· Pungent (pronounced ˈpʌn.dʒənt) = (adjective) having a sharply strong taste or smell e.g., The pungent smell of frying onions.// e.g., The next thing was a pungent smell of burning plastic.// e.g., ‘Mixed with the pungent smell of hay, I shall never forget it, ever!’ /// (of comment, criticism, or humor) having a sharp and caustic (= sarcastic; pronounced ˈkɔː.stɪk) quality e.g., He has expressed some fairly pungent criticisms.// e.g., The Duke of Norfolk, in the next row, offered pungent comments about one or two of them.// e.g., Fortunately, his blog is still there to read and enjoy his sardonic, pungent wit (= mental sharpness and inventiveness; keen intelligence; pronounced wɪt) - although it does seem to be growing mold.
· Hackneyed (pronounced ˈhæk.nid) = (adjective) (of a phrase or idea) having been overused; unoriginal and trite (= (of a remark, opinion, or idea) overused and consequently of little import; lacking originality or freshness; pronounced traɪt) e.g., Hackneyed old sayings.// e.g., It was full to overflowing of hackneyed sexist stereotypes.// e.g., His boss can take even a hackneyed phrase and let it dangle (= hang or swing loosely) suggestively in the air until a dozen meanings reveal themselves.
· Bandit (pronounced ˈbandɪt) = (noun) (plural bandits or banditti) a robber or outlaw belonging to a gang and typically operating in an isolated or lawless area. Banditry is the life and practice of bandits (***** for this). See https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7d/Briganti_1862_from_Bisaccia.jpg and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFPVIB1MVNg // e.g., The bandit produced a weapon and demanded money.// e.g., ‘First, it could be bandits or highway robbers or second it could be another of your rabbit friends.’// e.g., Scholars commonly describe these Mexican outlaws as ‘social bandits.’ /// (military slang) An enemy aircraft e.g., ‘At that moment I saw the two Thunderbolts flying ahead of them, and I reported bandits approaching.’
· Bulge (pronounced bʌldʒ) = (noun) (also known as salient) a rounded swelling which distorts an otherwise flat surface. For hernia See https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Colostomy_and_parastomal_hernia.JPG and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Hernia.JPG // e.g., The bulge was back, and so were the cortisone injections.// e.g., The hernia may look like a bulge or swelling in the groin area./// (Military) A piece of land which projects outwards from an otherwise regular line. See (German attack plan to pinch out the Soviet-occupied Kursk salient which resulted in the battle of Kursk, 1943) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salient_(military)#/media/File:Kursk-1943-Plan-GE.svg and (Ardennes battle, 1944) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/The_Ardennes_15_Dec_1944.jpg and (map of the opening of the salient, the start of the battle of Bulge, 1945) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Wacht_am_Rhein_map_%28Opaque%29.svg // e.g., The advance created an eastward-facing bulge in the line.// e.g., The Germans planned powerful attacks from the areas near Orel and Belgorod toward Kursk to surround and destroy the Soviet forces within the bulge./// (informal) (in singular) An unusual temporary increase in number or size e.g., A bulge in the birth rate.// e.g., People who were born in the mid-1950’s are the biggest bulge of the baby boom cohort (= a group of people banded together or treated as a group; pronounced kəʊ.hɔːt)./// (urban slang) The bulge occurs when a dude (= a man, a guy) wears really skin tight pants or speedos (= men’s brief, tight swimming trunks) and you can see the outline of his genitals (#)./// (verb; no object) Swell or protrude (= extend beyond or above a surface) to an incongruous (= not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something; pronounced ɪnˈkɒŋ.ɡru.əs) extent e.g., The veins in his neck bulged.// e.g., In the high mountains, the bellies of top climbers bulge like bowling balls./// Be full of and distended with e.g., A briefcase bulging with documents.// e.g., All over the city, pockets are bulging with loose change and the burden of having no one to give it to.
#/media/File:Kursk-1943-Plan-GE.svg){kind=link}
· Speedos = (noun) (Speedo is an Australian trademark of swimwear) men’s brief, tight swimming trunks. They are swim briefs or racing briefs. For swim briefs See https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/USC_Waterpolo_Player.jpg and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Dolcegab_Sommer2004.jpg
· Trunks (pronounced trʌŋks) = (plural noun) (US English) Men’s shorts, worn especially for swimming (swimming or bathing trunks or bathing suit) or boxing or track.// (UK English) It may additionally mean men’s underpants with legs that reach mid-thigh (also called boxer briefs). (***** for the British meaning). (My comment as an Aussie guy: in Australia, it may also have the British meaning). See (as underwear) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/Speedo_zwembroek-1.jpg and (swimming) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Alexis_Chochina.jpg // e.g., Bathing trunks.// Finally, stripped to brown trunks and a white shirt, Houdini made his entrance in the pool area.
