The reclusive author seldom made public appearances, preferring the solitude of his home to social gatherings.
synonyms
isolatedwithdrawnhermitic
word origin — mid 17th century: from French 'reclus', from Latin 'reclusus', past participle of 'recludere', meaning 'to shut up'.
TOEFL Vocabulary — Set 146
Set 146 of TOEFL Vocabulary covers 5 words: reclusive, plausible, exquisite, compliant, fastidious. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
reclusive · adjective/rɪˈkluːsɪv/
avoiding the company of others; solitary
The reclusive author seldom made public appearances, preferring the solitude of his home to social gatherings.
Synonyms: isolated, withdrawn, hermitic
Origin: mid 17th century: from French 'reclus', from Latin 'reclusus', past participle of 'recludere', meaning 'to shut up'.
plausible · adjective/ˈplɑː.zə.bəl/
seeming reasonable or probable
The detective presented a plausible explanation for the suspect's whereabouts during the crime.
Synonyms: credible, believable, reasonable
Origin: from Latin 'plausibilis', from 'plaudere' meaning 'to applaud or strike.'
exquisite · adjective/ɪkˈskwɪzɪt/
extremely beautiful and delicate
The artist created an exquisite painting that captured the beauty of the sunset.
Synonyms: beautiful, lovely, delicate
Origin: From Latin 'exquisitus', meaning 'searched out, carefully sought out', from 'ex-' (out of) + 'quaerere' (to seek).
compliant · adjective/kəmˈplaɪənt/
willing to act in accordance with rules or standards
The company implemented new procedures to ensure that all employees were compliant with safety regulations.
Synonyms: obedient, submissive, acquiescent
Origin: late Middle English: from Latin 'compliant-', the present participle of 'complere' meaning 'to fold together'.
fastidious · adjective/fæˈstɪd.i.əs/
very attentive to detail and accuracy, hard to please
The fastidious artist spent hours ensuring that every brushstroke was flawless, indicating just how much attention to detail he required in his work.
Synonyms: meticulous, precise, fussy
Origin: From Latin 'fastidiosus', meaning 'disdainful, squeamish' from 'fastidium' meaning 'disdain, loathing'.