ATTWN+Vocabulary

1. strenuous adjective requiring or using great exertion : Beijing's strenuous efforts to join the World Trade Organization.

2. inquest noun Law a judicial inquiry to ascertain the facts relating to an incident, such as a death.

3. deportment noun a person's behavior or manners : there are team rules governing deportment on and off the field.

4. lax adjective 1 not sufficiently strict or severe : lax security arrangements at the airport | he'd been a bit lax about discipline in school lately.

5. unyielding adjective (of a mass or structure) not giving way to pressure; hard or solid : the Atlantic hurled its waves at the unyielding rocks. • (of a person or their behavior) unlikely to be swayed; resolute : his unyielding faith.

6. illegible adjective not clear enough to be read : his handwriting is totally illegible.

7. brooding adjective showing deep unhappiness of thought : he stared with brooding eyes. • appearing darkly menacing : a dark, brooding landscape.

8. venture noun a risky or daring journey or undertaking : pioneering ventures into little-known waters. • a business enterprise involving considerable risk.

9. leisure noun free time. • use of free time for enjoyment : increased opportunities for leisure

10. vague adjective of uncertain, indefinite, or unclear character or meaning : many patients suffer vague symptoms.

11. bleary adjective ( blearier, bleariest ) (of the eyes) unfocused or filmy from sleep or tiredness : you hate to face the world with bleary, tear-soaked, itching eyes.

12. scrutinize verb [ trans. ] examine or inspect closely and thoroughly : customers were warned to scrutinize the small print.

13. plaintive adjective sounding sad and mournful : a plaintive cry.

14. solemn adjective formal and dignified : a solemn procession. • not cheerful or smiling; serious : Tim looked very solemn. • characterized by deep sincerity : he swore a solemn oath to keep faith.

15. recumbent adjective (esp. of a person or human figure) lying down : recumbent statues. • (of a bicycle) designed to be ridden lying almost flat on one's back or sitting up with the legs stretched out in front. • (of a plant) growing close to the ground : recumbent shrubs.

Chapter 2

16. treacherous adjective guilty of or involving betrayal or deception : a treacherous Gestapo agent | memory is particularly treacherous.

17. conscientious adjective (of a person) wishing to do what is right, esp. to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly : a conscientious and hardworking clerk.

18. imperceptible adjective impossible to perceive : his head moved in an almost imperceptible nod.

19. prospect noun 1 the possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring : there was no prospect of a reconciliation | training that offered a prospect of continuous employment.

20. shrewd adjective 1 having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute : she was shrewd enough to guess the motive behind his gesture | a shrewd career move.

21. disparage verb [ trans. ] regard or represent as being of little worth : he never missed an opportunity to disparage his competitors | [as adj. ] ( disparaging) disparaging remarks.

22. sinister adjective 1 giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen : there was something sinister about that murmuring voice. • wicked or criminal.

23. malevolent adjective having or showing a wish to do evil to others : the glint of dark, malevolent eyes | some malevolent force of nature.

24. fraternize verb [ intrans. ] associate or form a friendship with someone, esp. when one is not supposed to : she ignored Elisabeth's warning glare against fraternizing with the enemy.

25. foresee verb ( -sees, -seeing; past -saw ; past part. -seen ) [ trans. ] be aware of beforehand; predict : we did not foresee any difficulties | [with clause ] it is impossible to foresee how life will work out.

Chapter 3

26. fluent adjective (of a person) able to express oneself easily and articulately : a fluent speaker and writer on technical subjects.

27. replete adjective filled or well-supplied with something : sensational popular fiction, replete with adultery and sudden death.

28. indictment noun 1 Law a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime : an indictment for conspiracy.

29. gramophone noun old-fashioned term for record player.

30. preposterous adjective contrary to reason or common sense; utterly absurd or ridiculous : a preposterous suggestion

31. impromptu adjective & adverb done without being planned, organized, or rehearsed : [as adj. ] an impromptu press conference

32. verisimilitude noun the appearance of being true or real : the detail gives the novel some verisimilitude.

33.disembodied adjective separated from or existing without the body : a disembodied ghost.

34. accusation noun a charge or claim that someone has done something illegal or wrong : accusations of bribery.

35. credential noun (usu. credentials) a qualification, achievement, personal quality, or aspect of a person's background, typically when used to indicate that they are suitable for something : recruitment is based mainly on academic credentials.

36. incoherent adjective 1 (of spoken or written language) expressed in an incomprehensible or confusing way; unclear : he screamed some incoherent threat. • (of a person) unable to speak intelligibly : I splutter several more times before becoming incoherent. 37. epistolary adjective relating to or denoting the writing of letters or literary works in the form of letters : an epistolary novel.

38. iniquity noun ( pl. -ties) immoral or grossly unfair behavior : a den of iniquity | a liberal lawyer could uncover the iniquities committed on his own doorstep.

