verbiage /ˈvɜː.bi.ɪdʒ/ /ˈvɝː-/ noun [ U ] FORMAL DISAPPROVING language which is very complicated and which contains a lot of unnecessary words His explanation was wrapped up in so much technical verbiage that I simply couldn't

understand it.

strapped /stræpt/ adjective INFORMAL not having enough money I'd love to come to Malaysia with you, but I'm afraid I'm a bit strapped (for cash) at the

moment

bolster /ˈbəʊl.stə r / /ˈboʊl.stɚ/ verb [ T ] to support or improve something or make it stronger More money is needed to bolster the industry. She tried to bolster my confidence/morale (=

imperative /ɪmˈper.ə.tɪv/ /-t ̬ɪv/ adjective URGENT 1. extremely important or urgent; needing to be done or given attention immediately [ + that ] The president said it was imperative that the release of all hostages be secured. [ + to infinitive ] It's imperative to act now before the problem gets really serious.

euphemism /ˈjuː.fə.mɪ.z ə m/ noun [ C or U ] a word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word 'Senior citizen' is a euphemism for 'old person'.

fait accompli /ˌfet.ə.kɒmˈpliː/ /ˌfeɪ.tə.kɑːm-/ noun [ C ] plural faits accomplis an action which has already been done and which cannot be changed The policy change was presented to us as a fait accompli, without consultation or

discussion.

vociferous /vəˈsɪf. ə r.əs/ /-ɚ-/ adjective Vociferous people express their opinions and complaints loudly and repeatedly in speech,

and vociferous demands, etc. are made repeatedly and loudly Local activist groups have become increasingly vociferous as the volume of traffic

passing through the village has grown.

contentious /kənˈten t  .ʃəs/ adjective causing or likely to cause disagreement a contentious decision/policy/issue/subject She has some rather contentious views on education.

vindicate /ˈvɪn.dɪ.keɪt/ verb [ T ] 1. to prove that what someone said or did was right or true, after other people thought it

was wrong

The decision to include Morris in the team was completely vindicated when he scored three goals.

The investigation vindicated her complaint about the newspaper.

promulgate /ˈprɒm. ə l.geɪt/ /ˈprɑː.məl-/ verb [ T ] FORMAL ANNOUNCE 2. to announce something publicly, especially a new law The new law was finally promulgated in the autumn of last year.

defer /dɪˈfɜː r / /-ˈfɝː/ verb [ T ] -rr- to delay something until a later time; to postpone My bank has agreed to defer the repayments on my loan while I'm still a student.

infatuation /ɪnˌfæt.juˈeɪ.ʃ ə n/ noun [ C or U ] strong but not usually lasting feelings of love or attraction It's just an infatuation. She'll get over it. No one expected their infatuation with each other to last.

fortitude /ˈfɔː.tɪ.tjuːd/ /ˈfɔːr.t ̬ə.tuːd/ noun [ U ] FORMAL bravery over a long period I thought she showed remarkable fortitude during that period.

quaint /kweɪnt/ adjective 1. attractive because of being unusual and especially old-fashioned a quaint old cottage 2. Quaint can also be used to show that you do not approve of something, especially an

opinion, belief or way of behaving, because it is strange or old-fashioned "What a quaint idea!" she said, laughing at him.

oblivious /əˈblɪv.i.əs/ adjective not conscious of something, especially what is happening around you Absorbed in her work, she was totally oblivious of her surroundings. The government seems oblivious to the likely effects of the new legislation.

largesse , largess /lɑːˈʒes/ /lɑːr-/ noun [ U ] FORMAL willingness to give money, or money given to poor people by rich people The national theatre will be the main beneficiary of the millionaire's largesse.

scuffle /ˈskʌf.l ̩/ noun [ C ] a short and sudden fight, especially one involving a small number of people Two police officers were injured in scuffles with fans at Sunday's National Football

League contest.

alibi /ˈæl.ɪ.baɪ/ noun [ C ] 1. proof that someone who is thought to have committed a crime could not have done it,

especially the fact or statement that they were in another place at the time it happened He has a cast-iron (= very strong) alibi - he was in hospital the week of the murder.

bereft /bɪˈreft/ adjective [ after verb ] FORMAL not having something or feeling great loss Alone now and almost penniless, he was bereft of hope. After the last of their children had left home the couple felt utterly bereft.

pragmatic /prægˈmæt.ɪk/ /-ˈmæt ̬-/ adjective MAINLY APPROVING solving problems in a realistic way which suits the present conditions rather than obeying

fixed theories, ideas or rules In business, the pragmatic approach to problems is often more successful than an

idealistic one.

overdue /ˌəʊ.vəˈdjuː/ /ˌoʊ.vɚˈduː/ adjective not done or happening when expected or when needed; late My library books are a week overdue. The baby is two weeks overdue (= The baby was expected to be born two weeks ago) . Changes to the tax system are long overdue. She feels she's overdue for promot

derogatory /dɪˈrɒg.ə.t ə r.i/ , /-tri/ /-ˈrɑː.gə.tɔːr-/ adjective showing strong disapproval and not showing respect He made some derogatory comment/remark about her appearance.

