notes in class

1.   leery (adj.)

-not trusting of someone or something and usually avoiding them if possible

-example: I've always been a bit leery of authority figures.

2.   insatiable (adj.)

-especially of a desire or need) too great to be satisfied

-example: Like so many politicians, he had an insatiable appetite/desire/hunger for power.

3.   commemorate (v.)

-to remember officially and give respect to a great person or event, especially by a public ceremony or by making a statue or special building

-example: Gathered all together in this church, we commemorate those who lost their lives in the great war.

4.   adjunct (v.)

-something added or connected to a larger or more important thing

-example: I hoped I would find the computer course a useful adjunct to my other studies.

5.   prance (v.)

-to walk in an energetic way and with more movement than necessary

-example: It's pathetic to see fifty-year-old rock stars prancing around on stage as if they were still teenagers.

6.   beget (v.)

-(1) old use to be the father of

-(2) to cause

-example: In the Bible it says that Adam begat Cain and Abel.

7.   covenant (n.)

-a formal agreement between two or more people; a promise

-example: The contract contained a restrictive covenant against building on the land.

8.   subside (v.)   

-If a condition subsides, it becomes less strong or extreme

-example: The police are hoping that the violence will soon subside.

9.   recede (v.)

-to move further away into the distance, or to become less clear or less bright

-example: As the boat picked up speed, the coastline receded into the distance until finally it became invisible.

10.   ebb (v.)

-(1) When the sea or tide ebbs, it moves away from the coast and falls to a lower level.

-(2) If a physical or emotional feeling ebbs, it becomes less strong or disappears

-example: He could feel his strength ebbing (away).

11.   fidget (v.) 

-to make continuous small movements which annoy other people

-example: Children can't sit still for long without fidgeting.

12.   pristine (adj.)

-new or almost new, and in very good condition 

-example: Washing machine for sale - only 2 months old and in pristine condition.

13.   ramble (v.)

-to walk for pleasure, especially in the countryside

-example: I love to ramble through the fields and lanes in this part of the country.

14.   gingerly (adj.)

-in a way that is careful or cautious 

 -example: Holding her painful back, she sat down gingerly on the bench.

15.   friction (n.)

- the force which makes it difficult for one object to slide along the surface of another or to move through a liquid or gas

-example: When you rub your hands together the friction produces heat.

16.   stall (v.) 

-to delay taking action or avoid giving an answer in order to have more time to make a decision or get an advantage 

-example: She says she'll give me the money next week but I think she's just stalling (for time).

17.   flaunt (v.)

-to show or make obvious something you are proud of in order to get admiration 

-example: He's got a lot of money but he doesn't flaunt it.

18.   zenith (n.)

-the best or most successful point or time 

-example: In the 1860s, Tolstoy was at the zenith of his achievement.

19.   spearhead (v.)

-to lead something such as an attack or a course of action

-example: British troops spearheaded the invasion.

20.   trust (n.) 

-an organization which controls property and/or money for another person

-example: He works for a charitable trust.

21.   discursive (adj.)

-tending to depart from the main point or cover a wide range of subjects

-example: As a rule, her conversation, though pleasing, was discursive and lacked central motive, but one morning she had genuine news to impart.

22.   negate (v.)

-to cause something to have no effect 

-example: The increase in our profits has been negated by the rising costs of running the business.

23.   exploit (v.)

-(1)to use something for advantage 

-(2)to use someone or something unfairly for your own advantage 

-example: We need to make sure that we exploit our resources as fully as possible.

24.   incremental (adj.)

-in a series of amounts

-example: Most research proceeds by small incremental advances.

25.   meticulous (adj.)

-very careful and with great attention to every detail

-example: Many hours of meticulous preparation have gone into writing the book.