vocabulary4

pesky

Anything pesky is annoying. Pesky things get on your nerves, like pesky mosquitoes that ruin an outdoor movie or pesky ants that march away with all of your picnic food. Pesky things are irritating, like small children who poke you on the leg for ten minutes while you try to discuss Nietzsche. A pesky fly dive-bombs by your head all afternoon. An itch you can't reach is pesky. The word pesky is an old word from New England, as in "like a pest," but in a funny accent. Different people find different things pesky, but pesky things are never terrible, just very annoying.

appendix

No, it's not just a tiny organ pouch that requires surgery when it begins to hurt; an appendix is also additional material at the end of a book or paper.

Sanction

Sanction has two nearly opposite meanings: to sanction can be to approve of something, but it can also mean to punish, or speak harshly to. Likewise, a sanction can be a punishment or approval. Very confusing--the person who invented this word should be publicly sanctioned!

eclectic

She listens to hip-hop, Gregorian chant, and folk music from the '60s. He's been seen wearing a handmade tuxedo jacket over a thrift-store flannel shirt. They both have eclectic tastes. You can have an eclectic group of friends (friends from diverse groups), eclectic taste in furniture (a mixture of 18th-century French chairs, Andy Warhol paintings, and Persian rugs), or enjoy eclectic cuisine (fusion cooking that uses ingredients from different national cuisines).

abut

When something borders something else, it is said to abut it. The term is often used in real estate to refer to a lot line. Wouldn't it be nice to have your back yard abut a forest preserve or park?

monolithic

When something is monolithic it's big, and made of one thing. A large piece of stone jutting from the earth is a monolith, and Detroit's economy when it depended entirely on the auto industry was monolithic. Example, For one thing, Morales shatters Americans' view of the community as monolithic. Example, Americans talk about public opinion as if it were a monolithic entity overshadowing the entire landscape.

iffy

When something's iffy, it's uncertain. Example: You might want to reschedule your picnic if the weather looks iffy. Example: It's kind of iffy to me that Donald Trump's our president.

abominate

When you abominate something, you really, really hate it. You might abominate your curfew, or the substitute teacher for your math class. Picture a preacher telling you, "Abominate sin!" To turn from as illÐomened; to hate in the highest degree, as if with religious dread; loathe; as, to abominate all impiety. I abominate a machine filled with filthy eggs; it actually hurts my feelings to handle them.

compile

When you compile something, like a recipe-book or a mix-tape, you put it together using things that already exist (recipes, songs). Example, facts and figures, compiled from a variety of primary and secondary sources, can change public opinion.

platoon

a military unit that is a subdivision of a company.

luminary / luminaries

a person who inspires or influences others, especially one prominent in a particular sphere.

interlocutor

a person who takes part in a conversation. 對話者. An interlocutor is someone who participates in a discussion or conversation, sometimes as a go-between. If you and your friend are in an argument and aren't speaking, a third friend could act as an interlocutor, delivering messages back and forth.

lodging

a place to sleep for one or more nights

affidavit

a sworn written statement. If you make a written statement to the police or another recognized authority like a notary public that you swear is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, what you've put down on paper is an affidavit.

abash

abash is a verb that means you have caused another person to feel awkward, bashful, embarrassed, or ashamed. Example: Mr. Kaiser made it clear that he was beyond abashed by what had happened.

abash

cause to feel embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed. cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self conscious. Example: She was not abashed at being caught.

instep (of foot)

the arch of the foot

Carcass

the dead body of an animal. In the aftermath of Thanksgiving, after turkey sandwiches and turkey noodle soup and picking all the meat off, you're left with nothing more than turkey bones — or the carcass of your holiday bird.

absolutist

The absolutist believes every decision is either "right" or "wrong", regardless of the consequences.

aesthetic

The adjective aesthetic comes in handy when the subject at hand is beauty or the arts. A velvet painting of dogs playing poker might have minimal aesthetic appeal. 美學.

dispersed

The adjective dispersed can describe anything that's spread across a distance. You might use the Internet to stay in touch with your dispersed family, who live everywhere from Maine to California. Example, public relations personnel may also be dispersed throughout an organization. scatter, distribute, spread.

erroneous

The adjective erroneous describes something or someone as mistaken and incorrect. Early explorers had the erroneous notion that the oceans were full of dragons. Example, Act promptly to correct erroneous communications for which the practitioner is responsible.

reclusive

The adjective reclusive describes a desire for seclusion or privacy. A reclusive movie star is the one tabloid photographers dream of capturing on film. withdrawn. 隱藏. Example: This was around the time that the reclusive billionaire, then in his late 50s, was growing increasingly eccentric.

utter

The adjective utter is often used as an intensifier to mean "total" — often with negative connotations (like "utter failure"). As a verb, the word has a totally unrelated meaning: to speak or to articulate a sound. 發出. 說出.

cosmos

The cosmos is the sum total of everything — pretty big. It's hard to wrap your mind around the cosmos, as it extends far beyond the Milky Way, or far-off galaxies, or even our own universe. 宇宙. 有序的体系.

loiter

hang around; linger. Example, Dean loitered frequently in its lobby.

haphazard

haphazard Anything haphazard is random, disorganized, slipshod, or hit-or-miss.

uneventfully

in an uneventful manner. 平靜地. Example: the space shuttle landed uneventfully.

bonkers

informal or slang terms for mentally irregular. Mad, crazy.

accelerate

Accelerate means to speed up.

conjunction

"Conjunction Junction, what's your function? Hooking up words and phrases and clauses." These lyrics from Schoolhouse Rock sum it up: a conjunction is all about joining things together. organizations working in conjunction to present a big event; or bring objects together. Conjunction could also mean things happening at the same time, such as free Schoolhouse Rock screenings that are presented in conjunction with a National Grammar Day celebration. Five of the most common nouns used in conjunction with British Muslims were "terrorist", "extremist", "cleric", "Islamist" and "suicide bomber".

gymnasium

( gym in short) A gymnasium is a place people go to exercise or participate in sports. Your neighborhood gymnasium might be a good place to play basketball, pump iron, or to check out the other gym rats. 健身房. (n) athletic facility equipped for sports or physical training.

counterproductive

(adj) defeating the purpose; preventing the intended goal

mutilated

(adj) having a part of the body crippled or disabled. 肢解. Example: The mutilated body of another activist turned up two weeks later in the same area.

quirky

(adj). characterized by peculiar or unexpected traits. Example: her sense of humor was decidedly quirky.

lewd

(adj.) - vulgar, offensive, rude. crude and offensive in a sexual way. Example, She's accused of having lewd and lascivious conduct with one of her students. Example, Some of the narrative is overtly sexual, with a flash of lewd for good measure. Example, He's probably getting a big kick out of manipulating you with his lewd suggestions. Example, It is now renowned for its booze cruises, clubs and lewd behavior. Example, She's accused of having lewd and lascivious conduct with one of her students.

pivotal

(adj.) vitally important, essential. High school graduation is a pivotal moment in most people's lives — an important point that signifies a shift in direction.

ramification

(n) a development that complicates a situation. (n) the act of branching out or dividing into branches. Example: The judge had no idea of the ramifications of his actions when he ruled against the majority.

