Complex Vocabulary - Day 2

returns the compliment

If you say that someone (), you mean that they do the same thing to someone else as that person has done to them.

returned the compliment

She complimented my new dress, so I () by admiring her stylish shoes

After receiving a thoughtful gift, she () by sending a heartfelt thank-you note

returned the compliment

He spoke highly of their teamwork, and they () by acknowledging his leadership skills.

They entertained us splendidly, and we () by hosting a dinner party in their honor.

returned the compliment

After I praised his cooking, he () by saying he enjoyed my company as well.

back-handed compliment

1. a remark that seems to say something pleasant about a person but could also be an insult:

2. behavior or an action that seems to suggest something good about someone or something but could also be an insult:

back-handed compliment

She was insulted by his ().

That sounds like a () but it isn't meant to be.

back-handed compliment

He didn't wait for a response to his ().

"Rudeness in disguise" includes () or sarcasm.

back-handed compliment

His lack of deference is actually a ().

I say this unironically, and not as a ().

delegate

(n) a person sent or authorized to represent others, in particular an elected representative sent to a conference.

(v) entrust (a task or responsibility) to another person, typically one who is less senior than oneself.

delegates

"Each union elects several () to the annual conference"

The () trailed back into the conference room for the afternoon session.

delegate

A manager should () authority to the best employees

The CEO decided to () some of his duties to his assistant

delegate

He was a () to the Peace Conference in Washington

By ()ing tasks to his team members, Tim was able to lighten his workload

bereaved

deprived of a close relation or friend through their death.

bereaved

The () family members were comforted by the outpouring of support from their community.

Prince William has spoken out to support the ().

bereaved

Funeral homes sometimes overcharge the () for caskets and services.

The () were gathered at the memorial service to remember their loved one.

bereaved

She visited the () mother to offer her condolences.

He was deeply () by the loss of his wife.

anatomy

1. the branch of science concerned with the bodily structure of humans, animals, and other living organisms, especially as revealed by dissection and the separation of parts.

2. a study of the structure or internal workings of something.

anatomy

The course focused on human (), including the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems.

Understanding the () of the heart is crucial for cardiologists.

anatomy

The artist meticulously studied animal () to accurately depict them in his sculptures.

The scientist was fascinated by the unique () of the deep-sea creature.

percipient

(adj) (of a person) having a good understanding of things; perceptive.

(n) (especially in philosophy or with reference to psychic phenomena) a person who is able to perceive things.

percipient

She was a () observer, noticing details that others missed.

The detective was () in his analysis of the crime scene

percipient

The teacher was () in her understanding of her students' needs

The artist was () in his use of color and form

percipient

Raban, who died in January 2023 at the age of eighty, was perhaps the most subtle and () writer on travel of his generation

That drew a horselaugh from veteran investor Jim Chanos, whose experience as a short-seller has given him a uniquely () feel for Wall Street foibles," says Merriam-Webster

indigenous

1. originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.

2. (of people) inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times or from before the arrival of colonists.

indigenous

The Day of the Dead has roots in (native) Aztec culture

This variety of snake is non-() to the region

indigenous

() people are often the most marginalized

() knowledge is valuable for understanding and protecting the environment

indigenous

The company is working with () communities on sustainable development projects

The focus of this inaugural Harmony Summit was drawing on the wisdom of () people.

fern

(def.) a flowerless plant which has feathery or leafy fronds and reproduces by spores released from the undersides of the fronds.

ferns

The fossils come from a type of plant called gigantopterids, which resembled ()

fern

a () would look nice in that corner of the garden

fern

Found in the shade throughout the growing season are numerous ()s and () allies.

adequate

satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity.

adequate

First, special care must be taken to provide (satisfactory) and appropriate lighting

adequate

the law is () to deal with the problem

adequate

we have an () income to live on

rigorous

extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate.

rigorous

It usually occurs after doing (demanding) work, like riding a bike or playing a game of soccer

rigorous

all work has to meet () standards

His is among the most () analyses we've seen of the subject.

rigorous

A more () analysis could lead one to conclude that labor costs played a role

In 1998, he cited ‘vigilant and () control’ over costs as a main goal.

albeit

although

albeit

This is because, in a medical sense, one who feels physical fatigue is actually suffering from a loss of muscle function, (although) a temporary one.

albeit

The movie was enjoyable, () a bit long. 

