Vocabulary: Batch 58

1. to recognize the full worth of something

   I really appreciate your help.

2. to understand a situation or problem fully

   You don't appreciate how difficult this is.

3. to grow in monetary value

   The house has appreciated significantly.

• large or important enough to be noticed

  There has been no appreciable change in his condition.

1. recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something

   He expressed his appreciation for her hard work.

2. an increase in monetary value

   There has been significant appreciation in real estate.

• feeling or showing gratitude or pleasure

  The audience was appreciative of the performance.

Literary/formal. "Begin anew" is the most common collocation.

• in a new or different way; again

  They decided to start anew in a different city.

Often a polite alternative to "fat".

1. pleasantly full and rounded; slightly fat

   She had plump rosy cheeks.

2. (of food) full and juicy

   He bit into a plump strawberry.

Usually "liven up". Root of enliven.

• to make more lively or interesting

  A few jokes livened up the meeting.

• to make something more entertaining, interesting, or appealing

  He enlivened the party with his stories.

• (of a color) pale and soft

  The nursery was painted in pastel pink and blue.

1. (countable) a soft colored crayon made of powdered pigments bound with gum

   She used pastels to create the portrait.

2. (countable) a picture drawn with pastels

   The gallery displayed several beautiful pastels.

From French/Latin "pungent" - originally meaning sharp-pointed; the English meaning has evolved to emotional sharpness.

• evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret

  It was a poignant moment when the old soldiers met again.

• the quality of evoking a keen sense of sadness

  The poignancy of the scene moved her to tears.

From Greek sarx ("flesh"). Compare with carcinoma (cancer of epithelial cells, more common).

• a malignant tumor of connective or other non-epithelial tissue

  He was diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma.

• to feel bitterness or indignation at (a situation or action)

  She resented being treated like a child.

• feeling or expressing bitterness or indignation

  He grew resentful of his brother's success.

• bitter indignation at having been treated unfairly

  She harbored deep resentment toward her former boss.

Coined by the poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti in 1870 as a translation of French "l'an passé".

• (literary) last year or the recent past

  He spoke of the heroes of yesteryear.

From Latin semen ("seed"). "Seminal work" = a foundational, influential work.

• strongly influencing later developments

  This is a seminal work in modern philosophy.

"Run the gamut" = the most common usage.

• the complete range or scope of something

  Her emotions ran the gamut from joy to despair.

From Italian: mal aria ("bad air"). Ancient belief that swamp air caused the disease, before mosquitoes were identified as the carrier.

• a serious disease caused by a parasite transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes

  He contracted malaria during his trip to Africa.

• relating to or affected by malaria

  The clinic treats malarial patients in the region.

Usually plural "jowls". Common phrase: "cheek by jowl" = very close together.

• the lower part of a person's or animal's cheek, especially when fleshy or hanging loosely

  His age was showing in his sagging jowls.

• having heavy or prominent jowls

  The jowly bulldog wheezed as it walked.

• extremely large

  The new stadium is a colossal structure.

The Colossus of Rhodes was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

1. a statue that is much bigger than life size

   The bronze colossus dominated the harbor.

2. a person or thing of enormous size, importance, or ability

   He was a colossus of 20th-century literature.

"On the sidelines" = not participating directly.

1. either of the two lines that mark the long sides of a sports field; (plural) the area just outside these lines

   The coach paced along the sideline.

2. a secondary activity or job

   He runs a small bakery as a sideline.

• to cause someone to be removed from a position, team, or activity

  He was sidelined by an injury for the season.

"Preach to the choir" (American) / "preach to the converted" (British) = make arguments to people who already agree.

1. to deliver a sermon or religious address to an assembled group

   The pastor preached to a packed church.

2. to advocate or recommend (something) earnestly

   She preaches the benefits of meditation.

• a person who preaches, especially a member of the clergy

  The preacher gave a powerful sermon.

"Grate on someone's nerves" = irritate.

1. to shred (food) by rubbing it on a rough surface

   She grated some cheese over the pasta.

2. to make an unpleasant rasping sound

   The chalk grated against the blackboard.

• a framework of metal bars used as a partition or covering, or for cooking over a fire

  Wood was burning in the fireplace grate.