Condole

(n.) an expression of sympathy (n.) an expression of sympathy in sorrow Example: When my dog died, I found that other dog owners were more likely to condole with me. Example: The priest came to condole with Madeleine.

intrigue

(n.) crafty dealings, underhanded plotting; (v.) to form and carry out plots; to puzzle or excite the curiosity. form plots in an underhand manner. cause to be interested or curious.

grief

(n.) grief means intense sorrow. You feel grief if something terribly sad happens, like if your dog dies or if your childhood sweetheart breaks up with you.

nominal

(of a role or status) existing in name only. Preserve the free flow of unprejudiced information when giving or receiving gifts by ensuring that gifts are nominal, legal, and infrequent.

fondle

(v) To handle tenderly and lovingly. Touch in sexual way. Stroke or caress lovingly or erotically. Example: The dog came over to have his ears fondled. Example: They fondled in the back seat of the taxi.

apprehended

(v) arrest (someone) for a crime. Example: a warrant was issued but he has not been apprehended. (v) understand or perceive. Example: great art invites us to apprehend beauty

debunk

(v) expose while ridiculing; especially of pretentious or false claims and ideas. 揭穿 Synonyms: expose Example: The physicist debunked the psychic's claims.

hypnotize/ hypnosis

(v.) When you hypnotize someone, you draw him into a mental state that is receptive to suggestion. If you are looking to break a bad habit like cigarette smoking, ask someone to hypnotize you. (n.) Hypnosis is a trance-like state induced by a hypnotist in which the subject becomes highly open to suggestions by others. In movies, hypnosis usually starts with the phrase, "You are feeling very sleepy..."

grieve

(v.) lament, deplore, bewail, mourn. 悲傷. To grieve is to feel sorrow over something, especially people who have died. Example: To grieve over the recent death of someone.

appease

(v.) to make calm, soothe; to relieve, satisfy; to yield to. Appease means to make or preserve peace with a nation, group, or person by giving in to their demands, or to relieve a problem, as in "the cold drink appeased his thirst." Example, Actions should be taken to appease the public's involved.

recant

(v.) to withdraw a statement or belief to which one has previously been committed, renounce, retract. If you're someone who speaks before you think, you may need to recant, or take back, that overly honest assessment of your friend's new haircut. Example, Basically they were just trying to get me to recant what I said to apologize for ruining the wedding of the century.

due diligence

1 law : the care that a reasonable person exercises to avoid harm to other persons or their property failed to exercise due diligence in trying to prevent the accident 2 business : research and analysis of a company or organization done in preparation for a business transaction (such as a corporate merger or purchase of securities) As far as the jury was concerned, the lawyer had done his due diligence by preparing a proper case. If you exercise your due diligence by turning in the money you found, it could legally be yours after sixty days if no one claims it. The process of due diligence often involves investigating a business or property to ensure all legal requirements have been met. While the company's directors expect their attorneys to do their due diligence before negotiating contracts, these leaders always review the contracts themselves before presenting the deal to their shareholders. If you do not perform due diligence when looking for a used car, your purchase could be a lemon that never leaves your garage. His due diligence as an officer of the court was to ensure all of the judge's orders were carried out immediately. Before making investments, one should always perform due diligence first to make sure the investment will be a wise one. Despite my due diligence in examining the condominium before signing the leasing agreement, I later discovered the plumbing was not functioning properly. I conducted due diligence on the requirements of being a landlord before deciding to rent out my basement apartment. When buying a property, you would be wise to insist upon a due diligence clause in case you discover hidden information about the real estate.

rhetoric

1. 修辭 2. 花言巧語 Rhetoric is speaking or writing that's intended to persuade. If your goal is to write editorial columns for "The New York Times," you should work on your rhetoric. The senator will be a great president because he is big on action and low on rhetoric. The general hoped his rhetoric would stir his soldiers into action. Although the cult leader filled his followers' heads with crazy rhetoric, he did not want any of his people to die. The politician hoped his rhetoric would win him some votes. Everyone knew the defendant's statement was simply rhetoric meant to trick the judge into giving him a light sentence. You may call me a racist, a bigot or just a typical American nationalist for saying that, I mean but look at me, I am an American of Chinese descent so I guess it doesn't always quite fit the rhetoric... The audience was impressed by the rhetoric the young girl used in her speech. The speaker's powerful rhetoric amazed nearly all of the audience.

Condolence

A condolence is an expression of sympathy and sorrow to someone who has suffered a loss, like the letter of condolence you send to a faraway friend who has lost a loved one. When you offer your condolences to someone who has suffered a loss, you are saying that you share their sadness.

covenant

A covenant is an agreement between two people, or companies, or even countries. It is formal, solemn, sometimes even sacred. 盟約. 合同. 合約.

crevice

A crevice is a long, tight space often found on the face of a mountain or other geological formation. A crevice can be large or small, but because it is usually hard reach, it is a great hiding place for all things like reptiles, bugs, and lost climbers.

doodle

A doodle or doodling is a casual little drawing you do, often while you're doing something else, like talking on the phone or listening to a teacher's lecture. Your history notebook might be equal parts notes and doodles. 塗鴉.

Grievance

A grievance is a complaint. It can be formal, as when an employee files a grievance because of unsafe working conditions, or more of an emotional matter, like a grievance against an old friend who betrayed you.

accolade

A knight being honored with the tap of a sword-blade was the earliest form of accolade. Today, an accolade is more than a way to bestow knighthood, it is a form of praise or an award. A person who achieves a goal in research or service may receive an official paper certificate or trophy, an accolade of achievement, while a performer or speaker might get an accolade in the form of applause from the audience. When the museum won accolades from the European Museum Forum for its design, Mikhalkov compared the prize to receiving the Iron Cross in Nazi Germany.

manifesto

A manifesto is a public statement stating your views or your intention to do something. If you feel you should be voted "Most Likely to Succeed," you could issue a manifesto describing all the reasons why you deserve to win.

misanthropic

A misanthropic person does not like people and expects the worst of them. It would be misanthropic of you to say that every human being is a greedy, selfish liar.

monologue

A monologue is a speech delivered by one person, or a long one-sided conversation that makes you want to pull your hair out from boredom. Example, Inclusion of Jell-o in a Jay Leno monologue.

montage

A montage is a film sequence made up of many short scenes edited together. A montage is a kind of collage, often assembled from many different movie scenes, resulting in a single overall theme or image. You can also make a montage of photographs or music, editing or pasting together various bits to form one continuous whole. In the movie business, the word montage was originally used to mean "edit," the process of cutting and pasting pieces of film together to form a finished product.

parasol

A parasol is a little umbrella that protects you from the sun. If you are trying to imitate a fancy Victorian lady, get yourself a parasol.

