Intermediate — Set 86

Set 86 of Intermediate covers 5 words: confusion, destruction, dependence, duration, reduction. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. confusion · noun/kənˈfjuʒ(ə)n/

   a feeling of uncertainty and lack of understanding

   Due to the speaker's mispronunciation of the winner's name, there was confusion over who won the beauty contest last year.

   Synonyms: distraction, disorientation

   Origin: Middle English: from Latin confusio(n-), from the verb confundere ‘mingle together’ (see confuse)

2. destruction · noun/dəˈstrəkʃ(ə)n/

   the act of giving severe harm to somebody or something

   It is stated in environmental reports that the destruction of rainforests for palm oil not only affects the ecosystem negatively but also contributes immensely to climate change.

   Synonyms: devastation, damage, harm

   Origin: Middle English: from Latin destructio(n-), from the verb destruere (see destroy)

3. dependence · noun/dəˈpɛnd(ə)ns/

   the state of being controlled by something or somebody

   Some women have complete financial dependence on their husbands and this can cause a loss of basic freedoms.

   Synonyms: reliance, subjection

   Origin: late Middle English (in the sense ‘hanging down or something that hangs down’): from Old French dependance, from the verb dependre (see depend)

4. duration · noun/dʊrˈeɪʃ(ə)n/

   the time period when something continues

   The success rate in treatments of many serious illnesses often depend on their duration and seriousness.

   Synonyms: period, span, time

   Origin: late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin duratio(n-), from durare ‘to last’, from durus ‘hard’

5. reduction · noun/rəˈdəkʃ(ə)n/

   making something smaller or less in size and significance

   The reduction in fuel prices for the first time in two years has made motorists happy.

   Synonyms: decline, decrease, cutback

   Origin: late Middle English (denoting the action of bringing back): from Old French, or from Latin reductio(n-), from reducere ‘bring back, restore’ (see reduce). The sense development was broadly similar to that of reduce; sense 1 dates from the late 17th century