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87 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Contendar |
Noun Someone who competes with other people to try to win something:
Now aged 42, he is no longer considered a serious contender for the title. |
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Improbable |
Adjective Not likely to happen or be true:
It's highly improbable that Norris will agree. |
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Irreverent |
Adjective
Disrrespect for official, important, or holy things:
The television program takes an irreverent look at the medical profession. |
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Floe |
Noun A large area of ice floating in the sea |
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Abstain |
Verb Refrain, Keep away from something, especially something enjoyable that you think might be bad:
He took a vow to abstain from alcohol/smoking. |
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Ardent |
Adjective Enthusiastic, have a strong feeling about sth.
He's been one of the most ardent supporters of the football club. |
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Conservative |
Adjective Tending to emphasize the importance of traditional cultural and religious values, and to oppose change, esp. sudden change
Older people tend to be more conservative and a bit suspicious of anything new. |
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Discordant |
Adjective Not going well, lacking in harmony
The frightened cat gave a discordant shriek and jumped on top of the table. |
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Derision |
Noun the situation in which someone or something is laughed at and considered stupid or of no value:
They treated his suggestion with derision. Her speech was met with hoots/howls of derision. |
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Derision |
Noun the situation in which someone or something is laughed at and considered stupid or of no value:
They treated his suggestion with derision. Her speech was met with hoots/howls of derision. |
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Derisive |
Adjective Showing derision, mocking, held up to ridicule.
There was a short, derisive laugh. |
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Acquiesce |
Verb to accept or agree to something, often unwillingly:
Reluctantly, he acquiesced to/in the plans. |
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Bigot |
Noun A person who has strong, unreasonable ideas, esp. about race or religion, and who thinks anyone who does not have the same beliefs is wrong:
Some of the townspeople are bigots who call foreigners terrible names. |
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Cajole |
Verb Coax. to persuade someone to do something they might not want to do, by pleasant talk and (sometimes false) promises:
He really knows how to cajole people into doing what he wants. |
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Plaintive |
Adjective Used to describe something that sounds slightly sad:
We could hear the plaintive cry of a wounded animal in the woods. The puppy's plaintive expression after we put the toy away was rather amusing |
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Torrent |
Noun A sudden large or too large amount, especially one that seems to be uncontrolled:
He let out a torrent of angry words.
They are worried that the flow of tourists could swell into an unmanageable torrent if there are no controls. |
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Famine |
Noun An extreme lack of food in a region, causing suffering and death:
Widespread famine was reported in the region. |
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Trajectory |
Noun. /trəˈdʒek.tɚ.i/ The curved path an object follows after it is thrown or shot into the air, or of an object that is traveling through space:
The missile came in on a very low trajectory. |
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Nucleus |
Noun. /ˈnuː.kli.əs/ The central part of an atom, usually made up of protons and neutrons. Or the most important part.
These three players will form the nucleus of a revised and stronger team. |
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Fervour |
Noun /ˈfɚː vɚ/ Strong and sincere beliefs:
The country was swept by patriotic fervour. |
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Dogmatic |
Adjective (of a person or a group) strongly expressing your beliefs as if they were facts:
He has written a stimulating but dogmatic book. |
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Intercede |
Verb To use your influence to persuade someone in authority to forgive another person, or save this person from punishment:
Several religious leaders have interceded with the authorities on behalf of the condemned prisoner. |
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Maudlin |
Adjective /ˈmɔːd.lɪn/ Drunk enough to be tearfully silly, feeling sorry, overly sentimental.
He became maudlin and started crying like a child. |
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Lethargy |
Noun /ˈleθ.ə.dʒi/ The feeling of having little energy or of being unable or unwilling to do anything:
Symptoms include loss of appetite, lethargy, and vomiting. |
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Rife |
Adjective (of something unpleasant) very common or frequent:
Corruption were rife in city government. The office is rife with rumors that many of us will be fired. |
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Rife |
Adjective (of something unpleasant) very common or frequent:
Corruption were rife in city government. The office is rife with rumors that many of us will be fired. |
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Burlap |
Noun A type of strong, rough fabric, used to make bags and as a covering for something:
a burlap bag Large plants are wrapped in burlap to protect them from ice. |
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Rife |
Adjective (of something unpleasant) very common or frequent, Out of control.
