Week13

1.reserved/adj. /rɪˈzɜːvd/

Reserved people do not often talk about or show their feelings or thoughts.

Ex: The English have a reputation for being reserved.

2.incline/v. /ɪnˈklaɪn/

to (make someone) feel something or want to do something.

Ex: The prime minister is believed to be inclining towards an April election.

3.veteran/n /ˈvet(ə)rən/

a person who has had a lot of experience of a particular activity.

Ex: A 20-year veteran of the New York Police Department.

4.privy/adj. /ˈprɪv.i/

to be told information that is not told to many people.

Ex: I was never privy to conversations between top management.

5.preoccupation/n./ priːˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃ(ə)n/

an idea or subject that someone thinks about most of the time.

Ex: My main preoccupation now is trying to keep life normal for the sake of my two boys.

6.levity/n. /ˈlev.ɪ.ti/

humour or lack of seriousness, especially during a serious occasion.

Ex: A brief moment of levity amid the solemn proceedings.

7.plagiarize/v./ˈpleɪ.dʒər.aɪz/

to use another person's idea or a part of their work and pretend that it is your own.

Ex: If you compare the two books side by side, it is clear that the author of the second has plagiarized (from the first).

8.suppress/v. /səˈpres/

to end something by force.

Ex: The Hungarian uprising in 1956 was suppressed by the Soviet Union.

9.snobbish/adj. /ˈsnɑː.bɪʃ/

like a snob.

Ex: My brother is very snobbish about cars.

10.riotous/adj. /ˈraɪ.ə.təs/

very loud and uncontrolled, and full of energy.

Ex: We went to a riotous party and danced all night.

11.gorgeous/adj. /ˈɡɔː.dʒəs/

very beautiful or pleasant.

Ex: What a gorgeous room/dress/colour!

12.intricate/adj. /ˈɪn.trɪ.kət/

having a lot of small parts or details that are arranged in a complicated way and are therefore sometimes difficult to understand, solve, or produce.

Ex: The watch mechanism is extremely intricate and very difficult to repair.

13.responsive/adj. /rɪˈspɒn.sɪv/

making a positive and quick reaction to something or someone.

Ex: The disease has proved responsive to the new treatment.

14.impressionable/adj. /ɪmˈpreʃ.ən.ə.bl̩/

easily influenced by other people, especially because you are young.

Ex: He's at that impressionable age when he's very easily led by other children.

15.abortive/adj. /əˈbɔː.tɪv/

An abortive attempt or plan has to be stopped because it has failed.

Ex: He made two abortive attempts on the French throne.

16.prominent/adj. /ˈprɒm.ɪ.nənt/

very well known and important.

Ex: The government should be playing a more prominent role in promoting human rights.

17.generation/n /ˌdʒen.əˈreɪ.ʃən/

all the people of about the same age within a society or within a particular family.

Ex: There were at least three generations - grandparents, parents and children - at the wedding.

18.hardware/n. /ˈhɑːrd.wer/

the physical and electronic parts of a computer, rather than the instructions it follows.

19.participate/v. /pɑːˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/

to take part in or become involved in an activity.

Ex: She never participates in any of our discussions, does she?

20.substitute/v. /ˈsʌb.stɪ.tjuːt/

to use something or someone instead of another thing or person.

Ex: Dayton was substituted for Williams in the second half of the match.

21.epigram/n. /ˈep.ɪ.ɡræm/

a short saying or poem that expresses an idea in a clever, funny way.

Ex: One of Oscar Wilde's most frequently quoted epigrams is "I can resist everything except temptation".

22.hesitant/adj. /ˈhez.ɪ.tənt/

If you are hesitant, you do not do something immediately or quickly because you are nervous or not certain.

Ex: You seemed a bit hesitant about recommending that restaurant - is something wrong with it?

23.suggest/v. /səˈdʒest/

to mention an idea, possible plan, or action for other people to consider.

Ex: They were wondering where to hold the office party and I suggested the Italian restaurant near the station.

24.mutter/v. /ˈmʌt̬.ɚ/

to speak quietly and in a low voice that is not easy to hear, often when you are worried or complaining about something.

Ex: He muttered something under his breath to the person next to him.

25.accomplishment/n. /əˈkʌm.plɪʃ.mənt/

something that is successful, or that is achieved after a lot of work or effort.

Ex: Getting the two leaders to sign a peace treaty was his greatest accomplishment.