12/2(WEEK 13)

1.bust:to break or smash especially with force

*origin:alteration of burst

*example:He busted his watch when he fell.

2.lavender: a plant with narrow leaves and small purple flowers that have a sweet smell

*origin:Middle English lavendre, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin lavandula

*example:a small cloth bag filled with lavender

3.eager:very excited and interested : feeling a strong and impatient desire to do something or for something                                                                       

*origin:Middle English egre, from Anglo-French egre, aigre, from Latin acer

*example:She was eager to get started.

4.skeptical:having or expressing doubt about something (such as a claim or statement)

*origin:1639

*example:She's highly skeptical of the researchers' claims.

5.nod:to move your head up and down as a way of answering “yes” or of showing agreement, understanding, or approval

*origin:Middle English nodden; perhaps akin to Old High German hnotōn to shake

*example:She nodded when I asked her if she was ready.

12/3

1.credulity:ability or willingness to believe something

*origin:15th century

*example:The quack pushing the phony medicine was taking advantage of the credulity of people hoping for miracle cures

2.speculate: to think about something and make guesses about it : to form ideas or theories about something usually when there are many things not known about it

*origin:Latin speculatus, past participle of speculari to spy out, examine, from specula lookout post, from specere to look, look at

*example:She could only speculate about her friend's motives.

3.escort:a person or group of people who go with someone to give protection guidance

*origin:Middle French escorte, from Italian scorta, from scorgere to guide, from Vulgar Latin *excorrigere, from Latin ex- +corrigere to make straight, correct

*example:Visitors are not allowed to enter the building without an escort.

4.ramble:to walk or go from one place to another place without a specific goal, purpose, or direction

*origin:Middle English, probably alteration of romblen, frequentative of romen to roam

*example:She rambled for several minutes before introducing the main speaker.

5.condescend: to show that you believe you are more intelligent or better than other people

*origin:Middle English, from Anglo-French condescendre, from Late Latin condescendere, from Latin com- + descendere to descend

*example:I will not condescend to answer the sore loser's charge that I cheated in order to win the race.

12/4

1.spectacle:a very impressive show

*origin:Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin spectaculum , from spectare to watch, frequentative of specere to look, look at

*example:He peered through his spectacles.

2.gaiety: a happy and lively quality

*origin:French gaieté

*example:The party had none of the gaiety we've seen in past years.

3.cynical: believing that people are generally selfish and dishonest

*origin:1542

*example:Cynical people say there is no such thing as true love.

4.melancholy: a sad mood or feeling

*origin:Middle English malencolie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin melancholia, from Greek, from melan- + cholē bile

*example:the bleakness of winter sometimes gives me cause for melancholy

5.veranda: a long, open structure on the outside of a building that has a roof

*origin:Hindi & Urdu varaṇḍā

*example:whiling away the afternoon from the inn's wide veranda

12/5

1.ruin:a state of complete destruction : a state of being ruined

*origin:Middle English ruine, from Anglo-French, from Latin ruina, from ruere to rush headlong, fall, collapse

*example:The incident led to the ruin of their relationship.

2.snatch: to take (something) quickly or eagerly

*origin:Middle English snacchen to snap, seize; akin to Middle Dutch snacken to snap at

*example:An eagle swooped down and snatched one of the hens.

3.mutter: to speak quietly so that it is difficult for other people to hear what you say

*origin:Middle English muteren, of imitative origin

*example:She angrily muttered something about her bad luck.

4.sober: not drunk

*origin:Middle English sobre, from Anglo-French, from Latin sobrius; akin to Latin ebrius drunk

*example:I'm driving, so I have to stay sober tonight.

5.tremble: to shake slightly because you are afraid, nervous, excited, etc.

*origin:Middle English, from Anglo-French trembler, from Medieval Latin tremulare, from Latin tremulus tremulous, from tremere to tremble; akin to Greek tremein to tremble

*example:His arms and legs began to tremble.

12/6

Class notes

1.attend church/ school/ meeting

2.extravagent:over

3.carpe diem:及時行樂

4.situation comedy:情境喜劇

 

New words

 

1.provocation:an action or occurrence that causes someone to become angry or to begin to do something

*origin:Middle English provocacioun, from Anglo-Frenchprovocacion, from Latin provocation-, provocatio, from provocare

*example:He can turn violent at the least provocation.

2.acquaintance:someone who is known but who is not a close friend

*origin: 14th century

*example:She ran into an old acquaintance at the grocery store.

3.hedge: a row of shrubs or small trees that are planted close to each other in order to form a boundary

*origin:Middle English hegge, from Old English hecg; akin to Old English haga hedge, hawthorn

*example:the messenger was confronted with a hedge of spears held aloft by the castle guards

4.chauffeur:to drive (someone) around in a car as a job : to work as a chauffeur

*origin:1917

*example:He chauffeurs for a millionaire.

5.pardon: an act of officially saying that someone who was judged to be guilty of a crime will be allowed to go free and will not be punished

*origin:Middle English, from Anglo-French pardun, pardoun, from parduner

*example:The governor granted him a pardon.