C2 Unit 53: Ideas & thinking 6
18 C2 words: pervasiveness, preconception, solipsism, presuppose, inchoate, infallibly… Learn them in 4 steps, then review them every day.
Word list
| Word | Meaning | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| pervasiveness/pɚˈveɪsɪvnɪs/ n | pervasivenessthe fact of being present everywhere | The pervasiveness of mobile phones has changed daily life everywhere.The pervasiveness of mobile phones has changed daily life everywhere. | |
| preconception/prikənˈsɛpʃən/ n | preconceptionan opinion formed before knowing the facts | Omar tried to meet his neighbours without preconception or judgement.Omar tried to meet his neighbours without preconception or judgement. | |
| solipsism n | solipsismthe idea that only your mind exists | The philosopher wrote a long essay about solipsism and what we really know.The philosopher wrote a long essay about solipsism and what we really know. | |
| presuppose/ˌprisəˈpoʊz/ v | to presupposeto assume something is true before going on | Teachers often presuppose that students have read the text before class.Teachers often presuppose that students have read the text before class. | |
| inchoate/ˌɪnˈkoʊət/ adj | inchoatejust beginning and not yet clear | They had only an inchoate idea of how the new project would work.They had only an inchoate idea of how the new project would work. | |
| infallibly adv | infalliblyin a way that never fails | The old clock was infallibly accurate for over a century.The old clock was infallibly accurate for over a century. | |
| irrelevancy/ˌɪˈrɛləvənsi/ n | irrelevancysomething not connected to the subject | Anna thought the discussion about the paint colour was an irrelevancy.Anna thought the discussion about the paint colour was an irrelevancy. | |
| materialization n | materializationthe act of becoming real or visible | The materialization of Tom’s plan took longer than he expected.The materialization of Tom’s plan took longer than he expected. | |
| unmediated adj | unmediateddirect, with nothing coming between | The journalist wanted unmediated access to the story, with no one in between.The journalist wanted unmediated access to the story, with no one in between. | |
| retrospection n | retrospectionlooking back on past events | In retrospection, Anna saw that her first plan had been wrong.In retrospection, Anna saw that her first plan had been wrong. | |
| ruminative adj | ruminativedeeply and slowly thoughtful | His ruminative mood made him sit quietly by the lake.His ruminative mood made him sit quietly by the lake. | |
| ephemerality n | ephemeralitythe quality of lasting only a short time | Poets often write about the ephemerality of flowers and youth.Poets often write about the ephemerality of flowers and youth. | |
| demystification n | demystificationmaking a subject easy to understand | The demystification of science helps ordinary people understand new ideas.The demystification of science helps ordinary people understand new ideas. | |
| porten n | portena sign that something will happen | Dark clouds are a porten of the storm to come.Dark clouds are a porten of the storm to come. | |
| counterproductively adv | counterproductivelyin a way that has the opposite effect | Working all night acted counterproductively, as Tom made more mistakes.Working all night acted counterproductively, as Tom made more mistakes. | |
| inchoately adv | inchoatelyin an unformed, not yet clear way | The team spoke inchoately about their goals, with nothing clear yet.The team spoke inchoately about their goals, with nothing clear yet. | |
| inexorability n | inexorabilitythe quality of being impossible to stop | The inexorability of ageing makes people value each day more.The inexorability of ageing makes people value each day more. | |
| stultify/ˈstʌltəˌfaɪ/ v | to stultifyto make someone lose interest or energy | Years of dull routine began to stultify Maria’s creative mind.Years of dull routine began to stultify Maria’s creative mind. |