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List of Important Pair of Words From CSS Past Papers
List of Important Pair of Words From CSS Past Papers
Need: Meaning: require (something) because it is essential or very important rather than just desirable: Sentence: I need your help now Knead: Meaning: work (moistened flour or clay) into dough or paste with the hands or massage or squeeze with the hands. Sentence: She kneaded his back Queue: Meaning: a line of people, usually standing or in cars, waiting for something Sentence: There was a long queue of traffic stretching down the road. Cue: Meaning: a signal for someone to do something Sentence: They started washing up, so that was our cue to leave the party. Quarts: Meaning: a unit of liquid measure of capacity. Sentence: You spilled a quart of water on my table. Quartz: Meaning: a hard mineral consisting of silica, found widely in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Sentence: The rocks i have used contain some quartz, which may help to create the effect we want. Choral: Meaning: of a chorus or a choir, Sentence: Choral singing became a matter of national pride. Coral: Meaning: the hard, stony skeleton secreted by certain marine polyps. Sentence: What you will not find here are pristine corals. Discrete: Meaning: separate and distinct. Sentence: These are discrete projects, and their funding records should be kept separate. Discreet: Meaning: careful and prudent in ones speech or actions, especially in order to keep something confidential.
Sentence: Discreet silence over the matter. Epic: Meaning: An epic is a story or long poem telling the tale of a fictional or historical hero. Sentence: Epic tale that favors the bizarre. Epoch: Meaning: a period of time considered in terms of noteworthy and characteristic events, developments, persons, etc Sentence: Epoch of the final decline of democracy. Libel: Meaning: Law a published false statement that is damaging to a persons reputation; a written defamation. Sentence: He was found guilty of a libel on a Liverpool inspector of taxes. Liable: Meaning: legally bound or obligated, as to make good any loss or damage that occurs in a transaction; responsible. Sentence: Chief Officer should be vicariously liable for the actions of their officers. Mail: Meaning: Postal material for a specific person or organization. Sentence: I have send him a letter by air mail. Male: Meaning: Characteristic of or appropriate to this sex; masculine Sentence: The king had no male descendant. Banned: Meaning: something that is prohibited. Sentence: The death penalty is banned in New York and New Jersey. Band: Meaning: a group of people working together, particularly in the field of music. Sentence: 9 zero Band's new album, i remember being instantly impressed. Barred: Meaning: provided with one or more bars Sentence: Barred owls roosting by the side of the road! Bard: Meaning: an ancient person who composes and signs poems about heroes and epic events. Sentence: Bards of the time could recite, or chant, long epic poems.
Brooch: Meaning: a small piece of jewelry with a pin at the back that is fastened to a woman's clothes Sentence: She wore a small silver brooch. Broad: Meaning: very wide Sentence: We walked down a broad avenue lined with trees. Collision: Meaning: an accident that happens when two vehicles hit each other with force Sentence: There has been a collision on the southbound stretch of the motorway. Collusion: Meaning: agreement between people to act together secretly or illegally in order to deceive or cheat someone Sentence: It is thought that they worked in collusion with the terrorist network.
Fain: Meaning: glad; ready Sentence: He is fain to do all things himself. Feign: Meaning: to pretend to feel something, usually an emotion Sentence: You know how everyone feigns surprise when you tell them how old you are. Hoard: Meaning: to collect large amounts of something and keep it in a safe, often secret, place Sentence: During the siege people began hoarding food and supplies. Horde: Meaning: a large group of people Sentence: Hordes of students on bikes made crossing the road difficult. Illusion: Meaning: an idea or belief which is not true Sentence: He had no illusions about his talents as a singer. Delusion: Meaning: when someone believes something that is not true Sentence: He's under the delusion that he will be promoted this year. Persecute: Meaning: to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion, or political beliefs or to annoy someone by refusing to leave them alone Sentence: Religious minorities were persecuted and massacred during the ten-year regime.
