C2 Unit 52: Feelings & character 6
20 C2 words: indolence, ingrate, idiosyncrasy, ingenuous, unnerve, ignominiously… Learn them in 4 steps, then review them every day.
Word list
| Word | Meaning | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| indolence n | indolencelaziness; dislike of effort | His indolence meant the garden was full of weeds by summer.His indolence meant the garden was full of weeds by summer. | |
| ingrate n | ingratea person who shows no thanks for help | Everyone helped Tom, yet the ingrate never said thank you.Everyone helped Tom, yet the ingrate never said thank you. | |
| idiosyncrasy/ˌɪdioʊˈsɪnkrəˌsi/ n | idiosyncrasyan unusual personal habit or feature | One of Ali’s idiosyncrasies is wearing two different socks every day.One of Ali’s idiosyncrasies is wearing two different socks every day. | |
| ingenuous/ˌɪnˈdʒɛnjuəs/ adj | ingenuoushonest, innocent and simple | Her ingenuous questions showed that she trusted everyone she met.Her ingenuous questions showed that she trusted everyone she met. | |
| unnerve/əˈnɝv/ v | to unnerveto make someone feel nervous or afraid | The loud noise in the dark began to unnerve the little boy.The loud noise in the dark began to unnerve the little boy. | |
| ignominiously adv | ignominiouslyin a shameful way that loses respect | The team ignominiously lost in the first round and went home.The team ignominiously lost in the first round and went home. | |
| qualm n | qualma small doubt about what is right | Lucy had no qualm about telling the truth to her boss.Lucy had no qualm about telling the truth to her boss. | |
| indulgently adv | indulgentlyin a kind way that allows too much | Grandpa smiled indulgently as the children ate more sweets.Grandpa smiled indulgently as the children ate more sweets. | |
| dissemble/dɪˈsɛmbəl/ v | to dissembleto hide your true feelings or intentions | Do not dissemble; tell us what you really feel, Omar.Do not dissemble; tell us what you really feel, Omar. | |
| forlornly adv | forlornlyin a sad and lonely way | The puppy looked forlornly at the door, waiting for its owner.The puppy looked forlornly at the door, waiting for its owner. | |
| tetchy adj | tetchyeasily annoyed and bad-tempered | Dad gets tetchy when he is tired and hungry.Dad gets tetchy when he is tired and hungry. | |
| haughtily/ˈhɔtɪli/ adv | haughtilyin a proud, superior way | The queen haughtily refused to greet the visitors.The queen haughtily refused to greet the visitors. | |
| rapturously adv | rapturouslywith great joy and excitement | The children cheered rapturously when the circus arrived.The children cheered rapturously when the circus arrived. | |
| tantalize/ˈtæntəˌlaɪz/ v | to tantalizeto tempt someone with something out of reach | The smell of fresh bread would tantalize anyone walking past the bakery.The smell of fresh bread would tantalize anyone walking past the bakery. | |
| munificence n | munificencegreat generosity in giving | The millionaire’s munificence helped to build a new library for the town.The millionaire’s munificence helped to build a new library for the town. | |
| magnanimously adv | magnanimouslyin a generous and forgiving way | The winner magnanimously shared the prize with the other players.The winner magnanimously shared the prize with the other players. | |
| suffuse/səˈfjuz/ v | to suffuseto spread through or over something | Joy seemed to suffuse the room when the baby smiled.Joy seemed to suffuse the room when the baby smiled. | |
| undemonstrative adj | undemonstrativenot openly showing feelings | Dad is undemonstrative and rarely hugs us, but he cares.Dad is undemonstrative and rarely hugs us, but he cares. | |
| proprietorial adj | proprietorialbehaving as if you own something | The dog stood in a proprietorial way beside his food bowl.The dog stood in a proprietorial way beside his food bowl. | |
| patronizingly adv | patronizinglyin a way that talks down to others | "It’s quite easy," Sam said patronizingly, as if talking to a child."It’s quite easy," Sam said patronizingly, as if talking to a child. |