Words of the day (21/2/2015)

VOCABULARY

INIMICAL (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: harmful or limiting:

Example:

- Excessive managerial control is inimical to creative expression.

  

PREDILECTION (NOUN)

Definition: If someone has a predilection for something, they like it a lot:

Example:

- Ever since she was a child, she has had a predilection for spicy food.

AVERSIONS (NOUN)

Definition: (a person or thing that causes) a feeling of strong dislike or of not wishing to do something:

Example:

- I felt an instant aversion to his parents.

- She has a deep aversion to getting up in the morning.

- Greed is my pet aversion (= the thing I dislike most of all).

AMICABLE (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: 1. relating to behaviour between people that is pleasant and friendly, often despite a difficult situation:

Example:

- His manner was perfectly amicable, but I felt uncomfortable.

Definition: 2. relating to an agreement or decision that is achieved without people arguing or being unpleasant:

Example:

- Few people have amicable divorces.

- Eventually we reached an amicable settlement.

MAXIM (NOUN)

Definition: a short statement of a general truth, principle, or rule for behavior.

Words of the day (20/2/2015)

VOCABULARY

FOIBLE (NOUN)

Definition: a strange habit or characteristic that is seen as not important and not harming anyone:

Example:

- We all have our little foibles.

SOPORIFIC (ADJECTIVE)/SOPORIFICALLY (ADVERB)

Definition: causing sleep or making a person want to sleep:

Example;

- the soporific effect of the heat.

LIBERATING (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: making you feel free and able to behave as you like:

Example;

- Taking all your clothes off can be a very liberating experience. 

LIBERTY (NOUN)- Freedom

Definition: 1. (formal) the freedom to live as you wish or go where you want:

Example:

- For most citizens, liberty means the freedom to practise their religious or political beliefs.

- Hundreds of political prisoners are to be given their liberty (= released from prison).

- Of the ten men who escaped this morning from Dartmoor Prison, only two are still at liberty (= free or not yet caught).

Be at liberty to do sth

Definition: to be allowed to do something:

Example:

- I'm not at liberty to reveal any names.

Liberties [plural] formal

Definition:  freedom to live as you wish or go where you want:

Example:

- These laws will restrict our ancient rights and liberties.

PLURALISTIC (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: including or considering many different types of people, with different beliefs, opinions, and needs:

Example:

- A pluralistic society allows its members to express their beliefs freely.

- We need to take a pluralistic approach to education.

PLURALIST (NOUN)

Definition: a person who believes that the existence of different types of people, beliefs, and opinions within a society is a good thing.

Words of the day (19/2/2015)

VOCABULARY

EPITOME (NOUN)

Definition: the typical or highest example of a stated quality, as shown by a particular person or thing:

Example:

- Even now in her sixties, she is the epitome of French elegance.

CORNERSTONE (NOUN)

Definition: 1. a stone in a corner of a building, especially one with the date when the building was made or other writing on it

Definition: 2. something of great importance that everything else depends on:

Example:

- In most countries, the family unit is still the cornerstone of society.

REPOSITORY (NOUN)

Definition: 1. (formal) a place where things are stored and can be found

Definition: 2. (usually singular] a person who has, or a book that contains, a lot of information or detailed knowledge:

Example:

- She's a repository of knowledge about our family history.

DOGGED (ADJECTIVE)/DOGGEDNESS (NOUN)/DOGGEDLY(ADVERB)

Definition: very determined to do something, even if it is very difficult:

Example:

- Her ambition and dogged determination ensured that she rose to the top of her profession.

SPORADIC (ADJECTIVE)-occasionally /SPORADICALLY (ADVERB)

Definition; happening sometimes; not regular or continuous:

Example:

- a sporadic electricity supply

- More than 100 people have been killed this year in sporadic outbursts of ethnic violence.

Words of the day (18/2/2015)

VOCABULARY

COVERT (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: hidden or secret:

Example:

- The government was accused of covert military operations against the regime.

COVERT (NOUN)

Definition: a group of bushes and small trees growing close together in which animals can hide, especially from people or other animals hunting them.

ENDORSEMENT (NOUN)-approval

Definition: 1. the act of saying that you approve of or support something or someone:

Example:

- The campaign hasn't received any political endorsements.

He hoped to secure quick endorsement of the plan from the president.

Definition: 2.  the fact of a famous person appearing in an advertisement saying that they use and like a product:

Example:

- products that carry an endorsement from a celebrity.

