Environmentalists often challenge decisions which allow mining in areas that are not suitable for it, and that could lead to disasters such as landslides.
synonyms
questiondisputeconfront
word origin — Middle English (in the senses ‘accusation’ and ‘accuse’): from Old French chalenge (noun), chalenger (verb), from Latin calumnia ‘calumny’, calumniari ‘calumniate’
Intermediate — Set 85
Set 85 of Intermediate covers 5 words: challenge, attach, float, block, promise. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
challenge · verb/ˈtʃæləndʒ/
to reject that something is right
Environmentalists often challenge decisions which allow mining in areas that are not suitable for it, and that could lead to disasters such as landslides.
Synonyms: question, dispute, confront
Origin: Middle English (in the senses ‘accusation’ and ‘accuse’): from Old French chalenge (noun), chalenger (verb), from Latin calumnia ‘calumny’, calumniari ‘calumniate’
attach · verb/əˈtætʃ/
to connect one thing to another
When you apply for a visa, you need to attach a recent photo to the file that contains your documents.
Synonyms: add, connect
Origin: Middle English (in the sense ‘seize by legal authority’): from medieval Latin attachiare ‘seize, fasten’ and Old French atachier or estachier ‘fasten, fix’, of uncertain origin; perhaps based on an element of Germanic origin related to stake; compare with attack
float · verb/floʊt/
to stay on the surface without sinking or to stay in the air without falling
During fall, a lot of leaves float on lakes and ponds and they are amazing to photograph.
Synonyms: hang, drift, bob
Origin: Old English flotian (verb), of Germanic origin and related to fleet, reinforced in Middle English by Old French floter, also from Germanic
block · verb/blɑk/
to stop something moving or happening
The traffic problems after hurricane Katrina were mainly due to the fallen trees that blocked many of the roads.
Synonyms: prevent, stop, hinder
Origin: Middle English (denoting a log or tree stump): from Old French bloc (noun), bloquer (verb), from Middle Dutch blok, of unknown ultimate origin
promise · verb/ˈprɑməs/
to make sure that you will do something
When managers promise a rise in salaries but never follow through, they lose their workers' trust.
Synonyms: assure, ensure, guarantee
Origin: late Middle English: from Latin promissum ‘something promised’, neuter past participle of promittere ‘put forth, promise’, from pro- ‘forward’ + mittere ‘send’