【PROMISE】 [C]
a promise to yourself to do something
→resolve resolution to do sth
　 Carol made a resolution to work harder at school.
New Year's resolution
(=a resolution made on January 1st)

 

 

 [only before noun]
relating to the mind and thinking, or happening only in the mind
　 a child's mental development
　 You need to develop a positive mental attitude.
mental picture/image
(=a picture that you form in your mind)
　 I tried to get a mental picture of him from her description.
make a mental note
to make a special effort to remember something
　 Sarah made a mental note to ask Janine about it later.
mental block
a difficulty in remembering something or in understanding something
　 I got a complete mental block as soon as the interviewer asked me a question.
go mentalBrE spoken informal
a) to get very angry
b) to start behaving in an uncontrolled or excited way
[not before noun] BrE informal thinking or behaving in a way that seems crazy or strange
　 He must be mental!

 

 

 

compile (GATHER TOGETHER) /kəmˈpaɪl/

verb [T]
to collect information from a variety of places and arrange it in a book, report or list:
We're compiling some facts and figures for a documentary on the subject.

 

 

 

difficult to deal with and needing a lot of effort or skill
formidable task/challenge
　 the formidable task of local government reorganization

 

 

recur  

/ rɪˈkɜː(r); rɪˋkə/ v (-rr-)
[I] happen again; happen repeatedly 再发生; 复发: a recurring problem, error, illness 反复出现的问题﹑ 错误﹑ 疾病 * The symptoms tend to recur. 这种症状有可能复发. * This theme recurs constantly throughout the opera. 这一主旋律在该歌剧中不断出现.
(phr v) recur to sb/sth (fml 文) (of ideas, events, etc) come back into the mind （指想法﹑ 事情等）在头脑中重现: Our first meeting often recurs to me/my mind. 我们初次见面的情形时常浮现於我的脑海.

 

 

regularity  

re·gu·lar·i·ty /ˌregjʊˈlærɪti/ n plural regularities
[U]
when the same thing keeps happening often, especially with the same amount of time between each occasion when it happens
　 Climate change is disrupting the regularity of the seasons.
with alarming/increasing etc regularity
　 Our team kept losing with monotonous regularity (=in a way that seems boring or annoying) .

 

 

 

accomplishment  

ac·com·plish·ment /əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt US əˈkɑːm-, əˈkʌm-/ n
[C]
something successful or impressive that is achieved after a lot of effort and hard work
= achievement
impressive/significant/great etc accomplishment
　 Cutting the budget was an impressive accomplishment.
　 It was a major accomplishment for a player who had been injured so recently.

 

 

 

attain /əˈteɪn/

verb [T] FORMAL
to reach or succeed in getting something; to achieve:
He has attained the highest grade in his music exams.
We need to identify the best ways of attaining our objectives/goals.
India attained independence in 1947, after decades of struggle.

           

 

 

inveterate  

/ ɪnˈvetərət; ɪnˋvɛtərət/ adj (derog 贬)
(of bad feelings, habits, etc) that have lasted a long time and seem likely to continue （指恶感﹑ 陋习等）根深蒂固的, 由来已久的: inveterate hatred, prejudice, drunkenness,etc 根深蒂固的仇恨﹑ 由来已久的偏见﹑ 长醉不醒的状态.
(of people) habitually doing the specified bad thing; addicted （指人）有恶习的, 成瘾的: an inveterate smoker, drinker, gambler, liar, etc 积习已久的烟鬼﹑ 酒徒﹑ 赌棍﹑ 撒谎家等. > inveterately adv.

 

 

 

scheme  

/ skiːm; skim/ n
~ (for sth/to do sth) (a) plan for doing or organizing sth 计画; 方案: a scheme for manufacturing paper from straw 用麦秆造纸的计画 * an imaginative scheme to raise money 富创意的筹款方案 * a pension scheme 养老金方案. (b) secret or devious plan 阴谋; 诡计: a scheme for not paying tax 逃税的诡计.
ordered system; arrangement 组合; 配合: a `colour scheme, eg for a room, so that the colours in its decor match 色彩的调配.
(idm 习语) the `scheme of things the way things are or are planned 事物的规律; 安排: In the scheme of things it is hard for small businesses to succeed. 一般来说, 小本生意较难做.

