besmirch
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C2 verb /bɪˈsmɜːrtʃ/

besmirch

Meaning
to damage someone's reputation; to make dirty or stained
Example
He tried to besmirch her good name with false rumors.
C1 noun /ˈseɪ.tən/

Satan

Meaning
the chief evil spirit; the Devil in Christian and Islamic belief
Example
According to religious texts, Satan tempts people to sin.
C2 noun /ˌkɔːrnjuˈkoʊpiə/

cornucopia

Meaning
an abundance or overflowing supply of something
Example
The festival offered a cornucopia of fruits and sweets.
C2 noun /ˈnjuː.trɪ.mənt/

nutriment

Meaning
Something that nourishes; sustenance or food.
Example
The soil provides nutriment to the plants.
C1 noun /ˈtæn.ə.ri/

tannery

Meaning
A place where animal hides are processed into leather.
Example
The tannery produced high-quality leather for export.
C2 verb /kəˈriːn/

careen

Meaning
To move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way, especially in a specific direction.
Example
The car careened down the slippery road.
C1 adjective /rɪˈpjuː.t̬ɪd/

Reputed

Meaning
generally said or believed to be; having a particular reputation
Example
He is reputed to be one of the best doctors in the country.
B2 noun /ˈʌndərkləʊðz/

underclothes

Meaning
Clothing worn beneath outer clothes, such as underwear or lingerie
Example
He folded his underclothes neatly before packing them.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈkrɪtɪkəl/

diacritical

Meaning
Relating to a mark added to a letter to indicate a different pronunciation or stress.
Example
The word résumé has diacritical marks that change its meaning from resume.
C1 noun ˈredʒ.ɪ.strɑːr

registrar

Meaning
An official responsible for keeping records or registers.
Example
The registrar oversees all administrative tasks.
C2 adjective /ˌkloʊs ˈhɔːld/

close-hauled

Meaning
of a sailing ship, sailing as nearly as possible towards the direction from which the wind is blowing.
Example
The yacht was close-hauled as it cut through the waves.
C2 noun /ˈɡɔːntlɪt/

gauntlet

Meaning
a protective glove; a challenge or trial; to 'throw down the gauntlet' means to issue a challenge
Example
The knight threw down his gauntlet as a sign of challenge.
C2 noun /ˈsɪbɪləns/

sibilance

Meaning
A hissing or hushing sound, especially in speech with 's' or 'sh'.
Example
The poet used sibilance to create a soft, hissing effect in the verse.
C2 noun, verb /ˈtræməl/

trammel

Meaning
A restriction or impediment to freedom of action; to restrict.
Example
The strict rules trammel the creativity of the students.
B1 noun /ɪkˈsep.ʃən/

Exception

Meaning
a person or thing that is excluded from a general statement or does not follow a rule
Example
Most students passed the exam, with the exception of a few who were absent.
B1 noun /pɔːrk/

pork

Meaning
the flesh of a pig used as food
Example
He doesn't eat pork for religious reasons.
B2 adverb /ɪmˈpɒlɪtli/

impolitely

Meaning
in a rude or discourteous manner; without showing respect or proper manners
Example
He spoke impolitely to the waiter despite the polite service.
C2 noun /vəˈrɑːɡoʊ/

virago

Meaning
a loud, overbearing woman; historically, a strong or courageous woman
Example
The play depicted the heroine as a fierce virago who defied tradition.
B2 adjective /səbˈstæn.ʃəl/

Substantial

Meaning
large in size, amount, or importance; considerable; significant
Example
There was a substantial increase in sales this quarter.
C1 noun/verb /rɪˈpoʊz/

repose

Meaning
a state of rest, sleep, or tranquility; to rest or lie in a peaceful position
Example
After the long journey, she sought repose in the quiet garden.
C1 adverb /ˈnæroʊli/

Narrowly

Meaning
by a small margin; barely; in a limited way
Example
She narrowly escaped the accident.
B1 adjective /əˈlaɪk/

