The Explorer Chapter 12

Con (p140-149)

Word Definition (Collins COBUILD) Synonymsliable(p.140)

If people or things are liable to something unpleasant, they are likely to experience it or do it.

inclined, disposed, prone, likely

poring(p.140)

If you pore over or through information, you look at it and study it very carefully.

study, read, examine, peruse, scrutinise

fused(p.142)

When things fuse or are fused, they join together physically or chemically, usually to become one thing. You can also say that one thing fuses with another.

joined, united, combined, blended, amalgamated

contorted(p.143)

If someone's face or body contorts or is contorted, it moves into an unnatural and unattractive shape or position.

twisted, knotted, distorted, deformed

recognition(p.143)

Recognition is the act of recognising someone or identifying something when you see it.

identification, recollection, detection

utterly(p.144)

You use utterly to emphasise that something is very great in extent, degree, or amount.

totally, completely, absolutely, just, fully, wholly

noncommittal(p.145)

You can describe someone as noncommittal when they deliberately do not express their opinion or intentions clearly.

evasive, guarded, ambiguous, circumspect, neutral

sympathise(p.146)

If you sympathise with someone who is in a bad situation, you show that you are sorry for them.

pity, empathise with, feel for

fostered(p.146)

If you foster a child, you take it into your family for a period of time, without becoming its legal parent.

nonchalant(p.146)

If you describe someone as nonchalant, you mean that they appear not to worry or care about things and that they seem very calm.

calm, cool, indifferent, apathetic, blasé

stricken (p.146)

If a person or place is stricken by something such as an unpleasant feeling, an illness, or a natural disaster, they are severely affected by it.

afflicted, troubled

convent(p.147)

A convent is a building in which a community of nuns live.

sceptical(p.147)

If you are sceptical about something, you have doubts about it. doubtful, cynical, dubious, unconvinced, disbelieving

proper(p.147)

If you say that a way of behaving is proper, you mean that it is considered socially acceptable and right.

seemly, polite, refined, respectable, conventional

wince(p.147)

If you wince, the muscles of your face tighten suddenly because you have felt a pain or because you have just seen, heard, or remembered something unpleasant.

flinch, start, cringe, recoil

presumptuous(p.148)

If you describe someone or their behaviour as presumptuous, you disapprove of them because they are doing something

forward, overfamiliar, bold, presuming,

The Explorer Chapter 12

Con (p140-149)

that they have no right or authority to do. overconfident, arroganttense(p.149)

If you are tense, you are anxious and nervous and cannot relax.

nervous, edgy, strained, apprehensive