marvel
If you marvel at something, you express your great surprise, wonder, or admiration.
Her fellow members marveled at her seemingly infinite energy...
on the outs with
Not on friendly terms; disagreeing.(informal)
phi beta kappa
(in the US) a society for college and university students who are very successful in their studies
unnerve
If you say that something unnerves you, you mean that it worries or troubles you.
The news about Dermot had unnerved me...
exempt
If someone or something is exempt from a particular rule, duty, or obligation, they do not have to follow it or do it.
Men in college were exempt from military service...
a totem of
Something that is a totem of another thing is a symbol of it. (WRITTEN)
This opera is one of the cultural totems of Western civilisation.
amulet
An amulet is a small object that you wear or carry because you think it will bring you good luck and protect you from evil or injury.
=charm, talisman
nonplussed
If you are nonplussed, you feel confused and unsure how to react.
She expected him to ask for a scotch and was rather nonplussed when he asked her to mix him a martini and lemonade. =at a loss
muff
If you muff something, you do it badly or you make a mistake while you are doing it, so that it is not successful. (INFORMAL)
He muffed his opening speech.
Phenobarbital
n.a powerful drug used for making you calm or helping you sleep
omission
An omission is something that has not been included or has not been done, either deliberately or accidentally.
The duke was surprised by his wife's omission from the guest list. ≠inclusion
cowardice
Cowardice is cowardly behaviour.
He openly accused his opponents of cowardice. ≠bravery, courage
donnee
A set of literary or artistic principles or assumptions on which a creative work is based:
He worked outward from the donnée toward the expression of some general theme or idea.
liaison
Liaison is co-operation and the exchange of information between different organizations or between different sections of an organization.
Liaison between police forces and the art world is vital to combat art crime.
antidote to
Something that is an antidote to a difficult or unpleasant situation helps you to overcome the situation.
Massage is a wonderful antidote to stress. =cure, remedy
swoon
If you swoon, you are strongly affected by your feelings for someone you love or admire very much.
Virtually every woman in the '20s swooned over Valentino...
consort with
If you say that someone consorts with a particular person or group, you mean that they spend a lot of time with them, and usually that you do not think this is a good thing. (FORMAL)
He regularly consorted with known drug-dealers.=associate
in thrall to
If you say that someone is inthrall to a person or thing, you mean that they are completely in their power or are greatly influenced by them. (FORMAL)
He is not in thrall to the media...
ludicrous
If you describe something as ludicrous, you are emphasizing that you think it is foolish, unreasonable, or unsuitable.
It was ludicrous to suggest that the visit could be kept secret...
