antipodes
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C2 noun /ænˈtɪpədiːz/

antipodes

Meaning
places on opposite sides of the Earth; also refers to things that are direct opposites
Example
Australia and Britain are often considered antipodes of each other.
C2 verb /ˈsʌpjʊˌreɪt/

suppurate

Meaning
to form or discharge pus, usually as a result of infection
Example
The wound began to suppurate after a few days.
C2 noun /ˈvaɪnəri/

vinery

Meaning
A place where vines are cultivated, especially a vineyard or greenhouse for vines.
Example
The old vinery was filled with grapevines.
C2 noun /ˈbreɪziər/

Brazier

Meaning
a worker in brass; a portable container for burning charcoal or coal
Example
The brazier crafted beautiful brass ornaments.
C2 noun /ʃɪˈfɒn/

chiffon

Meaning
A lightweight, sheer fabric often used in dresses or scarves.
Example
She wore a beautiful chiffon dress at the party.
C2 noun /blæk biː/

Black-bee

Meaning
a large dark-colored bee that makes a loud buzzing sound
Example
The black-bee was buzzing around the flowers in the garden.
C2 adjective /juːˈnɪsənənt/

unisonant

Meaning
Sounding together or in harmony.
Example
The unisonant voices created a powerful effect.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnɔːˈspɪʃəs/

Inauspicious

Meaning
unlucky; showing signs that future success is unlikely; unfavorable
Example
The dark clouds seemed inauspicious for the wedding.
C2 noun /ˈklɔɪstər/

cloister

Meaning
a covered walk in a convent, monastery, or cathedral, typically with a wall on one side and a colonnade open to a quadrangle on the other.
Example
The monks walked silently through the cloister.
C2 noun /dʒenˈtɪl.ə.ti/

Gentility

Meaning
social superiority as demonstrated by polite and refined manners; the quality of being well-mannered and refined
Example
Her natural gentility and grace made her popular among high society circles.
C2 noun /ˈpɒlɪti/

polity

Meaning
an organized society or form of government
Example
The ancient Greek polity had a system of city-states.
C2 noun /spliːn/

spleen

Meaning
an organ in the body that produces lymphocytes and filters blood; also refers to bad temper or spite
Example
He vented his spleen on his coworkers after the meeting.
C2 verb /ɪnˈɡrɑːft/

ingraft

Meaning
To implant or fix deeply, often used in the sense of grafting an idea or quality.
Example
The teacher tried to ingraft good manners in the students.
C2 adjective /sɪˈnɒptɪk/

synoptic

Meaning
giving a general overview or summary; presenting a broad view
Example
The report offers a synoptic view of climate trends over the past century.
C2 adjective /ˈfraɪəbl/

friable

Meaning
Easily crumbled or reduced to powder.
Example
The old brick wall was friable and broke apart at a touch.
C2 noun /ˈɒbsɪkwiːz/

obsequies

Meaning
Funeral rites or ceremonies.
Example
The obsequies for the late leader drew thousands of mourners.
C2 noun /ˌsuːdəʊəˈpɒsəl/

pseudapostle

Meaning
a false or pretended apostle
Example
The preacher was condemned as a pseudapostle.
C2 noun /dɪˈstreɪnər/

distrainor

Meaning
a person, usually a landlord, who seizes another's property for unpaid debt or rent
Example
The distrainor took possession of the tenant's car until the debt was cleared.
C2 noun /ˈfæn.feər/

fanfare

Meaning
a short ceremonial tune or display of publicity to attract attention
Example
The new product was launched with much fanfare.
C2 adjective /ˈdɒdərɪŋ/

doddering

Meaning
Weak, shaky, or unsteady, especially due to old age.
Example
The doddering professor struggled to climb the stairs.
C2 verb /bɪˈliːɡər/

beleaguer

Meaning
to cause difficulties, troubles, or harassment; to surround with military forces
Example
The company was beleaguered by constant complaints from its customers.
C2 noun /ˈæmjʊlət/

