billingsgate
All a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
All CEFR A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
Content locale
EN English BN Bengali HI Hindi ES Spanish FR French DE German RU Russian ZH Chinese JA Japanese
All Vocabulary Cards All Vocabularies
C2 noun /ˈbɪlɪŋzˌɡeɪt/

billingsgate

Meaning
Coarse or abusive language; vulgar or offensive speech.
Example
The heated argument quickly descended into billingsgate.
C2 noun /ˈvoʊtəri/

votary

Meaning
A devoted follower or admirer of someone or something.
Example
He is a votary of classical music and attends every concert.
C2 noun /ˈdɛθsˌhɛd/

deaths-head

Meaning
A representation of a human skull, often used as a symbol of death.
Example
The pirate flag was marked with a grim deaths-head.
C2 noun /ˈkriːməri/

creamery

Meaning
a place where milk and cream are processed and dairy products are made
Example
The local creamery produces fresh butter and cheese daily.
C2 adjective /ˈwɪnsəm/

winsome

Meaning
pleasant and attractive in a fresh, innocent, or charming way
Example
Her winsome smile instantly put the nervous guests at ease.
C2 verb /ɪˈvɪns/

evince

Meaning
to show or demonstrate clearly
Example
She evinced her interest in the project through active participation.
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.
C2 noun /ˈkedʒ.ə.riː/

Kedgeree

Meaning
a European dish of cooked rice, fish, and hard-boiled eggs, originally from India
Example
The breakfast menu featured traditional kedgeree with smoked haddock and eggs.
C2 noun /ˌpɜː.spɪˈkæs.ɪ.ti/

perspicacity

Meaning
Sharp insight, keen understanding and discernment.
Example
Her perspicacity in business decisions led to success.
C2 adjective /æbˈstiːmiəs/

abstemious

Meaning
not allowing oneself much food or drink; marked by moderation
Example
She lived an abstemious life, avoiding all luxuries.
C2 adjective /ˈdaʊ.di/

dowdy

Meaning
unfashionable, dull, or shabby in appearance
Example
She wore a dowdy dress to the party.
C2 verb /bɪˈdaɪzən/

bedizen

Meaning
to dress up or decorate in a showy or tasteless way
Example
She was bedizened with cheap jewelry.
C2 adjective /ˌpluːˈpɜːrfɪkt/

pluperfect

Meaning
a verb tense expressing an action completed before another past action
Example
By the time she arrived, he had finished his homework, showing the pluperfect tense.
C2 adjective /ˈlæmbənt/

lambent

Meaning
glowing or flickering softly; having a gentle radiance
Example
The lambent light of the candle filled the room with warmth.
C2 adjective /ˈrævənɪŋ/

ravening

Meaning
Extremely hungry and greedy; voracious.
Example
The ravening wolves circled the camp.
C2 verb /rɪˈmɒnstreɪt/

remonstrate

Meaning
To make a forceful protest or objection.
Example
Citizens remonstrated against the new tax policy.
C2 noun /ˈfoʊksl/

forecastle

Meaning
The forward part of a ship below the deck, traditionally used as living quarters for the crew.
Example
The sailors gathered in the forecastle after their shift.
C2 noun/verb /ˈrɛkəmˌpɛns/

recompense

Meaning
to compensate someone for loss or harm suffered; compensation given for damage or injury
Example
The company offered financial recompense to the injured worker.
C2 noun /ˈpæk.ɪ.dɜːrm/

pachyderm

Meaning
a large mammal with thick skin, such as an elephant, rhinoceros, or hippopotamus
Example
The zoo had several pachyderms, including elephants and rhinos.
C2 noun /mæŋˈɡoʊ.li.ə/

