Hot Words No.22-1

Askance

発音：

[əskǽns]

意味：

批判・非難をこめて

With criticism or disapproval

例文1：

The teacher looked askance when she entered the classroom and found it a total mess.

例文2：

The cashier woman looked askance at me when I brought a pile of teenage romantic paperbacks to the counter.

Banal

発音：

[bənǽl]

意味：

新奇さに欠け陳腐な、平凡な

To be so frequently used or commonplace that it ceases to be interesting; to be stale or trivial

例文1：

In romantic novels, the expression ‘I love you’ has become banal.

例文2：

Oh, the train ride was long and boring. For the most part, I was engaged in banal conversations with my fellow passengers.

Catatonic

発音：

[kæ̀tətάnik]

意味：

ショック、緊張、疲労、疾病などで動けない状態、または声が出ない状態

To be unable to move or talk due to a shock, nervousness, fatigue or illness

例文1：

When she heard the news, she was catatonic for a few minutes till the phone rang.

例文2：

After the accident he remained in a catatonic state at the hospital for 3 weeks.

Deploy

発音：

[diplɔ́i]

意味：

駆動する、配置する

To activate; to leverage; to organize and station military forces or equipment

例文1：

This is a rather difficult project. You must deploy all your talents.

例文2：

The US forces deployed advanced missiles in the ongoing war in Afghanistan.

Ebullient

発音：

[ibʌ́ljənt]

意味：

喜びにあふれ活気ある

Happy; enthusiastic; excited

例文1：

People love the child because she is always ebullient.

例文2：

The philosopher has an ebullient personality, and it is reflected in his optimistic view of human nature.

Fatuous

発音：

[fǽtʃuəs]

意味：

無意味な、馬鹿げた、くだらない

Ridiculous and devoid of meaning; silly

例文1：

That was a fatuous thing for me to say. I am sorry, I didn’t really mean it.

例文2：

When the students started asking fatuous questions, the teacher got exasperated and walked out of the room.

Humdrum

発音：

[hʌ́mdrʌ̀m]

意味：

日常茶飯事で退屈な

Mundane and boring

例文1：

Oh, my life is very structured. I keep to a regimented schedule. My wife says it is humdrum.

例文2：

Most people are too preoccupied with their humdrum existence to think about philosophical matters.