+ workers through intimidation.
|
|
paradigm (n.)
|
a pattern or model; a set of assumptions
|
Ex: The usual ~ for economic growth in developed countries does not apply to some poor nations.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by for. |
|
distinctly (adv.)
|
in a way that is readily distinguishable by the senses; clearly
|
Ex: I ~ remember saying that we would meet at noon.
|
|
erudite (adj.)
|
highly educated; having or showing great knowledge or learning
|
Ex: Even though Stella was only a freshman, she was considered ~ by both her classmates and her professors.
|
|
fortify (v.)
|
to strengthen; protect against attack
|
Ex: The high-priced drink had extra vitamins and minerals to ~ the body.
|
|
implicitly (adv.)
|
without being stated; unquestioningly; in a way that is not directly expressed
|
Ex: By joining the competition, she agreed ~ to the rules.
|
|
parochial (adj.)
|
restricted in outlook; relating to the local parish; small-minded, provincial, narrow, small-town
|
Ex: Marla moved from her rural community to get away from its ~ thinking.
Ex: Sending your children to a ~ school can cost as much as sending them to college. |
|
rigor (n.)
|
strictness; difficult situations that come from following rules strictly
|
Ex: The wrestler followed his diet with ~.
Ex: The ~+ of military life toughened the young men quickly. |
|
allegiance (n.)
|
loyalty, commitment
|
Ex: My ~ to my country is based on respect for its principles.
Usage Tips: ~ is commonly followed by a to phrase. |
|
in the trenches (adv'l.)
|
in the middle of the hardest fighting or work
|
Ex: With their unrealistic view of this war, our generals don't know what things are like out ~.
Usage Tips: ~ creates an image of soldiers fighting in a long, dug-out place in the battlefield. |
|
mobilize (v.)
|
to put members of a group into motion
|
Ex: After a terrible storm, the governor ~+ the National Guard to rescue victims.
|
|
annex (v.)
|
to make something (usually land) part of another unit
|
Ex: Bardstown grew by ~+ several farms at the north edge of town.
|
|
conquest (n.)
|
a takeover by force or continued effort
|
Ex: The first recorded ~ of Mt. Everest was by Tensing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hilary.
Usage Tips: ~ is usually followed by an of phrase. |
|
devise (v.)
|
to find an original way to make an object or a plan
|
Ex: The soldiers ~ a way to cross the river into enemy territory without being seen.
|
|
prevailing (adj.)
|
strongest or most common
|
Ex: The ~ attitude among our neighbors is to be friendly but not too friendly.
|
|
diminish (v.)
|
make something smaller or weaker; become smaller or weaker
|
Ex: The Protestant Reformation ~+ the power of the Roman Catholic Pope.
Ex: Mr. Partridge's influence in the company ~+ after he relocated to a branch office. |
|
milieu (n.)
|
general environment or surroundings
|
Ex: Many Vietnam veterans did not feel comfortable in the antiwar social ~ of the 1970s.
|
|
Orwellian (adj.)
|
frightening and overcontrolled by a government that interferes in nearly every aspect of personal life
|
Ex: Biometric devices like eye-scanners allow an ~ level of government knowledge about everyone's location.
|
|
reconciliation (n.)
|
coming back together peacefully after having been enemies
|
Ex: South Africa avoided a bloodbath after apartheid by setting up a Truth and ~ Commission.
|
|
commodity (n.)
|
a thing that can be bought and sold, such as grain, oil, or wood
|
Ex: Tulip bulbs were one of the most valuable ~+ in seventeenth-century Holland.
Usage Tips: A thing is called a ~ only in the context of buying or selling it. |
|
equity (n.)
|
the value of one's share in an investment
|
Ex: Barnard's ~ in the business was one-third, or about $350,000.
Usage Tips: In this meaning, ~ is always singular and usually followed by an in phrase. |
|
per capita (adv.)
|
for each person
|
Ex: Research shows we're likely to sell 15 light bulbs ~ per year in medium-sized cities.
|
|
subsidy (n.)
|
money given by a government or other organization to support an activity
|
Ex: Federal ~+ to grain farmers have helped them stay in business despite three years of bad weather.
|
|
tangible (adj.)
|
obviously real because it can be seen, touched, or otherwise observed
|
Ex: One ~ benefit of putting electrical cables underground is a clearer view of the sky.
|
|
affluence (n.)
|
wealth and the style of life that goes with it
|
Ex: Mohadzir grew up amid ~, which poorly prepared him for his grad student days in crowded apartments with no servants.
|
|
impoverish (v.)
|
to make a person or group poor
|
Ex: The collapse of the steel industry ~+ several counties in eastern Ohio.
|
|
nobility (n.)
|
a group of socially prominent people with special titles given by a king or queen, such as "duke" or "countess"
|
Ex: In the Middle Ages, the ~ supposedly followed a code that required them to take care of poorer people who lived near their estates.
Usage Tips: ~ is used as a name for a group of distinguished people; it can also mean "a highly dignified form of behavior". |
|
proprietor (n.)
|
owner, usually of a business or a building
|
Ex: The ~ of Hekman's Windows is Nels Hekman, grandson of the people who established the factory.
Usage Tips: Very often, ~ is followed by an of phrase. |
|
sole (adj.)
|
only
|
Ex: Many people have wanted to invest in Harry's publishing business, but he remains the ~ owner.
Usage Tips: ~ almost always appears before the noun it modifies. It does not come after a linking verb like be. |
|
enterprising (adj.)
|
creative in thinking of ways to make money
|
Ex: Immigrants are often among the most ~ members of society, partly because anyone brave enough to make an overseas move is likely to be a risk-taker.
Usage Tips: There is no verb "to ~+". |
|
exploit (v.)
|
to take advantage of; to treat inconsiderately in order to profit; make full use of and derive benefit from (a resource)
|
Ex: The company tried to ~ the low interest rates to expand operations.