Past tense same as present: beset. Often passive: "be beset by/with".

• (of a problem or difficulty) to trouble persistently

  The project was beset by delays and budget issues.

Stronger than "reject"; suggests contempt.

• to reject with contempt

  She spurned his offer of marriage.

"Gas guzzler" = a vehicle with poor fuel efficiency.

1. to eat or drink greedily

   He guzzled the entire pitcher of beer.

2. (of a vehicle or engine) to consume large quantities of fuel

   That old truck guzzles gas.

Formal.

• involving an amount of effort and difficulty that is oppressively burdensome

  The new regulations impose onerous reporting requirements.

Often "attest to" something.

1. to provide or serve as evidence of something

   Her years of experience attest to her expertise.

2. to declare that something is true, often in court

   The witness attested to the accuracy of his statement.

• evidence or proof that something exists or is the case

  The certificate serves as attestation of his qualifications.

HMS Bounty was the ship of the famous 1789 mutiny.

1. (uncountable) generosity or abundance

   The harvest provided bounty for the whole village.

2. (countable) a reward offered for catching or killing someone

   There was a bounty on the outlaw's head.

• a person who pursues a criminal or fugitive for whom a reward has been offered

  The bounty hunter tracked the fugitive across three states.

Antonym: turn-on.

1. a road branching off from a main road

   Take the next turn-off for the airport.

2. (informal) something that makes someone lose interest, especially sexual interest

   Bad breath is a major turn-off.

• a preconceived idea or opinion, especially one based on inadequate information

  Try to approach the issue without preconceptions.

• a forecast of a person's future based on the position of the planets and stars at the time of their birth

  She reads her horoscope every morning.

Short for "hydraulic fracturing". Controversial for its environmental impacts.

• the process of injecting liquid at high pressure into underground rocks to extract oil or gas

  Fracking has transformed the US energy industry.

1. a barrier or barricade on a road, set up to stop traffic for inspection

   Police set up roadblocks throughout the area.

2. (figurative) an obstacle to progress

   Funding has been the biggest roadblock to the project.

Often used affectionately for older people.

• (especially of an old person) lively; full of energy

  At 90, she's still sprightly and quick-witted.

Often "vie for" or "vie with".

• to compete eagerly with someone in order to do or achieve something

  The two candidates are vying for the nomination.

Present participle of "vie" (compete). Common collocation: "vying for attention", "vying for position".

• competing eagerly with others

  They were vying for the championship.

• to express sharp disapproval of someone for their actions

  The teacher rebuked the students for being late.

• an expression of sharp disapproval

  The judge issued a stern rebuke to the lawyer.

Informal. The noun form "slapdown" is also used.

• to reprimand or rebuke someone sharply

  The boss slapped down his proposal.

Common collocations: "brisk walk", "brisk business", "brisk pace".

1. active, fast, and energetic

   They went for a brisk walk before breakfast.

2. (of weather) pleasantly cold and refreshing

   It was a brisk autumn morning.

British informal.

• (British) to thwart, ruin, or prevent (a plan)

  The deal was scuppered at the last minute.

• done in a hurry, especially with limited consideration

  Don't make a hasty decision.

Proverb: "Haste makes waste".

• excessive speed or urgency

  In her haste, she forgot her keys.

1. to be quick to do something

   He hastened to apologize for his mistake.

2. to cause something to happen sooner

   Stress can hasten aging.

Formal/literary.

• just begun and so not fully formed or developed

  She had an inchoate sense that something was wrong.

Informal.

• a thing given free of charge

  The conference had a lot of freebies in the swag bag.

From Latin mori ("to die"). Same root as "mortal", "mortuary".

• at the point of death; in terminal decline; lacking vigor

  The moribund industry employed only a fraction of its former workforce.

• hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed

  He gave the report a cursory glance.

From Latin currere ("to run"). Same root as cursory.

• a movable indicator on a computer screen showing the position where typing or selection will occur

  She moved the cursor to the search box.

In geometry, an obtuse angle is between 90° and 180°. Antonym in the slow-thinking sense: acute.

1. annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand

   He's being deliberately obtuse.

2. (of an angle) greater than 90° but less than 180°

   The triangle had one obtuse angle.

