Words You Need to See in the Wild

Dictionary definitions will only get you so far with this set of vocabulary! To get to know these words fully and to be able to USE them correctly, you should pay attention to their common USAGE-- how they live in the wild.
11 words 4512 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. abeyance
    temporary cessation or suspension
    Charles the Fair having died and left only a daughter, the nation’s rights, so long in abeyance, were once more regained. Various
  2. contemporary
    belonging to the present time
    But observers also say that loosening regulations on freedom of expression and promoting local contemporary artists are equally important. New York Times (Feb 29, 2012)
  3. doldrums
    a state of inactivity
    Across most of the country, home values are stuck in the doldrums, crimping consumer spending and leaving anxious owners in search of relief. Washington Post (Dec 27, 2011)
  4. dissuade
    turn away from by persuasion
    Scotland proposes to make it an offence to display tobacco products in shops so as to dissuade young people from taking up smoking.
  5. elude
    escape, either physically or mentally
    The Internet has enabled counterfeiters to further elude authorities by cutting out the middlemen and selling directly to shoppers. Chicago Tribune (Feb 3, 2012)
  6. fritter
    spend frivolously and unwisely
    The judge added she did not believe Gatti intended for his fortune to be frittered away in lengthy court proceedings. Washington Post (Sep 14, 2011)
  7. iota
    a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
    Speaking in his native Trinidad on Saturday, Warner told local media he's not guilty of "a single iota of wrongdoing." Seattle Times (May 28, 2011)
  8. redolent
    serving to bring to mind
    In total, Woods had 27 putts — a pleasing statistic, no doubt, and one more redolent of his glory days.
  9. stoke
    (of a fire) stir up or tend
    As the collective wisdom of the crowd displaces traditional advertising, the roaring engines of e-commerce are being stoked by favorable reviews. New York Times (Jan 26, 2012)
  10. wreak
    cause to happen or to occur as a consequence
    Giant solar storms can wreak havoc on satellites and power grids. New York Times (Mar 8, 2012)
  11. galvanize
    stimulate to action
    The evil deed shocked the public and galvanized the city's police force. Seattle Times (Jan 4, 2012)
Created on Mon Mar 12 11:49:42 EDT 2012 (updated Mon Mar 18 16:44:04 EDT 2013)

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