Vocabulary: Batch 61

• a level of quality or attainment used as a measure or model

  The hotel exceeded all our standards for comfort.

• used or accepted as normal, average, or usual

  The car comes with standard features like air conditioning.

Often written as one word "substandard".

• below the usual or required standard

  The contractor was fired for sub-standard work.

1. extremely thorough and careful

   The drug went through rigorous testing before approval.

2. (of a rule, system, or person) strict and severe

   The academy maintains rigorous standards.

American spelling; British: rigour.

• the quality of being extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate

  The study was conducted with scientific rigor.

British spelling; American: rigor.

• the quality of being extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate

  The exam is known for its academic rigour.

• to impose (a tax, fee, or fine)

  The government levied a new tax on cigarettes.

• an amount of money, such as a tax, that has to be paid

  The new levy will raise millions in revenue.

Always followed by "to" or an infinitive.

• to have a strong desire to achieve or become something

  She aspires to be a surgeon.

• having a particular ambition or aim

  He's an aspiring novelist.

• a person who has ambitions to achieve something

  Several aspirants are vying for the party's nomination.

• a hope or ambition of achieving something

  Her aspiration is to study medicine.

• having or showing a desire to achieve a higher social position or success

  The car is marketed to aspirational young professionals.

Slightly more formal than contemporary. "Contemporary" can mean either "living at the same time" or "modern"; "contemporaneous" specifically means "happening at the same time".

• existing or occurring at the same time

  His memoir was based on contemporaneous notes he had kept.

Plural: uteri or uteruses. Common synonym: womb (less clinical).

• the hollow muscular organ in female mammals in which the offspring develops during pregnancy

  The doctor examined her uterus during the ultrasound.

• relating to the uterus

  She was diagnosed with uterine cancer.

Antonym: overt (open). "Covert operation" = secret military or intelligence action.

• not openly acknowledged or displayed; secret

  The agency conducted a covert operation.

1. to cause something moving to change direction

   The shield deflected the arrow.

2. to turn aside attention or criticism

   She deflected the question by changing the subject.

• the action of changing the direction of something

  The goalkeeper made a brilliant deflection.

1. a cancellation or postponement of a punishment, especially a death sentence

   The governor granted the prisoner a last-minute reprieve.

2. a temporary relief from danger or trouble

   The rain provided a brief reprieve from the heat.

Common phrase: "to the detriment of" = causing harm to.

• the state of being harmed or damaged

  He worked long hours to the detriment of his health.

Often followed by "to". Formal word for "harmful".

• causing harm or damage

  Lack of sleep is detrimental to your health.

Tit-for-tat is also a famous strategy in game theory.

• involving the infliction of an injury or insult in retaliation for one received

  The two countries engaged in tit-for-tat tariffs.

From Hebrew; originally a huge beast mentioned in the Book of Job.

• a huge or monstrous creature; anything enormous

  The tech behemoth dominates the global market.

• showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise

  He keeps meticulous records of all his expenses.

Informal.

• uncertain, unreliable, or questionable

  The weather forecast is a bit iffy.

"Argentine" and "Argentinian" are interchangeable; "Argentine" is slightly more common in formal writing.

• relating to Argentina or its people

  He's an Argentine soccer player.

• relating to Argentina or its people

  She loves Argentinian beef.

• a country in South America, capital Buenos Aires

  They traveled to Argentina last summer.

• to respond to a gesture or action by making a corresponding one

  She invited him to dinner, and he reciprocated by taking her to the theater.

• given, felt, or done in return

  She was hoping for some reciprocal comment or gesture.

Common in international relations and trade agreements ("reciprocity clause").

• the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit

  The treaty is based on reciprocity between the two nations.

Short for bridegroom. "Groomed" in modern usage often has a negative connotation ("groomed for abuse").

1. a man on his wedding day or just before and after the event

   The groom waited at the altar.

2. a person who looks after horses

   The groom brushed the horse's coat.

1. to clean and brush (an animal)

   He spent the morning grooming the dog.

2. to prepare someone for a particular role or activity

   She was groomed for leadership from a young age.

• a man about to be married or just married

  The bride and bridegroom cut the cake.

• (of a person) clean, tidy, and well cared for in appearance

  She always looks impeccably groomed.

In an abuse context, building trust with a victim in order to exploit them.

• the care of one's appearance; the cleaning of an animal; (in abuse) building trust to exploit a victim

  personal grooming; the grooming of vulnerable children online

Antonym: insolvent (bankrupt).