Prosecute: Meaning: to officially accuse someone of committing a crime in a court of law, or (of a lawyer) to try to prove that a person accused of committing a crime is guilty of that crime Sentence: He was prosecuted for fraud. Prescribe: Meaning: to say what medical treatment someone should have Sentence: The drug is often prescribed for ulcers. Proscribe: Meaning: to not allow something Sentence: The Athletics Federation has banned the runner from future races for using proscribed drugs. Respectfully: Meaning: in a way that shows you want to be polite or honor someone Sentence: As the body was carried through the crowd, people drew back respectfully. Respectively: Meaning: relating or belonging to each of the separate people or things you have just mentioned Sentence: In the 200 meters, Lizzy and Sarah came first and third respectively. Complacent: Meaning: Satisfied Sentence: We can't afford to become complacent about any of our products.
Complaisant: Meaning: willing to please; affably agreeable; obliging Sentence: Can we really sit back and watch the suffering of a whole nation and be so complaisant?
Corporal: Meaning: of the human body; bodily; physical: Sentence: Nowadays it is not the custom to inflict corporal punishment in schools. Corporeal: Meaning: Of a material nature; tangible. Sentence: Corporeal need such as food and drink should receive due measure of attention.
Auger: Meaning: a tool consisting of a twisted rod of metal fixed to a handle, used for making large holes in wood or in the ground
Sentence: In order to measure the pH directly; the kit includes a plastic auger to perforate the ground. Augur: Meaning: to be a sign of especially good or bad things in the future Sentence: Do you think that this recent ministerial announcement augurs a shift in government policy?
Fain: Meaning: glad; ready Sentence: He is fain to do all things himself. Feign: Meaning: to pretend to feel something, usually an emotion Sentence: You know how everyone feigns surprise when you tell them how old you are.
Emigrate: Meaning: to leave a country permanently and go to live in another one Sentence: Millions of Germans emigrated from Europe to America in the nineteenth century. Immigrate: Meaning: to come to live in a different country Sentence: He immigrated with his parents in 1895, and grew up in London.
Envy: Meaning: to wish that you had something that another person has Sentence: I envy her ability to talk to people she's never met before. Jealousy: Meaning: a feeling of unhappiness and anger because someone has something that you want Sentence: The team has performed very badly this season due to petty jealousies among the players. Invade: Meaning: to enter an area of activity in a forceful and noticeable way Sentence: Concentrations of troops near the border look set to invade within the next few days. Attack: Meaning: to try to hurt or defeat using violence Sentence: He was attacked and seriously injured by a gang of youths.
Trifling: Meaning: A trifling matter or amount of money is small or not important Sentence: It was such a trifling sum of money to argue about! Trivial: Meaning: having little value or importance Sentence: I don't know why he gets so upset about something that is utterly trivial.
Simulation: Meaning: a model of a set of problems or events that can be used to teach someone how to do something Sentence: The manager prepared a computer simulation of likely sales performance for the rest of the year. Dissimulation: Meaning: To conceal one's true feelings or intentions. Sentence: As an actress she had been trained to dissimulate, so she had no trouble hiding her true feelings offstage as well.
Venal: Meaning: A venal person is willing to behave in a way that is not honest or moral in exchange for money Sentence: A venal ruler Venial: Meaning: describes a wrong action that is not serious and therefore easy to forgive Sentence: Aristocracy is not an institution: aristocracy is a sin; generally a very venial one.
Counsel: Meaning: to give advice, especially on social or personal problems Sentence: The police have provided experts to counsel local people affected by the tragedy. Council: Meaning: a group of people elected or chosen to make decisions or give advice on a particular subject, to represent a particular group of people, or to run a particular organization Sentence: This play is supported by a grant from the local arts council.
Distinct: Meaning: clearly noticeable; that certainly exists Sentence: There's a distinct smell of cigarettes in here. Distinctive: Meaning: Something that is distinctive is easy to recognize because it is different from other things Sentence: She's got a very distinctive voice.
Apposite: Meaning: suitable and right for the occasion Sentence: It is, however, apposite to note that this process will continue in the year ahead. Opposite: Meaning: completely different Sentence: You'd never know they're sisters - they're completely opposite to each other in every way.
Deprecate Meaning: to not approve of something Sentence: We deprecate this use of company funds for political purposes. Depreciate: Meaning: to (cause something to) lose value, especially over time Sentence: Our car depreciated by $1500 in the first year we owned it.
Punctual: Meaning: arriving, doing something or happening at the expected, correct time Sentence: He's fairly punctual. Punctilious: Meaning: very careful to behave correctly or to give attention to details Sentence: He was always punctilious in his manners.
