Lesson 1

G roup 1: a=not“不、无、非”

abate [əˈbeɪt]

v. （使）减弱；减弱

解 to become or to make sth. less strong

例 The storm showed no signs of abating. 暴风雨没有减弱的迹象。

agnostic [æɡˈnɒstɪk]

n. 不可知论者 adj. 不可知论的

解 n. a person who believes that it is not possible to know whether God exists or not

adj. relating to agnostic or to their beliefs

例 Rebelling against the religious training of his youth,he was for many years an agnostic. 他年轻的时候就反抗宗教教育，多年来一直是个不可知论者。

构 a（=not）+gno（=to know）+stic

amorphous [əˈmɔːfəs]

adj. 无固定形状的

解 having no definite form or distinct shape

例 Unless frozen,water is naturally amorphous. 除了结冰，水在自然状态下是没有形状的。

构 a（=not,without）+morph（=form）+ous

anomalous [əˈnɒmələs]

adj. 反常的，不规则的

解 deviating from the general or common order or type

例 Both geniuses and mad men usually follow anomalous patterns of behaviour. 天才和疯子通常都行为异常。

同 anomaly n. 异常事物，反常现象

anonymity [ˌænəˈnɪmɪti]

n. 无名，匿名

解 the state of being unknown to most other people

例 The donor of the gift asked the college not to mention him by name;and the dean readily agreed to respect his anonymity. 礼物捐赠人要求学院不要提起他的姓名，院长欣然同意，尊重他的匿名请求。

构 an（=not,without）+onym（=name）+ity

apathy [ˈæpəθi]

n. 漠然，冷淡

解 the trait of lacking enthusiasm for or interest in things generally

例 The people's apathy towards pollution contributed to the destruction of the environment. 人们对污染的漠然导致了对环境的破坏。

近 pithy adj. （讲话或文章）精练的

同 apathetic adj. 冷漠的，无动于衷的

构 a（=not,without）+path（=to feel）+y

atrophy [ˈætrəfi]

n. ① 【医】萎缩，萎缩症 ② 衰退

解 ① a decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse ② any weakening or degeneration（especially through lack of use）

例 Medical experts state that almost every case of muscle and tissue atrophy is the result of changes in cell nutrition,disease,or prolonged disuse. 医学专家称，几乎所有肌肉和组织萎缩都是由细胞营养变化、疾病或长期不运动所引起的。

近 trophy n. 奖品，战利品；troupe n. 剧团；歌唱团

构 a（=not,without）+troph（=nourishment）+y

G roup 2: acid,acri,ac=acid;bitter,harsh“酸；尖酸，锐利”

acid [ˈæsɪd]

adj. ① 酸的 ② 尖刻的

解 ① sharp or biting to the taste;sour ② sharp in manner or temper

例 Lemons are an acid fruit. 柠檬是一种酸味水果。

acrid [ˈækrɪd]

adj. （气味等）刺激的，辛辣的

解 a strong and sharp smell or taste

例 Acrid coal smoke made my eyes water. 刺鼻的煤烟把我的眼睛熏得流泪。

同 acridity n. （气味等）辛辣，刺激

acrimonious [ˌækrɪˈməʊniəs]

adj. （言词或语调等）刻薄的，激烈的

解 bitter and caustic in temper,manner,or speech

例 An acrimonious dispute broke out between the drivers who had the accident. 发生事故的司机双方爆发了一场激烈的冲突。

同 acrimony n. （态度、言辞）尖刻，刻薄

近 parsimonious adj. 过于节省的，小气的

acute [əˈkjʊːt]

adj. ① 灵敏的，敏锐的 ②（病）急性的，剧烈的

解 ① quick in perceiving and responding to impressions ② afflicted by a disease exhibiting a rapid onset followed by a short,severe course

例 Dogs have an acute sense of smell. 狗有着敏锐的嗅觉。

同 acuity n. 敏锐，灵敏

acumen [əˈkjʊːmən]

n. 精明，敏锐，明智

解 shrewdness shown by keen insight

例 Sherlock Holmes'acumen helped him solve hundreds of mysteries. 夏洛克·福尔摩斯的敏锐帮助他破解了数百个谜案。

acerbic [əˈsɜːbɪk]

adj. ① 酸的 ② 尖刻的；严厉的

解 ① sour or bitter in taste ② harsh or corrosive in tone

例 You should not eat the fruit if it is not ripe,since it will probably taste acerbic. 你应该等水果熟了再吃，不然可能会很酸。

exacerbate [ɪgˈzæsəbeɪt]

v. 使加重，使恶化

解 to make sth. worse

例 His lies to cover up his previous lies only served to exacerbate his troubles. 他用谎言来掩盖之前的谎言，只能加重他的麻烦。

构 ex（=intensive）+acerb（=bitter,harsh）+ate

G roup 3: act=act“行动”

action [ˈækʃn]

n. 行为，行动

解 the state or process of acting or doing sth.;a deed

例 The judge told her she had to be responsible for her actions. 法官告诉她，她得为自己的行为负责。

interaction [ˌɪntərˈækʃn]

n. 相互作用（影响）；交流

解 the effect two things have on each other;communication between two things

例 The study found that the interaction people have with their parents as they grow up is pivotal in creating a sound psychological foundation for them. 研究发现，人们在成长过程中与父母间的交流，对他们形成健康的心理基础至关重要。

radioactive [ˌreɪdɪəʊˈæktɪv]

adj. 放射性的，辐射性的

解 of or exhibiting radioactivity

例 Radium,uranium,and thorium are radioactive metallic elements. 镭、铀和钍都属于放射性金属元素。

activate [ˈæktɪveɪt]

vt. 激发，使活动，激活

解 to set sth. in motion;to make sth. active or more active

例 The driving instructor taught her to put the key into the ignition to activate the car. 驾驶教练教她把钥匙插入点火装置来启动汽车。

active [ˈæktɪv]

adj. ① 积极的，活跃的 ② 起作用的

解 ① working hard or with energy;busy and energetic;lively ② functioning

例 The professor was very active in his lectures,throwing his hands in the air and jumping up and down. 那位教授在讲课时很有活力，挥舞双手，跳上跳下。

同 activity n. 活动；活跃，活力

enact [ɪˈnækt]

v. ① 通过（法律）② 扮演（角色）

解 ① to pass a law ② to play a role

例 Congress enacted a bill to restrict the sale of guns. 国会通过了一条限制枪支销售的法令。

同 enactment n.（法律、法规的）制定，颁布；扮演

exacting [ɪɡˈzæktɪŋ]

adj. ① 苛求的，要求严格的 ② 吃力的，需付出极大努力的

解 ① requiring much;hard to please ② requiring effort,care,or attention

例 An exacting teacher will not permit careless work. 严格的教师不会允许学生在作业上马马虎虎。

同 exact v. 苛求 adj. 精确的；exactitude n. 精确性

构 ex（=out）+act（=to act）+ing

reactionary [riːˈækʃənri]

n. 反动分子，保守分子 adj. 保守的，反动的

解 n. an opponent of progress or liberalism

adj. extremely conservative

例 The reactionaries colluded in a conspiracy to prevent the liberal candidate from being elected president. 反动分子串通一气，阴谋阻止自由党候选人被选为总统。

reactant [riːˈæktənt]

n. 反应剂，反应物

解 a chemical substance that is present at the start of a chemical reaction

例 The chemistry student added the reactant into the liquid to start the experiment. 那名学化学的学生把反应剂加入了液体，开始实验。

同 react v. 反应；reaction n. 反应

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