Week 7: vocabulary (etymology)

1) If life hands you lemons, make lemonade idiom

If you encounter something negative, try to turn it into something positive

E.g. Jim didn’t get that promotion, but he’s using his extra free time to take a class. As they say: If life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

2)Down-to-earth adjective

Practical and realistic

e.g. Barbara is down-to-earth and practical when solving problems.

3) Pristine adjective

In very good condition, as if new

e.g. Sandy was amazed by the clear, blue water in the pristine lake.

4) Sustainability noun

The idea that goods and services should be produced in ways that do not damage the environment

e.g. Many organizations promote sustainability because they want to protect the environment.

5) Bemoan verb

To complain about or express sadness

e.g. Ted bemoaned the loss of his faithful dog.

6) Smitten adjective

Loving someone or liking something very much

e.g. Karla was smitten from the moment she first met James. Today, they’ve been married for 30 years!

7) Cleave verb

To separate or divide, or cause

E.g. The earthquake cleaved the ground in half.

8) Crowning glory noun

The greatest or most beautiful thing

e.g. The artist’s crowning glory was the portrait of a young man.

9) Beacon noun

A light on a hill or in a tower that warns people of something or is a signal or guide

e.g. The ship followed the lighthouse beacon to find its way through the stormy seas.

10) Meander verb

To follow a route that is not straight or direct

e.g. Steven meandered through the city for hours before he found the restaurant.

11) Subtle adjective

Not obvious, and therefore difficult to notice

e.g. I detected a subtle change in his attitude towards us.

12) and so forth

Used instead of mentioning more of a similar type of thing that has already been mentioned

e.g. They have a right to their own culture, their own religion, their own language, and so forth.

13) From scratch idiom

Completely from the beginning

e.g. Parker enjoys building things from scratch, including most of the furniture in his home.

14) Breeze noun

Something that is easy to do

e.g. Kristin thought the simple math assignment was a breeze.

15) Spawn verb

To cause something new, or many new things, to grow or start suddenly

e.g. Toby’s confusing question spawned a lengthy discussion.

16)  Ethos noun

The set of moral briefs, attitudes, habits, etc., that are characteristic of a person or group

e.g. The company ethos is based on Biblical principal.

17) Ring true phrasal verb

To seem to be the truth

e.g. This article about travel rings true with my own experience.

18) Synonymous adjective

Having the same or nearly the same meaning

e.g. In the U.S., fall is synonymous with the changing colors of the trees.

19) Risky adjective

Holding the possibility of danger, defeat or loss

e.g. Jasmine made a risky financial investment, but it paid off.

20) Resonate verb

To be understood in a deep or emotional manner

e.g. The motivational speaker’s message resonated with the audience.

21)  Wistful adjective

Sad and thinking about something that is impossible or past

e.g. Steven thought of the wistful memories from his time in Germany.

22)  Helm verb

To control the direction in which something travels

e.g. The board of directors selected a new CEO to helm the company.

23)  Tout verb

To advertise or praise something, often to encourage its use or sale

e.g. The store owner touted his new line of vacuum cleaners.

24)  Get short shrift phrasal verb

To be treated without sympathy and given little attention

e.g. The actor got short shrift after the scandal broke.

25)  Imbue with phrasal verb

To fill something or someone with a quality or feeling

e.g. Cynthia was imbued with compassion when she saw the lost dog.