Judicial: Meaning: involving a court of law Sentence: The defense team will seek a judicial review of the sentence. Judicious: Meaning: having or showing reason and good judgment in making decisions Sentence: We should make judicious use of the resources available to us.
Salutary: Meaning: causing improvement of behavior or character Sentence: It is however salutary to remember the genuine need for originality in the creation of a copyright protectable database. Salubrious: Meaning: describes a place that is pleasant, clean, and healthy to live in Sentence: He doesn't live in a very salubrious part of town.
Canvas: Meaning: a piece of cloth used by artists for painting on, usually with oil paints, or the painting itself
Sentence: These two canvases by Hockney would sell for 500 000. Canvass: Meaning: to try to get political support or votes, especially by visiting all the houses in an area Sentence: I've been out canvassing for the Labor Party every evening this week.
Voracity: Meaning: excessive desire to eat Sentence: On reaching the ship they were offered some bread, which they devoured with a voracious appetite. Veracity: Meaning: the quality of being true, honest or accurate Sentence: The veracity of the second claim can be tested against the findings of archeology.
Persecute: Meaning: to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion, or political beliefs or to annoy someone by refusing to leave them alone Sentence: Religious minorities were persecuted and massacred during the ten-year regime. Prosecute: Meaning: to officially accuse someone of committing a crime in a court of law, or (of a lawyer) to try to prove that a person accused of committing a crime is guilty of that crime Sentence: He was prosecuted for fraud.
Moat: Meaning: a long wide hole which is dug all the way around a place such as a castle, and usually filled with water, to make it more difficult to attack Sentence: The site of the manor house is surrounded by a narrow moat which is fed by water from the New River. Mote: Meaning: something, especially a bit of dust, that is so small it is almost impossible to see Sentence: Dust motes swam alongside the gloomy corridor.
Loath: Meaning: to be unwilling to do something Sentence: I'm loath to spend it all at once. Loathe:
Meaning: to hate someone or something Sentence: From an early age the brothers have loathed each other.
Ingenious: Meaning: very clever and skillful Sentence: She was ingenious at finding ways to work more quickly. Ingenuous: Meaning: honest, sincere and trusting/ showing innocent or childlike simplicity and candidness Sentence: It has to be said it was rather ingenuous of him to ask a complete stranger to look after his luggage.
Fain: Meaning: glad; ready Sentence: He is fain to do all things himself. Feign: Meaning: to pretend to feel something, usually an emotion Sentence: You know how everyone feigns surprise when you tell them how old you are.
Immigrant: Meaning: a person who has come to a different country in order to live there permanently Sentence: Illegal immigrants are sent back across the border if they are caught. Emigrant: Meaning: a person who emigrates Sentence: There was only a small number of emigrants on board.
Wreck: Meaning: to destroy or badly damage something Sentence: Our greenhouse was wrecked in last night's storm. Wreak: Meaning: to cause something to happen in a violent and often uncontrolled way Sentence: The recent storms have wreaked havoc on crops.
Sentence: What we are seeing increasingly is a society of private affluence and public squalor. Effluence: Meaning: a thing that flows out or forth Sentence: How can Reef Entertainment justify releasing this effluence on the general public?
Wretch: Meaning: a person who experiences something unpleasant Sentence: A gentleman said that a week ago he was the wretch in the county, but now saved. Retch: Meaning: to react in a way as if you are vomiting Sentence: The sight of blood makes him retch.
Euphemistic: Meaning: a word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word Sentence: 'Senior citizen' is a euphemism for 'old person'. Euphuistic: Meaning: Affected elegance of language. Sentence: Euphuistic style has been used in many of his writings.
Amoral: Meaning: without moral principles Sentence: The spies are younger, less jaded but equally cynical and still operating in a wholly amoral world. Immoral: Meaning: morally wrong Sentence: It's an immoral tax, because the poor will pay relatively more.
Imperial: Meaning: belonging or relating to an empire or the person or country that rules it Sentence: Delhi is a city of two centers, comprising imperial Lutyens architecture and numerous monuments to the Moghul Empire. Imperious: Meaning: unpleasantly proud and expecting obedience Sentence: He sent them away with an imperious wave of the hand.
Degrade: Meaning: to lower in rank or status Sentence: He likes to degrade people by calling them embarrassing names.
