countervail
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C2 verb /ˌkaʊntərˈveɪl/

countervail

contrarrestar
Meaning
to offset or counteract the effect of something
Example
The benefits of the new policy countervail its drawbacks.
Los beneficios de la nueva política contrarrestan sus desventajas.
C2 noun /ˈreɪmənt/

raiment

atuendo
Meaning
clothing, especially fine or formal wear
Example
The king wore royal raiment during the ceremony.
El rey usó atuendo real durante la ceremonia.
C2 noun /ˈdʒɪŋɡoʊ/

jingo

nacionalista belicista
Meaning
a person who strongly supports warlike or aggressive foreign policy; an extreme nationalist
Example
The leader was criticized as a reckless jingo.
El líder fue criticado como un jingo imprudente.
C2 verb /prəˈroʊɡ/

prorogue

suspender una sesión
Meaning
to discontinue a session of a parliament or assembly without dissolving it
Example
The president decided to prorogue parliament until the crisis was resolved.
El presidente decidió suspender el parlamento hasta que la crisis fuera resuelta.
C2 adjective /ˌɔːfˈkiː/

off-key

desafinado
Meaning
out of tune; not in accordance with expected standards
Example
The singer was slightly off-key during the performance.
El cantante estaba ligeramente desafinado durante la actuación.
C2 noun /ˌsuːdəˈnɪmɪti/

pseudonymity

uso de seudónimo
Meaning
the practice or state of using a pseudonym
Example
The author maintained pseudonymity throughout her career.
La autora mantuvo el uso de seudónimo durante toda su carrera.
C2 noun /meɪndʒ/

mange

sarna
Meaning
a skin disease in animals caused by parasitic mites, leading to hair loss and sores
Example
The stray dog was suffering from mange.
El perro callejero estaba sufriendo de sarna.
C2 noun /mjuːz/

mews

callejón/calle pequeña
Meaning
A row or street of houses or apartments that have been converted from stables or built to look like former stables.
Example
They rented a small flat in a quiet London mews.
Alquilaron un pequeño departamento en un tranquilo mews de Londres.
C2 noun /ˈkrɪptəɡræm/

cryptogram

código secreto
Meaning
a text written in code or cipher
Example
The detective solved the cryptogram hidden in the letter.
El detective resolvió el criptograma oculto en la carta.
C2 noun /ˈfiːæt/

fiat

decreto, mandato
Meaning
an official order or decree; authoritative command
Example
The new policy was enacted by royal fiat.
La nueva política fue implementada por un decreto real.
C2 noun /ˈɡrændɪləkwəns/

grandiloquence

lenguaje pomposo
Meaning
Pompous or extravagant language, style, or manner, often intended to impress
Example
The politician’s speech was full of empty grandiloquence.
El discurso del político estaba lleno de lenguaje pomposo y vacío.
C2 verb /ʧeɪf/

chafe

rozar
Meaning
To make or become sore by rubbing; to feel irritation or impatience.
Example
The tight shoes began to chafe his heels.
Los zapatos apretados empezaron a rozar sus talones.
C2 noun /paɪər/

pyre

pira
Meaning
A heap of combustible material, especially one used for burning a corpse as part of a funeral ceremony.
Example
The villagers built a pyre to honor the deceased.
Los aldeanos construyeron una pira para honrar al difunto.
C2 adjective /ˌsʌb.əˈkwɒt.ɪk/

subaquatic

subacuático
Meaning
Existing, living, or located under water.
Example
Divers explored the subaquatic cave system filled with rare fish.
Los buzos exploraron el sistema de cavernas subacuáticas llenas de peces raros.
C2 noun /hæp/

hap

suerte, fortuna, azar
Meaning
luck, fortune, or chance occurrence
Example
By sheer hap, he discovered the old letter hidden in the drawer.
Por pura suerte, descubrió la vieja carta escondida en el cajón.
C2 adjective /ˈstɜːr.tər.əs/

