Academic-Writing-Vocabulary

ST2014VocabularyListambivalence–noun.(a)simultaneousandcontradictoryattitudesorfeelings(asattractionandrepulsion)towardanobject,person,oraction;(b)continualfluctuation(asbetweenonethinganditsopposite);(c)uncertaintyastowhichapproachtofollow.Origin:InternationalScientificVocabulary;Latinambiboth,valeretobestrong.Adjective:ambivalent.Synonyms:uncertain,unsurebenefit–noun.(a)somethingthatpromoteswell-being,advantage;(b)usefulaid,help;(c)financialhelpintimeofsickness,oldage,orunemployment;apaymentorserviceprovidedforunderanannuity,pensionplan,orinsurancepolicy;(d)aservice(ashealthinsurance)orright(astotakevacationtime)providedbyanemployerinadditiontowagesorsalary;(e)anentertainmentorsocialeventtoraisefundsforapersonorcause.FromLatinbenefactumgooddeed.Abenefitofmuseummembershipisadiscountonpurchases.Thejobdoesnotpaymuch,butthebenefitsaregood.Synonyms:advantage,asset,help.Verb:tobeusefulorprofitableto;toreceiveabenefit.Automationhasnotbenefitedthoseworkerswhohavebeenreplacedbymachines.bolster–(verb)tomakesomethingstrongerorbetter;togivesupportto.Sheisthinkingofwaystobolsterhercareer.Synonyms:support,sustain,uphold,brace.Origin:15thcenturyMiddleEnglish;abolsterisapilloworcushion.commission–noun-(a)aformalwrittenwarrantgrantingthepowertoperformvariousactsorduties;(b)anauthorizationorcommandtoactinaprescribedmannerortoperformprescribedacts,charge;(c)authoritytoactfor,inbehalfof,orinplaceofanother,ataskormatterentrustedtooneasanagentforanother;(d)agroupofpersonsdirectedtoperformsomeduty;(e)anactofcommittingsomething(commissionofacrime);(f)afeepaidtoanagentoremployeefortransactingapieceofbusiness(GermanProvision);(g)anactofentrustingorgivingauthority.Bothstatessetupcommissionstoexaminetheirpublicschools.Latincommitte(re)tosend,giveover.Synonyms:authorization,delegation,empowerment,license,mandate.verb–(a)tofurnishwithacommission;(b)toordertobemade(commissionedaportrait).Synonyms:authorize,delegate,deputize.consensus–noun.(a)generalagreement,collectiveopinion;(b)harmony,cooperation.Thegroupwassodiversethattheyhadtroublereachingaconsensusonasolutiontotheproblem.Synonyms:unanimity,accord.Latinconsentire(pastparticiple:consensus).consequential–adjective.(a)ofthenatureoforfollowingasaconsequence,result;indirect;(b)havingsignificantconsequences;important.Latinconsequitofollowclosely.Synonym:attendant,resultant,significant.Opposite:inconsequential-unimportant.contract-noun-(a)abindingagreementbetweentwoormorepersonsorparties;especiallyonelegallyenforceable;(b)abusinessarrangementforthesupplyofgoodsorservicesatafixedprice2(makepartsoncontract);(c)adocumentdescribingthetermsofacontract;(d)anorderorarrangementforahiredassassintokillsomeone(hisenemiesputoutacontractonhim).Synonyms:bond,covenant,guarantee,deal.verb-(a)tobringononeselfespeciallyinadvertently,incur(contractingdebts);(b)tobecomeaffectedwith(contractpneumonia);(c)toestablishorundertakebycontract(contractajob);(d)tojoininmarriage;(e)tohirebycontract(contractalawyer);topurchase(asgoodsorservices)onacontractbasis—oftenusedwithout;(f)limit,restrict(contractthescopeoftheiractivities);(g)toreducetosmallersize(contractamuscle)ortoshorten(asaword)byomittingoneormoresoundsorletters.Latincontraheretodrawtogether.convention-noun.(a)anagreement,contract-theGenevaConvention;(b)anassemblyofpersonsforacommonpurpose-theRepublicanNationalConvention;(c)aruleofconductorbehavior;anestablishedtechnique,practice,ordevice-StudentsshouldfollowtheAPAconventionsforpunctuation.Latinconventioagreement.Synonyms:assembly,congress,meeting,convocation,council;usage,custom,practice.corroborate–verb.tosupportwithevidenceorauthority.Thewitnessescorroboratedthepoliceman'stestimony.Theauthorcorroboratedhisthesiswithquotesfromscholarlysources.Latincorroboraretomakestrength.Synonyms:authenticate,confirm,substantiate,support,validate.deduce–verb.(a)todeterminebydeduction;toinferfromageneralprinciple;(b)totracethecourseof.Icandeducefromthesimpleobservationofyourbehaviorthatyouaretryingtohidesomethingfromme.Latindeduc(ere)toleaddown,derive.Synonyms:conclude,decide,infer,derive,extrapolate,judge,reason.Noun:deduction.derive–verb.(a)totake,receive,orobtainespeciallyfromaspecifiedsource-TheriverderivesitsnamefromaNativeAmericantribe.FromLatinderivare,literally,todrawoff(water),fromde-+rivusstream.Synonyms:conclude,deduce,infer,extrapolate,reason.derivative–noun.(a)asubstancederivedfromaparentsource-gasolineandkerosenearederivativesofpetroleum;(b)acontractorsecuritythatderivesitsvaluefromthatofanunderlyingasset(asanothersecurity)orfromthevalueofarate(asofinterestorcurrencyexchange)orindexofassetvalue(asastockindex).didactic–adjective.(a)designedorintendedtoteach-Aesop'sfablesaredidacticinthattheyaremeanttoteachmoralvalues;(b)makingmoralobservations-Thepoet'sworksbecameincreasinglydidacticafterhisreligiousconversion.Thetermdidacticisalsousedasacriticismforworkthatappearstobeoverlyburdenedwithinstructive,factual,orotherwiseeducationalinformationtothedetrimentoftheenjoymentofthereader.Greekdidaskeintoteach.Synonyms