Usage Tips: The foreign mining company ~+ our copper resources and then simply left. |
|
industrious (adj.)
|
willing to work hard
|
Ex: The Dutch settlements in Ottawa County were founded by ~ farmers who objected to frivolous behavior such as dancing.
Usage Tips: Only people can be ~; companies cannot. |
|
marginal (adj.)
|
not very significant or effective
|
Ex: Our new advertising campaign had only ~ success, raising sales by a mere 3 percent.
|
|
distill (v.)
|
to remove one liquid from a mixture of liquids by boiling; to get something valuable from a confusing mix of ideas
|
Ex: The forest peoples of Southeast Asia ~ an alcoholic drink called arak from a paste of palm berries.
Ex: Most students are confused by her lectures, but Joe can always ~ her main idea. |
|
haggle (v.)
|
To argue back and forth about a price
|
Ex: The customer and the shopkeeper ~+ over the silver plate for more than an hour.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by a phrase with over or about. |
|
intrepid (adj.)
|
fearless
|
Ex: For nearly 200 years, only the most ~ colonists would cross the Appalachian Mountains.
|
|
merchant (n.)
|
a person who makes a living by selling things
|
Ex: The spice ~+ of the eastern markets charged top prices to the Dutch and British sailors, who had come too far to sail away without buying.
Usage Tips: The word ~ might be preceded by another noun telling what the ~ sells (e.g., spice ~ or wine ~). |
|
bitterly (adv.)
|
strongly and with a lot of bad feelings
|
Ex: Senator Thomas ~ opposed the movement to design a new state flag.
|
|
inaugurate (v.)
|
to bring into public office; to start formally
|
Ex: The U.S. president is elected in November but is not ~+ until the following January.
Ex: An effort to bring electric service to farms and small towns was ~+ with the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. Usage Tips: When it means "bring into public office," ~ is usually in the passive voice. |
|
civil (adj.)
|
involving a dispute between two citizens, not a criminal charge
|
Ex: in a ~ suit against his neighbor, Barney claimed that the neighbor's dog had bitten him.
Usage Tips: In a court context, ~ almost always appears in one of the following phrases: ~ suit, ~ action, ~ court, ~ proceedings, and ~ penalties. |
|
convict (v.)
|
to decide that someone is guilty of a crime; declare (someone) to be guilty of a criminal offense
|
Ex: Dean was ~+ of assault after the jury saw a video of him striking another man.
Usage Tips: ~ is often used in the passive voice. |
|
apprehend (v.)
|
to capture; understand or perceive
|
Ex: The police ~+ the robbery suspect as he tried to get on a bus to Chicago.
|
|
ascertain (v.)
|
to make sure of
|
Ex: The police failed to ~ that the man they arrested was the Gregory Brown they were really looking for.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by a that clause. |
|
condemn (v.)
|
to speak out against something in very strong terms; express complete disapproval of
|
Ex: Religious radicals ~+ the government for allowing alcohol to be sold in restaurants.
|
|
implicate (v.)
|
to suggest that someone was involved in a crime or other wrong behavior; convey (a meaning or intention) indirectly through what one says
|
Ex: No group claimed responsibility for the bombing, but the type of explosive used ~+ the Heartland Freedom Militia.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by in. |
|
inquiry (n.)
|
an investigation; an act of asking for information
|
Ex: The FBI launched an ~ into the relationship between organized crime and the trucking company.
|
|
assail (v.)
|
to attack or criticize forcefully
|
Ex: With DNA evidence from the crime scene, the defense lawyer ~+ the police for falsely arresting his client.
|
|
impair (v.)
|
to make something less effective than usual
|
Ex: The snow ~+ John's ability to hear anyone's footsteps.
Usage Tips: The object of ~ is often [someone's] ability to. |
|
inference (n.)
|
a conclusion drawn from evidence
|
Ex: Inspector Dowd's ~ that Ms. Miller was South African was based on her accent.
|
|
cynically (adv.)
|
disrespectfully; emphasizing the weaknesses of otherwise respected things
|
Ex: Employees of the Roadways Department ~ referred to their boss as "the banker" because he took so many bribes.
|
|
erode (v.)
|
to wear away and become smaller
|
Ex: People's respect for the government ~+ as more officials were arrested for corruption.
Usage Tips: ~ can be intransitive (the beach ~+) or transitive (the waves ~+ the beach). |
|
evade (v.)
|
to get away from something that tries to catch you
|
Ex: The robbery suspects tried to ~ the police by fleeing to Canada.
|
|
grotesque (adj.)
|
Extremely unattractive, in a way that catches a lot of attention; comically or repulsively ugly or distorted
|
Ex: Spending $3.5 million to redecorate the governor's house is a ~ misuse of public money.
|
|
prevalent (adj.)
|
common; easy to find because it exists in great amounts
|
Ex: Distrust of elected officials was ~ in our county because many of them were friends with certain candidates.
|
|
coerce (v.)
|
to force; to put pressure on someone to do something
|
Ex: A criminal's confession is not usable in court if the police ~ him or her into giving it.
|
|
detain (v.)
|
to prevent someone, for a relatively short time, from going on their way
|
Ex: The police ~+ at least 20 men for questioning, but charged none of them with a crime.
|
|
deviant (adj.)
|
in a style that is not normal and is offensive to many
|
Ex: The artist based his reputation on creating ~ works of art that disgusted most of the public.
