elicit /ls.

t/ verb [ T ] FORMAL to get or produce something, especially information or a reaction Have you managed to elicit a response from them yet? The questionnaire was intended to elicit information on eating habits. They were able to elicit the support of the public. intent /ntent/ adjective 1. giving all your attention to something an intent stare She had an intent look on her face. intent /ntent/ adjective 2. be intent on sth /doing sth to be determined to do or achieve something I've tried persuading her not to go but she's intent on it. He seems intent on upsetting everyone in the room! intently /ntent.li/ adverb The child stared intently at her. intent /ntent/ noun [ U ] FORMAL when you want and plan to do something I spent half the morning on the phone, which wasn't really my intent. [ + to infinitive ] It was not his intent to hurt anyone. LEGAL She was charged with possessing weapons with intent to endanger life. to/for all intents and purposes in all the most important ways For all intents and purposes, the project is completed. tweak /twik/ verb [ T ] PULL 1. to pull and twist something with a small sudden movement Standing in front of the mirror she tweaked a strand of hair into place. tweak /twik/ verb [ T ] CHANGE SLIGHTLY 2. to change something slightly, especially in order to make it more correct, effective or suitable The software is pretty much there - it just needs a little tweaking. You just need to tweak the last paragraph and then it's done. tweak noun [ C ] He gave the boy's nose a tweak. groan /grn/ /gron/ verb [ I ] 1. to make a deep long sound showing great pain or unhappiness He collapsed, groaning with pain. [ + speech ] "Not again, " he groaned (= said in a low unhappy voice) . 2. to complain or speak unhappily She's always moaning and groaning (= complaining a lot) about the weather. groan with/under (the weight of) sth HUMOROUS to carry a very large quantity of something The tables were positively groaning with food. mope /mp/ /mop/ verb [ I ] DISAPPROVING to be unhappy and unwilling to think or act in a positive way, especially because of a disappointment There's no point in sitting at home and moping - get out there and find yourself another job! mope about/around (somewhere) phrasal verb to move about without any particular purpose or energy because you are unhappy or disappointed He was driving me mad, moping about the house all day. slouch /slat/ verb [ I ] slouch to stand, sit or walk with the shoulders hanging forward and the head bent slightly over so that you look tired and bored Straighten your back - try not to slouch. A couple of boys were slouched over the table reading magazines. A group of teenagers were slouching around outside the building. be no slouch INFORMAL If you say that someone is no slouch at a particular activity, you mean that they work hard at it and produce good results She's no slouch when it comes to organizing parties. frazzle /frz.l / noun [ S ] TIRED STATE 1. INFORMAL a state of being very tired in a nervous or slightly anxious (= worried and nervous) way after a lot of mental or physical effort She's worn herself to a frazzle (= made herself very tired and nervous) trying to meet the deadline. batty /bt.i/ /bt -/ adjective INFORMAL DISAPPROVING silly and slightly mad with confused behaviour my batty old aunt adulation /d.jle. n/ noun [ U ] very great admiration or praise for someone, especially when it is more than is deserved Minelli is a born performer - she loves the excitement and she loves the adulation. adulatory /d.jle.t r.i/ /d. l..t.ri/ adjective FORMAL I found myself irritated by the adulatory (= showing too much admiration) tone of her biography.

craft /krft/ /krft/ noun SKILL 1. [ C or U ] plural crafts (a job or activity needing) skill and experience, especially in relation to making objects the craft of furniture making/boat building/glass blowing political/literary craft rural/ancient/traditional crafts craft workers (= skilled workers) fuss /fs/ noun TOO MUCH OF A FEELING 1. [ S or U ] a show of anger, worry, lack of satisfaction or excitement, usually one which is greater than the situation deserves She made such a fuss when Richard spilt a drop of wine on her blouse! It's all a fuss about nothing . I don't see what the fuss is about - he seems like a fairly ordinary looking guy to me. We tried to arrange a ceremony with as little fuss as possible. 2. make a fuss of/over sb to give someone a lot of attention and treat them well She doesn't see her grandchildren very often so she makes a real fuss of them when she does. fuss /fs/ noun ATTENTION 3. [ U ] attention given to small matters which are not important The article was entitled 'Making up with the minimum of fuss: a five-minute beauty routine that every busy woman should know'. fuss /fs/ verb GIVE ATTENTION TO 1. [ I ] to give too much attention to small matters which are not important, usually in a way which shows that you are worried and not relaxed Please, stop fussing - the food's cooking and there's nothing more to do until the guests arrive. It irritates me the way she's always fussing with her hair! fuss /fs/ verb MAKE NERVOUS/ANGRY 2. [ T ] US to make someone nervous and angry by trying to get their attention when they are very busy Don't fuss me, honey, I've got a whole pile of work to do. fuss over sb/sth phrasal verb to give someone or something too much attention because you want to show that you like them She's always fussing over that son of hers as if he were a little boy. back off phrasal verb INFORMAL 1. to stop being involved in a situation, usually in order to allow other people to deal with it themselves She started to criticize me, then she suddenly backed off. Just back off and let us do this on our own, will you? 2. to move backwards away from someone, usually because you are frightened I saw the knife and backed off. well-off , well off /welf/ /-f/ adjective RICH 1. rich Her family was very well-off. aback /bk/ adverb be taken aback to be very shocked or surprised I was rather taken aback by her honesty. forsake /fsek/ /fr-/ verb [ T ] forsook , forsaken LEAVE 1. LITERARY to leave someone forever, especially when they need you Do not forsake me! forsake /fsek/ /fr-/ verb [ T ] forsook , forsaken STOP 2. FORMAL to stop doing or having something He decided to forsake politics for journalism. desert /dzt/ /-zt/ verb RUN AWAY 1. [ I or T ] to leave the armed forces without permission and with no intention of returning Soldiers who deserted and were caught were shot. How many people desert from the army each year? desert /dzt/ /-zt/ verb LEAVE BEHIND 2. [ T ] to leave someone without help or in a difficult situation and not come back He deserted his wife and family for another woman. 3. [ T ] If a quality deserts you, you suddenly and temporarily lose it All my confidence/courage deserted me when I walked into the exam room. humiliate /hjuml.i.et/ verb [ T ] to make someone feel ashamed or lose their respect for themselves How could you humiliate me by questioning my judgment in front of everyone like that? England were humiliated (= completely defeated) in last night's match. ablution /blu. n/ noun [ U ] FORMAL the act of washing yourself Ablution is part of some religious ceremonies. ablutions /blu. nz/ plural noun HUMOROUS Your ablutions are the things you do when you wash yourself. I must just perform my ablutions!

adversary /d.v.s r.i/ /d.v.ser-/ noun [ C ]

FORMAL

adversity /dv.s.ti/ /-v.s.t i/ noun [ C or U ]

a difficult or unlucky situation or event She was always cheerful in adversity. The road to happiness is paved with adversities.

an enemy He saw her as his main adversary within the

abase yourself /bes/ verb [ R ] FORMAL

to make yourself seem to be less important or not to deserve respect

abasement

/be.smnt/ noun [ U ]

The pilgrims knelt in self- abasement.