· Subsidence (pronounced səbˈsaɪ.dəns or ˈsʌb.sɪ.dəns) = (mass noun) The gradual caving in or sinking of an area of land. See https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/95/Crooked_house_dudley.jpg and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/SubsidedRoad.jpg and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Gwsanjoaquin.jpg and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Wiki_Image_Rev1.svg // e.g., The race was abandoned because of subsidence of the track.// (as modifier) e.g., Subsidence damage.// e.g., Also, at least on the Atlantic coast, you have both sea level rise and land subsidence going on at the same time.
· Condensation (pronounced ˌkɒn.denˈseɪ.ʃən) = (mass noun) water which collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it. See (window) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Window_in_Ireland.jpg and (airplane wings) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Cloud_over_A340_wing.JPG and (cloud chambers of liquid) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Effect_similar_to_contrails_created_in_a_cloud_chambers.jpg // e.g., The inside of the cab steamed up with condensation.// e.g., He wiped away a layer of condensation from the surface, all cold and slippery, then peered into his pores.// e.g., Thinking back, I recalled droplets of condensation./// The conversion of a vapor or gas to a liquid e.g., The cloud is caused by condensation in the air.// e.g., ‘Avoid condensation of water on fruit after it is removed from cold storage.’ /// (countable noun) (Chemistry) A reaction in which two molecules combine to form a larger molecule, producing a small molecule such as H₂O (= water) as a by-product./// (Psychology) The fusion of two or more images or ideas into a single composite or new image, as a primary process in unconscious thought, exemplified in dreams./// (countable noun) A concise (= giving a lot of information clearly and in a few words; brief but comprehensive) version of something, especially a text e.g., A readable condensation of the recent literature.// e.g., The second, ‘Of the Passions', was a condensation and revision of the second book of the Treatise.// e.g., He’s a condensation of the many things that are broken in people - the dull, agonizing itches that persist deep within us.
· Stand up for (vs.) Stand up to
· Stand up for = (phrasal verb) Speak or act in support of e.g., If we never stand up for ourselves then we'll never get anywhere in this world.// e.g., She learned to stand up for herself.// e.g., Parents need to control their kids, and kids need to stand up for themselves.
· Stand up to = (phrasal verb) make a spirited defense (defence is UK English) against e.g., Giving workers the confidence to stand up to their employers (My comment: are you kidding?).// e.g., ‘I learned early on the spirit to stand up to my father, that he wasn't right because he was bigger than me or had a louder voice.’./// Be resistant to the harmful effects of prolonged use e.g., ‘Choose a carpet that will stand up to wear (pronounced weə(r)) and tear (pronounced teə(r)).’// e.g., 'But unfortunately he has had problems, and I don’t really think his legs would stand up to any more racing.'
· Apt to (= tending to do something; e.g., The party’s views were apt to discord (= (of people) disagree) with those of the leading members of the administration; pronounced dɪsˈkɔːd)
· Renowned = (adjective; known or talked about by many people; famous) e.g., The renowned physicist Stephen (pronounced ˈstiːv(ə)n) Hawking had died at the age of 76 (from the media).
· Be involved with (vs.) Be/ get involved in
· Be involved with = (verb) be engaged in an emotional or personal relationship e.g., Ann told me she was involved with someone else.
· Be/get involved (in) = (verb) be or become occupied or engrossed in something e.g., Her husband had been very involved in his work.// e.g., She added that her daughter was clean living and that there was no suggestion she was involved in the drug scene.
· Compose of
· Convicted of
· Accuse (someone) of
· Bounty = (noun) (historical) (HMS Bounty) A ship of the British navy on which in 1789 part of the crew, led by Fletcher Christian, mutinied against their commander, William Bligh, and set him adrift in an open boat with eighteen crewmen. See https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/HMS_BOUNTY_II_with_Full_Sails.jpg and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/The_Mutineers_turning_Lieut_Bligh_and_part_of_the_Officers_and_Crew_adrift_from_His_Majesty%27s_Ship_the_Bounty_%28_29_April_1789%29_RMG_S0713_%28cropped%29.jpg /// (My comment: You may have watched the 1962 movie ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ with Marlon Brando. See https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Poster_for_Mutiny_on_the_Bounty.jpg )./// (noun) (plural = bounties) A sum paid for killing or capturing a person or animal. See (reward offered for information) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/20_Pounds_reward.jpg and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Taliban_bounty_flyer.jpg // e.g., There was an increased bounty on his head.// e.g., Mexican drug cartels have even offered a bounty for the killing of a U.S. law-enforcement officer.// e.g., He wondered what the bounty on his head was now./// (historical) A sum paid by the state to encourage trade e.g., Bounties were paid to colonial producers of indigo (= a tropical plant of the pea family, which was formerly widely cultivated as a source of dark blue dye; pronounced ˈɪn.dɪ.ɡəʊ) dye./// A sum paid by the state to army or navy recruits on enlistment e.g., They do not qualify for their bounty because they have spent insufficient time at summer camp.// e.g., ‘Why, in that most patriotic of years, was the new U.S. government compelled to lure recruits with promises of bounties, clothing, and land?’ /// (literary) Something given or occurring in generous amounts e.g., The bounties of nature.// e.g., The bounties of Mother Nature and wealth from recycled waste were well depicted at the one-day exhibition./// (mass noun) Generosity e.g., For millennia the people along the Nile have depended entirely on its bounty.// e.g., ‘What astonishing bounty there is in these careers!’ // e.g., There is love, kindness, and bounty in special relationships that bring you much happiness and joy.