Usage Tips: ~ always implies a bad opinion of someone or something. |
|
distort (v.)
|
to twist or misrepresent; to make something seem different from what it really is
|
Ex: If you hold a pencil in a glass of water, the water ~+ the appearance of the pencil.
|
|
predicament (n.)
|
a difficult situation, one that is hard to get out of
|
Ex: College basketball stars face the ~ of wanting to graduate but being tempted by high professional salaries.
|
|
interdict (v.)
|
to keep something from reaching a certain place; prohibit or forbid
|
Ex: With faster patrol boats, the Coast Guard can more easily ~ drugs being smuggled by sea.
|
|
juxtapose (v.)
|
place next to one another
|
Ex: If you ~ these two similar flowers, you can see clear differences between them.
|
|
potent (adj.)
|
powerful; having great power, influence, or effect
|
Ex: A very ~ type of marijuana with surprisingly strong effects became available in Burrytown.
|
|
cohesion (n.)
|
ability to stay together as a unit
|
Ex: Family ~ is difficult if young people have to go far away to find work.
Usage Tips: ~ can also be used to describe forces that keep materials or structures together. |
|
proximity (n.)
|
nearness
|
Ex: The house was comfortable, except for its ~ to a busy road.
Usage Tips: ~ can be followed by an of phrase or a to phrase. |
|
associate (v.)
|
to regularly spend time together
|
Ex: Carol doesn't ~ with people who smoke.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by a with phrase. |
|
clique (n.)
|
a small group of friends who are unfriendly to people outside the group
|
Ex: High-schoolers form ~+ to gain security and acceptance.
Usage Tips: ~ indicates a negative feeling toward a group. |
|
solidarity (n.)
|
standing together despite pressure to move apart
|
Ex: Many student groups declared ~ with the Latino Student Association in their effort to get a Spanish-speaking principal.
Usage Tips: ~ is usually used in political contexts. |
|
despondent (adj.)
|
Extremely sad and without hope for the future
|
Ex: After his girlfriend left him, Johnson was ~ and wouldn't talk to anyone.
|
|
engender (v.)
|
to bring into being; to cause to exist
|
Ex: The government's warnings about terrorism ~+ fear throughout the nation.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by a noun for an emotion. |
|
passion (n.)
|
an extremely strong emotion, like love or anger
|
Ex: Debbie complained that there was no ~ in her marriage.
|
|
proliferation (n.)
|
an increase in the number of something and in the number of places it can be found
|
Ex: The ~ of fast-food restaurants has made it harder for Americans to eat healthy lunches.
Usage Tips: ~ is very often followed by an of phrase. |
|
reciprocity (n.)
|
doing as much for another as he or she has done for you; the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit
|
Ex: Dan was giving a lot of attention to Kelly, but he felt no ~ in their relationship.
|
|
berate (v.)
|
to say insulting and disrespectful things
|
Ex: The teacher lost his job because he cruelly ~+ students who made mistakes.
Usage Tips: You can only ~ someone directly, only when he or she can hear you. |
|
contemptuous (n.)
|
having no respect
|
Ex: Most scientists are ~ of reports that aliens from outer space have landed on the Earth.
Usage Tips: A very common structure is be ~ of. |
|
despise (v.)
|
hate very much
|
Ex: Tom grew to ~ his greedy and unfriendly boss.
|
|
obnoxious (adj.)
|
bothersome; doing small things that others don't like
|
Ex: My ~ neighbor keeps talking to me while I'm trying to read in my backyard.
|
|
stigmatize (v.)
|
to mark with a visible feature that makes other people think, perhaps incorrectly, that someone or something is wrong; describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval
|
Ex: Cadbury's beard and tattoos ~+ him as a bad match for Wall Street, so he couldn't find work as a financial analyst.
|
|
vitriolic (adj.)
|
showing an extreme, hateful anger
|
Ex: The mayor's ~ attacks against the city council only made him sound unreasonable.
Usage Tips: The origin of ~ is ~+; a strong chemical that could cause painful burns. |
|
delinquency (n.)
|
serious misbehavior; not doing what one should do; minor crime, esp. that committed by young people
|
Ex: Because of his laziness and ~, Lefty was an unreliable friend.
Usage Tips: A common combination is juvenile ~, meaning "criminal behavior by a teenager". |
|
fringe (n.)
|
edge; in social contexts, parts of society that look or act very different from most people
|
Ex: Punk music got its start at the ~ of London's rock music culture.
Usage Tips: ~ implies an edge that is uneven and not very solid. |
|
hedonistic (adj.)
|
Excessively interested in seeking pleasure
|
Ex: Suddenly wealthy, Allen fell into a ~ life of parties, expensive dinners, and heavy drinking.
Usage Tips: ~ usually implies that the pleasures are wrong. |
|
depict (v.)
|
to show in pictures
|
Ex: Michelangelo's painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel ~+ nine scenes from the Bible.
|
|
intrinsic (adj.)
|
being part of the basic nature of something
|
Ex: Frequent elections are ~ to a democratic system.
|
|
portrayal (n.)
|
a description or drawing that reflects a certain point of view
|
Ex: Most ~+ of Abraham Lincoln emphasize his sense of humor and his honesty.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by an of phrase to indicate what is being described. |
|
advent (n.)
|
coming; arrival; the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event
|
Ex: The ~ of the automobile greatly increased the demand for petroleum.
Usage Tips: ~ is usually followed by an of phrase. |
|
connotation (n.)
|
a meaning implied, not stated directly
|
Ex: When my boss says, "Thank you", the ~ is that she's done talking and I should leave.
|
|
denote (v.)
|
to mean something clearly and directly
|
Ex: An "X" next to a name on this list ~+ a person who has been chosen for the soccer team.
|
|
inscription (n.)
|
something written into a piece of rock or metal
|
Ex: The ~ on my ring says "August 1," because that was the day of our wedding.
|
|
gala (adj.)
|
Expensive, elaborately arranged, and full of celebration
|
Ex: A college graduation party should be a ~ affair, not a backyard barbecue.
