devoid: a.空的；缺少的
devoid of something completely lacking in something
The letter was devoid of warmth and feeling.
The land is almost devoid of vegetation
affable: a.易于交谈的；和蔼的
pleasant, friendly and easy to talk to
➔ SYNONYM genial
He greeted everyone in the same relaxed and affable manner.
awning: n.遮阳蓬，雨蓬
a sheet of strong cloth that stretches out from above a door or window to keep off the sun or rain
He sat under the blue and white striped awning of the cafe.
crutch: n.拐杖；v.支撑
1 one of two long sticks that you put under your arms to help you walk after you have injured your leg or foot
After the accident I spent six months on crutches.
2 (usually disapproving) a person or thing that gives you help or support but often makes you depend on them too much
High interest rates are merely a crutch for the countryʼs ailing economy.
He sees religion as an emotional crutch.
draconian: a.严厉的，严酷的
of a law, punishment, etc.) extremely cruel and severe
a call for draconian measures against drug-related crime
The newspaper struggled to continue under the regimeʼs draconian censorship laws.
There have been calls for draconian measures against drug-related crime.
Trade unions regarded to draft legislation as draconian.
chagrin: v./n.失望，懊恼
a feeling of being disappointed or annoyed
To her chagrin, neither of her sons became doctors.
Jon had discovered parties, wine and women, much to the chagrin of his parents.
beleaguer: v.围攻；骚扰
be·lea·guered adjective
BrE /bɪˈliːɡəd/ NAmE /bɪˈliːɡərd/
1 (formal) experiencing a lot of criticism and difficulties
The beleaguered party leader was forced to resign.
2 surrounded by an enemy
Supplies for the beleaguered city
affidavit: n.宣誓书
a written statement that you swear is true, and that can be used as evidence in court
To make/swear/sign an affidavit
They swore affidavits and put further material before the court.
avarice: n.贪财，贪婪
extreme desire for wealth
effluvia: n.气味，恶臭；废料
Examples
the effluvia from local sewage treatment plants polluting the river
discourse: n.长篇演讲、论述
1 [countable, uncountable] (formal) a long and serious treatment or discussion of a subject in speech or writing
a discourse on issues of gender and sexuality
He was hoping for some lively political discourse at the meeting.
2 [uncountable] (linguistics) the use of language in speech and writing in order to produce meaning; language that is studied, usually in order to see how the different parts of a text are connected
Spoken/written discourse
Discourse analysis
anathema: n.被诅咒的人；宗教意义的诅咒
a thing or an idea which you hate because it is the opposite of what you believe
Racial prejudice is (an) anathema to me.
ascendancy: n.统治权，支配力量
[uncountable] ascendancy (over somebody/something) (formal) the position of having power or influence over somebody/something
Moral/political/intellectual ascendancy
The opposition party was in the ascendancy (= gaining control).
canonical: a.（教会）符合规定的，被收入真经的
1 included in a list of holy books that are accepted as genuine; connected with works of literature that are highly respected
2 according to the law of the Christian Church
Canonical rules
3 (specialist) in the simplest accepted form in mathematics
The standard canonical form for a matrix
causal: a.原因的，因果关系的
1 (formal) connected with the relationship between two things, where one causes the other to happen
The causal relationship between poverty and disease
2 causal conjunction/connective (grammar) a word such as because that introduces a statement about the cause of something
coterie: n.(有共同兴趣的)小团体
a small group of people who have the same interests and do things together but do not like to include others
Her little coterie of friends and advisers
a literary coterie
He surrounded himself with an elite coterie of political advisors.
His work attracted a coterie of admirers in the US.
affectation: n.做作，虚假
behaviour or an action that is not natural or sincere and that is often intended to impress other people
His little affectations irritated her.
Kay has no affectation at all.
He raised his eyebrows with an affectation of surprise (= pretending to be surprised).
He speaks clearly and without affectation.
ballast: n.(船等)压舱物
1 heavy material placed in a ship or hot-air balloon to make it heavier and keep it steady
2 a layer of stones that makes a strong base on which a road, railway/railroad, etc. can be built
drove: n.畜群；人群
a large number of people or animals, often moving or doing something as a group
droves of tourists
People were leaving the countryside in droves to look for work in the cities.
The gallery had its busiest day ever, as droves of people poured into its new premises by the docks.
Tourists started arriving in their droves.
➔ SEE ALSO drive
bedeck: v.装饰，修饰
usually passive] bedeck something/somebody (with/in something) (literary) to decorate something/somebody with flowers, flags, precious stones, etc.
The entrance hall was bedecked with trees and tropical plants.
a flower-bedecked balcony
The subject of the portrait is richly bedecked with jewellery.
effervesce: v.(液体)冒泡；(人)活跃、兴奋
1 : to bubble, hiss, and foam as gas escapes
2 : to show liveliness or exhilaration
destitution: n.匮乏，穷困
the fact of having no money, food and the other things necessary for life
omelessness and destitution
cant cant (something) (formal) to be or put something in a sloping position