Amulet

Meaning
an ornament or small piece of jewelry thought to give protection against evil, danger, or disease
Example
She wore a silver amulet around her neck for good luck.
C2 adjective /ˈoʊ.kən/

oaken

Meaning
made of or resembling oak wood
Example
The villagers gathered around the oaken table in the hall.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɪpiənt/

incipient

Meaning
in an initial stage; beginning to develop
Example
The incipient storm made the sky turn dark and heavy.
C2 verb /ʌnˈfɛtər/

unfetter

Meaning
to release from restraint or restriction; to free
Example
The new law will unfetter small businesses from excessive regulations.
C2 verb /ˈbɜːrdʒən/

burgeon

Meaning
To grow or develop rapidly; to flourish.
Example
The city's population began to burgeon after the new factory opened.
C2 adjective /ˈmɛdəlsəm/

meddlesome

Meaning
fond of interfering in other people’s affairs
Example
She found her neighbor to be meddlesome and annoying.
C2 noun /dɪˈklɪvɪti/

declivity

Meaning
a downward slope of ground
Example
They carefully climbed down the declivity of the hill.
C2 noun /ˈmɜːkinəs/

murkiness

Meaning
The quality of being dark, gloomy, or unclear.
Example
The murkiness of the water made it hard to see the fish.
C2 noun /ˈpɒl.iˌθi.ɪz.əm/

polytheism

Meaning
the belief in or worship of multiple gods
Example
Ancient Greeks practiced polytheism, worshiping gods like Zeus and Athena.
C2 noun /ˈflætʃələns/

flatulence

Meaning
the accumulation of gas in the digestive system; excessive gas in the stomach or intestines
Example
Eating beans can sometimes cause flatulence.
C2 noun /hɒtʃ pɒtʃ/

Hotch potch

Meaning
A mixed dish; a hodgepodge of ingredients cooked together
Example
She made a delicious hotch potch with rice, lentils, and vegetables.
C2 verb /dʒɛˈstɪkjʊleɪt/

gesticulate

Meaning
to use gestures, especially dramatic ones, instead of speaking or to emphasize one's words
Example
He gesticulated wildly to get their attention.
C2 noun /pʌɡˈnæsɪti/

pugnacity

Meaning
A natural disposition to be combative or aggressive.
Example
The coach admired the player's pugnacity on the field.
C2 noun /ˌdʒer.ɪˈmaɪ.æd/

Jeremiad

Meaning
a long mournful complaint or lamentation; a list of woes; a prolonged expression of grief
Example
The newspaper editorial was a jeremiad about the decline of moral values in society.
C2 noun /ˌɔːrdɪˈneɪʃən/

ordination

Meaning
The ceremony of conferring holy orders or official religious authority.
Example
The church held a special service for the ordination of new priests.
C2 verb /əˈvɜːr/

aver

Meaning
to state or assert something confidently and strongly
Example
She averred that she was innocent.
C2 noun /ˈbuː.jɒ̃/

bouillon

Meaning
A clear, seasoned broth made by simmering meat, fish, or vegetables in water.
Example
She added vegetables to the bouillon for extra flavor.
C2 adjective /ˈbɛlɪˌkoʊs/

bellicose

Meaning
Showing a tendency to argue or fight; aggressive.
Example
His bellicose attitude often got him into unnecessary conflicts.
C2 verb /ˌɡeɪnˈseɪ/

gainsay

Meaning
To deny, contradict, or speak against.
Example
No one could gainsay the evidence presented in court.
C2 adjective /ˌæk.rɪˈmoʊ.ni.əs/

acrimonious

Meaning
Bitter and angry, often involving harsh words.
Example
The debate turned acrimonious after the controversial remark.
C2 verb /ɪnˈdjuː/

endue

Meaning
To provide or endow with a quality or ability.
Example
The leader was endued with wisdom and courage.
C2 noun /ˈtrʌmpəri/

trumpery

Meaning
worthless nonsense or showy but worthless things
Example
The speech was full of political trumpery.
C2 verb /ˈɪndjʊˌreɪt/

indurate

Meaning
To harden or make something physically or emotionally tough.
Example
Years of hardship indurated his spirit.
C2 noun /pɒmˈpɒsəti/

pomposity

Meaning
self-important behavior or exaggerated dignity
Example
His speech was full of pomposity and arrogance.
C2 noun /dəˈɡerəˌtaɪp/

daguerreotype

Meaning
An early type of photograph produced on a silver or silver-covered copper plate.
Example
The museum displayed a rare daguerreotype of Abraham Lincoln.
C2 adjective /ˈbʌksəm/

buxom

Meaning
Plump, with a full figure and often large-breasted, especially used to describe women.
Example
The actress was described as a cheerful and buxom woman.
C2 verb /dɪˈræsɪˌneɪt/