 

 

 

pitfall  

/ ˈpɪtfɔːl; ˋpɪtˏfɔl/ n
unsuspected danger or difficulty 意想不到的危险或困难: This text presents many pitfalls for the translator. 这篇文字有很多潜在的难点, 译者稍一不慎就要出错.

a problem or difficulty that is likely to happen in a particular job, course of action, or activity
pitfall of
　 He gave me advice on how to avoid the pitfalls of the legal process.
　 the pitfalls associated with the purchase of a used car

 

 

 

assiduous  

/ əˈsɪdjuəs; US -dʒuəs; əˋsɪdʒʊəs/ adj (fml 文) showing constant and careful attention 专心致志的; 勤勉的: be assiduous in one's duties 认真执行任务 * The book was the result of ten years' assiduous research. 那本书是十年苦心钻研的成果. > assiduously adv.

 

 

 

self-discipline  

.self-'discipline
n [U]
the ability to make yourself do the things you know you ought to do, without someone making you do them
　 A lot of the kids seemed to lack self-discipline.

 

 

 

【BODY】 [C]
the general shape formed by the bones of someone's body

        

 

 

 

betray  

/ bɪˈtreɪ; bɪˋtre/ v

 [Tn] (a) show (sth) unintentionally; be a sign of 无意中显示出（某事物）; 显露出; 表现出: She said she was sorry, but her eyes betrayed her secret delight. 她说她很难过, 但从她的眼神里却流露出她内心的喜悦. * His accent betrayed the fact that he was foreign. 他的口音显露出他是外国人. (b) ~ oneself show what or who one really is 暴露出本来面目: He had a good disguise, but as soon as he spoke he betrayed himself, ie he was recognized by his voice. 他伪装得很好, 可是一说话就原形毕露了（听他的声音就能认出他来）.

 

 

 

> troop v
1 [I, Ipr, Ip] (with a pl subject 与复数主语配合) come or go together as a troop or in large numbers 成群结队而行: children trooping out of school 成队离开学校的儿童.

The little boys trooped after him across the playing fields.
The Norwich fans gave their team a loud cheer as they trooped off the field.
None of us knew what to expect as we trooped into her office.

 

 

 

unsettle  

/ ˏʌnˈsetl; ʌnˋsɛtl/ v [Tn] (a) disturb the normal calm state of (sth/sb); upset 打扰（某事物[某人]）; 使不安宁: Our move (ie to another house) unsettled the children. 我们搬家弄得孩子们不得安宁. * Seafood unsettles my stomach. 我一吃海鲜胃就不舒服. (b) make (sb) uneasy or anxious; disturb 使（某人）不安或担忧; 扰乱: Living alone unsettled his nerves. 他独自生活, 情绪很不稳定.

The sudden changes unsettled Judy.

 

 

 

taunt² n [C often plural]
a remark or joke intended to make someone angry or upset

jibe, US USUALLY gibe /dʒaɪb/

noun [C]
an insulting remark that is intended to make someone look stupid:
Unlike many other politicians, he refuses to indulge in cheap jibes at other people's expense

 

 

good-humoured /ˌgʊdˈhjuː.məd/ US /-mɚd/

adjective
friendly or cheerful:
a good-humoured remark
The walkers were good-humoured despite the bad weather.

 

 

wane  

/ weɪn; wen/ v [I]
(of the moon) show a gradually decreasing area of brightness after being full （指月亮）亏, 缺. Cf 参看 wax² 1.
gradually lose power or importance; become smaller or weaker or less impressive衰败; 衰落; 变小; 变弱; 变差: The power of the landowners waned during this period. 这一时期地主的势力削弱了. * Her enthusiasm for the expedition was waning rapidly. 她对这次出行的热劲迅速减低.

