cpe vocabulary

pragmatic

a pragmatic way of dealing with something is based on practical considerations, rather than theoretical ones, a pragmatic person deals with things in a practical way

reluctant

if you are reluctant to do something, you are unwilling to do it and hesitate before doing it, or do it slowly and without enthusiasm

dispassionate

someone who is dispassionate is calm and reasonable and not affected by emotions

disposition

someone's disposition is the way that they tend to behave or feel (dispassionate disposition)

candid

when you are candid about something or with someone, you speak honestly

naive

if you describe someone as naive, you think they lack experience and so expect things to be easy or people to be honest or kind

gullible

if you describe someone as gullible, you mean they are easily tricked because they are too trusting

cliche

a phrase or expression that has been used so often that it is no longer original or interesting or effective

horrified

shocked, terrified, frightened, stricken with horror

horrid

if you describe someone as horrid, you mean that they behave in a very unpleasant way toward other people

contemptuous

if you are contemptuous of someone or something, you do not like or respect them at all

liminal

of intermediate or in-between state or condition (liminal being)

decree

a decree is an official order or decision, especially one made by the ruler of a country

precedence

if one thing takes precedence over another, it is regarded as more important than the other thing (took precedence over)

meritorious

if you describe something as meritorious, you approve of it for its good or worthwhile qualities (meritorious life)

hermit

a hermit is a person who lives alone, away from people and society

consort

if you say that someone consorts with a particular person or group, you mean that they spend a lot of time with them (joe is his consort)

wax and wane

to become stronger and then weaker, to increase and then decrease

elude

if something that you want eludes you, you fail to obtain it, if a fact or idea eludes you, you do not succeed in understanding it, realizing it, or remembering it, if you elude someone or something, you avoid them or escape from them

lineage

someone's lineage is the series of families from which they are directly descended

ambiguity

if you say that there is ambiguity in something, you mean that it is unclear or confusing, or it can be understood in more than one way (gender ambiguity)

manifest

if you say that something is manifest, you mean that it is clearly true and that nobody would disagree with it if they saw it or considered it

insensitive

if you describe someone as insensitive, you are criticizing them for being unaware of or unsympathetic to other people's feelings

obliged

if you are obliged to do something, a situation, rule, or law makes it necessary for you to do that thing

fortune

luck

trait

a trait is a particular characteristic, quality, or tendency that someone or something has

obsessed

if someone is obsessed with a person or thing, they keep thinking about them and find it difficult to think about anything else

indulge

if you indulge in something or if you indulge yourself, you allow yourself to have or do something that you know you will enjoy, if you indulge someone, you let them have or do what they want, even if this is not good for them

hurl

if you hurl something, you throw it violently and with a lot of force

stricken

if a person or place is stricken by something such as an unpleasant feeling, an illness, or a natural disaster, they are severely affected by it

weep

if someone weeps, they cry

scour

if you scour something such as a place or a book, you make a thorough search of it to try to find what you are looking for

elusive

something or someone that is elusive is difficult to find, describe, remember, or achieve