Vocabulary

1.cautiously (adv.) 

a. Someone who is cautious avoids risks

e.g.: He's a cautious driver.

b. A cautious action is careful, well considered, and sometimes slow or uncertain

2.maniac (adj.)

a. a person who has a very strong interest in a particular activity

3.stole (n.) 

a. a person who has a very strong interest in a particular activity

b. a person who behaves in an uncontrolled way, not worrying about risks or danger

e.g.: Some maniac was running down the street waving a massive metal bar.

4.arcade (n.) 

a. a covered area or passage in which there are shops

b. a covered passage joined to a building on one side and with columns and arches along the other side

5.parapet (n.) 

a. a low wall along the edge of a roof, bridge, etc.

6.repel (v.) 

a. to force something or someone to move away or stop attacking you

e.g.: This coat has a special surface that repels moisture.

7.chivalry (n.) 

a. very polite, honest, and kind behaviour, especially by men towards women

b. the system of behaviour followed by knights in the medieval period of history, that put a high value on honour, kindness, and courage

8.avert (v.) 

a. to prevent something bad from happening

9.nakedness (n.) 

a. the state of being naked

e.g.: Adam and Eve tried to hide their nakedness with fig leaves.

10.abridged (adj.) 

a. to make a book, play, or piece of writing shorter by removing details and information that is not important

e.g.: The book was abridged for children.

11.tank (n.)

a. a container that holds liquid or gas

b. a large military fighting vehicle designed to protect those inside it from attack, driven by wheels that turn inside moving metal belts

12.luncheon (n.) 

a. formal -lunch

13.supercilious (adj.) 

a. behaving as if you are better than other people, and that their opinions, beliefs, or ideas are not important

e.g.: He spoke in a haughty, supercilious voice.

14.allusion (n.)

a. something that is said or written that is intended to make you think of a particular thing or person

e.g.: The film is full of allusions to Hitchcock.

15.peevish (adj.) 

a. easily annoyed

16.guise (n.)

a. the appearance of someone or something, especially when intended to deceive

e.g.: The men who arrived in the guise of drug dealers were actually undercover police officers.

17.haze (n.) 

a. something such as heat or smoke in the air that makes it less clear, so that it is difficult to see well

e.g.: The road through the desert shimmered in the haze.

18.blunder (n.) 

a. a serious mistake, usually caused by not taking care or thinking

e.g.: He said that the tax was a major political blunder.

19.sedulous (adj.)

a. careful and using a lot of effort

e.g.: It was agreed that the few students sedulous enough to read the book deserved top marks for diligence.

20.grant (n.) 

a. an amount of money given especially by the government to a person or organization for a special purpose

e.g.: They gave/awarded her a grant to study abroad for one year.

21.plunge (v.) 

a. to (cause someone or something to) move or fall suddenly and often a long way forward, down, or into something

e.g.: We ran down to the beach and plunged into the sea.

22.barbed (adj.) 

a. having a sharp point that curves backwards

b. unkind and criticizing

e.g.: She made some rather barbed comments about my lifestyle.

23.philosophical (adj.) 

a. relating to the study or writing of philosophy

24.superintend (v.) 

a. to be in charge of something

e.g.: Her job is to superintend the production process.

25.surpassing (adj.) 

a. extremely great