bolero
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C2 noun /bəˈlɛəroʊ/

bolero

Meaning
A Spanish dance in slow triple time, or a short jacket open at the front.
Example
The dancers performed a passionate bolero at the festival.
C2 noun /ˈpɔːpərɪzəm/

pauperism

Meaning
The state of being extremely poor.
Example
The country struggled with rising pauperism in the 19th century.
C2 adjective /nɑːrld/

gnarled

Meaning
Twisted, rough, and knotted, especially with age.
Example
The old man had gnarled hands from years of hard work.
C2 noun /ˈfeɪlæŋks/

phalanx

Meaning
A group of people or things arranged in a compact, close formation; also an ancient Greek military formation.
Example
A phalanx of reporters waited outside the courthouse.
C2 noun /ˈfrækɑː/

fracas

Meaning
A noisy disturbance or quarrel.
Example
The fracas outside the bar drew the attention of the police.
C2 noun /kəˈtæb.ə.lɪ.zəm/

catabolism

Meaning
The breakdown of complex molecules in living organisms to form simpler ones together with the release of energy; destructive metabolism.
Example
Catabolism plays a crucial role in cellular energy production.
C2 adjective /ɪˈbʊliənt/

ebullient

Meaning
cheerful and full of energy
Example
She was ebullient after receiving the good news.
C2 noun /ˈfrɔːdjʊləns/

fraudulence

Meaning
The quality or state of being fraudulent; deceitfulness.
Example
The audit revealed fraudulence in the financial statements.
C2 adjective /ˈleɪ.tɪʃ/

latish

Meaning
Somewhat late; occurring or arriving later than usual but not very late.
Example
We arrived latish to the party but still caught most of the fun.
C2 adjective/noun /ɪnˈkɑːrnədiːn/

incarnadine

Meaning
a bright crimson or pinkish-red color
Example
The sky turned incarnadine at sunset.
C2 noun /ˌkɑːnfɔːrˈmeɪʃən/

conformation

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

Aster

Meaning
a flowering plant with daisy-like flowers that typically bloom in fall
Example
The purple asters bloomed beautifully in the autumn garden.
C2 noun /səˈlɪsɪˌtuːd/

solicitude

Meaning
Care or concern for someone or something.
Example
His mother showed great solicitude for his safety.
C2 adjective /ˈbʌmblɪŋ/

bumbling

Meaning
Acting in a clumsy, awkward, or confused way.
Example
The bumbling waiter spilled the drinks on the table.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɛndiˌɛri/

incendiary

Meaning
designed to cause fires or stir up conflict
Example
The politician’s incendiary remarks angered the crowd.
C2 adjective /ˈwɪloʊi/

willowy

Meaning
Gracefully tall, slender, and flexible, like a willow tree.
Example
She moved with a willowy elegance across the stage.
C2 noun (plural) /əˈspɜːr.ʒənz/

aspersions

Meaning
Critical or slanderous remarks; multiple attacks on reputation.
Example
The politician rejected the aspersions cast against him.
C2 noun /kəˈbɑːdi/

kabadi

Meaning
a person who collects and sells scrap or recyclable materials, especially in South Asia
Example
The kabadi came every week to collect old newspapers and bottles.
C2 noun /kiˌɑːrəˈskjʊəroʊ/

chiaroscuro

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.
C2 adjective /ˈtɜːrdʒɪd/

turgid

Meaning
Swollen or distended; (of language) pompous and overcomplicated.
Example
The professor’s lecture was so turgid that many students lost interest.
C2 noun /ˈmæŋɡoʊ fɪʃ/

