Advanced — Set 67

Set 67 of Advanced covers 5 words: refuse, pretend, regard, urge, collapse. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. refuse · verb/rəˈfjuz/

   express that one is not going to do something asked of them

   Dan was hesitant to ask Jennifer to the dance, afraid she might refuse.

   Synonyms: reject, decline, turn down

   Origin: Middle English: from Old French refuser, probably an alteration of Latin recusare ‘to refuse’, influenced by refutare ‘refute’

2. pretend · verb/priˈtɛnd/

   behave in a way that is not real

   The couple was only pretending to be happy together in front of their friends, when they were actually considering a divorce.

   Synonyms: fake, assume the role of

   Origin: late Middle English: from Latin praetendere ‘stretch forth, claim’, from prae ‘before’ + tendere ‘stretch’. The adjective dates from the early 20th century

3. regard · verb/rəˈɡɑrd/

   consider something in a specific way

   The committee regarded the company's mailing system as outdated and changed it for a modern, digitized one.

   Synonyms: consider, think of, view

   Origin: Middle English: from Old French regarder ‘to watch’, from re- ‘back’ (also expressing intensive force) + garder ‘to guard’

4. urge · verb/ərdʒ/

   strongly advise somebody to do something.

   Local organizers have started urging people to use public transportation in order to reduce air pollution caused by traffic.

   Synonyms: plead, advise, recommend

   Origin: mid 16th century: from Latin urgere ‘press, drive’

5. collapse · verb/kəˈlæps/

   fall down, fail or stop operating

   Inflation and unemployment rates were so high that people feared the economy was going to collapse.

   Synonyms: break down, fail

   Origin: early 17th century (as collapsed): from medical Latin collapsus, past participle of collabi, from col- ‘together’ + labi ‘to slip’