Usage Tips: ~ is somewhat old-fashioned, far more common in print than in speech. |
|
improvisation (n.)
|
inventing a solution to an unexpected problem
|
Ex: Boy Scouts take pride in their ~ when faced with trouble during a camping trip.
|
|
medium (n.)
|
a channel or way for a meaning to be expressed
|
Ex: Watercolor art is often considered childish, but some artists have achieved great things working in that ~.
Usage Tips: The plural of ~ is ~+. |
|
skit (n.)
|
a short, informal play
|
Ex: Marnie and Chris spent a long time practicing their ~ for the school show.
|
|
zeal (n.)
|
enthusiasm; a deep determination to do well
|
Ex: Unfortunately, Tom's ~ to become a rock star distracted him from his studies.
Usage Tips: ~ is often followed by to plus a verb or by a for phrase. |
|
bulk (n.)
|
largeness and a heavy appearance
|
Ex: The ~ of Kevin's athletic body was too great for one small chair, so he sat on a bench.
|
|
capricious (adj.)
|
moving unpredictably from one thing to another
|
Ex: Your college studies will go on too long if you make ~ jumps from one major to another.
Usage Tips: ~ comes from a Latin word meaning "goat"and implies a motion like the jumping of a goat. |
|
cumbersome (adj.)
|
difficult to wear or carry because of weight or shape
|
Ex: To make it to the top of the mountain before dark, the hikers dumped their ~ tent.
|
|
inhibit (v.)
|
to discourage or to slow down
|
Ex: This lotion will ~ the itching caused by mosquito bites.
|
|
striking (adj.)
|
very noticeable; easily attracting attention
|
Ex: Gordon had a ~ new attitude after he learned self-discipline at the army academy.
Usage Tips: ~ comes from a verb that means "to hit". |
|
vanity (n.)
|
an excessive concern for one's appearance; excessive pride in or admiration of one's own appearance or achievements
|
Ex: Mark's ~ led him to spend far too much money on haircuts and new clothes.
|
|
bring about (phrasal verb)
|
to cause to happen; produce an effect
|
Ex.: The creation of a national railroad system brought about big changes in the economy of the Midwest and west. Related: cause, lead to, result in
|
|
acute (adj)
|
having the characteristics of being very serious or intense; reaching the point of crisis
|
Ex.: Natural disasters often produce acute needs for medicine, food and water. Related: critical, crucial, desperate
|
|
dwelling (noun)
|
a building where one resides
|
Ex.: The Hopi Indians carved their dwellings into large stone cliffs. Related: abode, home, lodging
|
|
encompass (verb)
|
to contain or include certain parts
|
Ex.: The field of linguistics encompasses the areas of social, applied and theoretical language study. Related: consist of, contain, embody
|
|
every so often (adverb exp)
|
referring to events that occur occasionally or at no specific time
|
Ex.: Every so often the Colima volcano in Mexico sends huge clouds of smoke into the air. Related: every now and then, once in a while, now and again
|
|
heyday (noun)
|
the high point of power, success or popularity
|
Ex.: The West experienced its nineteenth century economic heyday during the famous California gold rush of the 1840s. Related: apex, pinnacle, zenith
|
|
portray (verb)
|
to describe someone or something in a specific way
|
Ex.: Some historians portray the development of the Internet as one of the most important scientific advancements of the twentieth century. Related: depict, render, represent
|
|
put on the back burner (exp)
|
to postpone to a future time
|
Ex.: Due to lack of funding, the transportation project was put on the back burner. Related: defer, delay, suspend
|
|
slender (adj)
|
the quality of being thin
|
Ex.: Snakes have long, slender bodies. Related: slim, skinny
|
|
staple (adj)
|
a principal ingredient or major element of something
|
Ex.: Corn, beans and squash were staple foods of the Hopi Indian diet. Related: chief, essential, prime
|
|
take on (phrasal verb)
|
to take the first steps in doing something
|
Ex.: Because of the doctor's busy schedule, she is not sure if she should take on another research project. Related: initiate, commence, undertake
|
|
factor in (phrasal verb)
|
to consider or include information used to make conclusions
|
Ex.: The price of raw material and the costs of production and transportation are factored in to the store price of an item. Related: add in, include, incorporate
|
|
minuscule (adj)
|
being of very small size
|
Ex.: Camels require only minuscule amounts of water, with many living up to six months in cooler seasons without taking a drink. Related: diminutive, minute, tiny
|
|
render (verb)
|
to cause something to change or develop in a certain way
|
Ex.: Pure ice is completely clear, but if air bubbles are present, they render it cloudy. Related: cause to be, develop into, make
|
|
surpass (verb)
|
to exceed expectations; to become greater or better
|
Ex.: It is a goal of most teachers to develop students whose knowledge and skills will one day surpass their own abilities. Related: better, exceed, go beyond
|
|
take up (phrasal verb)
|
to start a new activity or project
|
Ex.: Health experts often suggest taking up activities that reduce stress and improve physical condition. Related: embark on, engage in, start
|
|
outspoken (adj)
|
expressing honest opinions directly despite the negative effects they may have on other people
|
Ex.: African-American journalist William Monroe Trotter was an outspoken supporter of civil rights in the early twentieth century. Related: blunt, candid, forthright
|
|
procure (verb)
|
to obtain something; usually something hard to find
|
Ex.: A strong password, which cannot be procured by others, should be used to protect important computer files. Related: acquire, attain, obtain
|
|
foster (verb)
|
to encourage the development of an idea or policy
|
Ex.: Respect for the law fosters peace and security in a society. Related: advance, promote, further
|
|
inasmuch as (conj)
|
in a limited way, something is true
|
Ex.: Thomas Edison was persistent, inasmuch as he conducted more than one thousand experiments to create the electric lightbulb until he was successful. Related: because of the fact that, insofar as, since
|
|
conspicuous (adj)
|
easy to observe because it is different or unusual
|
Ex.: The conspicuous absence of rainfall caused farmers to worry about their crops. Related: evident, obvious, noticeable
|
|
diminish (verb)
|
to make less important or smaller
|
Ex.: New methods of communication will probably diminish the need to use communication devices such as the telephone. Related: decrease, lessen, reduce
|
|
beneath (prep)
|
under
|
Ex.: Modern submarines can remain beneath the ocean's surface for months at a time. Related: below, under, underneath
|
|
decay (noun)
|
