Unit 114

plain / plaintive

plain n. 平原 (a large area of flat land without trees) / pleɪn/

• The American Midwest is renown for its plains: flat expanses of empty land that extend to the horizon.

adj. 朴素的 (lacking ornament)

• Marcia preferred to wear plain, minimalistic clothes that were devoid of any ornament.

adj. 清晰的，明白的 (easy to see and understand)

• After watching Emma Stone's masterful performance in the film La La Land, it was plain to see why won an Oscar for her role.

plaintive adj. 痛苦的 (expressing suffering or sadness) /ˈpleɪntɪv/

• The child's plaintive wails showed how sad she was to have lost her toy.

reiterate / reinstate

reiterate v. 重复强调 (to repeat something that was already said for emphasis) / riːˈɪtəreɪt/

• In the review session, the teacher reiterated several points in order to emphasize their importance on the coming exam.

reinstate v. 使恢复原职 (to restore to a previous, effective state) / riːɪnˈsteɪt/

• Ned was reinstated to his role as chief accountant once it became clear that he played no role in the embezzlement scheme.

comely / homely / seemly / timely / stately

comely adj. 好看的 (having a pleasing appearance) /ˈkʌmli/

• The girl's appearance was so comely that boys lined up to dance with her.

homely adj. 不好看的 (not pretty or handsome) /ˈhəʊmli/

• The girl wanted to have plastic surgery in order to improve her homely physical appearance.

adj. 平凡的 (plain and simple in an appealing or pleasant way)

• The room was small but homely, with comfortable chairs, simple but pleasing décor, and a roaring fire in the hearth.

seemly adj. 有魅力的，好看的 (good-looking and handsome) /ˈsiːmli/

• The young man's seemly appearance made him very popular with the girls.

timely adv. 合时宜地 (in time) /ˈtʌɪmli/

• Reginald made a timely appearance, arriving just before the school bell sounded.

stately adj. 庄严的 (very impressive in appearance, manner or size) /ˈsteɪtli/

• The White House is a stately mansion that serves as the traditional residence of the President of the United States of America.