Love Literacy
Word of the week: vacillate
The word of the week for the week commencing 2nd July is – vacillate
Meaning - waver between opinions or actions; be indecisive
Example - I vacillated between teaching and journalism
Please click here for our love literacy focus this week.
The word of the week is designed to enlarge and enrich our vocabulary. We should all try to use this word at some point during the week. Examples of the word of the week from the academic year 2017 - 2018 are summarised below:
Word | Definition | Example |
---|---|---|
Tenuous |
Very weak or slight |
This situation puts the Prime Minister in a somewhat tenuous position |
Tirade |
A large angry speech of criticism or accusation |
She unleashed a tirade of abuse. |
Stipulate |
To say exactly how something must be or must be done |
She agreed to buy the car, but stipulated racing tyres and a turbo-powered engine |
Digress |
Leave the main subject temporarily |
I have digressed a little from my original plan |
Impede |
Delay or prevent (someone or something) by obstructing them; hinder. |
She didn’t let her nerves impede her performance |
Hyperbole |
Obvious and intentional exaggeration |
The writer employs hyperbole to engage the reader |
Gullible |
Easily deceived or cheated |
He is extremely gullible |
Futile |
Incapable of producing any result; ineffective; useless; not successful |
All our efforts proved futile |
Distil |
To purify a liquid. First by heating it so that it vaporises. Then cooling and condensing the vapour and collecting the liquid that’s left |
They managed to distil a small quantity of water |
Diverge |
To move lie, or extend in different directions from a common point; branch off |
Their ways had diverged after school |
Resolution |
A firm decision to do or not to do something |
His new year's resolution was to read more regularly |
Defuse |
Remove the fuse from (an explosive device) in order to prevent it from exploding. Make (a situation) less tense or dangerous. |
The policeman tried to defuse the situation |
Deterrent |
A thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something |
Cameras are a major deterrent to crime |
Deference |
Polite submission and respect. |
He addressed her with the deference due to her age |
Capricious |
Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood and behaviour. Changing according to no discernible rules; unpredictable |
We put up with a capricious climate! |
Banal |
So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring |
Pop songs have banal, repeated words! |
Approach |
Move towards. Unemployment in Spain is approaching 50% |
She felt nervous on the approach to the exam hall |
Austere |
Severe or strict |
Conditions in the prison were austere |
Arduous |
Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring |
An arduous journey |
Apathy |
Lack of interest, enthusiasm or concern |
John had a lack of apathy for the situation |
Abate |
Become less in amount or frequency. |
We are waiting for the rain to abate |
Appease |
Pacify or placate (someone) by giving in to their demands. |
Changes have been made to appease pressure groups |
Anomalous |
Deviating from what is standard, normal or expected |
An anomalous situation |
Antipathy |
A feeling of strong dislike, opposition or anger |
Despite the deep antipathies between them, the two sides have managed to negotiate an agreement |
Previous examples of word of the week:
Word | Definition | Example |
Parliament |
(In the UK) the highest legislature, consisting of the Sovereign, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons |
He was determined to uphold the supremacy of parliament |
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 something2. A repeated line/number of lines from a poem or song |
1. She refrained from talking during the lesson2. 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 stated2. 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 bigotry2. 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 construction2 - Strong and rich in flavour or smell |
1 - A robust metal cabinet2 - 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 distinction2. 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 |