 

 

 

diminish  

/ dɪˈmɪnɪʃ; dəˋmɪnɪʃ/ v [I, Tn]
(cause sth to) become smaller or less; decrease 变小; 变少; 使（某事物）变小; 使（某事物）变少; 缩小; 减少; 降低: His strength has diminished over the years. 经过这许多年月, 他的体力不如从前了. * Nothing could diminish her enthusiasm for the project. 什麽也不能影响她对这项计划的热忱. * diminishing hopes, supplies, funds 逐渐渺茫的希望﹑ 渐渐用完的物资﹑ 渐渐枯竭的资金.
(fig 比喻) make (sb/sth) seem less important than it really is; devalue 减低（某人[某事物]的重要性; 贬低: The opposition are trying to diminish our achievements. 反对党企图贬低我们的成就.

 

 

 

hypnosis /hɪpˈnəʊ.sɪs/ US /-ˈnoʊ-/

noun [U]
a mental state like sleep, in which a person's thoughts can be easily influenced by someone else:
Under deep hypnosis she remembered the traumatic events of that night.

hypnotic /hɪpˈnɒt.ɪk/ US /-ˈnɑː.ţɪk/
adjective
1 caused by hypnosis:
She went into a hypnotic trance.

2 describes sounds or movements that are very regular and make you feel as if you want to sleep:
The beat of the music was strangely hypnotic.

hypnotize, UK USUALLY hypnotise /ˈhɪp.nə.taɪz/
verb
1 [T] to put someone in a state of hypnosis:
She agreed to be hypnotized to try to remember what had happened.

2 [T usually passive] to keep your attention so strongly that you feel unable to move or look away:
I was hypnotized by his steely grey eyes.

 

 

 

be sb's undoing
to cause someone's shame, failure etc
　 In the end, drink was his undoing.

undoing /ʌnˈduː.ɪŋ/

noun [S] FORMAL
the cause of someone's failure, or of their loss of power or wealth:
Greed has been the undoing of many a businessman.

 

 

screen (PICTURE) /skriːn/

noun [C]
1 a flat surface in a cinema or on a television or a computer system on which pictures or words are shown:
Our television has a 19-inch screen.
Coming to your screens (= cinemas) shortly, the amazing adventures of 'Robin Hood'.
Her ambition is to write for the screen (= for television and films).
Write the letter on the computer, then you can make changes easily on screen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

【PROMISE】 [C]
a promise to yourself to do something
→resolve resolution to do sth
　 Carol made a resolution to work harder at school.
New Year's resolution
(=a resolution made on January 1st)

 

 

 [only before noun]
relating to the mind and thinking, or happening only in the mind
　 a child's mental development
　 You need to develop a positive mental attitude.
mental picture/image
(=a picture that you form in your mind)
　 I tried to get a mental picture of him from her description.
make a mental note
to make a special effort to remember something
　 Sarah made a mental note to ask Janine about it later.
mental block
a difficulty in remembering something or in understanding something
　 I got a complete mental block as soon as the interviewer asked me a question.
go mentalBrE spoken informal
a) to get very angry
b) to start behaving in an uncontrolled or excited way
[not before noun] BrE informal thinking or behaving in a way that seems crazy or strange
　 He must be mental!

 

 

 

compile (GATHER TOGETHER) /kəmˈpaɪl/

verb [T]
to collect information from a variety of places and arrange it in a book, report or list:
We're compiling some facts and figures for a documentary on the subject.

 

 

 

difficult to deal with and needing a lot of effort or skill
formidable task/challenge
　 the formidable task of local government reorganization

 

 

recur  

/ rɪˈkɜː(r); rɪˋkə/ v (-rr-)
[I] happen again; happen repeatedly 再发生; 复发: a recurring problem, error, illness 反复出现的问题﹑ 错误﹑ 疾病 * The symptoms tend to recur. 这种症状有可能复发. * This theme recurs constantly throughout the opera. 这一主旋律在该歌剧中不断出现.
(phr v) recur to sb/sth (fml 文) (of ideas, events, etc) come back into the mind （指想法﹑ 事情等）在头脑中重现: Our first meeting often recurs to me/my mind. 我们初次见面的情形时常浮现於我的脑海.

 

 

regularity  

re·gu·lar·i·ty /ˌregjʊˈlærɪti/ n plural regularities
[U]
when the same thing keeps happening often, especially with the same amount of time between each occasion when it happens
　 Climate change is disrupting the regularity of the seasons.
with alarming/increasing etc regularity
　 Our team kept losing with monotonous regularity (=in a way that seems boring or annoying) .

