Word of the week

Synaesthesia

The production of a sense impression relating to one sense or part of the body by stimulation of another sense or part of the body.

Authors use synesthesia as a rhetorical device in their works for many reasons

Piece de resistance

(especially with reference to creative work) the most important or remarkable feature

The pièce de résistance of the whole concert was when the two bands came onstage to perform together

Déjà vu

A feeling of already having experienced the present situation

When he read the text he had a feeling of déjà vu

Rendezvous

A meeting at an agreed time and place

Pupils' were to rendezvous at the cafe

Ambiguous

Open to more than one interpretation; not having one obvious meaning.  Not clear or decided.

Her songs are intentionally ambiguous

Acceleration

Increase in speed

The acceleration of the internet

Refrain

1. Stop oneself from doing something

2. A repeated line/number of lines from a poem or song

1. She refrained from talking during the lesson

2. The refrain was catchy

Ambiguous

Open to more than one interpretation; not having one obvious meaning

The writer is deliberately ambiguous

Qualitative

Relating to, measuring, or measured by the quality of something rather than its quantity

Qualitative research is much more in depth

Narrative

A spoken or written account of connected events; a story

A gripping narrative

Interplay

The way in which two or more things have an effect on each other

The subtle interplay of tastes was delicious

Allegory

A story, poem, or picture which can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one

'Animal Farm' is an allegory

Demeanour

Outward behaviour or bearing

The teacher's demeanour was tough and mean

Volatile

Liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse; easily evaporated at normal temperatures

He was behaving in a volatile manner

Strategy

A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim

A coherent economic strategy

Significant

Sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy

A significant moment in the history of the world

Coherent

Logical and consistent; forming a unified whole.

They failed to develop a coherent plan to deal with the crisis.

Implication

1. The conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated

2. The action or state of being involved in something.

The implication is that no one person at the bank is responsible

Government

The group of people with the authority to govern a country or state; a particular ministry in office

The government's economic record

Parliament

The highest legislature, consisting of the Sovereign, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons

The Secretary of State will lay proposals before Parliament

Magnitude

The great size of extent of something

They may feel discouraged at the magnitude of the task before them

Seismic

Of enormous proportions or effect

There are seismic pressures threatening American society

Gradient

The slope of the land

There was a steep gradient to the hill

Concept

An idea

It was a diffcult concept to understand

Emotive

Creating or able to create intense feeling

The writer used emotive language to make us feel sympathy for the children

Equilibrium

A state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced

Equilibrium was finally restored

Epicentre

All buildings at the epicentre of the earthquake were destroyed

All buildings at the epicentre of the earthquake were destroyed

Predator

An animal that naturally preys on others

Wolves are major predators of small mammals

Malleable

(Of a metal or other material) able to be hammered or pressed into shape without breaking or cracking.

A malleable metal can be beaten into a sheet

Neutralise

Make (something) ineffective by applying an opposite force or effect

Impatience at his frailty began to neutralize her fear

Antithesis

A person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else

The antithesis highlights the conflict in society

Conscience

A person's moral sense of right and wrong, viewed as acting as a guide to one's behaviour

His conscience prevented him from carrying out the act

Soliloquy

An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play

Romeo's soliloquy betrays his true feelings

Coerced

Persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats

Persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats

Oxymoron

A phrase containing two or more contradictory words

There was a deafening silence

Protagonist

The leading character or one of the major characters in a play, film, novel, etc.

The novel's main protagonist is an American intelligence officer

Feud

A prolonged and bitter quarrel or dispute

His long standing feud with Universal Pictures

Exhilaration

A feeling of excitement, happiness, or elation

When we think about the summer holidays we are left with a sense of exhilaration!

Altruistic

Showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish

It was an entirely altruistic act

Quixotic

Extremely idealistic; unrealistic and impractical

The project is vast and quixotic

Radiant

Sending out light; shining or glowing brightly

A bird with radiant green and red plumage

Superfluous

Unnecessary, especially through being more than enough

The purchaser should avoid asking for superfluous information

Paradox

A statement that seems to contradict itself but may nonetheless be true

The statement "I never tell the truth" is a paradox

Ambiguous

Open to more than one interpretation; not having one obvious meaning

Her words are often ambiguous

Concept

A general notion or idea

The concept of free will

Abstract

Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence

Abstract concepts such as love or beauty

Comprehensive

Including or dealing with all or nearly all elements or aspects of something

A comprehensive list of sources

Parliament

The highest legislature, consisting of the Sovereign, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons

The Secretary of State will lay the proposals before Parliament

Foist

To force upon or impose something unnecessary or unwelcome

She had no desire to have an elderly relative foisted on her

Schedule

A plan for carrying out a process or procedure, giving lists of intended events and times

We have drawn up a schedule of events

Cathartic

Providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions

Crying is a cathartic release

Coax

Persuade someone gradually or gently to do something

The trainees were coaxed into doing boring work

Laborious

Requiring considerable time and effort

Years of laborious training

Intolerance

1. Unwillingness to accept views, beliefs, or behaviour that differ from one's own.

2. An inability to eat a food or take a medicine without adverse effects

1. The struggle against intolerance and bigotry

2. Young children with lactose intolerance

Sumptuous

Splendid and expensive-looking

The banquet was a sumptuous meal

Manoeuvre

A movement or series of moves requiring skill and care

Snowboarders performed daring manoeuvres on the slopes

Complacent

Showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements

You can't afford to be complacent about security

Alienate

Make (someone) feel isolated or estranged

It is an urban environment which would alienate its inhabitants

Enigma

A person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand

She remained an enigma to him

Conscience

A person's moral sense of right and wrong, viewed as acting as a guide to one's behaviour

His conscience prevented him from carrying out the act

Reciprocate

Respond to a gesture or action by making a corresponding one

The favour was reciprocated

Herculean

Requiring great strength or effort

It was a Herculean task (to make it to the end of term)

Penultimate

Last but one in a series of things

The penultimate week of the school term

Crux

The decisive or most important point at issue

The crux of the matter is that attitudes have changed

Gravitas

Dignity, seriousness or solemnity of manner

She has the expertise and gravitas for this job

Omnipotent

Having very great, unlimited or universal power

An omnipotent deity

Robust

1 - Sturdy in construction

2 - Strong and rich in flavour or smell

1 - A robust metal cabinet

2 - A robust mixture of fish, onions, capers and tomatoes

Vicarious

Experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person

This catalogue brings vicarious pleasure in luxury living

Discriminate

1. Recognise a distinction

2. Make an unjust or prejudicial distinction in the treatment of different categories of people

1. Babies can discriminate between different facial expressions.

2. The company's existing employment policies discriminate against women.

Verbose

Using or expressed in more words than are needed

Much academic language is obscure and verbose

Ubiquitous

Present, appearing, or found everywhere

His ubiquitous influence was felt by all the family

Finite

Limited in size or extent

Every computer has a finite amount of memory

Plethora

A large or excessive amount of something

A plethora of committees and sub-committees

Fortuitous

Happening by chance rather than intention

The ball went into the goal because of a fortuitous ricochet

Industrious

Diligent and hard-working

Pupils and staff at this school are an industrious group of people

Tranquillity

The quality or state of being tranquil; calmness; peacefulness; quiet; serenity

I am going to enjoy the tranquillity of the summer holidays

Globalise

To put into effect or spread worldwide

A globalised strategy for dealing with poverty

Symbiotic

A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence

Many people feel the relationship between humans and dogs is symbiotic

Demeanour

Outward behaviour or bearing

The teacher's demeanour was tough and mean

Volatile

Liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse; easily evaporated at normal temperatures

He was behaving in a volatile manner

Misconception

A view or opinion that is incorrect because it is based on faulty thinking or understanding

Public misconceptions about the crime rate remain high

Emulate

To match or surpass, typically by imitation; to imitate; to reproduce the function or action of something or someone

Many people seek to emulate their favourite person

Strategy

A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim

A coherent economic strategy

Belligerent

Hostile, aggressive, eager to fight; engaged in warfare

Her manner was entirely belligerent and aggressive

Political

Of or relating to the government or public affairs of a country; relating to the ideas or strategies of a particular party or group in politics; done or acting in the interests of status or power

The decision was taken for purely political reasons

Significant

Sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy

A significant moment in the history of the world

Coherent

Logical and consistent; forming a unified whole

They failed to develop a coherent plan to deal with the crisis

Implication

The conclusion that can be drawn from something even though it is not explicitly stated; the action or state of being involved in something

The implication is that no one person at the bank is responsible. We are implicated in this crime

Sustainable

Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level; able to be upheld or defended

Sustainable economic growth

Colloquial

Ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal

His choice of language was too colloquial for a formal interview

Monotony

Wearisome routine; dullness; lack of variety in pitch or cadence

She detested the monotony of his voice

Fundamental

A central or primary rule or principle on which something is based; forming a necessary base or core; of central importance

Oxygen is fundamental to human existence

Effusive

Unrestrained or excessive emotional expression; overflowing; profuse

He was effusive in his praise for the quality of her homework