biennial
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C2 adjective /baɪˈɛniəl/

biennial

Meaning
happening every two years
Example
The biennial festival attracts thousands of visitors.
C2 verb /leɪv/

lave

Meaning
To wash or bathe.
Example
She laved her face with cool water.
C2 verb /sɪˈkwɛstreɪt/

sequestrate

Meaning
To take legal possession of assets until a debt is paid or disputes are resolved.
Example
The court decided to sequestrate the company's property.
C2 noun /pɜːrtʃt raɪs/

Perched rice

Meaning
puffed rice; rice that has been heated and puffed into light, crispy grains
Example
I enjoy eating puffed rice as a healthy snack.
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.
C2 noun, adjective /ˌæntiˌspæzˈmɒdɪk/

antispasmodic

Meaning
A drug or agent that relieves or prevents muscle spasms.
Example
The doctor prescribed an antispasmodic to ease the pain.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsəˈbjuːz/

disabuse

Meaning
To free someone from a false belief or misconception.
Example
The teacher tried to disabuse the students of their misunderstanding.
C2 noun /ɡrænˈtiː/

grantee

Meaning
A person or organization that receives a grant or benefit.
Example
The grantee must submit a progress report every six months.
C2 verb /ɪnˈfætʃueɪt/

infatuate

Meaning
to inspire with an intense but short-lived passion or admiration
Example
He was infatuated with her beauty.
C2 noun /prɪˈsɛʃən/

precession

Meaning
The slow movement of the axis of a spinning body around another axis, often referring to Earth's rotation.
Example
Astronomers study the precession of the equinoxes.
C2 noun /ˌfɑːsfəˈrɛsəns/

phosphorescence

Meaning
the property of emitting light without noticeable heat
Example
The deep-sea creatures displayed a beautiful phosphorescence.
C2 adjective /dɪˈklæməˌtɔri/

declamatory

Meaning
speaking in a loud, rhetorical, or dramatic way
Example
The politician’s declamatory style impressed some but irritated others.
C2 adjective /ˌmækɪəˈvɛliən/

machiavellian

Meaning
cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics or in advancing one's career
Example
The politician was known for his Machiavellian tactics.
C2 noun /ˈvɛrɪti/

verity

Meaning
a true principle or belief; the state of being true
Example
The verity of his statement was confirmed by evidence.
C2 noun /ˈækmi/

acme

Meaning
the highest point of achievement or excellence
Example
Winning the award was the acme of his career.
C2 verb /ˈfʌdəl/

fuddle

Meaning
To confuse or stupefy, especially with alcohol or overwhelming information.
Example
The complicated instructions fuddled the new employees.
C2 noun /ˈkwɪzlɪŋ/

quisling

Meaning
A traitor who collaborates with an enemy force occupying their country.
Example
During the war, he was branded a quisling for aiding the invaders.
C2 noun /doʊlt/

dolt

Meaning
A stupid or slow-witted person.
Example
Only a dolt would believe such a story.
C2 verb /læmˈbæst/

lambast

Meaning
To criticize harshly or to beat severely.
Example
The coach lambasted the team for their poor performance.
C2 adjective /ˈɒkjʊlər/

ocular

Meaning
Relating to the eye or vision.
Example
The patient was referred to a specialist for ocular treatment.
C2 noun /ˈpoʊltɪs/

poultice

Meaning
a soft, moist mass of material applied to the body to relieve soreness and inflammation
Example
The nurse applied a warm poultice to his injured leg.
C2 verb /ɪmˈbɪtər/

embitter

Meaning
To make someone resentful or angry; to cause bitterness.
Example
The unfair treatment embittered the employees.
C2 noun /ˈhʌm.ək/

hummock

Meaning
A small hill, mound, or ridge of earth or ice.
Example
The hikers rested on a grassy hummock by the river.
C2 noun /ˌkɑːnfɔːrˈmeɪʃən/

conformation

Meaning
The shape, structure, or arrangement of something.
Example
The scientist studied the molecular conformation of the protein.
C2 noun /pəˈtiːnə/