redolent /ˈred. ə l. ə nt/ adjective [ after verb ] LITERARY smelling strongly of something or having qualities (especially smells) that make you

think of something else The album is a heartfelt cry, redolent of a time before radio and television. The mountain air was redolent with the scent of pine needles.

infidel /ˈɪn.fɪ.d ə l/ /-fə.del/ noun [ C or U ] OLD USE DISAPPROVING (used especially between Christians and Muslims) someone who does not have the same

religious beliefs as the person speaking He lived among infidels/ the infidel. infidel armies

exigency /ˈek.sɪ.dʒ ə n t  .si/ noun [ C or U ] FORMAL the difficulties of a situation, especially one which causes urgent demands the exigencies of war Economic exigency obliged the government to act.

toil /tɔɪl/ verb [ I ] WORK HARD 1. to work hard England's cricketers have been toiling in the 100-degree heat over the past week. I was relaxing in the bath, having toiled away in the garden all afternoon.

hiatus /haɪˈeɪ.təs/ /-t ̬əs/ noun [ C usually singular ] FORMAL a short pause in which nothing happens or is said, or a space where something is missing

The company expects to resume production of the vehicle again after a two-month hiatus

repugnant /rɪˈpʌg.nənt/ adjective FORMAL If behaviour or beliefs, etc. are repugnant, they are very unpleasant, causing a feeling of

disgust a repugnant smell I find your attitude towards these women quite repugnant. The idea of cheating in an exam is morally repugnant to me.

moot /muːt/ verb [ T ] FORMAL to suggest something for discussion The idea was first mooted as long ago as the 1840s. His name was mooted as a possible successor.

abominable /əˈbɒm.ɪ.nə.bl ̩/ /-ˈbɑː.mɪ-/ adjective very bad or unpleasant The prisoners are forced to live in abominable conditions. The weather's been abominable all week.

umbrage /ˈʌm.brɪdʒ/ noun [ U ] SLIGHTLY FORMAL take umbrage to feel upset or annoyed, usually because you feel that someone has been rude or shown

no respect to you You don't think she'll take umbrage if she isn't invited to the wedding, do you?

vilify /ˈvɪl.ɪ.faɪ/ verb [ T ] FORMAL to say or write unpleasant things about someone or something, in order to cause

other people to have a bad opinion of them He was vilified by the press as a monster of perversity.

brook /brʊk/ verb FORMAL brook no sth /not brook sth to not allow or accept something, especially difference of opinion or intention She won't brook any criticism of her work.

devolve /dɪˈvɒlv/ /-ˈvɑːlv/ verb [ T ] to (cause power or responsibility to) be given to other people To be a good manager, you must know how to devolve responsibility downwards. FORMAL Those duties will necessarily devolve on/upon me.

brute /bruːt/ noun [ C ] 1. DISAPPROVING a rough and sometimes violent man [ as form of address ] Take your hands off me, you brute! 2. an animal, especially a large one Your dog's an ugly brute, isn't it? The oldest elephant was lame, poor brute.

penchant /ˈpɒ n  .ʃɒ n  / /ˈpen.tʃ ə nt/ noun [ C usually singular ] a liking for, an enjoyment of, or a habit of doing something, especially something that

other people might not like a penchant for melodrama/skiing/exotic clothes Her penchant for disappear ing for days at a time worries her family.

cusp /kʌsp/ noun [ S ] the dividing line between two very different things on the cusp of adulthood

linchpin , lynchpin /ˈlɪn t  ʃ.pɪn/ noun the linchpin of the most important member of a group or part of a system, that holds together the other

members or parts or makes it possible for them to operate as intended Woodford is the linchpin of the British athletics team.

paramount /ˈpær.ə.maʊnt/ /ˈper-/ adjective FORMAL more important than anything else There are many priorities, but reducing the budget deficit is paramount/is of paramount

importance .

heckle /ˈhek.l ̩/ verb [ I or T ] to interrupt a public speech or performance with loud unfriendly statements or questions A few angry locals started heckling (the speaker).

schlep -pp- , schlepp /ʃlep/ verb [ I or T + adv/prep ] MAINLY US INFORMAL to move yourself or an object with effort and difficulty Do I really have to schlep all that junk down to the cellar?

schmooze /ʃmuːz/ verb [ I ] INFORMAL to talk informally with someone, especially in a way that is not sincere or to win some

advantage for yourself He spent the entire evening schmoozing with the senator.

visage /ˈvɪz.ɪdʒ/ noun [ C ] LITERARY the face

fecund /ˈfek.ənd/ adjective FORMAL 1. able to produce a lot of crops, fruit, babies, young animals, etc fecund soil 2. active and productive a fecund imagination

apace /əˈpeɪs/ adverb LITERARY OR OLD USE quickly The project is coming on apace (= advancing quickly) .

depredation /ˌdep.rəˈdeɪ.ʃ ə n/ noun [ C usually plural U ] FORMAL (an act causing) damage or destruction The entire area has suffered the depredations of war. Depredation of (= Damage done to) the environment is destroying hundreds of species

each year.