· Deadlock = (noun; in singular) a situation, typically one involving opposing parties, in which no progress can be made e.g., ‘I detected in the president and prime minister a desire to resolve the present deadlock.’ // e.g., The latest Norwegian delegation is unlikely to end the present deadlock and to restart the peace talks.// e.g., After half a year of political deadlock Germany agreed to a coalition government (from the media)./// A situation in a contest or game where the scores are equal e.g., Manchester broke the deadlock with a penalty after 15 minutes.// e.g., Five minutes into the second half the Derbyshire outfit broke the deadlock following a disputed free-kick./// (UK English) A type of lock requiring a key to open and close it, as distinct from a spring lock; a deadbolt (or dead bolt). See https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dc/Two_holes_no_waiting.JPG and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plIGheaQL54 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d02JeWLgmwQ /// (verb; no object) Cause a situation or opposing parties to come to a point where no progress can be made because of fundamental disagreement e.g., The jurors were deadlocked on six charges.// e.g., The all-white jury deadlocked in Killen’s case, but seven others were convicted./// Be deadlocked = (of a contest or game) be in a tie (= a result in a game or other competitive situation in which two or more competitors or teams have the same score or ranking; a draw) e.g., With the score still deadlocked at three-three.// e.g., The opposing sides had been deadlocked at nil-nil, following an exciting first half./// (UK English) Secure a door with a deadlock e.g., ‘I stood there watching him for five seconds and knew he couldn’t get out so ran out and deadlocked the front door.’ // e.g., The problem was that Mother had accidentally deadlocked the door.
· Latch (or catch; or sneck in Northern England and Scotland) (locking mechanism) = a type of mechanical fastener that joins two or more objects or surfaces while allowing for their regular separation. A latch typically engages another piece of hardware on the other mounting surface. Depending upon the type and design of the latch, this engaged bit of hardware may be known as a keeper or strike. A latch is not the same as the locking mechanism of a door or window, although often they are found together in the same product (*****). See (door latch) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Latch_lock.jpg and (window latch) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/F%C3%B6nsterhake.jpg and (door crossbar) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Asso%2C_chiavistello_porta_Magnocavallo.JPG and (cabin hook latch) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Red_latch.JPG
· Standoff (1 word) = (noun) a stalemate or deadlock between two equally matched opponents in a dispute or conflict e.g., The 14-day-old standoff was no closer to being resolved.// e.g., It used to be political and military stand-offs over big issues that caused crises in Northern Ireland.// e.g., The stand-offs developed between police and demonstrators angered at the handling of a week of violence since an Orange Order parade was re-routed.
· Stalemate (pronounced ˈsteɪlmeɪt) (it is not related to stale (food) (= no longer new or fresh, usually as a result of being kept for too long; pronounced steɪl) = (mass noun) (Chess) a position counting as a draw (= a game that ends with the score even; a tie), in which a player is not in check but cannot move except into check. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SMfknyjPxc and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abB2_Em3Ixo and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8sgexp7c3Q // e.g., ‘Last time I played him, it ended up in a stalemate.’// e.g., ‘So don’t tell me that this game will eventually come to a stalemate like chess, where the player turns over his king and quits.’ /// A situation in which further action or progress by opposing or competing parties seems impossible e.g., The war had again reached stalemate.// e.g., They came up with the scheme (pronounced skiːm) after plans for a one-way system reached a stalemate.// e.g., The Justice Ministers could not agree on the matter last week, and despite efforts by diplomats to resolve it over the last few days, it reached a stalemate./// (verb with object) Bring to or cause to reach stalemate e.g., The group played a key role in stalemating the negotiations.// e.g., Thus the major threat to society has been neutralized, but acts of resistance remain, the argument never finished, never answered, simply stalemated.// e.g., The teachers and district negotiators have stalemated on health care, early retirement incentives (incentive = a thing that motivates or encourages one to do something; pronounced ɪnˈsen.tɪv), salaries, duties and time.
· Allusion (pronounced əˈluː.ʒ(ə)n) (not to be confused with ‘illusion’) = (noun) an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly (= in a clear and detailed manner, leaving no room for confusion or doubt); an indirect or passing reference. Synonym = reference to.// e.g., An allusion to Shakespeare.// e.g., A classical allusion.// e.g., He makes allusions to poetry and classical music./// (mass noun) The practice of making allusions e.g., The use of allusion.// e.g., It’s an impressive, haunting work full of menace (= a person or thing that is likely to cause harm; a threat or danger; pronounced ˈmen.ɪs) and obvious political allusion.