Originally a military term: the pilot flying just behind and to the side of the lead aircraft. Popularized in dating contexts by the 1986 film "Top Gun".

1. a fighter pilot who flies in support of another

   His wingman covered him during the dogfight.

2. (informal) a friend or associate who helps another in social situations, especially in pursuing romance

   He brought his wingman along to the bar.

Root of untreated.

1. to behave toward or deal with someone or something in a specified way

   She treats her employees fairly.

2. to give medical care to (a patient or illness)

   The doctor treated his infection with antibiotics.

• an event or item that is out of the ordinary and gives great pleasure

  She bought herself a small treat after the exam.

1. not given medical care

   If left untreated, the infection can spread.

2. not processed or chemically modified

   They sell untreated lumber for outdoor use.

1. to walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall

   He staggered home drunk.

2. to amaze or shock deeply

   The price staggered her.

3. to arrange events or activities at different times to avoid overlap

   The company staggers its employees' shifts.

• deeply shocking; astonishing

  The cost was staggering.

• (informal) deeply shocked or astonished; arranged at intervals rather than all at once

  I was staggered by the price. The shifts are staggered.

Often used of laws and pay raises.

• taking effect from a date in the past

  The pay raise is retroactive to January.

• proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects

  The insidious effects of pollution take years to appear.

From para- ("beyond") + normal.

• denoting events or phenomena beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding

  He had a paranormal experience in the old house.

From Greek para- ("beyond") + nous ("mind").

1. a mental condition characterized by delusions of persecution

   The drug can induce paranoia.

2. unjustified suspicion and mistrust of others

   There's a sense of paranoia in the office.

• relating to or affected by paranoia

  He had paranoiac fears that everyone was watching him.

• excessively suspicious or afraid that others mean harm

  He became paranoid about online tracking.

Typically "fraught with" something negative.

1. filled with or destined to result in (something undesirable)

   The journey was fraught with danger.

2. causing or affected by great anxiety

   She gave a fraught look at the clock.

From Greek idios ("one's own") + synkrasis ("mixture"). Note: idiosyncrasy is spelled with -sy, not -cy.

• a distinctive and peculiar feature of an individual or group

  His habit of humming while reading is one of his idiosyncrasies.

• relating to idiosyncrasy; peculiar to an individual

  He has an idiosyncratic style of cooking.

Formal. From Latin lucidus ("light").

• to make something clear; to explain

  The professor elucidated the complex theory.

• an explanation or clarification of something

  The footnote offers useful elucidation of the passage.

• done with or employing great care and thoroughness

  The restoration was a painstaking process.

1. to compensate for the faults or bad aspects of (something)

   His sincere apology redeemed him in her eyes.

2. to gain or regain in exchange for payment

   You can redeem your points for cash.

3. (Christianity) to save (someone) from sin

   Jesus came to redeem mankind.

• able to be exchanged for cash or goods

  The coupon is redeemable at any store location.

Capitalized, refers specifically to Christ in Christianity.

• (Christianity) Jesus Christ as the savior of mankind

  The hymn praised the Redeemer.

1. the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil

   God's plans for the redemption of his world.

2. the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt

   The redemption of the mortgage.

1. quick and light in movement

   She is nimble on her feet.

2. (of the mind) quick to understand or think

   He has a nimble mind.

Formal/technical.

• providing necessary support to the primary activities of an organization or system

  Ancillary services include billing and customer support.

"Hounds" specifically refers to hunting dogs (e.g., greyhound, foxhound).

• a dog used for hunting

  The hounds chased the fox through the woods.

• to harass or persecute relentlessly

  Reporters hounded the celebrity for an interview.

Homophone of "flare" (a bright light). "Flair" suggests style; "flare" suggests sudden burst.

1. (uncountable) a special or instinctive aptitude or ability for doing something well

   She has a flair for languages.

2. (uncountable) stylishness and originality

   He dresses with flair.

"Fortified wine" = wine with added spirits, like port or sherry.

1. to strengthen a place against attack

   They fortified the town with high walls.

2. to give strength or vigor

   A hot meal fortified them for the journey.

3. to add nutrients to (food or drink)

   This cereal is fortified with iron and vitamins.

