coalesce, maintain, distort, lionize, suspend: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from TOEFL Vocabulary set 12. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. coalesce · verb/koʊəˈlɛs/

   to come together to form one mass or whole

   The various community groups began to coalesce around a common goal of improving local education.

   Synonyms: merge, unite, blend

   Origin: from Latin 'coalescere', meaning 'to grow together', from 'co-' meaning 'together' and 'alescere' meaning 'to grow'.

2. maintain · verb/meɪnˈteɪn/

   to continue or keep in existence or operation

   The team worked hard to maintain their lead throughout the season.

   Synonyms: sustain, uphold, preserve

   Origin: Middle English: from Old French 'maintenir', from Latin 'manu tenere', meaning 'to hold in the hand'

3. distort · verb/dɪsˈtɔrt/

   to alter the shape or appearance of something or to misrepresent the facts

   The funhouse mirrors always distort the way I look, making me appear taller and wider than I really am.

   Synonyms: warp, twist, misrepresent

   Origin: from Latin 'distortus', past participle of 'distorcere', meaning 'to twist apart'

4. lionize · verb/ˈlaɪəˌnaɪz/

   to treat someone as a celebrity or give them excessive public attention

   The media tends to lionize celebrities, often focusing on their personal lives rather than their professional achievements.

   Synonyms: celebrate, glorify, idolize

   Origin: The word 'lionize' comes from the late 18th century, derived from the term 'lion', referring to a person who is given great public attention, likened to a 'lion' in a circus or context symbolizing prominence.

5. suspend · verb/səˈspɛnd/

   to temporarily stop something from being active or in use

   The school decided to suspend all extracurricular activities until further notice due to safety concerns.

   Synonyms: pause, defer, halt

   Origin: Middle English 'suspenden', from Latin 'suspendere' which is a combination of 'sub-' meaning 'up from' and 'pendere' meaning 'to hang'.