· Haunt (pronounced hɔːnt in UK English and hɑːnt in US English) = (noun) a place frequented by a specified person or group of people e.g., The bar was a favorite haunt of artists of the time.// e.g., Elizabeth had strong connections with Croydon, one of her favorite haunts is the Old Palace, where she occasionally stayed. // e.g., ‘As I visited old haunts I was once again assailed by familiar feelings of disgust.’/// (verb with object) (of a ghost) manifest itself at a place regularly. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVOn-ZIDmcg and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCPDcIQstr8 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av2L0F2j-JA // e.g., A gray lady who haunts the chapel.// e.g., Sometimes Phyconos would wonder if the spirits of the plague victims still haunt the town in which the vampires lived./// (of a person or animal) frequent a place e.g., He haunts street markets.// e.g., ‘Before I knew it, I was haunting our best online auction site, TradeMe, every day.’ // e.g., I shall haunt the streets until my madness is quenched (quench = satisfy a desire// extinguish a fire// satisfy one’s thirst by drinking)./// Be persistently and disturbingly present in mind e.g., The sight haunted me for years.// e.g., His gloomy (= dark or poorly lit, especially so as to appear depressing or frightening) presence haunted her mind once more and she shut her eyes, trying to shut the memories of him away./// (of something unpleasant) continue to affect or cause problems for, e.g., Cities haunted by the shadow of cholera (pronounced ˈkɒl.ər.ə/).// e.g., Marilyn Monroe would continue to haunt his life and career.
· Cockney = (noun) (plural = cockneys) a native of East London, traditionally one born within hearing of Bow Bells. See (St Mary-le-Bow church) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/StMaryLeBowChurch.jpg and (costume) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Pearlykingandqueen.jpg // e.g., Most of the town is displaced cockneys getting away from the smoke of London./// The dialect or accent typical of cockneys e.g., English accents are not limited to cockney, upper-class twit or Mancunian./// (adjective) Of or characteristic of cockneys or their dialect or accent. For cockney accent/ dialect See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsJ1bVV1vk0 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2Hblhr1GWg and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2OLv8KH0CA // e.g., Cockney humor.// e.g.., This might sound odd, but I really hated his cockney accent in the film.
· Revamp (pronounced: a) Verb = riˈvæmp or rēˈvamp b) Noun = ˈriˌvæmp or ˈrēˌvamp) = (verb with object) (pronounced riˈvæmp or rēˈvamp) give new and improved form, structure, or appearance to e.g., An attempt to revamp the museum’s image.// e.g., Next on the agenda is revamping the front of the school.// e.g., Over recent years, the Waterford store has been continuously revamped and upgraded./// (noun) (pronounced) ˈriˌvæmp or ˈrēˌvamp) (noun; usually in singular) An act of improving the form, structure, or appearance of something e.g., A £50 million revamp of part of Bury town center could start next year.// e.g., An £10 million revamp of York’s bus service is in doubt as drivers today prepared for strike action./// A new and improved version e.g., Plans for a multi-million pound revamp of Beckenham Hospital are being unveiled.// e.g., The show was a revamp of an old idea.// e.g., It’s a much-loved old TV series that's had a hip revamp for the big screen.// e.g., The new theme tune turned out to be a revamp of the old 1990s intro, complete with pulsating orange skyscrapers.
· Demean = (verb with object) cause a severe loss in the dignity of and respect for someone or something e.g., ‘I had demeaned the profession.// e.g., ‘Other than demeaning me for napping in the laundry room it was our only conversation.’ // e.g., To think of students as customers, cheapens and demeans post-secondary education./// Demean oneself = do something that is beneath one’s dignity e.g., ‘I wouldn’t demean myself by running a mile, unless I was immediately going to follow it by running another 10 miles at least.’ // e.g., Too many people, though - many of them female - still seem to think that a woman demeans herself when she wears a revealing dress.// e.g., ‘Why would world-class athletes demean themselves in such a way?’
· Demeaning = (adjective) causing someone to lose dignity and the respect of others e.g., The poster was not demeaning to women.// e.g., The word was used twice in a demeaning manner.// e.g., They consider these a distorted and demeaning portrayal of their own tribal ancestors.
· Often is pronounced ˈɒf.ən or ˈɒf.tən. Many, even native speakers, don’t know that the pronunciation ˈɒf.tən is obsolete and was used by the lower social class! The origin of the word is extended form of ‘oft’ (that has German origin), probably influenced by the old English word ‘selden,’ meaning seldom. Early examples appear to be northern English. The word became general in the 16th century. In often, the [t] came back via a spelling-influenced pronunciation in the 1600s, as both literacy and printing expanded rapidly in England. E. J. Dobson’s authoritative work English Pronunciation 1500-1700 notes that Queen Elizabeth herself did not pronounce the [t], but that phonetically spelled lists made in the 17th century indicate that ‘the pronunciation without [t] seems to have been avoided in careful speech.’
· Deforestation = (noun) the action of clearing a wide area of trees. See https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Riau_deforestation_2006.jpg and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Malayasia_iko_2002169.jpg and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Manantenina_bushfire.jpg // e.g., A key aim is to try to halt widespread deforestation in the Amazon.// e.g., Deforestation caused by foreign logging (= the activity or business of felling trees and cutting and preparing the timber) companies.
· China is the world’s most populous (= having a large population; densely populated) country.