stertorous

ronquido fuerte
Meaning
Characterized by heavy snoring or breathing.
Example
The patient’s stertorous breathing alarmed the nurses.
La respiración estertorosa del paciente alarmó a las enfermeras.
C2 noun /sɒl/

sol

sol (quinto tono de la escala musical)
Meaning
The fifth note of the sol-fa musical scale (do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti); also the Latin word for sun
Example
The choir practiced singing the note sol during rehearsal.
El coro practicó cantar la nota sol durante el ensayo.
C2 noun /ˈsælvoʊ/

salvo

salva
Meaning
A simultaneous discharge of guns or release of bombs; a sudden outburst of cheers or applause.
Example
The soldiers fired a salvo to honor the fallen general.
Los soldados dispararon una salva para honrar al general caído.
C2 noun /ˈbɛnɪfɪs/

benefice

beneficio eclesiástico
Meaning
a permanent church appointment for which property and income are provided
Example
The bishop appointed him to a wealthy benefice.
El obispo lo nombró para un beneficio eclesiástico rico.
C2 adjective /rɪˈtɪkjʊlət/

reticulate

reticulado
Meaning
Having a net-like pattern or structure.
Example
The leaf had a reticulate pattern of veins.
La hoja tenía un patrón reticulado de venas.
C2 adjective /ˌvɪtriˈɑːlɪk/

vitriolic

crítico mordaz
Meaning
filled with bitter criticism or malice
Example
His vitriolic remarks hurt everyone in the room.
Sus comentarios críticos mordaces hirieron a todos en la sala.
C2 adjective /ˈnɒmɪk/

nomic

relacionado con la ley
Meaning
Relating to laws, rules, or systems.
Example
The philosopher discussed the nomic necessity of natural laws.
El filósofo discutió la necesidad nómica de las leyes naturales.
C2 noun /ˈdɛvɪlri/

devilry

diablura
Meaning
Wicked or cruel behavior; mischievous actions.
Example
The children were full of devilry on Halloween night.
Los niños estaban llenos de diablura en la noche de Halloween.
C2 adjective /ˈmɪn.dʒi/

Mingy

tacaño; avaro
Meaning
mean or stingy; unwilling to spend money
Example
He is too mingy to spend money on anything but necessities.
Él es demasiado tacaño para gastar dinero en algo que no sea lo esencial.
C2 verb /ɪmˈbruː/

imbrue

manchar
Meaning
To stain, especially with blood.
Example
His hands were imbrued with blood after the battle.
Sus manos estaban manchadas con sangre después de la batalla.
C2 adjective /ˈstɪdʒiən/

stygian

tenebroso
Meaning
extremely dark, gloomy, or forbidding
Example
They walked through the stygian cave with torches.
Caminaban a través de la cueva tenebrosa con antorchas.
C2 adjective /ˈvɛntrəl/

ventral

ventral
Meaning
relating to the underside or abdominal part of an animal or organ
Example
The fish has a white ventral surface.
El pez tiene una superficie ventral blanca.
C2 noun /ˈɑb.lə.kwi/

Obloquy

crítica severa o abuso verbal; condena pública
Meaning
harsh criticism or verbal abuse; strong public condemnation
Example
The politician faced obloquy after the scandal.
El político enfrentó obloquio después del escándalo.
C2 adjective /ˌɪmpəˈmɪsəbl/

impermissible

imposible
Meaning
Not permitted or allowed.
Example
Such behavior is impermissible in the workplace.
Tal comportamiento es imposible en el lugar de trabajo.
C2 noun /ˌbrɪɡ.əˈdɪər/

brigadier

brigadier
Meaning
A military officer rank, usually commanding a brigade.
Example
The brigadier inspected the troops before the parade.
El brigadier inspeccionó las tropas antes del desfile.
C2 verb /bɪˈfʌdəl/

befuddle

confundir
Meaning
to confuse someone completely; to make someone unable to think clearly
Example
The complex instructions befuddled the students.
Las instrucciones complejas confundieron a los estudiantes.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪəri/