Mango fish

Meaning
A popular white fish also known as barramundi or Asian sea bass
Example
Mango fish is prized for its delicate flavor and tender texture.
C2 noun /ˈkɒl.ə.kwi/

colloquy

Meaning
A formal conversation or dialogue, often on serious or academic topics.
Example
The professors engaged in a deep colloquy about the future of education.
C2 noun /ˈslʌɡərd/

sluggard

Meaning
A lazy, sluggish person.
Example
The sluggard refused to get out of bed even at noon.
C2 adjective /ˈtɜːrbɪd/

turbid

Meaning
Cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter; confused or obscure in meaning.
Example
The river water became turbid after the heavy rains.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɪɡˈzɪst/

preexist

Meaning
to exist beforehand or before something else
Example
These customs preexist the arrival of modern technology.
C2 verb /beɪst/

baste

Meaning
to pour or brush melted fat, juices, or liquid over meat during cooking to keep it moist
Example
She basted the turkey every 30 minutes to keep it juicy.
C2 adjective /ˌkrɪp.təˈɡræf.ɪk/

cryptographic

Meaning
Relating to cryptography; involving or using secret codes or ciphers for security.
Example
Banks use cryptographic technology to protect transactions.
C2 noun /ˈvɜːrbiɪdʒ/

verbiage

Meaning
Excessive use of words, often with little content or meaning; wordiness.
Example
The contract was filled with unnecessary legal verbiage.
C2 verb /məˈrɔːd/

maraud

Meaning
to roam in search of things to steal or attack
Example
The bandits marauded through the village at night.
C2 adjective /ˌpɒliˈæn.ɪ.ɪʃ/

pollyannaish

Meaning
overly or blindly optimistic
Example
Her pollyannaish attitude ignored the obvious problems.
C2 noun /ˈlɛvi/

levee

Meaning
An embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river or to hold back water.
Example
The town built a levee to protect itself from flooding.
C2 verb /ˌæpərˈteɪn/

appertain

Meaning
to relate to or be connected with something
Example
The rules only appertain to members of the club.
C2 noun /ˈvæləns/

valance

Meaning
A decorative drapery hung across the top of a window or bed.
Example
She chose a floral valance to match the curtains in her bedroom.
C2 adjective /ˈhæm ˌhændɪd/

ham-handed

Meaning
clumsy or inept in handling things or situations
Example
His ham-handed attempt to fix the computer made it worse.
C2 noun /ˈɡʌmp.ʃən/

gumption

Meaning
Courage, resourcefulness, or initiative.
Example
It takes real gumption to start your own business.
C2 noun /ˈlɪniəmənt/

lineament

Meaning
A distinctive feature or characteristic, especially of the face.
Example
Her delicate lineaments revealed her noble birth.
C2 adjective /ˈtɔːrʃəs/

tortious

Meaning
Relating to or involving a wrongful act leading to legal liability.
Example
The company was found guilty of tortious interference with contracts.
C2 noun /ˈmeɪdənˌhʊd/

maidenhood

Meaning
The state of being a maiden; girlhood or virginity.
Example
The poem celebrated the innocence of maidenhood.
C2 noun /ˌmjuːlˈtɪər/

muleteer

Meaning
a person who drives or takes care of mules
Example
The muleteer guided the animals safely across the mountain path.
C2 verb /flɛdʒ/

fledge

Meaning
To develop wing feathers large enough for flight; to bring up until able to fly.
Example
The young birds will fledge in a few weeks.
C2 adjective /əˈpɜːrtənənt/

appurtenant

Meaning
Belonging to or associated with something, often used in legal/property contexts.
Example
The right of way is appurtenant to the landowner’s property.
C2 noun /ˌɪməʊˈbɪləti/

immobility

Meaning
The state of being unable to move.
Example
After the accident, she suffered from immobility in her legs.
C2 noun /ˈklærɪən/

Clarion

Meaning
a shrill narrow-tubed war trumpet; a medieval trumpet with a clear piercing tone
Example
The clarion sounded across the battlefield to signal the charge.
C2 adjective /rɪˈfræɡəbəl/

refragable

Meaning
Capable of being refuted or disproved.
Example
His argument was weak and easily refragable.
C2 noun /ˈækmi/

acme

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

hydrometer

Meaning
An instrument used to measure the density or specific gravity of liquids.
Example
The brewer used a hydrometer to test the sugar content of the solution.
C2 noun /ˈɡæŋ.ɡriːn/

