arduous, endurable, resilient, peculiar, compulsory: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Advanced set 23. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. arduous · adjective/ˈɑrdʒəwəs/

   requiring considerable effort

   Basho made an arduous journey to the Buddhist temple, walking barefoot for three days.

   Synonyms: difficult, challenging, backbreaking, exhausting, laborious

   Origin: mid 16th century: from Latin arduus ‘steep, difficult’+ -ous

2. endurable · adjective/ɪnˈdʊrəb(ə)l/

   capable of being tolerated

   Although there was still some inflammation after the knee operation, at least the pain was now endurable.

   Synonyms: bearable, tolerable

3. resilient · adjective/rəˈzɪliənt/

   able to withstand difficult conditions

   Children tend to be more resilient than adults, as they're able to adapt to change more quickly.

   Synonyms: strong, tough

   Origin: mid 17th century: from Latin resilient- ‘leaping back’, from the verb resilire (see resile)

4. peculiar · adjective/pəˈkjuljər/

   markedly different from the usual; strange

   She has been revolutionizing the fashion industry with her own peculiar style for years.

   Synonyms: unusual, weird, eccentric

   Origin: late Middle English (in the sense ‘particular’): from Latin peculiaris ‘of private property’, from peculium ‘property’, from pecu ‘cattle’ (cattle being private property). The sense ‘strange’ dates from the early 17th century

5. compulsory · adjective/kəmˈpəlsəri/

   required by rule or law

   Although physical education is compulsory for all pupils aged four to sixteen, it is up to the individual school to decide how much time is devoted to it.

   Synonyms: mandatory, obligatory, forced

   Origin: early 16th century (as a noun denoting a legal mandate which had to be obeyed): from medieval Latin compulsorius, from compuls- ‘driven, forced’, from the verb compellere (see compel)