Key terms & definitions

A recognised governing authority entitled to make decisions for the community, rather than a private individual or armed group.

Power that people recognise as giving someone the right to issue instructions in a particular setting.

A person legally recognised as entitled to inherit. For Henry VIII, a legitimate child was one born within a marriage recognised as valid.

A socially approved way of pursuing a goal, such as gaining qualifications and obtaining paid employment.

A plant such as a pea, bean or clover that can have nitrogen-fixing bacteria living in nodules on its roots.

Activities people choose to do in their free time, such as sport, entertainment and visiting parks or beaches.

A recurring musical theme associated with a character, place, idea or situation.

Restless spirits of the dead in Roman belief, from whose name the festival Lemuria takes its name.

A Roman festival held on 9, 11 and 13 May, during which household rites aimed to drive away harmful spirits.

A woman who arranges or profits from other women’s prostitution, often described as a madam or procuress.

The American policy introduced in March 1941 that provided countries such as Britain with weapons and other wartime supplies without immediate payment.

The distance between two points, measured in units such as millimetres, centimetres, metres or kilometres.

A check that the number of characters in a string meets a requirement, such as a minimum length.

The part of the conductor that is within the magnetic field, represented by $l$ and measured in metres (m).

The part of the current-carrying conductor within the magnetic field, represented by $L$ and measured in metres (m).

The multiplier that changes every corresponding length from one similar figure to another.

Lenin’s assessment of potential successors, which criticised several leading Communists and recommended Stalin’s removal as General Secretary.

A transparent, flexible structure that refracts light and changes shape to focus it on the retina.

A transparent object that forms an image by refracting light.

A measure of how strongly a lens converges or diverges light, equal to the reciprocal of its focal length in metres.

The period of preparation for Easter, traditionally involving prayer, repentance and fasting, recalling Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness.

The principle that an induced current produces a magnetic field opposing the change that caused the current.

A biblical term covering various skin diseases, not only the condition now called Hansen’s disease.

The name of the beloved woman in Catullus’ poetry, possibly representing Clodia Metelli.

A patch of damaged tissue; in Chalara ash dieback, lesions form in the bark.

A hollow metal container with different surface finishes on its four sides, used to compare infrared emission when filled with hot water.

The outward struggle in Islam, which can include armed defence under strict conditions; it does not permit the killing of innocent people.

An action judged to be less harmful than the other available options, even though it is not considered good in itself.

A feeling of tiredness, low energy and lack of motivation to be active.

A written message, often used for formal business communication, which can be posted or attached to an email.