西洋文學概論～單字筆記（week12)

1.    hound(v.)

-If someone hounds you, they constantly disturb or speak to you in

     an annoying or upsetting way.

     Ex: Newcomers are constantly hounding them for advice.

2.    ultimatum(n.)

     - An ultimatum is a warning to someone that unless they act in a

     particular way, action will be taken against them. 

     Ex: They delivered an ultimatum to that country.

3.   guile(n.)

    -guile is the quality of being good at deceiving people in a clever way. 

    Ex: I love children's innocence and lack of guile.

4.   wingtip(n.)

    - the extreme outer edge of an airplane wing.

    Ex: The insignia was visible on the wingtip.

5.   pinion(v.)

    -If you are pinioned, someone prevents you from moving or

    escaping, especially by holding or tying your arms.

    Ex:  He is held with his arms pinion together behind his back.

6.   throb(v.)

    - If something throbs, it vibrates and makes a steady noise. 

    Ex: The drums seemed to throb in my ears.

7.   whirled(v.)

    -If something or someone whirls around or if you whirl them

    around, they move around or turn around very quickly.  

    Ex: Tom whirled his stick above his head.

8.  thrash(v.)

    -If you thrash someone, you hit them several times as a

    punishment.  

    Ex: They thrash him until he could not stand.  

9.  onslaught(v.)

    -An onslaught on someone or something is a very violent, forceful

     attack against them.  

     Ex:Our army tried to withstand the enemy onslaught.

10.  swoop(v.)

     -When a bird or airplane swoops, it suddenly moves downwards

     through the air in a smooth curving movement.

     Ex: The plane made a swoop over the city.

11.  birthright(n.)

     -Something that is your birthright is something that you feel you

     have a basic right to have, simply because you are a human being.  

     Ex: Freedom is the natural birthright of every human.

12.  shipmate(n.)

     - sailors who work together on the same ship are shipmates.  

     Ex: His shipmates stayed at their stations.

13. aching(v.)

     -If you ache for something or your heart aches, you want something

     very much, and feel very unhappy because you cannot have it.  

     Ex: All winter I have been aching for sunshine.

14. self-possessed (adj.)

     -someone who is self-possessed is calm and confident and in control

     of their emotions. 

     Ex: She is clearly the most articulate and self-possessed member of

     her family.

15. seething(v.)

     -when you are seething, you are very angry about something but do

     not express your feelings about it.  

     Ex: His outward appearance was calm but he was seething inside.

16.  hurl(v.)

     - If you hurl something, you throw it violently and with a lot of

     force. 

     Ex: Groups of angry youths hurled stones at police.

17.  nonchalantly (adj.)

     -If you describe someone as nonchalant, you mean that they appear

     not to worry or care about things and that they seem very calm. 

     Ex: She shrugged nonchalantly and turned away.

18. buck(v.)

     - If you buck the trend, you obtain different results from others in

     the same area. If you buck the system, you get what you want by

     breaking or ignoring the rules. 

     Ex: The Company believes it is bucking the recession and says

     orders continue to be satisfactory.

19. cutthroat(adj.)

     -If you describe a situation as cutthroat, you mean that the people or

     companies involved all want success and do not care if they harm

     each other in getting it.  

     Ex: You have to face cutthroat competition after graduation.

20. lethal(adj.)

     -If you describe something as lethal, you mean that it is capable of

     causing a lot of damage. 

     Ex: Frost and wet are the lethal combination for plants.

21. unravel(v.)

     -If you unravel a mystery or puzzle, or if it unravels, it gradually

     becomes clearer and you can work out the answer to it.  

     Ex:Within hours things began to unravel. 

22.  vault(n.)

      -a vault is an arched roof or ceiling. 

      Ex: The vault of this cathedral is very high.

23.   disguised(v.)

     -If you disguise yourself, you put on clothes ,which make you look

     like someone else or alter your appearance in other ways, so that

     people will not recognize you. 

     Ex: He disguised himself with a wig and false beard.

24.  ration(n.)

     -When there is not enough of something, your ration of it is the

     amount that you are allowed to have. 

     Ex: They have begun to issue ration cards for basic necessities such

     as rice and flour.

25.  scheming(v.)

     -If you say that people are scheming, you mean that they are making

     secret plans in order to gain something for themselves.  

     Ex: They were scheming to rob the bank.