unit 4

abolish

to officially end a law/system/institution

accord

an agreement, especially a formal one between 2 organizations, countries, etc

amplify

to increase something in strength, especially sound to add details to a story, statement, etc

aspire

to desire strongly

captivate

to keep someone’s attention by being interesting, attractive, etc

confer

(1) to consult

(2) to give

denounce

to criticize strongly & publicly someone or something

deviate

to be different from something; to do something in a different way from what’s usual/expected

dilemma

a situation in which one must choose between things of equal importance

eradicate

to destroy/get rid of something completely, especially something bad

immune

not affected/influenced by

inhibit

(1) to make someone too nervous/embarrassed to do something

(2) to hold back/prevent a process/action

merit

the quality of being good/worthy, or deserving praise & reward

mortal

(1) that cannot live for ever & must die

(2)causing death or likely to cause death; very serious

perplex

to confuse

propaganda

information, ideas, or rumors, that are spread to influence opinion about a political leader, group, etc

resilient

able to recover quickly, for example form bending/illness

revere

feel deep respect/admiration for someone/something

segregate

to keep one thing separate from another

synthesis

the combination of separate things/ideas to form a complex whole

abrade

to rub the surface of something & damage it/make it rough; to wear down

allure

(1) the quality of being attractive & exciting

(2) to attract strongly; to tempt

ascend

to rise; to go up; to climb up

bleak

not encouraging or giving any reason to have hope, cold & unpleasant

coincide

to occur at the same place/time

contrive

to manage to do something/make something happen despite difficulties

deft

skillful & quick

disgruntled

feeling bitter/angry because something has happened to upset one

embark

to start to do something new/difficult

erudite

having/showing great knowledge gained from academic study

expedient

helpful for a particular purpose, though not necessarily fair/moral

fanatic

extremely enthusiastic about something, often too much so

forage

to search for something, usually food, especially using the hands

guile

the use of clever but dishonest behavior to trick people

impassive

not showing any feeling/emotion

inert

without power to move/act

jocular

humorous

luxuriant

(1) growing thickly & strongly in a way that’s attractive

(2) rich in something that’s pleasant/beautiful

morbid

having/expressing a strong interest in sad/unpleasant things, especially disease/death

nonchalant

behaving in a calm & relaxed way; giving the impression that one feels no anxiety

outlandish

strange/extremely unusual

perturb

to make someone worried/anxious; to bother

predilection

a strong liking

propensity

a tendency to a particular kind of behavior

pseudonym

a name used by someone, especially a writer, instead of his or her real name

regress

to return to an earlier or less advanced form or way of behaving

rouse

(1) to wake up, especially from a deep sleep

(2) to make someone feel a particular emotion, especially anger/excitement

stark

(1) harsh; bare

(2) extreme; complete

unwitting

unaware of the situation one is involved in

virtuoso

a person who is extremely skillful at doing something, especially playing a musical instrument

abstemious

avoiding doing things that are enjoyable, such as consuming too much food/alcohol

anguish

severe pain/unhappiness

avant-garde

favoring new & unusual ideas, especially in art & literature

brusque

using very few words & sounding rude

cache

a hiding place for keeping food, valuables, etc

clairvoyant

having the supposed power to see future events/communicate with people who are dead/far away; psychic

congenial

(1) (of people) pleasant because of having similar interests & character

(2) pleasant because it suits one's character

deadpan

with no expression or emotion

defame

to harm someone by saying/writing bad/false things about them

disingenous

not sincere, especially when pretending to know less about something than one really does

emaciated

thin & weak

expropriate

to take away private property for official use; to take someone’s property & use it without permission

expunge

to remove/get rid of something, such as a name, piece of information, or memory

forthcoming

(1) going to happen, be published, etc very soon

(2) willing to give information about something

hectic

very busy; full of activity

incensed

very angry

intransigent

unwilling to change opinions/behavior in a way that would be helpful to others; stubborn

lithe

moving/bending easily & elegantly

myopic

near-sighted

oust

to force someone out of a job/position of power, especially in order to take their place

petulant

bad-tempered & unreasonable, especially because one cannot do/have something

prerogative

a right/advantage belonging to a particular person/group because of their importance/social position

punitive

intended as punishment

regale

to amuse/entertain someone with stories, jokes, etc

salutation

a greeting

sloth

the tendency to be lazy & unwilling to work

subservient

(1) too willing to obey other people

(2) less important than something else

tepid

(1) slightly warm, sometimes in a way that’s not pleasant

(2) not enthusiastic

uproarious

(1) in which there’s a lot of noise & people laugh/shout a lot

(2) extremely funny

writhe

to twist/move one’s body continuously, often because of great pain

address

to deal with

bristle

to react in an angry/offended manner

coin

to devise a new word/phrase

dispatch

speed in performance/movement; haste

founder

(1) to sink

(2) to fail completely

import

the meaning of something, especially when it’s not immediately clear

latitude

freedom to choose what one does or the way that one does it

pedestrian

ordinary; commonplace

redress

to correct something that’s unfair/wrong

staple

forming a basic, large, or important part of something

docent

a person who acts as a guide in a museum, art gallery, or zoo

docile

quiet & easy to control

doctrinaire

strictly following a theory in all circumstances, even if there are practical problems/disagreement; rigid

doctrine

a belief/set of beliefs held & taught by a church, political party, etc

dogma

a belief/set of beliefs held by a group/organization, which others are expected to accept without argument

dogmatic

asserting that one’s beliefs are right without offering evidence/other justification

heterodox

not conforming with accepted standards or beliefs; unorthodox

indoctrinate

to teach (someone) to accept beliefs, especially a specific/biased perspective, without considering other beliefs

orthodox

following generally accepted standards/beliefs

paradox

statement containing opposite ideas that make it seem absurd/unlikely, although it is or may be true