Renforcement

28 Vocabulary terms

This glossary helps me to remember the words that I don't know.

acquiescence
noun
the reluctant acceptance of something without protest
Example: in silent acquiescence, she rose to her feet
en: consentement
apportion
verb
To divide something such as payments between two or more people, organizations, etc
Example: The mother apportioned the sweets among her children.
en: répartir
Assess
Verb
evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of.
Example: "the committee must assess the relative importance of the issues"
en: Évaluer
Asset
noun
A useful or valuable thing or person.
Example: A second language is an important asset to individuals
en: Atout, avantage
Axe
Verb
To close a business, stop providing a service
Example: The TV channel axes the show due to poor viewing figures
en: Arrêter, supprimer
buttress
verb
to make someone or something stronger by supporting them in some way
Example: Her good arguments buttressed her credibility
en: renforcer
Casualties
Noun
People injured or killed in a serious accident or war
Example: The battlefield was strewn with casualties
en: Blessé, victime
census
noun
an official count or survey, especially of a population
Example: According to the census, most people live in cities.
en: recensement
Citizenry
Noun
the citizens of a place regarded collectively.
Example: Our citizenry providing a personal benefit
en: Citoyens
debunk
verb
Expose the falseness or hollowness of an idea or belief
Example: The newspaper debunked the mayor’s lies
en: Discréditer
Desecrate
Verb
To violate the sacred character of a place
Example: Vandals desecrated the altar during the night
en: Profaner
Despicable
Adjective
Morally reprehensible
Example: Pretending to be ill do that his wife wouldn’t leave him was a despicable lie
en: Méprisable
destitution
noun
poverty so extreme that one lacks the means to provide for oneself
Example: The country is doing its best to fight illness and destitution.
en: pauvreté
eyesight
noun
a person's ability to see
Example: poor eyesight ended his plans for a naval career
en: la vue
Forestall
Verb
To prevent something from happening by doing something before it can happen
Example: He forestalled her parents by creating a diversion
en: Devancer
Lean on
Verb
rely on or derive support from someone or something.
Example: they have learned to lean on each other for support
en: S'appuyer sur
Lucrative
Adjective
Producing a great deal of profit.
Example: Some languages are more lucrative than others
en: Bénéfique
Meekly
Adverb
Quietly and gently
Example: She nodded meekly and smiled
en: Docilement
Onset
Noun
The beginning of something, especially something bad
Example: The weather gets colder at the onset of winter
en: Le début
outskirts
noun
the outer parts of a town or city
Example: he built a new factory on the outskirts of Birmingham
en: périphérie
Proliferation
Noun
When something increases suddenly in number
Example: The proliferation of racism is dangerous and must be stopped
en: Prolifération
Remaining
Adjective
not yet used, dealt with, or resolved; outstanding.
Example: The state assigning the remaining cost to the students
en: Le reste, restant
Shift
Noun
a slight change in position, direction, or tendency.
Example: a shift in public opinion
en: changement
squalor
noun
a state of being extremely dirty or unpleasant
Example: they lived in squalor and disease
en: misère
staunch
adjective
loyal, and showing strong belief in something or strong support for something
Example: a staunch supporter of the anti-nuclear lobby
en: fervent
thoroughfare
noun
a main road in a town
Example: the teeming thoroughfares of central London
en: voie de circulation
Welfare
Noun
the health, happiness, and fortunes of a person or group.
Example: For the general welfare of our society
en: Bien-être
Wreck
Verb
To destroy or badly damage
Example: The rain wrecked her plans to go on a picnic
en: Démolir