relapse(ri LAPS for v.,REE laps for n.) vi. 1. to fall back into bad habits or evil
ways; 2. to have a recurrence of a disease one had recovered from or was in the
process of recovering from —n.a falling back into
- It is easy for seemingly reformed criminals to relapseinto their evil ways.
- Just when Gloria seemed to be getting better, she relapsedinto her illness.
- Ralph was expected to return to work shortly, but that was before his
relapse.
[-d, relapsing]
relentless(ri LENT lis) adj. 1. not easing up or slackening; pitiless; harsh;
- persistent; unremitting
- Sir Edwin Hillary was relentlessin his attempt to be the first westerner to
reach Mt. Everest’s peak. - The hurricane’s winds were relentlessas they damaged many buildings in
the Carolinas.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. pitiless]
reparation(REP oer AY shuhn) n. 1. a making of amends for some wrong or
injury; 2. compensation paid by one country to another to make up for having
warred against them; 3. repairing of damage - The embezzler was ordered by the court to pay reparationsto the persons
he had swindled. - After World War I, Germany was required to pay reparationsto her former
enemies, which sent her economy into total ruin. - Barney brought his torn trousers to the tailor for reparation.
[Syn. compensation]
repress(ri PRES) vt. 1. to hold down or keep back; restrain; 2. to subdue or put
down; 3. to control so strictly as to prevent natural development or expression (as a
child) - It is sometimes difficult to repressa yawn, especially when someone else
yawns first. - Stalin repressedalmost all his country’s people but especially the minorities.
- By repressinga child, one can prevent his or her developing into a healthy
individual.
[-ed, -ing] [Syn. subdue]
repulse(ri PULS) vt. 1. to repel or drive back; 2. to repel with coldness and lack
of courtesy; 3. to disgust and repel; to be disgusting - The colonel left a rear guard to repulseany attempt to surprise his army
from behind. - The new neighbor repulsedany attempt on the part of the older residents
to welcome him and his family. - Jennifer was repulsedby the bowl of roasted grasshoppers that Allen placed
on the picnic table.
[-d, repulsing] [Syn. repel]
326 Essential Vocabulary