to be destroyed by natural processes; to become less important
|
Ex.: It is a well-known fact that foods high in sugar can cause tooth decay. Related: atrophy, decomposition, deterioration
|
|
exert (verb)
|
to make a strong effort to influence; to cause to happen
|
Ex.: Newspapers and magazines exert a lot of influence on a person's views of world events. Related: apply, exercise, put forth
|
|
outburst (noun)
|
a sudden and powerful action or expression of emotion
|
Ex.: Security removed the man whose outbursts of disapproval disturbed the meeting. Related: eruption, explosion, outbreak
|
|
pinpoint (verb)
|
to find the precise location of something
|
Ex.: The newest Doppler radar systems can pinpoint the location of bad weather. Related: identify, isolate, locate
|
|
uphold (verb)
|
to defend or support law, principle or policy
|
Ex.: The Supreme Court either upholds or rejects lower court decisions. Related: defend, support, sustain
|
|
succinct (adj)
|
clearly explained with a small number of words
|
Ex.: The professor gave a succinct explanation of the Aztec civilization's influence on Mexican Spanish vocabulary Related: brief, concise, to the point
|
|
unravel (verb)
|
to separate the parts from a whole to make something clear
|
Ex.: Scientists have just begun to unravel the mysteries of the human body. Related: resolve, solve, sort out
|
|
scattered (adj)
|
spread out over a large area; not found in all places
|
Ex.: Areas of scattered showers usually arrive long before a hurricane reaches land. Related: dotted, spread out
|
|
haphazard (adj)
|
done with little or no thought or attention
|
Ex.: Some cities grow haphazardly because of improper planning. Related: arbitrarily, carelessly, randomly
|
|
emerge (verb)
|
to come from somewhere or someone
|
Ex.: The sport of soccer emerged from England during the 1830s. Related: appear, become known, materialize
|
|
conceal (verb)
|
to prevent from being known or seen
|
Ex.: The insects known as Walking Sticks use their similarity to tree branches to conceal themselves from predators. Related: cover-up, hide, mask
|
|
be prone to (exp)
|
having a natural tendency or likelihood to do something
|
Ex.: Many people are prone to misunderstand the difficulty of learning a second language. Related: have a tendency to, be inclined to, likely to
|
|
cohesive (adj)
|
closely joined; being together in harmony
|
Ex.: Team sports require cohesive groups of people who are willing to work together to reach a common goal. Related: consistent, unified, united
|
|
ascent (noun)
|
the act of going up or rising
|
Ex.: Davy Crockett's popularity made a fast ascent due to his successes as a war hero and politician for the common citizen. Related: ascension, climb, rise
|
|
flourish (verb)
|
to grow in a healthy way; to be active and vigorous
|
Ex.: Hong Kong is an international center of business and finance where free trade flourishes. Related: burgeon, prosper, thrive
|
|
on the spot (exp)
|
being at the right place at the exact moment of need
|
Ex.: When an emergency situation arises on US highways, help usually arrives on the spot within a short time. Related: at once, immediately, instantly
|
|
overlook (verb)
|
to notice or see, but to pretend not to see
|
Ex.: Many managers overlook the mistakes of younger, less experienced employees. Related: ignore, excuse, forgive
|
|
harsh (adj)
|
causing excessive pain or suffering; being extremely difficult to deal with
|
Ex.: Researches have studied the effects of harsh climatic conditions and high altitudes on the human body. Related: difficult, severe
|
|
soaring (adj)
|
rising very quickly
|
Ex.: During periods of rising costs, salaries seldom keep up with soaring prices for life's necessities. Related: elevated, high, lofty
|
|
prominent (adj)
|
very visible or noticeable; standing out from others
|
Ex.: The North Star, Polaris, is one of the most prominent stars in the northern sky. Related: eye-catching, famous, well-known
|
|
realm (noun)
|
a world or area of activity
|
Ex.: Ants can carry up to fifty times their weight, making them the superstar weightlifters of their realm. Related: dominion, empire, world
|
|
subscribe to (exp)
|
to agree with a principle or idea
|
Ex.: The writers of the Declaration of Independence subscribed to the idea that all people are created equal. Related: accept, agree with, join
|
|
swift (adj)
|
fast
|
Ex.: Jet airplanes provide a means of swift, efficient travel over long distances. Related: fast, rapid, quick
|
|
turmoil (noun)
|
a situation where there is much trouble, conflict, or worry
|
Ex.: The end of slavery in 1860s brought about much turmoil in the economy of the southern states. Related: chaos, confusion, disorder
|
|
vast (adj)
|
extremely large
|
Ex.: Mount Saint Helens erupted on May 18, 1980, creating a vast cloud of ashes that covered a large part of the USA. Related: enormous, gigantic, huge
|
|
subject to (exp)
|
to be most probably affected by something else
|
Ex.: Farming is always subject to the influence of weather conditions during the growing season. Related: conditional on, dependent on
|
|
float (verb)
|
to discuss an idea among a group of people to get their reactions to the idea
|
Ex.: Lawmakers floated the idea of the tax increase among their colleagues to get their opinions on the matter. Related: propose, suggest, promote
|
|
minute (adj)
|
extremely small or unimportant
|
Ex.: A minute amount of poison from the Fierce Snake of Australia is enough to kill more than fifty adult humans. Related: insignificant, minuscule, tiny
|
|
empower (verb)
|
to give someone the authority or the right to do something
|
Ex.: Modern computers have empowered people to organize their lives and discover new ways to solve problems. Related: allow, authorize, sanction
|
|
crude (adj)
|
not refined, advanced or very well developed
|
Ex.: The first cotton gin, which was a crude machine used to separate cotton from its seeds, was invented by Ely Whitney in 1793. Related: basic, rough, simple
|
|
barter (verb)
|
to exchange goods or services for other goods or services without using money
|
Ex.: Before the invention of paper money by the Chinese in the eighth century, people bartered to get what they needed. Related: bargain, swap, trade
|
|
afford (verb)
|
to be able to give or provide
|
Ex.: Modern day vaccines afford protection from diseases that just thirty years ago caused many people to suffer Related: allow, give, offer
|
|
strain (noun)
|
a difficultly that is caused by too much stress or excessive demands
|
Ex.: Many airports are not prepared to handle the strain of increased passenger traffic. Related: burden, pressure, stress
|
|
surplus (noun)
|
having more of something than is required or needed
|
Ex.: The school system's budget surplus was used to increase teacher salaries. Related: excess, extra, spare