Mangolia

Meaning
a type of flowering tree with large, fragrant pink or white flowers
Example
The beautiful magnolia tree bloomed in spring with pink flowers.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈpælpəbəl/

impalpable

Meaning
unable to be felt by touch; difficult to grasp or understand
Example
There was an impalpable sense of fear in the room.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsrɪˈpjuːt/

disrepute

Meaning
the state of being held in low esteem or having a bad reputation
Example
The scandal brought the politician into disrepute.
C2 adjective /ˈkɔːpjʊlənt/

corpulent

Meaning
fat or obese; having a large bulky body
Example
The corpulent man struggled to fit into the small chair.
C2 verb /fɪˈlɪsɪˌteɪt/

felicitate

Meaning
to congratulate; to express good wishes
Example
We felicitated the graduating students at the ceremony.
C2 noun /daɪˈvɛstɪtʃər/

divestiture

Meaning
the action of selling off or disposing of business interests or assets
Example
The divestiture of the subsidiary was completed last year.
C2 noun /ˈluː.məˌnɛr.i/

luminary

Meaning
A person who inspires or influences others, especially in a particular field.
Example
He is considered a luminary in the world of science.
C2 adjective /ˈbeɪlfəl/

baleful

Meaning
Threatening harm; menacing or expressing hatred.
Example
She gave him a baleful look after the insult.
C2 noun /ˈkwɔːrtoʊ/

quarto

Meaning
A book size resulting from folding each printed sheet into four leaves (eight pages).
Example
The library has rare Shakespeare quartos.
C2 verb /fleɪ/

flay

Meaning
to strip off the skin of something or criticize severely
Example
The chef flayed the fish before cooking it.
C2 adjective, noun /pləˈbiːən/

plebian

Meaning
alternate spelling of 'plebeian'; common or ordinary
Example
His tastes were rather plebian, favoring simple food and clothes.
C2 noun /ˈpeɪpəsi/

papacy

Meaning
The office or authority of the Pope in the Roman Catholic Church.
Example
The papacy played a significant role in medieval European politics.
C2 noun /ɑːlˈfækʃən/

olfaction

Meaning
The sense of smell; the process of detecting and perceiving odors.
Example
Dogs have a highly developed sense of olfaction.
C2 adjective /ˈbæti/

batty

Meaning
crazy or eccentric in behavior
Example
The old man down the street is a bit batty but harmless.
C2 noun /əˈbluːʃən/

ablution

Meaning
the act of washing oneself, often for religious purposes
Example
He performed his morning ablution before the prayer.
C2 adjective /ˈkʌvətəs/

covetous

Meaning
having or showing a strong desire for someone else's possessions
Example
She gave him a covetous look when he showed his new watch.
C2 noun /ˈtʃæm.pæk/

Champak

Meaning
a fragrant yellow or white flower from a tree native to South Asia, used in perfumes and religious ceremonies
Example
The champak tree in the temple courtyard bloomed with golden flowers.
C2 noun /ˈæntɪk/

antic

Meaning
a playful, funny, or silly act or gesture
Example
The children laughed at the clown’s antics.
C2 noun /ɪmˈprɑːvɪdəns/

improvidence

Meaning
Lack of foresight or care for future needs.
Example
His improvidence led to financial difficulties.
C2 noun /ˈaɪdɪl/

idyll

Meaning
An extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque episode or scene, often idealized.
Example
Their honeymoon was an idyll on a tropical island.
C2 verb /məˈlɪŋɡər/

malinger

Meaning
to exaggerate or fake illness in order to escape duty or work
Example
He tried to malinger to avoid going to school.
C2 adjective /ˈblæs.fə.məs/

blasphemous

Meaning
showing disrespect or lack of reverence for God or sacred things
Example
The book was banned for its blasphemous content.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒndʒʊɡəl/

conjugal

Meaning
relating to marriage or the relationship between husband and wife
Example
They enjoyed a long life of conjugal happiness.
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 noun /ˈstrɪndʒənsi/

stringency

Meaning
the quality of being strict, precise, or severe
Example
The stringency of the new rules surprised everyone.
C2 adjective /ˈven.tʃər.əs/