Corruption was rife in city government. The office is rife with rumors that many of us will be fired. |
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Blueprint |
Noun A complete plan/design that explains how to do or develop something:
The report provided a blueprint for relieving the county’s crowded jail facilities. |
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Dappled |
Adjective Covered with spots of colour that are lighter or darker than the main colour, or covered with areas of light and darkness:
A dappled pony The dappled sunlight fell across her face as she lay beneath the tree. |
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Amicable |
Adjective Pleasant and friendly, often despite a difficult situation:
Few people have amicable divorces. Eventually we reached an amicable settlement. |
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Initial |
Adjective of or at the beginning:
My initial surprise was soon replaced by delight. Initial reports say that seven people have died, though this has not yet been confirmed. |
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Prolific |
Adjective Producing a great number or amount of something:
He was probably the most prolific songwriter of his generation. Rabbits and other rodents are prolific (= have a lot of babies). |
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Dissuade |
Verb To persuade someone not to do something:
I tried to dissuade her from leaving. |
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Coherent |
Adjective If an argument, set of ideas, or a plan is coherent, it is clear and carefully considered, and making a lot of sense.
When she calmed down, she was more coherent (= able to speak clearly and be understood).
The president has not presented a coherent plan for dealing with it. |
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Versatile |
Adjective Having various abilities, adaptable.
A leather jacket is a timeless and versatile garment that can be worn in all seasons. Teachers have to be versatile to cope with different ability levels. |
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Inception |
Noun The beginning of an organization or official activity:
Since its inception in 1968, the company has been at the forefront of computer development. |
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Inception |
Noun The beginning of an organization or official activity:
Since its inception in 1968, the company has been at the forefront of computer development. |
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Indulgent |
Adjective Over tolerant. Allowing someone to have or do what they want, especially when this is not good for them:
He had been a strict father but was indulgent to his grandchildren. |
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Piratical |
Adjective Typical of or relating to a pirate.
He now wore a piratical black eyepatch after an operation. |
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Piratical |
Adjective Typical of or relating to a pirate.
He now wore a piratical black eyepatch after an operation. |
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Potential |
Possible when the necessary conditions exist:
Of course we don't want to alarm people unnecessarily, but they should be alerted to potential dangers. |
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Heed |
Verb To pay attention to something, take notice of sth. especially advice or a warning:
The airline has been criticized for failing to heed warnings about lack of safety routines.
Perhaps they should have heeded their own advice. |
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Drover |
Noun Someone whose job is moving groups of animals, especially cattle or sheep, from one place to another:
The drover walked alongside the oxen, gently tapping them with his stick. |
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Drover |
Noun Someone whose job is moving groups of animals, especially cattle or sheep, from one place to another:
The drover walked alongside the oxen, gently tapping them with his stick. |
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Cur |
Noun A mongrel (= dog of mixed breed), especially one that is frightening or fierce. Or a mean cowardly person.
I don't take orders from curs and villains |
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Spurs |
Noun A pointed device on a horse rider's boots used to make the horse run faster. |
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Séance |
Noun a meeting where people try to communicate with the dead, often with the help of someone who claims to have special powers to do this.
