Here are some interesting words and expressions I've come across during the lessons and the analysis of the texts. The list is going to be updating in regular basis. Some of them have not been defined, as they're just sayings or phrases that have attracted my attention.

 

Constant: happening all the time or repeatedly. Constant interruptions. A constant stream of visitors all day. Babies need constant attention. This entrance is in constant use. OPP - > variable

Feasible: that is possible and likely to be achieved. A feasible plan/suggestion/idea. It’s just not feasible to manage the business on a part-time basis.
OPP -> unfeasible
SYN -> practicable

Onwards: (from … onwards) continuing from a particular time. They lived there from the 1980s onwards The pool is open from 7 a.m. onwards.

Relegate: [sb/sth (to sth)] to give sb a lower or less important position, rank, etc. than before.
She was then relegated to the role of assistant. He relegated the incident to the back of his mind.

Liken: [liken sth/sb to sth/sb] (formal) to compare one thing or person to another and say they are similar. Life is often likened to a journey.

Prescriptive: (linguistics) telling people how a language should be used, rather than describing how it is used. OPP -> descriptive

Descriptive: (linguistics) saying how language is actually used, without giving rules for how it should be used. OPP -> prescriptive

Layperson: (also layman) a person who does not have expert knowledge of a particular subject. A book written for professionals and laymen alike; to explain sth in layman’s terms (= in simple language)

Mist: 1 [mist (sth) (up) | mist (over)] when sth such as glass mists or is misted, it becomes covered with very small drops of water, so that it is impossible to see through it. The windows were misted up with condensation. As he came in from the cold, his glasses misted up. 2 [mist (sth) (up) | mist (over)] if your eyes mist or sth mists them, they fill with tears. Her eyes misted over as she listened to the speech. Tears misted his eyes. 3 to spray the leaves of a plant with very small drops of water.

Burp: to let out air from the stomach through the mouth, making a noise. SYN -> belch

Throw sb a bone: to give sb a small part of what they want as a way of showing that you want to help them, without offering them the main thing they want

Acorn: the small brown nut of the oak tree, that grows in a base shaped like a cup

Philology: the scientific study of the development of language or of a particular language

English Studies: The equivalent term of the Spanish 'Filología inglesa'

Spittle: (old-fashioned) the liquid that forms in the mouth. SYN -> saliva, spit

Kin: [pl.] (old-fashioned or formal) your family or your relatives

Mess about: to behave in a silly and annoying way, especially instead of doing sth useful. Will you stop messing around and get on with some work? 2 to spend time doing sth for pleasure in a relaxed way. We spent the day messing around on the river. SYN -> fool around

Extent: 1 how large, important, serious, etc. sth is. It is difficult to assess the full extent of the damage. She was exaggerating the true extent of the problem. I was amazed at the extent of his knowledge. 2 the physical size of an area. You can’t see the full extent of the beach from here.

Cut one’s head off

Pissed off: (NAmE, slang) (also pissed 'off BrE, NAmE) very angry or annoyed

To play the language card

Freaking: [only before noun] (NAmE, taboo, slang) a swear word that many people find offensive, used to emphasize a comment or an angry statement to avoid saying ‘fucking’

Synchronic: (linguistics) relating to a language as it is at a particular point in time

Diachronic: (technical) relating to the way sth, especially a language, has developed over time

Intervening: [only before noun] coming or existing between two events, dates, objects, etc.
Little had changed in the intervening years.

Cohesiveness: the noun for the adjective ‘cohesive’

Flaw: 1 [flaw (in sth)] a mistake in sth that means that it is not correct or does not work correctly.                                                                                                                    SYN -> defect, fault.The argument is full of fundamental flaws. The report reveals fatal flaws in security at the airport. 2 [flaw (in sth)] a crack or fault in sth that makes it less attractive or valuable.

Discount: [discount sth (as sth)] (formal) to think or say that sth is not important or not true
 SYN -> dismiss. We cannot discount the possibility of further strikes. The news reports were being discounted as propaganda.

Deviant: different from what most people consider to be normal and acceptable.
Deviant behaviour / sexuality

Sole: 1 only; single. The sole surviving member of the family. My sole reason for coming here was to see you. This is the sole means of access to the building. 2 Belonging to one person or group; not shared. She has sole responsibility for the project. The sole owner

Enact: [be enacted] (formal) to take place
 SYN -> be played out. They seemed unaware of the drama being enacted a few feet away from them.

The key point to bear in mind here

Thoroughly: 1 Very much; completely. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Ç I’m thoroughly confused. A thoroughly professional performance. 2 Completely and with great attention to detail. Wash the fruit thoroughly before use.  The work had not been done very thoroughly

Locus: (pl. loci) (formal or technical) the exact place where sth happens or which is thought to be the centre of sth

Devoid: [devoid of sth] completely lacking in sth. The letter was devoid of warmth and feeling.

Chiefly: not completely, but as a most important part.                                                                                                                                                                                          SYN -> primarily, mainly. We are chiefly concerned with improving educational standards. He’s travelled widely, chiefly in Africa and Asia.