leery

desconfiado
Meaning
Cautious or wary due to suspicion or distrust.
Example
She was leery of investing in the new business.
Ella estaba desconfiada de invertir en el nuevo negocio.
C2 noun /ˌkælɪsˈθɛnɪks/

calisthenics

ejercicio físico
Meaning
exercises that use body weight for strength and flexibility
Example
She practices calisthenics every morning in the park.
Ella practica calistenia todas las mañanas en el parque.
C2 adjective /ˈprəʊ.lɪks/

prolix

excesivamente largo
Meaning
using too many words; tediously lengthy
Example
The professor’s prolix lecture put many students to sleep.
La conferencia prolija del profesor hizo que muchos estudiantes se quedaran dormidos.
C2 noun /ˈpɑr.bəl/

Parbal

calabaza puntiaguda
Meaning
A green vegetable also known as pointed gourd, commonly used in South Asian cuisine
Example
Mother prepared parbal curry with fish.
Madre preparó curry de calabaza puntiaguda con pescado.
C2 adjective /ˈfiːbraɪl/

febrile

febril, excitado
Meaning
having or showing the symptoms of a fever; or highly excitable or agitated
Example
The patient was in a febrile state with high temperature.
El paciente estaba en un estado febril con alta temperatura.
C2 noun /ˌmæk.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

Machination

maquinación; intriga;
Meaning
a clever scheme or artful plot, usually with evil intent; crafty designing or plotting
Example
The villain's machinations were finally exposed.
Las maquinaciones del villano finalmente fueron expuestas.
C2 noun /ˈsɪlədʒɪzəm/

syllogism

silogismo
Meaning
A form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed premises.
Example
The philosopher explained the concept of syllogism using simple examples.
El filósofo explicó el concepto de silogismo usando ejemplos simples.
C2 noun /ˌɪnsəˈrɛkʃən/

insurrection

insurrección
Meaning
A violent uprising against an authority or government.
Example
The army was called in to suppress the insurrection.
El ejército fue llamado para sofocar la insurrección.
C2 noun /ˈdʒʌɡləri/

jugglery

malabares
Meaning
The performance of tricks and illusions, especially by sleight of hand.
Example
The magician's jugglery amazed the audience.
La juglaría del mago sorprendió a la audiencia.
C2 verb /dɔːb/

daub

untar
Meaning
to spread a thick or sticky substance carelessly on a surface
Example
The children daubed paint all over the walls.
Los niños untaron pintura por todas las paredes.
C2 verb /ˈreə.rɪ.faɪ/

rarefy

diluir, refinar
Meaning
To make something less dense or more refined.
Example
The air rarefies as you climb higher into the mountains.
El aire se diluye a medida que subes más alto en las montañas.
C2 adjective /tɛnˈdɛnʃəs/

tendentious

tendencioso
Meaning
Expressing or promoting a particular cause or point of view, often biased.
Example
The article was criticized for its tendentious tone.
El artículo fue criticado por su tono tendencioso.
C2 adjective /ˈkjʊərətɪv/

curative

curativo
Meaning
Able to cure disease or restore health.
Example
The doctor prescribed a curative treatment for the illness.
El médico prescribió un tratamiento curativo para la enfermedad.
C2 verb /ˈfrʌktɪˌfaɪ/

fructify

fructificar
Meaning
To make fruitful or productive; to bear fruit.
Example
The new policies will help fructify the economic potential of the region.
Las nuevas políticas ayudarán a fructificar el potencial económico de la región.
C2 adjective /ˈmɪnətɔːri/

minatory

amenazante
Meaning
Expressing a threat; menacing.
Example
The criminal gave the witness a minatory look.
El criminal le dio al testigo una mirada amenazante.
C2 adjective /ˈæpəˌleɪt/

