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46 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
scry (v)
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To see or predict the future by means of a crystal ball.
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lax (v)
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not strict or careful enough about standards of behaviour, work, safety etc
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slump (v)
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1 to fall or lean against something because you are not strong enough to stand
slump against/over/back etc [British English] She slumped against the wall. Carol slumped back in her chair, defeated. Ben staggered and slumped onto the floor. 2 to suddenly go down in price, value, or number [≠ soar]: Sales slumped by 20% last year. slump to The currency slumped to a record low. 3 also be slumped if your shoulders or head slump or are slumped, they bend forward because you are unhappy, tired, or unconscious: Her shoulders slumped and her eyes filled with tears. |
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presumptuous (adj)
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doing something that you have no right to do and that seems rude
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s it presumptuous (of somebody) to do something
Would it be presumptuous of me to ask why you are so miserable? —presumptuously adverb —presumptuousness noun [uncountable] |
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boon (n)
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something that is very useful and makes your life a lot easier or better:
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The bus service is a real boon to people in the village.
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precipice (n)
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1. a very steep side of a high rock, mountain or cliff:
2. a dangerous situation in which something very bad could happen: |
1. A loose rock tumbled over the precipice.
2. The stock market is on the edge of a precipice. |
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stool (n)
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1. a seat that has three or four legs, but no back or arms
2. medical a piece of solid waste from your bowels |
1. a bar stool
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flagon (n)
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a large container for liquids, especially beer or wine
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wield (v)
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1. have a lot of power or influence, and to use it
2. to hold a weapon or tool that you are going to use |
1. The Church wields immense power in Ireland.
2. She had her car windows smashed by a gang wielding baseball bats. |
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scythe (n)
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a farming tool that has a long curved blade attached to a long wooden handle, and is used to cut grain or long grass
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deference (n)
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polite behavior that shows that you respect someone and are therefore willing to accept their opinions or judgment
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Lewis was annoyed that Adam did not show enough respect and deference to him.
They were married in church out of deference to their parents' wishes. |
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lobsided (adj)
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1.having one side that is lower or heavier than the other
2. unequal or uneven, especially in an unfair way |
1.a lopsided grin
2.a lopsided 8-0 victory |
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ambidextrous (adj)
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able to use either hand equally well
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sinuous(n)
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1. moving with smooth twists and turns, like a snake:
2. with many smooth twists and turns: |
1. the sinuous grace of a cat
2.They followed the sinuous trail deep into the mountains. |
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coddle (v)
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to treat someone in a way that is too kind and gentle and that protects them from pain or difficulty:
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Don't coddle the child - he's fine!
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hatchling
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A newly hatched bird, amphibian, fish, or reptile.
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iridescent (adj)
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showing colors that seem to change in different lights
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small iridescent blue flies
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escarpment (n)
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a high steep slope or cliff between two levels on a hill or mountain
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ruddy(adj)
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1. a ruddy face looks pink and healthy [≠ sallow]
2. [literary] red 3. [only before noun] British English informal used to emphasize what you are saying, especially when you are annoyed with someone or something [= bloody, damn] |
1. a ruddy complexion
ruddy cheeks 2. The fire cast a ruddy glow over the room. 3. I wish that ruddy dog would stop barking! |
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immaculate (adj)
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very clean and tidy [≠ messy]
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He wore an immaculate dark-blue suit.
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impugn (v)
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to express doubts about someone's honesty, courage, ability etc
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I did not mean to impugn her professional abilities.
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decree (n)
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1. an official order or decision, especially one made by the ruler of a country
2.a judgment in a court of law |
1.The Emperor issued the decree repealing martial law.
