List of Vocabulary for Unit Literature, страница 3

Compulsive /kəmˈpʌlsɪv/- resulting from or relating to an irresistible urge: compulsive eating.

Bedtime reading – reading before a sleep: “Byloe and Dumy” is a great bedtime reading!

Heavy going – not easy to follow the plot.

To get into – informal variety of comprehensive (reading). I was getting into this story for many hours.

Pulp fiction /pʌlp/ - fiction about space and alience.

Forensic /fəˈrɛnsɪk/ - relating to or denoting the application of scientific methods and techniques to the investigation of crime: forensic evidence.

Loner /ˈləʊnə/ - a person that prefers not to associate with others: my interest in birdwatching had made me a bit of a loner.

Tight-fisted ˌtaɪt'fɪstɪd - not willing to spend or give much money; miserly: tight-fisted to the point of miserliness.

Miserly /ˈmʌɪzəli/  - of or characteristic of a miser: his miserly great-uncle proved to be worth nearly £1 million.

Unconventional [ˌʌnkən'ven(t)ʃ(ə)n(ə)l]  - very different from the way people usually behave, think, dress etc. unconventional political views

Eccentric [ɪk'sentrɪk], [ek-] behaving in a way that is unusual and different from most people. His eccentric behaviour lost him his job.

Impetuous /ɪmˈpɛtjʊəs/ - acting or done quickly and without thought or care: she might live to rue this impetuous decision.

Impulsive /ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/ - acting or done without forethought: they’d married as impulsive teenagers.

Effusive /ɪˈfjuːsɪv/- showing or expressing gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner: an effusive welcome.

Dilapidated /dɪˈlapɪdeɪtɪd/ - (of a building or object) in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect: the tank was rather dilapidated.

Derelict /ˈdɛrəlɪkt/ - in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect: a derelict Georgian mansion.

Bleak /bliːk/ - (of an area of land) lacking vegetation and exposed to the elements: a bleak and barren moor.

Barren /ˈbar(ə)n/ - empty of meaning or value: your life will be barren.

Astound  /əˈstaʊnd/ - shock or greatly surprise: her bluntness astounded him.

Tranquil  /ˈtraŋkwɪl/ - free from disturbance; calm: her tranquil gaze.

Spellbinding ˈspɛlbʌɪndɪŋ/ - holding one’s attention completely as though by magic; fascinating: a place of spellbinding beauty.

Quaint /kweɪnt/ - attractively unusual or old-fashioned: quaint country cottages.

Assortment /əˈsɔːtm(ə)nt/ - a miscellaneous collection of things or people: the room was filled with an assortment of clothes.

Blunt (n,v) /blʌnt/ - (of a person or remark) uncompromisingly forthright: a blunt statement of fact.

Odd  /ɒd/ - different to what is usual or expected; strange: the neighbours thought him very odd.

Depraved  /dɪˈpreɪvd/ - morally corrupt; wicked: he was a depraved lecher.

Vicious  /ˈvɪʃəs/ - deliberately cruel or violent: a vicious assault.

Nobleman /ˈnəʊb(ə)lmən/ - a man who belongs by rank, title, or birth to the aristocracy.

To inflict /ɪnˈflɪkt/ - (inflict something on) impose something unwelcome on: she is wrong to inflict her beliefs on everyone else.

Write-up - review of an event, performance, or product: we had a good write-up in yesterday’s paper.

Stilted /ˈstɪltɪd/ - (of a manner of talking or writing) stiff and self-conscious or unnatural: we made stilted conversation.

To itch /ɪtʃ/ - informal a restless or strong desire to do something: an itch to write fiction.

Smirk (v,n) /sməːk/ - smile in an irritatingly smug, conceited, or silly way: he smirked in triumph.

Hiatus /hʌɪˈeɪtəs/ - a pause or break in continuity in a sequence or activity: there was a brief hiatus in the war with France.