appellate

relacionado con apelaciones
Meaning
relating to appeals in a court of law
Example
The case was taken to an appellate court.
El caso fue llevado a un tribunal de apelaciones.
C2 adjective /ˌhɑːrdˈbɪtn̩/

hard-bitten

duro y experimentado
Meaning
tough and experienced, not easily affected by emotions or hardship
Example
The hard-bitten detective showed no sign of surprise at the crime scene.
El detective experimentado no mostró signos de sorpresa en la escena del crimen.
C2 noun /ˈpɒliˌɑːrki/

polyarchy

poliarquía
Meaning
government by many people
Example
Polyarchy allows multiple parties to share power.
La poliarquía permite que varios partidos compartan el poder.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪŋɡwəl/

lingual

relacionado con la lengua
Meaning
Relating to the tongue or speech.
Example
The dentist examined the patient's lingual surface of the teeth.
El dentista examinó la superficie lingual de los dientes del paciente.
C2 noun /ˌnɒn ˈsɛkwɪtər/

non sequitur

comentario irrelevante
Meaning
a statement or conclusion that does not logically follow from the previous statement
Example
His comment about the weather was a complete non sequitur during the budget discussion.
Su comentario sobre el clima fue un completo comentario irrelevante durante la discusión del presupuesto.
C2 noun /kənˌdʒiː.niˈæl.ə.t̬i/

congeniality

afabilidad
Meaning
The quality of being pleasant, friendly, and easy to talk to.
Example
His congeniality makes him popular among friends.
Su afabilidad lo hace popular entre sus amigos.
C2 noun /ˈmeɪsə/

mesa

meseta
Meaning
An isolated flat-topped hill with steep sides, found in arid regions.
Example
The hikers stopped to admire the mesa rising above the desert floor.
Los excursionistas se detuvieron para admirar la meseta que se alzaba sobre el suelo del desierto.
C2 adjective /ˈmɪn.ɪ.skjuːl/

miniscule

minúsculo
Meaning
Extremely small or tiny.
Example
The error was so miniscule that nobody noticed it.
El error era tan minúsculo que nadie lo notó.
C2 adjective /ˌstaʊtˈhɑːrtɪd/

stouthearted

valiente
Meaning
Brave, determined, and courageous
Example
The stouthearted soldier never gave up.
El soldado valiente nunca se rindió.
C2 noun /dɪˈmʌrɪdʒ/

demurrage

demurrage
Meaning
a charge payable to the owner of a ship or vehicle for not loading or unloading on time
Example
The company had to pay demurrage for delaying the unloading of goods.
La empresa tuvo que pagar demurrage por retrasar la descarga de mercancías.
C2 noun /ˈmʌrɪn/

murrain

enfermedad infecciosa del ganado
Meaning
An infectious disease that affects cattle and other animals, often fatal.
Example
The farmer lost many cows during the outbreak of murrain.
El agricultor perdió muchas vacas durante el brote de murrain.
C2 verb /ɪˈdjuːs/

educe

extraer
Meaning
To draw out or bring forth something latent or hidden.
Example
The teacher tried to educe a response from the shy student.
El maestro intentó inducir una respuesta del estudiante tímido.
C2 noun /prɔːŋ/

prong

pico de tenedor
Meaning
a projecting pointed part, such as one of the pointed ends of a fork
Example
The fork has four prongs.
El tenedor tiene cuatro picos.
C2 verb /ɪmˈpjuːn/

impugn

disputar la verdad, validez o honestidad de una declaración o motivo
Meaning
to dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of a statement or motive
Example
The lawyer tried to impugn the credibility of the witness.
El abogado intentó impugnar la credibilidad del testigo.
C2 noun /ˈbɪlɪŋzˌɡeɪt/

billingsgate

lenguaje grosero o abusivo
Meaning
Coarse or abusive language; vulgar or offensive speech.
Example
The heated argument quickly descended into billingsgate.
La discusión acalorada rápidamente se convirtió en lenguaje grosero.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪələˈtɪʃən/

