moribund [ MAWR-uh’-buhnd, MOR- ]
[adjective]
MEANING:
1. in a near death condition
2. stagnant or inactive
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
The moribund civic administration was unable to cope with the humanitarian crisis arising from the unseasonable deluge.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
India’s government is trying to kick some life back into its moribund privatization programmed, listing 13 state-owned firms that it hopes to sell off early next year.
disport [ di-SPAWRT, -SPOHRT ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb]
MEANING:
1. (tr.v.) to display
2. (intr.v.) to divert oneself with some amusement
3. (n.) frolicsome diversion or amusement
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
The children disported a variety of antics to the amusement of the onlookers.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
As the prime minister disports himself on the tennis courts of Tuscany, he can draw comfort from the knowledge that rarely has a governing party been in such a strong position in the run-up to an election.
faux pas [ foh PAH ]
[noun]
MEANING:
blunder, misconduct, social mistake, false step or error in etiquette
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
Debutantes were warned about the various faux pas and how to avoid them.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
In this tradition-bound society, the contractor had just committed a major cultural faux pas.
complaisance [ kuh’ m-PLEY-suh’ ns, -zuh ’ns, KOM-pluh’-zans ]
[noun]
MEANING:
affability, agreeableness or amiability
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
The complaisance of the head boy earned him popularity among his peers.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
The awful thought occurs to you that there was dignity in the struggle for workers’ rights, but that complaisance may be a living death.
voracious [ vaw-RAY-shuh’s ]
[adjective]
MEANING:
1. ravenous or craving food in large quantities
2. eating large quantities of food
3. exceedingly eager to perform an activity
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
We hoped the food would be enough to satisfy the voracious appetites of the hungry children.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
And if kids keep it up for long periods like your voracious reader, who sneaks in extra chapters with a flashlight under the covers, it can lead to intermittent blurred vision and headaches.
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