TOEFL Vocabulary #13

the act or process of repairing and improving something, especially a building:
The museum is closed for renovation.
Extensive renovations were carried out on the property.

renovation: /ˌren.əˈveɪ.ʃən/ (n)

renovate (v)

(of someone or someone's character) positive and hoping for good things; optimistic
They are less sanguine about the prospects for peace.
red in color:
The sun lit up her hair, bringing out sanguine red and amber.

(especially of old people) energetic and in good health:
He's a sprightly old man of 75.

sprightly: /ˈspraɪt.li/ (adj)

sprightliness (n)

A vivacious person, especially a woman or girl, is attractively energetic and enthusiastic; vibrant
He brought along his wife, a vivacious blonde, some 20 years his junior.

vivacious:  /vɪˈveɪ.ʃəs/ (adj)

vivaciously (adv) - vivacity (n)

very great admiration or praise for someone, especially when it is more than is deserved:
As a born performer, she loves the excitement and she loves the adulation.
He couldn’t deal with the adulation of his fans.

to criticize someone or something severely:
Health inspectors castigated the kitchen staff for poor standards of cleanliness.

castigate: /ˈkæs.tə.ɡeɪt/ (v)

castigation (n)

lasting for only a short time; temporary:
A glass of whiskey has only a transient warming effect.
The city has a large transient population (= many people who are living in it only temporarily).

(especially in religion or law) to free someone from guilt, blame, or responsibility for something:
The report absolved her from/of all blame for the accident.
The priest absolved him of all his sins.

to criticize/speak in an angry manner to someone:
He was berated by angry demonstrators.
Doctors are often berated for being poor communicators, particularly when they have to give patients bad news.

strong criticism or disapproval:
His dishonest behavior came under severe censure.
Government leaders were censured for their lack of decisiveness during the crisis.