Essential Vocabulary - Noel's ESL eBook Library

C: GRE Words 259
coddle (KAH dil) vt. 1. to treat tenderly; pamper; 2. to cook eggs in the shell
gently in not-quite-boiling water for two to three minutes
• Babies must be coddled while they’re at the helpless stage.
• My parents used to enjoy coddled eggs, which I could never understand
because I found them runny and gross.
[-d, coddling] [Syn. pamper]
coerce (koh ERS) vt. 1. to persuade by use of force; 2. to persuade by use of
threats, legal or otherwise; 3. to constrain by use or threat of force
• The U.S. armed forces were used to coerce Iraq to leave Kuwait.
• The Internal Revenue Service is expert at coercing delinquent taxpayers to
part with their funds.
• Police frequently find it necessary to coerce prisoners to come along with
them.
[-d, coercing] [Syn. force]
cogent (KOH jint) adj. compelling; convincing and to the point (said of verbal
means as distinguished from physical)
• Ralph gave Alice several cogent reasons they should vacation at a mountain
resort rather than at the beach.
• Jackie’s arguments for using regular-grade gasoline rather than high test
were particularly cogent, to the tune of 42 cents per gallon.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. valid]
cognitive (KAHG ni tiv) adj. 1. having to do with knowing in the broadest
sense; 2. by means of perception, judgment, and conception
• One’s cognitive skills tend to diminish somewhat with the onset of old age.
• In judging a baking contest, one relies less on one’s cognitive faculties and
more on one’s senses.
[-ly adv.]
cognizance (KAHG ni zins) n. 1. awareness of something; 2. knowledge perceivable
by observation; 3. noticing or perception of
• June had no cognizance of the fact that Frank was bringing a guest home to
dinner.
• Cognizance of the habits of the sperm whale has all been acquired by
surveillance.
• Before it jumped into his lap, Omar had had no cognizance of the cat’s
being present in the room.
complement (KAHMP li mint) n. 1. that which completes or makes perfect;
2. the full amount; 3. either of two parts that complete each other
• Butter and jam complement the flavor of a piece of toasted bread.
• Georgia had a full complement of 10 fingers and 10 toes.
• For a proper handshake, another person’s right hand is the perfect complement
to one’s own.
[Syn. completer]