• having more money than one owes; able to pay all debts

  The company remains solvent despite the losses.

• a substance, usually a liquid, that dissolves another substance

  Water is a universal solvent.

• the state of being able to pay one's debts

  The bank's solvency was questioned during the crisis.

Antonym: solvent. Different from bankruptcy (formal legal status). Insolvency precedes bankruptcy in most jurisdictions.

• unable to pay debts

  The company was declared insolvent.

• the state of being unable to pay debts

  They filed for insolvency.

Formal. Stronger than "reject".

• to refuse to accept or be associated with

  He repudiated his earlier comments as misguided.

• the refusal to accept or be associated with something

  His repudiation of the treaty surprised many diplomats.

Note the silent gh, pronounced "trawf". Common in economics: "peak and trough".

1. a long, narrow container for animals to eat or drink from

   The pigs gathered around the trough.

2. the lowest point in an economic or business cycle

   The economy is finally emerging from the trough.

The country is Finland; the people are Finns.

• relating to Finland, its people, or its language

  He's studying Finnish architecture.

• the Finno-Ugric language spoken in Finland

  She's learning Finnish.

From French. Note the silent "-cre" ending.

• a deliberate killing of a large number of people

  The history of the massacre is now taught in schools.

1. to kill many people in a violent and cruel way

   Whole villages were massacred during the war.

2. (informal) to defeat by a large margin

   Our team got massacred 8-0.

Typically "disapprove of".

• to have or express an unfavorable opinion about something

  Her parents disapproved of her career choice.

• showing or expressing disapproval

  She gave him a disapproving look.

• an unfavorable opinion or feeling expressed about someone or something

  She shook her head in disapproval.

Past tense: won. "You can't win them all" = accept some losses.

1. to be successful or victorious in a contest or conflict

   They won the championship for the third year running.

2. to acquire or obtain as a result of success or effort

   She won the prize for best essay.

• a successful result in a contest or other situation

  That was a big win for the company.

• a person or thing that wins a contest or competition

  The winner received a gold medal.

From Italian. Originally referred to a flask in a theatrical idiom: "fare fiasco" = to fail (theater performance).

• a complete and humiliating failure

  The launch event turned into a complete fiasco.

"Evening gown" = formal dress. "Hospital gown" = the open-back garment patients wear. "Cap and gown" = academic graduation attire.

1. a long, elegant dress worn on formal occasions

   She wore a beautiful gown to the ball.

2. a loose garment worn for a specific purpose, such as by surgeons, judges, or graduates

   The surgeon put on a sterile gown.

• showy or pretentious in a way designed to impress

  They built an ostentatious mansion on the hill.

From Latin ostentare, a frequentative of ostendere ("to show"); a distant cousin of ostensible but a distinct modern word.

• a pretentious or showy display of wealth and luxury

  He lived without any ostentation despite his wealth.

1. to show approval by clapping the hands

   The audience applauded loudly.

2. to express strong approval of

   I applaud her decision to speak out.

• approval shown by clapping the hands

  There was a burst of applause as she finished her speech.

• a person who writes scripts for movies or television

  She is a successful Hollywood screenwriter.

American spelling; British: notarise.

• (of a notary public) to certify or attest the validity of (a document)

  The lawyer notarized the contract.

• officially certified by a notary public

  The bank requires a notarized copy of your ID.

Short for "notary public". A common service at banks and post offices in the US.

• a person authorized to perform certain legal formalities, especially to certify the authenticity of signatures

  You'll need a notary to witness your signature.

• the study of the physical features of the earth and human activity on it

  He teaches geography at the high school.

• a person who studies geography

  Ancient geographers mapped the known world.

• relating to geography

  The map shows the geographical features of the area.

• the scientific study of the Earth's physical structure and substance

  She has a degree in geology.

• relating to geology

  The team is conducting a geological survey of the region.

• a scientist who studies the Earth's physical structure and substance

  The geologist examined the rock formations.

Clinical term. "Circumcision" is the surgical removal of the foreskin.

• the retractable roll of skin covering the end of the penis

  Circumcision removes the foreskin.

• to spoil the surface or appearance of something, especially by writing or drawing on it

  The vandals defaced the monument with graffiti.

• to vote again on the same question

  The motion failed, and the committee decided to revote next week.

Disapproving. Implies uncritical acceptance.

• to teach a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically

  He claimed the school was indoctrinating students.

• the process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically

  The report described years of political indoctrination in the camps.

In British business usage, "turnover" = total revenue. In American usage, often = total sales or employee replacement rate.

