Words of the day
1. indecent[adj.]/ɪnˋdisnt /
Definition: morally offensive, especially in a sexual way
Origin: 1560s, "unbecoming, in bad taste," from French indécent (14c.), from Latin indecentem (nominative indecens), from in- "not, opposite of, without" (see in- (1)) + decens (see decent).
Sentence: It was indecent of them to talk business at the funeral.
Part of speech: indecency [n.]
2. reaction[n.]/ rɪˋækʃən /
Definition: behaviour, a feeling or an action that is a direct result of something else
Origin: "action in resistance or response to another action or power," 1610s, from re- "again, anew" + action (q.v.).
Sentence: What was his reaction to the plan?
Part of speech: react [v.]
3. disdain[n.]/ dɪsˋden /
Definition: when you dislike someone or something and think that they do not deserve your interest or respect
Origin: mid-14c., desdegne "scorn, contempt," earlier dedeyne "offended dignity" (c.1300), from Old French desdeigne, from desdeignier (see disdain (v.)).
Sentence: He regards the political process with disdain.
Part of speech: disdainful [adj.]
4. generosity[n.]/ˏdʒɛnə`rɑsətɪ /
Definition: willingness to give money, time etc in order to help or please someone
Origin: early 15c., "nobility, goodness of race," from Latin generositatem (nominative generositas) "nobility, excellence, magnanimity," from generosus (see generous).
Sentence: Her friends take advantage of (= benefit unfairly from) her generosity.
Part of speech: generous [adj.]
5. taciturn[adj.]/ ˋtæsə͵tɝn /
Definition: saying little, especially usually
Origin: "habitually silent," 1771, back-formation from taciturnity, or from French taciturne (15c.), from Latin taciturnus "not talkative, noiseless."
Sentence: He's a reserved, taciturn person.
Part of speech: tacit [adj.]
5/5(Mon.)
1. brooding[adj.]/ˋbrudɪŋ /
Definition: making you feel uncomfortable or worried as though something bad is going to happen
Origin: 1640s, "hovering, overhanging" (as a mother bird does her nest), from present participle of brood (v.); meaning "that dwells moodily" first attested 1818 (in "Frankenstein").
Sentence: He stood there in the corner of the room, a dark, brooding presence.
Part of speech: broody [adj.]
2. seductive[adj.]/sɪˋdʌktɪv /
Definition: intended to seduce someone
Origin: 1740, from Latin seduct-, past participle stem of seducere (see seduce) + -ive.
Sentence: It was a seductive black evening dress.
Part of speech: seduction [n.]
3. suffragette[n.]/͵sʌfrəˋdʒɛt /
Definition: a woman in Britain, Australia and the United States in the early 20th century who was a member of a group that demanded the right of women to vote and that increased knowledge of the subject with a series of public protests
Origin: "female supporter of the cause of women's voting rights," 1906, from suffrage, with French fem. ending -ette, but not in the sense in which it was in vogue at the time.
Sentence: Miss Lavish is a suffragette who has taken a vow of celibacy.
Part of speech: suffrage[n.] 投票權
4. celibacy[n.]/ˋsɛləbəsɪ /
Definition: not having sexual activity, especially because of making a religious promise to do this
Origin: 1660s, formed in English, with -cy + Latin caelibatus "state of being unmarried," from caelebs "unmarried," probably from PIE root *kaiwelo- "alone" + lib(h)s- "living."
Sentence: Miss Lavish is a suffragette who has taken a vow of celibacy.
Part of speech: celibate [adj.]
5. seminary[n.]/ `sɛməˏnɛrɪ /
Definition: a college for training people to become priests
Origin: mid-15c., "plot where plants are raised from seeds," from Latin seminarium "plant nursery, seed plot," figuratively, "breeding ground," from seminarius "of seed," from semen (genitive seminis) "seed" (see semen).
Sentence: Walking with Lucy along the river in Florence, George tells Lucy that he is going to the seminary. (The correct answer is ” now he shall want to live”.)
Part of speech: seminar [n.]研討會
5/6(Tue.)
1. slander[n.]/ˋslændɚ/
Definition: a false spoken statement about someone which damages their reputation, or the making of such a statement
Origin: late 13c., "state of impaired reputation, disgrace or dishonor;" c.1300, "a false tale; the fabrication and dissemination of false tales," from Anglo-French esclaundre, Old French esclandre "scandalous statement".
Sentence: She regarded his comment as a slander on her good reputation.
Part of speech: slanderous [adj.]
2. daffodil[n.]/ˋdæfədɪl /
Definition: a yellow bell-shaped flower with a long stem which is commonly seen in the spring
Origin: 1540s, variant of Middle English affodill "asphodel" (c.1400), from Medieval Latin affodillus, from Latin asphodelus, from Greek asphodelos, of unknown origin.
Sentence: When Lucy and some other guests go for a ride in the hills, the carriage driver guides Lucy to a hillside covered with daffodils. (The correct answer is “violets”.)