patina

Meaning
a surface film or sheen on metal, stone, or wood due to age or use; also, a superficial appearance
Example
The bronze statue developed a green patina after years in the sea air.
C2 verb /ˈpælieɪt/

palliate

Meaning
to make a disease, symptoms, or problem less severe without removing the cause
Example
The doctor prescribed medicine to palliate the patient's pain.
C2 noun /ˈɒb.stɪ.nə.si/

obstinacy

Meaning
Stubborn refusal to change one's opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.
Example
His obstinacy made negotiations difficult.
C2 noun, adjective /nɒn ˈkɒmbətənt/

non-combatant

Meaning
a person not engaged in fighting during a war, such as civilians or medical staff
Example
The Red Cross workers were treated as non-combatants in the conflict.
C2 noun /ˌdɛprɪˈdeɪʃən/

depredation

Meaning
An act of attacking or plundering; damage caused by such acts.
Example
The villagers feared the depredation of wild animals at night.
C2 adjective /ˈbʌsti/

busty

Meaning
having a large or full bust; describing a woman with a prominent chest
Example
The actress was often described as busty in fashion magazines.
C2 adjective /ɔːrˈθɑːɡənl/

orthogonal

Meaning
at right angles; independent or unrelated
Example
In mathematics, two vectors are orthogonal if their dot product is zero.
C2 noun /ˈfɔːrʃɔːr/

foreshore

Meaning
The part of the shore between the high and low tide marks
Example
Children were playing on the foreshore, collecting shells.
C2 verb /bɪˈdɔːb/

bedaub

Meaning
to smear or cover with a sticky or dirty substance
Example
The children bedaubed the wall with paint.
C2 noun /ˈtɛsteɪtər/

testator

Meaning
a person who has made a will
Example
The lawyer read the will of the deceased testator.
C2 adjective /ɪˈmɒdərət/

immoderate

Meaning
excessive; beyond reasonable limits
Example
He has an immoderate love for sweets.
C2 noun /ˈweɪvlət/

wavelet

Meaning
a small wave or ripple on the surface of water or another medium
Example
The pond was disturbed only by the tiny wavelets caused by the breeze.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈpɪəriəs/

imperious

Meaning
Arrogantly domineering or overbearing.
Example
Her imperious tone made it hard for others to argue.
C2 noun /ˈsɒfɪstri/

sophistry

Meaning
the use of clever but false arguments, often to deceive
Example
The politician's speech was full of sophistry.
C2 verb /fɔrˈswɛr/

forswear

Meaning
to renounce or reject; to give up completely
Example
He forswore his old habits and started a new life.
C2 verb /ˈʌndərˌmæn/

underman

Meaning
to supply with fewer workers or personnel than needed
Example
The hospital was undermanned during the flu outbreak.
C2 noun /kənˈtjuː.ʒən/

contusion

Meaning
a bruise or injury without breaking the skin
Example
The boxer had several contusions after the match.
C2 verb /ˈhæloʊ/

hallow

Meaning
to honor as holy; to make sacred or greatly respected
Example
The ancient temple was hallowed by centuries of worship.
C2 noun /rɪˈvaɪlər/

reviler

Meaning
a person who criticizes or insults others abusively
Example
He was known as a reviler of all who opposed him.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɔːrˈdeɪn/

preordain

Meaning
To decide or determine an outcome in advance, especially by fate or divine will.
Example
They believed their meeting was preordained by destiny.
C2 noun /əˈkjuːtnəs/

acuteness

Meaning
sharpness of mind or senses; severity or intensity of a condition
Example
Her acuteness allowed her to notice details others missed.
C2 noun /ˌɪnədˈvɜːrtəns/

inadvertence

Meaning
Failure to pay attention; carelessness.
Example
The error happened through sheer inadvertence.
C2 verb /bɪˈtaɪd/

betide

Meaning
to happen or occur, usually of something that befalls someone
Example
Woe betide anyone who breaks the rules.
C2 adjective /ˈdʒɪg.ərd/