  

DENIGRATE (VERB)/DENIGRATION (NOUN)

Definition: to say that someone or something is not good or important:

Example:

- You shouldn't denigrate people just because they have different beliefs from you.

REFUTE (VERB)/REFUTATION (NOUN)

Definition: to say or prove that a person, statement, opinion, etc. is wrong or false:

Example:

- to refute a person/theory/argument/claim

Words of the day (17/2/2015)

VOCABULARY 

FURTIVE (ADJECTIVE)/FURTIVELY (ADVERB)

Definition: (of people) behaving secretly and often dishonestly, or (of actions) done secretly and often dishonestly:

Example:

- I saw him cast a furtive glance at the woman at the table to his right.

- He made one or two furtive phone calls.

- There was something furtive about his behaviour and I immediately felt suspicious.

ECLECTIC (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: Methods, beliefs, ideas, etc. that are eclectic combine whatever seem the best or most useful things from many different areas or systems, rather than following a single system.

Example:

- an eclectic style/approach

- an eclectic taste in literature

EPHEMERAL (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: lasting for only a short time.

Example:

- Fame in the world of rock and pop is largely ephemeral. 

UBIQUITOUS (ADJECTIVE)/UBIQUITOUSLY (ADVERB)

Definition: seeming to be everywhere:

Example:

- Leather is very much in fashion this season, as is the ubiquitous denim.

- The Swedes are not alone in finding their language under pressure from the ubiquitous spread of English.

- The mobile phone, that most ubiquitous of consumer-electronic appliances, is about to enter a new age.

FLEETING (ADJECTIVE)/FLEETINGLY (ADVERB)

Definition: short or quick:

Example:

- a fleeting glimpse.

- This is just a fleeting visit.

Words of the day (16/2/2015)

VOCABULARY 

COMPREHENSIVE (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: complete and including everything that is necessary.

Example:

- We offer you a comprehensive training in all aspects of the business.

- Is this list comprehensive or are there some names missing?

- He has written a fully comprehensive guide to Rome.

-           

PAROCHIAL (ADJECTIVE)-of a church

Definition: 1. connected with a parish (=an area that has its own church or priest).

Example:

- parochial boundaries

PAROCHIAL (ADJECTIVE)-limited

Definition: 2. disapproving showing interest only in a narrow range of matters, especially those that directly affect yourself, your town, or your country:

Example:

- a parochial view/opinion

- Although it's just a local paper, it somehow manages not to be too parochial in its outlook.

DIVERSIFY (VERB)/DIVERSIFICATION (NOUN)

Definition: 1. to start to include more different types or things.

Example:

- Millions of years ago, changes in the Earth's climate caused animal and plant life to diversify.

Definition: 2. If a business diversifies, it starts making new products or offering new services.

Example:

- Many wheat farmers have begun to diversify into other forms of agriculture.

ANOMALY (NOUN)/ ANOMALOUS (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: a person or thing that is different from what is usual, or not in agreement with something else and therefore not satisfactory.

Example:

- Statistical anomalies can make it difficult to compare economic data from one year to the next.

- The anomaly of the social security system is that you sometimes have more money without a job.

ARCANE (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: mysterious and known only by a few people.

Example:

- He was the only person who understood all the arcane details of the agreement.

- This argument may seem arcane to those not closely involved in the world of finance.

Words of the day (15/2/2015)

VOCABULARY


MISANTHROPE (NOUN)
Definition: someone who dislikes and avoids other people.


HYPOCHONDRIA (NOUN)/ HYPOCHONDRIAC (ADJECTIVE /NOUN)
Definition: a state in which a person continuously worries about their health without having any reason to do so.
Example:
I thought the doctor was going to accuse me of hypochondria.


HEDONISM (NOUN)/ HEDONIST (NOUN)/ HEDONISTIC (ADJECTIVE)
Definition: living and behaving in ways that mean you get as much pleasure out of life as possible, according to the belief that the most important thing in life is to enjoy yourself.


SYBARITE (NOUN)/ SYBARITIC (ADJECTIVE)
Definition: a person who loves expensive things and pleasure.


PETRIFIED (ADJECTIVE)- Frightened
Definition: 1. extremely frightened.
Example:
I stood petrified as the most enormous dog I've ever seen came bounding up to me.
She's petrified of being on her own in the house at night.

Definition: 2. having changed to a substance like stone:
Example:
a petrified tree/shell
*literary used to describe something that has stopped changing and developing, and often belongs to the past.