|
|
undertake (verb)
|
to begin a project or a job for which you are responsible
|
Ex.: The automobile industry has undertaken studies to find out if hydrogen powered cars can be built and sold at a profit. Related: assume, commence, start
|
|
yield (verb)
|
to produce something
|
Ex.: A typical beehive can yield up to fifty-five pounds of honey every year. Related: bear, furnish, generate
|
|
prized for (exp)
|
used to refer to the characteristics of something that make it important and valuable
|
Ex.: A diamond is prized for its brilliance, clarity and color. Related: recognized, valued, well-known
|
|
rampant (adj)
|
out of control; affecting a large area
|
Ex.: Rampant price increases cause economic hardships. Related: uncontrolled, unchecked, widespread
|
|
saturate with (verb)
|
to make something wet; to be completely full of something
|
Ex.: Dew occurs when warm air, which is fully saturated with water, cools, leaving drops of water on grassy areas. Related: douse, drench, soak
|
|
misgiving about (noun)
|
a feeling of uncertainty or fear that something will not happen as planned or expected
|
Ex.: As Vice President under Ronald Reagan, George Bush did not discuss his misgivings about the President's economic plan. Related: doubt, hesitation, worry
|
|
cosmetic (adj)
|
something done very quickly, with little attention to quality or detail
|
Ex.: Many home owners make cosmetic repairs to their homes before selling them. Related: hasty, rapid, superficial
|
|
burst (noun)
|
an unexpected short period of intense or increased activity
|
Ex.: Dolphins can swim at speeds of up to thirty miles per hour, with occasional bursts of up to forty miles per hour. Related: eruption, spurt, surge
|
|
chore (noun)
|
an activity that is performed regularly especially around the house
|
Ex.: Before Florence Nightingale improved the image of nursing, the jobs of nurses were considered simple chores for women with little or no education. Related: duty, job, task
|
|
cease (verb)
|
to stop
|
Ex.: Many scientists agree that the destruction of tropical rain forests must cease in order to protect the earth's most important producers of oxygen. Related: conclude, end, finish
|
|
acclaim (noun)
|
something that deserves praise for its high quality or standing
|
Ex.: Albert Einstein received international acclaim after his theory of relativity was accepted by the Royal Society of London in 1919. Related: applause, approval, commendation
|
|
astounding (adj)
|
very surprising; unbelievable
|
Ex.: The amount of water flowing over Niagara Falls is an astounding 600,000 gallons of water per second. Related: amazing, astonishing, surprising
|
|
deliberately (adv)
|
done on purpose; done with a prior plan
|
Ex.: By using genetic engineering, genes can be deliberately changed to produce new types of fruits and vegetables. Related: by design, intentionally, purposely
|
|
diligent (adj)
|
hard-working; paying attention to details
|
Ex.: Bertrand Russell was a diligent mathematician and philosopher. Related: conscientious, meticulous, thorough
|
|
drawback (noun)
|
a disadvantage
|
Ex.: One drawback of electric-powered cars is their short battery life. Related: downside, problem, shortcoming
|
|
map (verb)
|
to produce a plan, usually involving many steps
|
Ex.: In order for students to be successful in their studies, they should map out strategies that will lead them to academic success. Related: chart, plot
|
|
forefront of (noun)
|
something in the first or highest position
|
Ex.: Japanese auto makers are in the forefront of developing cars that operate on both gas and electricity. Related: front, head, vanguard
|
|
set off (verb)
|
to cause a series of actions to start
|
Ex.: The government's tax cut set off strong consumer spending, hence improving the nation's economy. Related: begin, cause, trigger
|
|
tangible (adj)
|
something that is real; can be sensed
|
Ex.: The tangible results of a daily exercise program are increased energy, more flexibility and improved strength. Related: actual, concrete, substantial
|
|
wholesome (adj)
|
something that is healthy or good for someone
|
Ex.: A wholesome lifestyle improves a person's quality of life in his or her latter years. Related: clean, decent, moral
|
|
apply in (verb)
|
something that is important to or appropriate for a situation
|
Ex.: English rules of grammar cannot be applied in all cases due to the fact that there are many exceptions to the rules. Related: be relevant, pertain to, relate to
|
|
discreetly (adv)
|
something done in a quiet, private way with great skill
|
Ex.: When a manager must tell an employee that his job has been eliminated, the situation must be handled discreetly. Related: cautiously,prudently, tactfully
|
|
landmark (adj)
|
an important change, discovery, or event
|
Ex.: The signing of the United States Declaration of Independence was a landmark historical event. Related: breakthrough, innovative, milestone
|
|
grasp (verb)
|
to come to an understanding
|
Ex.: It is very difficult to grasp the enormous size of the galaxy. Related: comprehend, follow
|
|
hinder (verb)
|
to block or interfere with a process
|
Ex.: The unplanned growth of cities often hinders the development of public roads and transportation systems. Related: hamper, interfere, obstruct
|
|
put up with (exp)
|
to tolerate; to accept a bad situation without complaining
|
Ex.: Immigrants must often put up with difficult adjustments to life in their new land. Related: bear, endure, suffer
|
|
ominous (adj)
|
being of the feeling that something bad is going to happen
|
Ex.: One of the ominous signs that a forest is under attack by an insect is the appearance of large groups of dead trees. Related: foreboding, menacing, threatening
|
|
withstand (verb)
|
to successfully endure a condition; to accept
|
Ex.: Modern jet engines, which can withstand long periods of operation, make trans-Pacific air travel possible. Related: survive, tolerate
|
|
stature (noun)
|
a certain high standing among other people or things
|
Ex.: John Steinbeck earned stature as a great American author for his ability to describe the real lives of ordinary people of the early 1900s. Related: prominence, rank, status
|
|
take to (phrasal verb)
|
to like something or someone, usually right away
|
Ex.: Although life was difficult for the early settlers of the West, they quickly took to their homeland and its lifestyle. Related: become fond of, enjoy, take pleasure in
|
|
acclaim
|
praise
|
Isaac Stem has won acclaim abroad. Acclaimed authors often win Pulitzer Prizes
|
|
autonomous
|
independent
|
Mexico became an autonomous state in 1817. Although working closely with the government, all businesses function autonomously.