dialectician

dialéctico
Meaning
A person skilled in dialectic or logical argument.
Example
Socrates is often considered the greatest dialectician in history.
A Sócrates a menudo se le considera el mayor dialéctico de la historia.
C2 verb /ˈprɒsəˌlaɪtaɪz/

proselytize

intentar convertir
Meaning
To try to persuade someone to convert to a different belief or religion.
Example
They tried to proselytize the villagers with their new ideas.
Ellos intentaron prosélitizar a los aldeanos con sus nuevas ideas.
C2 adjective /ˈroʊziət/

roseate

rosado, optimista
Meaning
Having a pink color; optimistic or idealistic.
Example
She looked at the future with roseate optimism.
Ella miró al futuro con un optimismo rosado.
C2 noun /ˈzɛfər/

zephyr

brisa suave
Meaning
A soft gentle breeze.
Example
A warm zephyr blew through the valley.
Una cálida brisa suave soplaba a través del valle.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈplaɪəbl/

impliable

implícito
Meaning
Capable of being implied or suggested.
Example
The meaning of the statement is not directly clear but is impliable from the context.
El significado de la declaración no es directamente claro, pero es implicable por el contexto.
C2 verb /ˈkænənaɪz/

canonize

canonizar
Meaning
To officially declare a dead person a saint; to regard as great or significant.
Example
The church canonized the martyr after years of investigation.
La iglesia canonizó al mártir después de años de investigación.
C2 noun /ˈpoʊtənˌteɪt/

potentate

potentado
Meaning
A monarch or ruler, especially one with absolute power.
Example
The ancient land was ruled by a powerful potentate.
La antigua tierra era gobernada por un poderoso potentado.
C2 verb /ˈæpɪtaɪz/

appetize

estimular el apetito
Meaning
to stimulate the appetite; to make someone eager or interested
Example
The aroma of fresh bread will appetize the guests before dinner.
El aroma del pan fresco estimulará el apetito de los invitados.
C2 verb /bɪˈleɪbər/

belabor

exponer en exceso
Meaning
to argue or elaborate on a subject in excessive detail; to attack verbally or physically
Example
The professor belabored the point until the students grew restless.
El profesor expuso tanto el punto hasta que los estudiantes se inquietaron.
C2 adjective /vaɪˈtjuːpərəbl̩/

vituperable

digno de reproche
Meaning
Deserving of blame, censure, or harsh criticism.
Example
His reckless actions made him vituperable in the eyes of his colleagues.
Sus acciones imprudentes lo hicieron digno de reproche a los ojos de sus colegas.
C2 noun /ˌɪntərˈrɛɡnəm/

interregnum

interregno
Meaning
A period between rulers or governments when normal leadership is suspended.
Example
The country faced instability during the interregnum after the king’s death.
El país enfrentó inestabilidad durante el interregno después de la muerte del rey.
C2 noun /ˈskɪz.əm/ or /ˈsɪz.əm/

schism

felicidad
Meaning
A division or split between strongly opposed parties, often in religion or organizations.
Example
The schism in the church led to the formation of two separate groups.
Ella no pudo ocultar su felicidad cuando recibió el premio.
C2 noun /ɪˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/

enunciation

enunciación, pronunciación clara
Meaning
The act of saying or pronouncing words clearly and distinctly.
Example
His enunciation was clear during the presentation.
Su enunciación fue clara durante la presentación.
C2 noun /ˈpɜːrvjuː/

purview

ámbito
Meaning
the scope or range of authority, responsibility, or knowledge
Example
The case does not fall within the purview of this court.
El caso no está dentro del ámbito de este tribunal.
C2 adjective /ləˈkɒnɪk/

laconic

lacónico
Meaning
using very few words; concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious
Example
His laconic reply ended the conversation quickly.
Su respuesta lacónica terminó la conversación rápidamente.
C2 verb /ˌmɪsˈleɪ/