Venturous

Meaning
willing to take risks; adventurous; bold
Example
The venturous explorer climbed the dangerous mountain.
C2 adjective /pərˈfɪdiəs/

perfidious

Meaning
deceitful and untrustworthy
Example
The spy was executed for his perfidious actions.
C2 noun /fluːk/

fluke

Meaning
A stroke of luck; an unexpected piece of good fortune.
Example
Winning the lottery was a complete fluke.
C2 verb /dɔːb/

daub

Meaning
to spread a thick or sticky substance carelessly on a surface
Example
The children daubed paint all over the walls.
C2 noun/adjective /ælˈbaɪ.noʊ/

albino

Meaning
A person, animal, or plant lacking normal pigmentation, resulting in pale skin, hair, and eyes.
Example
The albino rabbit had white fur and pink eyes.
C2 adjective /ˈfʊl.səm/

fulsome

Meaning
Excessively flattering or insincere; abundant or generous in amount.
Example
He offered fulsome praise to his boss.
C2 noun /mɪˈsɑːdʒɪnɪst/

misogynist

Meaning
A person who dislikes, despises, or is strongly prejudiced against women.
Example
Many condemned his speech as the words of a misogynist.
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 noun /sfɛˈrɪsɪti/

sphericity

Meaning
The quality or state of being spherical; roundness.
Example
The sphericity of the ball made it roll smoothly on the ground.
C2 adjective /ˌaɪsəʊˈθɜːrməl/

isothermal

Meaning
Having or maintaining equal or constant temperature.
Example
The experiment was conducted under isothermal conditions.
C2 noun /ˈæmɪti/

amity

Meaning
A friendly relationship between people or countries.
Example
The treaty helped maintain amity between the neighboring nations.
C2 noun /ˈnaɪəlɪst/

nihilist

Meaning
A person who rejects all religious and moral principles, often believing that life is meaningless.
Example
He was called a nihilist for rejecting all social norms.
C2 verb /ˈdʌmfaʊnd/

dumbfound

Meaning
to greatly astonish or shock someone so they are temporarily speechless
Example
The magician's trick dumbfounded the audience.
C2 noun /ˈpɒlɪɡæmɪst/

polygamist

Meaning
a person who has more than one spouse at the same time
Example
The polygamist had three wives living in different houses.
C2 verb /læmˈbæst/

lambast

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

Benignity

Meaning
kindness; gentleness; the quality of being benign or gracious
Example
Her benignity towards all people made her beloved by everyone.
C2 adjective /ˈnaɪt.li/

Knightly

Meaning
having the characteristics of a knight; chivalrous; noble and brave
Example
He showed knightly courage in defending the innocent.
C2 verb /həˈbɪtʃuˌeɪt/

habituate

Meaning
to make someone accustomed to something
Example
The monks habituated themselves to meditation.
C2 adjective /ˈdəʊl.səm/

dolesome

Meaning
Filled with grief or sadness; mournful.
Example
The dolesome ballad brought tears to their eyes.
C2 adjective, noun /pləˈbiːən/

plebeian

Meaning
common, ordinary, or belonging to the lower social classes
Example
The festival was enjoyed by both plebeian and noble citizens.
C2 noun mɒnəˈtɑːskɪŋ

monotasking

Meaning
The practice of dedicating oneself to a given task and minimizing potential interruptions until the task is completed or a significant period of time has elapsed.
Example
Monotasking can often lead to higher quality work.
C2 adjective /pərˈfɛktəbl/

perfectible

Meaning
capable of being made perfect or improved
Example
Human nature is imperfect but perfectible.
C2 adjective /krəˈmætɪk/

chromatic

Meaning
Relating to colors or, in music, notes outside the standard scale.
Example
The artist used a chromatic palette to create vibrant contrasts.
C2 noun /ˈhaɪərəˌɡlɪf/

hieroglyph

Meaning
A picture or symbol used in ancient writing systems, especially Egyptian writing.
Example
The walls of the temple were covered in hieroglyphs.
C2 noun /kjuːˈpɪdəti/

cupidity

Meaning
Excessive desire for wealth or possessions; greed.
Example
The king's downfall was caused by his cupidity.
C2 noun /ˈkrɪsəndəm/

christendom

Meaning
the worldwide body or community of Christians
Example
The news spread quickly across Christendom.
C2 noun /məˈnɒkrəsi/

monocracy

Meaning
A system of government by a single person; autocracy.
Example
The nation suffered under decades of monocracy.
C2 adjective /sɛnˈsɔːriəs/

censorious

Meaning
severely critical of others
Example
She was always censorious about her colleagues' mistakes.
C2 adjective /ˈbɔːdi/

