“Mentor” is a noun meaning counselor or teacher. These days, it’s likely that you’ll also hear this word as a verb. “Mentoring” is something often done in the workplace, when experienced staff help junior employees.

Example: “It was my first job in a law office and I was very nervous about getting something wrong, but the senior legal assistant acted as my mentor for a few months, answering all of my questions and helping me prepare the documents.”

“Acquiesce” is a verb meaning give in, comply, or agree to. Use this word when you want to make clear that this agreement is not necessarily by
choice. When you acquiesce to something, you’re saying that you’ll go along with it, even if you previously opposed it, or continue to oppose it on a philosophical if not actual basis.

Example: “The receptionist did not want to let me wait for you in your hotel room, and it took a half and hour’s argument, plus a call to your father, before he would acquiesce and let me in.”

“Draconian” means harsh or rigid.

Example: “Singapore’s laws may seem draconian, punishing people with jail time for littering or chewing gum, but they certainly keep the streets clean.”

To “augment” means to increase. You can augment the sound coming from a stereo by adding bass and treble boosters.

Example: “With the general public’s growing resistance to the war, the only way the ruling party could augment the size of the army was by instituting a draft.”

An “arsenal” is a collection, usually of weapons, but also of anything used as a weapon. Words can be very effective weapons, when used correctly.

Example: “The ruins of the castle were overgrown with moss, but we could see where they had stored their arsenal of cannonballs and gunpowder.”

“Precision” means “exactness” – being precise, or to the point.

Example: “I like wearing my grandfather’s wristwatch, but it can’t match the precision of my digital timer, so that’s what I use for work.”

“Predilection” means liking or having a tendency towards.

Example: “Jim frequently invited me to join him at the movies, but as he had a predilection for the more violent action films, I would usually decline.”

“Trepidation” means fear or hesitation, apprehension or concern.

Example: “Although John said that Kathy was an excellent cook, I felt a bit of trepidation when I arrived for dinner and saw smoke pouring out of the kitchen.”

“Cognizant” means noticing something, or being aware of something.

Example: “I didn’t really pay attention to the ingredient listings on food until I was diagnosed with coeliac disease, but now I’m cognizant of the fact that most packaged food has gluten in it.”

A “criterion” is a standard by which something is measured or judged. You’re probably more familiar with the plural of criterion, which is “criteria.” One criterion, two criteria. Many people incorrectly use the plural form for both cases.

Example: “Knowing the difference between the singular form of a noun and its plural form, and using them correctly, is a criterion for evaluating your progress in learning a language.”