Alike

Meaning
similar in appearance or nature; in the same way
Example
The two sisters look very much alike.
B2 verb /ˈjuːtɪlaɪz/

utilize

Meaning
to make practical or effective use of something
Example
The company aims to utilize solar energy for production.
B2 noun /ˈteɪbəlˌspun/

tablespoon

Meaning
a spoon used for serving or eating food, typically holding about 15 milliliters
Example
She stirred the soup with a tablespoon.
B1 noun/adjective /ˌdɒkjʊˈmɛntri/

documentary

Meaning
A film or television program that provides a factual record or report.
Example
We watched a documentary about climate change.
B2 adjective /ˈtɪm.ɪd/

Timid

Meaning
shy and lacking confidence; easily frightened
Example
She was too timid to speak in public.
C2 noun /rɪˈpoʊst/

riposte

Meaning
a quick and clever reply to criticism or an insult
Example
Her sharp riposte left everyone in silence.
B2 noun ˈæsɪd reɪn

acid rain

Meaning
Rainfall made acidic by atmospheric pollution, especially from industrial emissions.
Example
Acid rain damages crops and buildings.
C1 noun prɪˈzɜː.və.tɪvz

preservatives

Meaning
A substance used to preserve foodstuffs, wood, or other materials against decay.
Example
Many processed foods contain harmful preservatives.
C1 noun /ænˈtæɡənɪzəm/

antagonism

Meaning
active hostility or opposition
Example
There was clear antagonism between the two political parties.
B2 noun /wæks/

Wax

Meaning
a solid substance that melts when heated, used for making candles and polishing
Example
She used candle wax to seal the old letter.
B2 adjective prɪˈlɪm.ɪ.nər.i

preliminary

Meaning
Denoting an action or event preceding or done in preparation for something fuller or more important.
Example
Preliminary steps are crucial before the main project.
B2 noun /ˈpred.ə.ses.ər/

Predecessor

Meaning
a person who held a job or office before the current holder; something that came before another thing
Example
The new manager learned from his predecessor's mistakes.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnkɒntrəˈvɜːtəbl/

incontrovertible

Meaning
impossible to deny or dispute; unquestionable
Example
The evidence was incontrovertible and proved his innocence.
A2 adjective, noun /ɪˈtæliən/

italian

Meaning
relating to Italy, its people, or its language; a person from Italy
Example
She loves Italian food.
C1 noun /foʊ/

foe

Meaning
an enemy or opponent
Example
The knight fought bravely against his foe.
A2 noun /drʌɡ/

drug

Meaning
a substance used as a medicine or an illegal addictive substance
Example
The doctor prescribed a new drug for the illness.
C2 adjective /ˈprɪɡɪʃ/

priggish

Meaning
self-righteously moralistic and superior
Example
He came across as priggish when correcting everyone's manners.
C1 noun /ˈpɔː.pəs/

Porpoise

Meaning
a small toothed whale with a low triangular dorsal fin and a blunt rounded snout
Example
The porpoise jumped gracefully out of the water.
C2 noun /koʊˈæɡjələnt/

coagulant

Meaning
a substance that causes blood or another liquid to clot
Example
The doctor applied a coagulant to stop the bleeding quickly.
C2 noun /ˈdʒaɪər/

gyre

Meaning
A circular or spiral motion or form, especially a giant circular oceanic surface current.
Example
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is trapped in a gyre.
C2 noun /dɪˈpɑːzɪtər/

depositor

Meaning
a person who places money in a bank or financial institution
Example
The bank provides insurance to protect depositors’ funds.
B1 adverb /ˈleɪt.li/

Lately

Meaning
recently; in the recent past; not long ago
Example
I haven't seen him lately, but I heard he got a new job.
A2 noun /ˈkændi/

candy

Meaning
a sweet food made with sugar or chocolate, often in small pieces
Example
The children were excited to get candy on Halloween.
C1 noun /ˌɪmɔːrˈtæləti/

immortality

Meaning
the state of living forever; eternal life or lasting fame beyond death
Example
Many ancient cultures believed that heroes could achieve immortality through great deeds.
B1 noun /ˈfɪnɪʃ laɪn/

finish line

Meaning
The line or point at the end of a race or competition where participants complete it.
Example
She sprinted towards the finish line and won the race.
B2 adjective /ræʃ/

rash

Meaning
Acting quickly without careful consideration; reckless.
Example
It was a rash decision to invest without research.
C1 noun /ˈmɪd.əl.mæn/

