Grammar Clinic

Meaning:  An infective agent that typically consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat, is too small to be seen by light microscopy, and is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host. Example: The hepatitis B virus  

Meaning: (of evidence or argument) having or likely to have the effect of proving a case; decisive. Example: conclusive evidence. Synonyms: incontrovertible, incontestable, irrefutable, unquestionable, undeniable, indisputable, unassailable, beyond dispute, beyond question, beyond doubt, beyond a shadow of a doubt, certain, decisive, convincing, clinching, definitive, definite, positive, final, ultimate, categorical, demonstrative, unequivocal, unarguable, unanswerable, uncontroversial

Meaning: A feature that renders something less acceptable; a disadvantage or problem. Example: The main drawback of fitting catalytic converters is the cost. Synonyms: disadvantage, snag, downside, stumbling block, catch, hitch, pitfall

Meaning: An impediment or burden. Example: The horse raised its hind leg as if to rid itself of an encumbrance. Synonyms: hindrance, obstruction, obstacle, impediment, restraint, constraint, handicap, inconvenience, nuisance, disadvantage, drawback.

Meaning: A hindrance or obstruction in doing something. Example: A serious impediment to scientific progress. Synonyms: hindrance, obstruction, obstacle, barrier, bar, handicap, block, check, curb, brake, restraint, restriction, limitation, encumbrance, deterrent

Meaning: Arrange to receive something, typically a publication, regularly by paying in advance. Example: Subscribe to the magazine for twelve months and receive a free limited-edition T-shirt. Synonyms: pay a subscription, buy regularly, take, take regularly, read, read regularly, contract to buy

Meaning: Increase in rate, amount, or extent. Example: Inflation started to accelerate. Synonyms: Speed up, hurry up, get faster, move faster, go faster, drive faster, get a move on, put on a spurt, open it up, gain momentum, increase speed, pick up speed, gather speed.

Meaning: Cause to occur or operate at the same time or rate. Example: Soldiers used watches to synchronize movements. Synonymns: accompany, attend, co-occur, coexist, coincide, concur

Meaning: Having the same age or date of origin; contemporary. Example: These lavas were coeval with the volcanic activity. Synonyms: coexistent, coexisting, coextensive, coincident, coincidental, concurrent,contemporaneous, contemporary, coterminous, simultaneous, synchronous

Meaning: Living or occurring at the same time. Example: The event was recorded by a contemporary historian. Synonyms: Contemporaneous, concurrent, coeval, synchronous, synchronic, of the time, of the day, simultaneous.