deracinate

Meaning
To uproot something completely; to displace people from their native environment or culture.
Example
The conflict deracinated many families from their homeland.
C2 noun /ˈreɪdɪks/

radix

Meaning
the base or root of something; the number on which a system of numeration is built
Example
In mathematics, the decimal system has a radix of ten.
C2 noun /əˈpɜːrtənənsɪz/

appurtenances

Meaning
Additional items or accessories associated with something, often used in a legal or property context.
Example
The house was sold along with all its appurtenances, including the garage and garden.
C2 noun /ˈsaɪnɪkjʊər/

sinecure

Meaning
a position requiring little or no work but giving financial benefit or status
Example
He was given a sinecure at the university as a reward for his loyalty.
C2 adjective /ˈfɛtɪd/

fetid

Meaning
having a strong, unpleasant smell
Example
The fetid smell from the garbage was unbearable.
C2 noun /ˈlɪɡ.ə.tʃər/

ligature

Meaning
A thing used for tying or binding tightly; in music/printing, two or more notes or letters joined together.
Example
The doctor used a ligature to stop the bleeding.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkɒrɪdʒəbəl/

incorrigible

Meaning
incapable of being corrected, improved, or reformed
Example
He is an incorrigible optimist who never loses hope.
C2 verb /prəˈroʊɡ/

prorogue

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.
C2 noun /ˌiː.kəʊ.tɒkˈsɪ.kə.lə.dʒi/

ecotoxicology

Meaning
The study of the effects of chemical pollution on the environment.
Example
Ecotoxicology studies the effects of pesticides on wildlife.
C2 noun /sʌnd raɪs/

Sunned rice

Meaning
Rice that has been dried in the sun; parched rice
Example
The farmers spread the sunned rice on mats to dry completely.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈtɛsteɪt/

intestate

Meaning
Having died without leaving a valid will.
Example
She died intestate, so her assets were distributed by law.
C2 noun ˈbaɪəʊˌsaɪd

biocide

Meaning
A chemical substance or microorganism intended to destroy, deter, render harmless, or exert a controlling effect on any harmful organism.
Example
Biocides help control pests and reduce the spread of diseases.
C2 noun /ˈsɒlɪˌsɪzəm/

solecism

Meaning
a grammatical mistake in speech or writing; a breach of good manners or etiquette
Example
His speech was full of solecisms and awkward phrases.
C2 noun /ˈbɒnəmi/

bonhomie

Meaning
Cheerful friendliness and geniality.
Example
The meeting was filled with laughter and bonhomie.
C2 adjective /sɒmˈnɪfərəs/

somniferous

Meaning
Tending to induce sleep; soporific.
Example
The professor's somniferous lecture put half the class to sleep.
C2 verb /ˈdʒɒɡəl/

joggle

Meaning
to shake slightly; to move or cause to move with quick, small jerks
Example
He joggled the table and the vase nearly fell.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈdʒʌŋktɪv/

disjunctive

Meaning
Serving to separate or divide; expressing a choice between alternatives.
Example
In grammar, 'or' is a disjunctive conjunction.
C2 noun /ˈbloʊˌhɑrd/

blowhard

Meaning
a person who brags a lot or talks in a boastful way
Example
Everyone avoided the blowhard at the party because he wouldn't stop bragging.
C2 adjective /juːˈʒʊəriəs/

usurious

Meaning
Charging excessively high interest rates on loans.
Example
The bank was accused of offering loans at usurious rates.
C2 noun /əˈspɜːr.ʒən/

aspersion

Meaning
An attack on the reputation or integrity of someone.
Example
He cast an aspersion on her character.
C2 verb /biˈætɪfaɪ/

beatify

Meaning
to make blessed or holy, especially in the Roman Catholic Church, to declare a deceased person to be among the blessed
Example
The pope decided to beatify the martyr for his faith and sacrifice.
C2 noun /dɪsˈdʒʌŋkʃən/

disjunction

Meaning
A lack of connection between things; separation or disunity.
Example
There is a clear disjunction between theory and practice.
C2 noun /ˈkaɪrəˌmænsi/

chiromancy

Meaning
The practice of predicting the future by interpreting the lines on the palms of hands; palmistry.
Example
The old woman practiced chiromancy and told fortunes for travelers.
C2 adjective /ˈfɒp.ɪʃ/