Middleman

Meaning
A person who acts as an intermediary between two parties in a business transaction
Example
They decided to cut out the middleman and sell directly to customers.
B1 noun /miːnz/

Means

Meaning
An action or system by which a result is achieved; financial resources
Example
They don't have the means to afford such an expensive vacation.
C1 adjective /ˌʌndərˈsteɪtɪd/

understated

Meaning
Presented in a subtle and restrained way.
Example
She wore an elegant but understated dress.
A1 verb /peɪ/

pay

Meaning
to give money in exchange for goods or services
Example
I need to pay my bills on time.
C1 adjective /θiːˈmætɪk/

thematic

Meaning
Relating to or based on a theme.
Example
The book is organized into thematic chapters.
C2 adjective /ˈsʌmp.tʃuˌɛr.i/

sumptuary

Meaning
Relating to laws or regulations intended to limit personal spending on luxury goods.
Example
In medieval Europe, sumptuary laws restricted the wearing of expensive fabrics to the nobility.
A2 adjective /diːp/

deep

Meaning
extending far down from the top or surface; profound or intense
Example
The lake is very deep in the middle.
A1 adjective/adverb /ɪˈnʌf/

enough

Meaning
as much or as many as required
Example
We have enough food for everyone.
C1 noun /rɪˈflɛktər/

reflector

Meaning
A surface or device that reflects light, heat, or sound, often used to direct beams or improve visibility.
Example
The cyclist attached a red reflector to the back of his bike for safety.
B2 noun /waɪt ænt/

White-Ant

Meaning
a small social insect that lives in colonies and feeds on wood and plant matter
Example
White ants damaged the wooden furniture in our house.
B1 verb /əˈsɛs/

assess

Meaning
to evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of something
Example
The teacher assessed the students' progress.
C2 adjective /sɪˈdɪʃəs/

seditious

Meaning
Encouraging rebellion against authority.
Example
The activist spread seditious pamphlets among the crowd.
C2 verb /ˈmæɡnɪtaɪz/

magnetize

Meaning
to make something magnetic or to strongly attract
Example
The scientist managed to magnetize the iron rod.
C1 noun /ˈnɛktəriːn/

nectarine

Meaning
A smooth-skinned variety of peach.
Example
She bought a basket of fresh nectarines from the market.
C1 noun ˈdɛf.ər.əns

deference

Meaning
Humble submission and respect.
Example
He showed deference to his elderly mentor.
A2 verb /ˈentər/

enter

Meaning
to go into; to come or go inside
Example
Please knock before you enter the room.
C2 noun /roʊˈtʌn.də.ti/

rotundity

Meaning
the quality of being round or plump
Example
The rotundity of the balloon made it float gracefully.
A2 adjective /ˈplɛzənt/

pleasant

Meaning
giving a sense of happiness, enjoyment, or satisfaction
Example
We had a pleasant evening at the park.
C1 verb /ˈhʌsəl/

hustle

Meaning
to move quickly and energetically; to push or work hard to achieve something
Example
She had to hustle to finish the project on time.
C1 noun /ˌzɛnəˈfoʊbiə/

xenophobia

Meaning
fear or hatred of foreigners, people from different cultures, or strangers
Example
Xenophobia can lead to discrimination and social division.
C2 noun /dɪˈdʒɛnərəsi/

degeneracy

Meaning
The state of decline or deterioration, often in moral, cultural, or physical qualities.
Example
The novel portrays the moral degeneracy of a corrupt society.
C1 adverb /ˈhɛdˌlɔŋ/

headlong

Meaning
With the head leading; in a rush or without thinking.
Example
She rushed headlong into the new project.
C1 noun /dʒɪst/

Gist

Meaning
the substance or essence of a speech or text; the main point
Example
I missed the beginning of the lecture, but I caught the gist of the professor's argument.
B2 noun

