04.11.2018 // I see your dark academia and raise you, the Enlightenment Galleries at the British Museum
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My favourite room at the British Museum
Advanced English Vocabulary 1
Throughout 2018 I acquired ~1000 new English words, because I have a certain penchant for it. I’ll be posting some of these words on this blog. I hope you enjoy and, as always, make sure you consider the context in which you are speaking before employing any of these words.
#1. Paucity
Meaning: A lack of, a small number of, fewness.
Example: A spider web of waterways and a paucity of roads makes for a “no fun” evening rush hour.
#2 to abrogate
Meaning: To formally revoke something.
Example: …the Munich Agreement, which the British still stood by, and which Beneš wanted the British to abrogate.
#3 Skiamachy/sciamachy
Meaning: A fight with an insubstantial/imaginary opponent, a sham fight.
Example: A great part of Cotta’s argumentation becomes a mere sci[a]machy.
#4 Anathema
Meaning: A curse, the act of cursing/damning.
Example: How then could you thunder out such anathema’s on your own enemies?
#5 Esurient
Meaning: Very hungry, greedy.
Example: He was as esurient after fame as Tom Coryate.
#6 to portend
Meaning: To indicate beforehand, to foretell as an omen.
Example: Whether this portends stability in the immediate future, it is impossible to say.
#7 to upbraid
Meaning: To find fault with, to censure.
Example:
On hearing these words, I abstained from upbraiding her.
#8 Petrichor
Meaning: The smell of rain falling on dry, warm land.
Example: Petrichor comes from atmospheric haze, which contains the terpenes, creosotes and other volatile compounds that emanate from plants.
#9 Velleity
Meaning: A inclincation not strong enough to bring about action, a mere desire.
Example:
He had no fixed intentions, only rebellious impulses, blind longings and velleities.
#10 to abet
Meaning: To encourage a person to do something (usually bad/criminal).
Example:
China’s most popular online video site … is trying to shed its reputation for abetting piracy.
pir-ado