1. the amount of business done in a given period

   The company has an annual turnover of $50 million.

2. the rate at which employees leave and are replaced

   High employee turnover is hurting the company.

3. a small pastry made by folding a piece of dough over a filling

   She baked apple turnovers for dessert.

American term; British: "maintenance" or "spousal support".

• a court-ordered allowance paid by one spouse to another after divorce or separation

  He pays his ex-wife alimony every month.

Clinical/formal. "Post-coital" = after sex.

• relating to sexual intercourse

  The doctor asked about coital problems.

• (clinical) sexual intercourse

  The term coitus is more clinical than other words for sex.

1. a place for people leaving an institution (such as a prison or rehabilitation center) to live before resuming normal life

   He stayed in a halfway house after his release from prison.

2. (figurative) a compromise between two opposing positions

   The new policy is a halfway house between full reform and the status quo.

"Good deed" = a kind act. "In deed" = in actual fact (rarely written; usually "indeed").

1. an action that is performed intentionally

   He was rewarded for his brave deeds.

2. (law) a legal document, especially one that transfers ownership of property

   She signed the deed to the house.

Common in job ads: "salary commensurate with experience".

• corresponding in size or degree; in proportion

  Pay should be commensurate with skills and experience.

"Intermittent fasting" = a popular dietary practice.

• occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous

  The forecast calls for intermittent rain.

Political meaning varies by country: in the US, liberal = left-leaning; in much of Europe, liberal = free-market and individualist (closer to American "libertarian").

1. willing to respect or accept different opinions or behaviors

   They have liberal views on most social issues.

2. given in generous quantities

   He added a liberal amount of salt to the dish.

• a person of liberal views

  She has always been a liberal in her politics.

• willingness to respect or accept behavior or opinions different from one's own; openness to new ideas

  A philosophy of classical liberalism.

In medicine: "induce labor" = use drugs to start childbirth.

1. to succeed in persuading someone to do something

   Nothing could induce me to take that risk.

2. to bring about or cause

   The drug induces sleep.

Examples: stress-induced, drug-induced, exercise-induced.

• a combining suffix meaning "caused by" the preceding noun

  He suffered from stress-induced insomnia.

• a thing that persuades or leads someone to do something

  Free shipping is offered as an inducement to buy.

1. to slope or lean in a particular direction

   The roof slants downward to the back.

2. to present news or information from a particular angle, often unfairly

   The article was clearly slanted in favor of the company.

1. a sloping position

   The picture is at a slant.

2. a particular point of view

   Her article gave a fresh slant on the issue.

Literary/dramatic. Stronger than "defeat".

• to defeat thoroughly

  The army vanquished its enemies.

Common negative use: groping someone = unwanted sexual touching.

1. to feel about uncertainly with one's hands

   He groped for the light switch in the dark.

2. to fondle (someone) for sexual pleasure, especially against their will

   She accused him of groping her at the party.

Followed by "of" or "to".

• not aware of or concerned about what is happening around one

  He was oblivious to the danger.

1. the state of being unaware or unconscious

   He drank himself into oblivion.

2. the state of being forgotten

   The film has been consigned to oblivion.

Antonym: contango. Often a signal of supply shortage.

• (finance) a market situation in which the futures price of a commodity is lower than its expected spot price

  Backwardation in the crude oil market suggests tight supply.

Antonym: backwardation. Common in commodities/futures trading.

• (finance) a market situation in which the futures price of a commodity is higher than its expected spot price

  The oil market is in contango as traders expect prices to rise.

From French. Stronger than "failure"; suggests humiliating collapse.

• a sudden and complete failure; a fiasco

  The launch was a complete debacle.

• a small pool of liquid, especially of rainwater on the ground

  The children jumped in the puddles after the rain.

"Bully pulpit" (American) = a public position used to promote ideas, coined by Theodore Roosevelt.

• a raised platform or lectern in a church from which the preacher delivers a sermon

  The pastor climbed into the pulpit.

British/Anglican Church. The Pope is known as the "Vicar of Christ".

• (Church of England) a parish priest

  The vicar conducted the wedding service.

Antonym: malevolent. From Latin: bene ("well") + volens ("wishing").

• well meaning and kindly

  He was a benevolent ruler who cared about his people.

• the quality of being well meaning and kindly

  The charity relies on the benevolence of donors.

From Greek: dicho- ("in two") + tomia ("cutting").

• a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or different

  There is a false dichotomy between freedom and security.