· Human trafficking is an important issue today as in many countries people are bought and sold as commodities (commodity = a raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as copper or coffee) (My comment: they treat them as merchandise (= goods to be bought and sold.; pronounced ˈmɜː.tʃən.daɪs or ˈmɜː.tʃən.daɪz)). It affects almost every country on Earth. It is important to stand up to slavery
· ‘I run a company that makes nuts (nut = a small flat piece of metal or other material, typically square or hexagonal, with a threaded hole through it for screwing onto a bolt as a fastener) and bolts (bolt = a metal pin or bar, in particular).’
· A computer can utilize (= make practical and effective use of) information of our digital footprint (including ‘likes’ on our social media) that perhaps for humans would not be very informative. There are special algorithms that can aggregate (= form or group into a class or cluster) information from thousands or millions of crumbs (crumb = a small fragment of bread, cake, or cracker; here it means a very small amount of something) of information and then create a very accurate prediction. But there are ethical dilemmas (pronounced daɪˈlem.ə or dɪˈlem.ə) of wadding (wade = walk through water or another liquid or soft substance; pronounced weɪd) into these waters. Governments, companies, and organizations may potentially (without asking you) try to infer your traits such as your political views, your sexual orientation, your religiosity, and intelligence (from the CNN) (My comment: it seems that Big Brother is watching everyone!).
· Religiose (pronounced rɪˈlɪdʒ.i.əʊs) = (adjective) excessively religious e.g., He was in a state of religiose condition./// Religiosity (noun) e.g., From his father he inherited a fervent (= having or displaying a passionate intensity; pronounced ˈfɜː.v(ə)nt) religiosity.
· Acquit (vs) Acquaint
· Acquit (pronounced əˈkwɪt) = (verb) (acquitted; acquitting; acquits) free someone from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty. Synonyms: clear, exonerate, find innocent, absolve.// e.g., He was acquitted on all counts.// e.g., The jury acquitted him of murder./// Conduct oneself or perform in a specified way e.g., All the young women in the contest acquitted themselves well.// e.g., The goalkeeper acquitted himself well.// e.g., He acquits himself well as director and coaxes (coax = persuade someone gradually or by flattery to do something) excellent performances from the adults.
· Acquaint (pronounced əˈkweɪnt) = (verb with object) (acquaint someone with) make someone aware of or familiar with e.g., New staff should be acquainted with fire exit routes.// e.g., ‘You need to acquaint yourself with the house style.’// e.g., ‘I was already well acquainted with his work.’ /// (be acquainted) know someone slightly e.g., ‘I am not acquainted with any young lady of that name.’ // e.g., ‘I’ll leave you two to get acquainted.’ // e.g., ‘Just about anyone who was ever acquainted with me knows that I do not trust people.’
· Boycott (pronounced ˈbɔɪkɒt) (the French noun is ‘boycotagge’ – it is not used in English) = (verb with object) withdraw from commercial or social relations with a country, organization, or person as a punishment or protest e.g., We will boycott all banks which take part in the loans scheme (pronounced skiːm)./// Refuse to buy or handle goods as a punishment or protest e.g., An advert urges consumers to boycott the firm’s coffee./// Refuse to cooperate with or participate in a policy or event ed., Most parties indicated that they would boycott the election./// (noun) A punitive (= inflicting or intended as punishment; pronounced ˈpjuː.nɪ.tɪv) ban on relations with other bodies, cooperation with a policy, or the handling of goods e.g., A boycott of the negotiations.// e.g., We are not in a situation, more precisely, we don’t have a relationship of forces that permits an active boycott.
· House = (noun) a legislative or deliberative assembly e.g., The sixty-member National Council, the country's upper house./// The House = (in the UK) the House of Commons or Lords; (in the US) the House of Representatives e.g., The government commanded an overall majority in the House.// e.g., And in the 1994 elections they went on to win a House majority./// A theater e.g., A hundred musicians performed in front of a full house./// (UK English) A performance in a theatre or cinema e.g., Tickets for the first house./// A religious community that occupies a particular building e.g., The Cistercian house at Clairvaux./// (UK English) (formal) A college of a university e.g., College House is New Zealand’s oldest and most traditional University College, and is home to 152 students at the University of Canterbury./// (My comment as a medic: in the UK they used for resident doctors (interns) the title ‘Senior House Officer’ where ‘House’ means hospital. Last years, the job title changed from SHO to ST1/ST2 (specialist trainee year 1 & year 2 and CT1/CT2 (core trainee year 1 & year 2)).
· Momentary (vs.) Monetary
· Momentary (pronounced ˈməʊm(ə)nt(ə)ri) (mnemonic trick for the word and its pronunciation: from ‘moment’) (not to be confused with ‘monetary’ (= of or relating to money or currency)) = (adjective) lasting for a very short time; brief e.g., A momentary lapse of concentration.
· Monetary (pronounced ˈmʌn.ɪ.tri in UK English and ˈmʌn.ə.tri in US English) = (adjective) of or relating to money or currency e.g., Documents with little or no monetary value.// International Monetary Fund (IMF) (= an international organization headquartered in Washington D.C., of 189 countries working to foster (= encourage or promote the development of something, typically something regarded as good) global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable (= able to be maintained at a certain rate or level) economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world (***** for IMF)).
