Confused words

Accede : agree
He acceded to demands for his resignation.
Exceed: be greater than
A person's expenditure should not exceed his income.
Accent : manner of speech; stress or emphasis
He spoke English with an accent.
Ascent: act of climbing up
The rocket steepened its ascent.
Accessary: One participating in a crime
He was arrested for being an accessary in the murder of the
policeman.
Accessory: An addition; additional part
He bought a range of furnishings and accessories for the home.
Accomplice: A partner or associate in a crime
Though he did not take part in the actual crime he was arrested as
an accomplice because he admitted to knowing it in advance.
Accomplish: To perform, fulfil perfectly
The first part of the plan has been safely accomplished.
Acetic: sour; vinegary
The student used acetic acid instead of nitric acid in the
experiment.
Ascetic: hermit; recluse
'The monks lived a very ascetic life.
Adapt: make something suitable to or for a purpose
These styles can be adapted to suit individual tastes.
Adopt: to take a person into a new relationship
She was forced to have her baby adopted.
Advise (v): recommend; inform.
I would advise extreme caution.
Advice (n): information; opinion
Ask for coacher's advice.
Affectation: pretence or an artificial air put on by a person; act of
assuming what is nor real.
His little affectation irritated her.
Affection: love; fondness
Children need lots of love and affection.
Afflict: cause suffering to
About 30% of the country's population is afflicted with the
disease.
Inflict: to cause bodily or mental suffering
They inflicted a humiliating defeat on the home team.
Ail: to cause the problem for somebody/something
They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry.
Hail: to greet or salute
The conference was hailed as a great success
Air: A light breeze or what we breathe in; an affected manner. Let's go
out for some fresh air.
Ere: Before. Think well ere you leap.
Err: Make a mistake. To err is human.
Allay: To lighten; to relieve (suffering, anger etc.)
His fever was allayed by the medicine.
Alley: A small narrow street
A blind alley is often used as a playground by youngsters to play
cricket.
Ally: Persons/countries joined by a common purpose; a friend
(1) India wishes to be an ally of her neighbours and to work for
the welfare of the region.
(2) He allied himself to an unprincipled politician and ruined his
life.
all ready:Means that all or everything is ready or prepared.
The house is all ready for us to move in.
I'm all ready for bed.
already: Means previously, earlier; by this time.
We had already left when the accident happened.
It's already 9 O'clock.
all together: means that all or everything is together, in the same place or
at the same time.
The guests arrived all together.
altogether : Means completely, absolutely.
You are altogether wrong.
Allude: To hint at; to refer indirectly to
We should not allude to the misfortunes of others.
Elude: To avoid; baffle; evade (a person/thing)
The two men managed to elude the police for five weeks.
Allusion: An indirect reference
Her poetry is full of obscure literary allusion.
Illusion: An imaginary appearance
A false idea or belief.; He could no longer distinguish between
illusion and reality.
Altar: A raised place on which things are offered to God. He was willing
to sacrifice his happiness on the altar of fame between illusion
and reality.
Alter: To change. He had altered so much of scarcely recognized him.
Alteration: Change
He gave his trousers for alteration for he had grown wider at the
waist.
Altercation: A noisy, heated or angry quarrel
The constant altercation between the two surprised the
neighbours.
Alternate: To take turns regularly; to use by turns
Water supply in the city is made only on alternate days.
Alternative: Choice
There is no alternative to hard work if one wants to succeed
in life.
Amiable: Showing and inspiring friendliness; pleasant and good
natured.
Her parents seemed very amiable (pleasant,
friendly/agreeable)
Amicable: done or achieved in a polite or friendly way without arguing.
An amicable settlement was reached.
Annual: Yearly; lasting a year
The annual examination was postponed by a month.
Annul: Cancel: to make void or of no effect.
The measure adopted by the previous government was annulled by
the new government.
Anonymous: Without the name of the author or writer; nameless.
The donor wishes to remain anonymous.
Unanimous: Of one mind; without opposition
The resolution was passed with a unanimous voice.
Appealing: Attractive.
It is certainly an appealing picture.
Appalling: Shocking; extremely bad
The prisoners were living in appalling conditions.
Apposite: Relevant; suitable, very appropriate for a particular situation/in
relation to something.
He illustrated his argument with apposite quotations.
Opposite: Contrary
His character is just opposite to his brother's character.
Appraise: To estimate; to find the value of. (a thing).
Managers must appraise all staff.
Apprise: Intimate; inform; make known to.
The parents were apprised of the misconduct of the boy by the
principal.
Apprehend: To grasp, to understand and recognize something to catch,
seize.
The student apprehended all the things that the teacher had told.
Comprehend: To understand fully.
The child couldn't comprehend the advanced text book.
Artist: One who practises the fine arts, especially painting.
Mohan is a highly imaginative artist.
Artisan: One who follows one of the useful crafts, a person who does
skilled work, making things with their hands.
Government has a scheme to help artisans.
Assent: Official concurrence or sanction
The director has given her assent to the proposals.
Ascent: Going upwards
The cart began its gradual ascent up the hill.
Assure: to guarantee, state with confidence.
I assure you that his intentions are good.
ensure: to make certain.
These measures will ensure the success of our program.
insure: to guard against loss or harm.
When you mail this package, please insure it.
Attach: Join; combine together. Attach a label to the parcel.
Attache: An associate to a diplomatic staff
As an attache in the Government of India he had a distinguished
career.
Avocation: A hobby, A subordinate occupation, usually one pursued for
pleasure and pastime rather than for gain.
His avocation is photography.
Vocation: Chief occupation. His vocation is banking.
Await: To wait for
Her latest novel is eagerly awaited.
Wait: To remain.
Please wait for me at the bus stop.
Bail: Security.
'The judge granted bail.
Bale: Bundle, bales of hay / straw / cotton/wool.
Ten bales of cotton burnt.
Baited: containing or holding bait, as a trap or a fishhook.
My poor dog fell into a baited trap.
bated: held in
He waited with bated breath.
Ban: Prohibition
A ban on processions is imposed before important religious
festivals.
Bane: Poison; Something that cause trouble and makes people unhappy.
The neighbours kids are the bane of my life.
Bare: Without covering, clothing or protection
She likes to walk around in bare feet.
Bear: A large wild animal
A bear has thick fur.
Beach: Seashore
The Marina beach is considered the second best in the world.
Beech: A kind of tree
Forests planted with beech.
Beat: To strike; to overcome or defeat
India beat England convincingly in the recent test series.
Beet: A vegetable yielding sugar and used as food
Beet root is used in making sugar.
Bell: A hollow vessel which gives a ringing sound when struck
A peal of church bells rang out in the distance.
Belle: A pretty woman or girl
A bevy of village belles gave a fascinating dance during the
Independence day.
Beneficial:
Useful. Improving a situation
A good diet is beneficial to health advantageous.
Beneficent:
Kind; doing good
Mother Teresa was a beneficent personality.
Beside: By the side of
The church stood beside the lake.
Besides: In addition to
Besides my son, my nephew also joined the army.
biannually: twice a year
biennially: every two years
blond: a fair-haired person of either sex; (2) a golden color.
The brother and sister are both blonds.
Is the table made of blond wood?
blonde: a blond woman or girl.
Many gentlemen prefer blondes.
A blonde is a girl, like Ella, Eva and Elinore.
Birth: Being born, the time when a baby is born; The baby weighed three
kilos at birth.
Berth: A sleeping place in train, ship or aircraft. I reserved a berth in the
A.P Express.
Boar: A wild pig. Boar hunting is said to be dangerous.
Bore: To make somebody feel bored. I am not boring you, am I?
By digging: The drill is strong enough to bore through solid rock.
Born: (Past participle of bear). He was born on Tuesday.
Borne: Carried. The message was borne to her.
Brake: Part of a vehicle used to stop it or retard its speed; A place
overgrown with bush.
(1) The failure of the brake of the bus caused a major accident.
Break: Make into pieces. Come and see me at break, let us take a break.
breath: air from or in the lungs.
The air is so cold you can see your breath.
Ashmatics are often short of breath.
breathe: to inhale or exhale.
Now that the danger is over, I can breathe easily.
Breach:
A break or gap in a wall etc. A failure to do something that must
be done by law.
A breach of contract, breach of trust, confidence. They are in
breach of article 119.
Breech:
The hinder part of a gun where the bullets are loaded. The dacoit
struck the household with the breech of the gun.
Breeches:
Garment worn on the legs by men, trousers. Horse riders usually
wear breeches.
Bridal: Of bride or wedding
She looked lovely in her bridal dress.
Bridle: Control
a seat of leather bands, horses head and used for controlling.
Everyone must learn to bridle his tongue.
Brunet: a dark-haired man, or the color of his hair.
My brother is a brunet.
Brunette:
a dark-haired girl or woman, or the color of her hair.
My sister is a brunette.
A brunette is a girl, like Ella, Eva, or Elinore.
But: Yet. He read well but he failed.
Butt: The end of a thing. To hit hard with your head, to interfere.
Buy: Purchase; get something in exchange for money. Here is some
money to buy bread and milk.
By: Indicating agency; time etc. He was beaten by the teacher with a
cane.
You must be here by 6 o' clock.
Bye: An extra run in cricket. The side's total increased because of the
large number of byes.
bye-bye (by-by):
Use to express farewell.
Cache: Treasure. A hidden store of thing such as weapons; an arms cache.
Cash: Money. I did not have ready cash to pay him and so gave him a
cheque.
Calendar: A register of days, dates etc. of year
Many people have a craze for collecting calendars at the beginning
of a year.
Calender: A machine for smoothing and glazing.
Calenders are useful in modern industry.
Cannon: A heavy gun
A cannon has a range of twenty miles.
Canon: A rule or principle
One should not violate the canons of law.
Canvas (n): A coarse cloth used for sails, tents and for painting
A sale of the artist's early canvases.
Canvass (v): To propagate or campaign
He spent the whole month canvassing for votes.
Capital: (1) major or most important; (2) the city that is the seat of a
central government; (3) money for investment; (4) a large letter,
such as A, B, C, etc.
The Wright brothers began by having a capital idea. Delhi is the
capital of India.
Capitol: the main building of a government.
In Washigton, the Smith's visited the Lincoln Memorial and the
Capitol. A capitol building often has a dome. All other capitals are
spelled with an a.
Capricious: means apt to change suddenly, unpredictable.
captious: means to seize or catch. A captious critic is faultfinding to a fault,
carping, caviling.
Carat: A weight of 200 milligrams for weighing diamonds etc.
Pure gold is said to be of twenty four carats.
Carrot: A vegetable
Carrots are nutritious food when eaten raw.
Cask: A barrel; a vessel for containing liquor etc.
Grains are stored in cask. A wine cask.
Casque: A headpiece; helmet
A casque was an integral part of the dress of Knights of old.
Cemetery: A burial ground
In big cities, cemeteries are found even amidst residential places.
Symmetry: Uniformity
Symmetry is essential in building construction.
Censer: a vessel for burning incense, as in religious ceremonies
The priest swung the censer.
Censor: To subject to an official examiner.
This news is censored.
Censure: To criticize adversely
They censured her conduct bitterly.
Census: Enumeration of the inhabitants of a country
The latest census revealed the fact of a growth in the population.
Senes: Qualities of perceptions like sight, smell, touch etc.
In addition to the five senses common to all living beings man
possesses a sixth sense.
Cereal: Kind of corn
Cereals are used in most households.
Serial: Of a series
Those names are written in serial order.
Ceremonious: Observing formalities
The President was welcomed ceremoniously.
Ceremonial: Connected with a ceremony
This hall is used only on ceremonial occasions.
Cession: The act of giving up land or rights, especially to another country
after a war.
Session: A term or a meeting period, as of a court, a legislature, or any
organized assembly. The winter session of the Lok Sabha is over.
chafe: to irritate or make sore by rubbing. The tight collar chafed my
neck.
chalf: (1) to tease or make fun of; (2) the husk of grain.
It is impolite to chaff a stranger.
Separate the wheat from the chaff.
Check: Control; examine
(1) 'I kept her in check.' (2) 'He checked the accounts.
Cheque: I gave her a cheque on the State Bank of India for Rs. 20,0000.
Childish: Immature
His conduct is extremely childish.
Childlike: Like a child
He has a childlike simplicity.
Cord: Strong thick string or thin rope; a piece of this a piece/length of
cord picture cord (= used for hanging pictures)
Chord: two or more notes played together
Cite (v): To quote or refer to
He often cites the Gita in his speech.
Site (n): A place where something is located
They have found a site for the new hospital.
Sight: (1) something seen; (2) vision; (3) an aiming device; (4) to see.
The Grand Canyon is one of the sights of Arizona.
He lost the sight in one eye.
Clench: to close rightly
The angry boy clenched his fists.
The pain caused me to clench my teeth.
Clinch: (1) to secure firmly by bending down a protruding point, as of a
nail or staple; (2) to make sure of; (3) the act of grasping.
Sam clinhced the nails of the bookcase he was building.
He tried hard to clinch the sale.
The frighters went into a clinch.
Cliche: A hackneyed phrase
She trotted out the old cliche that a trouble shared is a trouble
halved.
Click: A sharp noise or a succession of such noise.
The door clicked shut.
Clique: An exclusive set
A small group of people who spend their time together and do not
allow others to join them.
Climactic: from climax
A climax is a crowning effect.
Climatic: from climate
Complacent: very pleased (with oneself), self-satisfied.
Complaisant: willing to please others; therefore, obliging, compliant,
affable, gracious.
Cloth: A woven material or fabric
Varieties of cloth are available in the market.
Clothe: To put clothes on. To clothe a stubborn child is not an easy task.
Coarse (1) composed of large particles; (2) vulgar. Rough, Coarse
hands/linen. This cloth is coarse.
Use coarse-grained sugar, not confectioner's sugar. He made a
coarse remark.
Course: (1) direction; (2) passage or duration of time (3) progress (4) a
series of actions or events making up a unit (5) ground passed
over (6) a series of classes, or a curriculum of studies (7) a portion
of meal; (8) a line of conduct (9) I am taking a course of
computer. (10) Follow the course of the river to reach the dam.
Our course of a week he completed the job.
He took a chemistry course in high school.
Collation: Act of gathering, comparing and placing in order. After the
research assistants got the materials the final act of collation of
the work was done by the professor.
Collision: Act of dashing together; conflict
(1) His car was in collision with a motor bike.
(2) The collision between the two leaders caused a split in the
party.
Collusion: Fraud by concert, conspiracy
There was a collusion between the manager and the cashier to loot
the bank.
Collide: To dash against each other
The car and the van collided head-on- with the van.
Collude: Conspire; join
Several people had colluded in the murder.
Confirm to state or show that something is
definitely true or correct, especially by
providing evidence confirm something.
Rumours of job losses were later
confirmed.
conform
To behave and think in the same way as
most other people in a group or society.
There is considerable pressure on
teenagers to conform. Conform to
something.
He refused to conform to the local
customs.
complement (1) to complete or perfect (2) that which completes (3) a complete
number or amount.
A red scarf complemented her or amount.
A good dessert is always a complement to a fine meal.