 

 

 

accomplishment  

ac·com·plish·ment /əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt US əˈkɑːm-, əˈkʌm-/ n
[C]
something successful or impressive that is achieved after a lot of effort and hard work
= achievement
impressive/significant/great etc accomplishment
　 Cutting the budget was an impressive accomplishment.
　 It was a major accomplishment for a player who had been injured so recently.

 

 

 

attain /əˈteɪn/

verb [T] FORMAL
to reach or succeed in getting something; to achieve:
He has attained the highest grade in his music exams.
We need to identify the best ways of attaining our objectives/goals.
India attained independence in 1947, after decades of struggle.

           

 

 

inveterate  

/ ɪnˈvetərət; ɪnˋvɛtərət/ adj (derog 贬)
(of bad feelings, habits, etc) that have lasted a long time and seem likely to continue （指恶感﹑ 陋习等）根深蒂固的, 由来已久的: inveterate hatred, prejudice, drunkenness,etc 根深蒂固的仇恨﹑ 由来已久的偏见﹑ 长醉不醒的状态.
(of people) habitually doing the specified bad thing; addicted （指人）有恶习的, 成瘾的: an inveterate smoker, drinker, gambler, liar, etc 积习已久的烟鬼﹑ 酒徒﹑ 赌棍﹑ 撒谎家等. > inveterately adv.

 

 

 

scheme  

/ skiːm; skim/ n
~ (for sth/to do sth) (a) plan for doing or organizing sth 计画; 方案: a scheme for manufacturing paper from straw 用麦秆造纸的计画 * an imaginative scheme to raise money 富创意的筹款方案 * a pension scheme 养老金方案. (b) secret or devious plan 阴谋; 诡计: a scheme for not paying tax 逃税的诡计.
ordered system; arrangement 组合; 配合: a `colour scheme, eg for a room, so that the colours in its decor match 色彩的调配.
(idm 习语) the `scheme of things the way things are or are planned 事物的规律; 安排: In the scheme of things it is hard for small businesses to succeed. 一般来说, 小本生意较难做.

 

 

 

pitfall  

/ ˈpɪtfɔːl; ˋpɪtˏfɔl/ n
unsuspected danger or difficulty 意想不到的危险或困难: This text presents many pitfalls for the translator. 这篇文字有很多潜在的难点, 译者稍一不慎就要出错.

a problem or difficulty that is likely to happen in a particular job, course of action, or activity
pitfall of
　 He gave me advice on how to avoid the pitfalls of the legal process.
　 the pitfalls associated with the purchase of a used car

 

 

 

assiduous  

/ əˈsɪdjuəs; US -dʒuəs; əˋsɪdʒʊəs/ adj (fml 文) showing constant and careful attention 专心致志的; 勤勉的: be assiduous in one's duties 认真执行任务 * The book was the result of ten years' assiduous research. 那本书是十年苦心钻研的成果. > assiduously adv.

 

 

 

self-discipline  

.self-'discipline
n [U]
the ability to make yourself do the things you know you ought to do, without someone making you do them
　 A lot of the kids seemed to lack self-discipline.

 

 

 

【BODY】 [C]
the general shape formed by the bones of someone's body

        

 

 

 

betray  

/ bɪˈtreɪ; bɪˋtre/ v

 [Tn] (a) show (sth) unintentionally; be a sign of 无意中显示出（某事物）; 显露出; 表现出: She said she was sorry, but her eyes betrayed her secret delight. 她说她很难过, 但从她的眼神里却流露出她内心的喜悦. * His accent betrayed the fact that he was foreign. 他的口音显露出他是外国人. (b) ~ oneself show what or who one really is 暴露出本来面目: He had a good disguise, but as soon as he spoke he betrayed himself, ie he was recognized by his voice. 他伪装得很好, 可是一说话就原形毕露了（听他的声音就能认出他来）.

 

 

 

> troop v
1 [I, Ipr, Ip] (with a pl subject 与复数主语配合) come or go together as a troop or in large numbers 成群结队而行: children trooping out of school 成队离开学校的儿童.

