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1114 vocabulary journal (week10)
2013/12/23 11:36
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1. desuetude  (n.)  KK[ˋdɛswɪ͵tjud]

discontinuance from use or exercise

Despite the long years of desuetude, the old manual typewriter seemed to work just fine.

Synonyms: disuse, idleness, inactivity

 

 

2. engender  (v.)  KK[ɪnˋdʒɛndɚ]

to cause to exist or to develop

Pity engendered love.

Synonyms:cause, produce, develop, generate, breed

 

 

3. discerning  (adj.)  KK[dɪˋzɝnɪŋ]

showing insight and understanding

She has a discerning eye for good art.

Synonyms:wise, insightful, perceptive, prudent

 

 

4. diffuse  (v.)  KK[dɪˋfjuz]

to pour out and permit or cause to spread freely

The heat from the radiator diffuses throughout the room.

 

 

5. startle  (v.)  KK[ˋstɑrt!]

to frighten or surprise suddenly and usually not seriously

The baby startles at every sudden sound.

Synonyms:frighten, surprise, shock, electrify

 

 

6. enamor  (v.)  KK[ɪnˋæmɚ]

to cause to feel a strong or excessive interest or fascination

He became enamored of a girl in New York.

 

 

7. secrecy  (n.)  KK[ˋsikrəsɪ]

the condition of being hidden or concealed

The operation was being conducted in secrecy.

Synonyms: closeness, secretiveness

 

 

8. gaudy  (adj.)  KK[ˋgɔdɪ]

ostentatiously or tastelessly ornamented

She wore a gaudy costume to the party.

Synonyms:showy, tasteless, garish,vulgar

 

 

9.sinful  (adj.)  KK[ˋsɪnfəl]

such as to make one feel guilty

Good women have always saved sinful men in stories.

Synonyms: black, dark, evil, immoral

 

 

10. equivocal  (adj.)  KK[ɪˋkwɪvək!]

subject to two or more interpretations and usually used to mislead or confuse

He responded to reporters' questions with equivocal answers.

Antonyms: certain, hands-down, incontestable

 

 

11. archaic  (adj.)  KK[ɑrˋkeɪk]

having the characteristics of the language of the past and surviving chiefly in specialized uses

The company needs to update its archaic computer systems.

Synonyms: antiquated, obsolete, dated

 

 

12. affable  (adj.)  KK[ˋæfəb!]

characterized by ease and friendliness

He is affable to his guests.

Synonyms: easygoing, breezy, devil-may-care, happy-go-lucky

 

 

13. framework  (n.)   KK[ˋfrem͵wɝk]

a skeletal, openwork, or structural frame

The book provides a general framework for understanding modern politics.

Synonyms: architecture, armature, cadre

 

 

14. ambivalence  (n.)  KK[æmˋbɪvələns]

simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings (as attraction and repulsion) toward an object, person, or action

Ambivalence is a state of having emotions in contradiction, when

those emotions are related to the same object, idea or person.

 

 

15. feeble  (adj.)   KK[fib!]

markedly lacking in strength

Business is suffering because of the feeble economy.

Antonyms: mighty, powerful

 

 

16. yearn  (v.)  KK[jɝn]

to long persistently, wistfully, or sadly

She yearned to visit the village where she was born.

Synonyms:desire, crave, long for

 

 

17. stingy  (adj.)  KK[ˋstɪndʒɪ]

not generous or liberal

She tried to save money without being stingy.

Synonyms:ungenerous, miserly, cheap

 

 

18.  clash  (v.)  KK[klæʃ]

to make a clash

The car clashed against the wall.

Synonyms:collide, bump

 

 

19. pristine  (adj.)  KK[ˋprɪstin]

fresh and clean as or as if new

My office is a mess but her office is always pristine.

Synonyms: brand-new, mint, fresh

 

 

20. incredulous  (adj.)  KK[ɪnˋkrɛdʒələs]

unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true

They are incredulous of hearsay.

Synonyms: disbelieving, distrustful, doubting, skeptical

 

 

21. insolent  (adj.)  KK[ˋɪnsələnt]

insultingly contemptuous in speech or conduct

It was insolent of them to demand special treatment.

Synonyms:rude, insulting, impudent

 

 

22. reiterate  (v.)  KK[riˋɪtə͵ret]

to state or do over again or repeatedly sometimes with wearying effect

She avoided answering our questions directly, instead reiterating that the answers could be found in her book.

Synonyms: duplicate, redo, reduplicate, repeat

 

 

23. transient  (adj.)  KK[ˋtrænʃənt]

passing through or by a place with only a brief stay or sojourn

Her feeling of depression was transient.

Synonyms: brief, deciduous

 

 

24. obdurate  (adj.)  KK[ˋɑbdjərɪt]

stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing

He is known for his obdurate determination.

Antonyms:kindly, merciful, sensitive, softhearted, sympathetic

 

 

25. despicable  (adj.)  KK[ˋdɛspɪkəb!]

deserving to be despised

She is a despicable traitor.

Antonyms: admirable, commendable