pigeonhole

A pigeonhole is a small nesting area for a pigeon, or a similarly cozy compartment or alcove. If you feel like you're stuck in a restrictive category — only thought of as someone's sister, for example — that's another kind of pigeonhole. pigeonhole had also come to mean "an overly simplistic or restrictive category," and also "to assign someone to a rigid category." So when you assume that a circus clown couldn't also be a brilliant mathematician, you have pigeonholed him.

ploy

A ploy is a clever plan that helps you get what you want. A manipulative little girl might shed tears simply as a ploy to get her mother to buy her ice cream. 策略 tactics, ploy, plot

ramification

A ramification is an accidental consequence that complicates things. Remember that time you borrowed your father's car without asking? The ramification was that Dad missed an important meeting, his company went under, and he had to sell the car. Oops!

reprieve

A reprieve is a break in or cancellation of a painful or otherwise lousy situation. If you're being tortured, a reprieve is a break from whatever's tormenting you. For some, a night at the opera is a night of punishing boredom during which the only reprieve is the intermission. For others, it's baseball that feels like torture. The seventh-inning stretch is the only reprieve from a night of endless waiting. Often, you'll hear reprieve used when a court or governor decides not to execute a prisoner. That prisoner is given a reprieve and will be allowed to live. He probably won't get a reprieve from prison, though, unless he's found innocent.

supposition

A supposition is a guess or a hypothesis. Your supposition that your kids will automatically wash their hands before dinner is probably false. You'd best remind them to do it or risk dirty hands at dinner. What's the difference between an assumption and a supposition — both nouns that are often taken as synonyms for each other? An assumption is an idea or theory that is usually made without proof. A supposition, on the other hand, has the connotation that the idea or theory is testable and provable. If you are to meet someone named Hunter, you may make the assumption that you are meeting a man. But if you know that Hunter lives in an all-female dorm, you may have the supposition that Hunter is a woman.

decathlon

A track and field event that includes ten separate competitions is called a decathlon. If you want to compete in a decathlon, you need to be very strong as well as a fast runner.

infirmity

A weakness or disability, especially due to old age, is called an infirmity. Example, Audience mistook this infirmity for sexiness.

abbey

An abbey is a church that's part of a monastery or convent. You'll often find monks or nuns in an abbey. 修道院.

alumnus

An alumnus is a graduate of a school. You can be an alumnus of a high school, college or university. 校友.

arsenal

An arsenal is a storehouse for weapons. It wouldn't be wise to let your enemies get a hold of the keys to your arsenal. Not just a place to store weapons, an arsenal can be a place to make weapons or it can mean the collection of weapons themselves: "The air force had just added two top-secret fighter planes to its arsenal." In a more general sense, the word can be a collection of anything used as a weapon, not just military weapons: "She had a whole arsenal of witty comebacks for the lame pickup-lines guys tried out on her."

ideology

An ideology is a set of opinions or beliefs of a group or an individual. Very often ideology refers to a set of political beliefs or a set of ideas that characterize a particular culture. ideology differences = 意識形態的差異

impairment

An impairment prevents someone from doing something, like how blindness is an impairment to seeing. An impairment can also be any change for the worse.

incision

An incision is a surgical cut. A doctor uses a scalpel to make an incision in a patient's skin. Example: To prevent him from licking his incision wound.

intrigue

An intrigue is a secret plot. If you ever become the monarch of a small island kingdom, keep watch for signs of any intrigue against you.

itinerant

An itinerant is a person who moves from place to place, typically for work, like the itinerant preacher who moves to a new community every few years. Example, Dean played JB, an itinerant boy who cleans apartments in exchange for permission to sleep next to the furnace (熔爐).

enunciate

Can't get your point across? Maybe you just need to speak more clearly or articulate your thoughts better — in short, enunciate.

abdomen

Belly. 腹部.

conceited

Characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance. Example, A conceited person. you're conceited.

claustrophobia

Claustrophobia is an irrational or abnormal fear of being in an enclosed space. If your heart races in an elevator, or you break out in a cold sweat in a walk-in closet, you might have claustrophobia.

claustrophobic

Claustrophobic can be used to describe someone with a fear of small, enclosed spaces. If you're claustrophobic, there is almost nothing scarier than the prospect of being trapped in an elevator for a long time.

Collateral damage

Collateral damage is a general term for deaths, injuries, or other damage inflicted on an unintended target. In American military terminology, it is used for the incidental killing or wounding of non-combatants or damage to non-combatant property during an attack on a legitimate military target. When someone is having major issues in their life that are totally unrelated to you but for some insane reason they are taking it out on you. You are now collateral damage in a fight that they should be having with someone else. When Julie caught Tommy cheating on her she became convinced that all her friends were sleeping with him. She exploded on everyone and we were all collateral damage.

detriment

Detriment is the hurt or harm as a result of damage, loss, or a bad decision. Example, The developers won the lawsuit, much to the detriment of the people who live near the construction site. Example, A member changes jobs, takes confidential information, and uses that information in the new position to the detriment of the former employer.

ensuing

Ensuing means "coming right after, or as a result of something that happened." The ensuing riots that followed the not guilty verdict cost the city millions of dollars in damages. In the ensuing weeks after the hurricane, thousands of people went without power.

abeyance

Example: "That bill is going to sit in abeyance until we can come to some resolution on this," he said of the Interior Department spending bill.

cognizant

Example: By creating a goal, you will be more cognizant of how much you are consuming. Example: We were always cognizant of our surroundings, always vigilant in a way that was just below the surface.

utter

Example: Charles stared at her in utter amazement. Example: He uttered an exasperated snort.

Sanction

Example: I cannot sanction your buffoonery. Example: With threats to contact the medical board to sanction me.

Condolence

Example: Our heartfelt condolences go out to all of the people affected by this tragic crash, said Cal. Example: In April, Mr. Obama helped pay Ms. Onyango's funeral expenses and sent a condolence note, members of her family said.

giddy

Example: Republicans, including myself, are giddy to repeal Obamacare but I urge a word of caution.

lament

Example: Some economists lamented that such measures are only being proposed now.

abeyance

Example: Temporarily held in abeyance by Reconstruction, it reemerged in the guise of Jim Crow after federal armies prematurely withdrew from the South in 1877. Example: The IRS will hold in abeyance any ruling requests received starting today as the issue is studied, Zimbalist said at a D.C.

aesthetic

Example: The aesthetic of the store circles back to Merrick's surfer roots.

plummet

Example: The stock market plummeted. Example: Flying could get cheaper next year as airlines say they will finally start passing on some of the savings made on plummeting oil prices.

mutiny

Example: The unfolding mutiny among soldiers demanding salary increases and faster promotions started in Bouake Friday morning, according to a defense ministry statement.

tandem

Example: Then a tandem bicycle appeared pulling a cart with a lit Christmas tree decorated with a flashing bright red star on the tree top. Example: The 2 ran in tandem, trying desperately to weave their way through the chaos.