|
|
disruptive
|
disturbing
|
Frequent questions during lectures can be disruptive. The storm caused a disruption in bus service.
|
|
haphazardly
|
arbitrarily, carelessly
|
It was obvious that the house was built haphazardly. Susan completed the assignment in a haphazard way.
|
|
advent
|
arrival
|
With the advent of computers, many tasks have been made easier. The newspapers announced the advent of the concert season.
|
|
agile
|
nimble
|
Deer are very agile animals. She moved agilely across the stage.
|
|
albeit
|
although
|
His trip was successful, albeit tiring. Albeit difficult at times, speaking another language is rewarding.
|
|
contemporary
|
current
|
Contemporary architecture makes very good use of space. Cervantes was a contemporary of Shakespeare.
|
|
celebrated
|
renown
|
The celebrated pianist will give a concert this weekend. San Francisco is celebrated for its multicultural makeup.
|
|
frail
|
fragile
|
The frail wings of the newborn bird could not lift it off the ground. One of the frailties of human beings is laziness.
|
|
worthwhile
|
rewarding
|
It was worthwhile waiting 10 hours in line for the tickets. It's worthwhile to prepare for the TOEFL.
|
|
conform
|
adapt
|
Yon must conform to the rules or leave the club. She has always been a conformist.
|
|
intensify
|
heighten
|
The importance of the test will sometimes intensify the nervousness of the students. The chess match was played with great intensity.
|
|
assert
|
declare
|
The government asserted its control over the banking system. The company president is an assertive individual.
|
|
astute
|
perceptive
|
He was an astute worker, finishing in half the time it took the others to finish. They astutely determined that there would be no chance to finish on time.
|
|
elicit
|
extract
|
A lawyer will elicit all the facts necessary to prove her case. Elicitation of the truth can be difficult at times.
|
|
relinquish
|
to give up control; abdicate
|
The troubled executive relinquished his control of the company. The relinquishment of his claim to the building will allow the building to be sold.
|
|
resilient
|
strong enough to recover from difficulty or disease; tenacious
|
She has a resilient personality and will soon feel better. The doctor was surprised by his patient's resilience.
|
|
baffle
|
puzzle
|
The causes of many harmful diseases have baffled doctors for centuries. That was a baffling question.
|
|
bear
|
yield
|
This orchard bears many fine harvests of apples. Although stock prices declined, losses have been bearable for most investors.
|
|
delicate
|
fragile
|
Because of its controversial nature, it was a challenge to discuss such a delicate issue in public. You must handle the antique delicately.
|
|
intrigue
|
fascinate
|
He was intrigued by the acclaim that he received. The intriguing question baffled historians.
|
|
shed
|
discard
|
In order to grow, crabs must shed their shells. The experiments shed no new information on the cause of the disease.
|
|
chiefly
|
mostly
|
Houses are made chiefly of wood products. Corn is the chief crop of the Midwest.
|
|
coarse
|
rough
|
Sandpaper is an extremely coarse material. Wool clothing has certain coarseness in texture.
|
|
commonplace
|
ordinary; frequent
|
Soon it will be commonplace to see the person to whom you are talking on the phone. Female lawyers are commonplace in the United States.
|
|
conventional
|
traditional
|
Professor Canfield agreed with the conventional theory about the origin of the Basque language. To become integrated into a society, you must learn the conventions of that society.
|
|
exceedingly
|
extremely
|
In tropical zones, it is exceedingly hot and humid. It is not safe to exceed the speed limit.
|
|
immense
|
massive
|
From the mountaintop you can see the immense valley. She was immensely interested in the idea of teaching a foreign language.
|
|
rigid
|
stiff
|
The teacher was very rigid in his ideas about class attendance. He adhered rigidly to his opinions about marriage.
|
|
conceal
|
hide
|
The students concealed their feelings about the course. His concealment of the evidence made his case more difficult to prove.
|
|
distort
|
deform
|
Time and space are distorted when traveling at the speed of light. Distortion of the image from a microscope can be caused by low light.
|
|
prosperous
|
thriving
|
In the early 1900s, San Francisco was a prosperous city. Bacteria prosper under the proper conditions.
|
|
scarcely
|
hardly
|
The woman scarcely spoke a word of English. Due to a scarcity of water, a rationing plan was established.