Jiggered

Meaning
surprised or astonished; confused or puzzled
Example
I'll be jiggered if I know what happened here.
C2 verb /ˌdɒmɪˈnɪə/

domineer

Meaning
to assert one's will over another in an arrogant way
Example
He tends to domineer over his younger colleagues.
C2 noun /ˌmɔːzəˈliːəm/

mausoleum

Meaning
A large stately building that houses a tomb or several tombs.
Example
The king was buried in a grand mausoleum.
C2 noun /ˈɡræn.juːl/

granule

Meaning
A small compact particle of a substance.
Example
Each granule of salt sparkled under the sunlight.
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 noun /ˈɪəri/

eyry

Meaning
an alternative spelling of eyrie; a nest of a bird of prey
Example
The falcon guarded its eyry fiercely.
C2 verb /əˈbeɪs/

abase

Meaning
to belittle or degrade someone
Example
He refused to abase himself before the king.
C2 noun /ˈeɪʒən swɒmp iːl/

Asian swamp eel

Meaning
a snake-like freshwater fish that can survive in muddy waters and is considered a delicacy in South Asian cuisine
Example
Asian swamp eel can breathe air and survive in shallow muddy waters.
C2 adjective /sɒmˈnɪfərəs/

somniferous

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

wantonness

Meaning
The quality of being reckless, cruel, or deliberately malicious.
Example
His wantonness shocked everyone at the gathering.
C2 noun /ˈkætɪˌkɪzəm/

catechism

Meaning
A summary of religious principles often in the form of questions and answers; also a set of fixed questions or beliefs.
Example
The priest taught the children the catechism every Sunday.
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 adjective /dɪˈstɛnsəbl̩/

distensible

Meaning
Capable of being stretched or expanded.
Example
The stomach is a distensible organ that can expand after eating.
C2 noun /ˈɛskwaɪər/

esquire

Meaning
A title of respect often used after a man's name, especially for lawyers in the United States.
Example
John Smith, Esquire, will be representing the client in court.
C2 verb /ˌfɔːrˈrʌn/

forerun

Meaning
To go before; to precede in time, place, or action.
Example
Dark clouds often forerun a storm.
C2 verb /ˈbɒtənaɪz/

botanize

Meaning
to study plants in their natural environment
Example
They went to the forest to botanize during their vacation.
C2 verb /ˈʌndjʊleɪt/

undulate

Meaning
To move with a smooth, wave-like motion.
Example
The snake undulated across the sand.
C2 noun /ˈhɛklər/

heckler

Meaning
A person who interrupts a speaker with rude or aggressive comments.
Example
The politician remained calm despite the heckler shouting from the crowd.
C2 noun /ˈpælɪmpsɛst/

palimpsest

Meaning
a manuscript or document that has been written over but still bears traces of earlier writing; something reused or altered but still retaining traces of its earlier form
Example
The ancient manuscript was a palimpsest, showing faint traces of previous texts beneath the new writing.
C2 noun /ˌbrɪɡ.əˈdɪər/

brigadier

Meaning
A military officer rank, usually commanding a brigade.
Example
The brigadier inspected the troops before the parade.
C2 adjective /ˈpjuːtətɪv/

putative

Meaning
commonly accepted or supposed; generally regarded as such
Example
He is the putative father of the child.
C2 adjective /ˈmɪnətɔːri/

minatory

Meaning
Expressing a threat; menacing.
Example
The criminal gave the witness a minatory look.
C2 noun /ˈdʒʌŋk.tʃər/

jucture

Meaning
a particular point in time, especially one of great importance or crisis
Example
At this critical jucture, the company must decide whether to expand or downsize.
C2 verb /kənˈvoʊk/

convoke

Meaning
to call together or summon a meeting or assembly
Example
The committee convoked an emergency session to discuss the crisis.
C2 adjective fɔːˈtjuː.ɪ.təs

fortuitous

Meaning
Happening by accident or chance rather than design; lucky or fortunate.
Example
Their meeting was purely fortuitous.
C2 adjective /ˈæpəzɪt/

apposite

Meaning
highly appropriate or relevant to what is being discussed
Example
Her remark was particularly apposite to the situation.
C2 noun /bɛl/

belle

Meaning
A beautiful woman, especially the most attractive woman at a gathering.
Example
She was the belle of the ball that evening.
C2 noun /ˈpɛnjʊri/

penury

Meaning
extreme poverty or destitution
Example
He grew up in penury but became successful later in life.
C2 adjective /mæɡˈnɪləkwənt/

magniloquent

Meaning
using high-flown or pompous language
Example
The politician’s magniloquent speech impressed the crowd.
C2 noun /ˈbiː.təl nʌt/

