西洋文學概論～單字筆記（week16)

1.     foodstuffs (n.)

-Foodstuffs are substances, which people eat.  

Ex: They handled groceries and foodstuff.  

                                                                              

2.       improper (adj.)

       -Improper conditions or methods of treatment are not suitable or good

       enough for a particular purpose. 

       Ex: The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.   

3.       grumble(v.)

-If someone grumbles, they complain about something in a bad-tempered way.  

Ex: The students often grumble over the food.

4.      acceleration(n.)

       -The acceleration of a process or change is the fact that it is getting

       faster and faster.  

       Ex: He has also called for an acceleration of political reforms.  

5.     scenario (n.)

      -If you talk about a likely or possible scenario, you are talking about

      the way in which a situation may develop.

      Ex: Try to imagine all the possible scenarios and what action you would take.

6.    prime  (adj.)

      - You use prime to describe something that is most important in a situation.  

      Ex: The police will see me as the prime suspect!

7.     narcissistic(adj.)

      -  If you describe someone as narcissistic, you disapprove of them

      because they think about themselves a lot and admire themselves too

      much.  

      Ex: He was insufferable at times — self-centered and narcissistic.  

8.    fancy (v.)

     -If you fancy something, you want to have it or to do it.  

     Ex: Do you fancy going to see a movie sometime?

9.    vegetarian (n.)

      -Veggie means the same as vegetarian.  

    Ex: Going veggie can be tasty, easy and healthy too.

10.   flawed (adj.)

- Something that is flawed has a mark, fault, or mistake in it. 

Ex: The study was methodologically flawed.

11. frugal (adj.)

      -People who are frugal or who live frugal lives do not eat much or

      spend much money on themselves.

      Ex: She lives a frugal life.  

12. reshape (v.)

     - To reshape something means to change its structure or organization. 

     Ex: Recession has simply accelerated changes that have been reshaping the    

     industry anyway.

13. pragmatic (adj.)

      - A pragmatic way of dealing with something is based on practical

      considerations, rather than theoretical ones. A pragmatic person deals

      with things in a practical way.  

      Ex: Our approach is essentially pragmatic.   

14. recession (n.)

      - A recession is a period when the economy of a country is doing

      badly, for example because industry is producing less and more

      people are becoming unemployed. 

      Ex: The oil price increases sent Europe into deep recession.

15. counterpart (n.)

     - Someone's or something's counterpart is another person or thing that

     has a similar function or position in a different place.  

     Ex: The Foreign Secretary telephoned his Italian counterpart to protest.

16. infiltrate (v.)

      - If people infiltrate a place or organization, or infiltrate into it, they

      enter it secretly in order to spy on it or influence it.

      Ex: Part of a sniper's mission is to infiltrate enemy territory.   

17. brutal (adj.)

      - A brutal act or person is cruel and violent. 

      Ex: The rebellion was brutally suppressed.  

18. undercover (adj.)

      - Undercover work involves secretly obtaining information for the

      government or the police.    

      Ex: She worked as an undercover agent for the police.

19. mobster (n.)

      - A mobster is someone who is a member of an organized group of

      violent criminals. 

      Ex: The mobster stormed in and broke all the glasses of the window.  

20. designate (v.)

      -if something is designated for a particular purpose, it is set aside for

       that purpose.  

       Ex: Smoking is allowed in designated areas.  

21. inferior (adj.)

      - Something that is inferior is not as good as something else. 

      Ex: If children were made to feel inferior to other children their

      confidence declined.

22. commence(v.)

      - When something commences or you commence it, it begins.  

      Ex: We will commence with this work.  

23. compromise (v.)

      - A compromise is a situation in which people accept something

      slightly different from what they really want, because of circumstances

      or because they are considering the wishes of other people. 

      Ex: Neither party is willing to compromise and herein lies the problem.

24. juvenile (adj.)

     - Juvenile activity or behavior involves young people who are not yet adults.  

     Ex: Juvenile crime is increasing at a terrifying rate.

25. ordeal (n.)

     - If you describe an experience or situation as an ordeal, you think it

     is difficult and unpleasant.

     Ex: She described her agonizing ordeal.