Part of speech: none
3. partition[n.]/ pɑrˋtɪʃən /
Definition: a vertical structure like a thin wall which separates one part of a room or building from another
Origin: early 15c., "division into shares, distinction," from Old French particion (12c.), from Latin partitionem (nominative partitio) "a sharing, division, partition, distribution
Sentence: The partitions between the toilets were very thin.
Part of speech: partitive [adj.]
4. practical[adj.]/ˋpræktɪk! /
Definition: relating to experience, real situations or actions rather than ideas or imagination
Origin: early 15c., practicale "of or pertaining to matters of practice; applied," with -al (1) + earlier practic (adj.) "dealing with practical matters, applied, not merely theoretical" (early 15c.), or practic (n.) "method, practice, use" (late 14c.).
Sentence: The service offers young people practical advice on finding a job.
Part of speech: practicality [n.]
5. prior[adj.]/ˋpraɪɚ /
Definition: existing or happening before something else, or before a particular time
Origin: "superior officer of a religious house or order," late Old English, from Medieval Latin prior "superior officer," noun use of Latin adjective meaning "former, superior" (see prior (adj.)).
Sentence: “Prior to Katrina we specialized in restoring beautiful historic homes,” she says.
Part of speech: priority [n.]
5/7(Wed.)
1. float[n.][v.]/ flot /
Definition: to stay on the surface of a liquid and not sink
Origin: late Old English flotian "to float" (class II strong verb; past tense fleat, past participle floten), from Proto-Germanic *flotan "to float" (cognates: Old Norse flota, Middle Dutch vloten), from PIE root *pleu- "to flow" (see pluvial).
Sentence: You can float very easily in/on the Dead Sea because it's so salty.
Part of speech: floatable [adj.]
2. mount[v.]/ maʊnt /
Definition: to gradually increase, rise, or get bigger
Origin: c.1300, "to mount a horse;" mid-14c., "to rise up, ascend; fly," from Old French monter "to go up, ascend, climb, mount," from Vulgar Latin *montare, from Latin mons (genitive montis) "mountain".
Sentence: The children's excitement is mounting as Christmas gets nearer.
Part of speech: none
3. radiance[n.]/ˋredjəns /
Definition: happiness, beauty, or good health which you can see in someone's face
Origin: c.1600, "brilliant light," from radiant or else from Medieval Latin radiantia "brightness," from radiare "to beam, shine" (see radiation). Figurative use from 1761.
Sentence: He was struck by the radiance of her smile.
Part of speech: radiancy [n.], radiant [adj.]
4. replicate[v.]/ ˋrɛplɪ͵ket /
Definition: to make or do something again in exactly the same way
Origin: early 15c., "repeat," from Latin replicatus, past participle of replicare (see reply).
Sentence: Researchers tried many times to replicate the original experiment.
Part of speech: replica [n.], replication [n.]
5. suspend[v.]/ səˋspɛnd /
Definition: to stop or to cause to be not active, either temporarily or permanently
Origin: 1530s, "temporarily deprived of privilege," past participle adjective from suspend.
Sentence: The ferry service has been suspended for the day because of bad weather.
Part of speech: suspensible [adj.]
5/8(Thu.)
1. transformation[n.]/ ͵trænsfɚˋmeʃən /
Definition: a complete change in the appearance or character of something or someone, especially so that they are improved
Origin: c.1400, from Old French transformation and directly from Church Latin transformationem (nominative transformatio) "change of shape," noun of action from past participle stem of transformare (see transform).
Sentence: I'd never seen Carlo in smart evening clothes before - it was quite a transformation.
Part of speech: transformable [adj.], transform [v.]
2. foe[n.]/fo /
Definition: an enemy
Origin: Old English gefa "foe, enemy, adversary in a blood feud" (the prefix denotes "mutuality")
Sentence: The two countries have united against their common foe.
Part of speech: foeman [n.]
3. formidable[adj.]/ fɔːˈmɪ.də.bl̩ /
Definition: causing you to have fear or respect for something or someone because they are large, powerful or difficult
Origin: mid-15c., from Middle French formidable (15c.), from Latin formidabilis "causing fear, terrible," from formidare "to fear," from formido "fearfulness, fear, terror, dread."
Sentence: In debate he was a formidable opponent.
Part of speech: formidability [n.]
4. frailty[n.]/ˋfreltɪ /
Definition: weakness and lack of health or strength
Origin: mid-14c., from Old French fraileté "frailty, weakness," from Latin fragilitatem (nominative fragilitas), from fragilis "fragile" (see fragility).
Sentence: Though ill for most of her life, physical frailty never stopped her from working.
Part of speech: frail [v.]
5. gaze[v.]/ gez /
Definition: to look at something or someone for a long time, especially in surprise, admiration or because you are thinking about something else
Origin: late 14c., probably of Scandinavian origin (compare Norwegian, Swedish dialectal gasa "to gape"), perhaps related somehow to Old Norse ga "heed" (see gawk).
Sentence: Annette gazed admiringly at Warren as he spoke.
Part of speech: gazeless [adj.]
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