· Lapse = (noun) a temporary failure of concentration, memory, or judgment e.g., A lapse of concentration in the second set cost her the match./// An interval or passage of time e.g., There was a considerable lapse of time between the two events./// (verb) (of a right, privilege, or agreement) become invalid because it is not used, claimed, or renewed; expire e.g., My membership to the gym has lapsed./// Pass gradually into an inferior state or condition e.g., The country has lapsed into chaos (pronounced ˈkeɪ.ɒs).
· Plumage (= a bird’s feathers collectively) is pronounced ˈpluː.mɪdʒ)
· GI = (noun) (plural = gis) A private soldier in the US Army e.g., She went off with a GI during the war./// (abbreviation) Glycemic index e.g., A food is considered to have a low GI if its score is below 55. (My comment as a medic: I need time to explain to you what exactly GI is and I will not waste it as you can find easy and fast lay articles on the web! My only comment is that there is an exaggeration over the role of GI. To my mind, GI alone may be misleading. Glycemic Load is another value that should be considered as well when estimating the GI of a meal)./// Gi = (noun) (plural = gis) A lightweight two-piece white garment worn in judo and other martial arts. A gi typically consists of loose-fitting pants (= trousers; I know that you know it but for me as an Australian may relate to underpants as it is rather an American term!) and a jacket that is closed with a cloth belt. See (judo – called keikogi) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Judo_newaza.jpg and (karate) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Kata1.jpg and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/JJS_Dojo.jpg /// (medicine/ anatomy) Gastrointestinal e.g., Bacteria in the GI tract fulfill many vital functions and are critical for digestion.
· Foster = (adjective) denoting someone that has a specified family connection through fostering rather than birth e.g., Foster parent./// (verb) encourage or promote the development of something, typically something regarded as good e.g., The teacher’s task is to foster learning./// Bring up a child that is not one’s own by birth e.g., As someone who has successfully fostered a child who is now an adult, Pat Whelen said she would definitely recommend it. (My comment: the family that fosters a child is called foster family).
· Creole (pronounced kriˈəʊl in UK English and kriˈoʊl in US English) = (noun) a person of mixed European and black descent, especially in the Caribbean.// a person of mixed African and European origin who speaks Creole ((^^) for the 2nd part of the definition). See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creole_language#/media/File:Guadeloupe_creole_2010-03-30.JPG // e.g., The Creoles, the black people of the Caribbean region, are the descendants of colonial-era slaves, Jamaican merchants, and West Indian laborers./// A descendant of Spanish or other European settlers in the Caribbean or Central or South America e.g., At the same time, certain ideas about relationships to the natural environment were a part of the racial formation of Belizean Creoles.// A white descendant of French settlers in Louisiana and other parts of the southern US e.g., French Creoles dominated Louisiana, even after Spain officially took over the colony in the mid-eighteenth century and some Spanish settled there./// A mother tongue formed from the contact of a European language - especially English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese (pronounced ˌpɔː.tʃəˈɡiːz)- with local languages, especially African languages spoken by slaves in the West Indies e.g., A Portuguese-based Creole./// (adjective) Relating to a Creole or Creoles e.g., A restaurant serving both international and Creole cuisine.// e.g., Research on pidgin and Creole languages.
· Pidgin (pronounced ˈpɪdʒ.ɪn) = (noun) (often as modifier) A grammatically simplified form of a language, typically English, Dutch, or Portuguese (pronounced ˌpɔː.tʃəˈɡiːz), some elements of which are taken from local languages, used for communication between people not sharing a common language e.g., A pidgin adopts the vocabulary of the dominant language in the area, which is then grafted onto a local grammar./// Another term for Tok Pisin (or Neo-Melanesian) = an English-based creole used as a commercial and administrative language in Papua New Guinea (pronounced ˌpæp.u.ə njuː ˈɡɪn.i)./// (as modifier) Denoting a simplified form of a language, especially as used by a non-native speaker e.g., We exchanged greetings, communicating in pidgin Spanish.
