Unit 71

progenitor / progeny

progenitor n. 先驱 (precursor, originator) /proʊˈdʒɛnədər/

• The progenitor of the Harry Potter books is their author, J.K. Rowling.

progeny n. 子孙，后裔 (a person who comes from a particular parent or family; the child or descendant of someone) /ˈpräjənē/

• Ivanka, Tiffany, Eric, Donald Jr., and Barron are the names of Donald Trump's progeny.

contiguous / contagious

contiguous adj. 临近的 (used to describe things that touch each other or are immediately next to each other) /kənˈtiɡyo͞oəs/

• Townhouses are built contiguously, with one wall abutting the next.

contagious adj. 传染的 (communicable by contact) /kənˈteɪdʒəs/

• Jaelon's stomach flu was so contagious that it spread throughout the school like wildfire.

brook / creek / crook / creep

brook v. 容忍，忍受 (to stand for; to tolerate) /bro͝ok/

• Our teacher firmly refused to brook any complaints about the piles of homework that she assigned for the holidays.

creek n. 小溪，小流 (a small stream) /krēk/

• In the summer months, Jimmy liked to fish for crawdads in the small creek that ran through the bottom of the field.

crook v. 弯曲 (to bend (something)) /krʊk/

• The mother crooked her arm around the crying child, drawing him close in her comforting embrace.

creep v. 爬行 (to move slowly with the body close to the ground ) /krēp/

• The cat crept slowly forward, keeping its belly close to the ground, then pounced upon the unsuspecting bird.

elaborate / evaporate

elaborate adj. 精心的，精细的 (planned or carried out with great care) /əˈlæb(ə)rət/

• The wedding reception was an elaborate affair, with a full orchestra, ice sculptures, and a five course meal.

evaporate v. 蒸发 (to dissipate or draw off in vapor or fumes) /əˈvapəˌrāt/

• The steam from the boiling kettle quickly evaporated into the air.