bawdy

Meaning
humorously indecent or obscene, often in a sexual way
Example
The comedian’s bawdy jokes made the audience laugh and blush.
C2 adjective /dɪˈstreɪ/

distrait

Meaning
deeply distracted or absent-minded, often due to worry or grief
Example
He looked distrait after hearing the sad news.
C2 verb /ɪnˈveɪɡəl/

inveigle

Meaning
To persuade someone to do something by deception or flattery.
Example
She inveigled him into signing the contract.
C2 adjective /ˈbɪloʊɪŋ/

billowing

Meaning
Describing something that swells or surges outward in waves or large masses.
Example
She walked through the billowing curtains.
C2 verb /ˈstræɡəl/

straggle

Meaning
To move or spread in an irregular, scattered, or untidy way.
Example
The children began to straggle behind on the long hike.
C2 noun /ˌmɒnəˈmeɪniə/

monomania

Meaning
Excessive concentration or obsession with a single subject or idea.
Example
His monomania for collecting stamps worried his family.
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.
C2 noun /ɪkˈsɔːr.ə/

Ixora

Meaning
a tropical flowering shrub with clusters of small bright red, orange, or yellow flowers
Example
The bright red ixora bushes lined the pathway to the tropical garden.
C2 adjective /ɡɑːrˈɡæntʃuən/

gargantuan

Meaning
Extremely large; enormous.
Example
They served a gargantuan meal at the feast.
C2 noun /ˈtʃælɪs/

chalice

Meaning
A large cup or goblet, typically used for drinking wine in religious ceremonies.
Example
The priest lifted the golden chalice during the ceremony.
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 adjective /ɪˈfjuːsɪv/

effusive

Meaning
Expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner.
Example
She gave him an effusive welcome after his long journey.
C2 noun /drɒs/

dross

Meaning
worthless or unwanted material; rubbish or impurities
Example
Most of his early writings were considered dross.
C2 noun /ˈlɒdʒ.mənt/

lodgment

Meaning
The act of lodging or a place of temporary stay; also a deposit of something.
Example
The soldiers found lodgment in the abandoned house.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɛnseɪt/

insensate

Meaning
lacking physical sensation or empathy; without feeling or sensitivity
Example
The dictator's insensate cruelty shocked the world.
C2 noun /kwaɪˈiːtəs/

Quietus

Meaning
death or something that causes death; a final settlement
Example
The hero received his quietus from the villain's sword.
C2 noun /ˈkɔːrmərənt/

cormorant

Meaning
a large black sea bird that catches fish by diving
Example
The cormorant perched on the rock, drying its wings after a dive.
C2 noun /ˈklævɪkəl/

clavicle

Meaning
the collarbone, a long bone that serves as a strut between the shoulder blade and the sternum
Example
He fractured his clavicle in the accident.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈmɪtɪɡeɪtɪd/

unmitigated

Meaning
absolute; not lessened or moderated
Example
The meeting was an unmitigated disaster.
C2 verb /əˈnɔɪnt/

anoint

Meaning
To smear or rub with oil, often as part of a religious ceremony or as a sign of consecration.
Example
The priest anointed the king with holy oil.
C2 noun /ɡæsˈtraɪtɪs/

gastritis

Meaning
Inflammation of the lining of the stomach.
Example
The doctor diagnosed him with gastritis after his endoscopy.
C2 verb /ˈtʃɔːrtl/

chortle

Meaning
to laugh in a breathy, gleeful way
Example
The audience chortled at the comedian's witty remarks.
C2 verb /ˌmælˈtriːt/

maltreat

Meaning
To treat someone cruelly or unfairly.
Example
The law punishes those who maltreat animals.
C2 noun /ˈflæt.ər.ər/