· Sandbox (1 word) (US English) (or sandpit in UK English) = (noun) (US English) a shallow box or hollow in the ground partly filled with sand for children to play in; a sandpit. See https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Sandpit.jpg and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/Our_Community_Place_Sandbox.jpg and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkcXRBhYZHU and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4AXw0N4CI0 // e.g., ‘Because the parasite can live in soil and sand, cover your sandboxes, so dogs and cats aren't tempted to relieve themselves there.’ (My comment: I like the expression ‘to relieve themselves’ as a more polite term for urination or defecation!)./// (Computing) A virtual space in which new or untested/ untrusting (adjective – not ‘untruted’) software or coding can be run securely e.g., A version of the search engine has been accessible for some time through Microsoft’s sandbox site here./// A box containing sand, especially one kept on a train to hold sand for sprinkling on to slippery rails. See https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Sandkasten_BR103.JPG and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/60009_Union_of_South_Africa_Using_sanders_to_pull_away.jpg // e.g., An installation for filling a rail vehicle sandbox comprises both a pressurized vessel containing sand or other granular material and a portable delivery head connected to the vessel./// (historical) A perforated container for sprinkling sand on to wet ink in order to dry it. See https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/PounceSprinkler.JPG // e.g., Until sometime in the Victorian era, the sandbox was a common item on writing desks./// (Hura crepitans) Tropical American tree whose seed cases were formerly used to hold sand for blotting ink. See https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Hura_crepitans_%28fruit%29.jpg and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Honolulu-GraceCooke-sandboxtree-full.JPG and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Hura_crepitans_03.jpg
· Box office (or ticket office) = a place at a theatre, cinema, etc. where tickets are bought or reserved. See https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/IaoTheaterBoxOffice.JPG and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Ticket_sales%2C_Charing_Cross_Road%2C_London.JPG and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/12/Box-office-6692.JPG // e.g., ‘If you really want to see a film, stop by one of our box offices to check ticket availability.’ // e.g., ‘I worked summers at the box office in the Traverse Theatre when I left school./// Used to refer to the commercial success of a film, play, or actor regarding the audience size or takings that they command e.g., (as modifier) ‘The movie was a huge box office hit.// e.g., Interestingly, the popularity of the songs is matched by the box-office performance of the films as well.
· Boxing Day = (UK English) (in the UK and Commonwealth) a public holiday celebrated on the first day (strictly, the first weekday) after Christmas Day. See (Toronto, Canada) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Boxing_Day_at_the_Toronto_Eaton_Centre.jpg and (England, 1962) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Keswick_Boxing_Day_hunt_1962.jpg // e.g., There will be no services on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and trains will start later than usual on Wednesday.// e.g., It was expected to be even busier today - the official Boxing Day bank holiday
· Fossil fuel = a natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms. See (coal) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Coal.jpg and (petrochemical refinery) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Grangemouth04nov06.jpg and (oil well) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Gulf_Offshore_Platform.jpg and (carbon dioxide (CO2) variations related to time) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/Carbon_Dioxide_400kyr.png // e.g., We now use half of our fossil fuel to light, heat and cool buildings and we should do something about it.// e.g., This fossil fuel could thus have been stored easily in 3,000 years at the present global growth rates.
· Sanctimonious (pronounced ˌsæŋk.tɪˈməʊ.ni.əs) = (adjective) (derogatory) making a show of being morally superior to other people e.g., ‘What happened to all the sanctimonious talk about putting her family first?’ // e.g., ‘How dare a midwife to behave in such a sanctimonious and self-righteous manner.’ // e.g., But with this aid went a lot of sanctimonious preaching about the superiority of the American way of life.
· Crafty = (adjective) clever at achieving one’s aims by indirect or deceitful (pronounced dɪˈsiːt.f(ə)l) methods e.g., A crafty crook faked an injury to escape from prison.// e.g., He was that sort of man, really quick and crafty.// e.g., Beware of a crafty person who undermines your achievement at work./// Involving or relating to indirect or deceitful methods e.g., He sneaked off to a toilet for a crafty smoke.// e.g., He is kidnapped, and his friends try to save him - but he is captured by the Queen’s crafty cunning./// (informal) Involving or relating to the making of objects by hand e.g., A market full of crafty pots and interesting earrings.// e.g., Sunday morning, Nicole, her mother, and I went shopping at a couple of cute little crafty stores.
· Minute = (pronounced mʌɪˈnjuːt) (adjective) (minutest) extremely small. Synonyms = tiny, minuscule.// e.g., A minute fraction of an inch.// e.g., Minute particles.// e.g., A newborn baby has a tiny heart and minute organs, and there is no margin for error or carelessness./// So small as to be insignificant e.g., He will have no more than a minute chance of exercising influence. (My comment: here ‘minute’ is an adjective and it is pronounced mʌɪˈnjuːt. If it were a noun, it would be pronounced ˈmɪnɪt, and we would say ‘He will have less than a minute to exercise influence.’)// e.g., Men focus first on minute detail, and operate most easily with a certain detachment.// e.g., The book had potential, but it was lost in a myriad of minute details./// (of an investigation or account) taking the smallest points into consideration; precise and meticulous e.g., A minute examination of the islands.// e.g., Any evidence recovered is then scrutinized in minute detail back at the lab.// e.g., ‘Wouldn’t that be something to examine in minute detail?’ /// (pronounced ˈmɪnɪt) (noun) A period of time equal to sixty seconds or a sixtieth of an hour e.g., He stood in the shower for ten minutes./// The distance covered in a minute by someone driving or walking e.g., The hotel is situated just five minutes from the center of the resort./// (informal) A very short time e.g., ‘Come and sit down for a minute.’ /// A point in time e.g., She was laughing one minute and crying the next./// A sixtieth of a degree of angular measurement (symbol: ʹ) e.g., Delta Lyrae is a double star with a separation of over 10 minutes of arc./// (pronounced ˈmɪnɪt) A summarized record of the proceedings at a meeting e.g., The only written record are the minutes of the meeting taken by Mr. Smith.// e.g., Tom is taking the minutes.// e.g., Secretary has the normal secretarial work of convening meetings and recording minutes./// An official memorandum authorizing or recommending a course of action e.g., An office minute recommending dissolution (= the closing down or dismissal of an assembly, partnership, or official body) of this forum to take effect from early June 2011 is being drafted for Second Commissioner approval./// (verb with object) record or note the proceedings of a meeting or a specified item among such proceedings e.g., The Secretary shall minute the proceedings of each meeting.// e.g., Mrs. Jones says that much of what was discussed at the meeting was not minuted./// Send a memorandum to someone e.g., ‘Look up the case and minute me about it.’ // e.g., ‘Strangely enough, my executive minuted me that it was very upset about that, but it did not do a great deal about it.’
