Tuesday, 29 April 2014

Most Important English Vocabulary XIII

1.    Anodyne (?????????)
Meaning: capable of relieving pain
Example: But philosophy failed, as it will probably fail till some far-off age, to find an anodyne for the spiritual distresses of the mass of men.

2.    Bemused
Meaning: perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
Example:  They were marching in the middle of the street, chanting and singing and disrupting traffic while countless New Yorkers looked on, some bemused, others applauding.

3.    Reprise
Meaning: repeat an earlier theme of a composition
Example:  The live set reprises material from this remarkable group's earlier Aurora CD.

4.    Parsimonious (????????)
Meaning: excessively unwilling to spend
Example:  Pill-splitting is catching on among parsimonious prescription-takers who want to lower costs.

5.    Atavism (????????)
Meaning: a reappearance of an earlier characteristic
Example:  Criminal atavism might be defined as the sporadic reversion to savagery in certain individuals.

6.    Turgid
Meaning: ostentatiously lofty in style
Example:  His waspish wit can make him entertaining company at a party, but there is little evidence of that in his largely turgid prose.

7.    Halcyon(????)
Meaning: idyllically calm and peaceful;
Example:  He now seemed to have entered on a halcyon period of life�congenial society, romantic and interesting surroundings.

8.    Exegesis (???????, ????????)
Meaning: an explanation or critical interpretation (especially of the Bible)
Example:  Its musical significance has been presented with illuminating exegesis by more than one commentator.

9.    Apocryphal(?????????)
Meaning: being of questionable authenticity
Example:  We're reminded of the story, possibly apocryphal, that they used to play the Beach Boys' Smiley Smile in psychiatric wards to calm patients.

10.  Tureen(??? ???? ?? ???? ???????? ?????)
Meaning: large deep serving dish with a cover; for serving soups and stews
Example:  Soups are presented in big tureens and can be quite good.


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