American English

sister-in-law

ˈsister-in-ˌlaw BrE AmE noun (plural sisters-in-law) [countable]
1. the sister of your husband or wife
2. your brother’s wife
3. the wife of the brother of your husband or wife

brother-in-law

ˈbrother-in-law BrE AmE noun (plural brothers-in-law) [countable]
1. the brother of your husband or wife
2. the husband of your sister
3. the husband of your husband or wife’s sister
⇨ sister-in-law

attend

at‧tend S2 W2 /əˈtend/ BrE AmE verb formal
[Word Family: noun: ↑attention, ↑attendant, ↑attentiveness ≠ ↑inattentiveness; verb: ↑attend; adverb: ↑attentively ≠ ↑inattentively; adjective: ↑attentive ≠ ↑inattentive]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: atendre, from Latin attendere, from ad- 'to' + tendere 'to stretch']
1. [intransitive and transitive] to go to an event such as a meeting or a class:
Only 12 people attended the meeting.
Please let us know if you are unable to attend.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say go (to) or come (to) instead of attend:
▪ I didn’t go to the parents’ meeting.
▪ Please let us know if you can’t come.
2. [intransitive and transitive] to go regularly to a school, church etc:
I am the first child in my family to attend college.
3. [transitive] formal to happen or exist at the same time as something:
the peculiar atmosphere which attends such an event
4. [transitive usually passive] to look after someone, especially because they are ill:
On his deathbed the General was attended by several doctors.
attend to somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to deal with business or personal matters:
I may be late – I have got one or two things to attend to.
2. to help a customer in a shop or a restaurant SYN serve

adversity

ad‧ver‧si‧ty /ədˈvɜːsəti, ədˈvɜːsɪti $ -ɜːr-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
a situation in which you have a lot of problems that seem to be caused by bad luck:
his courage in the face of adversity
 

triumph

I. tri‧umph¹ /ˈtraɪəmf/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: triumphe, from Latin triumphus]
1. [countable] an important victory or success after a difficult struggle:
Winning the championship is a great personal triumph.
triumph for
a tremendous diplomatic triumph for France
triumph over
the triumph over hardship
2. [uncountable] a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction that you get from victory or success:
a shout of triumph
in triumph
He rode in triumph to the Tsar.
3. [singular] a very successful example of something
triumph of
The gallery is a triumph of design.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ victory noun [uncountable and countable] a situation in which you win a battle, game, election, or ↑dispute: The crowds celebrated Italy’s victory against England. | The party won a comfortable victory in the general election. | We’re very confident of victory.
▪ win noun [countable] a victory in a sports game or in a competition: It was an important win for the Yankees. | A couple from London are celebrating a big lottery win.
▪ triumph noun [countable] written an important victory, especially in war or politics: Thatcher’s greatest triumph was becoming the UK’s first female Prime Minister.
▪ conquest noun [countable] a situation in which one country wins a war against another country and takes control of it: the Spanish conquest of Mexico | Caesar is well-known for his military conquests.
▪ landslide noun [countable] an election victory in which one party or ↑candidate gets far more votes than their opponents: In 1945, there was a Labour landslide.
▪ walkover especially British English, cakewalk American English noun [countable] informal a very easy victory: The match was expected to be a walkover for Brazil.
▪ upset noun [countable] a situation in which the person, team, party etc that was expected to win is defeated: Truman pulled off the greatest election upset in United States history.

