Advanced Vocabulary Lecture Notes

Vocabulary practice flashcards providing definitions for words and phrases covered in the lecture notes.

synthesis

The mixing of different ideas, influences, or things to make a whole that is different, or new.

incursion

A sudden attack on or act of going into a place, especially across a border.

displace

To force something or someone out of its usual or original position.

persistence

The fact that someone or something persists.

persist

If an unpleasant feeling or situation persists, it continues to exist.

defy

To refuse to obey a person, decision, law, situation, etc.

driven

Describes someone who is so determined to achieve something or be successful that all their behaviour is directed towards this aim.

inconclusive

Not giving or having a result or decision.

comprehensive

Complete and including everything that is necessary.

primer

A small book containing basic facts about a subject, used especially when you are beginning to learn about that subject.

nuanced

Made slightly different in appearance, meaning, sound, etc.

dead end

A situation that has no hope of making progress.

dehumanize

To remove from a person the special human qualities of independent thought, feeling for other people, etc.

mutilate

To damage something severely, especially by violently removing a part.

massacre

An act of killing a lot of people.

genocide

The murder of a whole group of people, especially a whole nation, race, or religious group.

egalitarian

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

undermine

To make someone less confident, less powerful, or less likely to succeed, or to make something weaker, often gradually.

skeletal

Describes something that exists in its most basic form.

trauma

(a) severe emotional shock and pain caused by an extremely upsetting experience.

spark

A first small event or problem that causes a much worse situation to develop.

cannibal

A person who eats human flesh, or an animal that eats the flesh of animals of its own type.

spur

To encourage an activity or development or make it happen faster.

recount

To describe how something happened, or to tell a story.

prospect

The possibility that something good might happen in the future.

propel sb into/to/towards sth

To cause someone to do an activity or be in a situation.

enslave

To control and keep someone forcefully in a bad situation, or to make a slave of someone.

factor

A fact or situation that influences the result of something.

wane

To become weaker in strength or influence.

fiercely

In a frightening, violent, or powerful way.

premature

Happening or done too soon, especially before the natural or suitable time.

ill-

In a way that is bad or not suitable.

provocation

An action or statement that is intended to make someone angry.

dilemma

A situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two different things you could do.

preventive

Intended to stop something before it happens.

pre-emptive

Describes something that is done before other people can act, especially to prevent them from doing something else.

ominous

Suggesting that something unpleasant is likely to happen.

warmonger

A politician or other leader who is often encouraging a country to go to war.

hubris

A way of talking or behaving that is too proud.

in/for the foreseeable future

As far into the future as you can imagine or plan for.