The little boys trooped after him across the playing fields.
The Norwich fans gave their team a loud cheer as they trooped off the field.
None of us knew what to expect as we trooped into her office.

 

 

 

unsettle  

/ ˏʌnˈsetl; ʌnˋsɛtl/ v [Tn] (a) disturb the normal calm state of (sth/sb); upset 打扰（某事物[某人]）; 使不安宁: Our move (ie to another house) unsettled the children. 我们搬家弄得孩子们不得安宁. * Seafood unsettles my stomach. 我一吃海鲜胃就不舒服. (b) make (sb) uneasy or anxious; disturb 使（某人）不安或担忧; 扰乱: Living alone unsettled his nerves. 他独自生活, 情绪很不稳定.

The sudden changes unsettled Judy.

 

 

 

taunt² n [C often plural]
a remark or joke intended to make someone angry or upset

jibe, US USUALLY gibe /dʒaɪb/

noun [C]
an insulting remark that is intended to make someone look stupid:
Unlike many other politicians, he refuses to indulge in cheap jibes at other people's expense

 

 

good-humoured /ˌgʊdˈhjuː.məd/ US /-mɚd/

adjective
friendly or cheerful:
a good-humoured remark
The walkers were good-humoured despite the bad weather.

 

 

wane  

/ weɪn; wen/ v [I]
(of the moon) show a gradually decreasing area of brightness after being full （指月亮）亏, 缺. Cf 参看 wax² 1.
gradually lose power or importance; become smaller or weaker or less impressive衰败; 衰落; 变小; 变弱; 变差: The power of the landowners waned during this period. 这一时期地主的势力削弱了. * Her enthusiasm for the expedition was waning rapidly. 她对这次出行的热劲迅速减低.

 

 

 

diminish  

/ dɪˈmɪnɪʃ; dəˋmɪnɪʃ/ v [I, Tn]
(cause sth to) become smaller or less; decrease 变小; 变少; 使（某事物）变小; 使（某事物）变少; 缩小; 减少; 降低: His strength has diminished over the years. 经过这许多年月, 他的体力不如从前了. * Nothing could diminish her enthusiasm for the project. 什麽也不能影响她对这项计划的热忱. * diminishing hopes, supplies, funds 逐渐渺茫的希望﹑ 渐渐用完的物资﹑ 渐渐枯竭的资金.
(fig 比喻) make (sb/sth) seem less important than it really is; devalue 减低（某人[某事物]的重要性; 贬低: The opposition are trying to diminish our achievements. 反对党企图贬低我们的成就.

 

 

 

hypnosis /hɪpˈnəʊ.sɪs/ US /-ˈnoʊ-/

noun [U]
a mental state like sleep, in which a person's thoughts can be easily influenced by someone else:
Under deep hypnosis she remembered the traumatic events of that night.

hypnotic /hɪpˈnɒt.ɪk/ US /-ˈnɑː.ţɪk/
adjective
1 caused by hypnosis:
She went into a hypnotic trance.

2 describes sounds or movements that are very regular and make you feel as if you want to sleep:
The beat of the music was strangely hypnotic.

hypnotize, UK USUALLY hypnotise /ˈhɪp.nə.taɪz/
verb
1 [T] to put someone in a state of hypnosis:
She agreed to be hypnotized to try to remember what had happened.

2 [T usually passive] to keep your attention so strongly that you feel unable to move or look away:
I was hypnotized by his steely grey eyes.

 

 

 

be sb's undoing
to cause someone's shame, failure etc
　 In the end, drink was his undoing.

undoing /ʌnˈduː.ɪŋ/

noun [S] FORMAL
the cause of someone's failure, or of their loss of power or wealth:
Greed has been the undoing of many a businessman.

 

 

screen (PICTURE) /skriːn/

noun [C]
1 a flat surface in a cinema or on a television or a computer system on which pictures or words are shown:
Our television has a 19-inch screen.
Coming to your screens (= cinemas) shortly, the amazing adventures of 'Robin Hood'.
Her ambition is to write for the screen (= for television and films).
Write the letter on the computer, then you can make changes easily on screen.