Week14

1.momentum/n. /məˈmen.təm/

the force that keeps an object moving or keeps an event developing after it has started.

Ex: Once you push it, it keeps going under its own momentum.

2.supercilious/adj. /ˌsuː.pəˈsɪl.i.əs/

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

Ex: He spoke in a haughty, supercilious voice.

3.arrogant/adj. /ˈær.ə.ɡənt/

unpleasantly proud and behaving as if you are more important than, or know more than, other people.

Ex: I found him arrogant and rude.

4.dominant/adj. /ˈdɒm.ɪ.nənt/

more important, strong, or noticeable than anything else of the same type.

Ex: Unemployment will be a dominant issue at the next election.

5.aggressive/adj. /əˈɡres.ɪv/

behaving in an angry and violent way towards another person.

Ex: If I criticize him, he gets aggressive and starts shouting.

6.effeminate/adj. /ɪˈfem.ɪ.nət/

An effeminate man behaves or looks similar to a woman.

Ex: He's got a very effeminate manner/voice.

7.husky/adj. /ˈhʌs.ki/

A voice that is husky is low and rough, often in an attractive way, or because of illness.

Ex: You sound husky - do you have a cold?

8.fractious/adj./ˈfræk.ʃəs/

easily upset or annoyed, and often complaining.

Ex: He is easily fractious.

9.paternal/adj. /pəˈtɜː.nəl/

of or like a father.

Ex: He's very paternal (= showing the affectionate feelings of a father) with the baby.

10.intimate/adj. /ˈɪn.tɪ.mət/

having, or being likely to cause, a very close friendship or personal or sexual relationship.

Ex: The restaurant has a very intimate atmosphere.

11.defiant/adj. /dɪˈfaɪ.ənt/

proudly refusing to obey authority.

Ex: The protesters blocking the entrance to the offices remained defiant this morning.

12.pungent/adj. /ˈpʌn.dʒənt/

A pungent smell or taste is very strong, sometimes unpleasantly strong.

Ex: I sat down to a cup of wonderfully pungent Turkish coffee.

13.offshore/adj. /ˌɑːfˈʃɔːr/

away from or at a distance from the coast.

Ex: The wind was blowing offshore.

14.stationary/adj. /ˈsteɪ.ʃən.ər.i/

not moving, or not changing.

Ex: The traffic got slower and slower until it was stationary.

Ex: The rate of inflation has been stationary for several months.

15.disturb/v. /dɪˈstɜːb/

to interrupt what someone is doing.

Ex: Please don't disturb your sister - she's trying to do her homework.

16.attempt/v. /əˈtempt/

to try to do something, especially something difficult.

Ex: There's no point in even attempting an explanation - he'll never listen.

17.conscientious/adj. /kɒn.ʃiˈen.ʃəs/

putting a lot of effort into your work.

Ex: A conscientious student is studying now.

18.absurd/adj. /əbˈsɜːd/

stupid and unreasonable, or silly in a humorous way.

Ex: Don't be so absurd! Of course I want you to come.

19.irrelevant/adj. /ɪˈrel.ɪ.vənt/

not related to what is being discussed or considered and therefore not important.

Ex: Making a large profit is irrelevant to us - the important thing is to make the book available to the largest possible audience.

20.imperceptible/adj. /ˌɪm.pəˈsep.tɪ.bl̩/

unable to be noticed or felt because of being very slight.

Ex: She heard a faint, almost imperceptible cry.

21.arrangement/n. /əˈreɪndʒ.mənt/

a plan for how something will happen.

Ex: They'd made all the arrangements for the party.

22.passionate/adj. /ˈpæʃ.ən.ət/

having very strong feelings or emotions.

Ex: The Italians are said to be the most passionate people in Europe.

23.compulsion/n. /kəmˈpʌl.ʃən/

a very strong feeling of wanting to do something repeatedly that is difficult to control.

Ex: For many people, dieting is a compulsion.

24.whisper/v. /ˈwɪs.pər/

to speak very quietly, using the breath but not the voice, so that only the person close to you can hear you.

Ex: She leaned over and whispered something in his ear.

25.ecstatic/adj. /ɪkˈstæt.ɪk/

extremely happy.

Ex: The new president was greeted by an ecstatic crowd.