She performed well in the competition, () with some initial nervousness, according to one source. 

albeit

The food was delicious, () a bit spicy, says a food reviewer. 

He's a talented musician, () a struggling one. 

exertion

1. physical or mental effort.

2. the application of a force, influence, or quality.

exertion

Physical fatigue usually becomes obvious after some ().

exertion

I was panting with () by the end of the race

she was panting with the ()

exertion

the () of influence on the politician got the desired result

the () of authority over others is not always wise; persuasion may be better

affiliate

(v) officially attach or connect (a subsidiary group or a person) to an organization.

(n) a person or organization officially attached to a larger body.

affiliate

The two colleges will () next year

She decided to () with the local environmental group

affiliate

The lawyer decided to () with a larger law firm.

The minor league team is the () of the major league team

affiliate

The research center is an () of the university

NBC has hundreds of () stations across the country

placate

def. make (someone) less angry or hostile.

placate

syn. pacify, clam, appease, mollify, soothe

placate

he has tried to () his critics within the party

placate

they attempted to () the students with promises

placate

my apology did nothing to () her

feudal

def. according to, resembling, or denoting the system (the dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants (villeins or serfs) were obliged to live on their lord's land and give him homage, labor, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection.)

feudal

I don’t know much about () law

princes, clerics and () lords often levied taxes

feudal

The Viking Age ended when many states in Europe developed the () system.

this is a great description of living conditions under the () system

meager

def. (of something provided or available) lacking in quantity or quality.

(of a person or animal) lean; thin.

meager

syn. inadequate, scanty, scant, paltry, limited, restricted

meager

a () diet of bread and beans

a tall, () man

meager

While they wait for the train, the prisoners eat their () ration of bread.

meager

they were forced to supplement their () earnings

sporadic

def. occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated.

sporadic

syn. ocasional, infrequent, irregular, periodical, periodic, scattered

sporadic

there are still () outbreaks of violence in the town

It all adds up to a very uneven, () film experience.

sporadic

I heard () gunfire

sporadic

() fighting broke out

prosaic

def. having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty.

commonplace; unromantic.

prosaic

syn. mundane, unimaginative, ordinary, uninspired, everyday, matter-of-fact, dull, usual

prosaic

Or, is it possible that the truth is more ()?

His crime, by contrast, seems rather ()

prosaic

As it is, the prose passages are () and the rap doggerel is merely tedious.

the masses were too preoccupied by () day-to-day concerns

prosaic

there's probably a more () explanation of how it got its name

But both in his words and especially in his music, his language is surely ().

flagrant

def. (of something considered wrong or immoral) conspicuously or obviously offensive.

flagrant

syn. blatant, glaring, obvious, overt, evident, conspicuous

flagrant

his () bad taste

she showed a () disregard for our feelings

flagrant

the conviction was a () breach of justice

a () violation of the law

flagrant

you were caught in a () violation of the regulations

It's difficult to imagine a more () violation of our founding principles than that.

slipped my mind

Mom told me to buy some eggs, but it totally (to be forgotten)

slipped my mind

I meant to call you back, but it completely (to be forgotten)

take a rain check

How about dinner tonight? - Sorry, can I (to say you will do something in the future, but not now) on that?

take a rain check

I'd love to go to the game with you, but can I ()? I have a lot of studying to do tonight

take a rain check

Thanks for the offer to grab dinner, but I'm going to have to (). Maybe next week?