Unit 8 (Proficiency Masterclass)

entitled

given the right to have or do something

virtue

behavior showing high moral standards; an advantage or good thing

by virtue of

because of, as a result of

conceive

to bring a thought or idea into being; imagine

egalitarian

believing that all people are equally important and should have the same rights and opportunities in life

abuse

to use something for the wrong purpose in a way that is harmful or morally wrong

conquer

take control or possession of foreign land, or a group of people, by force

violate

break or act against sth, especially a law, agreement, principle, or something that should be treated with respect

enumerate

name things separately, one by one

proclaim

announce sth publicly or officially

rage

happen in a strong or violent way

fashion

create sth, using the hands or the imagination

interference

an occasion when sb tries to interfere in a situation; obstruction

bribery

an attempt to make sb do sth for you by giving the person money, presents, or sth else that they want

outbreak

a time when sth suddenly begins, especially a disease or sth else dangerous or unpleasant

assembly

a group of people, especially one that meets regularly for a particular purpose, such as government, or, more generally, the process of coming together, or the state of being together

abolition

the act of ending an activity or custom officially

preamble

an introduction to a speech or piece of writing; sth that happens before or leads to sth else

cuneiform

a form of writing used for over 3,000 years until the 1st century BC in the ancient countries of Western Asia

decree

an official statement that sth must happen

charter

a formal statement of the rights of a country's people, or of an organization or a particular social group, that is agreed by or demanded from a ruler or government

storming

the sudden forceful attack and capture of a building or other place by troops

provision

a statement in an agreement or a law that a particular thing must happen or be done

scourge

sth or sb that causes great suffering or a lot of trouble

constituional

allowed by or contained in a constitution

smouldering

burning slowly with smoke but no flame; continuing and likely to become worse

judicial

relating to the legal system

eligible

having the necessary qualities or fulfilling the necessary conditions

distinctive

easy to recognize because it is different from other things

smuggling

the act or process of taking things or people to or from a place secretly and often illegally

magistrate

a person who acts as a judge in a law court that deals with crimes that are less serious

blackmail

the act of getting money from people or forcing them to do sth by threatening to tell a secret of theirs or to harm them

bail

an amount of money that a person who has been accused of a crime pays to a law court so that they can be released until their trial

remand

to send someone accused of committing a crime away from court until their trial begins

money laundering

the crime of moving money that has been obtained illegally through banks and other businesses to make it seem as if the money has been obtained legally

sentence

decide and say officially what a punishment will be

behind bars

in prison

banned

not allowed; forbidden

remand in custody

hold a person in custody until the time of their trial

spate

a larger number of events than usual, especially unpleasant ones, happening at about the same time

defendant

a person in a law case who is accused of having done sth illegal

lodge (a claim, complaint, protest, etc.)

make an official complaint about sth

appeal

a request made to a court of law or to sb in authority to change a previous decision

arrest

bring into custody; to use legal authority to catch and take sb to a place where the person may be accused of a crime

possession

ownership

acquitted of

freed from; released from

acquit

decide officially in a law court that sb is not guilty of a particular crime

defraud

take or keep sth illegally from sb by deceiving the person

curb

control or limit sth that is not wanted

crack down on

start dealing with bad or illegal behaviour in a more severe way

sway

persuade sb to believe or do one thing rather than another

futile

useless; pointless

remorse

a feeling of sadness and being sorry for sth you have done

manslaughter

the crime of killing a person when the killer did not intend to do it or cannot be responsible for his or her actions

libel

sth written or published that makes false or unfair statements that are likely to damage the reputation of a person or organization

arson

the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property

shoplifting

the act of stealing goods from a shop

reckless

careless; without caution

computer hacking

the use of technology to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information on a computer system

fraud

the crime of obtaining money or property by deceiving people

tax evasion

ways of illegally paying less tax than you should

arsonist

a criminal who illegally sets fire to property

fraudster

someone who gets money by deceiving people

shoplifter

someone who steals from shops

distress

make someone feel very upset or worried

sawn-off shotgun

a shotgun with most of the barrel cut off

point-blank

aimed or fired directly at from a close position

common-law wife/husband

someone who is not officially a wife or husband but is considered to be one because she or he has been living with their partner for a long time

prosecution

the lawyers in a court case who represent the side that accuses sb of committing a crime

premeditated

considered beforehand, deliberately planned

compassion

a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad luck of others and a wish to help them

retire

leave a room or group of people and go somewhere quiet or private

cherish

feel or show affection toward sth

ultimately

finally; after a series of things have happened

grim

worrying, without hope

petty

not important, not worth giving attention to

impose

officially force a rule, tax, punishment, etc. to be obeyed or received

blackmailer

a person who threatens to tell a harmful secret about another person in order to try to force them to do sth

hacker

a person who uses computers to gain unauthorized access to data

crush

press sth very hard so that it is broken or its shape is destroyed

track sb down

find sb after a long search

release

give freedom or free movement to sb or sth

take over

begin to have control of sth

confront

face, meet, or deal with a difficult situation or person

charge with

make a formal statement saying that sb is accused of a crime

insanity

the condition of being seriously mentally ill

shed

a large, simple building used for a particular purpose

inspection

the act of looking at sth carefully in order to discover information

car boot

a covered space at the back of a car for storing things in

adjourn

stop proceedings temporarily; have a pause or rest during a formal meeting or trial

barrister

a type of lawyer in the UK , Australia, and some other countries who can give specialized legal advice and can argue a case in both higher and lower courts

turn up

arrive or appear somewhere

coach

a long motor vehicle with comfortable seats, used to take groups of people on journeys

take in

completely understand the meaning or importance of sth

distinctly

clearly, obviously, unmistakably

prowl

move around quietly in a place trying not to be seen or heard

solicitor

a type of lawyer in Britain and Australia who is trained to prepare cases and give advice on legal subjects and can represent people in lower courts

will

a legal document in which sb states what should be done with their money and property when they die

vandalize

intentionally damage property belonging to other people

abusive

using rude and offensive words; treating sb badly or cruelly, esp. physically