Advanced Plus — Set 25

Set 25 of Advanced Plus covers 5 words: pitfall, vigilance, prospect, disparity, bland. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. pitfall · noun/ˈpɪtfɔl/

   a hidden or unsuspected danger or difficulty

   One common pitfall of working from home is the difficulty of separating work from personal life.

   Synonyms: trap, difficulty, hazard

   Origin: The word 'pitfall' comes from the combination of 'pit,' referring to a hole, and 'fall,' indicating a fall into that hole. It originated in the early 19th century.

2. vigilance · noun/ˈvɪdʒ.ɪ.ləns/

   the action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties

   His vigilance helped to keep the children safe from harm.

   Synonyms: watchfulness, alertness, attentiveness

   Origin: from Latin 'vigilantia', meaning 'watchfulness'

3. prospect · noun/ˈprɑːspɛkt/

   the possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring

   The prospect of going on vacation makes me feel excited.

   Synonyms: chance, possibility, likelihood

   Origin: from Latin 'prospectus', meaning 'a looking forward'

4. disparity · noun/dɪsˈpɛr.ə.ti/

   a great difference or inequality between two or more things

   There is a large disparity in income between the rich and the poor in many cities.

   Synonyms: difference, inequality, gap

   Origin: from Latin 'disparitatem', meaning 'inequality'

5. bland · adjective/blænd/

   lacking strong flavor or distinctive qualities and therefore uninteresting

   The soup was so bland that I added some salt to make it taste better.

   Synonyms: dull, plain, tasteless

   Origin: Middle English from Old English 'bland', meaning 'smooth' or 'pleasant'