discursive: a.(表达)散漫的,无层次的
(of a style of writing or speaking) moving from one point to another without any strict structure
the discursive style of the novel
Poetry is closer to music than to the more extended and discursive literary forms.
The meetings were informal, discursive, even gossipy.
domicile: n.住处,住所
the place where somebody lives, especially when it is stated for official or legal purposes
The place of domicile must be listed on the travel expense report.
Your wife will be unable to acquire a domicile in Britain until she takes up residence there.
avaricious: a.贪婪的,贪心的
having an extreme desire for wealth
avaricious speculators
confound: v.使迷惑,搞混
despot: n.暴君
a ruler with great power, especially one who uses it in a cruel way
an enlightened despot (= one who tries to use his/her power in a good way)
It is the story of a military coup which brings a brutal despot to power.
caustic: a.腐蚀性的;刻薄的;n.腐蚀剂
1 (of a chemical substance) able to destroy or dissolve other substances
➔ SYNONYM corrosive
a caustic cleaning product
caustic liquid which blisters the skin
2 critical in a bitter or sarcastic way
➔ SYNONYM scathing
caustic comments/wit
Her speech was a caustic attack on government officials.
corporeal: a.肉体的,身体的;物质的
1 that can be touched; physical rather than spiritual
his corporeal presence
2 of or for the body
corporeal needs
distraught: a.心神狂乱的
extremely upset and anxious so that you cannot think clearly
Sheʼs still too distraught to speak about the tragedy.
The childʼs distraught parents pleaded for witnesses to contact the police.
alkali : n.碱
a chemical substance that reacts with acids to form a salt and gives a solution with a pH of more than seven when it is dissolved in water
➔ COMPARE acid
amnesty: n.大赦,特赦
1 [countable, usually singular, uncountable] an official statement that allows people who have been put in prison for crimes against the state to go free
The president granted a general amnesty for all political prisoners.
Guerrilla groups have accepted the governmentʼs offer of amnesty and have begun demobilizing.
2 [countable, usually singular] a period of time during which people can admit to a crime or give up weapons without being punished
2 000 knives have been handed in during the month-long amnesty.
amalgamate: v.合并;混合
1 [intransitive, transitive] if two organizations amalgamate or are amalgamated, they join together to form one large organization
➔ SYNONYM merge
A number of colleges have amalgamated to form the new university.
amalgamate with/into something The company has now amalgamated with another local firm.
amalgamate something They decided to amalgamate the two schools.
amalgamate something with/into something The two companies were amalgamated into one.
2 [transitive] amalgamate something (into/with something) to put two or more things together so that they form one
➔ SYNONYM merge
This information will be amalgamated with information obtained earlier.
demystify: v.弄清楚
demystify something to make something easier to understand and less complicated by explaining it in a clear and simple way
acrid: a.辛辣的,刻薄的
having a strong, bitter smell or taste that is unpleasant
➔ SYNONYM pungent
acrid smoke from burning tyres
The fog was yellow and acrid and bit at the back of the throat.
entrancing: a.使人入神的
making somebody feel great pleasure and admiration so that they give all their attention to them/it
➔ SYNONYM enthralling
entrancing music
demystify: v.弄清楚
demystify something to make something easier to understand and less complicated by explaining it in a clear and simple way
cringing: n./a.谄媚(的),奉承(的)
cringe verb
BrE /krɪndʒ/
NAmE /krɪndʒ/
︎ Verb Forms
1 [intransitive] to move back and/or away from somebody because you are afraid
➔ SYNONYM cower
a child cringing in terror
2 [intransitive] to feel very embarrassed and uncomfortable about something
I cringe when I think of the poems I wrote then.
She felt herself cringe with embarrassment at the memory.
The very idea made him cringe inside.
doggerel: n.歪诗,打油诗
poetry that is badly written or ridiculous, sometimes because the writer has not intended it to be serious
chaste: a.贞洁的;朴实的
1 (old-fashioned) not having sex with anyone; only having sex with the person that you are married to
to remain chaste
2 (formal) not expressing sexual feelings
a chaste kiss on the cheek
3 (formal) simple and plain in style; not decorated
the cool, chaste interior of the hall
She wore a chaste gold chain around her neck.
deracinate: v.根除,杜绝
deracinate somebody (formal) to force somebody to leave the place or situation in which they feel comfortable
buck: v.反对;n.雄鹿;雄兔
buck
noun bucket
buck verb
BrE /bʌk/
NAmE /bʌk/
︎ Verb Forms
138 30 138 30
1 [intransitive] (of a horse) to jump with the two back feet or all four feet off the ground
2 [intransitive] to move up and down suddenly or in a way that is not controlled
The boat bucked and heaved beneath them.
The shotgun bucked in his hands.
3 [transitive] buck something (informal) to resist or oppose something
One or two companies have managed to buck the trend of the recession.
He admired her willingness to buck the system (= oppose authority or rules).
The President is unlikely to buck pressure from the public.
︎ Word Origin
Idioms
buck your iˈdeas up
(British English, informal) to start behaving in a more acceptable way, so that work gets done better, etc.
Phrasal Verbs
ˌbuck ˈup
(informal)
1 (often in orders) to become more cheerful
➔ SYNONYM cheer up
Buck up, kid! Itʼs not the end of the game.
2 buck up! (old-fashioned) used to tell somebody to hurry
➔ SYNONYM hurry
ˌbuck somebody ˈup
(British English, informal) to make somebody more cheerful
➔ SYNONYM cheer up
The good news bucked us all up.
attenuate: v.变薄;减弱
attenuate something (formal) to make something weaker or less effective
The drug attenuates the effects of the virus.