Unit 42

proliferate / prolific / prolix / profligate

proliferate v. 快速增长 (to increase in number or amount quickly) / prəˈlɪfəˌreɪt/

• Constance became alarmed when she realized that the rash was proliferating across the surface of her skin.

prolific adj. 多产的 (producing a large amount of something) / prəˈlifik/

• Although they can be very expensive and competitive, Ivy league universities remain popular choices because they are prolific producers of statesmen, CEOs, and other community leaders.

prolix adj. 冗长的 (using too many words)

• Our history teacher both bores and confuses us by droning on and on with his prolix accounts of world events.

profligate adj. 奢侈的，花钱大手大脚的 (carelessly and foolishly wasting money, materials) /ˈprɑfləɡət/

• Cheyenne's profligate spending habits meant that she had no savings to rely on when she suddenly lost her job.

doubtable / redoubtable

doubtable adj. 可疑的 (uncertain or unlikely; able to be cast into doubt) /ˈdaʊdəb(ə)l/

• It is doubtable that most reports of UFO sightings are veritable encounters with alien technology.

redoubtable adj. 令人肃然起敬的 (causing or deserving great fear or respect) / rəˈdaʊdəb(ə)l/

• The crime boss Aladena "Jimmy the Weasel" Fratianno, was a redoubtable figure whose presence struck a combination of fear and respect in the hearts of his employees.

impair / repair

impair v. 损害 (to make (something) weaker or worse) / imˈper/

• Comedian Tracey Morgan suffered a terrible car accident that impaired his ability to walk for several months.

repair v. 修复 (to restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken; to fix) / rəˈpɛr/

• David spent several months repairing the engine of a vintage sports car, and now it runs like new.

obtrude / obtuse

obtrude v. 强迫 (to force or impose (as oneself or one's ideas) without warrant or request) / əbˈtrud/

• No matter how hard he tried to take a news holiday, blaring TV's and gratuitously loud radio segments obtruded on his attempted reverie.

obtuse adj. 愚钝的，笨的 (stupid or unintelligent) /əbˈtjuːs/

• The teacher called Fern obtuse after she failed to correctly solve the algebra problem.