gangrene

Meaning
The death of body tissue due to lack of blood supply or infection.
Example
If untreated, the wound may lead to gangrene.
C2 verb /læmˈpuːn/

lampoon

Meaning
to publicly criticize or ridicule someone or something with humor, irony, or sarcasm
Example
The cartoonist lampooned the politician for his contradictory statements.
C2 noun /ˈluː.nə.si/

lunacy

Meaning
Extreme foolishness or madness; insanity.
Example
It was sheer lunacy to go hiking in the storm.
C2 verb /əˈdʒʊər/

adjure

Meaning
to urge or command someone solemnly, often under oath or a strong sense of duty
Example
The witness was adjured to tell the truth in court.
C2 noun /ˈædʒ.ə.tənt/

Adjutant

Meaning
a large water bird with long legs and neck, also known as adjutant stork
Example
The adjutant stork stood motionless in the shallow water.
C2 noun /ˈdræɡˌnɛt/

dragnet

Meaning
A systematic search or investigation, often by police to catch criminals.
Example
The police launched a dragnet to capture the fugitives.
C2 noun /dɪˈkæmɪtər/

decameter

Meaning
A metric unit of length equal to ten meters.
Example
The field was measured in decameters for accuracy.
C2 adjective /ɪˈfʌldʒənt/

effulgent

Meaning
Shining brilliantly; radiant.
Example
Her effulgent smile brightened everyone's mood.
C2 noun /əˈprəʊ.bri.əm/

opprobrium

Meaning
Harsh criticism or public disgrace.
Example
The scandal brought opprobrium on the politician.
C2 noun /ˈluːkər/

lucre

Meaning
money, especially when regarded as sordid or gained dishonorably
Example
He was motivated more by lucre than by duty.
C2 noun /ˈɛpɪˌsaɪkl/

epicycle

Meaning
a small circle whose center moves around the circumference of a larger one, used in ancient astronomy
Example
The concept of the epicycle was used to explain planetary motion.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛbəˈnɛr/

debonair

Meaning
confident, stylish, and charming, typically referring to a man
Example
He looked debonair in his tuxedo at the gala.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛprɪkətɔːri/

deprecatory

Meaning
expressing disapproval or belittling
Example
He gave a deprecatory remark about their performance.
C2 noun /əˌbɑː.məˈneɪ.ʃən/

abomination

Meaning
a thing that causes disgust or hatred
Example
Slavery was considered an abomination.
C2 noun /lɔːŋ ɡɔːrd/

Long gourd

Meaning
an elongated green vegetable belonging to the cucumber family, used in cooking
Example
She sliced the long gourd thinly for the stir-fry dish.
C2 noun /ˌædʒʊˈreɪʃən/

adjuration

Meaning
a solemn urging or appeal
Example
The priest made an adjuration for peace and unity.
C2 noun /ˌlæs.əˈreɪ.ʃən/

laceration

Meaning
a deep cut or tear in skin or flesh
Example
He needed stitches for a laceration on his leg.
C2 adjective /ˈhæriːd/

harried

Meaning
feeling strained or stressed due to being overworked or constantly bothered
Example
The harried teacher struggled to calm the noisy classroom.
C2 adjective /krɪˈpʌskjʊlər/

crepuscular

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

Mase

Meaning
spice obtained from the reddish seed covering of the nutmeg seed
Example
A pinch of mace adds warmth to the dessert.
C2 adjective /ˌɛsəˈtɛrɪk/

esoteric

Meaning
intended for or understood by only a small number of people with special knowledge
Example
The professor gave an esoteric lecture on ancient philosophy.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛsɪkeɪtɪd/

desiccated

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

bandy

Meaning
To pass (words, ideas, or gossip) back and forth in a casual or argumentative way.
Example
They bandied jokes across the table.
C2 noun /ˈnæfθə/

naphtha

Meaning
A flammable oil containing hydrocarbons, obtained from petroleum or coal tar, used as fuel or solvent.
Example
The factory stored barrels of naphtha for industrial use.
C2 noun /ˈbɜːrsər/

