Words of the day

5/16(Fri.)

1. microclimate[n.]/ ˋmaɪkro͵klaɪmɪt /

Definition: an area in which the weather is usually different from the areas around it

Origin: 1918, from micro- + climate.

Sentence: Most roads will be 10 feet wide and just 223 feet long to develop a microclimate and keep the air moving.

Part of speech: microclimatology [n.]

 

2. orient[n.]/ ˋorɪənt /

Definition: oriental cuisine/fruits/plants
the countries in the east and south-east of Asia

Origin: c.1300, "the East" (originally usually meaning what is now called the Middle East), from Old French orient "east" (11c.), from Latin orientem (nominative oriens) "the rising sun, the east, part of the sky where the sun rises."

Sentence: The Orient has been playing an active role in the world economy.

Part of speech: oriental [adj.], orientalism [n.]

 

3. pedestrian[adj.]/ pəˋdɛstrɪən /

Definition: a person who is walking, especially in an area where vehicles go

Origin: 1716, "prosaic, dull" (of writing), from Latin pedester (genitive pedestris) "plain, not versified, prosaic," literally "on foot" (sense contrasted with equester "on horseback").

Sentence: The circumstances and events of his life were anything but pedestrian. (人:平庸的)

Part of speech: pedestrianism [n.]

 

4. renewable[adj.]/ rɪˋnjuəb! /

Definition: describes a form of energy that can be produced as quickly as it is used

Origin: 1727, from renew + -able. In reference to energy sources, attested by 1971.

Sentence: It will have no cars and be self-sufficient in renewable energy.

Part of speech: renewal [n.]

 

5. distorted[adj.]/ dɪsˋtɔrtɪd /

Definition: changed from the usual, original, natural or intended form

Origin: (distort) 1580s, from Latin distortus, past participle of distorquere "to twist different ways, distort," from dis- "completely" + torquere "to twist" (see torque (n.)).

Sentence: This report gives a somewhat distorted impression of what actually happened.

Part of speech: distort [v.], distortion [n.]

 

5/19(Mon.)

1. distracted[adj.]/ dɪˋstræktɪd /

Definition: nervous, worried or confused because you are worried about something

Origin: (distract) mid-14c., "to draw asunder or apart, to turn aside" (literal and figurative), from Latin distractus, past participle of distrahere "draw in different directions," from dis- "away" (see dis-) + trahere "to draw" (see tract (n.1)).

Sentence: Gill seems rather distracted at the moment - I think she's worried about her exams.

Part of speech: distract [v.], distraction [n.]

 

2. drawback[n.]/ˋdrɔ͵bæk /

Definition: a disadvantage or the negative part of a situation

Origin: "hindrance, disadvantage,"1720, from draw (v.) + back (adv.). The notion is of something that "holds back" success or activity.

Sentence: The only drawback of the plan is that it costs too much.

Part of speech: none

 

3. impair[v.]/ɪmˋpɛr /

Definition: to spoil something or make it weaker so that it is less effective

Origin: late 14c., earlier ampayre, apeyre (c.1300), from Old French empeirier (Modern French empirer).

Sentence: A recurring knee injury may have impaired his chances of winning the tournament.

Part of speech: impairment [n.]

 

4. readily[adv.]/ ˋrɛdɪlɪ /

Definition: quickly, immediately, willingly or without any problem

Origin: c.1300, from ready + -ly (2).

Sentence: He readily agreed to help.

Part of speech: ready [adj.]

 

5. recollection[n.]/͵rɛkəˋlɛkʃən /

Definition: a memory of something

Origin: 1590s, "a gathering together again," from French récollection (14c.) or directly from Medieval Latin recollectionem (nominative recollectio).

Sentence: I have many pleasant recollections of the time we spent together.

Part of speech: recollect [v.]

 

5/20(Tue.)

1. rural[adj.]/ ˋrʊrəl /

Definition: in, of or like the countryside

Origin: early 15c., from Old French rural (14c.), from Latin ruralis "of the countryside," from rus (genitive ruris) "open land, country," from PIE *reue- (1) "to open; space" (see room (n.)).

Sentence: The area is still very rural and undeveloped.

Part of speech: ruralist [n.]

 

2. simultaneously[adv.]/saɪməlˋtenɪəslɪ /

Definition: happening or being done at exactly the same time

Origin: 1650s, from Medieval Latin simultaneus, perhaps from simultim "at the same time".