They're holding a séance this evening. |
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Soufflé |
Noun A light food that has a lot of air in it, is made mainly from eggs, and can be either sweet or savoury:
a cheese soufflé |
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Countenance |
Noun The appearance or expression of someone’s face:
Her countenance masked her feelings. |
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Contrive |
Verb To do something cleverly
Somehow she contrived to get tickets for the concert. |
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Shank |
Animal legs. |
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Spindly |
Adjective long or tall and thin, and looking weak:
A plant with a spindly stem |
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Felon |
Noun Someone who has committed a crime:
He was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. |
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Filament |
Noun A thin thread or fibre of natural or artificial material:
To make silk, the filaments from several cocoons are unwound and reeled together, resulting in fibres of extraordinary strength. |
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Ferment |
Verb If food or drink ferments or if you ferment it, it goes through a chemical change because of the action of yeast or bacteria, which may cause it to produce bubbles or heat, or turn sugars in it into alcohol. :
You make wine by leaving grape juice to ferment until all the sugar has turned to alcohol. Sauerkraut and kimchi are both essentially fermented cabbage. |
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Ferment |
Verb If food or drink ferments or if you ferment it, it goes through a chemical change because of the action of yeast or bacteria, which may cause it to produce bubbles or heat, or turn sugars in it into alcohol. :
You make wine by leaving grape juice to ferment until all the sugar has turned to alcohol. Sauerkraut and kimchi are both essentially fermented cabbage. |
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Ferment |
Noun A state of being stirred up, a state of confusion, change, and lack of order or fighting:
The resignation of the president has left the country in ferment. |
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Barker |
Noun A person who advertises an activity at a public event by calling out to people who are walking past:
The barker stood outside of the carnival entrance, calling out to passersby and inviting them inside. |
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Eddy |
Verb If water, wind, smoke, etc. eddies, it moves fast in a circle:
The water eddied around in a whirlpool. |
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Garish |
Adjective Showy or too brightly colored:
The coffee shop, painted a garish pink, is a landmark in the neighborhood. |
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Anonymity |
Noun The situation in which someone's name is not given or known:
The police have reassured witnesses that they will be guaranteed anonymity. |
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Snub |
Verb To treat someone rudely, esp. by ignoring that person:
They’re likely to snub people who aren’t just like them. |
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Denounce |
Verb to accuse someone publicly of being something that is bad or wrong:
His former colleagues have denounced him as a spy. |
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Contemptuous |
Adjective Expressing or feeling a lack of respect:
He was very contemptuous of "popular" writers, whom he described as having no talent. |
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Thwart |
Verb to stop something from happening or someone from doing something:
Our holiday plans were thwarted by the airline pilots' strike |
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Thwart |
Verb to stop something from happening or someone from doing something:
Our holiday plans were thwarted by the airline pilots' strike |
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Hapless |
Adjective Unlucky and usually unhappy:
Many children are hapless victims of this war. |
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Dismantle |
Verb to take a machine apart or to come apart into separate pieces:
She dismantled the washing machine to see what the problem was, but couldn't put it back together again. |
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Ostensibly |
Adverb Seemingly. In a way that appears to be one thing when it is really something else:
He has spent the past three months in Florida, ostensibly for medical treatment, but in actual fact to avoid prosecution. |
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Ostensibly |
Adverb Seemingly. In a way that appears to be one thing when it is really something else:
He has spent the past three months in Florida, ostensibly for medical treatment, but in actual fact to avoid prosecution. |
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Capitulate |
Verb to accept defeat, or to give up or give in:
I capitulated and let my daughter go with her friends. |
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Blaspheme |
Verb to use offensive words or make statements that show no respect for God or religion
He was accused of blaspheming the prophet. |
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Embalm |
Verb to use chemicals to prevent a dead body from decaying.
His body was embalmed and a memorial service was held on board on the 13th.
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Predecessor |
Noun Someone who had a job or a position before someone else, or something that comes before another thing in time or in a series:
My predecessor worked in this job for twelve years. The latest Ferrari is not only faster than its predecessors but also more comfortable. |
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Sickle |
Noun a tool with a short handle and a curved blade, used for cutting grass and grain crops
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Entreat |
Verb. To beg, to try very hard to persuade someone to do something:
We would spend every meal time entreating the child to eat her vegetables. |
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Entreat |
Verb. To beg, to try very hard to persuade someone to do something:
We would spend every meal time entreating the child to eat her vegetables. |
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Revere |
Verb to greatly respect and admire someone or something:
Nelson Mandela is widely revered for his courage and leadership. |
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Entreat |
Verb. To beg, to try very hard to persuade someone to do something:
We would spend every meal time entreating the child to eat her vegetables. |
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Revere |
Verb to greatly respect and admire someone or something:
Nelson Mandela is widely revered for his courage and leadership. |
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Prodigy |
Noun A child who shows a great ability at a young age(often of a musical instrument)
A child prodigy on the piano. |
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Entreat |
Verb. To beg, to try very hard to persuade someone to do something:
We would spend every meal time entreating the child to eat her vegetables. |
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Revere |
Verb to greatly respect and admire someone or something:
Nelson Mandela is widely revered for his courage and leadership. |
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Prodigy |
Noun A child who shows a great ability at a young age(often of a musical instrument)
A child prodigy on the piano. |
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Hereinafter/hereafter |
From now on
I will let you in this time, but hereafter you have to get permission in advance. |
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incandescent |
Producing a bright light from a heated filament or other part:
an incandescent lamp |