Foppish

Meaning
excessively concerned with one's appearance and clothes; vain about dress
Example
His foppish behavior and expensive clothes made him stand out.
C2 noun /ˈæp.ɪˌkʌl.tʃər/

apiculture

Meaning
The practice of keeping and raising bees for honey and other products.
Example
Apiculture plays a vital role in agriculture by supporting pollination.
C2 noun əˈlæk.rə.t̬i

alacrity

Meaning
Brisk and cheerful readiness.
Example
He accepted the challenge with alacrity.
C2 adjective /ˈmɒtli/

motley

Meaning
Made up of different, often incongruous or diverse elements.
Example
The festival attracted a motley crowd of artists, musicians, and tourists.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒr.ə.ɡeɪ.tɪd/

corrugated

Meaning
shaped into ridges and grooves; wrinkled or folded
Example
The roof was made of corrugated metal sheets.
C2 noun /ˌhaɪdroʊˈfoʊbiə/

hydrophobia

Meaning
Extreme or irrational fear of water; historically, another name for rabies.
Example
After being bitten by a stray dog, the man was treated for hydrophobia.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈdɪstæf/

distaff

Meaning
Relating to women or the maternal side of a family; also a tool for spinning thread.
Example
She came from the distaff side of a noble family.
C2 verb /dʒaɪb/

jibe

Meaning
to make an insulting remark; to be in agreement or harmony with
Example
His actions did not jibe with his words.
C2 verb /kəˈraʊz/

carouse

Meaning
to drink and enjoy oneself noisily, often with others
Example
They stayed up all night to carouse after the victory.
C2 verb, noun /blæb/

blab

Meaning
to talk too much or reveal secrets carelessly; excessive or foolish talk
Example
He accidentally blabbed the surprise to everyone.
C2 noun /ˈfɔːrˌpiːk/

forepeak

Meaning
The compartment in the forward part of a ship, often used for storage.
Example
The sailors stored extra ropes in the forepeak.
C2 noun /ˈtuːb.roʊz/

Tube-rose

Meaning
a night-blooming flower with an intensely sweet fragrance, native to Mexico
Example
The tuberose flowers filled the evening air with their heavenly scent.
C2 noun /ˌtɜːsənˈtɛnəri/

tercentenary

Meaning
The 300th anniversary of an event.
Example
The city celebrated its tercentenary with a grand festival.
C2 noun /nɑnˈen.tə.ti/

Nonentity

Meaning
a person of no importance or influence; something that does not exist
Example
He felt like a nonentity in the large corporation.
C2 noun /ˈpɜːrsənɪdʒ/

personage

Meaning
an important or famous person
Example
He is considered a great personage in the world of literature.
C2 adjective /ˈoʊ.pən ˈhɑrt.ɪd/

Open-hearted

Meaning
Kind and generous; sincere and honest; warmly receptive;
Example
She welcomed the strangers with an open-hearted smile and invited them for dinner.
C2 adjective /ɜːrˈbeɪn/

urbane

Meaning
showing polished manners, refinement, and sophistication
Example
He was an urbane gentleman who charmed everyone at the party.
C2 verb /drəˈɡuːn/

dragoon

Meaning
to force someone to do something through coercion or intimidation
Example
The manager tried to dragoon the team into working overtime.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈkʌmfɪtɪŋ/

discomfiting

Meaning
Causing unease, embarrassment, or discomfort.
Example
His discomfiting questions made everyone shift uncomfortably in their seats.
C2 noun /ˈæntɪkwɛri/

antiquary

Meaning
A person who studies, collects, or deals in antiques or ancient objects.
Example
The antiquary spent years collecting rare manuscripts from the medieval period.
C2 adjective /ˌɛl.ɪˈdʒaɪ.ək/

elegiac

Meaning
Expressing sorrow, often for something past; resembling an elegy.
Example
The novel ends on an elegiac note, mourning the lost era.
C2 verb /ˈfrɪtər/

fritter

Meaning
To waste time, money, or energy on trivial matters.
Example
He frittered away his savings on unnecessary gadgets.
C2 verb, noun /ˈkweɪvər/

quaver

Meaning
To shake or tremble in speaking, typically through nervousness or emotion.
Example
Her voice quavered as she spoke before the crowd.
C2 adjective səˈluː.bri.əs

salubrious

Meaning
Health-giving; healthy; promoting health and well-being.
Example
The mountain air is salubrious and refreshing.
C2 noun /ˈɪrɪtənsi/

irritancy

Meaning
the quality or state of causing irritation; legal or formal invalidation
Example
The constant noise became an irritancy to the neighbors.
C2 verb /flɪt/