compliment (1) an expression of praise or admiration (2) to express praise or

admiration.
Larry heaped complementation on Meg's cooking.
I would like to compliment you on your cooking.
Congenial: Suitable; agreeable.
He is not congenial to this job.
Congenital: From birth.
His deafness is congenital.
Contend: To oppose; to dispute.
Though he had to contend with many difficulties, he was
successful at last.
Content: What is contained, satisfaction.
The children ate to their heart's content.
Conscious Aware of something; noticing
something.
conscious of something She's very
conscious of the problems involved.
Conscience The part of your mind that tells you
whether your actions are right or wrong
to have a clear/guilty conscience (= to
feel that you have done right/wrong)
This is a matter
of individual conscience (= everyone
must make their own judgement about
it).He won't let it trouble his conscience.
Conscientious taking care to do things carefully
and correctly a conscientious
student/teacher/worker.
He was thorough and conscientious,
rather than brilliant.
She was a popular and conscientious
teacher.
Corps a large unit of an army, consisting of two or more division.
the commander of the third army corps.
One of the groups of an army with a special responsibility.
the Royal Army Medical Corps
a group of people involved in a particular job or activity.
a corps of trained and experienced doctors
corpse (singular & Plural)
a dead body, especially of a human.
Corpus (Singular) Corpora (Plural)
A collection of written or spoken texts.
A corpus of hundred million words of spoken English.
Council a group of people who are elected to govern
an area such as a city or county.
a city/county/borough/district council.
She's on the local council.
The organization that provides services in a
city or county, for example education, houses,
libraries, etc. council workers/services
a group of people chosen to give advice,
make rules, do research, provide money, etc.
the Medical Research Council. In Britain, the
Arts Council gives grants to theatres.
counsel (formal) advice, especially given by older
people or experts; a piece of advice. Listen to
the counsel of your elders. (law) a lawyer or
group of lawyers representing somebody in
court to be represented by counsel
the counsel for the defence/prosecution
defence/prosecuting counsel.
The court then heard counsel for the dead
woman's father.
Current happening now; of the present time
current prices a budget for the current
year your current employer Which
Word?
Being used by or accepted by most
people words that are no longer current
currant a small dried grape, used in cakes, etc. a
currant bun (usually in compounds) a
small black, red or white berry that
grows in bunches on bushes black
currant bushes
dairy (pl. dairies)
a place on a farm where milk is kept and
where butter and cheese are
[countable] a company that sells milk,
eggs, cheese and other milk products
I went to buy a paper at the corner
dairy.
[uncountable] milk, eggs, cheese and
other milk products The doctor told me
to eat less red meat and dairy.
diary A book with spaces for each day of the
year in which you can write down things
you have to do in the future . I'll make a
note of our next meeting in my diary. A
book in which you can write down the
experiences you have each day, your
private thoughts, etc. Do you keep a
diary (= write one regularly)? The
writer's letters and diaries are being
decent Of a good enough standard or
quality(informal) a decent meal/job/place to
live. I need a decent night's sleep. (of people
or behaviour) honest and fair; treating
people with respect ordinary, decent, hard-
working people. Everyone said he was a
decent sort of guy.
descent An action of coming or going down. The
plane began its descent to
Heathrow.(figurative) the country’s swift
descent into anarchy. Opposite is ascent, a
slope going downwards. There is a gradual
descent to the sea.
dissent: The fact of having or expressing opinions
that are different from those that are
officially accepted political/religious dissent.
Voices of dissent began to rise against the
established authority in the 1950s and
1960s. Stability only exists in the country
because dissent has been suppressed.
deduce: To conclude or infer something from the evidence given.
deduct: To substract, to deduct is, therefore, almost the opposite of deduce, which
means to put two and two together.
deprecate: To deprecate an action is to disapprove of it strongly.
depreciate: To depreciate an action is to belittle it, to deflate it and lessen it in
value-opposed to the word appreciate which means to value
properly or to increase in value.
desert: (1) an arid region (2) to abandon or forsake.
Lawrence rode a camel across the desert.
He intended to desert his wife and children.
dessert: A sweet course at the end of a meal.
Strawberry pie is my favorite dessert.
device: a contrivance, as a tool or aid.
He invented a device for cracking ice.
devise: to invent or construct.
He devised a new way to make bread rise.
die: (1) to perish; (2) to stop or diminish.
The grapes will die on the vine.
The sound died away.
dye: (1) to color by a chemical process (2) the coloring matter used.
She dyed her hair red.
dias: a stage
dice: a small cube of wood, plastic etc. with a different number of spots
on each of its side used in games of chance.
discomforted:
discomfited: Means literally to be completely
undone, to be defeated, to be frustrated.
These two words often used in the sense
of being made uncomfortable or
embarrassed.
disinterested: To be disinterested is to be without
selfish motives or interest; therefore,
objective and impartial, unbiased.
Uninterested: means not interested, bored,
indifferent.
Discreet: Careful, prudent
Discreet statements are tactful and
prudent.
Discrete: separate, distinct, unrelated.
Discrete statements have no relation to
one another.
dual: double.
My sports car has a dual carburettor.
duel: (1) a prearranged combat between two
people, usually with swords or pistols (2)
any contest between two people.
Burr killed Hamilton in a duel.
Chess is a duel of wits.
Effect: to achieve
Affect: to influence
He affected some white spread reforms,
which affected the whole country.
emigrant: a person who leaves one country to move to
another. The Italian emigrants got on the
boat at Naples.
immigrant: a person who enters one country from
another.
The immigrants to America got off the boat
in New York.
eminent: (of people) famous and respected, especially
in a particular profession, eminent
architecture, distinguished/an eminent
scientist/artist/painter/poet/writer/histori
an/philosopher/scholar/professor.
(of good qualities) unusual; excellent man of
eminent good sense
imminent: (especially of something unpleasant) likely
to happen very soon the imminent threat of
invasion. The system is in imminent danger
of collapse. An announcement about his
resignation is imminent.
enormity: Emphasizes the abnormality, the outrageousness of something.

