verbiage /v.bi.

d/ /v-/ noun [ U ] FORMAL DISAPPROVING

language which is very complicated and which contains a lot of unnecessary words
His explanation was wrapped up in so much technical verbiage that I simply couldn't
understand it.

strapped /strpt/ adjective INFORMAL
not having enough money
I'd love to come to Malaysia with you, but I'm afraid I'm a bit strapped (for cash) at the
moment

bolster /bl.st r / /bol.st/ verb [ T ]
to support or improve something or make it stronger
More money is needed to bolster the industry.
She tried to bolster my confidence/morale (=
imperative /mper..tv/ /-tv/ adjective URGENT
1. extremely important or urgent; needing to be done or given attention immediately
[ + that ] The president said it was imperative that the release of all hostages be secured.
[ + to infinitive ] It's imperative to act now before the problem gets really serious.

euphemism /ju.f.m.z m/ noun [ C or U ]
a word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word
'Senior citizen' is a euphemism for 'old person'.

fait accompli /fet..kmpli/ /fe.t.km-/ noun [ C ] plural faits accomplis
an action which has already been done and which cannot be changed
The policy change was presented to us as a fait accompli, without consultation or
discussion.

vociferous /vsf. r.s/ /--/ adjective
Vociferous people express their opinions and complaints loudly and repeatedly in speech,
and vociferous demands, etc. are made repeatedly and loudly
Local activist groups have become increasingly vociferous as the volume of traffic
passing through the village has grown.

contentious /knten t .s/ adjective
causing or likely to cause disagreement
a contentious decision/policy/issue/subject
She has some rather contentious views on education.

vindicate /vn.d.ket/ verb [ T ]
1. to prove that what someone said or did was right or true, after other people thought it
was wrong
The decision to include Morris in the team was completely vindicated when he scored
three goals.
The investigation vindicated her complaint about the newspaper.

promulgate /prm. l.get/ /pr.ml-/ verb [ T ] FORMAL ANNOUNCE
2. to announce something publicly, especially a new law
The new law was finally promulgated in the autumn of last year.

defer /df r / /-f/ verb [ T ] -rr-
to delay something until a later time; to postpone
My bank has agreed to defer the repayments on my loan while I'm still a student
.
infatuation /nft.jue. n/ noun [ C or U ]
strong but not usually lasting feelings of love or attraction
It's just an infatuation. She'll get over it.
No one expected their infatuation with each other to last.

fortitude /f.t.tjud/ /fr.t.tud/ noun [ U ] FORMAL
bravery over a long period
I thought she showed remarkable fortitude during that period.

quaint /kwent/ adjective
1. attractive because of being unusual and especially old-fashioned
a quaint old cottage
2. Quaint can also be used to show that you do not approve of something, especially an
opinion, belief or way of behaving, because it is strange or old-fashioned
"What a quaint idea!" she said, laughing at him.
oblivious /blv.i.s/ adjective
not conscious of something, especially what is happening around you
Absorbed in her work, she was totally oblivious of her surroundings.
The government seems oblivious to the likely effects of the new legislation.

largesse , largess /les/ /lr-/ noun [ U ] FORMAL
willingness to give money, or money given to poor people by rich people
The national theatre will be the main beneficiary of the millionaire's largesse.

scuffle /skf.l/ noun [ C ]
a short and sudden fight, especially one involving a small number of people
Two police officers were injured in scuffles with fans at Sunday's National Football
League contest.

alibi /l..ba/ noun [ C ]
1. proof that someone who is thought to have committed a crime could not have done it,
especially the fact or statement that they were in another place at the time it happened
He has a cast-iron (= very strong) alibi - he was in hospital the week of the murder.

bereft /breft/ adjective [ after verb ] FORMAL
not having something or feeling great loss
Alone now and almost penniless, he was bereft of hope.
After the last of their children had left home the couple felt utterly bereft.

pragmatic /prgmt.k/ /-mt-/ adjective MAINLY APPROVING
solving problems in a realistic way which suits the present conditions rather than obeying
fixed theories, ideas or rules
In business, the pragmatic approach to problems is often more successful than an
idealistic one.

overdue /.vdju/ /o.vdu/ adjective
not done or happening when expected or when needed; late
My library books are a week overdue.
The baby is two weeks overdue (= The baby was expected to be born two weeks ago) .
Changes to the tax system are long overdue.
She feels she's overdue for promot
derogatory /drg..t r.i/ , /-tri/ /-r.g.tr-/ adjective
showing strong disapproval and not showing respect
He made some derogatory comment/remark about her appearance.

redolent /red. l. nt/ adjective [ after verb ] LITERARY
smelling strongly of something or having qualities (especially smells) that make you
think of something else
The album is a heartfelt cry, redolent of a time before radio and television.
The mountain air was redolent with the scent of pine needles.
infidel /n.f.d l/ /-f.del/ noun [ C or U ] OLD USE DISAPPROVING
(used especially between Christians and Muslims) someone who does not have the same
religious beliefs as the person speaking
He lived among infidels/ the infidel.
infidel armies
exigency /ek.s.d n t .si/ noun [ C or U ] FORMAL
the difficulties of a situation, especially one which causes urgent demands
the exigencies of war
Economic exigency obliged the government to act.

toil /tl/ verb [ I ] WORK HARD
1. to work hard
England's cricketers have been toiling in the 100-degree heat over the past week.
I was relaxing in the bath, having toiled away in the garden all afternoon.

hiatus /hae.ts/ /-ts/ noun [ C usually singular ] FORMAL
a short pause in which nothing happens or is said, or a space where something is missing
The company expects to resume production of the vehicle again after a two-month hiatus