Grievance

Example: Union members have a right to file a grievance whenever your employer violates a provision of the contract.

covenant

Examples: Right now, the area is restricted by all sorts of covenants and zoning regulations, Examples: He lived with his white wife in a house in an L.A. neighborhood with racial covenants that banned blacks.

gibberish

Gibberish is nonsense sounds or writing. A baby's babble is often called gibberish. When someone is speaking a foreign language you don't understand, what they're saying will sound to you like gibberish.

unfounded

Has someone ever told a complete lie about you? Then what they said was unfounded. There is nothing behind an unfounded statement. Example, A member spreads malicious and unfounded rumors about a competitor in order to alienate the competitor's clients and employees in a ploy (plan) to recruit people and business.

juxtaposition

If a waiter served you a whole fish and a scoop of chocolate ice cream on the same plate, your surprise might be caused by the juxtaposition, or the side-by-side contrast, of the two foods. Example, seeing that kind of juxtaposition is really beautiful.

empirical

If knowledge is empirical, it's based on observation rather than theory. To do an empirical study of donut shops, you'll need to visit every one you can find. It was originally used in medicine for doctors making choices based on observation and experiment rather than theoretical ideas. It's now used for any kind of knowledge that comes from experience.

counter-intuitive

If something is counter-intuitive it means it's the opposite of "intuitive" — in other words it's not easily understood in an instinctive, unconscious way. A red light for "go" and a green light for "stop" would be highly counter-intuitive, for example. contrary to what common sense would suggest Example, This is another seemingly counter-intuitive tip, but if you plan less you'll be less stressed.

repulsive

If something's repulsive, it's so disgusting you don't want to go near it. You may find rotting meat repulsive, but maggots find it delicious. To each its own!

tattered

If something's tattered, it's worn ragged. You'll understand tattered if your dress has been dragging under your car for the last 100 miles. It will be a tattered mess. Tattered often applies to clothes.

cognizant

If you are cognizant of what's going on at the table behind you in the lunchroom, that means you know they're plotting to throw peas at your head. If you are cognizant of something, you are aware of or informed about it.

lament

If you are really upset or sorry about something, you might lament it. A lament is full of regret and grief.

concede

If you concede something, you admit that it is true, proper, or certain--usually in an unwilling way and often in the context of a competition, as in "At midnight, the candidate finally conceded defeat." In its most common senses, a near synonym of concede is acknowledge--if your mom is pointing out that you need sleep before the test, you should concede the truth of what she's saying. But another meaning of concede is to give away or grant something: The leaders are not ready to concede power. Concede is from Latin concēdere, from the prefix com- "completely" plus cēdere, "to go along, grant, yield." The corresponding noun is concession.

mutilated

If you describe something as mutilated, it has been disfigured or maimed. After a disaster, it can sometimes be hard to identify the mutilated bodies.

affinity

If you get along with someone very well, you have an affinity with them. Sometimes opposites attract, so you might feel a strange affinity to someone who is seemingly very different from you. This opposition, according to observers, exhibits extreme nationalism, xenophobic hatred for Muslims and an affinity for neo-Nazi ideology. And I've never wavered in my affinity for listening to him. It is life's most unfair card, and it shows an affinity for — ironically — some of God's finest work. Their beasts, however, found no such affinity for each other."

leverage

If you have leverage, you hold the advantage in a situation or the stronger position in a contest, physical or otherwise. The lever is a tool for getting more work done with less physical force. With the right leverage, you might be able to lift a heavy box. This refers to non-physical situations too: the power to move or influence others is also leverage. Since your boss has the power to fire you, that's a lot of leverage to get you to do what he wants. If your friend owes you a favor, you have leverage to get a favor of your own. Example, He leveraged his contacts in Japan to establish the world-famous bonsai collection at the arboretum. Example, I think it's too soon to tell, but Flake is the one man with the leverage to do this," Rick Wilson, a top Republican strategist and outspoken critic of Trump, told Politico. Example, Yet "The Wildlands" fails to leverage the dramatic heights of its setup, in part because Darlene and Tucker are never allowed to truly clash.

lament

If you lament something, then you feel sorry about it. You could lament a mistake you made, or you could lament a horrible thing that happened to a friend. Also, a lament is an expression of grief. So if you keep saying how sorry you are about something, someone could say, "Enough of your laments!"

abduction

If you're the victim of an abduction, you've been carried away against your will — kidnapped.

intrigue

It can be a noun, meaning underhanded plot, or a verb for the act of plotting. Agents of two opposing powers intrigue against each other. In the late nineteenth century it also came to mean the feeling of curiosity or interest. If someone's ideas intrigue you, you want to know more about them.

intellectual (知識分子)

Intellectual is often used to describe intensive reasoning and deep thinking, particularly in relation to subjects that tend to spark deep discussion, such as literature or philosophy. An intellectual (知識分子) is also a noun for a cerebral or brainy person who engages in deep thinking, like Plato, Albert Einstein, or your classmate who can speak at length about the relationship between French existentialism and ice hockey.

jaunty

Jaunty combines ideas such as cheerful, spiffy, upbeat, and natty into one delightfully economical adjective that means all of those things at once! Example, Jimmy looked small but jaunty, agile and lean.

conspicuous

Keep your eye on the adjective conspicuous for something that stands out so much you notice it right away — like that zit in the center of your friend's forehead.

lavish

Lavish means generous and extravagant as an adjective and to give generously as a verb. Example, The apartment is lavishly decorated.

long johns

Long underwear, also called long johns or thermal underwear, is a style of two-piece underwear with long legs and long sleeves that is normally worn during cold weather. It is commonly worn by people under their clothes in cold countries.

ludicrous

Ludicrous things are funny, absurd, or nonsensical. If someone says something silly or far-fetched, you could say "That's ludicrous!"

myopia

Myopia is nearsightedness, which means you see things more clearly that are closer to your eye. 近視.

mirage

Next time you're traveling in the desert, make sure you carry plenty of water. That enticing pool of water you see far away in the distance may be a mirage, or an optical illusion.

retinal detachment

Separation of the retina from the underlying pigment epithelium. Disrupts visual cell structure and thus markedly disturbs vision. Almost always caused by a retinal tear; often requires immediate surgical repair. 視網膜脫離. retinal detachment, retinal detachment, retinal detachment, retinal detachment

abridge

So the editor wants to cut your epic 800-page history of the stapler to a 150-page summary instead. Don't cry — he just wants to abridge your masterpiece, trimming it down to the more readable essential elements.

introspective

Someone who is introspective spends considerable time examining his own thoughts and feelings. Example, Dean had an introspective conversation with Richard.

hawkish

Someone who's hawkish is in favor of going to war with other countries. The president's hawkish advisors will frequently recommend military solutions to conflicts. Warlike, militant.

mum

Someone who's mum has nothing to say, especially on a particular subject. If you agree to keep someone's secret, you could tell them, "Mum's the word!" A shy child who's new at school might stay mum all day, and even your most talkative friend might remain mum on controversial topics like religion and politics. Example, You were very mum & neutral, now you give your opinion straight to me.