· Janitor (US English and Scotland) (or caretaker in UK English) (pronounced ˈdʒæn.ɪ.tə(r)) = (noun) (US English) a person employed as a caretaker of a building; a custodian/ a person employed to take care of a large building, such as a school, and who deals with the cleaning, repairs, etc. (^^ for the 2nd part of the definition) See (a janitor cleaning the sidewalk) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/A_janitor_cleaning_up_the_sidewalk.jpg and (high school janitor) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPVGznxirn4 and (janitor prank) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nEOMu3RHtU // e.g., ‘Over the next decade he earned barely $200 from his music and was forced to work as a welder (= a person who welds (weld = join together metal pieces or parts by heating the surfaces to the point of melting using a blowtorch, electric arc, or other means, and uniting them by pressing, hammering, etc.)) and hotel janitor.’ // e.g., The New York contract, covering 30,000 janitors, doorkeepers, elevator operators and other maintenance (pronounced ˈmeɪn.tən.əns) workers, expires on May 12.// e.g., Back at the office, janitor Jim Smith was taking care of some lighting repair.
· Discord (pronounced: Noun = ˈdɪs.kɔːd Verb = dɪsˈkɔːd) (My comment: the opposite is ‘accord,’ pronounced əˈkɔːd) = (noun) (uncountable) (pronounced ˈdɪs.kɔːd) Disagreement between people e.g., A prosperous family who showed no signs of discord.// e.g., However, their understanding did not prevent discord between the inconsistent emperor and his subjects.// e.g., The condition is also linked with drug and alcohol abuse, memory problems, family discord and inability to function in social life./// Lack of agreement or harmony between things e.g., The discord between indigenous and Western cultures.// e.g., At present, there is racial discord and disharmony among ethnic groups in our country.// e.g., As reasons for misunderstanding or discord diminish, both cultures will realize greater rewards./// (noun) (countable or uncountable) (Music) Lack of harmony between notes sounding together e.g., The music faded in discord.// e.g., Suddenly, Linda pounded hard on the piano keys, producing a sound of discord./// A chord which in conventional harmonic terms is regarded as unpleasing or requiring resolution by another e.g., At times, however, a music of great austerity (= sternness or severity of manner or attitude; pronounced ɔːˈster.ə.ti) and purity is shattered by painful, pounding discords./// Any interval except unison, an octave, a perfect fifth or fourth, a major or minor third and sixth, or their octaves./// A single note dissonant with another./// (verb; no object) (pronounced dɪsˈkɔːd) (archaic) (of people) disagree e.g., ‘We discorded commonly on two points.’// e.g., The Frenchmen however discording with the English, departed and left Captain Morgan and his countrymen to seek fortune in their own way./// (of things) be different or in disharmony e.g., The party’s views were apt to (= tending to do something) discord with those of the leading members of the administration.// e.g., ‘Exactly because of that reason I will need to discord with the part of the article defending that companies can ‘create’ needs within customers.’
· Subvert (pronounced səbˈvəːt) = (verb with object) undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution) e.g., An attempt to subvert the democratic government.// e.g., ‘Are we to save our democratic systems by subverting them?’ // e.g., By showing how easy it is to subvert the system the fear goes away.// e.g., The institution is successfully subverted from its institutional purpose and is converted into a private enterprise.
· Subversion = (mass noun) the undermining of the power and authority of an established system or institution e.g., The ruthless subversion of democracy.// e.g., A 10-year sentence for inciting (incite = encourage or stir up violent or unlawful behavior) subversion./// (countable noun) e.g., Subversions of conventional morality.// e.g., If those protests lead to constitutionally questionable successions, it becomes a subversion of democracy.
· Subversive (pronounced səbˈvɜː.sɪv) (not related to ‘submissive’) = (adjective) seeking or intended to subvert an established system or institution e.g., Subversive literature.// e.g., He has even banned subversive activities such as opera, ballet and the circus.// e.g., Then came the fun of the 1950’s with comic books being called subversive Communist propaganda.// e.g., The family has become a subversive institution - almost an underground conspiracy - at war with the state and the state-sponsored culture./// (noun) A subversive person e.g., By now known as a subversive and revolutionary, Karl Marx was expelled from Paris, at the request of the Prussian authorities.// e.g., By the term subversives, they mean trade unionists, socialists, and other campaigners.
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