Kitchen garden

C2 adjective /ɪnˈkɑːdʒɪtənt/

incogitant

Meaning
Lacking thought; inconsiderate or thoughtless.
Example
It was incogitant of him to make such a rude comment.
B2 verb /ˈsʌməraɪz/

summarize

Meaning
To give a brief statement of the main points of something
Example
She summarized the report in just a few minutes.
C1 verb /ˌɪntərˈsɛpt/

intercept

Meaning
to stop, catch, or seize something on its way from one place to another
Example
The police intercepted the stolen car before it crossed the border.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpoʊzɪŋ/

imposing

Meaning
having an appearance that is grand, impressive, or commanding
Example
The castle is an imposing structure overlooking the valley.
C2 adjective /ˌtɔːtəˈlɒdʒɪkəl/

tautological

Meaning
expressing something by repeating the same idea in different words; redundant
Example
Saying 'free gift' is considered tautological.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈbæləns/

Unbalanced

Meaning
not balanced; lacking stability or equilibrium; mentally unstable
Example
The unbalanced table kept wobbling.
B2 adjective /ˈfeɪθ.fəl/

Faithful

Meaning
loyal and committed; reliable; true to one's beliefs
Example
She remained faithful to her principles throughout her career.
A2 noun /prəˈfɛsər/

professor

Meaning
a senior teacher or academic at a college or university
Example
The professor explained the theory clearly.
C2 noun /ˈkælvɪnɪzəm/

calvinism

Meaning
A Protestant theological system based on John Calvin’s teachings, emphasizing predestination and the sovereignty of God.
Example
Calvinism played a major role in shaping Protestant theology.
C1 noun /ˈreɪ.biːz/

rabies

Meaning
A viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain in humans and other mammals, usually transmitted through animal bites.
Example
The dog was vaccinated against rabies.
B2 noun /ˈpæn.ɪk/

Panic

Meaning
sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety; a state of widespread fear and anxiety
Example
The fire alarm caused panic among the students.
C2 noun ˌkɒmpjʊˈteɪʃənəl kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən

computational communication

Meaning
Digital exchange and automated interaction; the use of computational methods and systems to facilitate communication and information sharing.
Example
Computational communication is reshaping how we share information.
C1 noun/verb /dɪsˈkwaɪət/

disquiet

Meaning
A feeling of worry or unease; to make someone feel anxious or uneasy.
Example
The strange silence filled the room with disquiet.
C1 noun ˌsɛn.trə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

centralization

Meaning
The concentration of control and decision-making power in a central authority.
Example
Excessive centralization can slow down decision-making.
B2 adverb /hɪˈstɒrɪkli/

historically

Meaning
in a way that relates to history or past events
Example
Historically, this city was a major trade center.
C2 adjective /ˈflɒrɪd/

florid

Meaning
Having a red or flushed complexion; or excessively ornate and intricate.
Example
The speaker’s florid style made the lecture hard to follow.
B2 noun/verb /swɔːrm/

swarm

Meaning
A large group of insects or people moving together.
Example
A swarm of bees surrounded the tree.
C1 noun /ˈstrɑːtəm/

stratum

Meaning
a layer or level of material, or a social class in society
Example
The upper stratum of society enjoyed privileges not available to others.
C2 adjective /ˌseɪpiˈɛnʃəl/

sapiential

Meaning
Relating to wisdom or knowledge, often in a religious or philosophical sense.
Example
The monk shared sapiential teachings with his students.
A2 noun ˈrɛlətɪvz

Relatives

Meaning
A person connected by blood or marriage; a kinsman or kinswoman.
Example
Relatives can help you build a complete family tree.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnɪkˈsprɛsəbl/

inexpressible

Meaning
Too strong or extreme to be expressed in words.
Example
She felt inexpressible joy at the news of her success.
C1 adjective /kənˈɡrɛʃənl/

congressional

Meaning
relating to a congress, especially the US Congress
Example
The bill received strong congressional support.
A1 pronoun /huː/

who

Meaning
used to ask about a person or people
Example
Who is coming to the party tonight?
C2 adjective /ɪmˈprɛɡnəbl̩/

impregnable

Meaning
Unable to be captured, broken into, or defeated.
Example
The fortress was considered impregnable by the enemy.
B2 noun /ˈpær.ə.daɪs/