Denigrate: Meaning: to say that someone or something is not good or important Sentence: You shouldn't denigrate people just because they have different beliefs from you.
Temporal: Meaning: relating to practical matters or physical things, rather than spiritual ones Sentence: Her starting point: 'The future is the only temporal area over which people have power. Temporary: Meaning: not lasting or needed for very long Sentence: The ceasefire will only provide a temporary solution to the crisis. (Pair Repeated: 1)
Precipitate: Meaning: to make something happen suddenly or sooner than expected Sentence: Fear of losing her job precipitated her into action. Precipitous: Meaning: sheer Sentence: Precipitous slopes of Reid's Ridge are visible on the right.
Mitigate: Meaning: to make something less harmful, unpleasant or bad Sentence: It is unclear how to mitigate the effects of tourism on the island. Alleviate: Meaning: to make something bad such as pain or problems less severe Sentence: The drugs did nothing to alleviate her pain/suffering.
Persecute: Meaning: to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion, or political beliefs or to annoy someone by refusing to leave them alone Sentence: Religious minorities were persecuted and massacred during the ten-year regime. Prosecute: Meaning: to officially accuse someone of committing a crime in a court of law, or (of a lawyer) to try to prove that a person accused of committing a crime is guilty of that crime Sentence: He was prosecuted for fraud.
Popular: Meaning: liked, enjoyed or supported by many people Sentence: She's the most popular teacher in school. Populace: Meaning: the ordinary people who live in a particular country or place Sentence: Some studies show that workers in the nuclear industry are more likely than the general populace to get cancer.
Compliment: Meaning: remark that expresses approval, admiration or respect Sentence: I take it as a compliment when people say I look like my mother. Complement: Meaning: to make something else seem better or more attractive when combining with it Sentence: The music complements her voice perfectly.
Excite: Meaning: to make someone have strong feelings of happiness and enthusiasm Sentence: Nothing about my life excites me at present. Incite: Meaning: to encourage someone to do or feel something unpleasant or violent Sentence: She was expelled for inciting her classmates to rebel against their teachers. Voracity: Meaning: excessive desire to eat Sentence: On reaching the ship they were offered some bread, which they devoured with a voracious appetite. Veracity: Meaning: the quality of being true, honest or accurate Sentence: The veracity of the second claim can be tested against the findings of archeology.
Virtuous: Meaning: having good moral qualities and behavior Sentence: He described them as a virtuous and hard-working people. Virtual: Meaning: describes something that can be done or seen using a computer and therefore without going anywhere or talking to anyone Sentence: In tests, we have found the virtual machine runs at a reasonable speed.
Exceptional:
Meaning: much greater than usual, especially in skill, intelligence, quality, etc Sentence: The Company has shown exceptional growth over the past two years. Exceptionable: Meaning: offensive or upsetting Sentence: This action is normally only taken in exceptionable circumstances.
Persecute: Meaning: to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion, or political beliefs or to annoy someone by refusing to leave them alone Sentence: Religious minorities were persecuted and massacred during the ten-year regime. Prosecute: Meaning: to officially accuse someone of committing a crime in a court of law, or (of a lawyer) to try to prove that a person accused of committing a crime is guilty of that crime Sentence: He was prosecuted for fraud.
Luxuriant: Meaning: growing thickly, strongly and well Sentence: This stretch of land was once covered with luxuriant forest, but is now bare. Luxurious: Meaning: very comfortable and expensive Sentence: They have a very luxurious house.
Mean: Meaning: to express or represent something such as an idea, thought, or fact Sentence: These figures mean that almost 7% of the working population is unemployed. Mien: Meaning: a person's appearance, especially the typical expression on their face Sentence: His aristocratic mien and smart clothes singled him out.
Observation: Meaning: when you observe something or someone Sentence: The police are keeping the suspect under observation. Observance: Meaning: when someone obeys a law or follows a religious custom Sentence: The State must enforce the observance of human rights in its domestic legal order.
Naughty: Meaning: not behaving properly; mischievous or disobedient Sentence: Now that's naughty - you mustn't throw food on the floor! Knotty: Meaning: complicated and difficult to solve Sentence: That's rather a knotty question.