Weekly movie reviews (Sherlock Holmes- A Game of Shadows)

Movie info:

Sherlock Holmes is investigating terrorist attacks in London alone since his old partner Dr. John Watson will get married a few days later with Mary. His investigations point to Professor James Moriarty as the person responsible for the explosions. When Dr. Watson and Mary are attacked in the train while traveling for their honeymoon in Brighton, Holmes delivers Mary to the protection of his brother Mycroft. Soon Holmes and Dr. Watson disclose that Professor Moriarty has bought arms and ammunition factories and is trying to start a war in Europe killing political leaders and politicians. Now Sherlock and Watson have to stop Moriarty and his dangerous associate, the skilled former Colonel Sebastian Moran to avoid the imminent war.

Movie reviews:

Robert Downey Jr. chews scenery and spits it back out, but his shtick grows tiresome right around the scene where he dresses himself in woman’s clothing. Noomi Rapace is pretty good, but she's sorely underused, and her character has virtually no finale whatsoever. Stephen Fry, playing Sherlock's brother Mycroft Holmes, is also underused, popping up in only a handful of scenes, and stealing them away from Downey Jr., I might add. And you feel genuinely bad for Watson (Jude Law), who's forced to endure this “friend” as he nearly wrecks his wedding and ruins his honeymoon, all in pretty much one night.

The film is certainly enjoyable at times, and the banter between Sherlock and Watson can be amusing. The action boasts a few creative sparks, the finale is pretty engaging, and there's a charm to some of the characters and the atmosphere.

In this movie, I admire Sherlock because of his calm way in solving a mystery. He was an genius guy to me as he managed to solve every piece of clues in that movie which i don't realized. Everytime he was assaulted or caught by the enemy, he managed to escape form them. This was my favorite parts where he can predict their actions in a short time. It was a hard time for him in his investigation where the 'prey' knew most of his actions. At the climax, he almost killed but Dr. Watson managed to save him. He was lucky to have Dr Watson by his side.

Dr. Watson has a more proactive role this time. "A Game of Shadows" opens with him recalling these events on a typewriter that is too modern for 1895 but maybe suggests he's writing years later. He's not just a confidante and chronicler but a hero, too, involved in fights and shootouts. His wife must be thankful that Holmes abruptly eliminated her from most of the action

Moreover, the determination shown by Sherlock helped him to solve his investigation. Sherlock was determined to stop Professor Moriarty's action which can lead to world's conflict. He even consume drugs because he needed a lot of time to think and to solve the problems. Their struggle comes to a head in an elegant, high-stakes chess game, held for some reason in Switzerland in the dead of a winter night on a snowy outdoor balcony. As played by Jared Harris, Moriarty doesn't gnash or fulminate, but fences with Holmes in barbed language. This returns the story somewhat to the Conan Doyle tradition that Holmes did most of his best work in his mind.With the help of his pals, Dr Watson, they managed to stop Professor Moriarty where at the end of the story, he was killed by Sherlock.

It's Downey's movie. With his cool, flippant manner, his Holmes stands apart from the danger, thinking it through visually before performing it, remaining insouciant in the face of calamity. He appears in many disguises, one with a markedly bad wig, another as a remarkably convincing chair. Overall, I enjoy this movie as a high-caliber entertainment.

Weekly movie reviews (the Internship)

Movie info:

Billy (Vince Vaughn) and Nick (Owen Wilson) are salesmen whose careers have been torpedoed by the digital world. Trying to prove they are not obsolete, they defy the odds by talking their way into a coveted internship at Google, along with a battalion of brilliant college students. But, gaining entrance to this utopia is only half the battle. Now they must compete with a group of the nation's most elite, tech-savvy geniuses to prove that necessity really is the mother of re-invention.

Movie reviews:

Though Vaughn and Wilson do maintain much of the chemistry they showed us in Wedding Crashers, the movie itself doesn't really earn the friendship it's trying to present — the emotional stakes never really rise to the point where you feel engaged. For every great moment, like Vaughn unwittingly pitching an app that’s exactly like Instagram, there are several more that fall flat.

To the movie's credit, it does a passably good job of depicting a realistic breadth of geek archetypes in 2013: your overachieving homeschooler, your cosplayer, your Ivy-league, and  a female engineer who isn't overwhelmed by a stereotypical work / life conflict. Those who were unfortunate enough to see Josh Gad's Steve Wozniak in Jobs will be pleased to know he makes a nice turn in The Internship as a nerd savant.

The Internship's most affecting moment is a surprising one when the kids become humanized and relatable when they reveal that they, like Nick and Billy, are worried they won’t have jobs either. The old guys might be adrift, but even the most elite of college students don't have a guaranteed spot in the new economy.