Paradise

Meaning
heaven; a place or state of perfect happiness; an ideal or perfect place
Example
The tropical island was like paradise for the tourists.
C1 adjective /bəˈzɜːrk/

berserk

Meaning
Out of control with anger or excitement; wild or frenzied.
Example
The fans went berserk when their team won the championship.
B2 noun /ˌsɜːrtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

certification

Meaning
the process of officially recognizing or confirming that something or someone meets required standards; an official document proving qualification
Example
She received her professional certification after completing the training program.
C1 noun rɪˌkuːpərˈeɪʃən

recuperation

Meaning
The process of gradually recovering from illness or fatigue
Example
Rest is essential for recuperation after illness.
C2 noun /neɪv/

nave

Meaning
the central part of a church building intended to accommodate the congregation
Example
The choir sang beautifully in the church nave.
C2 noun /laʊt/

lout

Meaning
An uncouth or aggressive man or boy.
Example
The drunken lout caused a scene at the party.
C1 verb /nəˈsɛsɪteɪt/

necessitate

Meaning
To make something necessary or unavoidable.
Example
The heavy rains necessitated the cancellation of the event.
C1 noun /ˈtrænsfərəns/

transference

Meaning
The act of moving something from one place, person, or situation to another.
Example
The transference of knowledge is essential in education.
A2 verb /laɪ/

lie

Meaning
to be in a horizontal position; to tell an untruth
Example
The book lies on the table.
C1 adjective /kəˈləʊ.kwi.əl/

colloquial

Meaning
Used in ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal language.
Example
His colloquial expressions made the speech relatable.
A2 noun /ˈmɪr.ər/

Mirror

Meaning
a reflective surface that shows an image of whatever is in front of it
Example
She looked at herself in the mirror.
B1 noun /ˈæs.pekt/

aspect

Meaning
A particular part, feature, or view of something.
Example
One important aspect of health is regular exercise.
A1 verb /smaɪl/

smile

Meaning
to express happiness or friendliness by turning the corners of the mouth upwards
Example
She smiled when she saw the gift.
C2 noun /ˈplɛnɪtjuːd/

plenitude

Meaning
the condition of being full or abundant; a great quantity
Example
The garden was a plenitude of flowers in spring.
C1 noun /ˌpɒməˈdɔːrəʊ/

pomodoro

Meaning
A time management technique that uses a timer to break down work into intervals.
Example
The Pomodoro technique improves productivity.
C1 noun /nɑːtʃ/

notch

Meaning
A small cut or groove on the edge or surface of something; a level or degree of achievement.
Example
He carved a notch on the stick to mark the days.
B2 adjective /fɔːrˈsiːəbl/

foreseeable

Meaning
Able to be predicted or expected in advance
Example
The company is unlikely to make changes in the foreseeable future.
C2 noun /ˈætəvɪzəm/

atavism

Meaning
The recurrence of traits or characteristics from a remote ancestor.
Example
The scientist noted atavism in the child’s physical features.
C2 noun /hɔːɡ plʌm/

Hog plum

Meaning
tropical fruit with yellow skin and sour taste
Example
Hog plums are often used to make pickles and chutneys.
C1 noun ˈɛf.lu.ənt

effluent

Meaning
Liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the sea.
Example
Factory effluent contaminates nearby rivers and lakes.
B1 noun /ˈkɛmɪstri/

chemistry

Meaning
the branch of science that studies substances and their interactions; also the emotional connection between people
Example
They have great chemistry and work well together.
C2 noun /kɪln/

kiln

Meaning
a furnace or oven for burning, baking, or drying, especially one for firing pottery or bricks
Example
The potter placed the clay pots into the kiln for firing.
B2 noun breɪn ˈtreɪ.nɪŋ

brain-training

Meaning
Mental exercises designed to improve cognitive functions, memory retention, and overall brain performance.
Example
Regular brain-training can improve memory retention.
A2 noun /ˈnjuːzˌpeɪpər/

newspaper

Meaning
a printed publication (usually daily or weekly) containing news, articles, advertisements, and correspondence
Example
I read the newspaper every morning.
C1 verb /ˈlʌmbər/

lumber

Meaning
to move in a slow, heavy, awkward way
Example
The bear lumbered through the forest in search of food.
C2 noun /ˈdɛnɪzən/

denizen

Meaning
an inhabitant or resident of a particular place
Example
The forest is home to many nocturnal denizens.