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Words of a day

6/15

‧cautiously (adv.) [ˋkɔʃəslɪ]

a.       Someone who is cautious avoids risks

e.g.: He's a cautious driver.

b.      A cautious action is careful, well considered, and sometimes slow or uncertain

‧maniac (adj.) [ˋmenɪ͵æk]

a.       a person who has a very strong interest in a particular activity

‧stole (n.) [stol]

a.       a person who has a very strong interest in a particular activity

b.      a person who behaves in an uncontrolled way, not worrying about risks or danger

e.g.: Some maniac was running down the street waving a massive metal bar.

‧arcade (n.) [ɑrˋked]

a.       a covered area or passage in which there are shops

b.      a covered passage joined to a building on one side and with columns and arches along the other side

‧parapet (n.) [ˋpærəpɪt]

a.       a low wall along the edge of a roof, bridge, etc.

6/16

‧repel (v.) [rɪˋpɛl]

a.       to force something or someone to move away or stop attacking you

e.g.: This coat has a special surface that repels moisture.

‧chivalry (n.) [ˋʃɪv!rɪ]

a.       very polite, honest, and kind behaviour, especially by men towards women

b.      the system of behaviour followed by knights in the medieval period of history, that put a high value on honour, kindness, and courage

‧avert (v.) [əˋvɝt]

a.       to prevent something bad from happening

‧nakedness (n.) [ˋnekɪdnɪs]

a.       the state of being naked

e.g.: Adam and Eve tried to hide their nakedness with fig leaves.

‧abridged (adj.) [əˋbrɪdʒd]

a.       to make a book, play, or piece of writing shorter by removing details and information that is not important

e.g.: The book was abridged for children.

6/17

‧tank (n.) [tæŋk]

a.     a container that holds liquid or gas

b.     a large military fighting vehicle designed to protect those inside it from attack, driven by wheels that turn inside moving metal belts

‧luncheon (n.) [`lʌntʃən]

a.     formal -lunch

‧supercilious (adj.) [͵supɚ`sɪlɪəs]

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

e.g.: He spoke in a haughty, supercilious voice.

‧allusion (n.) / ə`luʒən]/

a.     something that is said or written that is intended to make you think of a particular thing or person

e.g.: The film is full of allusions to Hitchcock.

‧peevish (adj.) /`pivɪʃ/

a.     easily annoyed

‧guise (n.) / gaɪz /

a.     the appearance of someone or something, especially when intended to deceive

e.g.: The men who arrived in the guise of drug dealers were actually undercover police officers.

6/18

‧haze (n.) [hez]

a.     something such as heat or smoke in the air that makes it less clear, so that it is difficult to see well

e.g.: The road through the desert shimmered in the haze.

‧blunder (n.) [ˋblʌndɚ]

a.     a serious mistake, usually caused by not taking care or thinking

e.g.: He said that the tax was a major political blunder.

‧sedulous (adj.) [ˋsɛdʒələs]

a.     careful and using a lot of effort

e.g.: It was agreed that the few students sedulous enough to read the book deserved top marks for diligence.

‧grant (n.) [grænt]

a.     an amount of money given especially by the government to a person or organization for a special purpose

e.g.: They gave/awarded her a grant to study abroad for one year.

‧plunge (v.) [plʌndʒ]

a.     to (cause someone or something to) move or fall suddenly and often a long way forward, down, or into something

e.g.: We ran down to the beach and plunged into the sea.

6/19

‧barbed (adj.) [bɑrbd]

a.     having a sharp point that curves backwards

b.     unkind and criticizing

e.g.: She made some rather barbed comments about my lifestyle.

‧philosophical (adj.) [͵fɪləˋsɑfɪk!]

a.     relating to the study or writing of philosophy

‧superintend (v.) [͵supərɪnˋtɛnd]

a.     to be in charge of something

e.g.: Her job is to superintend the production process.

‧surpassing (adj.) [sɚˋpæsɪŋ]

a.     extremely great

‧strive (v.) [straɪv]

a.     to try very hard to do something or to make something happen, especially for a long time or against difficulties