Lesson 21

an insufficient charge

to give too little light to photographic film or material, resulting in an image that is too dark

If you underexpose the film, the photos will come out darker than intended.

done in a secretive way with the intent to deceive or trick

He was fired from his job after they discovered his underhanded attempts to sabotage a colleague.

to serve as the foundation or primary cause for something

Cultural traditions underlie many of the festivals and celebrations we see around the world.

to gradually decrease the effectiveness, confidence, or power of something or someone

Skipping maintenance checks might undermine the long-term reliability of the equipment.

to consider someone or something as less important, valuable, or skillful than they actually are

Many people underrate the importance of sleep for overall health.

to stress something's importance or value

The president's speech underscored the importance of unity in challenging times.

to offer goods or services at a lower price than competitors

Some startups undersell their products initially to attract customers and then gradually increase prices as their brand gains recognition.

to minimize the significance of something

He's modest and tends to understate his own achievements.

to financially support a project, activity, etc. and take responsibility for potential loss

Investors are hesitant to underwrite new tech startups without seeing a prototype first.

an alternative to sugar which is artificial and used by people who want to lose weight

He decided to use saccharin in his tea instead of sugar to reduce his calorie intake.

excessively sweet or sugary

The dessert had a saccharine taste that was almost sickeningly sweet.

to openly and strongly disapprove or condemn something

The city council deplored the rise in vandalism and called for community intervention.

disgraceful to the extent that it warrants severe disapproval

The politician's deplorable remarks sparked outrage across the country.

very attentive and paying close attention to small or specific aspects of a task or situation

She is a fastidious editor, meticulously checking every sentence for errors.

the quality of being extremely careful and particular about details, especially related to taste or style

As an art collector, his fastidiousness helped him acquire some of the most sought-after pieces.

an object that is kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event

She kept a seashell as a memento of her trip.

easy to remember or worth remembering, particularly because of being different or special

The speech he gave at the graduation was so inspiring that it became the most memorable part of the ceremony.

to perfect or improve something, such as a skill or ability

Practice and training help athletes hone their skills for peak performance.

payment given as a gesture of appreciation or respect for a service that is typically provided for free or on a voluntary basis

In recognition of their valuable contributions, the nonprofit organization awarded an honorarium to the dedicated volunteers.