Wordlist 35Judging Roommates by Their

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1. Anonymous (adj.)

Definition: made or done by someone whose name is not known or not made public

Synonym:

Example: The money was donated by an anonymous benefactor.

Word Family:

a·non·y·mous·ness, noun

a·non·y·mous·ly, adverb

non·a·non·y·mous·ness, noun

2. Arbitrary (adj.)

Definition: based on chance rather than being planned or based on reason

Synonym: random, unpredictable

Example: Did you have a reason for choosing your destination or was it arbitrary?

Word Family:

ar·bi·trar·i·ly , adverbar·bi·trar·i·ness, nounnon·ar·bi·trar·i·ly, adverbnon·ar·bi·trar·i·ness, nounnon·ar·bi·trar·y, adjective

3. Clause (n.)

Definition: a particular part of a written legal document, for example a law passed by Parliament or a contract (= an agreement)

Synonym: section

Example: They have added/deleted/amended a clause in the contract which says the company can make people redundant for economic reasons.

Word Family:

claus·al, adjective

sub·claus·al, adjective

sub·clause, noun

4. Clique (n.)

Definition: a small group of people who spend their time together and do not welcome other people into that group

Synonym: society, fraternity

Example: Our golf club is run by a very unfriendly clique (of people).

Word Family:

clique·less, adjective

cli·quey, cli·quy, adjective

cli·quism, noun

sub·clique, noun

5. Converse (v.)

Definition: the opposite

Synonym: opposite, reverse

Example: In the US, you drive on the right-hand side of the road, but in Britain the converse applies.

Word Family:

6. Deviate (v.)

Definition: to do something that is different from the usual or common way of behaving

Synonym: diverge,

Example: The recent pattern of weather deviates from the norm for this time of year.

Word Family:

de·vi·a·ble, adjective

de·vi·a·bil·i·ty, noun

de·vi·a·tor, noun

non·de·vi·at·ing, adjective

un·de·vi·a·ble, adjective

7. Ditzy (n.)

Definition: silly

Synonym: silly,

Example: He couldn’t tolerate his ditzy girlfriend.

Word Family:

8. Diverse (adj.)

Definition: different or including many different types

Synonym: various, different

Example: Students from countries as diverse as Colombia and Lithuania use Cambridge textbooks.

Word Family:

di·verse·ly, adverb

di·verse·ness, noun

o·ver·di·verse, adjective

o·ver·di·verse·ly, adverb

o·ver·di·verse·ness, noun

9. Domain (n.)

Definition: an area of interest or an area over which a person has control

Synonym: realm, territory

Example: She treated the business as her private domain.

Word Family:

do·ma·ni·al, adjective

10. Fondness (n.)

Definition: a liking

Synonym: affection, liking

Example: George's fondness for pink gins was well known.

Word Family:

self-fond·ness, noun

11. Freshman (n.)

Definition: a student in the first year of high school, college, or university

Synonym: undergraduate

Example: He's a freshman at Harvard.

Word Family:

fresh·man·ship, noun

pre·fresh·man, noun, plural pre·fresh·men.

sub·fresh·man, noun, plural sub·fresh·men.

12. Impression (n.)

Definition: an idea or opinion of what something or someone is like

Synonym: sense, feeling

Example: I didn't get much of an impression of the place because it was dark when we drove through it.

Word Family:

im·pres·sion·al, adjective

im·pres·sion·al·ly, adverb

im·pres·sion·less, adjective

pre·im·pres·sion, noun

13. Inevitable (adj.)

Definition: certain to happen and unable to be avoided or prevented

Synonym: inescapable, assured

Example: The accident was the inevitable consequence/result/outcome of carelessness.

Word Family:

in·ev·i·ta·bil·i·ty, in·ev·i·ta·ble·ness, noun

in·ev·i·ta·bly, adverb

qua·si-in·ev·i·ta·ble, adjective

qua·si-in·ev·i·ta·bly, adverb

14. Institute (v.)

Definition: to set up; establish; organize

Synonym: invest

Example: to institute a government.

Word Family:

re·in·sti·tute, verb (used with object), re·in·sti·tut·ed, re·in·sti·tut·ing.

un·in·sti·tut·ed, adjective

well-in·sti·tut·ed, adjective

15. Intervene (v.)

Definition: to intentionally become involved in a difficult situation in order to improve it or prevent it from getting worse

Synonym: get involved

Example: The Central Bank intervened in the currency markets today to try to stabilize the exchange rate.

Word Family:

re·in·ter·vene, verb (used without object), re·in·ter·vened, re·in·ter·ven·ing.

un·in·ter·ven·ing, adjective

16. Maximize (v.)

Definition: to make something as great in amount, size, or importance as possible

Synonym: boost, raise

Example: Some airlines have cancelled less popular routes in an effort to maximize profits.

Word Family:

max·i·mi·za·tion, max·i·ma·tion, noun

max·i·miz·er, noun

17. Passive (adj.)

Definition: not acting to influence or change a situation; allowing other people to be in control

Synonym: uninvolved

Example: He's very passive in the relationship.

Word Family:

pas·sive·ly, adverb

qua·si-pas·sive, adjective

qua·si-pas·sive·ly, adverb

sem·i·pas·sive, adjective

sem·i·pas·sive·ly, adverb

18. Posture (v.)

Definition: behaviour or speech that is intended to attract attention and interest, or to make people believe something that is not true

Synonym:

Example: His writing has been dismissed as mere intellectual posturing.

Word Family:

19. Sibling (n.)

Definition: a brother or sister

Synonym:

Example: I have four siblings: three brothers and a sister.

Word Family:

half-sib·ling, noun

20. So-called (adj.)

Definition: used to show that you think a word that is used to describe someone or something is not suitable or not correct

Synonym: supposed, presumed

Example: It was one of his so-called friends who supplied him with the drugs that killed him.

Word Family:

21. Subside (v.)

Definition: If a condition subsides, it becomes less strong or extreme

Synonym: moderate, soften

Example: The police are hoping that the violence will soon subside.

Word Family:

sub·sid·ence, noun

sub·sid·er, noun

non·sub·sid·ing, adjective

un·sub·sid·ed, adjective

un·sub·sid·ing, adjective