Week 15: vocabulary (etymology)

1)  Wreak havoc idiom

To cause confusion and lack of order that result in damage or trouble

e.g. The typhoon wreaked havoc on the coastal town.

2)  Chicken-or-egg adjective

Describe a situation involving the question of cause and effect, or which of two things came first

e.g. Does happiness cause smiling, or does smiling cause happiness? This is a real chicken-or-egg question.

3)  Benign adjective

Not likely to result in death

e.g. Betty was relieved when the doctor told her the tumor was benign.

4)  Curtail verb

To reduce or limit something or to stop something before it is finished

e.g. The flood gates curtailed the rise of water flowing into the building.

5)   Mitigate verb

To make something less severe or less unpleasant

e.g. Carol bought a protective case for her phone to help mitigate any damage if she dropped it on the ground.

6)  Predispose verb

To make someone more likely to behave in a particular way or to suffer from a particular illness or condition

e.g. Bob is predisposed to developing heart disease since his farther and grandfather both had it.

7)  Transient adjective

Lasting for only a short time; temporary

e.g. The construction company hired transient workers to finish the project.

8)  Absurd adjective

Ridiculous or completely unreasonable

e.g. It is absurd to think that I would want to go on a date with Steven!

9) At the heart of idiom

At the most important part of

e.g. The cathedral can be found at the heart of the city.

10) whopping adjective

Much bigger than the usual size

e.g. After running her air conditioner all summer, Mary had a whopping electricity bill.

11) Inhibit verb

To take an action that makes something less likely to happen, or that discourages someone from doing something

e.g. The government wants to inhibit workplace accidents by passing new safety regulations.

12) Variation on a theme noun

In music, a part of a piece that repeats familiar material in a different way

e.g. The film’s score included many variations on a theme.

13) Authentic adjective

Being what it is claimed to be; genuine

e.g. Greg wanted to make sure the diamond ring was authentic before he proposed to Jenny.

14) Dynamic noun

A force that produces movement or change

e.g. You need to consider all the dynamics before investing in the stock market.

15) Culinary adjective

Connected with cooking, especially as a developed skill or art

e.g. Tom wants to study new culinary techniques to become a better chef.

16) Visionary noun

A person who is able to imagine how a country, society, industry, etc. will or should develop in the future and to plan in a suitable way

e.g. The country needs a new visionary if it wants to continue to advance.

17) Refine verb

To improve something by making small changes

e.g. Maggie took great care while she refined her research paper.

18) Bittersweet adjective

Containing a mixture of sadness and happiness

e.g. It was bittersweet to watch my daughter graduate from high school because I knew she would soon be leaving home.

19) Rarefied adjective

Not ordinary, especially because of being related to wealth, high social position, art or literature

e.g. Cartography is a rarefied profession since only a few people are skilled enough to make it a career.

20) Fringe noun

The outer or less important part of an area, group or activity

e.g. Martha avoids driving around the fringes of the city because she thinks they are less safe than the city center.

21) Maddening adjective

Annoying

e.g. Terrence couldn’t stand the maddening sounds of the city.

22) Alight verb

To get out of a vehicle

e.g. When you alight from the bus, please watch for other vehicles.

23) Foliage noun

The leaves of a plant or tree, or leaves on the stems or branches on which they are growing

e.g. Autumn is my favorite season because the foliage turns orange, red and yellow.

24) Half the fun idiom

A large part of the enjoyment

e.g. Preparing for the party is half the fun!

25) Flank verb

To be at the side of someone or something

e.g. The general was flanked by officers on either side of him.