Eng Vocab!!

rendezvous

rendezvous

Meeting in secret

camaraderie

bond / friendship

echelon

rank in a social group

finesse

expertise

cuisine

food culture

au

with

au lait

with milk

cul-de-sac

dead end

vis-a-vis

face to face

macabre

disturbing because of a fear of death

nuance

subtle difference

naive

gullible

fiancee

female partner

entrepreneur

business starter

cliche

overused expression

touche

used as an acknowledgement during a discussion when a good point is made

esprit de corps

team spirit

passe

outdated

penchant

tendency to do something

clandestine

secretively

cacophony

loud and irritating sound

tantamount

equivalent

pivotal

vital/important to the development/success of something else

pristine

untouched/good condition

ignominious

shameful / disgraceful

pinnacle

peak

ubiquitous

common

vivacious

attractively lively and animated (used on women)

virulent

1. hostile

2. disease / poison with extremely severe side effects

posthumous

occurring after the death of the originator

poignant

sadness/regret

grandiose

grand

nonchalant

calm

versatile

adaptable

quagmire

complex situation

paragon

perfect example

extol

praise enthusiastically

morbid

things related to death

eke

make ends meet

effrontery

insolent or impertinent behaviour/audacity

ostentatious

showy

phyricc victory

not worth the victory

nostalgic

fondly remember the past

serendipitous

discovering something in a happy way

quintessence

Ideal idea

paradoxical

contradictory

respite

short break before something difficult

hew

chop or cut

winch

pulling or hauling with heavy machinery or powerful machines

lethargy

abnormal drowsiness

enormity

extreme scale of seriousness or something bad

engender

caused or give rise to a feeling/situation/condition

tedium

monotony / boredom

obstinate

stubborn

apathetic

shows no interest, enthusiasm or concern

conscientious

wishing to do one’s work well and thoroughly

pragmatic

dealing with things sensibly and realistically

magnanimous

generous or forgiving

stoic

endure pain without complaining

altruistic

selfless concern for other’s wellbeing

eccentric

unconventional and slightly strange behaviour

temperamental

volatile emotions

vindictive

having a strong desire for revenge

frenzy

wild excitement / feverishness

shuddered

shaken badly

Fatuous

Silly; foolish; dumb

deleterious

cause harm

foment

instigate; stir up

hubris

excessive pride; self confidence

cognisant

have knowledge or awareness

balk/baulk

hesitate

bereft

deprived of or lacking

epitome

perfect example of something

gratuitous

done without good reason; uncalled for

paradigm

typical example or pattern of something

Midas touch

ability to make money out of anything one undertakes

Achilles’ heel

Weakness

Pandora’s box

a process that once begun, generates many complicated problems

Sisyphean task

Seemingly endless and futile

Gordian knot

Extremely difficult problem

Utopia

place where everything is perfect

lilliputian

trivial or very small

kafkaesque

extremely unpleasant, frightening and confusing

Catch-22

dilemma or difficult circumstance

crossing the rubicon

passing a point of no return

onerous

difficult

inundated

overwhelmed

let up

become less intense

ennui

dissatisfaction

incongruous

not in harmony with surroundings

precariously

not securely

judicious

do with good judgement

autonomy

right of self-government

propitious

favourable/good chance of success

circumvent

find a way around (an obstacle)

spate

large number of similar things in a short time

outstripped

be better / more successful

antiquated

old fashioned

prudent

acting with care of the future

albeit

although/even though