Exam: Cambridge English: C1 Advanced (CAE)

Definition: To sing or speak in a melodious or elaborate manner, often in a musical context.

Example: During the concert, the choir began to descant beautifully over the main melody.

Definition: A type of music that features an ornamental melody or a higher vocal part sung above the main melody.

Example: The choir performed a beautiful descant during the service, adding richness to the main hymn.

Definition: Able to be inherited or passed down to heirs.

Example: The family estate is considered descendible, allowing it to be passed on to the next generation.

Definition: To give details about something in words, explaining what it is like or how it looks.

Example: She described the beautiful sunset in great detail.

Definition: The quality of providing detailed and vivid descriptions or explanations.

Example: The descriptiveness of her writing made the story come alive for the readers.

Definition: A word or phrase that describes or identifies something, often used in information systems to categorize items.

Example: In the database, each item has a unique descriptor that helps users find it easily.

Definition: A sighting or discovery made from a distance, often used to describe the act of seeing something that is not immediately visible.

Example: The sailor was able to descry land on the horizon after many days at sea.

Definition: To see or find something that is hard to notice or detect, often after careful observation.

Example: From the top of the hill, we could descry the distant village.

Definition: To treat something sacred with disrespect or to damage it.

Example: The vandals desecrated the ancient temple by spray painting on its walls.

Definition: An act of showing disrespect or violating something that is considered holy or sacred.

Example: The desecration of the ancient temple angered the local community.

Definition: A person who shows disrespect or violates something that is considered sacred or holy.

Example: The desecrator was caught vandalizing the ancient temple.

Definition: The process of making someone or something less sensitive to stimuli or emotions, often by repeated exposure.

Example: After several sessions of therapy, his desensitization to loud noises improved significantly.