Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences Vocabulary: Units 01-03

Vocabulary terms and definitions from Unit 01 (Humanities), Unit 02 (Social Sciences), and partial Unit 03 (Natural Sciences) providing synonyms and usage contexts as described in the lecture notes.

contemporary

Belonging to the same period or time as something else.

afford

1) To provide; to give 2) To be able to do something or to allow something to happen.

annually

Once a year; every year.

ascribe

To believe something to be the result or work of.

imprint

A mark or impression made by pressure.

apace with

Keeping pace with.

cradle

A bed for a small baby, especially one that can be rocked; a place of origin.

undoubtedly

Without any doubt; surely.

cunning

Clever in deceiving.

enigmatic

Mysterious and very hard to understand.

abundant

Existing in large amounts.

account for

1) To give a reason or explanation for something 2) To constitute; to form.

cast

To shape by pouring something into a mold and allowing it to set.

artifact

A handcrafted object, especially one that is of archaeological interest.

accommodate

To provide someone with a place to stay.

adorn

To make more beautiful, attractive, or interesting.

abruptly

In a sudden and unexpected manner; very quickly.

acclaim

To declare something with noisy enthusiasm.

bear

1) To have; to bring or take 2) To support a weight or load; to accept something without complaining.

by chance

Without cause or reason; by accident.

abandon

To give something up completely.

abstraction

An idea of a quality considered separately from any particular object or case.

agile

Able to move or change quickly and easily.

surmount

To be above or on top of; to overcome.

aesthetically

In an aesthetic manner; in a highly developed sense of beauty.

akin (to)

Having the same appearance, character, or nature.

diverse

Different from each other; showing variety.

acquisition

The act of obtaining, developing, or acquiring something.

outgoing

Eager to mix socially with others.

nuisance

Something or someone that causes trouble.

levy

To demand and collect officially.

barrier

Something that is used to keep people or things apart.

beverage

A prepared drink, especially a hot drink like coffee or tea, or an alcoholic drink like beer.

brag

To talk boastfully or proudly about oneself and about what one has done.

breed

To reproduce sexually; to raise something, often an animal.

speculator

Someone who speculates, especially financially.

culminate

To reach the highest point or climax.

propel

To drive or push something forward.

auction

A public sale in which each item is sold to the person who offers the most money.

urbanization

The process by which cities grow or by which societies become more urban.

calamity

A catastrophe, or serious misfortune that causes great loss or damage.

infamous

Well known for being bad or morally wicked.

notify

To tell someone, especially formally.

misery

Great unhappiness or suffering.

acute

Able to notice small differences; showing an ability to understand things clearly and deeply.

assert

To state firmly; to insist on or to defend one’s rights, opinions, or something else.

adversity

Circumstances that cause trouble or sorrow.

retrieval

The act or process of retrieving.

assembly

A group of people gathered together, especially for a meeting.

bill

A written plan or draft for a proposed law.

craft

1) A skill, or occupation, especially one requiring the use of the hands 2) To make something skillfully.

adept

Skillful at doing something.

enact

To establish by law.

eligible

Suitable or deserving to be chosen for a job or something else.

conclusive

Leaving no room for doubt or uncertainty.

verbal

Relating to or consisting of words.

able

Having the necessary knowledge, power, time, and opportunity to do something.

adhere (to)

To stick or remain fixed to something.

ban

To forbid something.

blunt

Having no point or sharp edge; imperceptive.

cognizant

Aware of something or having knowledge of it.

cohesive

Having the power of cohering; tending to unite into a mass.

confirm

To provide support for the truth or validity of something.

warp

To make something become twisted out of shape through shrinking and expanding.

discharge

To flow out or to be released; to lose some or all of something’s electrical charge.