asymmetrical

Something asymmetrical has two sides that don't match — it's uneven or out of whack. Imbalanced.

farfetched

Something farfetched is imaginative but very unlikely. It's a lot easier to think of than to do. 很牽強. highly imaginative but unlikely Example: a farfetched excuse.

inexplicable / inexplicably

Something inexplicable can't be explained. It doesn't make sense. You don't want to come to the beach on the most beautiful day of the year? That's inexplicable! Example, She remembered his being inexplicably afraid that night.

prevalent

Something prevalent is common in a particular place at a particular time. Prevalent things are hard to avoid. When you see the word prevalent, think "It's everywhere!" You could say drug use is prevalent among criminals. You could say good study habits are prevalent among good students.

stifling

Something stifling makes you feel suffocated. If your mother insists on accompanying you on your first date, that will probably feel stifling. Stifle comes from the Middle English word stuffle, which means to kill by cutting off air. A really hot movie theater is stifling, as is an environment where you never get any space to yourself. This word can also be used as a noun to refer to the act of repressing or shutting something down, such as a dictator's stifling of popular protests. Either way, if something is stifling, it's preventing something else from living freely and fully.

substantial

Something substantial is large in size, number, or amount: If you want to say someone spent a lot of money without being too specific, you could say they spent a substantial amount of money. A substantial meal is large enough to satisfy hunger. A substantial structure is strongly made or built. And a substantial man possesses wealth and property. Related to this last sense, "a man of substance" refers to a wealthy man with property. *Not to be confused with sustainable (maintained or continued).

derogatory

Something that's derogatory is insulting or disrespectful. If you make derogatory comments, that means you say things that are unflattering, unkind, or demeaning. Example, But a woman told the newspaper that Clemmey punched her son in the stomach and directed derogatory comments at him when he fell to the ground.

hokey

Something that's hokey is silly and sentimental — you could also call it "sappy" or "mawkish." A hokey speech is more likely to make people roll their eyes and squirm than to make them cry.

abate

Subside, die down, die out, lessen, ease off. Something that abates becomes fewer or less intense. Example: Your enthusiasm for skiing might abate after falling off a ski lift and getting a mouthful of snow.

tandem

Tandem describes an arrangement where people or animals are in formation, one behind the other. Couples attached at the hip sometimes like to ride tandem bicycles, which allow two people to pedal the same bike. How cute. (adv) one behind the other.

Existentialist

The existentialist, whose choices are made without a prescribed value system, decides on the basis of immediate rational choice.

astigmatism

The eye has a cornea — a clear, curved layer that protects it. If the cornea's shape is irregular, astigmatism results. People who have astigmatism see images as distorted, so they need to wear glasses or contact lenses. 散光.

ramification

The ramifications are the broader effects that fan out into the world from one situation, or decision, that kicks it all off. Ramification also refers to something branching out, like limbs on a tree — which is what bad decisions tend to do. Ramification is like consequence, but usually unintended and bad. The word is often used in political discussions about laws or government decisions because they might be made locally but could affect people worldwide. Example: Jason was shocked when he learned the ramification of his cheating was immediate expulsion from the university. Example: The government hopes the lowering of interest rates will have a positive ramification on the economy.

situationalist

The situationalist's decisions are based on what would cause the least harm or most good.

irk

The verb irk means "annoy," so if the incessant barking of your next door neighbor's pug is driving you crazy, you can say that the noise irks you. Example, What really irked him was...

plummet

The verb plummet means "to drop sharply," like eagles that plummet toward earth, seeking prey, or school attendance that plummets when there is a flu outbreak.

Prostrate; Prostrating; Prostration (adjective; verb; noun)

The verb prostrate means to lie face-downward in submission or despair. More generally, it means to make helpless or defenseless. Illness, injury, grief, despair — any of these things can prostrate someone. The word prostrate traces back to the Latin word prostratus, meaning "thrown down." If you are prostrate, you feel thrown down and laid flat. It can describe lying on the ground in a helpless position, or it can be used to describe someone who has been overcome or made unable to function, such as someone who is prostrated by grief or illness. Example, As far as I'm concerned, I'm done with bending a knee and prostrating myself to people so that I don't have to feel the sting of rejection.

intertwine

Things that intertwine are twisted or mixed together. You have to intertwine yarn to make a scarf. a net made of cotton intertwined with other natural fibers. To say that military and space are intertwined is an understatement.

treacherous

Treacherous means either not trusted or dangerous. A treacherous road might be icy or otherwise likely to cause a car accident. A treacherous friend will betray you.

undermine

To undermine literally means to dig a hole underneath something, making it likely to collapse. But we more often use the word to describe sabotage or the act of weakening someone else's efforts. Example, Follow ethical hiring practices designed to respect free and open competition without deliberately undermining a competitor.

abduct

To abduct someone is to commit the crime of kidnapping person and holding them for ransom

admonish

To admonish is to scold. If you want to show someone you're not happy with his behavior, admonish him. It sounds better than "scolding," and it's less painful than spanking. he exact meaning of this formal verb varies in intensity depending generally on who is being corrected. If a child or subordinate is being admonished, it means "scold" or "rebuke" whereas if someone admonishes a person with equal standing, warn or advise are closer synonyms. Example, "He admonished the child for his bad behavior" Example, Magic admonishes Luke Walton after slow start.

attest

To attest is to prove or declare to be true. For example: the fact that you aced the SAT attests to the strength of your vocabulary. Example: His high fever attested to his illness Example: I attest this signature Example: My career attests to the fact that I never got over it.

bombard

To bombard is to attack, whether physically (with something like missiles) or metaphorically (with something like questions). See the word bomb in bombard? That's a clue to its meaning. When a place is bombarded, an enemy could literally be dropping bombs on it. In the days of stoning, people were bombarded with rocks. A politician getting pestered with questions is also being bombarded. You could say a teacher who assigns a lot of homework is bombarding the class with assignments. Bombarding involves a series of attacks; one bomb or one question can't be described as a bombardment.

emerge

To emerge means to come out into view or come forth.

entrust

To entrust is to give someone a responsibility you assume she will fulfill. If you entrust someone with the task of getting you to school on time, make sure she's punctual. Example: I've been entrusted with the task of getting him safely back.

eradicate

To eradicate something is to get rid of it, to destroy it, and to kiss it goodbye.

gravitate

To gravitate is to move toward or feel attracted to something. People gravitate toward things they like. Gravitate used to refer to how gravity pulls objects toward the Earth, but now it also describes how people are pulled toward things they like. Little kids gravitate towards playgrounds, someone athletic will gravitate toward sports, and someone with a nice voice might gravitate toward a singing career. Dogs gravitate toward squirrels — they move toward them whenever they have a chance. But don't blame gravity for that one!

ingratiate

To ingratiate is to make obvious efforts to gain someone's favor, in other words — to kiss up to someone. Example, Dean quickly ingratiated himself with the the veteran actor.

morph

To morph is to change from one shape to another. A cute bunny, for example, might morph into a killer dragon in a fairy tale or an animated film. Example, His statement then morphed into a dark joke. Example, You've really morphed into a far better version of yourself. Example, If I'm talking to some with a different accent to mine, my accent morph into their accent.

tout

To tout means to praise, boast, or brag about. If you like to tout your skill as a skier, you tell people you can go down expert-level hills. Example, a highly touted nightclub. the college's much touted women's studies program.

tribulation

Tribulation is suffering or trouble, usually resulting from oppression. The tribulations of a coal miner include a dangerous work environment, lung disease from black dust and a cramped, dark work space.

appendage

Use the noun appendage to describe something that's attached to something larger. Your arm is an appendage to your body. Appendage often describes body parts, either on humans or animals. If it's something that sticks out — like a finger, tail, or leg — chances are it can be called an appendage. The word can also be used figuratively to refer to something that's associated with something larger or more important, like a husband who's a mere appendage to his famous wife. In this sense, the word takes on a negative connotation: the appendage is not important.

deadpan

Use the word deadpan to describe someone who uses no expression when speaking, such as the deadpan way some comedians deliver even their funniest jokes — which can make them even funnier.

vigilant

Use vigilant to describe someone who keeps awake and alert in order to avoid danger or problems. When taking the subway, be vigilant about your wallet--always know where it is, or someone might steal it from you. Example: These days it is necessary to be vigilant.

vindicate

Vindicate means to justify, prove, or reinforce an idea — or to absolve from guilt. If your family thinks you hogged the last piece of pie on Thanksgiving, you'll be vindicated when your younger brother fesses up.

piecemeal

When you do something piecemeal, you're doing it little by little, but in a seemingly random way, with no order or system. Say you're a computer geek and someone calls you desperate to find out how to fix a computer that's just crashed. If you respond piecemeal to the caller's questions, she'll have to call you back many times to get all the information she needs to get the computer up again. You may like to talk to her, but she's not going to be impressed with your computer smarts. Example, When you do something piecemeal, you're doing it little by little, but in a seemingly random way, with no order or system. Say you're a computer geek and someone calls you desperate to find out how to fix a computer that's just crashed. If you respond piecemeal to the caller's questions, she'll have to call you back many times to get all the information she needs to get the computer up again. You may like to talk to her, but she's not going to be impressed with your computer smarts. Example, But it's unclear how long this piecemeal approach will work.

befuddled

When you're befuddled, you're bewildered, confused, lost, or mixed-up. In other words, you don't know what's going on.

indebted

When you're indebted to someone, you owe that person something. It could be that you owe money, or it could be you're just grateful for a nice thing the person did.

Careen

Whether it's an unsteady ship, a speeding bus, or a person who is woozy, use the verb careen to describe something that's teetering from side to side.

savant

You know that girl in your school with a GPA over 100? She is a savant in the making. A savant is someone over-the-top smart, a scholar. It might take a savant only five minutes to do an entire math test. Savant is the French word for "learned" and it goes back to the Latin word "to be wise", sapere. There are savants who are wise and learned, and then there are idiot savants, who are brilliant in very specific areas, but not in others, like an idiot savant who knows absolutely everything about the American Civil War but has no ability with learning a foreign language.

reciprocate

You reciprocate when you return a favor, return a compliment, or respond "the same to you" to the angry guy in the car you just passed. In short, you react to an action, statement, or emotion by mirroring it.

quirky

Your friend with the pink hair, the excellent vocabulary, and the totally inappropriate wit? You could probably call her quirky, meaning she's unconventional and has a strange mix of traits that somehow end up being kind of interesting or charming. 古怪. offbeat.

Predicament

a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation Example, Executives deal with sticky predicaments.

escapade

an adventurous unconventional act. An escapade is an adventure, tinged with a hint of danger. A road trip could be an escapade, or a few weeks making a living as a professional gambler, or posing as your twin sister and taking a test for her in math. Example, Her latest escapade was to camp outside a department store on the night before the sale. Example, Let me take you on an escapade.

Coffee Enema

an injection of a liquid, in this case coffee, through the anus to stimulate evacuation; sometimes used for diagnostic purposes. 咖啡灌腸.

mutiny

an open rebellion against the proper authorities, especially by soldiers or sailors against their officers. 兵变. Example: Over the next two days, soldiers at military camps in cities and towns - including Abidjan - joined the mutiny.

brouhaha

an uproar about something insignificant. My sister, the drama queen, made a huge brouhaha over her broken nail. The spoiled child causes a brouhaha when she doesn't get her way. As usual there was a brouhaha at the store as parents sought last minute Christmas gifts for their children. The boss will make a brouhaha if he arrives at the office and there is no fresh coffee. When the teenager realized someone had stolen her phone, she flew into a brouhaha and threatened several of her friends. So while the conduct that precipitated Thursday's brouhaha is surely worthy of criticism, let's hit the brakes on the Kyrgios slander for now.

doublespeak

any language that pretends to communicate but actually does not. More dangerous are euphemisms that actually alter the meaning or impact of a word or concept. Writer call this doublespeak - words that pretend to communicate but really do no. Governments are famous for doublespeak. In the Persian Gulf War U.S military briefing officers described civilian casualties and destruction as "collateral damage."

astray

away from the correct path or direction. If you go astray, you lose the path. If you went to college intending to become a doctor, but instead became interested in making violent video games, your parents might feel you have gone astray.

unnerving

causing anxiety or nervousness. to deprive of courage. Example, an unnerving smile. Use the adjective unnerving to describe situations and experiences that cause you to lose your courage. No matter how brave you are, a walk alone through a cemetery at night is bound to be a little unnerving.

synthesize

combine and form a synthesis. Example, "Vitamin D only synthesizes when sunlight is available" combine so as to form a more complex product. "his operas synthesize music and drama in perfect harmony" When you synthesize, you combine two or more things to create something more complex. It's becoming more common for doctors these days to synthesize Eastern and Western approaches to medicine.

annihilation

complete destruction. Annihilation is the total destruction of something. In World War II, our nuclear bombs resulted in the annihilation of Hiroshima. Children live with the fear of nuclear annihilation, planetary destruction, flood, famine, fire, mass shootings, and civil war.

afoot

currently in progress. Something that's afoot is already happening, underway, or being prepared. You might reassure your fellow French club members that plans are afoot for a fund raiser to support your upcoming trip to Québec. Example, There are likely changes afoot in the rotation.

trials and tribulations

difficult experiences, problems, etc. the trials and tribulations of starting a new business Tests of one's patience or endurance, as in She went through all the trials and tribulations of being admitted to law school only to find she couldn't afford to go.

immerse

dip or submerge in a liquid. involve oneself deeply in a particular activity or interest. If you immerse yourself in your work, you completely involve yourself in it, spending long hours in the office and thinking about work all the time.

