Lesson 38

to make someone so frightened that they cannot move or speak

The sudden appearance of the ghostly figure in the dark forest petrified the hikers.

relating to the hard part of the skull near the ear

The archaeologist carefully examined the petrous part of the skull for DNA extraction.

the tendency to display childlike irritability and fussiness

The actress's petulance was on full display when she complained about her dressing room.

showing sudden impatience, especially over minor matters

The child became petulant when asked to finish his homework.

the ancient practice of trying to turn common metals into gold

While no one succeeded in using alchemy to create gold, it led to modern chemistry's birth.

a chronic condition characterized by excessive and habitual consumption of alcohol

His struggle with alcoholism affected his relationships and career, making it difficult to maintain a stable life.

behavior that seems eccentric, irrational, or extremely foolish

Trying to cross the busy highway on foot was not bravery but lunacy.

relating to the moon

She purchased a lunar calendar to track the phases of the moon.

suffering from a severe mental illness

In ancient times, people believed that the moon could cause lunatic behavior in individuals.

charging interest rates that are excessively high, to the point of being unreasonable

The bank faced legal action for imposing usurious fees on unsuspecting customers.

to wrongly take someone else's position, power, or right

In many tales, evil stepmothers attempt to usurp the rightful place of the princess.

the practice of lending money at excessively high interest rates, considered unethical or illegal

The lender was accused of usury after charging triple-digit interest.

to cause a person to feel scared or unconfident

His initial failures did not daunt him; he simply viewed them as learning experiences.

to cause a person to feel scared or unconfident

His initial failures did not daunt him; he simply viewed them as learning experiences.

showing courage and determination

His dauntless spirit helped him climb the highest mountain.

to write or draw something in an aimless or careless way

During the phone call, she absentmindedly scribbled on a notepad, creating intricate patterns.

score a line on with a pointed instrument, as in metalworking

regarding anything related to or found in the Bible

The debate focused on the scriptural interpretation of the creation story.