Kate's Vocabulary Blog

word #1: harness definition: to control something, usually in order to use its power (PUT INTO USE; UTILIZE) part of speech: verb sentence: The government has interest in harnessing wind and waves as new resouces of energy. collocation: effectively/fully harness (adv. + verb)                      harness for (verb + prep.) word #2: impetus definition:   a force that encourages a particular action or makes it more energetic or effective (STIMULUS; MOTIVATION) part of speech: noun sentence: The lyrics provided the main impetus for the protest. collocation: impetus behind sb/sth (noun + prep.)                      impetus for/towards (noun + prep.) word #3: impose definition: 1. to officially force a rule, tax, punishment, etc. to be obeyed or received  ...

word #1: indispensable definition: Too imfportant not to have; necessary part of speech: adj. sentence: None of the team members is indispensible for the victory. collocation: indispensible for (adj. + prep.) word #2: i nduce definition: to persuade someone to do something, or to cause something to happen  part of speech: verb sentence: They induced her to take the position by offering her an additional bonus. synonyms: bring; cause; stimulate word #3: intact definition: complere and in the original state part of speech: adj. sentence: The buiding survived almost intact. collocation: appear/remain, stay, survive intact/emerge (verb + adj.)                        word #4: offset definition: to balance one influence against an opposing influence so that no great difference results part of speech: verb sentence: Your donations to charity can be...

word #1: inadvertent (adv. inadvertently) definition: done or happening unintentionally part of speech: adj. sentence: Students need to be wary of inadvertent copying of other's writing to avoid plagiarism. synonyms: unintentionally; without knowing word #2: modest definition: not large in size or amount, or not great in value  (NOT LARGE) part of speech: adj. sentence: Employees' requirements seem fairly modest. collocation: be/ seem modest (verb + adj.)                      extremely/comparatively/fairly/apparently/modest (adv. + adj.) word #3: optimum (also optimal) definition: being the best or most likely to bring success or advantage part of speech: adj. sentence: Investors tried to make a optimum choice for the best result. synonyms: ideal, most satisfactory, best word #4: readily definition: easily or quickly; willingly; without any pro...

word #1: divulge definition: to make something secret known (DISCLOSE) part of speech: verb sentence: The doctor has not divulged details about his health. collocation: divulge detail/information/secret (verb + noun) word #2_a: plague definition: to cause someone  or soething difficulty or suffering, esp. repeatedly or continually (CAUSE DIFFICULTY) part of speech: verb sentence: The pain in my shoulder has been plaguing me. collocation: none word #2_b: plague definition: a serious disease which kills many people part of speech: noun sentence: An outbreak of plague caused a decline in the population. collocation: plague + break out/ start/ strike (sth) (noun + verb) word #3: descendant (v.desecend) definition: a person related to someone from an earlier generation (= all the people of about the same age within a particular family) part of speech: noun sentence: The plane began to desecend.           ...