(1) I can hardly conceive of your doing such a thing.
(2) It's difficult to conceive of traveling to the moon.
(3) I cannot conceive of such a thing happening again.

(1) Anne had two men trying to win her affections.
(2) I have a great affection for New York.
(3) Children need lots of love and affection.

(1) The flowers soon revived in water.
(2) The economy is beginning to revive.
(3) The paramedics couldn't revive her.

(1) She tends to blur the distinction between her friends and her colleagues.
(2) The differences between art and life seem to have blurred.
(3) Tears blurred her eyes.

(1) a prospective buyer
(2) They are worried about prospective changes in the law.
(3) The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers...

(1) The main drawback to it is the cost.
(2) This is the one major drawback of the new system.
(3) He felt the apartment's only drawback was that it was too small.

(1) The tests are designed to detect the disease early.
(2) an instrument that can detect small amounts of radiation
(3) Do I detect a note of criticism?

(1) We are working on the assumption that everyone invited will turn up.
(2) It was impossible to make assumptions about people's reactions.
(3) His actions were based on a false assumption.

(1) to alleviate suffering
(2) A number of measures were taken to alleviate the problem.
(3) Nowadays, a great deal can be done to alleviate back pain.

(1) an anonymous donor
(2) The money was donated by a local businessman who wishes to remain anonymous .
(3) an anonymous letter

(1) I was tempted by the dessert menu.
(2) Don't tempt thieves by leaving valuables clearly visible.
(3) I was tempted to take the day off.

(1) They are skeptical about how much will be accomplished by legislation.
(2) Senator Lugar is skeptical that Congress will appropriate more funding for this purpose.
(3) Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.

(1) I didn't mean to startle you.
(2) The explosion startled the horse.
(3) I was startled by her question.

(1) a fertile region
(2) The treatment has been tested on healthy fertile women under the age of 35.
(3) a fertile partnership

(1) a departure from the norm
(2) Older parents seem to be the norm rather than the exception nowadays.
(3) social/cultural norms

(1) She stood hesitating on the threshold.
(2) He stepped across the threshold.
(3) He has a low boredom threshold (= he gets bored easily) .

(1) a homogeneous group/mixture/population
(2) Russia is ethnically relatively homogeneous.
(3) The unemployed are not a homogeneous group...

(1) ...cod liver oil capsules...
(2) You can also take red ginseng in convenient tablet or capsule form.
(3) They first implanted capsules into the animals' brains...

(1) Nothing would induce me to take the job.
(2) drugs which induce sleep
(3) a drug-induced coma

(1) Wet weather always depresses me.
(2) It depresses me to see so many young girls smoking.
(3) The recession has depressed the housing market.

(1) a carved doorway
(2) The statue was carved out of a single piece of stone.
(3) The wood had been carved into the shape of a flower.

(1) the hospitality industry (= hotels, restaurants, etc.)
(2) We were entertained in the company's hospitality suite .
(3) Thank you for your kind hospitality.

(1) a unanimous vote
(2) unanimous support
(3) The decision was not unanimous.

(1) She was staring into space, her mouth slack.
(2) The rope suddenly went slack.
(3) slack muscles

(1) a hostile takeover bid
(2) hostile territory
(3) hostile conditions for plants to grow in

(1) a weary traveller
(2) She suddenly felt old and weary.
(3) a weary sigh

(1) He hoisted himself onto a high stool.
(2) The cargo was hoisted aboard by crane.
(3) to hoist a flag/sail

(1) The victims were rushed to casualty.
(2) road casualties
(3) Both sides had suffered heavy casualties (= many people had been killed) .

(1) The team suffered a major setback when their best player was injured.
(2) The breakdown in talks represents a temporary setback in the peace process.
(3) The move represents a setback for the Middle East peace process...

(1) the destructive effects of anxiety
(2) the destructive power of modern weapons
(3) Guilt can be very destructive.

(1) Damage to the building was assessed at £40 000.
(2) It's difficult to assess the effects of these changes.
(3) to assess a patient's needs

(1) He is a master of disguise.
(2) (figurative)A vote for the Liberal Democrats is just a Labour vote in disguise .
(3) The star travelled in disguise (= wearing a disguise ) .

(1) Throughout the trial, he portrayed himself as the victim.
(2) Her father will be portrayed by Sean Connery.
(3) In 1975 he portrayed the king in a Los Angeles revival of 'Camelot'.

(1) people from diverse cultures
(2) My interests are very diverse.
(3) ...shops selling a diverse range of gifts...

(1) Our work must answer the specifications laid down.
(2) This sketch does not conform with the specifications.
(3) It needs steel rolled to 300 different specifications.

(1) She has been reliable and punctual.
(2) a punctual start at 9 o'clock
(3) They always pay punctually.

(1) The team will come through this barren patch and start to win again.
(2) a barren desert
(3) a barren landscape (= one that is empty, with few plants)

(1) He needs to learn to curb his temper.
(2) A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation.
(3) curbs on government spending

(1) She was dazzlingly beautiful.
(2) a dazzling display of oriental dance
(3) He was dazzled by the warmth of her smile.

(1) plants that are resistant to disease
(2) Elderly people are not always resistant to change.
(3) disease-resistant plants