Lesson 25

to impose a restriction or official ban on the release, publication, or distribution of certain information, news, or materials

The newspaper editor decided to embargo the sensitive article until the legal implications were clarified.

a dishonest and morally questionable individual, often involved in deceitful or unlawful behavior

The notorious scoundrel swindled innocent people out of their savings with his elaborate scams.

a meal with many dishes from which people serve themselves at a table and then eat elsewhere

The hotel offered a lavish buffet with a wide variety of international cuisines.

a final and conclusive ending, often implying death or the settlement of a debt

With the passing of the beloved king, the realm mourned the quietus of an era.

a type of comic theatrical production combining pantomime, dance, singing, etc. popular in the 1800s and early 1900s

The vaudeville show opened with a lively musical number, followed by a series of comedy skits performed by a troupe of traveling actors.

pin inserted through an axletree to hold a wheel on

to defeat someone or something in a decisive and overwhelming manner

The army launched a surprise attack to rout the enemy forces and secure a quick victory.

a fundamental belief or principle that is central to a system of thought, philosophy, or religion

The tenet of democracy underscores the importance of representative governance and individual freedoms.

the Pope in the Roman Catholic Church

The pontiff addressed the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, delivering a message of peace and unity.

a sudden and uncontrollable outburst or convulsion, often of emotion or action

He was overcome by a paroxysm of laughter, unable to control his amusement at the comedian's jokes.

a thing that reduces the chances of someone doing something because it makes them aware of its difficulties or consequences

Increased security measures serve as a deterrent to potential thieves.

a cunning or deceptive strategy or action intended to deceive or trick someone

The spy employed a clever ruse to gain access to classified information.

a beginner or novice in a particular field or activity

As a tyro in the world of painting, she eagerly absorbed techniques and styles from experienced artists.

a pair of characters used to represent a single sound, such as "sh" or "th", in phonetics or linguistics

In the word "ship," the letters "sh" form a digraph representing the sound /ʃ/.

a form of punishment in which a person is forced to run between two lines of men facing each other and armed with clubs or whips to beat the victim

a mathematical notation indicating the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself

hair that grows on the neck of an animal such as a horse, lion, etc.

a place or location, often used as a substitute or in place of something else

In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to be made to a charity in memory of their loved one.

a thing that was done or said in a social or public situation that is considered to be an embarrassing or tactless mistake

The politician’s gaffe during the speech caused widespread embarrassment and criticism.

a tall column made of stone with four sides and a pyramid-like top, used as a monument to honor an important event or person