Topic vocabulary: Power |
| aggression (n) |
an angry feeling that makes you want to attack or defeat someone else |
You're going to have to learn to control your aggression. |
| authority (n) |
the power to make decisions or tell people what to do |
You don't have the authority to do that. |
| benign (adj) |
kind and nice |
He might seem benign, but keep an eye on him. |
| bully (v) |
to frighten or hurt someone who is smaller or weaker than you |
The boss just tries to bully everyone in the office. |
| bully (n) |
someone who frightens or hurts someone who is smaller or weaker than they are |
I was a bit of a bully when I was at school. |
| command (v) |
to officially order someone to do something |
The general commanded the army to attack. |
| command (n) |
an official order |
The dog understands my every command. |
| conquer (v) |
to take control of land or people using soldiers |
The Spanish conquered South America in the sixteenth century. |
| conquer (v) |
to gain control of a situation or emotion by making a great physical or mental effort |
I tried hard to conquer my fear. |
| consent (v) |
to give approval for something |
You can't go on the school trip unless your parents consent to it. |
| consent (n) |
permission to do something |
The police shouldn't be allowed to enter your house without your consent. |
| controversy (n) |
a disagreement, especially about a public policy or a moral issue that a lot of people have strong feelings about |
There's a lot of controversy surrounding the new law. |
| dictator (n) |
someone who uses force to take and keep power in a country: |
How did the dictator come to power? |
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| dominate (v) |
to control something or someone, often in a negative way, because you have more power or influence |
Don't allow him to dominate the conversation all the time. |
| eliminate (v) |
to get rid of something that is not wanted or needed |
Will we ever eliminate the threat from pollution? |
| enforce (v) |
to make sure that a law or rule is obeyed by people |
It'll be impossible to enforce the new law. |
| entitled (adj) |
having the right to do something |
Students are entitled to a special discount on books. |
| exempt (adj) |
allowed to ignore something such as a rule, obligation or payment |
At the moment, women are exempt from national service. |
| former (adj) |
used for describing someone or something that had a particular job, title, status, etc in the past, but not now |
The former Prime Minister of India is visiting the UK. |
| impose (v) |
to introduce something such as a new law or new system, and force people to accept it |
These rules are being imposed without anyone's opinion being asked. |
| inferior (adj) |
not as good as something else |
Street markets often sell inferior quality electrical goods. |
| intimidate (v) |
to deliberately make someone feel frightened especially so that they will do what you want |
Richard often tries to intimidate people. |
| label (v) |
to use a word or phrase to describe someone or something, especially one that is not completely fair or true |
Don't label all young people in the same way. |
| label (n) |
a word or phrase that is used to describe someone or something, especially one that is not completely fair or true |
I wish people wouldn't try to put a label on me. |
| label (n) |
a piece of paper or material fastened to an object that gives information about it |
I don't know what's in this tin because the label has come off. |
| liberate (v) |
to give someone the freedom to do what they want, for example by taking them out of a situation in which their behaviour is controlled |
Leaving school and getting a job really liberated me. |
| mainstream (n) |
ideas, methods or people that are considered ordinary or normal and accepted by most people |
Life can be more difficult if you're not part of the mainstream. |
| mainstream (adj) |
considered ordinary or normal and accepted or used by most people |
Most mainstream politicians have dismissed the suggestion. |
| master (v) |
to learn something thoroughly so that you know it or can do it very well |
It took me over ten years to master the piano. |
| master (n) |
a man who has control over servants or other people who work for him |
Servants should show respect to their master at all times. |
| minister (n) |
an official in charge of a government department in the UK and other countries |
The Minister responsible for this decision should resign. |
| monarch (n) |
a king or queen |
The monarch represents the country abroad. |
| prohibit (v) |
to officially stop something from being done, especially by making it illegal |
The sale of lottery tickets to children is prohibited. |
| reign (v) |
if a king or queen reigns, they officially rule a country |
Queen Victoria reigned during a time of great change. |
| reign (n) |
the period of time when a king or queen rules a country |
What's the longest reign of any king or queen? |
| reinforce (v) |
to make an idea, belief or feeling stronger |
Stories like this in the media reinforce the idea that all young black men are criminals. |
| reluctant (adj) |
not willing to do something |
I'm reluctant to invite Tracy to the wedding. |
| resist (v) |
to oppose or fight against someone or something |
The Prime Minister resisted a lot of pressure to change his mind. |
| resist (v) |
to stop yourself from doing something that you would very much like to do |
I can't resist chocolate. |
| restrict (v) |
to keep something within strict limits |
Many parents restrict the number of hours their children watch TV. |
| society (n) |
people in general living together in organised communities, with laws and traditions controlling the way they behave towards one another |
People have much more freedom in today's society. |
| subject (v) |
to make someone experience something unpleasant |
They subjected the poor prisoner to torture. |
| subject (n) |
an idea, problem, situation, etc that you discuss or write about |
What subject have you chosen for your essay? |
| subject (n) |
someone who lives in a country that is controlled by a king or queen |
I'm proud to be a British subject. |
| subjective (adj) |
based on your own feelings and ideas and not on facts |
That's just your subjective opinion. |
| submit (v) |
to accept that someone has defeated you or has power over you |
The boy only stopped hitting me when I submitted. |
| summon (v) |
to officially order someone to come to a place, especially a court of law |
She was summoned to appear before the court. |
| superior (adj) |
better than someone or something else in quality or skill |
His early work is vastly superior to the later pieces. |
| undermine (v) |
to make something or someone become gradually less effective, confident or successful |
This unfortunate incident undermines all the hard work we've put in. |
| unrest (n) |
angry or violent behaviour by people who are protesting against something |
Politicians held a special meeting to discuss the unrest in the country. |
| victimise (v) |
to treat someone in a deliberately unfair way |
It's not right to victimise someone in that way. |
| vulnerable (adj) |
someone who is vulnerable is weak or easy to hurt physically or mentally |
I felt quite vulnerable walking home late at night. |
