retrograde

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retro|grade /r'etrəgreɪd/
[ADJ] usu ADJ n
A retrograde action is one that you think makes a situation worse rather than better. (FORMAL)
The Prime Minister described transferring education to central government funding as `a retrograde step'.

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abreast

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abreast / əbr'est / 1 [ADV] ADV after v, num ADV If people or things walk or move abreast , they are next to each other, side by side, and facing in the same direction. The steep pavement was too narrow for them to walk abreast. 2 [PREP-PHRASE] If you are abreast of someone or something, you are level with them or in line with them. As he drew abreast of the man he pretended to stumble. 3 [PREP-PHRASE] If you keep abreast of a subject, you know all the most recent facts about it. He will be keeping abreast of the news...
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ablaze

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allowance

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