flit

Meaning
to move quickly and lightly from one place to another
Example
Butterflies flitted from flower to flower.
C2 noun ˌiːkwəˈnɪməti

equanimity

Meaning
Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.
Example
She handled the news with remarkable equanimity.
C2 noun /ˈhɛksəˌpɒd/

hexapod

Meaning
An insect or other organism with six legs.
Example
The scientist observed a hexapod crawling on the leaf.
C2 noun /boʊl/

boll

Meaning
The rounded seed capsule of plants such as cotton or flax.
Example
The farmer examined the cotton boll to check its quality.
C2 noun /ˌmɑːhəˈrɑːdʒə/

maharaja

Meaning
A great king, especially a ruler of one of the principal states in India.
Example
The maharaja lived in a grand palace surrounded by gardens.
C2 adjective /ˌmɒnəkrəˈmætɪk/

monochromatic

Meaning
Consisting of or displaying only one color.
Example
The artist created a striking monochromatic painting in shades of blue.
C2 noun /rɛtʃ/

wretch

Meaning
an unfortunate or miserable person; a despicable or contemptible person
Example
The poor wretch was left out in the cold with no shelter.
C2 adjective /ˈreə.rɪ.faɪd/

rarefied

Meaning
Of high moral, intellectual, or cultural value; distant from ordinary life.
Example
He works in the rarefied world of classical music.
C2 adjective /krɪˈpʌskjʊlər/

crepuscular

Meaning
relating to twilight or active during twilight
Example
Bats are crepuscular animals, most active at dawn and dusk.
C2 verb /dɪsˈmɛmbər/

dismember

Meaning
to cut or tear the limbs from a body; to divide into separate parts
Example
The king ordered his enemies to be dismembered.
C2 verb /ˈwiːdəl/

wheedle

Meaning
to persuade or coax someone by using flattery or smooth talk
Example
She managed to wheedle extra pocket money from her father.
C2 noun /ˈdaɪəˌdɛm/

diadem

Meaning
A crown or headband worn as a symbol of royalty or authority.
Example
The queen wore a glittering diadem at the coronation.
C2 verb /dɪsˈkaʊntənəns/

discountenance

Meaning
To disapprove of or discourage something.
Example
The teacher strongly discountenanced cheating in exams.
C2 adjective /ˈrɛpərəbəl/

reparable

Meaning
able to be repaired or fixed
Example
The damage to the car was serious but still reparable.
C2 noun /dɪsˈkwaɪɪtjuːd/

disquietude

Meaning
A state of uneasiness, anxiety, or restlessness.
Example
His constant pacing showed his inner disquietude.
C2 adjective /ˈsuːpaɪn/

supine

Meaning
Lying on the back, face upward; failing to act due to laziness or weakness.
Example
He lay supine on the grass, staring at the stars.
C2 noun /ˈɡɑːrɡɔɪl/

gargoyle

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.
C2 noun /ˌɒpəˈrɛtə/

operetta

Meaning
a short opera with light and humorous themes
Example
The theater staged a famous operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan.
C2 noun /ˈproʊbɪti/

probity

Meaning
The quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.
Example
The judge was admired for his integrity and probity.
C2 adjective /ˈrʌdi/

ruddy

Meaning
Having a healthy red color in the face.
Example
She had a ruddy complexion from working outdoors.
C2 verb /ˈwɛltər/

welter

Meaning
to roll or toss about in a confused or disorderly way; to be in turmoil
Example
The city weltered in chaos after the sudden blackout.
C2 adjective ɪnˈfiː.zə.bəl

infeasible

Meaning
Not possible to do easily or conveniently; impracticable.
Example
Restoring the forest may become infeasible if destruction continues.
C2 noun /ˈfɔːltˌfaɪndər/

faultfinder

Meaning
a person who habitually finds fault with others
Example
He is such a faultfinder that nothing anyone does is ever good enough.
C2 noun /ˈpriːsɛpt/

precept

Meaning
A general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought.
Example
Honesty is a fundamental precept in all religions.
C2 adjective /ˈθrɛdˌbɛr/

threadbare

Meaning
Worn out and thin from too much use; shabby.
Example
His threadbare coat could not keep him warm in winter.
C2 noun /ˌfoʊ.nəˈlɑː.dʒi/

phonology

Meaning
the study of the sound system of a language
Example
She is studying phonology to understand how sounds function in English.