|
|
creep
|
crawl
|
Some mistakes are beginning to creep into his work. Ivy is a creeping variety of plant.
|
|
crush
|
grind
|
The machine crushes corn to produce corn meal. Passage of the legislation was a crushing blow to the president's program.
|
|
vibrant
|
brilliant
|
His vibrant personality made him well liked by everyone. The vibrancy of the city is attractive to many individuals.
|
|
distinct
|
definite
|
There was a distinct aroma of coffee in the restaurant. The two theories are distinctly different from each other.
|
|
dominant
|
major
|
The dominant life forms of the paleozoic era lived in the water. The skyscraper dominated the skyline.
|
|
dormant
|
inactive
|
The volcano had been dormant for hundreds of years before the eruption last month. The seniors live in the new dormitory.
|
|
drab
|
colorless
|
Their clothing was quite drab. The drabness of the desert made driving less interesting.
|
|
elaborate
|
complex
|
An elaborate headdress indicated rank within the Aztec community. His elaboration of the issue was quite thorough.
|
|
prime
|
prepare
|
The directors primed the actors before the performance. Mozart passed away in the prime of his life.
|
|
rudimentary
|
basic
|
He has a rudimentary knowledge of computers. The rudiments of grammar are taught in all English classes.
|
|
vigorous
|
strong
|
His vigorous defense of the issues impressed everyone. He approached his work with vigor.
|
|
amenity
|
convenience
|
She had all the amenities of home when she went camping. One expects many amenities at a five-star hotel.
|
|
disperse
|
to cause to move in many different directions; circulate
|
The high winds and rain dispersed the crowd. After the hurricane, dispersed belongings cluttered the street.
|
|
erratic
|
no regular pattern in thinking or movement; changeable without reason; inconsistent
|
The artist's paintings have an erratic qualify, some being excellent, and others mediocre. The unstable chemical reacted erratically.
|
|
prevalent
|
commonplace
|
Comfortable trade winds are prevalent in the Caribbean islands. There is a prevalence of disease where poor sanitation conditions exist.
|
|
blind
|
unaware
|
They were blind to the fact that they had little chance to succeed. He went into the job blindly, with no previous experience.
|
|
burgeon
|
grow at a fast pace; thrive
|
The burgeoning population of major cities is creating a demand for more services. His talent as a pianist burgeoned at the age of 14.
|
|
conspicuously
|
attracting attention; noticeably
|
His name was conspicuously absent from the list of winners. The attorneys were conspicuous for their aggressive manner in the courtroom.
|
|
endorse
|
support
|
The union endorsed the new contract. The president's endorsement of the project guaranteed its funding.
|
|
erode
|
to wear away, disappear slowly; deteriorate
|
The senator's support is eroding because of his unpopular positions on the major issues. It took millions of years of erosion for nature to form the Grand Canyon.
|
|
evaporate
|
to vanish; disappear
|
The chances of the two sides reaching an agreement have evaporated. The evaporation of the funds was unexplainable.
|
|
reportedly
|
Rumored
|
The students reportedly sent a representative, but she has not arrived yet. The reported tornado has not been confirmed.
|
|
dignitary
|
a very important or famous person, usually associated with a high position in government; notable
|
Every dignitary in Washington was invited to the wedding. All of the high ranking dignitaries attended the economic summit.
|
|
elude
|
to escape in a tricky way; evade
|
The criminal has eluded the police for months. Success has been elusive for the team.
|
|
Facet
|
element or component; aspect
|
The proposal had many beneficial facets. It was a multi faceted problem that challenged the entire student body.
|
|
arid
|
dry
|
The area known as the Sahara Desert is one of the most arid place in the world. The valley on the leeward side of the mountain was extremely arid.
|
|
defy
|
resist
|
I defy you to find that book in the library's collection. The circus performer demonstrated her death - defying routine.
|
|
enact
|
Legislate
|
Congress enacted the legislation during its last session. The enactment of the laws was in the hands of the Senate.
|
|
feign
|
simulate
|
She feigned illness when it was time to visit the dentist. Her unhappiness was feigned.
|
|
fertile
|
Rich
|
The delta areas of rivers are known for their fertile soil. Fertilizers are used on crops to increase yields.
|
|
indiscriminate
|
arbitrary
|
The indiscriminate arrangement of the products made the store confusing. The book's chapters seem to be organized indiscriminately.
|
|
spacious
|
expansive
|
The spacious plains of the Midwest make up the nation's breadbasket. A vacuum is an empty space.
|
|
harbor
|
shelter
|
He harbors ill feelings for her. They harbored the political refugee in their home.
|
|
perilous
|
Dangerous
|
It is perilous to exceed the speed limit. There are ample perils in the sport of mountain climbing.
|
|
conscientious
|
showing serious purpose; one who works carefully and with enthusiasm; meticulous
|
She is a conscientious representative of the student body. They approached the task conscientiously.
|
|
convey
|
communicate
|
The manager of the store conveyed his displeasure directly to the workers. He was able to convey his message to the audience with ease.
|
|
heighten
|
intensify
|
A very successful interview can heighten a candidate's chances to get a job. The public teas in a heightened state of nervousness as the hurricane approached.
|
|
inadvertently
|
carelessly
|
The reporters had inadvertently failed to include the name of one of the dignitaries. His inadvertent calculation caused him to derive the wrong answer.
|
|
infancy
|
beginning
|
The new theory is in its infancy and will be thoroughly tested by its critics. Certain head injuries can cause infantile behavior.
|
|
unwarranted
|
without good reason or cause; inappropriate; unjustified
|
His negative reaction was unwarranted. The motorist felt that the ticket for the infraction was unwarranted.
|
|
zenith
|
the highest point; apex
|
He reached the zenith of his profession at a very young age. The publication of the book represented the zenith of his career.
|