• a defensive wall or other structure built to strengthen a place against attack

  The ancient fortifications still stand around the old city.

"Nudge theory" (behavioral economics) - using small interventions to influence decisions.

1. to prod someone gently, typically with one's elbow, to draw attention

   She nudged him to look at the funny sign.

2. to coax or gently persuade

   He nudged me toward the door.

• a light prod, typically with the elbow

  She gave him a nudge in the ribs.

In a battery providing power, the cathode is the positive terminal; during charging, polarity reverses. Pair with anode.

• the negatively charged electrode in an electrolytic cell, or the positive terminal of a battery providing current

  Electrons flow from the cathode in the circuit.

Antonym/pair: cathode.

• the positively charged electrode in an electrolytic cell, or the negative terminal of a battery providing current

  Oxidation occurs at the anode.

• to abandon or mitigate a harsh intention or cruel treatment

  After hours of arguing, he finally relented and agreed to go.

1. oppressively constant; incessant

   The relentless rain flooded the streets.

2. harsh or inflexible

   She is a relentless pursuer of justice.

• a cruel and oppressive ruler

  The tyrant was finally overthrown.

• exercising power in a cruel or arbitrary way

  He was a tyrannical boss who terrorized his staff.

• to rule or treat oppressively or unjustly

  The dictator tyrannized his people for decades.

1. cruel and oppressive government or rule

   They fled the tyranny of the regime.

2. (figurative) the oppressive influence of something

   He resented the tyranny of fashion trends.

Root of totality.

• complete; entire

  The show was a total disaster.

• the whole amount or sum of something

  The total came to $45.

• to add up to a specified whole amount

  The bill totaled $200.

• the whole of something

  The plan must be considered in its totality.

• relating to a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state

  North Korea is a totalitarian regime.

• a system of government with absolute, centralized control over every aspect of public and private life

  The 20th century saw the rise of totalitarianism.

• to use deception to deprive someone of money or possessions

  She was swindled out of her life savings.

• a fraudulent scheme or action

  The whole investment turned out to be a swindle.

Past tense: undertook; past participle: undertaken.

1. to commit oneself to and begin (a task or project)

   She undertook the difficult task of writing a biography.

2. to formally guarantee or promise something

   He undertook to deliver the goods by Friday.

American synonym: "funeral director".

• a person whose business is preparing dead bodies for burial or cremation and arranging funerals

  The undertaker arrived to make arrangements.

1. a formal pledge or promise to do something

   He gave an undertaking to repay the loan.

2. a task that is taken on; an enterprise

   Building the bridge was a massive undertaking.

From Greek hydor ("water") + aulos ("pipe"). Used in countless machines: brakes, lifts, presses, excavators.

• operated by liquid moving in a confined space under pressure

  The car has hydraulic brakes.

• the branch of science and technology concerned with the conveyance of liquids through pipes

  He studied hydraulics at engineering school.

Always "allude to". Don't confuse with "elude" (to escape).

• to suggest or call attention to indirectly

  She alluded to her past difficulties without giving details.

• an indirect or passing reference

  The poem contains many literary allusions.

"Go awry" is the most common usage. Pronunciation surprises many learners.

• away from the appropriate, planned, or expected course

  Their plans went awry.

• out of the normal or correct position

  His tie was awry.

From German: Doppel ("double") + Gänger ("goer"). Often spelled doppelganger without umlaut in English.

• a person who looks identical to another but is unrelated

  He looks just like a doppelgänger of my brother.

From Greek myth: Tantalus was punished by being placed in water that receded when he tried to drink, beneath fruit that pulled away when he tried to eat.

• to torment or tease with the sight or promise of something unobtainable

  The aroma from the kitchen tantalized the hungry guests.

From "prose" (vs. poetry). Implies dull/ordinary.

• having or using the style or diction of prose as opposed to poetry; lacking imagination

  He gave a prosaic explanation for the strange event.

Formal/literary. Usually of negative omens.

• to be a sign or warning that something is likely to happen, especially something bad

  The dark clouds portended a storm.

• a sign or warning that something, especially something momentous or calamitous, is likely to happen

  They saw the comet as a portent of disaster.

• of great significance, especially in a foreboding way

  He spoke in a portentous tone.

