dire, predicament, intrigued, acclaimed, sanction: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Advanced Plus set 4. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. dire · adjective/ˈdaɪɚ/

   extremely serious or terrible

   The team is in dire need of a win to stay in the tournament.

   Synonyms: serious, urgent, grave

   Origin: from Latin dirus meaning fearful, dreadful, or ominous

2. predicament · noun/prɪˈdɪkəmənt/

   a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation

   The company faced a serious predicament: cutting costs would save the business but leave hundreds of employees without jobs.

   Synonyms: situation, dilemma, crisis

   Origin: The word 'predicament' originates from the Latin 'praedicamentum,' meaning 'a categorical statement' or 'category,' which comes from 'praedicare,' meaning 'to proclaim or declare.'

3. intrigued · adjective/ɪnˈtriːɡd/

   curiously fascinated or interested

   She was intrigued by the unusual notes written in the book's margins.

   Synonyms: fascinated, interested, curious

   Origin: The word 'intrigued' comes from the Latin 'intricare,' meaning 'to entangle or involve.'

4. acclaimed · adjective/əˈkleɪmd/

   publicly praised or recognized for achievements or quality

   The acclaimed author won many awards for his books.

   Synonyms: celebrated, admired, praised

   Origin: The word 'acclaimed' comes from the Latin 'acclamare', meaning to shout at or to call out, which is formed from 'ad-' (to) and 'clamare' (to cry out).

5. sanction · noun/ˈsæŋkʃən/

   a penalty or coercive measure intended to enforce compliance or punish violations

   The country faced heavy sanctions for breaking international laws.

   Synonyms: penalty, punishment, restriction

   Origin: from Latin 'sanctio', meaning 'a decree' or 'a penalty'