Ghostly: Meaning: pale and transparent Sentence: The image is fading which gives the figure a rather ghostly appearance. Ghastly: Meaning: unpleasant and shocking Sentence: Today's newspaper gives all the ghastly details of the murder.
Hew: Meaning: to cut a large piece out of rock, stone or another hard material in a rough way Sentence: The monument was hewn out of the side of a mountain. Hue: Meaning: a particular shade or tint of a given color Sentence: In the Caribbean waters there are fish of every hue.
Hoard: Meaning: to collect large amounts of something and keep it in a safe, often secret, place Sentence: During the siege people began hoarding food and supplies. Horde: Meaning: a large group of people Sentence: Hordes of students on bikes made crossing the road difficult.
Adverse: Meaning: having a negative or harmful effect on something Sentence: The match has been canceled due to adverse weather conditions. Averse: Meaning: strongly disliking or opposed to Sentence: Few MPs are averse to the attention of the media.
Maize: Meaning: a tall plant grown in many parts of the world for its yellow seeds which are eaten as food, made into flour or fed to animals Sentence: Some of our foods may contain ingredients produced from genetically modified maize. Maze: Meaning: An intricate, usually confusing network of interconnecting pathways Sentence: The old part of the town was a maze of narrow passages.
Medal: Meaning: a small, flat piece of metal with a design or inscription stamped or inscribed on it, made to commemorate some event, or awarded for some distinguished action Sentence: She won three Olympic gold medals. Meddle: Meaning: to concern oneself with or take part in other people's affairs without being asked or needed Sentence: People shouldn't meddle with things they don't understand.
Imperial: Meaning: belonging or relating to an empire or the person or country that rules it Sentence: Delhi is a city of two centers, comprising imperial Lutyens architecture and numerous monuments to the Moghul Empire. Imperious: Meaning: unpleasantly proud and expecting obedience Sentence: He sent them away with an imperious wave of the hand.
Voracity: Meaning: excessive desire to eat Sentence: On reaching the ship they were offered some bread, which they devoured with a voracious appetite. Veracity: Meaning: the quality of being true, honest or accurate Sentence: The veracity of the second claim can be tested against the findings of archeology.
Illusion: Meaning: an idea or belief which is not true Sentence: He had no illusions about his talents as a singer. Allusion:
Meaning: something that is said or written that is intended to make you think of a particular thing or person Sentence: Her novels are packed with literary allusions.
Ordinance: Meaning: a law or rule made by a government or authority Sentence: City Ordinance 126 forbids car parking in this area. Ordnance: Meaning: all military weapons together with ammunition, combat vehicles, etc. and the equipment and supplies used in servicing these Sentence: Do not touch any military ordnance that may be found lying around this area.
Willing: Meaning: to be happy to do something if it is needed Sentence: You said you needed a volunteer - well, I'm willing. Willful: Meaning: said or done deliberately or intentionally Sentence: Willful killing is a grave breach.
Capital: Meaning: a city which is the centre of government of a country or smaller political area Sentence: Australia's capital city is Canberra. Capitol: Meaning: the building in which a state legislature meets Sentence: A state legislature will meet in a capitol building.
Assay: Meaning: an examination or testing Sentence: A positive result has been obtained in a mouse lymphoma assay. Essay: Meaning: attempt/ a short piece of writing on a particular subject Sentence: The Diploma is assessed by three essays of 3,000 words each.
Sentence: The graveyard looked ghostly, enveloped in mist. Envelope: Meaning: a flat, usually square or rectangular, paper container for a letter Sentence: A stamped, addressed envelope should be enclosed for reply.
Decree: Meaning: an official statement that something must happen Sentence: More than 200 people were freed by military decree. Degree: Meaning: amount or level of something Sentence: This job demands a high degree of skill.
Desolate: Meaning: describes a place that is empty and not attractive Sentence: The house stood in a bleak and desolate landscape. Dissolute: Meaning: immoral Sentence: He led a dissolute life.
Species: Meaning: a set of animals or plants in which the members have similar characteristics to each other Sentence: Over a hundred species of insect are found in this area. Specie: Meaning: Coined money Sentence: The next insinuation is that the Bank has refused specie payments.
Tortuous: Meaning: not direct or simple Sentence: He took a tortuous route through back streets. Torturous: Meaning: causing torture Sentence: It was torturous to think that he could have stopped the boy from running into the road.