enormousness: refers to hugeness or size.

envelop: Envelop somebody/something (in something) (formal) to wrap

somebody/something up or cover them or it completely. She was
enveloped in a huge white towel.

envelope: a flat paper container used for sending letters in writing paper and
envelopes, an air mail/a padded/a prepaid envelope.
Especially: Particularly, above all.
He is good at all ball games, especially tennis and football.

Specially: On purpose (to emphasize that something is done for one particular
person or purpose)
He wrote this song specially for Helen.

equable: Steady , uniform, even-tempered.

A country may have equable climate.
A equable disposition.

equitable: Just fair.

A division or distribution of profits or goods may be equitable.
Esoteric: Secret in the sense of being only for the initiated, for those in the inner
circle (eso, within: esoteris, inner)

Exoteric: Opposite of esoteric; therefore, popular, easily understood,

suitable for the general public.

Exotic: Foreign, strange (exo, outside); unusually colorful in appearance.

Exigent:
Urgent, requiring immediate attention.

Exiguous: Small, trifling

faint : That cannot be clearly seen, heard or smelt a faint
glow/glimmer/light, a faint smell of perfume. We saw the faint
outline of the mountain through the mist.
feint
(especially in sport) A movement that is intended to make
your opponent think you are going to do one thing when you are
really going to do something else.
factious: Tending to promote internal dissension through formation of factions or
cliques.
Factitious: Artificial, sham, unreal.
Fractious: Refractory or unruly, apt to break into a passion (fact, broken).
Flaunt: Make a show of, display proudly.
Flout: Defy, contemptuously pay no attention to, disregard.
Forego: to go before, precede.
The list of names can be found in the foregoing pages.
Forgo: to go without surrender.
You will have to forgo your afternoon tea, as we have no more
sugar.
funeral:
a ceremony, usually a religious one, for burying
or cremating (= burning) a dead person.
Hundreds of people attended the funeral. A funeral procession, a
funeral march (= a sad piece of music suitable for funerals)
funereal:
Suitable for a funeral; sad funereal atmosphere to walk at a
funereal pace (= very slowly)
Forego: to go before, precede.
The list of names can be found in the foregoing pages.
Forgo: to go without surrender.
You will have to forgo your afternoon tea, as we have no more
sugar.
funeral:
a ceremony, usually a religious one, for burying
or cremating (= burning) a dead person.
Hundreds of people attended the funeral. A funeral procession, a
funeral march (= a sad piece of music suitable for funerals)
funereal:
Suitable for a funeral; sad funereal atmosphere to walk at a
funereal pace (= very slowly)
Fortuitous: Happening by chance, accidental (Fortuitous does not mean fortunate
or lucky.)
Gratuitous: For no good reason, uncalled for (a gratuitous insult); unwarranted (a
gratuitous assumption).
farther:
(comparative of far) At or to a greater distance in space or time
farther north/south farther along the road. I can't go any farther.
As a family we grew farther and farther apart.
further: (comparative of far) At or to a greater distance, synonym
farther. We had walked further than I had realized. Two miles
further on we came to a small town.
fiance: A man who is engaged to be married. The man that a woman is
engaged. He is Helen's fiance.
fiancee: A woman who is engaged to be married.
The woman that a man is engaged. Helen is his fiance.
flaunt: To make a gaudy display; to show off something. Some hostesses
like to flaunt their wealth.
flout: To defy. He flouts all the rules, but he'll get caught someday.
formally: In a formal way. Have you two been formally introduced?
formerly: some time ago; previously. West Virginia was formerly part of Virginia.
foul: Dirty and smelling bad foul air/breath a
foul -smelling prison. Foul drinking water
was blamed for the epidemic.
Fowl: [Countable, uncountable] (pl. fowl, fowls) a
bird that is kept for its meat and eggs, for
example a chicken A variety of domestic
fowl, fowl such as turkeys and ducks
idle: Not active. The plant was idle during the
strike.
idol: An object or image of a god; a person who is
greatly admired.
Pagan people often set up idols to worship.
Daniel Boone is every boy's idol.
idyl or idyll (1) a poem or prose work that
concentrates on sim-(ple, pastoral scenes; (2)
any very attractive, simple scene or event.
Tennyson's Idylls of the King is a very
moving poem.
ingenious:
Clever; imaginative. Ingenious minds dream up ingenious plans.
ingenuous:
Naive ; frank and open. Gloria has an ingenuous way of believing
everything she hears.
Inflammable: Capable of being set on fire, combustible.
Inflammatory: Likely to inflame passions, rouse strong emotions.
Ingenious: Clever, resourceful
Ingenuous: Frank, candid, unsophisticated, naive.
its: the possessive form of it. Give the dog its food.
it's: the condition of it is. It’s time to go.
Judicial: disinterested, fair, like a judge.

Judicious: wise, prudent, sensible.

A judicial decision is one handed down by the court. If it is a wise
decision, it is also judicious.

later: At a time in the future; after the time you are talking about. See
you later. I met her again three years later.

latter: Used to refer to the second of two things or people mentioned. He

chose the latter option. The latter point is the most important.
ladder: Parallel steps for climbing. Come down off that ladder!
lead: (1) a metal (rhymes with lead); (2) to be first or to conduct (rhymes with
need).
He picked up a section of lead pipe.
Who's leading in the race?
Oliver wants to lead an orchestra when he grows up.
led: This word also rhymes with lead. It is the past tense of the verb lead
(to be first or to conduct).
At first, he led in the race, but somebody passed him.
Loose: This word has a hissing s sound. It means not
tight; untied or free.
Three prisoners are still on the loose.
Not fixed/tied. Not firmly fixed where it
should be; able to become separated from
something a loose button/tooth. Check that
the plug has not come loose.
lose:
lose lost lost (v) Lose a game/a race/an election/a
battle/a war. I've lost my keys.
loser: A person who is defeated in a competition.
lost (adj) She is trying to recapture her lost youth.
material: Anything of which something can be made;
fabric.
Building materials are expensive.
The dress was made of synthetic material.
materiel: Supplies, especially military supplies.
The general needs more troops and
materiel.
 miner: A person who works in a
mine. Mohan began as a coal miner.
minor: (1) a person who is under age (2) of little importance. In this state, you're a
minor until you're 18. Even minor inconveniences infuriate Sita.
moral: (1) adhering to the laws of God and man. (2) a point or lesson.
Connected with principles of right and wrong behaviour. George
Washington was a moral and just person.
The moral of the story is "Beware of flattery."
morale: A state of mind in terms of confidence and courage.
boost/raise/improve morale
The morale of our troops is high.
naval: Referring to a navy or ships.
Naval battles helped win World War II
navel: The sunken indentation in the abdomen, or any similar indentation.
I think a swimming suit should cover the navel.
She ate a navel orange for lunch.
passed: This is the past time of the verb pass. Means (1) to have gone by, got by, or
moved through (2) to have handed something to someone.
Mohan passed the exam easily.
David passed the salt to his aunt.
past: Having already happened; time gone by. This past week was very
warm.
The past is over, so don't worry about it.
Peace [uncountable, singular] a situation or a
period of time in which there is no war
or violence in a country.
Peace talks/negotiations. The negotiators are
trying to make peace between the
warring factions.
piece: [countable] piece (of
something) (used especially
with of and uncountable nouns) an
amount of something that has been cut
or separated from the rest of it; a
standard amount of something a piece
of string/wood. She wrote something on
a small piece of paper.
Pedal: A foot-operated lever. A pedal of the
bicycle fell off.
peddle: To sell at retail; to hawk. to try to sell
goods by going from house to house from
Where doplace to place.
you plan to peddle these items?
personal: Your own. [only before noun] your own; not belonging to or connected
with anyone else personal effects/belongings/possessions
personal details (= your name, age, etc.) Of course, this is just a
personal opinion.
personnel: [plural] the people who work for an organization or one of the armed
forces skilled personnel sales/technical/medical/security/military,
etc. personnel
prescribe: To recommend or set down a rule to be followed.
The doctor prescribed absolute rest for the patient.
proscribe: To ban something, as by decree.
Cannibalism is proscribed in most societies.
principal: [only before noun] most important;
main. The principal reason for this
omission is lack of time. New roads will
link the principal cities of the area.
Tourist revenue is now our principal
source of wealth. My principal concern is
to get the job done fast. The violins have
the principal tune.

principle:[Countable,usuallyplural, uncounta
ble] a moral rule or a strong belief that
influences your actions. He has high
moral principles. I refuse to lie about
it; it's against my principles. Stick to
your principles and tell him you won't
do it. She refuses to allow her family to
help her as a matter of principle. He
doesn't invest in the arms industry on
principle.
quiet: Making very little noise her quiet voice a quieter, more efficient
engine. Could you keep the kids quiet while I'm on the phone?
He went very quiet (= did not say much) so I knew he was upset.
‘Be quiet,’ said the teacher. She crept downstairs (as) quiet as a
mouse.
quite: (Not used with a negative) to some degree. Synonym fairly, pretty
quite big/good/cold/warm/interesting. He plays quite well. I quite
like opera.
rein: A device used to guide a horse. Adjust the saddle and reins.
reign: (1) to rule, as a sovereign; (2) the rule of a sovereign .
Cromwell reigned over England like a king.
raise:
Move upwards, raise something to lift or move something to a
higher level. She raised the gun and fired. He raised a hand in
greeting. She raised her eyes from her work.
raze: To demolish. The wreckers began to raze the building
rise: Increase, [countable] an increase in an amount, a number or a
level. The industry is feeling the effects of recent price rises.
revenge: Revenge refers to a personal emotion. Revenge contains the self.
avenge: Avenge refers to a social and the wrongs of others, a just retribution .
respectably: In a worthy or proper manner.
The man seemed poor, but he was respectably dressed.
respectfully: In a respectful or polite way.
Children should speak respectfully to their elders.
respectively: In a specified order.
Specie: Specie refers to hard coin.
Species: Indicates a distinct class or variety (a strange species of birds, not specie.)
Both specie and species are singular.
stationary: Not moving; not intended to be moved. I remained stationary. The car
collided with a stationary vehicle.
Stationery: Uncountable
materials for writing and for using in an office, for example paper,
pens and envelopes
suit: A coat with matching trousers or skirt; (2)
a series of playing cards (3) a proceeding
in a law court (4) the courting of a woman.
Grandfather still wears a blue suit every
Sunday.
If hearts are trumps, why didn't you lead
another suit?
Robert's lawyer argued his suit
eloquently.
After the briefest of suits, Juliet said yes
to Romeo.
suite: A set of rooms, of matching furniture, or
related musical compositions, etc.
Computer programmes - a suite of
software development tools.
They reserved the bridal suite at the Ritz.
My cousin has a new living room suite.
A suite of rooms, a bathroom/bedroom
suite (furniture))
their, theirs: The possessive forms of they.
It is their house.
The house is theirs.
there: at that place.
Put the box over there.
there's: the contraction of there is.
There's no reason to worry.
they're: the contraction of they are. They're ready to start.
thorough: complete
Mrs. Sita gave the room a thorough cleaning.
threw: The past tense of to throw.
Mrs. Grover threw another blanket on her sleeping child.
through: From one side or one end to the other.
Let's walk all the way through the woods.
to: toward; in the direction of.
He drove from Chicago to Indianapolis.
too: (1) also; (2) more than enough.
I, too, can solve hard problems.
This candy is too sweet.
two: the number after one; two is 2.
Two and two are four.
Unexceptionable:
Unexceptionable is above reproach; no objection or exception can
be taken to it.
Unexceptional:
Unexceptional means not exceptionable, ordinary.
vain: (1) conceited; (2) useless.
That model is an unusually vain girl.
Several vain attempts to find a job discouraged Charlie.
vane: a direction pointer.
The weekend farmers bought a new weather vane for the barn.
vein: a blood vessel.
The lumberman cut a vein, not an artery.
Venal: That can be bought or bribed; therefore, mercenary, corrupt
Venial: forgivable, excusable, trivial (venial sins).
waist: The narrow part of the body above the hips, or the corresponding
part of a garment.
Mohan has a 24-inch waist.
waste: (1) needless consumption or destruction; (2) refuse.
I think golf is a waste of time.
The waste from the factory polluted the river.
weather: A day-to-day climate.
What's the weather forecast for today?
whether: if it be the case that; in case.
I shall go whether or not you do.
whose: the possessive of the pronoun who.
Whose book is this?
who's: the contraction of who is.
Who's going to go with me?
your: the possessive of the pronoun you.
Is this your book?
you're: the contraction of you are.
You're late for work.
alumnus: A male graduate.
a former male student of a school, a college
or an university.
Eisenhower was an alumnus of West Point.
alumni: Graduates, whether male or both male and
female.
The West Point alumni were from the class
of 1970.
My son and my daughter are both alumni of
Ohio State.
alumna: A female graduate.
She is an alumna of Queens Women's
College.
alumnae: The plural of alumna.
Both my daughters are alumnae of Queens
Women's college.
anxious: Distressed with worry.
The mother was anxious about her
missing child.
eager: Happy expectant. The mother was eager to
visit her married daughter.
apt: (1) inclined to as a matter of course;
usually expected to; (2) quick to learn.
It's apt to be hot in summer.
Henry is an apt student of the practical
sciences.
likely: Probable; expected but not as a matter of
course. The weather report says it's likely to
be hot tomorrow.
liable: (1) responsible for the consequences (2) in
danger of experiencing something disagreeable.
A husband is liable for his wife's debts.
If you play tennis at high noon, you're liable
to get a heat stroke.
as: Introduces a group of words containing a
verb (in other words, a clause).
Taffy tastes sweet, as candy should.
My son eats as I ate when I was his age - rapidly.
as if: Introduces (1) contrary-to-fact or untrue
comparisons (2) non comparative
conjectures.
My son eats as if the were starving. (This is contrary
to fact; he isn't starving.)
like: Introduces a group of words without a verb
(in other words, a phrase).
My son eats like a horse. (But: My horse eats hay, as a
horse should.)He sings like an Irish tenor - with his
heart in every note.
compare: One compares like things, things that are of
the same class or kind.
How does your new car compare with the old one?
contrast: One contrasts unlike things, things that are of
different kinds or classes.
Contrast a horse and buggy with a modern car.
connotation: What a word suggests or implies.
The word "snake" has unpleasant connotations for most people.
denotation: The specific meaning of a word.
The denotation of "snake" is simply this: a legless reptile with a
long, thin body.
contemptible: Deserving of contempt.
Not deserving any respect at all.
Lack of worry or fear about rules.
contemptible behaviour.
Hitler was a contemptible person.
contemptuous: Showing or feeling contempt.
Feeling no respect for somebody.
Scornful
Churchill was always contemptuous of Hitler.
continual: Over and over again; regular but interrupted.
We had a continual series of hot spells last summer.
continuous: Nonstop; constant and not interrupted.
Many plants and animals thrive in the continuous jungle heat.
credible: Believable.
His story, though unusual, is credible.
creditable: Praiseworthy; to one's credit.
Roger's grades in school are very creditable.
credulous: Gullible; too much inclined to believe.
Only a credulous person would fall for that old trick.
disinterested: Impartial, unbiased.
An umpire must be an entirely disinterested but keen observer.
uninterested: Not interested, uncaring.
I am uninterested in any TV program that lacks comedy.
egoist: A self-centered, selfish person.
An egoist lives only for his own pleasure.
egotist: A person who boasts about himself.
Marian is such an egotist that she talks about herself all the time.
explicit: Specifically said or written.
When we discussed your debt, you made me the
explicit promise of repayment by January.
implicit: Implied or understood but not directly stated.
Though we never discussed it openly, there was an
implicit understanding, between us that you'd return
the money.
confidant: A person that you trust and who you talk to
about private or secret things a close/trusted
confidant of the President. There were times when a
semi-stranger was a better confidante than a close
friend.
confident: Feeling sure about your own ability to do
things and be successful.
The team feels confident of winning.
confidential: Meant to be kept secret and not told to or
shared with other people confidential
information/documents. Your medical records
are strictly confidential (= completely secret).
conserve: Conserve something to use as little of something as possible so that
it lasts a long time.
Help to conserve energy by insulating your home.
converse: Converse (with somebody) (formal) to have a conversation with
somebody.
She conversed with the Romanians in French. The two men were
conversing on music and opera.
contagious: A contagious disease spreads by people touching each other.
Scarlet fever is highly contagious.(figurative) His
enthusiasm was contagious (= spread quickly to
other people)
a contagious laugh. The new disease proved
contagious.
contiguous: Adjoining; bordering.
Russia has claimed certain Chinese territories contiguous to her
border.
contemptible:
Not deserving any respect at all contemptible behaviour
contemptuous:
Feeling or showing that you have no respect for
somebody/something.
She gave him a contemptuous look. The company has shown a
contemptuous disregard for Henry’s complaints.
coup: A sudden change of government that is illegal and often violent. He
seized power in a military coup in 2008. To stage/mount a coup.
coupe: A car with two doors and usually a sloping back.
continual: Repeated many times in a way that is annoying continual
complaints/interruptions
continuing without interruption. He was in a continual process of
rewriting his material.
We lived in continual fear of being discovered.
continuous: Happening or existing for a period of time without interruption. Stop
smoking and you will see a continuous improvement in your
health.
corporal: A member of one of the lower ranks in the
army, the marines or the British air force Corporal
Smith
corporeal: That can be touched; physical rather than
spiritual. his corporeal presence, of or for the body,
corporeal needs.
cover: Hide/protect
Cover something (with something) to place something
over or in front of something in order to hide or
protect it.
She covered her face with her hands.(figurative) He
laughed to cover (= hide) his nervousness.
cower: To bend low and/or move backwards because
you are frightened. A gun went off and people cowered
behind walls and under tables.
credible: That can be believed or trusted. Convincing
a credible explanation/witness. It is just not credible
that she would cheat.
credulous: Too ready to believe things and therefore
easy to trick. Gullible.
crumble: To break or break something into very small
pieces.
Rice flour makes the cake less likely to
crumble.
crumple: Crumple (something) (up) (into
something) to crush something into folds; to
become crushed into folds.
She crumpled the letter up into a ball and
threw it on the fire. This material crumples
very easily.
symbol: Symbol (of something) a person, an object, an event, etc. that represents a
more general quality or situation. White has always been a symbol
of purity in Western cultures.
symbol (for something) a sign, number, letter, etc. that has a fixed
meaning, especially in science, mathematics and music.
What is the chemical symbol for copper? A list of symbols used on
the map is given in the index.
cymbal: A musical instrument in the form of a round metal plate. It is hit with a
stick, or two cymbals are hit against each other. a clash/crash of
cymbals. The piece ends with a cymbal crash. the sound of
cymbals crashing
dam: A barrier that is built across a river in order to stop the water from
flowing, used especially to make a reservoir (= a lake for storing
water) or to produce electricity. The Narmada dam in India. The
dam burst.
damn: (Damn it) (informal) a swear word that people use to show that
they are annoyed, disappointed, etc .Oh damn! I forgot he was
coming.
declaim: Declaim (against) something. To speak loudly and with force about
something, you feel strongly about, especially in public. She
declaimed the famous opening speech of the play. He declaimed
against the evils of alcohol.

disclaim: Disclaim something to state publicly that you have no knowledge of

something, or that you are not responsible for something deny. She
disclaimed any knowledge of her husband's whereabouts. The
rebels disclaimed all responsibility for the explosion.
decry: Decry somebody/something (as
something) (formal) to strongly
criticize somebody/something, especially
publicly synonym condemn
The measures were decried as useless.
descry: Descry somebody/something (literary) to
suddenly see somebody/something.
At last Columbus and his men descried land.
difference: Difference (between A and
B) | difference (in something) the way
in which two people or things are not like
each other; the way in
which somebody/something has changed.
There are no significant differences between the
education systems of the two countries.
deference: Behaviour that shows that you respect
somebody/something. The women wore
veils in deference to the customs of the
country. The flags were lowered out of
deference to the bereaved family.
definite: definite (that…) sure or certain; unlikely to
change. Can you give me a definite answer
by tomorrow?
definitive: Final; not able to be changed a definitive
agreement/answer/statement.
The definitive version of the text is ready to
be published.
economic: jump to other results Connected with the
trade, industry and development of wealth of
a country, an area or a society social,
economic and political issues economic
growth/cooperation/development/reform.
The government’s economic policy economic history
the current economic climate.
economical:
Providing good service or value in relation to
the amount of time or money spent an
economical car to run (= one that does not
use too much petrol/gas).
It would be more economical to buy the bigger size.
elder: Older my elder brother his elder sister.
The elder used without a noun immediately after it, to
show who is the older of two people, the elder of their
two sons.
elicit: Elicit something (from somebody) to get
information or a reaction from somebody, often with
difficulty. I could elicit no response from him.
Her tears elicited great sympathy from her audience.
illicit: Not allowed by the law.
Not approved of by the normal rules of society, an illicit
love affair.
eligible: A person who is eligible for something or to do
something, is able to have or do it because they have the
right qualifications, are the right age, etc. eligible (for
something).
Only those over 70 are eligible for the special
payment. The new regulations made a lot of prisoners
eligible for early release.
illegible: Difficult or impossible to read an illegible
signature. His signature is totally illegible.
elude:
Elude somebody/something to manage to avoid or
escape from somebody/something, especially in a clever
way.
The two men managed to elude the police for six
weeks.
allude:
To make a indirect reference.
Comments alluding to an earlier discussion.
Mrs. Mohan alluded to some health problems, without
being specific.
elusive:
Difficult to find, define or achieve, as elusive as ever,
was nowhere to be found.
The elusive concept of ‘literature’. A solution to the
problem of toxic waste is proving elusive.
illusive:
Not real although seeming to be.
There is an illusive sense of depth. The illusive
security of yesteryear.
emerge: To come out of a dark, confined or hidden
place, emerge (from something).
The swimmer emerged from the lake.
Immerge:
To plunge into or immerse oneself in
something.
emigrate:
To leave your own country to go and live permanently
in another country. Many people who emigrated
experienced poverty and racism when they arrived.
immigrate
To come and live permanently in a country after leaving
your own country. About 6.6 million people
immigrated to the United States in the 1970s.
equal
The same in size, quantity, value, etc. as
something else.
There is an equal number of boys and girls
in the class.
equable:
(Of weather) Keeping a steady temperature with no sudden changes, an equable
climate.
equitable:
Fair and reasonable; treating everyone in an equal way, an equitable distribution of

resources. We need to construct an equitable and

efficient method of local taxation.
ere: Before. An old typewriter that was a relic of
that ancient time ere the invention of word
processors.
err: To make a mistake. To err is human.
eruption:
An occasion when a volcano suddenly throws out burning rocks,
smoke, etc., a major volcanic eruption.
irruption: The act of entering or appearing somewhere suddenly and with a lot
of force.
escapade:
An exciting adventure (often one that people think is dangerous or
stupid).
The people who planned the escapade did not realize what they
were getting involved in.
escape: To get away from a place where you have been kept as a prisoner or not
allowed to leave.
Two prisoners have escaped. They were caught trying to escape.
estimate: A judgement that you make without having the exact details or figures
about the size, amount, cost, etc. of something.
I can give you a rough estimate of the amount of wood you will need.
esteem: Great respect and admiration; a good opinion of somebody. She is held in
high esteem by her colleagues. Over the years, he has earned our affection and
esteem.
etch: To cut lines into a piece of glass, metal, etc. in order to make words or a
picture.
A glass tankard with his initials etched on it. A security number had been etched
on the car window as a protection against theft.
itch: To have an uncomfortable feeling on your skin that makes you want to
scratch; to make your skin feel like this. I itch all over. Does the rash itch? This
sweater really itches.
eve:
The day or evening before an event, especially a religious festival or holiday.
Christmas Eve (= 24 December), a New Year’s Eve party (= on 31 December. On the
eve of the election, a special election eve show.
ewe: A female sheep.
exalt : To make somebody rise to a higher rank or position, sometimes to one
that they do not deserve.
His son was exalted to a high position in the government through family
connections.
exult:
To feel and show that you are very excited and happy because of something that has
happened.
He leaned back, exulting at the success of his plan.
except: Used before you mention the only thing or person about which a
statement is not true.
We work every day except Sunday.
They all came except Mohan.
I had nothing on except for my socks.
expect: To think or believe that something will happen or that somebody
will do something.
We are expecting a rise in food prices this month.
exhort: To try hard to persuade somebody to do
something. The party leader exhorted
his members to start preparing for
government.
extort: Extort something (from somebody) to
make somebody give you something by
threatening them.
The gang extorted money from over 30
local businesses.
expand: To become greater in size, number
or importance; to make something greater in size,
number or importance.
Metals expand when they are heated.
A child's vocabulary expands through reading.
expend: Expend something (in/on somebody),
expend something (in/on/doing something). To
use or spend a lot of time, money, energy, etc.
She expended all her efforts on the care of home
and children.
extant: (of something very old) still in
existence. Extant remains of the ancient
wall. A limited number of documents
from the period are still extant.
extent: How large, important, serious, etc.
something is. It is difficult to assess
the full extent of the damage. I was
amazed at the extent of his knowledge.
extinct: No longer in existence, an extinct species,
to become extinct.
The red squirrel is in danger of
becoming extinct in England. the
fossilised remains of extinct animals.
extend: extend something to make something
longer or larger to extend
a fence/road/house.
There are plans to extend the no-
smoking area.
facilitate: Facilitate something to make an action or a process possible or easier.
The new trade agreement should facilitate more rapid economic
growth.
Structured teaching facilitates learning.
Felicitate:
to make happy, to consider happy or fortunate, to offer
congratulations to.
The other pianists rushed to felicitate the winner of the piano
competition.
facility: Facilities (plural) buildings, services, equipment, etc. that are provided for
a particular purpose. sports/leisure facilities conference facilities
shopping/banking/cooking facilities.
The hotel has special facilities for welcoming disabled people.
felicity: Great happiness, the quality of being well chosen or suitable.
The story is told with great felicity of style.
failing: a weakness or fault in somebody/something.
She is aware of her own failings. Jealousy is a very human failing.

failure: lack of success in doing or achieving something.

The success or failure of the plan depends on you.

fain: Willingly or with pleasure. I would fain do as you ask.

feign: Feign something, feign to do something, to pretend that you have a

particular feeling or that you are ill/sick, tired, etc.
fair: Acceptable and appropriate in a
particular situation, a
fair deal/wage/price/question.
The punishment was very fair.
fare: The money that you pay to travel by bus,
plane, taxi, etc. bus/taxi fare strain/rail
fares.
Children travel (at) half fare. When do
they start paying full fare?
farmer: a person who owns or manages a farm
former: That existed in earlier times, in former
times. This beautiful old building has
been restored to its former glory.
feat: An action or a piece of work that needs
skill, strength or courage. The tunnel is a
brilliant feat of engineering,
to perform/attempt/achieve astonishin
g feats.
feet: PLURAL OF FOOT
final: Being or happening at the end of a series of events, actions,
statements, etc.
His final act as party leader.
The referee blew the final whistle.
finale: The last part of a show or a piece of music,
flagrant: (of an action) shocking because it is done in a very obvious way and
shows no respect for people, laws, etc.
He showed a flagrant disregard for anyone else's feelings.
fragrant: Having a pleasant smell, fragrant herbs/flowers/oils.
The air was fragrant with scents from the sea and the hills.
Swallows swooped through the fragrant evening air.
flair: Flair for something a natural ability to do something.
flare: To burn brightly, but usually for only a short time or not steadily.
The match flared and went out. The fire flared into life.
flash: Shine brightly, to shine very brightly for a short time; to make
something shine in this way.
Lightning flashed in the distance .The flashing blue lights of a
police car.
flush: To become red, especially because you are embarrassed, angry or
hot.
Priya felt her cheeks flush red.
floor: of room.
The surface of a room that you walk on a wooden/concrete/marble,
etc.
The body was lying on the kitchen floor.
The alterations should give us extra floor space.

flour: A fine white or brown powder made from grain, especially wheat,
and used in cooking for making bread, cakes, etc.
flower:
The coloured part of a plant from which the seed or fruit develops .
Flowers usually grow at the end of a stem and last only a short
time.
The plant has a beautiful bright red flower.
flu: An infectious disease like a very bad cold, that causes fever, pains
and weakness.
The whole family has the flu.
flue: A pipe or tube that takes smoke, gas or hot air away from a fire,
a heater or an oven, a blocked chimney flue.
foal: A very young horse or donkey.
foreword: A short introduction at the beginning of a book.
He was asked if he would consider writing a foreword for her
book.
forward:
Towards a place or position that is in front.
He took two steps forward. They ran forward to welcome her.
fort: A building or buildings built in order to defend an area against
attack the remains of a Roman fort.
forte: Played or sung loudly.
foul: Dirty and smelling bad foul air/breath a foul-smelling prison.
Foul drinking water was blamed for the epidemic.
fowl: A bird that is kept for its meat and eggs, for example a chicken, a
variety of domestic fowl.
gait: A way of walking.
He walked with a rolling gait.
gate: A barrier like a door that is used to close an opening in a fence or a
wall outside a building, an iron gate. He pushed open the garden
gate. A crowd gathered at the factory gates.
gamble: To risk money on a card game, horse
race, etc.
gamble (at/on something) to gamble
at cards to gamble on the horses
gamble something (at/on something)
I gambled all my winnings on the last
race.
gambol To jump or run about in a lively way.
Lambs gambolling in the meadow
gentle: Calm and kind; doing things in a quiet
and careful way, a quiet and gentle man,
a gentle voice/laugh/touch.
She was the gentlest of nurses.
genteel: Quiet and polite, often in an exaggerated
way; from, or pretending to be from, a
high social class, a genteel manner.
Her genteel accent irritated me.
graceful: Moving in a controlled, attractive way
or having a smooth, attractive form.
The dancers were all tall and graceful.
gracious: Kind, polite and generous, especially to
somebody of a lower social position, a
gracious lady, a gracious smile.
Lady Caroline was gracious enough to
accept our invitation.
grate: A metal frame for holding the wood or
coal in a fireplace.
A huge log fire was burning in the grate.
A frame of metal bars over the opening
to a drain in the ground.
great: Very large, much bigger than average in
size or quantity.
A great crowd had gathered. People
were arriving in great numbers.
hail: To describe somebody/something as being
very good or special, especially in
newspapers, etc. Hail somebody/something
as something. The conference was hailed as
a great success. The expedition was widely
hailed as a success.
hale: hale and hearty (especially of an old
person) strong and healthy.
hair: The substance that looks like a mass of fine
threads growing especially on the head; one of these
threads growing on the body of people and some
animals fair/dark hair straight/curly / wavy hair
to comb/brush your hair.
She often wears her hair loose.
heir: A person who has the legal right to receive
somebody’s property, money or title when
that person dies to be heir to a large fortune
the heir to the throne (= the person who will
be the next king or queen)the son and heir of
the Earl of Lancaster.
halo: A circle of light shown around or above the head of a holy person.
She played the part of an angel, complete with wings and a halo.

hollow: Having a hole or empty space inside a hollow ball/centre/tube.

The tree trunk was hollow inside. Her stomach felt hollow with
fear.

hapless: Not lucky; unfortunate, the hapless victims of exploitation.

Often the hapless victims have no warning that the flood is on its
way.

hopeless: If something is hopeless, there is no hope that it will get better or

succeed, a hopeless situation.
It's hopeless trying to convince her.
healthy:
Having good health and not likely to become ill/sick, a healthy
child/animal/tree.
Keep healthy by eating well and exercising regularly.

healthful: good for your health.

hear: To be aware of sounds with your ears. I can't hear very well.
Hear something/somebody.
She heard footsteps behind her.

here: Used after a verb or preposition to mean ‘in, at or to this position or

place.
I live here. Put the box here.
immoral: Violating morality, sinful, of people and their behaviour not considered to
be good or honest by most people.
amoral: Not subject to moral judgement, lacking a knowledge of right and wrong.
Not following any moral rules and not caring about right and
wrong.
Cats are amoral, they can't be censured for killing birds.
Unmoral: Not pertaining to morality, neither moral nor immoral.
Most scientists believe their research to be unmoral, no matter
what the result.
immortal: Never dying, eternal or remembered forever. The soul is immortal.
Christians believe in the immortal soul.
imply: To suggest or hint.
He implied that my friend John had stolen a necklace.

infer: To conclude or derive from

From what he said, I inferred that he believed John had stolen a
necklace.

indict: To indict to make a formal accusation against.

indite: To indite is a literary term meaning to compose, express in words,

write.
incredible: Hard to believe.
Impossible or very difficult to believe
It's incredible that you could have made such a
mistake.
incredulous: Hard to convince.
Not willing or not able to believe something.
Showing an inability to believe something an
incredulous look.
I was incredulous when I heard that you - you,
of all people - had made such a mistake.
industrial: Pertaining to industry
industrious: Hard-working. He is an
industrious student of the Industrial
Revolution.
Interpellate: To call for a statement or
explanation from a member of a parliamentary
government.
Interpolate: Insert a remark, throw something
into the body of a text.
luxurious: Characterized by luxury
The governor lives in a luxurious mansion.
luxuriant: Growing lushly, abundant.
Alice has a luxuriant head of hair.
mania: A compulsive craving, enthusiasm, or love for something.
Some people have a mania for mountain climbing.
phobia: A compulsive fear of something.
Dorothy has only one real phobia: Spiders terrify her.
Militate: To work against, hinder, fight against.
Mitigate: Reduce severity of, make milder.
Official: Having authoritative standing.
Officious: Going beyond one's official duties and authority meddlesome,
interfering.
persecute: To oppress, to harass persistently.
The Romans persecuted the early Christians.
prosecute: To try by law.
The engineer of the wrecked train was prosecuted for criminal
negligence.
Palate: Roof of mouth.
Pallet: Hard mattress, or bed made of straw
Palette: Artist's mixing board.
Perspicacity: Perspicacity is the quality of seeing clearly.
Perspicuity: Is the quality of the being clear.
Popular: Liked by people.
Populous: Thickly inhabited by people.
This restaurant, highly popular because of its good food, is in a
very populous quarter of Calcutta.
Precipitate: What is hasty or rash (as a precipitate flight or precipitate action)
Precipitous: What is steep or abrupt (a precipitous drop or climb)
qualitative: Refers to quality, to the nature or value of something.
Qualitative analysis shows that water is made up of hydrogen and
oxygen.
quantitative: Refers to quantity, to the amount or size of something.
When you say that your state is "greater" than mine because of its
high per-capita income, that's a purely
quantitative judgment.
Quantitative analysis shows that water has two atoms of
hydrogen to one of oxygen.
knot: in string/rope
A join made by tying together two pieces or ends of string, rope, etc.
to tie a knot.
Tie the two ropes together with a knot.
Sailors had to know lots of different knots.
not: Used to form the negative of the verbs be, do and have and modal
verbs like can or must and often reduced to n’t.
She did not/didn’t see him. It’s not/It isn’t raining.
I can't see from here. He must not go. Don't you eat meat? It's
cold, isn't it?
knotty: Complicated and difficult to solve, a knotty problem.
Having parts that are hard and twisted together. The knotty roots
of the old oak tree.

naughty:Behaving badly; not willing to obey a naughty boy/girl(humorous)

I'm being very naughty—I've ordered champagne!
legible: Clear enough to read legible handwriting.
The signature was still legible. The
inscription is still legible. The price must be
legible to a purchaser.
eligible: A person who is eligible for something or to
do something, is able to have or do it because
they have the right qualifications, are the
right age, etc. Only those over 70 are
eligible for the special payment.
lightning: A flash, or several flashes, of very bright
light in the sky caused by electricity, a flash
of lightning, a violent storm with thunder
and lightning. He was struck by
lightning and killed. Lightning
strikes caused scores of fires across the
state.
lighten: Lighten something to reduce the amount of
work, debt, worry, etc. The measures will
lighten the tax burden on small businesses.
To become or make something become brighter or
lighter in colour. The sky began to lighten in the east.
local: Belonging to or connected with the
particular place or area that you are
talking about or with the place where you
live, a local farmer.
A local man was accused of the murder.
Our children go to the local school.
locale: A place where something happens the
employment structure of the two locales.
The majority of people in this locale work
in agriculture.
We choose our tour guides mainly on
their knowledge of the locale.
loot: Loot (something) to steal things from
shops/stores or buildings after a riot, fire,
etc.
More than 20 shops were looted.
The invaders rampaged through the
streets, looting and killing.
lute: An early type of musical instrument with
strings, played like a guitar.
lovable: having qualities that people find
attractive and easy to love, often despite
any faults.
lovely: You can also use more lovely and most
lovely. Beautiful; attractive, lovely
countryside/eyes/flowers.
She looked particularly lovely that
night. He has a lovely voice.
luxurious: Very comfortable; containing expensive
and enjoyable things, a luxurious hotel,
luxurious surroundings. The car felt
luxurious.
luxuriant: Growing thickly and strongly in a way
that is attractive, luxuriant, vegetation
thick, luxuriant hair. (especially of art or
the atmosphere of a place) rich in
something that is pleasant or beautiful,
the poet’s luxuriant imagery.
mace: A decorative stick, carried as a sign of authority by an official such
as a mayor.
maze: A system of paths separated by walls or hedges built in a park or
garden, that is designed so that it is difficult to find your way
through.
We got lost in the maze.(figurative) The building is a maze of
corridors.
official: Connected with the job of somebody who is in a position of
authority official responsibilities. The Prime Minister’s official
residence. He attended in his official capacity as mayor.
officious: Too ready to tell people what to do or to use the power you have to give
orders.
optimism: A feeling that good things will happen
and that something will be successful;
the tendency to have this feeling
optimism about/for the future.
We may now look forward with optimism.
optimum: The best possible; producing the best
possible results optimum growth, the
optimum use of resources, the optimum
conditions for effective learning.
We aim for optimum efficiency in all our
operations. What are the optimum
conditions for economic growth?
ordinance: An order or a rule made by a
government or somebody in a position of
authority. The town has passed a zoning
ordinance limiting construction.
ordnance: Large guns on wheels. Military
supplies and materials, an ordnance
depot.
pail: A round container that is open at the top
and usually has a handle. She poured a
pail of water on the campfire.
pale: Having skin that is almost white; having
skin that is whiter than usual because of
illness, a strong emotion, etc. A pale
complexion pale with fear to go/turn
pale. You look pale. Are you OK? The
ordeal left her looking pale and drawn.
peasant: A farmer who owns or rents a small
piece of land, peasant farmers, a peasant
family, peasant revolts. A person who is
not educated and has low social status.
They treated us like a bunch of
peasants.
pheasant: A large bird with a long tail, the male
of which is brightly coloured.
People sometimes shoot pheasants for
sport or food. Meat from this bird is also
called pheasant
pick: To choose somebody/something from a group of
people or things, pick somebody/something
Pick a number from one to twenty. She picked the best
cake for herself.
pique: Annoyed or bitter feelings that you have, usually
because your pride has been hurt.
When he realized nobody was listening to him, he left
in a fit of pique.
sensible: Able to make good judgements based on
reason and experience rather than emotion; practical.
She's a sensible sort of person.
sensitive: To people’s feelings.
Aware of and able to understand other people and their
feelings, a sensitive and caring man, sensitive to
something.
She is very sensitive to other people's feelings.
sent: PAST TENSE, PAST PARTICIPLE OF SEND
scent: The pleasant smell that something has.
The air was filled with the scent of wild flowers. These flowers
have no scent.
soar: If the value, amount or level of something soars, it rises very
quickly. Soaring costs/prices/temperatures. Air pollution will soon
soar above safety levels. Unemployment has soared to 18%.
sore: If a part of your body is sore, it is painful, and often red, especially
because of infection or because a muscle has been used too much to
have a sore throat. His feet were sore after the walk. My stomach
is still sore (= painful) after the operation.
sole: Only; single, the sole surviving member of the family.
My sole reason for coming here was to see you. This is the sole
means of access to the building.
soul: Spirit of person.
The spiritual part of a person, believed to exist after death. He
believed his immortal soul was in peril. The howling wind
sounded like the wailing of lost souls (= the spirits of dead people
who are not in heaven).
spacious: Large and with plenty of space for people to move around.
The hotel rooms are spacious and comfortable.
specious: Seeming right or true but actually wrong or false, a specious argument.
preview: An occasion at which you can see a film/movie, a show, etc.
before it is shown to the general public, a press preview (= for
journalists only)a special preview of our winter fashion collection.
On today’s show, we’ll have exclusive previews of some of the best
new music.
purview: within/outside the purview of something.
Within/outside the limits of what a person, an organization, etc. is
responsible for; dealt /not dealt with by a document, law, etc.
Local disputes are outside the purview of this legislation. The
matter falls within the purview of the Select Committee.
 prey: An animal, a bird, etc. that is hunted, killed and eaten by another.
The lion will often stalk its prey for hours. Birds of prey (= birds that kill for food)
pray: To speak to God, especially to give thanks or ask for help. They knelt
down and prayed. She prayed to God for an end to her sufferings.
price: The amount of money that you have to pay for something.
The price of cigarettes is set to rise again. He managed to get a
good price for the car.
prize: An award that is given to a person who wins a competition,
race, etc. or who does very good work.
She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He won first prize in the woodwind
section.
prospect: The possibility that something will happen, prospect (of something/of
doing something) .
There is no immediate prospect of peace.
A place in the semi-finals is in prospect (= likely to happen).
prospect (that…) There's a reasonable prospect that his debts
will be paid.

prospectus:
a book or printed document that gives information about a school,
college, etc. in order to advertise it
quarry: a place where large amounts of stone, etc. are dug out of the
ground, a slate quarry, the site of a disused quarry.

query: A question, especially one asking for information or expressing a

doubt about something. Our assistants will be happy to answer
your queries.
If you have a query about your insurance policy, contact our
helpline.

racket:(racquet)
A loud unpleasant noise.
Stop making that terrible racket.
rapture:
A feeling of extreme pleasure and happiness.
Charles listened with rapture to her singing.
The children gazed at her in rapture. Never
before had she known such rapture.
rupture:
An injury in which something inside the body
breaks apart or bursts the rupture of a blood
vessel
A situation when something breaks or bursts
ruptures of oil and water pipelines
rare:
Not done, seen, happening, etc. very often, a rare
disease/occurrence/sigh.
This weekend, visitors will get a rare chance to
visit the private apartments.
rear:
The back part of something.
A trailer was attached to the rear of the truck. There are toilets at
both front and rear of the plane. A high gate blocks the only entrance to
the rear.
reveal:
To make something known to somebody.
The doctors did not reveal the truth to him. Salted peanuts were recently revealed
as the nation’s favourite snack.
revel:
To spend time enjoying yourself in a noisy, enthusiastic way

reverend:
The title of a member of the clergy that is also sometimes used to talk to or about
one the Reverend Charles

reverent:
Showing deep respect.
His voice was hushed, almost reverent.
road:
A hard surface built for vehicles to travel on a main/major/minor road,
a country/mountain road.
They live just along/up/down the road(= further on the same road).
The house is on a very busy road. He was walking along the road when he was
attacked.

rode: past tense of ride

root:
Of plant.
The part of a plant that grows under the ground and absorbs water and minerals
that it sends to the rest of the plant, deep spreading root.
Tree roots can cause damage to buildings.
route:
A way that you follow to get from one place to another.
Which is the best route to take? Motorists are advised to find an alternative route,
a coastal route.

rout:
A situation in which somebody is defeated easily and completely in a battle or
competition.
Only the skill of the goalkeeper prevented the match from turning into a rout. The
offensive into rebel-held territory had ended in a rout.
sceptic:
A person who usually doubts that claims or
statements are true, especially those that other
people believe in. I am a born sceptic.
He was unable to convince the sceptics in the
audience.
septic:
(of a wound or part of the body) infected with
harmful bacteria, a septic finger.
A dirty cut may go septic.
sea: The salt water that covers most of the earth’s surface and
surrounds its continents and islands, to travel by sea, a cottage by
the sea. The waste was dumped in the sea. The wreck is lying at
the bottom of the sea.
see:
use eyes:
To become aware of somebody/something by
using your eyes. She looked for him but couldn't
see him in the crowd. I looked out of the
window but saw nothing.
secession:
The fact of an area or group becoming independent from the
country or larger group that it belongs to

session:
A period of time that is spent doing a particular activity,
a photo/recording/training, etc. session.
The course is made up of 12 two-hour sessions. She has a weekly
session at the health club on Saturdays. Two soccer fans plunged
to their deaths after a heavy drinking session
sensible:
Able to make good judgements based on reason and experience
rather than emotion;
She's a sensible sort of person. I think that's a very sensible idea.
Say something sensible.
I think the sensible thing would be to take a taxi home.

sensitive:
To people’s feelings.
Aware of and able to understand other people and their feelings, a
sensitive and caring man, sensitive to something .
She is very sensitive to other people's feelings.
Sensual: carnal, self-indulgent

Sensuous: pertaining to the senses

The weak man is a slave to his sensual pleasures.
We enjoy the rich and sensuous beauty of Shakespeare's plays.

