Advanced — Set 41

Set 41 of Advanced covers 5 words: breakthrough , pursuit, triumph, perseverance, defeat. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. breakthrough · noun/ˈbreɪkˌθru/

   a significant achievement or discovery

   Einstein is known for having made several important breakthroughs in modern physics.

   Synonyms: development, discovery

2. pursuit · noun/pərˈsut/

   the act of trying to achieve something with determination

   After quitting her job, she travelled around the world in pursuit of her dreams.

   Synonyms: quest, hunt

   Origin: late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French purseute ‘following after’, from pursuer (see pursue). Early senses included ‘persecution, annoyance’ and in legal contexts ‘petition, prosecution’

3. triumph · noun/ˈtraɪəmf/

   a great achievement

   Winning a medal at the Olympics was an incredible triumph for the young athlete.

   Synonyms: success, victory, achievement

   Origin: late Middle English: from Old French triumphe (noun), from Latin triump(h)us, probably from Greek thriambos ‘hymn to Bacchus’. Current senses of the verb date from the early 16th century

4. perseverance · noun/ˌpərsəˈvɪrəns/

   determination to accomplish something despite hardships

   Learning a new language requires time and perseverance, which often deters those who are looking for a quick and easy path.

   Synonyms: determination, dedication, persistence

   Origin: Middle English: from Old French, from Latin perseverantia, from perseverant- ‘abiding by strictly’, from the verb perseverare (see persevere)

5. defeat · noun/dəˈfit/

   a failure to achieve something, especially due to another's victory

   Michael refused to accept defeat and kept fighting for a way to save the community center.

   Synonyms: loss, failure, disappointment, downfall

   Origin: late Middle English (in the sense ‘undo, destroy, annul’): from Old French desfait ‘undone’, past participle of desfaire, from medieval Latin disfacere ‘undo’