Vocabulary:

disdain noun [U] FORMAL
when you dislike someone or something and think that they do not deserve your interest or respect:
He regards the political process with disdain.
His disdain for politicians is obvious.
• They expressed disdain for Western pop culture.:
• Mr. Rodriguez spoke of his tenants with disdain, blaming them for the poor condition of the apartment.
disdain verb [T] FORMAL
1 to feel disdain for someone or something:
The older musicians disdain the new, rock-influenced music.
• He disdains New York and the art that is produced there.
2 disdain to do sth to refuse to do something because you feel too important or proud to do it
Tom Butler disdained to reply to such a trivial question.
disdainful adjective FORMAL
a disdainful expression
disdainful remarks
• a long disdainful look [+ of]:
• Porter is disdainful of professors he believes are incompetent or lazy.
disdainfully adverb

scorn
noun [U] the feeling that something is stupid and does not deserve your respect [+ for]:
• He could barely disguise his scorn for her.:
She feels nothing but scorn for people who sympathize more with criminals than with their victims.
She has nothing but scorn for the new generation of politicians.
pour scorn on sb/sth
to say a person or thing is ridiculous and worthless:
criticize severely and unfairly
Critics of the President have been pouring scorn on the plan ever since it was first proposed.
• heap/pour scorn on: Republican leaders are heaping scorn on the plan.
Why do you always pour/heap scorn on my suggestions?
scorn verb [T]
1 to show scorn for someone or something:
So does he respect the press and media, or does he secretly scorn them?
You scorned all my suggestions.
2 to refuse advice or an offer because you are too proud:
She scorned all my offers of help.
• Skinner's ideas were scorned by many American psychologists.
As the first African-American in the previously all-white school, he was a second-class citizen, scorned by his teachers and classmates.
You scorned all my suggestions.

scornful adjective
feeling or showing scorn:
a scornful laugh/look
a scornful look/remark/laugh/tone
They are openly scornful of the new plans.
• a scornful look [+ of]:
• He remained scornful of religion and its influence over people.
scornfully adverb

enhance verb [T]
to improve taste, feeling, or ability the quality, amount or strength of something:
These scandals will not enhance the organization's reputation/image.
The marinade enhances the flavor of the fish.
The county took steps to enhance water quality.
Winning that award greatly enhanced her reputation.
• We're using technology to enhance our levels of service.
enhancement noun [C/U]
The new system is a major enhancement in security.
Enhancement of local transportation is a priority
when something is improved
enhancer noun [C]
something which is used to improve the quality of something. Enhancer is usually used as a combining form:
Music can be a mood enhancer.
I don't like to use artificial flavour enhancers in my cooking.
- enhancing suffix
Several athletes tested positive for illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
augment verb [T] FORMAL
to increase the size or value of something by adding something to it
He would have to find work to augment his income.
He augmented his income by taking a second job.
• State universities are looking for money from businesses to augment state funds.
augmentation noun [C or U] FORMAL
frugal adjective
careful not to spend very much money and buy what is necessary
a frugal lifestyle
• Hidden hotel costs can be a source of frustration to the frugal traveler.
2 a frugal meal is a small meal of plain food
a frugal meal of bread and soup
frugally adverb
We had very little money left, so we ate frugally in cheap cafés and bars.
frugality noun [U]

thrift noun
careful use of money so that you do not spend too much
the careful use of money, especially by avoiding waste
Trina learned thrift from her mother.
A thrift is also a type of bank.
A thrift shop/store is a store that sells used things such as clothes, books, and furniture.
thrifty adjective
using money carefully and wisely
They have plenty of money now, but they still tend to be thrifty.
• Cutting taxes on savings may persuade Americans to be more thrifty.
thriftily adverb
They have plenty of money now, but they're still thrifty.
thriftiness noun [U]


benevolent adjective
kind and helpful: generous
He was a benevolent old man, he wouldn't hurt a fly.
I grew up happily under the benevolent influence of my Uncle Walt.
• a benevolent, kindly man
• money for benevolent work
benevolence noun [U]

benevolently adverb
She smiled benevolently at me.
benevolent society noun [C]
an organization which gives money to and helps a particular group of people in need:
a benevolent society for sailors' widows
incompatible adjective
not able to exist or work with another person or thing because of basic differences:
When we started living together we realized how incompatible we were - our interests were so different.
Maintaining quality is incompatible with increasing output.
Any new video system that is incompatible with existing ones has little chance of success.
He regarded being a soldier as incompatible with his Christian faith.
• Diane and I are completely incompatible.
• Such violent attacks are incompatible with a civilized society.
• The software is incompatible with the operating system.
incompatibility noun [U]
when two people or things are incompatible
An incompatibility problem prevents the two pieces of software from being used together.
lobby (PERSUADE) verb [I/T]
to try to persuade a politician, the government or an official group that a particular thing should or should not happen, or that a law should be changed:
Small businesses have lobbied hard for/against changes in the tax laws.
[+ to infinitive] Local residents lobbied to have the factory shut down.
[+ object + to infinitive] They have been lobbying Congress to change the legislation concerning guns.
They have been lobbying Congress to change the gun laws.
• Price lobbied hard for passage of the helmet law. [lobby sb to do sth]:
• Alquist is lobbying the governor to sign the controversial bill.

lobby noun [C]
1-a group of people who try to persuade the government or an official group to do something:
the anti-smoking lobby
the environmental lobby
• The law has the support of the gun-control lobby.
2-a wide area or large hall just inside the entrance to a public building:
• a hotel lobby --compare FOYER (1)
lobbyist noun [C]
someone who tries to persuade a politician or official group to do something:
Lobbyists for the tobacco industry have expressed concerns about the restriction of smoking in public places.
lobbyists for the tobacco industry
mundane adjective
ordinary, or not interesting: relating to ordinary daily life rather than religious matters
a mundane task/life
Mundane matters such as paying bills and shopping for food do not interest her.
The show was just another mundane family sitcom.
• The mundane task of setting the table can be fun at holidays.
• Most of the law cases he deals with are pretty mundane.
mundaneness noun [U]
mundanely adverb