sent:
PAST TENSE, PAST PARTICIPLE OF SEND
scent:
The pleasant smell that something has.
The air was filled with the scent of wild flowers. These flowers
have no scent.
soar:
If the value, amount or level of something soars,
it rises very quickly.
Air pollution will soon soar above safety levels.
Unemployment has soared to 18%.
sore: If a part of your body is sore, it is painful, and often red, especially
because of infection or because a muscle has been used too much to
have a sore throat. His feet were sore after the walk. My stomach
is still sore (= painful) after the operation.
sole: Only; single, the sole surviving member of the family. My sole
reason for coming here was to see you. This is the sole means of
access to the building.
soul:
spirit of person.
The spiritual part of a person, believed to exist after death.
He believed his immortal soul was in peril.
The howling wind sounded like the wailing of lost souls (= the
spirits of dead people who are not in heaven).
spacious:
Large and with plenty of space for people to
move around in.
The hotel rooms are spacious and comfortable.
specious: Seeming right or true but actually wrong or false S.
steal:
To take something from a person, shop/store,
etc. without permission and without intending to
return it or pay for it.
We found out he'd been stealing from us for
years. I'll report you to the police if I catch you
stealing again.
steel: A strong hard metal that is made of a
mixture of iron and carbon, the iron and steel
industry.
The frame is made of steel. The bridge is
reinforced with huge steel girders.
story: A description of events and people that the writer or speaker has
invented in order to entertain people.
I tell you a story? He read the children a story. A bed time story.
storey: A level of a building, a floor, the upper/lower storey of the house,
a single-storey/two-storey building.
straight: Not in curve.
Not in a curve or at an angle; in a straight line.
Can you stretch your arms out straighter? He was too tired to
walk straight.
strait: A narrow passage of water that connects two seas or large areas of
water, the Strait(s) of Gibraltar
tail: Of bird/animal/fish.
The part that sticks out and can be moved at the back of the body of
a bird, an animal or a fish.
The dog ran up, wagging its tail.
The male has beautiful tail feathers.
tale: A story created using the imagination, especially one that is full of
action and adventure Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities’ a
fairy/moral/romantic, etc. tale. His latest book is a delightful
children’s tale about talking animals.
team: A group of people who play a particular
game or sport against another group of
people, a football/baseball, etc. team,
a team event.
Whose team are you in?
Whose team are you on? The team
is/are not playing very well this season.
teem: To fall heavily. The rain was teeming
down. It was teeming with rain.
Tell: means to give information (the truth,
lies, stories, the time or to calculate, to
distinguish or to order.)
Say: Say is used for actual words as they are
spoken, or for their meaning in indirect
speech. He said to his daughter "You are
very silly." (Direct) He told his daughter
that she was very silly. (Indirect)
 there:
There is, are, was, were, etc. used to show that
something exists or happens.
There's a restaurant around the corner.
There are two people waiting outside.
their:
Of or belonging to them.
Their parties are always fun. Which is their
house?
travel:
To go from one place to another, especially over a
long distance to travel around the world.
I go to bed early if I'm travelling the next day.
I love travelling by train. We always travel first
class.
travail:
An unpleasant experience or situation that
involves a lot of hard work, difficulties and/or
suffering.
trial:
law A formal examination of evidence in court by a judge and often
a jury, to decide if somebody accused of a crime is guilty or not a
murder trial.
He's on trial for murder.
trail: A long line or series of marks that is left by somebody/something, a
trail of blood tourists who leave a trail of litter everywhere they go.
The hurricane left a trail of destruction behind it.
troop:
Connected with soldiers, especially in large
group, troop movements.
troupe:
A group of actors, singers, etc. who work together.
unable:
Unable to do something, not having the skill,
strength, time, knowledge, etc. to do something.
He lay there, unable to move. I tried to contact
him but was unable to.
She was unable to hide her excitement.
enable:
Enable somebody to do something to make it
possible for somebody to do something.
The software enables you to create your own
DVDs.
A new programme to enable older people to
study at college.
unity: The state of being in agreement and working
together; the state of being joined together
to form one unit. European unity, a plea for
unity, within the party, unity of purpose.

union: An organization of workers, usually in a

particular industry, that exists to protect
their interests, improve conditions of work,
etc.
I've joined the union, a union member.
unison: in unison (with somebody/something)
if people do or say something in unison,
they all do it at the same time if people or
organizations are working in unison, they
are working together, because they agree
with each other (music) if singers or
musicians sing or play in unison, they sing
or play notes at the same pitch or at one or
more octaves apart
urban: Connected with a town or city, damage to both urban and rural
environment suburban areas urban life, urban development (= the
process of building towns and cities or making them larger)
urban renewal/regeneration (= the process of improving the
buildings, etc. in the poor parts of a town or city)efforts to
control urban sprawl (= the spread of city buildings into the
countryside).
urbane: Good at knowing what to say and how to behave in social
situations; appearing relaxed and confident.
He was charming and urbane, full of witty conversation.
I looked at the urbane, relaxed figure seated opposite.
Vacation:
One of the periods of time when universities or courts of law are
closed;
One of the periods of time when schools, colleges, universities or
courts of law are closed.

vocation:
A type of work or way of life that you believe is especially suitable
for you.
Nursing is not just a job—it's a vocation. She believes that she has
found her true vocation in life.
You missed your vocation—you should have been an actor.
vain:
That does not produce the result you want.
She closed her eyes tightly in a vain attempt to
hold back the tears.
I knocked loudly in the vain hope that someone
might answer.
vein:
Any of the tubes that carry blood from all parts
of the body towards the heart, the jugular vein.
The nurse was having trouble finding a vein in
his arm.
vane:
A flat blade that is moved by wind or water and
is part of the machinery in a windmill, etc.
The windmill’s sails are wooden vanes whose
angle can be adjusted from inside the mill.
venal:
Prepared to do dishonest or immoral things in
return for money.
venial:
(of a sin or mistake) not very serious and
therefore able to be forgiven.
verbal:
Relating to words.
The job applicant must have good verbal skills,
non-verbal communication (= expressions of
the face, gestures, etc.)
verbose:
Using or containing more words than are
needed, a verbose speaker/style.
Much academic language is obscure and
verbose.
The editors received streams of verbose
articles from young hopeful journalists.
vice:
Criminal activities.
Plain-clothes detectives from the vice squad.
wise:
Able to make sensible decisions and give good advice because of the
experience and knowledge that you have, a wise old man.
I'm older and wiser after ten years in the business.
virtual:
Almost or very nearly the thing described, so that any slight
difference is not important.
The country was sliding into a state of virtual civil war.
The company has a virtual monopoly in this area of trade. He
married a virtual stranger.

virtuous:
Behaving in a very good and moral way, a wise and virtuous man.
She lived an entirely virtuous life.
Unmarried women were expected to live modest, virtuous lives.
waist:
The area around the middle of the body between the ribs and the
hips, often narrower than the areas above and below.
He put his arm around her waist.
She was paralysed from the waist down (= in the area below her
waist).
waste:
not use well.
To use more of something than is necessary or useful,
waste something to waste time/food/energy waste something on
something.
Why waste money on clothes you don't need?
We got straight down to business without
wasting time on small talk.
wave:
of water.
A raised line of water that moves across the
surface of the sea, ocean, etc.
Huge waves were breaking on the shore.
Surfers flocked to the beach to ride the waves.

waive:
Waive something to choose not to demand
something in a particular case, even though you
have a legal or official right to do so.
He waived his right to appeal against the
verdict.
We have decided to waive the tuition fees in
your case.
He has agreed to waive his rights to the money.
weak:
Not physically strong.
She is still weak after her illness. His legs felt weak. She suffered from a weak
heart.
week:
A period of seven days, either from Monday to Sunday or from Sunday to Saturday.
last/this/next week.
It rained all week. What day of the week is it? He comes to see us once a week .
weather:
The condition of the atmosphere at a particular
place and time, such as the temperature, and if
there is wind, rain, sun, etc.
hot/cold/wet/fine/summer/windy, etc. weather.
Did you have good weather on your trip? I'm
not going out in this weather! There's going to
be a change in the weather.

whether:
Used to express a doubt or choice between two
possibilities.
He seemed undecided whether to go or stay. It
remains to be seen whether or not this idea can
be put into practice.
I asked him whether he had done it all
himself or whether someone had helped him.
 Were ‘be’ form of the
verb. wear:
clothing/decoration
Wear something to have something on your body as a piece of
clothing, a decoration, etc.
She was wearing a new coat. Do I have to wear a tie? Was she
wearing a seat belt?
He wore glasses. All delegates must wear a badge. She always
wears black (= black clothes).
where:
In or to what place or situation.
Where do you live? I wonder where they will
take us to. We then moved to Paris, where we
lived for six years.
wreath:
An arrangement of flowers and leaves, especially
in the shape of a circle, placed on graves, etc. as
a sign of respect for somebody who has died.
The Queen laid a wreath at the war memorial.
wreathe:
Wreathe something (in/with something) to
surround or cover something.
The mountain tops were wreathed in mist.
The plant grew everywhere, its stems wreathed
with soft blue flowers.
Her face was wreathed in smiles (= she was
smiling a lot).
yoke:
A long piece of wood that is fastened
across the necks of two animals,
especially oxen, so that they can pull
heavy loads. Rough treatment or
something that restricts your freedom
and makes your life very difficult to bear
the yoke of imperialism. Young people
often chafe under the yoke of parental
control. A piece of wood that is shaped to
fit across a person’s shoulders so that
they can carry two equal loads.
A part of a dress, skirt, etc. that fits
around the shoulders or hips and from
which the rest of the cloth hangs.
yolk:
The round yellow part in the middle of
an egg.