C2 Unit 50: Ideas & thinking 5
18 C2 words: artifice, axiomatic, vindicate, inducement, hypothesize, ostensible… Learn them in 4 steps, then review them every day.
Word list
| Word | Meaning | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| artifice/ˈɑrtəfɪs/ n | artificeclever trickery used to deceive | The magician’s artifice fooled the whole audience.The magician’s artifice fooled the whole audience. | |
| axiomatic/ˌæksiəˈmætɪk/ adj | axiomaticobviously true; needing no proof | It is axiomatic that every child needs love and care.It is axiomatic that every child needs love and care. | |
| vindicate/ˈvɪndəkeɪt/ v | to vindicateto prove that someone was right | The final results vindicate the scientist’s long and careful research.The final results vindicate the scientist’s long and careful research. | |
| inducement/ˌɪnˈdusmənt/ n | inducementsomething that persuades you to act | The company offered a free trip as an inducement to sign.The company offered a free trip as an inducement to sign. | |
| hypothesize/haɪˈpɑθəˌsaɪz/ v | to hypothesizeto suggest an idea to explain something | Scientists hypothesize that the lake formed after a very long drought.Scientists hypothesize that the lake formed after a very long drought. | |
| ostensible/ɑˈstɛnsəbəl/ adj | ostensiblestated or seeming, but perhaps not real | The ostensible reason for the trip was a business meeting.The ostensible reason for the trip was a business meeting. | |
| distill/dɪˈstɪl/ v | to distillto make something shorter, keeping the key points | Maria tried to distill the long report into one clear page.Maria tried to distill the long report into one clear page. | |
| revelatory/rɪˈvɛləˌtɔri/ adj | revelatoryshowing something new and surprising | The trip was a revelatory experience that changed how Lucy saw her life.The trip was a revelatory experience that changed how Lucy saw her life. | |
| happenstance/ˈhæpənˌstæns/ n | happenstancechance; a lucky or unplanned event | By happenstance, Omar met his old teacher at the station.By happenstance, Omar met his old teacher at the station. | |
| infallibility/ˌɪnˌfælɪˈbɪlɪti/ n | infallibilitythe quality of never being wrong | No scientist can claim infallibility, because everyone makes mistakes sometimes.No scientist can claim infallibility, because everyone makes mistakes sometimes. | |
| truism/ˈtruɪzəm/ n | truisma statement that is obviously true | "Time is money" is a truism that most people already know."Time is money" is a truism that most people already know. | |
| rumination/ˌrumɪˈneɪʃən/ n | ruminationslow, deep thought about something | After long rumination, Anna decided to move to a new city.After long rumination, Anna decided to move to a new city. | |
| incongruity/ˌɪŋkɔŋˈruɪti/ n | incongruitysomething that does not fit with its surroundings | There was an odd incongruity between her old coat and expensive shoes.There was an odd incongruity between her old coat and expensive shoes. | |
| contrive/kənˈtraɪv/ v | to contriveto plan or create using cleverness | Tom tried to contrive a way to finish the work before noon.Tom tried to contrive a way to finish the work before noon. | |
| encumbrance n | encumbrancesomething heavy that makes movement difficult | Too much luggage is an encumbrance when you travel by train.Too much luggage is an encumbrance when you travel by train. | |
| ruminate/ˈrumɪˌneɪt/ v | to ruminateto think deeply and slowly about something | Ken likes to ruminate on his choices while walking by the river.Ken likes to ruminate on his choices while walking by the river. | |
| presupposition/ˌprisəpəˈzɪʃən/ n | presuppositionan idea accepted as true before starting | The study rests on a presupposition that people always act sensibly.The study rests on a presupposition that people always act sensibly. | |
| demystify/diˈmɪstəˌfaɪ/ v | to demystifyto make something easier to understand | The teacher tried to demystify maths with simple pictures and games.The teacher tried to demystify maths with simple pictures and games. |