bear

I. bear¹ S2 W2 /beə $ ber/ BrE AmE verb (past tense bore /bɔː $ bɔːr/, past participle borne /bɔːn $ bɔːrn/) [transitive]
[Word Family: verb: ↑bear; noun: ↑bearer; adverb: ↑bearably ≠ ↑unbearably; adjective: ↑bearable ≠ ↑unbearable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: beran]
1. DEAL WITH SOMETHING to bravely accept or deal with a painful, difficult, or upsetting situation SYN stand:
She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to bear the pain.
Overcrowding makes prison life even harder to bear.
Make the water as hot as you can bear.
The humiliation was more than he could bear.
Black people continue to bear the brunt of most racial violence (=have to deal with the most difficult or damaging part).
Passengers could be insulting, and stewardesses just had to grin and bear it (=accept it without complaining).
Experts were worried the financial system would not be able to bear the strain.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say that they can’t stand something, rather than that they can't bear it:
▪ I couldn’t stand the noise any longer.
2. can’t bear something spoken
a) to be so upset about something that you feel unable to accept it or let it happen SYN can’t stand:
Please don’t leave me. I couldn’t bear it.
can’t bear the thought of (doing) something
I just can’t bear the thought of having to start all over.
can’t bear to do something
I can’t bear to see her cry.
can’t bear doing something
I couldn’t bear not seeing him again.
b) to dislike something or someone very much, often so that they make you feel annoyed or impatient SYN can’t stand:
Oh, I really can’t bear him.
can’t bear somebody doing something
He can’t bear people smoking while he’s eating.
can’t bear doing something
I can’t bear being cold.
3. bear (something) in mind to remember a fact or piece of information that is important or could be useful in the future SYN keep (something) in mind
bear in mind (that)
Bear in mind that some children will need help.
4. ACCEPT/BE RESPONSIBLE FOR formal to be responsible for or accept something
bear the costs/burden
Each company will bear half the costs of development.
Fares have gone up, perhaps to more than the market will bear.
bear the responsibility/blame etc
Developed countries bear much of the responsibility for environmental problems.
5. SUPPORT to be under something and support it SYN hold:
My leg was painful, and I wasn’t sure it would bear my weight.
a tray bearing a bottle and several glasses
a load-bearing wall
6. SIGN/MARK formal to have or show a sign, mark, or particular appearance, especially when this shows that something has happened or is true SYN have:
The letter bore no signature.
a car bearing diplomatic license plates
The labels bear a yellow and black symbol.
The town still bears the scars of the bombings during the war.
The store bears the hallmarks (=it has the qualities) of a family-owned business.
7. bear a resemblance/relation to somebody/something to be similar to someone or something else:
The child bore a striking resemblance to his father.
The things she says bear little relation to what she actually does.
8. BABY formal to give birth to a baby:
She might never be able to bear children.
bear somebody a child/son/daughter
She bore him three sons.
9. bear fruit
a) if a plan, decision etc bears fruit, it is successful, especially after a long period of time:
Charles’s diplomacy eventually bore fruit.
b) if a tree bears fruit, it produces fruit
10. ABLE TO BE EXAMINED/COMPARED ETC [often in negatives] to be suitable or good enough to be examined, compared, repeated etc without failing or being wrong:
The production figures did not bear scrutiny.
We believe our pupils’ results will bear comparison with any in Scotland.
The story is well known, but it certainly bears repeating.
11. something doesn’t bear thinking about used to say that something is so upsetting or shocking that you prefer not to think about it:
The long-term consequences of a nuclear leak don’t bear thinking about.
12. bear interest if a bank account, ↑investment etc bears interest, the bank pays you a particular amount of money for keeping your money in the account
13. CARRY literary to carry someone or something, especially something important:
The wedding guests arrived, bearing gifts.
The US Constitution states that the people have a right to bear arms.
14. bring pressure/influence to bear (on somebody/something) to use your influence or power to get what you want:
Unions can bring pressure to bear on governments.
15. bear witness/testimony to something formal to show that something is true or exists:
The empty workshops bear witness to the industrial past.
16. HAVE FEELINGS formal to have a particular feeling, especially a bad feeling
bear (somebody) a grudge (=continue to feel annoyed after a long time)
It was an accident. I don’t bear any grudges.
bear somebody no malice/ill will etc (=not feel angry)
He was just doing his job, and I bore him no malice.
17. bear right/left to turn towards the right or left:
When you reach the fork in the trail, bear left.
18. bear yourself formal to walk, stand etc in a particular way, especially when this shows your character:
She bore herself with great dignity.
19. WIND/WATER literary if wind, water, or air bears something, it carries it somewhere:
The sound of music was borne along on the wind.
20. NAME/TITLE formal to have a particular name or title:
He bore the name ‘Magnus’.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ bear + NOUN
▪ bear the pain He knew that he couldn’t bear the pain much longer.
▪ bear the heat/cold Some people find it hard to bear the heat in the summer.
▪ bear the strain/pressure Mark couldn’t bear the pressure of the job any longer.
■ phrases
▪ can hardly bear something (=find something very difficult or upsetting to do) He was so ashamed that he could hardly bear to look at her.
▪ be unable to bear something Fiona was unable to bear the thought of selling the house.
▪ be hard to bear The situation was very hard to bear.
▪ be more than somebody can bear He sometimes felt the grief was more than he could bear.
▪ bear the brunt of something (=be in the worst position and have to deal with it) Shareholders will bear the brunt of the company’s financial troubles.
▪ grin and bear it (=accept it without complaining) It was a horrible job but she had to grin and bear it.
bear down phrasal verb
1. bear down on somebody/something
a) to move quickly towards a person or place in a threatening way:
a storm bearing down on the island
b) to behave in a threatening or controlling way towards a person or group:
Federal regulators have been bearing down on campaign contributors.
2. to use all your strength and effort to push or press down on something
bear on/upon something phrasal verb formal
to relate to and possibly influence something:
the national policies which bear on these problems
bear somebody/sth↔ out phrasal verb
if facts or information bear out a claim, story, opinion etc, they help to prove that it is true SYN support:
Evidence bears out the idea that students learn best in small groups.
bear up phrasal verb
to show courage or determination during a difficult or unpleasant time:
How is he bearing up since the accident?
bear with somebody/something phrasal verb
1. bear with me spoken used to ask someone politely to wait while you find out information, finish what you are doing etc:
Bear with me a minute, and I’ll check if Mr Garrard’s in.
2. to be patient or continue to do something difficult or unpleasant:
It’s boring, but please bear with it.