From Greek paidos ("child") + iatrikos ("healing"). British spelling: paediatrics.

• the branch of medicine dealing with children and their diseases

  She specializes in pediatrics.

• British spelling of pediatrics

  He works in paediatrics at the children's hospital.

• a doctor who specializes in the medical care of children

  We took our baby to the pediatrician for her checkup.

• British spelling of pediatrician

  The paediatrician examined the child.

Stronger than "dislike" or "hate".

• to feel contempt or a deep repugnance for

  She despises dishonesty.

From Yiddish. Also spelled "shlep".

• (informal) to haul or carry (something heavy or awkward)

  I had to schlep my luggage across the airport.

• (informal) a tedious or difficult journey

  It's such a schlep to get to their place.

Originally military term, famously associated with the D-Day landings in Normandy (1944).

1. a fortified position on a beach taken from the enemy by landing forces, from which an attack can be launched

   The marines established a beachhead at dawn.

2. (figurative) an initial position from which expansion can occur

   The company established a beachhead in the European market.

• a device with a notched wheel or bar engaged by a pawl, allowing motion in one direction only

  He used a ratchet to tighten the bolt.

"Ratchet up" = increase by small, often irreversible amounts.

• to cause something to rise (or fall) as a step in what is regarded as an irreversible process

  The country has ratcheted up its military spending.

"Chafe under" = become resentful of restrictions.

1. to make sore by rubbing

   The new shoes chafed her heels.

2. to feel irritation or impatience

   He chafed at the restrictions.

Many idioms: "as well as", "well off", "well, well, well".

1. in a good or satisfactory manner

   She speaks French well.

2. to a great or considerable extent

   It's well past midnight.

• in good health

  I hope you're well.

• a deep hole or shaft sunk into the earth to obtain water or oil

  They drew water from the well.

Often used in corporate and consumer contexts. "Wellness industry" covers yoga, supplements, spas, etc.

• the state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal

  The company introduced a wellness program for employees.

"Vogue" is also the famous fashion magazine (founded 1892), which gave its name to a Madonna song and dance style.

• the prevailing fashion or style at a particular time

  Mini skirts came into vogue in the 1960s.

Root of relativism.

• considered in relation to something else; not absolute

  The relative merits of the two proposals are worth discussing.

• a person connected by blood or marriage

  She invited all her relatives to the wedding.

Common in philosophy, anthropology, and ethics.

• the doctrine that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute

  His paper argues against moral relativism.

Disapproving.

• to talk long-windedly without making very much sense

  He blathered on about his vacation for hours.

• long-winded talk with no real substance

  The speech was complete blather.

"Eminent domain" (American) = the right of the government to seize private property for public use.

• famous and respected within a particular sphere or profession

  She is an eminent historian.

• to a notable degree; very

  He is eminently qualified for the job.

"Your Eminence": formal address for a Catholic cardinal. "Éminence grise" (French): power behind the scenes.

• the condition of being famous or respected

  He rose to eminence in his field.

Sometimes spelled "preeminent" without hyphen.

• surpassing all others; very distinguished

  She is the pre-eminent expert in her field.

• to a great or extreme degree; especially

  He is pre-eminently qualified for the job.

• to fill (something) up again

  He went to the kitchen to replenish their drinks.

• the action of filling something up again

  The store has a constant cycle of replenishment.

• to dismiss as unimportant or to make someone seem unimportant

  He belittles his colleagues in front of clients.

Often used with abstract nouns: "scant evidence/attention/regard".

• barely sufficient or adequate

  There is scant evidence to support that claim.

1. small or insufficient in quantity or amount

   The harvest was scanty this year.

2. (of clothing) revealing; barely covering the body

   She wore a scanty bikini.

• very weak or slight

  The connection between the two events is tenuous at best.

In Christianity, "stigmata" are wounds resembling those of the crucified Christ.

• a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person

  There is still a stigma attached to mental illness.

• to describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval

  He felt stigmatized by his criminal record.

Often used in the passive: "deeply entrenched". Distinct from retrench (to cut back).

• to establish (an attitude, habit, or belief) so firmly that change is very difficult

  Prejudice is entrenched in the community.

• the establishment of something as firmly fixed

  The entrenchment of the two-party system is a problem for reform.