Besides that, the determination shown by the main Vaughn play the main role in this movie. Even though he lost his job, where his boss claimed that their jobs were obseleted, but he did not give up rather he found a new job which was not 'related' to him at all (Google), which need computer expertise.He and Wilson were enthusiasm to pass the interview where they believed that the world need a person like them. 

This movie also showed us that, in this new era, we need to think creative (think out of the box) rather than being obedient. The Google's company was looking for someone who can change and develop the company globally. Vaughn and Wilson had opened the manager's eyes where they managed to promote about 60 shops in their last task.Due to their creative and talent, their team finally got the job in the company.

But while The Internship plays around the edges of these thorny economic issues, at its heart it's aiming to be a feel-good comedy, not social commentary. That tension leads to a surreal climax. The greatest triumph in the world of The Internship is simply being employed. Overall, it's a great movie ! 

Words of the day (14/2/2015)

VOCABULARY

TRACTABLE (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: easily dealt with, controlled or persuaded.

Example:

-          The problem turned out to be rather less tractable than I had expected.

STOIC (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: determine not to complain or show your feelings, especially when something bad happen to you.

Example:

-          We knew she must be in pain, despite her stoic attitude.

ERADICATE (VERB)

Definition: To get rid of completely or destroy something bad.

Example:

-          The government claims to be all it can to eradicate corruptions.

UNANIMITY (NOUN)

Definition: the state of being unanimous.

Example:

-          He was less known by any of his class members because of his unanimity attitude.

STIFLE (VERB)

Definition:

 No air- to (cause) be unable to breathe because you have no air.

-      To prevent something from happening, being expressed or continuing.

Example:

-          He is said to have stifled his victim with a pillow.

-          She stifled a cough.

Words of the day (13/2/2105)

VOCABULARY

ALLEVIATE (VERB)

Definition: To make something bad such as pain or problems less severe.

Example:

-          The drugs did nothing to alleviate her pain.

MITIGATE (VERB)

Definition: To make something less harmful, unpleasant or bad.

Example:

-          It is clear how to mitigate the effect of tourism on the island.

PHLEGMATIC (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: Describe someone who doesn’t usually get emotional excited about thing.

Example:

-          As a footballer his first asset was his calm, phlegmatic manner.

CHOLERIC (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: Very angry or easily annoyed.

Example:

Don’t disturb her as she is a choleric sort of person.

CONSTRAINED (ADJECTIVE)

Definition:

Force to do something against your will.

Describe behaviour that is force and unnatural.

Example:

-          Don’t feel constrained to do what he says, he has no authority.

Words of the day (12/2/2015)

VOCABULARY

ENCUMBER (VERB)

Definition: to weight someone or something down, or to make it different for someone to do something.

Example:

-          Today, thankfully, women tennis players are not encumber by long, heavy skirts and high-necked bloused.

PINION (VERB)

Definition: To hold someone, especially by the arms, to prevent them form moving.

Example:

-          He was pinioned to the wall by two men while another man repeatedly punched him.

ERRATIC (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: not regular, uncertain or without organization in movement or behaviour.

Example:

-          He drove in an erratic course down road.

-          She can be very erratic, one day she in friendly, the next day she’ll hardly talk to you.

ETERNAL (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: Lasting forever or for a very long time.

Example:

-          The company I engaged in the eternal search for a product that will lead the market.

CONVENTIONAL (ADJECTIVE)

Definition:

Tradisional or ordinary.

Describe weapon which are not nuclear, or method of fighting a war do not involve nuclear weapons.

Example:

-          I find his art rather dull and conventional.

Words of the day (11/2/2015)

VOCABULARY

ESCHEW (VERB)

Definition: To avoid something intentionally, or to give something up.

Example:

-          We won’t have discussions  with that group unless they eschew violence.

AMBIVALENT (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: having two opposing feelings at the same time, or being uncertain about how you feel; doubtful.

Example:

-          I felt very ambivalent feelings towards his father.

FETTER (VERB)

Definition:

- To keep someone within limits or stop them making process.

- To tie someone to a place by putting chains around their ankles.

Example:

-          He felt fettered by a nine to five office existences.

ENFRANCHISED (VERB)

Definition: to give a person or group of people the right to vote in elections.

Example:

-          Women in Britain were first enfranchised in 1918.

ENTHRALL (VERB)

Definition: To keep someone completely interested.

Example:

-          The baseball game completely enthralled the crowd.

-          The audience was enthralled for two hours by a sparkling, dramatic performance.