Sentence: There were several simultaneous explosions in different cities.

Part of speech: simultaneity [n.]

 

3. switch[n.]/swɪtʃ /

Definition: a small device, usually pushed up or down with your finger, that controls and turns on or off an electric current

Origin: 1590s, "slender riding whip," probably from a Flemish or Low German word akin to Middle Dutch swijch "bough, twig," or swutsche.

Sentence: Can you flip the switch?

Part of speech: none

 

4. audibly[adv.]/ˋɔdəblɪ /

Definition: able to be heard

Origin: 1520s, from Middle French audible and directly from Late Latin audibilis, from Latin audire "to hear," from PIE *awis-dh-yo-, from root *au- "to perceive" (see audience).

Sentence: (audible) She gave an audible sigh of relief.

Part of speech: audible [adj.]

 

5. perception[n.]/pɚˋsɛpʃən /

Definition: a belief or opinion, often held by many people and based on how things seem

Origin: late 14c., "receiving, collection," from Latin perceptionem (nominative perceptio) "perception, apprehension, a taking," from percipere "perceive" (see perceive).

Sentence: These photographs will affect people's perceptions of war.

Part of speech: perceptible [adj.]

 

5/21(Wed.)

1. consistent[adj.]/kənˋsɪstənt /

Definition: always behaving or happening in a similar, especially positive, way

Origin: 1570s, "standing firm, standing still," from Latin consistentem (nominative consistens), present participle of consistere (see consist).

Sentence: There has been a consistent improvement in her attitude.

Part of speech: consistency [n.], consistently [adv.]

 

2. inefficiency[n.]/ɪnəˋfɪʃənsɪ /

Definition: not organized, skilled or able to work satisfactorily

Origin: 1750, "not producing the desired effect," from in- (1) "not, opposite of" + efficient.

Sentence: The manager was discharged for inefficiency.

Part of speech: inefficient [adj.]

 

3. operate[v.]/ˋɑpə͵ret /

Definition: to (cause to) work, be in action or have an effect

Origin: c.1600, "to be in effect," back-formation from operation, or else from Latin operatus, past participle of operari "to work, labor, toil, take pains" (in Late Latin "to have effect, be active, cause").

Sentence: How do you operate the remote control unit?

Part of speech: operation [n.]

 

4. basis[n.]/ ˋbesɪs /

Definition: the most important facts, ideas, etc. from which something is developed

Origin: 1570s, "bottom or foundation (of something material)," from Latin basis "foundation," from Greek basis "a step, stand, base, that whereon one stands," from bainein "go, step" (see come).

Sentence: This document will form the basis for our discussion.

Part of speech: none

 

5. rotate[v.]/ ˋrotet /

Definition: to (cause to) turn in a circle, especially around a fixed point

Origin: 1794, intransitive, back-formation from rotation.

Sentence: Rotate the handle by 180° to open the door.

Part of speech: rotation [n.]

 

5/22(Thu.)

1. accordingly[adv.]/ əˋkɔrdɪŋlɪ /

Definition: in a way that is suitable or right for the situation

Origin: mid-14c., "in agreement with," from according + -ly (2).

Sentence: When we receive your instructions we shall act accordingly.

Part of speech: according [adj.]

 

2. conventional[adj.]/ kənˋvɛnʃən! /

Definition: traditional and ordinary

Origin: late 15c., "of the nature of an agreement," from Late Latin conventionalis "pertaining to convention or agreement," from Latin conventionem (see convention).

Sentence: I find his art rather dull and conventional.

Part of speech: convention [n.]

 

3. devoted[adj.]/dɪˋvotɪd /

Definition: extremely loving and loyal

Origin: 1590s, "set apart by a vow," past participle adjective from devote (v.).

Sentence: Lucy is devoted to her cats.

Part of speech: devote [v.]

 

4. enterprising[adj.]/ˋɛntɚ͵praɪzɪŋ /

Definition: good at thinking of and doing new and difficult things, especially things that will make money

Origin: "eager to undertake," 1610s, from enterprise.

Sentence: The business was started by a couple of enterprising young women.

Part of speech: enterprise [adj.]

 

5. debt[n.]/ dɛt /

Definition: something, especially money, which is owed to someone else, or the state of owing something

Origin: late 13c., dette, from Old French dete, from Latin debitum "thing owed," neuter past participle of debere "to owe," originally, "keep something away from someone."

Sentence: He managed to pay off his debts in two years.

Part of speech: none