4000 CPE Vocabulary List

n. raised platform for guests of honor
When he approached the dais, he was greeted by cheers from the people who had come to honor him.

n. any of numerous composite plants having flower heads with well-developed ray flowers usually arranged in a single whorl
This is a daisy flower jewelry set that includes necklace and silver earrings.

v. moisten; lessen in force or effect
Now it seems that ministers may be accepting that we're moving into a world of permanently higher oil prices that will dampen economic growth.

a. neatly dressed; very stylish in dress; lively and alert
In 'The Odd Couple' TV show, Tony Randall played Felix Unger, an excessively dapper soul who could not stand to have a hair out of place.

a. spotted; having mottled or spotted skin or coat
The sunlight filtering through the screens created a dappled effect on the wall.

n. recklessly bold person; a person who risks life and limb for a living or to be seen
My 3-year-old daredevil son claimed his first broken leg on the first day of our recent family skiing holiday.

a. bold; brave and taking risks
This was one of the most daring prison breakouts to take place in Greece.

v. smear as with paint; apply with quick or crude strokes to surface; make crude paintings
From the way you daub your paint on the canvas, I could tell you knew nothing of oils.

v. frighten; abate the courage of; discourage
Other northern employers were shocked that ex-slaves refused to work in conditions that would not daunt a farmer in the North.

a. bold; incapable of being discouraged; fearless
Despite the dangerous nature of the undertaking, the dauntless soldier volunteered for the assignment.

v. proceed slowly; waste time
We have to meet a deadline, so don't dawdle; just get down to work.

a. bright or brilliant; extremely attractive or exciting
At last, they conspired together and hit upon a plan that promised a dazzling victory.

n. standstill resulting from the opposition of two forces or factions; stalemate
Because negotiations had reached a deadlock, some of the delegates had begun to mutter about breaking off the talks.

a. wooden; impersonal; deliberately impassive or expressionless, as face or look
We wanted to see how long he could maintain his deadpan expression.

n. scarcity; shortage of food; famine from failure or loss of crops
The dearth of skilled labor compelled employers to open trade schools.

v. reduce in quality or value; lower in esteem; degrade
In The King and l, Anna refuses to kneel and prostrate herself before the king, for she feels that to do so would debase her position.

v. corrupt; seduce from virtue
Did Socrates' teachings lead the young men of Athens to be virtuous citizens, or did they debauch the young men, causing them to question the customs of their fathers?

v. make weak; enfeeble; impair the strength of
Michael's severe bout of the flu might debilitate him so much that he was too tired to go to work for a week.

a. friendly; of good appearance and manners; graceful
The debonair youth was liked by all who met him because of his cheerful and obliging manner.

n. a person who owes a creditor; someone who has the obligation of paying a debt
Remember that income of the debtor may be pledged as security to another creditor.