mislay

perder temporalmente
Meaning
to lose something temporarily by putting it in the wrong place
Example
I must have mislaid my keys somewhere in the house.
Debo haber perdido mis llaves en algún lugar de la casa.
C2 adjective /ˌstætʃuˈɛsk/

statuesque

de estatua
Meaning
Having the grace, beauty, or dignity of a statue; tall and attractively proportioned.
Example
She had a statuesque figure that turned heads wherever she went.
Ella tenía una figura de estatua que hacía que todos se giraran donde quiera que fuera.
C2 adverb /ɪnˈdjuːbɪtəbli/

indubitably

indudablemente
Meaning
Without a doubt; certainly.
Example
She is indubitably the best candidate for the job.
Ella es indudablemente la mejor candidata para el trabajo.
C2 noun /kiˌɑːrəˈskjʊəroʊ/

chiaroscuro

contraste dramático entre luz y sombra
Meaning
The use of strong contrasts between light and dark in art or literature to create a dramatic effect.
Example
The artist's painting used chiaroscuro to highlight the figure's face.
La pintura del artista usó el claroscuro para resaltar la cara de la figura.
C2 adjective /ˈkwɛrʊləs/

querulous

quejoso
Meaning
Complaining in a whining or irritable manner.
Example
The querulous customer kept finding fault with every detail.
El cliente quejoso seguía encontrando fallos en cada detalle.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnsəˈpɔːrtəbl̩/

insupportable

insuportable
Meaning
Too extreme or difficult to be endured.
Example
The heat was insupportable during the long journey.
El calor era insoportable durante el largo viaje.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɛnseɪt/

insensate

insensible
Meaning
lacking physical sensation or empathy; without feeling or sensitivity
Example
The dictator's insensate cruelty shocked the world.
La crueldad insensible del dictador sorprendió al mundo.
C2 adjective/noun /ɪnˈkɑːrnədiːn/

incarnadine

rojo intenso
Meaning
a bright crimson or pinkish-red color
Example
The sky turned incarnadine at sunset.
El cielo se tornó rojo intenso al atardecer.
C2 adjective /ˈɪnˌbrɛd/

inbred

innato
Meaning
existing naturally in a person or animal; also related to reproduction within a limited community
Example
He has an inbred sense of loyalty.
Él tiene un sentido innato de lealtad.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌlɔːɡ/

decalogue

Decálogo
Meaning
The Ten Commandments in the Bible; a set of fundamental rules or principles.
Example
The priest gave a sermon on the importance of the Decalogue.
El sacerdote dio un sermón sobre la importancia del Decálogo.
C2 adjective /kwəʊˈtɪdiən/

quotidian

cotidiano, común
Meaning
Ordinary or everyday, especially when mundane.
Example
He focused on the quotidian details of family life.
Él se centró en los detalles cotidianos de la vida familiar.
C2 noun /ɪnˈtɛɡ.jʊ.mənt/

integument

cobertura externa
Meaning
A natural outer covering, such as skin, shell, or rind.
Example
The snake sheds its integument as it grows.
La serpiente pierde su cobertura externa a medida que crece.
C2 adjective /ˌsuːprəˈmʌndeɪn/

supramundane

supramundano
Meaning
beyond the physical or ordinary world; transcendent
Example
The monk spoke of supramundane peace beyond material life.
El monje habló de la paz supramundana más allá de la vida material.
C2 noun /ˌdɛkləˈmeɪʃən/

declamation

declaración
Meaning
a formal speech delivered with rhetorical or dramatic effect
Example
Her declamation captivated the audience at the competition.
Su declamación cautivó a la audiencia en la competencia.
C2 noun /ˌær.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

arability

arabilidad
Meaning
The quality of land being suitable for growing crops.
Example
The arability of land depends on soil quality and water availability.
La arabilidad de la tierra depende de la calidad del suelo y de la disponibilidad de agua.
C2 verb /ˈdʌmfaʊnd/

