Unit 138

machination / mechanism / mechanic

machination n. 诡计 (a scheming or crafty action or artful design intended to accomplish some usually evil end) /ˌmaʃɪˈneɪʃn/

• The Joker, Bat Man's arch nemesis, always seems to have some new machination up his sleeve.

mechanism n. 原理，途径 (a process, technique, or system for achieving a result) /ˈmɛk(ə)nɪz(ə)m/

• A combination of hard work and luck is understood to be the mechanism for success in life.

mechanic n. 技工，机修工 (a skilled worker who repairs and maintains machinery) / mɪˈkanɪk/

• Trent found schoolwork boring so he opted to apprentice himself to a car mechanic.

crutch / notch / stitch

crutch v. 用拐杖支撑 (to support on crutches) / krʌtʃ/

• The kids built a makeshift aqueduct in their backyard by crutching up mailing tubes with sticks they found in the garden.

notch n. 刻痕 (a slit made to serve as a record) / nɒtʃ/

• Jake stood with his back to the tree while his father put a new notch in the trunk to mark how tall he had grown that year.

v. 得到 (to achieve or get something)

• Garbine Muguruza notched up her first win at Wimbledon in 2016.

stitch v. 缝，缝合 (to join something with stitches) / stɪtʃ/

• The boy's mother patiently stitched up the tear in his lucky soccer jersey.

oblique / obloquy

oblique adj. 间接的 (not straightforward) / əˈbliːk /

• The hunters took an oblique path to the lake in hopes that the circuitous route would help them avoid disturbing their prey.

obloquy n. 诽谤，谩骂 (harsh or critical statements about someone) /ˈɒbləkwi/

• Donald Trump has been the recipient of obloquy from myriad international sources after his decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement.

n. 耻辱 (the condition of someone who lost the respect of other people)

• Syrian president Bashar al Assad's obloquy came as a result of his use of chemical weapons.

prone / prune

prone adj. 有倾向的 (having a tendency or inclination) / prəʊn/

• Hedda was so prone to panic attacks that she decided to take medication.

prune v. 修剪，剪除 (to reduce something by removing parts that are not necessary or wanted) / pruːn/

• Edward Scissorhands used his eponymous appendages to prune hedges and cut hair.