Wet: Meaning: covered in water or another liquid Sentence: My bike got wet in the rain. Whet:
Meaning: to increase someone's interest in and wish for something Sentence: I've read an excerpt of the book on the Web and it's whetted my appetite.
All: Meaning: every one (of), or the complete amount or number (of), or the whole (of) Sentence: All animals have to eat in order to live. Awl: Meaning: a small, pointed tool for making holes in wood, leather, etc. Sentence: That awl causes loud noise. Boy: Meaning: a male child Sentence: As a young boy, my father used to walk three miles to school. Buoy: Meaning: a floating object on the top of the sea, which is used for directing ships and warning them of possible danger Sentence: The zones for swimming and the zones for water sports are clearly marked by buoys. Fallow: Meaning: describes land that is not planted with crops, in order to improve the quality of the soil Sentence: Farmers are eligible for government support if they let a certain amount of land lie fallow. Fellow: Meaning: describes someone who has the same job or interests as you, or is in the same situation as you Sentence: She introduced me to some of her fellow students. Jewry: Meaning: all the Jews Sentence: Dr. Lisa is an expert of Latin American Jewry. Jury: Meaning: a group of people who have been chosen to listen to all the facts in a trial in a law court and to decide whether a person is guilty or not guilty Sentence: Police officers aren't usually allowed to be on a jury. Functional: Meaning: designed to be practical and useful rather than attractive Sentence: Project work is used to integrate material and make knowledge functional. Dysfunctional: Meaning: not behaving or working normally Sentence: The craftsman is likely to seem dysfunctional in a culture of innovation and change.
Yew: Meaning: an evergreen tree with flat leaves like needles and small red cones, or the wood from this tree Sentence: There is little sound except for the breeze stirring in the churchyard yew trees. Eue: Meaning: Unable to find this word in dictionaries Sentence: An eue passed in his life which made him dull for an year. Allusive: Meaning: containing a lot of allusions Sentence: Her music is allusive. Elusive: Meaning: difficult to describe, find, achieve or remember Sentence: The answers to these questions remain as elusive as ever. Ladylike: Meaning: graceful, controlled and behaving in a way that is socially acceptable for a woman Sentence: Laura is very ladylike and elegant. Ladyship: Meaning: a respectful way of referring to or talking to a woman or girl who has the rank of a peer or knight without using her title Sentence: We are honored to welcome your ladyship here tonight. Differ: Meaning: to be not like something or someone else, either physically or in another way Sentence: The twins look alike, but they differ in temperament. Defer: Meaning: to delay something until a later time; to postpone Sentence: My bank has agreed to defer the repayments on my loan while I'm still a student. Conscious: Meaning: to notice that a particular thing or person exists or is present Sentence: I think she's very conscious of being the only person in the office who didn't have a university education. Conscience: Meaning: the part of you that judges how moral your own actions are and makes you feel guilty about bad things that you have done Sentence: You didn't do anything wrong - you should have a clear conscience. Confidant: Meaning: a person you trust and share your feelings and secrets with Sentence: Within a few short years he was a trusted confidant. Confidante:
Meaning: a woman or girl confidant Sentence: Within a few short years he was a trusted confidant. Atheist: Meaning: someone who believes that God or gods do not exist Sentence: I know an atheist who says ' Oh god! Agnostic: Meaning: someone who does not know, or believes that it is impossible to know, whether a god exists Sentence: Although he was raised a Catholic, he was an agnostic for most of his adult life. Loose: Meaning: not firmly fixed in place Sentence: There were some loose wires hanging out of the wall. Lose: Meaning: to no longer have something because you do not know where it is, or because it has been taken away from you Sentence: I've lost my ticket. Briefing: Meaning: information that is given to someone just before they do something or a meeting where this happens Sentence: They received thorough briefing before they left the country. Debriefing: Meaning: to question someone in detail about work they have done for you Sentence: The pilots were thoroughly debriefed after every mission. Dual: Meaning: with two parts, or combining two things Sentence: This room has a dual purpose, serving as both a study and a dining room. Duel: Meaning: a formal fight in the past, using guns or swords, arranged between two people as a way of deciding an argument Sentence: The composer Strauss was once challenged to a duel. Compliment: Meaning: remark that expresses approval, admiration or respect Sentence: I take it as a compliment when people say I look like my mother. Complement: Meaning: to make something else seem better or more attractive when combining with it Sentence: The music complements her voice perfectly. Altogether: Meaning: completely or in total