Also pronounced /ˈflæksɪd/ in some traditions.

• soft and limp; not firm

  His handshake was flaccid and unenthusiastic.

Originally a veterinary anesthetic; also used recreationally as a dissociative drug ("Special K"). Increasingly studied for treatment-resistant depression.

• a synthetic drug used as an anesthetic and, illegally, as a recreational hallucinogen

  Ketamine is being studied as a treatment for depression.

Archaic/dramatic; popularized by pirate movies. From French parler ("to speak").

• a conference between opposing sides in a dispute, especially a discussion of terms for an armistice

  The two generals met for a parley before the battle.

"Compassionate leave" = leave granted to deal with a family death or emergency.

• feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others

  The nurses were kind and compassionate.

"In particular" = especially.

1. used to single out an individual member of a specified group

   This particular shirt is my favorite.

2. insisting that something should be exactly as one wishes; fussy

   He is very particular about his coffee.

• detailed information about someone or something

  She gave the police all the particulars of the accident.

• to a higher degree than is usual or average; especially

  The weather was particularly bad that week.

• intended for or understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge

  His research is on an esoteric branch of philosophy.

Common phrase: "overstay one's welcome".

• to stay longer than the expected or permitted time

  He was deported for overstaying his visa.

Antonym: informal. Governs register: formal English avoids contractions and phrasal verbs.

1. following established conventions of dress, speech, or behavior

   He wore a formal suit to the ceremony.

2. official or according to strict rules

   They reached a formal agreement.

"Just a formality" = a required procedure but not substantively important.

1. (countable) a required procedure, often considered to be without practical importance

   Signing the papers is just a formality.

2. (uncountable) strict observance of forms and conventions

   He addressed the king with the appropriate formality.

• relaxed and friendly rather than following strict rules or conventions

  It was an informal gathering with just close friends.

• a relaxed or casual manner, lacking strict formality

  The boss encouraged an informality that put new hires at ease.

More dramatic/urgent than "run away". Common in journalism.

• to run away from a place or situation of danger

  Thousands of refugees fled the war zone.

Vulgar. Polite synonym: "a ton of" or "a lot of".

• (vulgar) a large amount or number

  He made a shitload of money on that deal.

"Catch off guard" = surprise. "On guard" = alert.

1. a person who keeps watch, especially to protect a place or people

   A guard was posted at the entrance.

2. a device fitted to a machine or vehicle to prevent injury or damage

   Always wear a mouth guard when playing rugby.

1. to protect from harm

   He was hired to guard the building.

2. to watch over to prevent escape

   Two officers guarded the prisoner.

• a defender, protector, or keeper

  The guardian of the child.

Name derives from the early extraction method: soaking ashes in iron pots.

• potassium compounds, especially potassium carbonate or hydroxide, used in fertilizers, soap, and glass-making

  The mine produces potash for the fertilizer industry.

From Japanese. The 5-7-5 syllable count is a guideline for English haiku but more flexible in Japanese (which counts "morae").

• a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five

  She wrote a haiku about cherry blossoms.

British insult, mild. Unrelated to Git the version-control software (named after this word jokingly by Linus Torvalds).

• (British informal) an unpleasant or contemptible person

  He's a right miserable git.

Originally pejorative from Christian usage, but now reclaimed by modern neo-pagans.

• a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions

  Ancient European pagans worshipped many gods.

• relating to pagans or paganism

  Christmas incorporated several pagan customs.

• religious beliefs or practices other than those of the main world religions

  Modern paganism draws on pre-Christian European traditions.

• a surprise attack by people lying in wait in a concealed position

  The soldiers were caught in an ambush.

• to make a surprise attack on someone from a concealed position

  They ambushed the convoy at the mountain pass.

From Greek petros ("stone") - so literally "to turn to stone". Often used in the passive: "be petrified".

1. to make someone so frightened that they cannot move

   The thought of public speaking petrified her.

2. to change organic matter into a stony substance over long periods

   The fallen log gradually petrified.

1. so frightened that one cannot move

   She was petrified of spiders.

2. (of organic matter) turned into stone over a long time

   They found petrified wood at the site.

• causing extreme terror

  A petrifying experience.

• a current score or amount

  The team finished with a tally of 12 wins.

1. to add up a number or amount

   She tallied the votes.

2. to agree or correspond

   His story doesn't tally with the witness's account.

"Leveraged buyout" (LBO) = a takeover financed mostly by debt.

• the purchase of a controlling interest in a company, especially by its existing management

  The management announced a buyout of the company.

From Latin: in- ("not") + peccare ("to sin"). Literally "sinless".

• in accordance with the highest standards; faultless

  His manners are impeccable.

• anxious or fearful that something bad may happen

  She was apprehensive about the interview.

1. (uncountable) anxiety or fear

   He looked at the surgeon with apprehension.

2. (countable, law) the act of arresting someone

   The apprehension of the suspect happened at dawn.

1. to arrest someone for a crime

   Police apprehended the suspect at the airport.

2. (formal) to understand or perceive

   He failed to apprehend the significance of the discovery.

From "Government Issue" or "General Infantry". Famous: "GI Joe" toy, "GI Bill" (1944 law providing benefits to WWII veterans).

• an American soldier, especially in World War II

  GIs landed on the beaches of Normandy.

• abbreviation of "gastrointestinal"

  The patient has GI problems.

Old-fashioned/British in the friend sense. Different meaning: fish bait (in American English).

• (informal, dated) a close friend

  He was my chum in school.

• (informal) on friendly terms; friendly

  They've become quite chummy with their neighbors.

Common in medical contexts.

• to make weak and infirm

  The disease debilitates the muscles over time.

• tending to weaken or reduce someone's strength or ability

  Chronic pain can be debilitating.

• physical weakness or infirmity

  The illness left him in a state of debility.

From French. Often shortened to "somm" in industry slang.

• a wine waiter or wine steward, typically in a fine restaurant

  The sommelier recommended a Pinot Noir to go with our duck.

From Greek hepar ("liver"). Hepatitis = liver inflammation.

• the branch of medicine dealing with the liver, gallbladder, biliary tree, and pancreas

  She did her fellowship in hepatology.

• a doctor who specializes in diseases of the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas

  He was referred to a hepatologist for his liver condition.

Unrelated in meaning (though related in Greek root) to gastroenterology.

• the practice or art of choosing, cooking, and eating good food

  French gastronomy is renowned worldwide.

• a connoisseur of good food and drink

  He's a gastronome who travels just to dine at famous restaurants.

• relating to good eating

  The trip was a gastronomic adventure.

Often abbreviated "GI".

• relating to the stomach and intestines

  He saw a specialist for his gastrointestinal problems.

• to expel (a tenant) from a property by legal process

  The landlord evicted them for not paying rent.

• the action of expelling someone from a property

  They received an eviction notice.

"Cobble together" = assemble something hastily from available parts.

1. to put together (something) roughly or hastily, often "cobble together"

   He cobbled together a presentation in an hour.

2. to repair or pave (a road) with cobblestones

   The old streets were cobbled with granite.

• (of a road) paved with cobblestones

  They walked along the cobbled streets of the old town.

• a small, rounded stone formerly used in paving streets

  The horse's hooves clattered on the cobblestones.

• a person's fixed or allotted period of work

  He did a brief stint as a teacher before becoming a writer.

In photography, aperture is measured in f-stops (lower = wider opening = more light).

1. an opening, hole, or gap

   Light streamed through a narrow aperture in the wall.

2. (photography) the adjustable opening in a lens that controls how much light enters

   Use a wider aperture for low-light photography.

Antonym: wild.

1. (of an animal) not dangerous or afraid of people

   The deer in the park have become very tame.

2. not exciting; dull

   The party was tame compared to last year's.

• to domesticate a wild animal

  Wolves were tamed and bred into dogs over thousands of years.

American spelling; British: epicentre.

1. the point on the earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake

   The epicenter of the quake was 50km offshore.

2. (figurative) the central point of something, typically a difficult or unpleasant situation

   The city was the epicenter of the outbreak.

British spelling; American: epicenter. Strictly the surface point above the earthquake's underground origin (the "hypocenter" or "focus").

1. the point on the earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake

   The epicentre of the quake was 50km offshore.

2. (figurative) the central point of something, typically a difficult or unpleasant situation

   The city was the epicentre of the outbreak.

"Stuck in a rut" = the most common usage.

1. a long deep track made by the repeated passage of wheels

   The cart left ruts in the muddy road.

2. a habit or pattern of behavior that has become dull and unproductive

   He felt stuck in a rut at work.

Almost always plural "vagaries".

• an unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someone's behavior

  The vagaries of the British weather make planning difficult.

Old-fashioned/literary. Related: vagrant, drifter.

• a person who wanders from place to place without a home or job

  He led the life of a vagabond, traveling from town to town.

• an amount of money spent on something

  The initial outlay for the equipment was $5,000.