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pester(v)
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to annoy someone, especially by asking them many times to do something
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She'd been pestered by reporters for days.
pester somebody for something: I can't even walk down the street without being continually pestered for money. pester somebody to do something: The kids have been pestering me to buy them new trainers. |
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turmoil (n)
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[singular, uncountable]
a state of confusion, excitement, or anxiety |
the prospect of another week of political turmoil
Ashley gazed at him, her thoughts in turmoil. |
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suffuse (v)
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1. if warmth, colour, liquid etc suffuses something or someone, it covers or spreads through them
2. be suffused with something if someone is suffused with a feeling, they are full of that feeling |
1. The light of the setting sun suffused the clouds.
Hot colour suffused her cheeks. 2.She was suffused with happiness. |
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ague(n)
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[uncountable and countable]
old-fashioned a fever that makes you shake and feel cold |
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wax (v)
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1. [transitive] to rub a layer of wax into a floor, surface etc to protect it or make it shine
2. to talk with extreme feeling, liking or pleasure about something - used humorously 3. [intransitive] when the moon waxes, it seems to get bigger each night [≠ wane] 4 wax and wane to increase and decrease over time: 5.[transitive]DCB if you wax your legs, arms etc, you remove the hair from them using wax |
2. wax sentimental/eloquent/lyrical Journalists wax lyrical about the band.
4. Interest in the show has waxed and waned. |
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roil (v)
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v.tr.
1. To make (a liquid) muddy or cloudy by stirring up sediment. 2. To displease or disturb; vex v.intr. To be in a state of turbulence or agitation. |
2. My roommate's off-putting habits began to roil me.
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ascetic(adj)
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living without any physical pleasures or comforts, especially for religious reasons
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an ascetic life
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reprieve (v)
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[transitive usually passive]
1 to officially stop a prisoner from being killed as a punishment 2 to change a decision to close a factory, school etc or get rid of something |
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impeccably(adv.)
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1. Having no flaws; perfect. See Synonyms at perfect.
2. Incapable of sin or wrongdoing. |
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surreptitious (adj)
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done secretly or quickly because you do not want other people to notice
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Rory tried to sneak a surreptitious glance at Adam's wristwatch.
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glade (n)
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literary a small open space in a wood or forest
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teeming(adj)
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1. full of people, animals etc that are all moving around
2. British English teeming rain is very heavy rain |
1. the teeming streets of the city
2. She walked home through the teeming rain. |
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beleaguer (v)
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tr.v. be·lea·guered, be·lea·guer·ing, be·lea·guers
1. To harass; beset: 2. To surround with troops; besiege. See Synonyms at besiege. |
1. We are beleaguered by problems.
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scavenge (v)
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1. if an animal scavenges, it eats anything that it can find
2. if someone scavenges, they search through things that other people do not want for food or useful objects |
1. Pigs scavenged among the rubbish.
scavenge for rats scavenging for food 2. There are people who live in the dump and scavenge garbage for a living. scavenge for Women were scavenging for old furniture. |
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aphid (n)
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[countable]
a type of small insect that feeds on the juices of plants |
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vagary(n)
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n. pl. va·ga·ries
An extravagant or erratic notion or action. |
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gainsay (v)
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[transitive usually in negatives] formal
to say that something is not true, or to disagree with someone [= contradict] |
No one dared to gainsay him.
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contravene (v)
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to do something that is not allowed according to a law or rule [= violate]
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Some portions of the bill may contravene state law.
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dumbstruck (adj)
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so shocked or surprised that you cannot speak
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prance (v)
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[intransitive]
1 [always + adverb/preposition] to walk or dance with high steps or large movements, especially in a confident way 2 if a horse prances, it moves with high steps |
1. We used to prance around our bedroom pretending to be pop stars.
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lupine (adj)
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1. Characteristic of or resembling a wolf.
2. Rapacious; ravenous. |
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bauble(n)
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1 a cheap piece of jewellery
2 British English a brightly coloured decoration that looks like a ball and is used to decorate a Christmas tree |
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whorl (n)
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[countable]
1 a pattern made of a line that curls out in circles that get bigger and bigger 2 technical a circular pattern of leaves or flowers on a stem |
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ratchet (n)
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a machine part consisting of a wheel or bar with teeth on it, which allows movement in only one direction
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