manifest

display or show (a quality or feeling) by one's acts or appearance; demonstrate. Example, Ray manifested signs of severe depression. Choose the verb manifest when someone shows something for everyone to notice. You might manifest your dislike of school food by stirring it around into a big pile of slop on your tray.

presbyopia

farsightedness. 老花眼. a reduced ability to focus on near objects caused by loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens after age 45 presbyopia, presbyopia, presbyopia, presbyopia.

debacle

fiasco

emotionally charged

filled with strong feelings or tension. Example, you can't look at the world through the news anymore. The news is convoluted, they are emotionally charged, they give a lot of opinion, and not enough if any facts.

inconspicuous

not easily seen; subtle; not noticeable. Inconspicuous describes something that doesn't stand out or attract attention. The bad news? You just got pizza sauce on your shirt. The good news? It landed in an inconspicuous spot, so no one will notice.

infantile

of or like an infant or infancy; childish

leave someone in the lurch

leave someone when they need you. Abandon or desert someone in difficult straits. For example, Jane was angry enough to quit without giving notice, leaving her boss in the lurch . Example, White was in the lurch and needed lodging in a hurry.

hypoallergenic

less likely to cause allergies

jostle

make one's way by jostling, pushing, or shoving Example, We had to jostle our way to the front of the platform. Example, Just a few months before, cars, trucks, and buses had jostled for space and jockeyed for position. Now, everything seemed out of proportion. In nearly empty streets, the few cars and buses were surrounded by swarms of bicycle, looking like fragile, slow-moving primeval creatures engaged in battle with mammoth steel beasts.

salient

most noticeable or important. If something stands out in a very obvious way, it can be called salient. It's time to find new friends if the differences between you and your current friends are becoming more and more salient. Example, A campaign to conserve water is more salient (obvious) if there has been a recent drought.

muse

muse to think about in a dreamy way, ponder. As a verb, to muse is to consider something thoughtfully. As a noun, it means a person — especially a woman — who is a source of artistic inspiration. In mythology, the Muses were nine goddesses who symbolized the arts and sciences. Today, a muse is a person who serves as an artist's inspiration. Often filmmakers talk about a certain actor being a muse — meaning the actor inspired a movie. Writers, painters, musicians, and other artists have muses. Muse can also refer to thinking deeply. If you muse about something, you're giving it serious thought. You can't muse in five seconds. People muse on certain ideas for years. Example, (v)For Hillary Clinton, Halloween week was the perfect time to muse about maybe — just maybe — running for president again in 2020. Example, (n)"Euterpe was his muse"

insidious

proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects. If something is slowly and secretly causing harm, it's insidious — like the rumors no one seems to listen to until suddenly someone's reputation is ruined. Example, sexually transmitted diseases can be insidious and sometimes without symptoms

abdicate

renounce. 放棄. 退位. Sometimes someone in power might decide to give up that power and step down from his or her position. When they do that, they abdicate their authority, giving up all duties and perks of the job. Example: The King abdicated when he married a divorcee

Laboriously

requiring much work. in a laborious manner. Example, Measuring public relations effectiveness does not have to be either unbelievably expensive or laboriously time-consuming.

shenanigan(s)

secret or dishonest activity or maneuvering. "widespread financial shenanigans had ruined the fortunes of many" silly or high-spirited behavior; mischief. Ever been ripped off at three card monte or some other con? Well, you're the victim of a shenanigan, a clever form of deception, usually designed to part the unwary from their money. Not all shenanigans are financially motivated; an equally popular meaning is simply high spirits or boisterous behavior that might upset or annoy others, though usually not with any serious intent. It seems to be a word frequently applied to the Irish, with their established love of the high-spirited and artful ploy, and in fact may well come from the ancient Irish word sionnach, meaning "fox" — a traditionally sly beast.

apprehended

seize, grasp,collared. Example: The police said they entered the gated property using a code Mr. Warren gave them and apprehended him.

incestuous

sexual intercourse between persons too closely related to marry legally. Example, If it was a father-son relationship, it was also incestuous.

lustrous

shiny; glossy. In shampoo commercials, the hair you see swinging is lustrous. It is brilliant, in the shiny sense.

Amenity

something that adds to one's comfort or convenience. Like built-in GPS, seat warmers and four-wheel drive, an amenity is a feature that contributes to comfort or value. Or in another sense, it's the overall pleasantness that results from all those cool features. Example, heating is regarded as a basic amenity. plural noun: amenities

ingratitude

state of being not grateful; ungratefulness; lack of gratitude

abruptly

sudden and unexpected. Example, the weather changes abruptly, from bright and sunny to pouring down rain. Example, Johnny Depp's Biggie & Tupac Movie abruptly pulled from release.

embezzled

taken for your own use in violation of a trust Example, a member resigned after being charged with embezzling funds from a chapter treasury.

abeyance

temporary cessation or suspension. An abeyance is a temporary halt to something, with the emphasis on "temporary." It is usually used with the word "in" or "into"; "in abeyance" suggests a state of waiting or holding.

implore

to beg earnestly for. You might ask your friend for a loan if you're short a few bucks, but if the bank is about to foreclose on your house you'll implore your friend for the money, desperately begging for the cash so you can keep your house. Example, I implore you to vote aginst it.

negate

to cancel out; nullify. If something neutralizes the effect of something else, then you can say the effect is negated. Hanging a disco ball from your living room ceiling negates the sleek modern effect created by the contemporary furniture.

waylay

to interrupt or attack unexpectedly. When you waylay someone, you stop them from doing what they were going to do, either by using violence or some other tactic.

Condone

to overlook, pardon, or disregard. If you condone something, you allow it, approve of it, or at least can live with it. Some teachers condone chewing gum, and some don't. Example: I don't condone what he did, but I understand it.

grisly

嚇人的 Grisly is horrifying, repugnant. Grisly means disgusting and bloody, absolutely repulsive and horrible. There's a wonderfully creepy movie about a man who suffers a grisly death at the hands of the grizzly bears he was studying. **Grizzly means grayish or is a short form for grizzly bear.

cosmopolitan

大都會. 國際化.

incontinent

失禁 Incontinence is a lack of control. Sometimes that means you can't help but pee your pants. Another, more pleasant type of incontinence has to do with being undisciplined and addicted to life's pleasures.

fondle

touch. cuddle. stroke. played. handled. pet. caress with affection and sexual intentions. Example: Rosemary says her father fondled her when she was 12 years old. Example: A penniless Essex University student is auctioning a fondle of her breasts on e-bay to get her through the year.

desecrate

treat (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect; violate. To desecrate means to treat a sacred place or thing with violent disrespect. The news sometimes reports on vandals who have desecrated tombstones or places of worship. Example, You let me violate you You let me desecrate you You let me penetrate you You let me complicate you...