Flatterer

Meaning
a person who lavishes praise, often insincerely and in order to gain advantage
Example
The king was surrounded by flatterers who only told him what he wanted to hear.
C2 verb /bɪˈdræɡəl/

bedraggle

Meaning
to make something wet, dirty, and untidy by dragging it through mud or water
Example
The children came home bedraggled after playing in the rain.
C2 verb /ˌmæn.juˈmɪt/

manumit

Meaning
to release from slavery or servitude; to set free
Example
The landowner decided to manumit his slaves.
C2 noun /klaɪm/

clime

Meaning
A region defined by its climate.
Example
He traveled to warmer climes during the winter.
C2 verb /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnd/

reprehend

Meaning
to express disapproval or criticism of someone or something
Example
The teacher reprehended the student for being dishonest.
C2 adjective, noun /ˈænθrəpɔɪd/

anthropoid

Meaning
Resembling a human being in form; a primate such as apes and monkeys.
Example
The gorilla is considered an anthropoid ape.
C2 noun əˌmæl.ɡəˈmeɪ.ʃən

amalgamation

Meaning
The action, process, or result of combining or uniting.
Example
The amalgamation of AI and big data is transforming industries.
C2 adjective /ˈfɪt.fəl/

fitful

Meaning
occurring in irregular bursts; not continuous or steady
Example
He had a fitful sleep due to the storm.
C2 adjective /kɒnˈsæŋɡwɪn/

consanguine

Meaning
Of the same blood or origin; related by birth.
Example
The two families were consanguine through their grandparents.
C2 adjective /ˌoʊdəˈrɪfərəs/

odoriferous

Meaning
having or giving off a smell, especially a strong or pleasant one
Example
The garden was filled with odoriferous flowers.
C2 adjective /ˈtrʌk.jʊ.lənt/

truculent

Meaning
Eager or quick to argue, fight, or show aggression.
Example
She became truculent when her ideas were challenged.
C2 noun /əkˈsɛʃən/

accession

Meaning
the attainment of a position of rank or power, especially a monarch or president; the formal acceptance of an agreement or treaty
Example
The king's accession to the throne was celebrated with great ceremony.
C2 adjective /sɪˈbeɪʃəs/

sebaceous

Meaning
Relating to or secreting sebum, an oily substance from the skin.
Example
Acne is often caused by overactive sebaceous glands.
C2 adjective /ˈvoʊtɪv/

votive

Meaning
Offered or dedicated in fulfillment of a vow.
Example
She lit a votive candle in the church as a prayer.
C2 verb /bɪˈmjuːz/

bemuse

Meaning
To confuse or puzzle someone.
Example
The complex instructions bemused the new employees.
C2 adjective /əbˈstrɛpərəs/

obstreperous

Meaning
Noisy and difficult to control.
Example
The obstreperous students disrupted the class.
C2 verb /həˈmɑː.dʒə.naɪz/

homogenize

Meaning
To make uniform or similar by blending or mixing different elements.
Example
The company tried to homogenize its products across global markets.
C2 noun /kwɑːˈfjʊr/

coiffure

Meaning
A person's hairstyle, typically an elaborate one.
Example
Her elegant coiffure impressed everyone at the party.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈplaɪəbl/

impliable

Meaning
Capable of being implied or suggested.
Example
The meaning of the statement is not directly clear but is impliable from the context.
C2 adjective /ɪˈnjʊərd/

inured

Meaning
Accustomed to something, especially something unpleasant.
Example
After years of hardship, she was inured to suffering.
C2 adjective /pərˈsuːənt/

pursuant

Meaning
in accordance with or following something, especially a law or rule
Example
The decision was made pursuant to the regulations.
C2 noun /ɪˌluːmɪˈnɑːti/

illuminati

Meaning
a group of people claiming to have special enlightenment or secret knowledge, often linked to conspiracies
Example
Many conspiracy theories involve the Illuminati as a secret world-controlling group.
C2 adjective /rɪˈflɛksəbl/

reflexible

Meaning
Capable of being reflected or bent back.
Example
The surface was highly reflexible, bouncing light in different directions.
C2 noun /dɪˈbɛntʃər/

debenture

Meaning
a type of debt instrument not secured by physical assets or collateral
Example
The company raised capital by issuing debentures to investors.
C2 noun /lɪˈbrɛtoʊ/

libretto

Meaning
The text of an opera or other long vocal work.
Example
She studied the libretto before attending the opera performance.
C2 noun /ˈdɒɡ roʊz/

Dog-rose

Meaning
A wild rose species with pink or white flowers and thorny stems, common in hedgerows
Example
The dog-rose bush grew wild along the countryside path.