lambent [ LAM-buh’ nt ]
[adjective]
MEANING:
1. flickering lightly over or on a surface
2. giving off a gentle glow
3. effortlessly brilliant
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
The lambent light over the surface of the water warned me that a vessel was approaching.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
His lambent instrumentals seem to tap deep into some genetic memory – dis quietly nostalgic pieces which draw from hundreds of years of folk, blues, the Old West, Asia and everywhere.
rancour [ RANG-ker ]
[noun]
MEANING:
bitter ill-will or resentment; malice
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
The feeling of rancour with which India and Pakistan confronted each other on the cricket field is now no more thanks to regular cricketing exchanges between them.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
The BBC’s Nick Bryant in Perth says much of the rancour of the past 10 days – when Singh was charged with racism and Australian captain Ricky Ponting’s men were criticism for bad sportsmanship and a certain ugliness in victory – is gone.
actuate [ AK-choo-eyt ]
[transitive verb]
MEANING:
1. to bring about, incite, induce or activate
2. to start or set into action
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
He actuated the riot by pelting the police with stones.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
The Radio Authority, which has recently repeated its opposition to religious broadcasting, cannot possibly be actuated by such fears.
enervate [ v. EN-er-veyt; adj. i-NUR-vit ]
[adjective,transitive verb]
MEANING:
1. (tr.v.) to weaken or deprive of vitality or strength
2. (adj.) weakened or lacking strength
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
The constant bickering enervated her enthusiasm.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
The 11 September attacks on the United States had an enervating effect on Tony Blair.
adjourn [ uh’-JURN ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb]
MEANING:
1. (tr. v.) to suspend or postpone until a future specified time
2. (intr. v.) to suspend proceedings until another date and time
3. (intr. v.) to shift or move to another place after finishing with the first place
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
The president of the club adjourned the meeting for a week.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
Mr Registrar Simmonds adjourned the hearing to give the Lancashire outfit more time to settle the debt.