Upper-Intermediate — Set 48

Set 48 of Upper-Intermediate covers 5 words: flatter, insult, convince, appreciate, envy. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. flatter · verb/flæt/

   to praise someone or something, somewhat dishonestly

   These people might try to flatter others in order to get what they want and make people like them.

   Synonyms: praise, glorify

   Origin: Middle English: from Old Norse flatr

2. insult · verb/ɪnˈsəlt/

   to treat or speak to someone rudely

   He never insulted the teacher personally but he gossipped about her whenever he went.

   Synonyms: humiliate, mock

   Origin: mid 16th century (as a verb in the sense ‘exult, act arrogantly’): from Latin insultare ‘jump or trample on’, from in- ‘on’ + saltare, from salire ‘to leap’. The noun (in the early 17th century denoting an attack) is from French insulte or ecclesiastical Latin insultus. The main current senses date from the 17th century, the medical use dating from the early 20th century

3. convince · verb/kənˈvɪns/

   to make someone agree or understand the truth of something

   The Ministry of Health broadcast a video to convince the public that vaccines are safe.

   Synonyms: persuade, assure

   Origin: mid 16th century (in the sense ‘overcome, defeat in argument’): from Latin convincere, from con- ‘with’ + vincere ‘conquer’. Compare with convict

4. appreciate · verb/əˈpriʃiˌeɪt/

   to be grateful for, recognize with gratitude

   At our university, our aim is to enable our students to discover the achievements of science by inspiring them to appreciate the importance of science for the future of humanity.

   Synonyms: applaud, cherish

   Origin: mid 16th century: from late Latin appretiat- ‘set at a price, appraised’, from the verb appretiare, from ad- ‘to’ + pretium ‘price’

5. envy · verb/ˈɛnvi/

   to wish that you had something that someone else has

   Her friends clearly envy her beauty and how she is favored by men around her.

   Synonyms: resent, yearn

   Origin: Middle English (also in the sense ‘hostility, enmity’): from Old French envie (noun), envier (verb), from Latin invidia, from invidere ‘regard maliciously, grudge’, from in- ‘into’ + videre ‘to see’