Sentence: The government ought to abolish the tax altogether. All together: Meaning: all at the same time Sentence: The last time we were all together was in 1999. Ambiguous: Meaning: having or expressing more than one possible meaning, sometimes intentionally Sentence: His reply to my question was somewhat ambiguous. Ambivalent: Meaning: having two opposing feelings at the same time, or being uncertain about how you feel Sentence: I felt very ambivalent about leaving home. Appraise: Meaning: to examine someone or something in order to judge their qualities, success or needs Sentence: At the end of each teaching practice, trainee teachers are asked to appraise their own performance. Apprise: Meaning: to tell someone about something Sentence: The President has been apprised of the situation. Bad: Meaning: unpleasant; causing difficulties or harm Sentence: Our holiday was spoiled by bad weather. Badly: Meaning: in a severe and harmful way Sentence: She was badly affected by the events in her childhood. Compare: Meaning: to examine or look for the difference between two or more things Sentence: If you compare house prices in the two areas, it's quite amazing how different they are. Contrast: Meaning: an obvious difference between two or more things Sentence: The antique furnishing provides an unusual contrast to the modernity of the building. Deduce: Meaning: to reach an answer or a decision by thinking carefully about the known facts Sentence: We cannot deduce very much from these figures. Imply: Meaning: to communicate an idea or feeling without saying it directly Sentence: I detected an implied criticism of the way he was treated. Differ from: Meaning: to be not like something or someone else, either physically or in another way Sentence: His views differ considerably from those of his parents.
Differ with: Meaning: to disagree Sentence: I beg to differ with you on that point. Farther: Meaning: to a greater distance Sentence: The fog's so thick, I can't see farther than about ten meters. Further: Meaning: to a greater distance or degree; at a more advanced level Sentence: We discussed the problem but we didn't get much further in actually solving it. Occlude: Meaning: to close, shut, or block Sentence: I try to set the end distance (at which the fog totally occludes everything) no lower than 4000. Occult: Meaning: relating to magical powers and activities, such as those of witchcraft and astrology Sentence: She claims to have occult powers, given to her by some mysterious spirit. Practical: Meaning: relating to experience, real situations or actions rather than ideas or imagination Sentence: Qualifications are important but practical experience is always an advantage. Practicable: Meaning: able to be done or put into action Sentence: The troops will be brought home as soon as practicable. Raze: Meaning: to completely destroy a city, building, etc Sentence: The town was razed to the ground in the bombing raid - not a building was left standing. Raise: Meaning: to lift something to a higher position Sentence: Would all those in favor please raise their hands? Canon: Meaning: a Christian priest with special duties in a cathedral Sentence: He was first appointed as a residentiary canon and only became Chancellor after several years with us. Cannon: Meaning: a large, mounted piece of artillery; sometimes, specif., a large gun with a relatively short barrel, as a howitzer Sentence: Instead of eight machine guns, it now had twelve, or four 20mm cannon. Avenge:
Meaning: to do harm to or punish the person responsible for something bad done to you Sentence: He swore he would avenge his brother's death. Revenge: Meaning: harm done to someone as a punishment for harm that they have done to someone else Sentence: He is believed to have been shot by a rival gang in revenge for the shootings last week. Caret: Meaning: a mark () used in writing or in correcting proof, to show where something is to be inserted Sentence: Some screen readers use the system caret to determine which area of the screen to read or magnify. Carat: Meaning: a unit for measuring the weight of jewels Sentence: 24-carat gold is the purest. Revel: Meaning: to separate the parts, esp. threads Sentence: The road raveled rapidly and became merely a pile of loose stones. Reveal: Meaning: to make known or show something that is surprising or that was previously secret Sentence: He was jailed for revealing secrets to the Russians. Aviary: Meaning: a large cage or closed space in which birds are kept as pets Sentence: I have an aviary with 17 birds. Apiary: Meaning: a place where people keep bees, especially a collection of hives kept to provide honey Sentence: I once visited an apiary where there were numerous cardboard boxes scattered around. Demeane: Meaning: Unable to find in dictionaries Sentence: Unable to find in dictionaries Demean: