Lesson No. 40

Word # 1

Maim (verb)

Definition: to injure a person so severely that a part of their body will no longer work as it should / to cripple, disable, injure, mar, disfigure or mutilate / wound or injure (a person or animal) so that part of the body is permanently damaged

       

Sentence: 1. Thousands of women and children maimed or killed by these bombs. 2. Land mines kill and maim thousands of people a year, many of them children. 3. The basic tools you need to kill or maim large numbers of people are easy to obtain. 4. They may well kill the terrorists in the barrage, but they will also kill and maim innocent civilians.

Word # 2

Senile (adjective)

Definition: showing poor mental ability because of old age, especially being unable to think clearly and make decisions / (of a person) having or showing the weaknesses or diseases of old age, especially a loss of mental faculties / (of a condition) characteristic of or caused by old age

 

Sentence: 1. He spent many years caring for his senile mother. 2. A Queensland jury could not reach a verdict in 1999, and a new trial was blocked on the ground that he was too senile to be tried again.  3. She couldn’t cope with her senile husband. 4. My grandfather was a happy old man until he became senile and then nobody wanted to be around him.

Word # 3

Vague (adjective)

Definition: not clearly expressed, known, described or decided / of uncertain, indefinite, or unclear character or meaning / not clear or definite in thought, understanding, or expression / not clear in shape, or not clearly seen

 

Sentence: 1. He gave only a vague answer. 2. She has been vague about her plans for college. 3. I think I have a vague understanding of how it works. 4. I do have a vague memory of meeting her many years ago. 5. The patient had complained of vague pains and backache.

Word # 4

Sleazy (adjective)

Definition: (of a person or place) dirty, cheap or not socially acceptable, especially relating to moral or sexual matters / marked by low character or quality / (of textiles and clothing) carelessly made of inferior materials / dishonest, corrupt, vulgar or dirty

Sentence: 1. She is a dancer in a sleazy all-night cafe. 2. Her see-through dress makes her look sleazy. 3. This part of town is full of sleazy bars and restaurants. 4. He had been a sleazy kid. 5. Sleazy politics (disreputable) / hotel / dress / excuse

Word # 5

Axiom (noun)

Definition: a statement or principle which is generally accepted to be true, but need not be so / a statement accepted as true as the basis for argument or inference / widely accepted on its intrinsic merit

Sentence: 1. It is a widely held axiom that governments should not negotiate with terrorists. 2. It is the axiom that sport builds character. 3. Forget the old axiom it's not whether you win or lose, it is how you play the game. 4. It is an historic axiom that history repeats itself and it is a financial axiom that money makes money.