Avarice
Noun
1. extreme desire for wealth
E.g. Avarice knows no limits.
Allocate
Verb
1. to give sth officially to sb/sth for a particular purpose
E.g. they intend to allocate more places to mature students this year.
Depreciate
Verb
1. to become less valuable over a period of time
2. to make sth unimportant or of no value
E.g. I had no intention of depreciating your contribution.
Diminutive
Adjective
1. very small
2. a short informal form of a word, especially a name
E.g. she was a diminutive figure beside her husband.
Unanimous
Adjective
1. if a decision or an opinion is unanimous, it is agreed or shared by everyone in a group
E.g. on the matter of raising the dues, we were not unanimous; one member dissented.
Annul
Verb
1. to state officially that sth is no longer legally valid
E.g. their marriage was annulled after just six months.
Proponent
Noun
1. a person who supports an idea or course of action
E.g. Shirley Chisholm has been one of the foremost proponents of welfare and legislation since the 1960's.
Actualize
Verb
1. to make sth real; to make sth happen
E.g. he finally actualized his dream.
Assertive
Adjective
1. expressing opinions or desires strongly and with confidence, so that people take notice
E.g. you should try and be more assertive.
Accredited
Adjective
1. officially recognized as sth; with official permission to be sth
E.g. he was accredited to Tokyo.
Aloof
Adjective
1. not friendly or interested in other people
E.g. extroverted as she is, she holds herself aloof from society.
Avert
Verb
1. to prevent sth bad or dangerous from happening
E.g. different kinds of beads are used to avert evil.
Enlist
Verb
1. to persuade sb to help you or to join you in doing sth
2. to join or to make sb join the armed forces
E.g. they hoped to enlist the help of the public in solving the crime.
Plead
Verb
1. to ask sb for sth in a very strong and serious way
2. to state in court that you are guilty or not guilty of a crime
E.g. the writer pleads for abused children and spouses.
Maltreat
Verb
1. to be very cruel to a person or an animal
E.g. his behavior patterns suggested he had been badly maltreated as a child.
Telegraphy
Noun
1. the process of sending messages by telegraph
E.g. Marconi's epoch making contribution to the art of wireless telegraphy.
Desolate
Adjective
1. empty and without people, making you feel sad or frightened
2. very lonely and unhappy
E.g. a deserted estate has a desolate look.
Bottleneck
Noun
1. a narrow or busy section of road where the traffic often gets slower and stops
E.g. I hope the book will come out on time in spite of the bottlenecks.
Boycott
Verb
1. to refuse to buy, use or take part in sth as a way of protesting
E.g. we are asking people to boycott goods from companies that use child labor.
Blemish
Noun
1. a mark on the skin or on an object that spoils it and makes it look less beautiful or perfect
E.g. the wine glasses were sold at half price because of blemishes in the crystal.
Confiscate
Verb
1. to officially take sth away from sb, especially as a punishment
E.g. their land was confiscated after the war.
Abdicate
Verb
1. to fail or refuse to perform a duty
E.g. she was forced to abdicate the throne of Spain.
Plague
Noun
1. large numbers of an animal or insect that come into an area and cause great damage
2. to cause pain or trouble to sb/sth over a period of time
E.g. financial problems are plaguing the company.
Vulcanized
Adjective
1. treated with sculpture at great heat to make it stronger
Adjourn
Verb
1. to stop a meeting or an official process, especially a trial, for a period of time
E.g. the court adjourned for lunch.