Betel-nut

Meaning
seed of the areca palm tree, often chewed as a stimulant
Example
Betel-nut is commonly chewed in many South Asian countries.
C2 verb /həˈbɪtʃuˌeɪt/

habituate

Meaning
to make someone accustomed to something
Example
The monks habituated themselves to meditation.
C2 noun /ˌrɛtroʊˈɡrɛʃən/

retrogression

Meaning
a return to a worse or less developed state
Example
The country experienced economic retrogression after the crisis.
C2 noun /ˌmɪsˈtʃæns/

mischance

Meaning
An unfortunate accident or event; bad luck.
Example
By mischance, he missed the last train home.
C2 adjective /koʊˈiːvəl/

coeval

Meaning
Having the same age, date of origin, or duration; contemporary.
Example
The philosopher was coeval with the rise of modern science.
C2 adjective /ˌpɜːrtɪˈneɪʃəs/

pertinacious

Meaning
holding firmly to an opinion, purpose, or course of action; stubbornly persistent
Example
The pertinacious lawyer refused to give up the case.
C2 verb /bɪˈtəʊkən/

betoken

Meaning
to be a sign or indication of something
Example
Dark clouds betoken an approaching storm.
C2 noun /ˈlɔːrdlɪŋ/

lordling

Meaning
A young or petty lord; someone of minor nobility.
Example
The arrogant lordling demanded respect despite his lack of experience.
C2 verb /rɪˈpaɪn/

repine

Meaning
To feel or express discontent or to long for something.
Example
She did not repine at her misfortune but worked harder to improve her life.
C2 adjective /ˈklæmərəs/

clamorous

Meaning
making a loud and confused noise; expressing strong demands noisily
Example
The clamorous audience demanded an encore from the band.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɪˈstæblɪʃ/

preestablish

Meaning
To establish or set up beforehand.
Example
Certain rules were preestablished before the meeting.
C2 noun /ˈsɜːrtɪˌtjuːd/

certitude

Meaning
Absolute certainty or conviction about something.
Example
She spoke with certitude about the outcome of the case.
C2 verb /ˌsuːpərɪnˈtɛnd/

superintend

Meaning
to oversee and direct the work or operation of something
Example
She was hired to superintend the construction project.
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 (plural) /ˈlɪniəmənts/

lineaments

Meaning
The features or distinctive characteristics of the face or body.
Example
The lineaments of his face were sharp and stern.
C2 noun /ˈluː.mən/

lumen

Meaning
A unit of luminous flux, measuring the amount of visible light emitted by a source.
Example
The bulb produces 800 lumens of light.
C2 verb /ˈkævəl/

cavil

Meaning
to make petty or unnecessary objections
Example
She caviled at every detail of the plan.
C2 verb /ˈhɑːrkən/

hearken

Meaning
To listen attentively; to give heed.
Example
He would hearken to his mentor’s advice before making decisions.
C2 adjective /ˌɪn.ɪˈlʌk.tə.bəl/

ineluctable

Meaning
Impossible to avoid or escape; inevitable.
Example
Death is an ineluctable part of human existence.
C2 noun /ˌbenɪˈdɪkʃən/