anguish

an‧guish /ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable] written
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: angoisse, from Latin angustiae 'extreme upset', from angustus 'narrow']
mental or physical suffering caused by extreme pain or worry:
the anguish of not knowing what had happened to her
—anguished adjective:
an anguished cry for help
• • •
THESAURUS
■ the feeling of being worried
▪ worry the feeling of not being happy or relaxed and thinking a lot about a problem or something that is wrong: She was sick with worry over her daughter. | the look of worry on his face
▪ anxiety the feeling of being worried because you think that something bad has happened or will happen, and you feel that you have no control over the situation: The thought of having to give a speech filled me with anxiety. | The increase in heating costs is causing a lot of anxiety among elderly people.
▪ concern a worried feeling – use this especially when many people are worried about a problem that affects everyone: The shortage of water is beginning to cause widespread concern.
▪ stress the feeling of being worried all the time, for example about work or personal problems, which can make you ill or very tired: Her financial problems were causing her a lot of stress.
▪ anguish a feeling of extreme mental suffering caused by worry: How could her parents survive the anguish of not knowing what had happened to her? | When she spoke, her voice was full of anguish.
▪ angst a strong feeling of worry and anxiety because you are worried about your life, your future, or what you should do in a particular situation: The letter was full of teenage angst - would she ever be able to find another boyfriend? | There was much angst about the decision.

anguish

an‧guish /ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable] written
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: angoisse, from Latin angustiae 'extreme upset', from angustus 'narrow']
mental or physical suffering caused by extreme pain or worry:
the anguish of not knowing what had happened to her
—anguished adjective:
an anguished cry for help
• • •
THESAURUS
■ the feeling of being worried
▪ worry the feeling of not being happy or relaxed and thinking a lot about a problem or something that is wrong: She was sick with worry over her daughter. | the look of worry on his face
▪ anxiety the feeling of being worried because you think that something bad has happened or will happen, and you feel that you have no control over the situation: The thought of having to give a speech filled me with anxiety. | The increase in heating costs is causing a lot of anxiety among elderly people.
▪ concern a worried feeling – use this especially when many people are worried about a problem that affects everyone: The shortage of water is beginning to cause widespread concern.
▪ stress the feeling of being worried all the time, for example about work or personal problems, which can make you ill or very tired: Her financial problems were causing her a lot of stress.
▪ anguish a feeling of extreme mental suffering caused by worry: How could her parents survive the anguish of not knowing what had happened to her? | When she spoke, her voice was full of anguish.
▪ angst a strong feeling of worry and anxiety because you are worried about your life, your future, or what you should do in a particular situation: The letter was full of teenage angst - would she ever be able to find another boyfriend? | There was much angst about the decision.

loneliness

See main entry: lonely
 

lonely

lone‧ly S3 /ˈləʊnli $ ˈloʊn-/ BrE AmE adjective (comparative lonelier, superlative loneliest)
1. unhappy because you are alone or do not have anyone to talk to SYN lonesome American English:
a lonely old man
Don’t you get lonely being on your own all day?
► Do not use lonely to mean ‘without anyone else’. Use alone: She is afraid to travel alone (NOT travel lonely).
2. a lonely experience or situation makes you unhappy because you are alone or do not have anyone to talk to:
a lonely journey
lonely life/existence
He led a lonely life with few friends.
3. the lonely [plural] people who are lonely
4. a lonely place is a long way from where people live and very few people go there SYN lonesome American English, remote, desolate
lonely place/road/spot etc
—loneliness noun [uncountable]
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ lonely (also lonesome American English) unhappy because you are alone or do not have any friends: Tammy felt very lonely when she first arrived in New York. | Our neighbor George is a very lonely man. | I get so lonesome here with no one to talk to.
▪ isolated lonely because your situation makes it difficult for you to meet people: People caring for sick relatives often feel very isolated. | Children of very rich parents can grow up isolated from the rest of society.
▪ alienated feeling that you do not belong in a particular place or group: She felt very alienated as the only woman in the company. | In high school she felt somehow different and alienated from other students.
▪ homesick unhappy because you are a long way from your home and the people who live there: When I first went to Germany, I was very homesick.
▪ miss somebody used when saying that you feel unhappy because someone is not there with you: I miss you. | She misses her friends.