39. reconnaissance noun military observation of a region to locate an enemy or ascertain strategic features : an excellent aircraft for low-level reconnaissance | after a reconnaissance our forces took the island | [as adj. ] reconnaissance missions.

40. deferential adjective showing deference; respectful : people were always deferential to him. __ 41. servitude noun the state of being a slave or completely subject to someone more powerful.

42. dissentient adjective in opposition to a majority or official opinion : dissentient voices were castigated as “hopeless bureaucrats.”

Chapter 5

43. asphyxiate verb [ trans. ] (usu. be asphyxiated) kill (someone) by depriving them of air : they were asphyxiated by the carbon monoxide fumes

44. hypocrisy noun ( pl. -sies) the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense.

45. pious adjective devoutly religious. • making a hypocritical display of virtue : there'll be no pious words said over her.

46. rancor noun bitterness or resentfulness, esp. when long-standing : he spoke without rancor.

47. doggerel noun comic verse composed in irregular rhythm. • verse or words that are badly written or expressed : the last stanza deteriorates into doggerel.

Chapter 6

48. probationer noun a person who is serving a probationary or trial period in a job or position to which they are newly appointed. See note at novice.

49. desultory adjective lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm : a few people were left, dancing in a desultory fashion. • (of conversation or speech) going constantly from one subject to another in a halfhearted way; unfocused : the desultory conversation faded.

50. ruminate verb 1 think deeply about something : we sat ruminating on the nature of existence.

51. solicitude noun care or concern for someone or something : I was touched by his solicitude.

52. oblique adjective • not explicit or direct in addressing a point : he issued an oblique attack on the president.

Chapter 7

53. acquiesce (The Interlopers) verb accept something reluctantly but without protest : Sara acquiesced in his decision.

54. condone verb accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue : the college cannot condone any behavior that involves illicit drugs.

55. juncture noun a particular point in events or time : it is difficult to say at this juncture whether this upturn can be sustained.

56. perpetrate verb carry out or commit (a harmful, illegal, or immoral action) : a crime has been perpetrated against a sovereign state.

Chapter 8

57. perplex verb (often be perplexed) (of something complicated or unaccountable) cause (someone) to feel completely baffled : she was perplexed by her husband's moodiness

58. immoral adjective not conforming to accepted standards of morality : an immoral and unwinnable war.

59. aversion noun a strong dislike or disinclination : he had a deep-seated aversion to most forms of exercise.

60. impudent adjective not showing due respect for another person; impertinent : he could have strangled this impudent upstart

61. incredulous adjective (of a person or their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something : an incredulous gasp.

62. countenance noun 1 a person's face or facial expression /maintain one's composure : his impenetrable eyes and inscrutable countenance give little away.

63. admonitory adjective giving or conveying a warning or reprimand : the sergeant lifted an admonitory finger.

Chapter 9

64. perjury noun ( pl. -ries) Law the offense of willfully telling an untruth in a court after having taken an oath or affirmation.

65. malicious adjective characterized by malice; intending or intended to do harm : malicious destruction of property.

66. corroborate verb [ trans. ] confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding) : the witness had corroborated the boy's account of the attack.

67. hearsay noun information received from other people that one cannot adequately substantiate; rumor : according to hearsay, Bob had managed to break his arm.

68. recrimination noun (usu. recriminations) an accusation in response to one from someone else : there are no tears, no recriminations | there was a period of bitter recrimination. -Chapters15 to end 69. heliograph noun 1 a signaling device by which sunlight is reflected in flashes from a movable mirror. • a message sent in such a way; a heliogram.

70. obstinate adjective stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so

71. lassitude noun a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy : she was overcome by lassitude and retired to bed | a patient complaining of lassitude and inability to concentrate.

72. innocuous adjective not harmful or offensive : it was an innocuous question.

73. peril noun serious and immediate danger : his family was in peril | a setback to the state could present a peril to the regime.

74. vindictive adjective having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge : the criticism was both vindictive and personalized.

75. contradiction noun a combination of statements, ideas, or features of a situation that are opposed to one another : the proposed new system suffers from a set of internal contradictions.

76. abhorrent adjective inspiring disgust and loathing; repugnant : racial discrimination was abhorrent to us all

77. scrupulous adjective (of a person or process) diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details : the research has been carried out with scrupulous attention to detail.

78. exigency noun ( pl. -cies) an urgent need or demand : women worked long hours when the exigencies of the family economy demanded it

79. incongruous adjective not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something : the duffel coat looked incongruous with the black dress she wore underneath.

80. inexorable adjective impossible to stop or prevent : the seemingly inexorable march of new technology.

81. paradoxical adjective seemingly absurd or self-contradictory : by glorifying the acts of violence they achieve the paradoxical effect of making them trivial.