2013년 7월 7일 일요일

Wordsmart exam prep M

Machination: (mak uh NAY shun) n. scheming activity for evil purpose
The North Korean spies confessed that they were carrying on machinations attempting to kill the president.

Magnanimous: adj. forgiving; unresentful; noble in spirit; generous
My magnanimous father always gave me a chance first to correct my wrongdoing on my own.

In the movie Les Miserables, Jean Val Jean is magnanimous in that he forgave the man who hunted him down.

Magnate: n. a rich, powerful, or very successful businessperson.
I want to become a magnate when I grow up so that I can buy anything I want.

Malaise: n. a feeling of depression, uneasiness, or queasiness
When I told people that I’ll be taking AP physics C, they all said I will feel malaise from the first day of the class.

Malfeasance (mal FEE zuns) n. an illegal act, especially by a public official
The president’s addiction to drugs was a shocking malfeasance.

Malignant: adj. causing harm
The doctor discovered malignant tumors and warned that the patient needed surgery as soon as possible.

Malinger (muh LING ger) v. to pretend to be sick to avoid doing work
John malingered when he didn’t want to do something, but for things he enjoyed, he gladly devoted his efforts.

Malleable: adj. easy to shape or bend

The robot was made from malleable materials which allowed it to move flexibly.

Mandate: n. a command or authorization to do something; the will of the voters as expressed by the results of an election

An abusive mandate can cause a country to founder in a short period of time.

Manifest: adj. visible; evident
It was manifest that he was infected by the zombie virus; his red eyes and blue skin made it sure.

Manifesto: n. a public declaration of beliefs or principles, usually political ones
Martin Luther King Jr. gave a manifesto declaring that all men should be treated equal regardless of race.

Marshal: v. to arrange in order; to gather together for the purpose of doing something
All the students marshal in the gym every Monday morning to mark the start of the week.

Martial: adj. warlike; having to do with combat
Martial arts, such as Kendo and Taekwondo are useful in self-defense.

Martyr (MAHR tur): n. someone who gives up his or her life in pursuit of a cause, especially a religious one; one who suffers for a cause; one who makes a show of suffering in order to arouse sympathy

He was a martyr in saving a boy from an incoming subway which caused him to lose his leg.

Matriculate: v. to enroll, especially at a college
Schools like Harvard, MIT and Yale only matriculate less than 5% of the total applicants every year.

Maudlin (MAWD lin) adj. silly and overly sentimental
I grew maudlin as its smell reminded me of my childhood.

Maverick n. a noncomformist; a rebel    

John was a maverick in that he stood against the injustice of the school board.

Maxim n. a fundamental principle; an old saying

In accordance with the maxim, “No pain, no gain,” John believed that he could endure the pain of his leg throughout the trip.

Mediate v. to help settle differences
An important role of the United Nations is to mediate peaceful resolutions between conflicting countries.

Mellifluous (muh LIF loo us) adj. sweetly flowing
The mellifluous songs by Oasis always brightened my spirits.

Mendacious: adj. lying; dishonest
His mendacious ways made him lose credibility of his friends.

Mendicant: n. beggar
I gave a mendicant a handful of coins from my pocket.

Mentor: n. a teacher, tutor, counselor, or coach; especially in business, an experienced person who shows an inexperienced person the ropes

My mentor, Mr. Kim, helped me choose the best course load for the new semester.

Mercenary: n. a hired soldier; someone who will do anything for money

After returning from Afghanistan, Jake became a mercenary for a security company in the Middle East.

Mercurial: adj. emotionally unpredictable; rapidly changing in mood
It seemed impossible to make my girlfriend happy due to her mercurial mood.

Metamorphosis (met uh MOR fuh sis) n. a magical change in form; a striking or sudden change

After the magician mumbled some words, the woman underwent a metamorphosis and turned into a dove.

Soon after she was bitten by a zombie, her metamorphosis began.



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