Benediction

Meaning
a blessing, especially a ceremonial one; an expression of good wishes
Example
The priest gave his benediction to the newlyweds.
C2 noun /rɪˈfrɪndʒənsi/

refringency

Meaning
The ability of a substance to bend light; refractive power.
Example
Glass has a higher refringency than water.
C2 verb /ˌɪmpɔːrˈtuːnd/

importuned

Meaning
asked someone persistently and pressingly for something
Example
She importuned her boss for a raise until he finally gave in.
C2 verb /dɪsˈkʌmfɪt/

discomfit

Meaning
to make someone feel uneasy, embarrassed, or confused
Example
The interviewer’s tough questions discomfited the candidate.
C2 adjective /kəˈmoʊdiəs/

commodious

Meaning
spacious and comfortable; having plenty of room
Example
They rented a commodious apartment in the city.
C2 noun /taɪð/

tithe

Meaning
A tenth part of one’s income or produce, often given as a religious offering.
Example
He gave a tithe of his earnings to the church.
C2 noun /ɪnˈfriːkwəns/

infrequence

Meaning
The state of occurring rarely or at long intervals.
Example
The infrequence of their meetings made it hard to maintain close ties.
C2 noun /ˈvɛləm/

vellum

Meaning
a fine parchment made originally from the skin of a calf, used for writing or printing
Example
The ancient manuscript was written on vellum.
C2 verb /ɡɪld/

gild

Meaning
to cover something with a thin layer of gold or to make something appear more attractive than it really is
Example
The craftsman gilded the frame to give it a luxurious look.
C2 verb /prəˈpɪʃieɪt/

propitiate

Meaning
to win or regain the favor of someone by doing something that pleases them
Example
He offered gifts to propitiate the angry gods.
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 verb /əˈbɛt/

abet

Meaning
to encourage or assist someone to commit a crime or wrongdoing
Example
He was accused of abetting the criminals in their escape.
C2 noun /ˈθɔːməˌtɜrdʒɪst/

thaumaturgist

Meaning
A worker of miracles or magician.
Example
The thaumaturgist amazed the audience with his tricks.
C2 verb /ˈbaɪfərˌkeɪt/

bifurcate

Meaning
to divide into two branches or parts
Example
The road bifurcates into two separate paths at the hill.
C2 noun /ˌfɔːrɔːrdɪˈneɪʃən/

foreordination

Meaning
the act of determining something in advance; predestination
Example
The doctrine of foreordination suggests that events are fixed by divine will.
C2 adjective /ˈhʌski/

husky

Meaning
deep, rough, and slightly hoarse voice; also refers to a strong and sturdy build
Example
He spoke in a husky voice after shouting all day.
C2 noun /lɒŋ ˈwɪskəd ˈkætfɪʃ/

Long whiskered catfish

Meaning
A type of freshwater fish with long whisker-like barbels around its mouth
Example
The fisherman caught a long whiskered catfish in the river.
C2 adjective /ʌkˈsɔːriəs/

uxorious

Meaning
excessively fond of or submissive to one's wife
Example
He was so uxorious that he agreed with everything his wife said.
C2 noun /ˈnes.lɪŋ/

Nestling

Meaning
a young bird that has not yet left its nest
Example
The mother bird fed the hungry nestling with worms.
C2 adjective /ˌnɒndɪˈskrɪpt/

nondescript

Meaning
Lacking distinctive or interesting features; dull and unremarkable.
Example
He lives in a nondescript apartment building on the edge of town.
C2 adjective /ˈrɪbɔːld/

ribald

Meaning
Referring to sexual matters in a humorous or vulgar way.
Example
The comedian’s ribald jokes made the audience laugh uncomfortably.
C2 adjective /ˈhaɪˌbraʊ/

highbrow

Meaning
intellectually superior or cultured; often describing art, literature, or activities appealing to intellectual tastes
Example
The museum is known for its highbrow exhibitions.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛsɪkeɪtɪd/

desiccated

Meaning
completely dried, having had all moisture removed
Example
The museum displayed desiccated specimens of plants.
C2 noun /ˌluːkjʊˈbreɪʃən/

lucubration

Meaning
study or meditation, especially at night
Example
His novel was the result of long lucubration.
C2 verb /ɪˈvɪsəˌreɪt/

eviscerate

Meaning
to remove the internal organs of; to deprive of essential content
Example
The critics eviscerated the movie for its weak storyline.
C2 noun /ˈlɪbərəlɪst/

liberalist

Meaning
a person who supports liberal ideas and principles
Example
He is a well-known liberalist advocating human rights.