dumbfound

dejar boquiabierto
Meaning
to greatly astonish or shock someone so they are temporarily speechless
Example
The magician's trick dumbfounded the audience.
El truco del mago dejó boquiabiertos a los espectadores.
C2 noun /fɪˈlændərər/

philanderer

mujeriego
Meaning
a man who habitually engages in casual romantic or sexual affairs
Example
The politician was exposed as a notorious philanderer.
El político fue expuesto como un notorio mujeriego.
C2 verb /ˈsnɪvəl/

snivel

llorar o quejarse de manera débil o molesta
Meaning
to cry or complain in a weak or annoying way
Example
He began to snivel when he didn’t get his way.
Comenzó a llorar cuando no consiguió lo que quería.
C2 noun /ɪˌlɛkˈtrɑː.lə.sɪs/

electrolysis

electrólisis
Meaning
A chemical decomposition produced by passing an electric current through a liquid or solution.
Example
Electrolysis is used to separate hydrogen from water.
Se utiliza la electrólisis para separar el hidrógeno del agua.
C2 adjective /ˈmʌnid/

Moneyed

adinerado; rico; acaudalado
Meaning
having much money; wealthy; rich
Example
She comes from a moneyed family with extensive real estate holdings.
Ella proviene de una familia adinerada con extensas propiedades inmobiliarias.
C2 noun /luːˈsɪd.ə.ti/

lucidity

lucidez
Meaning
Clarity of thought or style; the quality of being easily understood.
Example
His explanation had great lucidity, making it easy to understand.
Su explicación tuvo gran lucidez, lo que hizo que fuera fácil de entender.
C2 noun /əbˈstrʌkʃənɪst/

obstructionist

obstruccionista
Meaning
a person who deliberately delays or prevents progress by being uncooperative or oppositional
Example
The obstructionist in the committee kept delaying the decision-making process.
El obstruccionista en el comité siguió retrasando el proceso de toma de decisiones.
C2 adjective /ˈhæm ˌhændɪd/

ham-handed

torpe
Meaning
clumsy or inept in handling things or situations
Example
His ham-handed attempt to fix the computer made it worse.
Su intento torpe de arreglar la computadora lo empeoró.
C2 noun /ˈfɪlɪɡri/

filigree

trabajo ornamental delicado, generalmente de oro o plata
Meaning
delicate ornamental work of fine wire, usually of gold or silver
Example
The necklace was decorated with intricate gold filigree.
El collar estaba decorado con intrincados filigríes de oro.
C2 verb /fleɪl/

flail

agitar o mover algo de manera salvaje; forcejear
Meaning
to wave or swing something about wildly; to thrash about
Example
He flailed his arms to keep afloat in the water.
Él agitó sus brazos para mantenerse a flote en el agua.
C2 noun vəˈlɪʃən

volition

volición
Meaning
The faculty or power of using one's will; the power of choosing or determining.
Example
She left the job of her own volition.
Ella dejó el trabajo por su propia volición.
C2 noun ˌfjuːmɪˈɡeɪʃən

fumigation

fumigación
Meaning
The practice of disinfecting or purifying an area using gas or smoke.
Example
Fumigation is an effective method to control pest infestations.
La fumigación es un método efectivo para controlar las infestaciones de plagas.
C2 noun /ˌɒpəˈrɛtə/

operetta

ópera ligera
Meaning
a short opera with light and humorous themes
Example
The theater staged a famous operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan.
El teatro presentó una famosa opereta de Gilbert y Sullivan.
C2 adjective /dɪˈkrɛpɪt/

decrepit

deteriorado
Meaning
worn out or weakened by age or neglect
Example
The decrepit old house was on the verge of collapse.
La casa deteriorada estaba al borde del colapso.
C2 noun /ˈmæk.rəˌkɒz.əm/

macrocosm

macrocosmos
Meaning
The whole universe considered as a large, complex system; a large-scale representation of something.
Example
The macrocosm of the universe reflects the microcosm of human life.
El macrocosmos del universo refleja el microcosmos de la vida humana.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈvɛtərət/

