Page 335 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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Essential Vocabulary
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relapse (ri LAPS for v., REE laps for n.) vi. 1. to fall back into bad habits or evil
ways; 2. to have a recurrence of a disease one had recovered from or was in the
process of recovering from —n. a falling back into
• It is easy for seemingly reformed criminals to relapse into their evil ways.
• Just when Gloria seemed to be getting better, she relapsed into her illness.
• Ralph was expected to return to work shortly, but that was before his
relapse.
[-d, relapsing]
relentless (ri LENT lis) adj. 1. not easing up or slackening; pitiless; harsh;
2. persistent; unremitting
• Sir Edwin Hillary was relentless in his attempt to be the first westerner to
reach Mt. Everest’s peak.
• The hurricane’s winds were relentless as they damaged many buildings in
the Carolinas.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. pitiless]
reparation (REP oer AY shuhn) n. 1. a making of amends for some wrong or
injury; 2. compensation paid by one country to another to make up for having
warred against them; 3. repairing of damage
• The embezzler was ordered by the court to pay reparations to the persons
he had swindled.
• After World War I, Germany was required to pay reparations to her former
enemies, which sent her economy into total ruin.
• Barney brought his torn trousers to the tailor for reparation.
[Syn. compensation]
repress (ri PRES) vt. 1. to hold down or keep back; restrain; 2. to subdue or put
down; 3. to control so strictly as to prevent natural development or expression (as a
child)
• It is sometimes difficult to repress a yawn, especially when someone else
yawns first.
• Stalin repressed almost all his country’s people but especially the minorities.
• By repressing a child, one can prevent his or her developing into a healthy
individual.
[-ed, -ing] [Syn. subdue]
repulse (ri PULS) vt. 1. to repel or drive back; 2. to repel with coldness and lack
of courtesy; 3. to disgust and repel; to be disgusting
• The colonel left a rear guard to repulse any attempt to surprise his army
from behind.
• The new neighbor repulsed any attempt on the part of the older residents
to welcome him and his family.
• Jennifer was repulsed by the bowl of roasted grasshoppers that Allen placed
on the picnic table.
[-d, repulsing] [Syn. repel]