in relation to, or in comparison with:
Later I asked him more directly about government’s role vis-a-vis the environment

2. generic /dʒəˈner·ɪk/ adjv.
relating to or shared by a whole group of similar things; not specific to any particular thing:
Jazz is a generic term for a wide range of different styles of music.

3. charitable /ˈtʃær·ɪ·t̬ə·bəl/ adj.
kind and not judging people in a negative way:
They are known as a charitable people.

4. merciful /ˈmɜr·sɪ·fəl/ adj.
kind and forgiving:
Judges are sometimes more merciful than a jury.

5. rove /roʊv/ v.
to move, travel, or look around an area, without having a particular place you intend to go to:
He roved around town, looking for work.

6. belittle /bɪˈlɪt̬·əl/ v.
to make an action or a person seem unimportant:
You gain nothing by belittling him and creating bad feelings.

7. sneer /snɪər/ v.
to show in an expression on your face or in your manner of speaking that someone or something is so foolish that it deserves to be ridiculed:
You may sneer (at it), but a lot of people like this kind of music.

8. conceal /kənˈsil/ v.
to prevent something from being seen or known about; to hide something:
He made no attempt to conceal his satisfaction.

9. deception /dɪˈsep·ʃən/ n.
a statement or action that hides the truth, or the act of hiding the truth:
Most advertising involves at least some deception.

10. dominate /ˈdɑm·əˌneɪt/ v.
to have control over a place or a person, or to be the most important person or thing: It was the story that dominated the headlines this week.

11. dominion /dəˈmɪn·jən/ n.
control over a country or people, or the land that belongs to a ruler:
The collapse of Spain’s empire prepared the way for Britain’s dominion over the seas.

12. mediocre /ˌmid·iˈoʊ·kər/ adj.
just acceptable but not good; not good enough:
The movie’s plot is predictable, the dialogue is second-rate, and the acting is mediocre.

13. denial /dɪˈnɑɪ·əl/ n.
a statement that something is not true:
His statement is not a denial.

14. tavern /ˈtæv·ərn/ n.
a place where alcoholic drinks are sold and drunk

15. plagiarize /ˈpleɪ·dʒəˌrɑɪz/ v.
to use another person’s idea or a part of that person's work and pretend that it is your own

16. rotation /rəʊˈteɪ.ʃən/n.
movement in a circle around a fixed point:
the speed of rotation

17. synchronize /ˈsɪŋ·krəˌnɑɪz/ v.
to cause something to happen in a planned way at exact times:
The traffic lights were synchronized to allow cars to go at 30 mph and not have to stop for a red light.

18. refusal /rɪˈfju·zəl/ n.
to say or show that you are not willing to do, accept, or allow something:
His refusal to contribute money angered the organizers.

19. retrospective /ˌre·trəˈspek·tɪv/ adj.
looking back over the past:
He was the subject of a retrospective exhibit.

20. mediator /ˈmid·iˌeɪt/ v.
to help solve a disagreement by talking to the separate people or groups involved, or to communicate information between people:
to mediate a dispute

21. domineering /ˌdɑm·əˈnɪər·ɪŋ/ adj.
having a strong tendency to try to control other people without taking their feelings into consideration:
a domineering personality

22. muscular dystrophy /ˌmʌs.kjʊ.ləˈdɪs.trə.fi/ n.
a serious disease in which a person's muscles gradually become weaker until walking is no longer possible

23. retrograde /ˈret.rə.ɡreɪd/ adj.
returning to older and worse conditions, methods, ideas, etc.:
He said it would be a retrograde step to remove single parent benefit.

24. medieval /ˌmid·iˈi·vəl/ adj.
of or from the Middle Ages (= the period in the past from about 500 to 1500):
The tunnels were dug in medieval times as an escape route.
 
25. bereft /bɪˈreft/ adj.
having to do without something or someone and suffering from the loss:
I do hope he won't leave us utterly bereft of his wit and wisdom.