Words of the day (10/2/2015)

VOCABULARY

GARRULOUS (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: Having the bad habit of talking a lot, especially about things which are not important.

Example:

-          He was disliked by everyone because of his garrulous habit.

EQUIVOCAL (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: Not clear and seeming to have two opposing meaning, or confusing and able to be understood.

Example:

-          His words to the press were deliberately equivocal.

TACITURN (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: Saying little especially usually.

Example:

-          He’s a reserved, taciturn person.

GREGARIOUS (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: Liking to be with other people, or (especially animal) ling in a group.

Example:

-          Emma’s a gregarious, outgoing sort of person.

MEAGER (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: (of amount of number) very small or not enough.

Example:

-          The prisoner existed on a meager diet.

Words of the day (9/2/2015)

VOCABULARY

MEANDERS (VERB)

Definition:

1. If a river, stream or road meanders, it follow a route which is not straight or direct.

2.To walk slowly without any clear direction.

3.      3.If a text, process or activity meanders, it has no clear direction.

Example:

     2- We spend the afternoon meandering around the street of the old town.

     3- The film meanders along with no particular story line.

AMBLES (VERB)

Definition: to walk in a slow and relaxed way.

Example:

-          He was ambling along the beach.

RAGES (NOUN)

Definition: Anger, extreame or violent anger.

Example:

-          I was frightened because I had never seen him in such a rage before.

RAGES (VERB)

Definition:

1.to speak angrily towards someone.

2.to happen in a string or violent way.

Example:

-          The storm raged outside.

Be (all) the RAGE (IDIOM)

Definition: old- fashioned to be very popular at a particular time.

JARGON (NOUN)

Definition: (usually disapproved) special words and process which are used by particular groups people, especially in their work.

Example:
      A jargon of engineers always walk together to the nearest restaurant for lunch.

Words of the day (8/2/2015)

VOCABULARY

APPROBATION (NOUN)

Definition: approval or agreement, often given by an official groups; praise.

Example:

-          The council has finally indicated its approbation of the plan.

DISDAIN (NOUN)

Definition: When you dislike someone or something and think that they not deserve your interest or respect.

Example:

-          He regards the political process with disdain.

UNRIVALLED (ADJECTIVE)

Definition: Have no equal; better than any other of the same type.

Example:

-          The museum boasts  an unrivalled collection of French porcelain.

TRUDGES (VERB)

Definition: To walk slowly with a lot of effort, especially over difficult surface or while carrying something heavy.

Example:

-          We trudges back up the hill.

TRUDGES with something (PHARAL VERB)

Definition: To do work or a particular task slowly and with effort of difficulty.

Example:

-          I spent the whole weekend, trudging through this report and I still haven’t finished reading it.

Words of the day (7/2/2015)

VOCABULARY

ENGROSSED (ADJECTIVE)

DEFINITION:

So interest in something that give it all your attention.

EXAMPLE:
-  She was completely engrossed in her book.

PERISH (VERB)

DEFINITION:

To die or be destroyed.

EXAMPLE:

-      Thousands armies were perished during world war 2.

MANIC (ADJECTIVE)

DEFINITION:

Full of nervous energy or excited activity.

EXAMPLE:

-      His behavior became more manic as he began to feel stressed.

VOID (NOUN)

DEFINITION:

A large empty space.

EXAMPLE:

-      Her death left a void in their lives.

VOID (ADJECTIVE)

DEFINITION:

Completely lacking something;(used about a ticket, contract, decision, etc) that can no longer be accepted or used.

EXAMPLE:

-      This book is totally void of interest for me.

-      The agreement was declared void.

Words of the day (6/2/2015)

VOCABULARY

COMPEL (VERB)

DEFINITION:

To force someone to do something.

EXAMPLE:
-  I felt compelled to tell her what I really thought of her.

ANIMOSITY (NOUN)

DEFINITION:

A strong feeling of disagreement, anger or hatred.

EXAMPLE:

-      Animosity between Ali and Abu was longer till 5 years.

REPRIMAND (VERB)

DEFINITION:

To tell somebody officially that they have done something wrong.

EXAMPLE:

-      Mr. Wong reprimands his son to not smoking as it is not good for health.

SHREWD (ADJECTIVE)

DEFINITION:

Able to make good decisions because you understand a situation well.

EXAMPLE:

-      We must choose on a shrewd decision before proceeding something that is important.

DESPONDENT (ADJECTIVE)

DEFINITION:

Without hope; expecting no improvement.

EXAMPLE:

-      She was becoming increasingly despondent about ding finding a job.