Boondoggle

work or activity that is wasteful or pointless but gives the appearance of having value. waste money or time on unnecessary or questionable projects. Example, Obamacare was basically a boondoggle for insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies.

exhilarating

令人振奮. Something exhilarating is so exciting it makes you a little giddy. "Snowboarding that black-diamond trail was exhilarating!"

gynocentric society

以女性為中心的社會

postulate

假定. Assume something or present it as a fact and you postulate it. Physicists postulate the existence of parallel universes, which is a little mind-blowing. Example, Grunig goes even further to postulate that the ideal public relations model is two way symmetrical communication.

overt

公開, 明顯的. Example, change in overt behavior.

altruistic

利他主義. selfless. Someone who is altruistic always puts others first. An altruistic firefighter risks his life to save another's life, while an altruistic mom gives up the last bite of pie so her kid will be happy. Example: It was an entirely altruistic, unselfish act.

exacerbate

加劇 For a formal-sounding verb that means to make worse, try exacerbate. If you're in trouble, complaining about it will only exacerbate the problem. Example, While foggers require little effort to use, they seldom resolve, and can exacerbate, indoor pest problems.

municipal

市政. A municipality refers to a village, town, or city that's usually governed by a mayor and council. From this noun, we get the adjective municipal, which you can use to describe something that relates to a town or its government. Example, Municipal leaders are best qualified to evaluate the company's efforts in community relations.

puny

弱小. small and weak. inferior in strength or significance. used especially of persons of inferior size.

whimsical

怪誕的 unusual and using imagination: Example, The songs have a whimsical charm. ​ Whimsical also describes actions that change suddenly and for no obvious reason: Example, Unfortunately, his decisions are often whimsical. *Whimsical is quite out of the ordinary; quite fantastical strange.

dismal

慘淡 Dismal is a dreary, depressing sort of bad. "With the cold rain and their team behind by six field goals, the mood in the stands was so dismal even the cheerleaders had lost their 'Rah.'" As an adjective dismal is disappointingly inadequate. Example, It costs $2 to play the game, but the odds of matching all six numbers and taking home the grand prize is a dismal 1 in 302.5 million. Example, the ratings for my show is dismal.

leery

持懷疑態度. cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions. Example, a city leery of gang violence. Example, At first she was leery of the antisocial behavior she knew he was capable of.

intermittent

斷斷續續的 (adj.) stopping and beginning again, sporadic. Reach for the adjective intermittent to describe periodic movement and stopping and starting over a period of time. Example, Beginning with his teens and intermittently thereafter.

divulge

洩露 (v.) to tell, reveal; to make public. If you've been sneaking around with your best friend's boyfriend, that's probably one secret you don't want to divulge, because revealing that tidbit of information will probably cut your friendship short.

abyss

深淵. The noun abyss refers to a deep void or chasm — either literal or figurative. Making a momentous life decision with great uncertainty, like enrolling in clown college, might feel like jumping into the abyss.

Insouciant (insouciantly)

漫不經心 indifferent; lacking concern or care. Only people with no real troubles can afford to be insouciant during times like these. Runway models are great at looking insouciant, strolling the catwalk apparently without a care in the world. Example, Dean is leaning insouciantly against the counter.

latent

潛在. (of a quality or state) existing but not yet developed or manifest; hidden; concealed. discovering her latent talent for diplomacy. Latent is an adjective that you use to describe something that is capable of becoming active or at hand, though it is not currently so. Also, latently.

aberrant behavior

異常行為. Unusual conduct. deviant. Use the adjective aberrant to describe unusual conduct. Sitting in a bathtub and singing show tunes all day long might be considered aberrant behavior.

tantrum

發脾氣 A tantrum is a short-lived fit of frustration. Kids have them. Politicians have them. Reality show stars have them. I bet even you have had one!

frown

皺眉 If you frown at someone, you look at them with disapproval, and if you frown on something they do, you don't approve of that either. Because you frown on smoking, you probably frown at smokers too!

exhilarate

興奮. Exciting or thrilling things might exhilarate you. If you love acting, just the thought of being on stage might exhilarate you, giving you a feeling of giddy excitement.

decrepit

衰老 That building falling down on the corner of your block? It's decrepit. So is the old man who lives there, if he is weak from age. Decrepit means broken down by hard use. Example, Part of a decrepit highway near him collapsed at the end of July, strained by Maria on top of years of delayed construction work.

crevice

裂縫 A crevice is a long, tight space often found on the face of a mountain or other geological formation. A crevice can be large or small, but because it is usually hard reach, it is a great hiding place for all things like reptiles, bugs, and lost climbers. The word crevice often refers to a natural formation, but it can be used to describe any long, narrow space that's hard to access. If you've lost something you might say, "I'm going to look in every crack and crevice," to describe the search. Chances are you'll find that lost item in the long narrow space — the crevice — between the cushions of your sofa, along with other things you didn't even know were missing!

pedigree

譜系 The noun pedigree refers to the genetic background of an animal, although it is sometimes applied to people as well. A purebred dog, for example, comes with a verified pedigree, a list of all past parentage. Example, Lakers Lose to the Magic? Luke Walton shows His pedigree.

budge

讓步 To budge is to move — but just a little bit. People can budge physically from where they're sitting or standing, and people can budge from opinions and positions too. If a bunch of your friends are sitting on a bench, and they're taking up too much space for you to sit, you could ask them to budge, meaning "Move over!" If you hate eggs and refuse to eat them no matter how they're cooked, you are refusing to budge from your anti-egg policy. Budge is most often used in a negative way, as in "I won't budge" or "They wouldn't budge." This word often applies to stubborn people. Since budge means to move just a tiny bit, what's the big deal? Someone who accuses you of not budging is basically saying you should.

cyclical

週期性 happening again and again in the same order; happening in cycles. Though day-to-day weather changes are unpredictable, nature's seasons can always be counted on to move in cyclical or predictable patterns.

adjunct

附屬物 Adjunct means something added on, but not part of the whole. An adjunct professor is someone who is hired by a college to teach but isn't a full member of the faculty. The school is primarily staffed with adjunct or part-time instructors.

impediment

障礙 An impediment is anything that slows or blocks progress. It can refer to a physical thing, like a fallen tree in the road, or something more intangible. Example, He seemed to understand all the impediments people have when they try to communicate.

epiphany

頓悟 When inspiration hits you out of the blue, call it an epiphany. "I'll be in, like, deep into my studying, into my political science theories and arguments and all that stuff, getting it all down, like typing away furiously, blah, blah, blah, and then all of a sudden when I'm about to, like, reach an epiphany, overhear from somewhere, `Oh ching chong ling long ting tong, ooohh," she said.

giddy

頭暈, If you've ever spun in circles until you fell to the ground laughing, you know how it feels to be giddy. This adjective can mean dizzy, elated, or — as in the spinning around example -- a lightheaded, lighthearted combination of the two.

infirm

體弱者. not in good health; not well. Example, Do not apply this product in patient rooms or in any rooms while occupied by the elderly or infirm.

leprosy

麻風 Leprosy is a horrible and chronic contagious disease that involves the rotting of flesh.