inveterate

inmutable
Meaning
having a long-established habit, activity, or interest that is unlikely to change
Example
He is an inveterate reader who spends hours in the library every day.
Él es un lector inmutable que pasa horas en la biblioteca todos los días.
C2 verb /əˈbæʃ/

abash

avergonzar
Meaning
to make someone feel embarrassed or ashamed
Example
Her sudden question seemed to abash him.
Su repentina pregunta pareció avergonzarlo.
C2 noun /dɪˌlæpɪˈdeɪʃən/

dilapidation

dilapidación
Meaning
The state of disrepair or ruin as a result of neglect.
Example
The old temple was in a state of dilapidation.
El antiguo templo estaba en un estado de dilapidación.
C2 noun /ˈtʌmbrəl/

tumbrel

carreta
Meaning
A two-wheeled cart, especially one used during the French Revolution to carry prisoners to the guillotine.
Example
The prisoners were carried to the square in a wooden tumbrel.
Los prisioneros fueron llevados a la plaza en una carreta de madera.
C2 noun /ˌskʌlˈdʌɡəri/

skullduggery

engaño
Meaning
dishonest behavior or activities, often done secretly
Example
The election was full of political skullduggery.
La elección estuvo llena de engaños políticos.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒlərɪk/

choleric

colérico
Meaning
Easily angered; irritable and hot-tempered.
Example
His choleric nature often got him into arguments.
Su naturaleza colérica a menudo lo metía en discusiones.
C2 noun /ˈɡɑːrɡɔɪl/

gargoyle

escultura de piedra (de forma grotesca)
Meaning
A carved stone figure, often of a grotesque creature, on a building, typically used as a spout to carry water away.
Example
The ancient cathedral had gargoyles on every corner.
La antigua catedral tenía gárgolas en cada esquina.
C2 verb /ˈæntɪdeɪt/

antedate

anteceder
Meaning
to be earlier in time; to assign a date earlier than the actual one
Example
The manuscript antedates the modern printing press.
El manuscrito es anterior a la prensa moderna de impresión.
C2 adjective/adverb /feɪn/

fain

gustosamente, con gusto
Meaning
gladly, willingly, or with pleasure
Example
I would fain help you if I had the time.
Si tuviera tiempo, con gusto te ayudaría.
C2 noun /æmˈbroʊʒə/

ambrosia

ambrosía
Meaning
The food of the gods in classical mythology; something extremely pleasing to taste or smell.
Example
The dessert was so delicious that it tasted like ambrosia.
El postre estaba tan delicioso que sabía a ambrosía.
C2 noun /ˈmeɪleɪ/

melee

lucha desordenada
Meaning
A noisy, confused fight or crowd situation.
Example
A melee broke out during the football match.
Estalló una lucha desordenada durante el partido de fútbol.
C2 noun /ˈsætræp/

satrap

satrapa
Meaning
a governor of a province in ancient Persia; also used figuratively for a subordinate ruler
Example
The king appointed a satrap to oversee the distant province.
El rey nombró a un satrapa para supervisar la provincia distante.
C2 noun /ˈsʌfərəns/

sufferance

tolerancia
Meaning
patient endurance of pain, hardship, or delay; passive consent or tolerance
Example
He lived in poverty with quiet sufferance.
Vivió en la pobreza con tolerancia silenciosa.
C2 verb /priːˈdɛstɪn/

predestine

predestinar
Meaning
to determine or decide something in advance, often regarded as being fixed by fate or divine will
Example
They believed their paths were predestined by fate.
Ellos creían que sus caminos estaban predestinados por el destino.
C2 noun /mæŋˈɡoʊ.li.ə/

Mangolia

magnolia
Meaning
a type of flowering tree with large, fragrant pink or white flowers
Example
The beautiful magnolia tree bloomed in spring with pink flowers.
El hermoso árbol de magnolia floreció en primavera con flores rosas.