Vocab MDL

44 null terms

Abet
Verb
To help or encourage someone to do something wrong or illegal.
Example: His accountant had aided and abetted him in the fraud.
fr: encourager
Acquiescence
Noun
The act of accepting or agreeing to something, often unwillingly.
Example: She nodded her acquiescence
fr: Acquiescement, Consentement
Altar
Noun
A holy surface used for rituals.
Example: Before eating, it is customary to offer a part of every meal on the altar
fr: Autel
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Apportion
Verb
To divide something such as payments between two or more people, organizations, etc.
Example: We are going to apportion the money from the award among all of the team members
fr: Répartir, Partager
Appraisal
Noun
The act of examining someone or something in order to judge their qualities, success, or needs.
Example: The newspaper gave an editorial appraisal of the government's achievements of the past year
fr: Évaluation
Backlash
Noun
A strong feeling among a group of people in reaction to a change or recent events in society or politics.
Example: the 60s backlash against bourgeois materialism
fr: Réaction (violente), retour de bâton
Blight
Noun
Something that spoils or has a very bad effect on something, often for a long time.
Example: His arrival cast a blight on the wedding day
fr: Fléau
Brand
Verb
To say that someone or something is a particular bad thing, usually when this is unfair.
Example: The media branded him racist
fr: Etiqueter, Stigmatiser
Briton
Noun
A person from Britain.
Example: Six Britons are believed to have been involved in the accident
fr: Britannique
Buttress
Verb
To make support for an idea or argument stronger by providing a good reason for it
Example: The arguments for change are buttressed by events elsewhere
fr: Soutenir, étayer
Casualty
Noun
A person injured or killed in a serious accident or war.
Example: The train was derailed but there were no casualties, police said
fr: Victime
Census
Noun
An official periodic count of a population including information such as sex, age, occupation etc.
Example: In the UK, there's been a census every ten years since 1841
fr: Recensement
Curb
Verb
To control or limit something that is not wanted.
Example: The government should act to curb tax evasion
fr: Maîtriser, Brider, Freiner
Debunk
Verb
To show that something is less important, less good, or less true than it has been made to appear.
Example: The writer's aim was to debunk the myth that had grown up around the actress
fr: Discréditer, Déboulonner, Dévoiler
Desecrate
Verb
To damage or show no respect towards something holy or very much respected.
Example: It's a crime to desecrate the country's flag
fr: Profaner
Destitution
Noun
The state of being without money, food, a home, or possessions.
Example: Many people were in a state of utter destitution
fr: Pauvreté, Misère
Dog-tired
Adjective
Extremely tired.
Example: He was dog-tired from the long day's ride
fr: Epuisé, crevé
Downturn
Noun
A reduction in the amount or success of something, such as a country's economic activity.
Example: There is evidence of a downturn in the housing market
fr: Baisse
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Draft
Noun
A piece of text, a formal suggestion, or a drawing in its original state, often containing the main ideas and intentions but not the developed form.
Example: This is only a rough draft - the finished article will have pictures too
fr: Brouillon
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Eavesdrop
Verb
To listen to someone's private conversation without them knowing.
Example: He was eavesdropping on our conversation
fr: Ecouter aux portes, espionner
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Embed
Verb
To fix something firmly into a substance.
Example: Technological knowledge can flow within the economic system embedded in new companies.
fr: Enfoncer, implanter
Encroachment
Noun
The act of gradually taking away someone else's rights, or taking control of someone's time, work, etc.
Example: The new censorship laws are serious encroachments on freedom of expression
fr: Envahissement, empiétement
Float
Verb
To suggest a plan or an idea to be considered.
Example: Laura has floated the idea that we should think about expanding into Europe next year
fr: Lancer (une idée)
Forestall
Verb
To prevent something from happening by acting first.
Example: The company executives forestalled criticism by inviting union leaders to meet
fr: Prévenir, déjouer
Household
Noun
The people living together in one house collectively.
Example: We are going to have a meeting of the whole household tonight
fr: Famille
Insight
Noun
(The ability to have) a clear, deep, and sometimes sudden understanding of a complicated problem or situation.
Example: The report gives us an insight into the crisis
fr: Aperçu
K-12
Noun
Education for children from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Example: Woods Charter School is a grade K-12 public school.
fr: Ensemble du cursus scolaire
Loathsome
Adjective
Extremely unpleasant.
Example: He's a loathsome man
fr: Dégoûtant, répugnant
Meekly
Adverb
In a quiet, gentle way and without arguing or expressing your opinions.
Example: He meekly accepted the arrangement.
fr: Doucement, docilement
Motorcade
Noun
A series of cars and other motor vehicles that moves slowly along a road carrying someone important, especially during an official ceremony.
Example: a presidential motorcade
fr: cortège d'automobiles
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Mull something over
Verb
To think carefully about something for a long time.
Example: I need a few days to mull things over before I decide if I'm taking the job
fr: Bien réfléchir à quelque chose, Cogiter
Noughties
Noun
The period of years between 00 and 10 in any century, usually 2000–2010.
Example: They were born in the noughties and grew up completely at ease with computer technology
fr: les années 2000
On hold
Noun
If an activity is on hold, it has been intentionally delayed.
Example: The movie has been put on hold until the financial situation improves
fr: Suspendu, en attente
Onset
Noun
The moment at which something unpleasant begins.
Example: The new treatment can delay the onset of the disease by several years
fr: Début
Outstanding
Adjective
Exceptionally good.
Example: What an outstanding student!
fr: Exceptionnel, Extraordinaire, Remarquable
Proponent
Noun
A person who speaks publicly in support of a particular idea or plan of action.
Example: He is one of the leading proponents of capital punishment.
fr: Partisan
Reluctant
Adjective
Not willing to do something and therefore slow to do it.
Example: I was having such a good time I was reluctant to leave
fr: Réticent
Shift
Verb
To change or transfer from one place, position, direction.
Example: The wind has shifted and is now blowing from the north
fr: Bouger, Déplacer, Changer de place
Smuggle
Verb
To take things or people to or from a place secretly and often illegally.
Example: All four men deny trying to smuggle drugs
fr: Faire de la contrebande, introduire clandestinement
Squalor
Noun
The condition of being extremely dirty and unpleasant, often because of lack of money.
Example: How can you live in such squalor?
fr: Saleté, Crasse
The outskirts
Noun
The areas that form the edge of a town or city.
Example: The factory is in/on the outskirts of New Delhi
fr: Banlieue, Périphérie
Thoroughfare
Noun
A main road for public use or a passage through somewhere.
Example: The property was located at the intersection of two busy thoroughfares
fr: Artère
Wind turbine
Noun
A tall structure with blades that are blown round by the wind and produce power to make electricity.
Example: The wind turbines are visible on the horizon as you look out to sea
fr: Eolienne
Worked up
Verb
Upset or very excited about something.
Example: He was very worked up about seeing his family again after so many years
fr: Enervé, nerveux