4000 Essential English Words 6 Unit 22: The Editor’s Choice
Word List
- coward [ˈkauərd] n.
A coward is a person who lacks courage to do risky or dangerous things.
→ A firefighter cannot be a coward. They have to be able to act quickly.
- delete [diˈliːt] v.
To delete something means to remove or erase written material.
→ Several lines had been deleted from her speech.
- firsthand [ˌfəːrstˈhænd] adj.
If something is firsthand, then it is from an original source.
→ If you want firsthand knowledge, ask someone who saw it.
- earnest [ˈəːrnist] adj.
If someone is earnest, then they are honest.
→ The child was very earnest when she told her mother how she broke the dish.
- ethnic [ˈeθnik] adj.
If something is ethnic, then it is related to a group with a similar culture.
→ Many sections of the city are home to different ethnic communities.
- exclude [iksˈkluːd] v.
To exclude someone means to not accept them into a group.
→ Carol was excluded from the contest because her friend was a judge.
- fluent [ˈfluːənt] adj.
If someone is fluent in a language, then they are able to speak it very well.
→ She was so fluent in German that you’d have thought she was from Germany.
- imperial [imˈpiəriəl] adj.
If something is imperial, then it is of, or related to an empire.
→ These old imperial coins were once used in the Roman Empire.
- inclusive [inˈkluːsiv] adj.
If something is inclusive, then it is open to all groups and people in society.
→ A more inclusive event would have allowed children to attend.
- legislature [ˈledʒisleitʃə:r] n.
A legislature is the section of a government that makes laws.
→ The senator had served ten years in the national legislature.
- linguistic [liŋˈgwistik] adj.
If something is linguistic, then it is concerned with language.
→ A linguistic way of studying culture focuses on words within that culture.
- monolingual [ˌmɒnəˈliŋgwəl] adj.
If someone is monolingual, then they speak only one language.
→ In today’s global economy, being monolingual limits your opportunities.
- nationality [ˌnæʃəˈnæləti] n.
Nationality is an identity based on the nation from which you come.
→ His nationality is German, but he speaks French, Spanish, and Korean.
- patriot [ˈpeitriət] n.
A patriot is someone who loves, supports, and defends their country.
→ Every year young patriots join their countries’ militaries.
- prosecute [ˈprɒsəkjuːt] v.
To prosecute someone means to take legal action against them.
→ They were prosecuted for fishing in the river without a permit.
- racial [ˈreiʃəl] adj.
If something is racial, then it is related to a race or races.
→ The differences between racial groups are physical characteristics and culture.
- solemn [ˈsɒləm] adj.
If something is solemn, then it is serious and honest.
→ The professor preferred a solemn relationship between him and his students.
- solidarity [ˌsɒləˈdærəti] n.
Solidarity is a union formed from common responsibilities or interests.
→ All the citizens came together in a show of solidarity to create change.
- tact [tækt] n.
Tact is the ability to avoid offending people when dealing with problems.
→ Since both sides would not agree, it required someone with tact to make peace.
- undermine [ˌʌndərˈmain] v.
To undermine someone means to betray or weaken their efforts or authority.
→ The documents helped to undermine the workers’ trust in their bosses’ honesty.