bursar

Meaning
An official in a school or college responsible for financial affairs.
Example
The bursar approved the budget for the new library.
C2 noun /ˈfɔːrˌseɪl/

foresail

Meaning
The principal sail set on the foremast of a sailing vessel.
Example
The crew adjusted the foresail to catch the wind.
C2 verb /ˌdɪspəˈzɛs/

dispossess

Meaning
to deprive someone of land, property, or other possessions
Example
The new law threatened to dispossess many farmers of their land.
C2 adjective /ˌbiːəˈtɪfɪk/

beatific

Meaning
blissfully happy or showing great joy
Example
She had a beatific smile after hearing the good news.
C2 noun /ˌɪnədˈvɜːrtəns/

inadvertence

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

prosody

Meaning
The patterns of rhythm and sound used in poetry and speech.
Example
The professor explained how prosody affects the mood of a poem.
C2 adjective /ˌfærɪˈseɪɪkəl/

pharisaical

Meaning
Excessively concerned with formal rules or outward show of morality, often in a hypocritical way.
Example
His pharisaical behavior made people doubt his sincerity.
C2 verb /trænˈspoʊz/

transpose

Meaning
to change the order or position of something
Example
The editor transposed two paragraphs in the article.
C2 noun /əˈbrɪdʒmənt/

abridgment

Meaning
A shortened version of a larger work, such as a book or speech.
Example
The publisher released an abridgment of the lengthy novel for students.
C2 noun /ˈbʊlwərk/

bulwark

Meaning
A strong wall or defensive structure; something that provides protection or support.
Example
The fortress walls served as a bulwark against enemy attacks.
C2 adjective /ˈbʊərɪʃ/

boorish

Meaning
Rude, insensitive, and lacking manners or refinement.
Example
His boorish behavior ruined the dinner party.
C2 noun /kəˈrɑːləri/

corollary

Meaning
a direct or natural consequence or result
Example
One corollary of the new policy was increased public awareness.
C2 adjective /ˈæməˌtɔːri/

amatory

Meaning
Relating to or expressing sexual love.
Example
The poet’s verses were filled with amatory themes.
C2 verb /deɪn/

deign

Meaning
to do something considered beneath one's dignity
Example
The king did not deign to reply to the commoner.
C2 adjective /sərˈkjuːɪtəs/

circuitous

Meaning
Longer than the most direct way; roundabout.
Example
He took a circuitous route to avoid traffic.
C2 noun /ˌprɒdɪˈɡæləti/

prodigality

Meaning
the quality of being wastefully extravagant
Example
His prodigality with money left him bankrupt.
C2 noun /ləˈdʒɪʃən/

logician

Meaning
A person skilled in logic and reasoning.
Example
Aristotle is considered one of the greatest logicians in history.
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 əˈdʒuː.dɪ.kə.tɪv ˈbɒd.i

adjudicative body

Meaning
An official organization that has the authority to judge disputes and make decisions.
Example
The adjudicative body deliberated on the case.
C2 verb /ˈdɒɡmətaɪz/

dogmatize

Meaning
To state opinions or beliefs as if they were absolute truths.
Example
The professor tended to dogmatize on political issues.
C2 adjective /ˈplɛntɪəs/

plenteous

Meaning
existing in great quantity; abundant
Example
The harvest was plenteous, providing enough food for the entire village.
C2 noun /ˌɪnkænˈdɛsəns/

incandescence

Meaning
the emission of light from a hot object; brilliance
Example
The incandescence of the candle filled the dark room.
C2 noun /ˈhɔːtɪnəs/

haughtiness

Meaning
The appearance or quality of being arrogantly superior and disdainful.
Example
His haughtiness made him unpopular among his peers.
C2 noun /kəˈdɛnzə/

cadenza

Meaning
An elaborate solo passage in a piece of music, usually near the end.
Example
The pianist performed a brilliant cadenza before the final movement.
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 /ˈklæpər/

clapper

Meaning
The free-swinging metal piece inside a bell that strikes it to produce sound.
Example
The clapper inside the bell was broken.
C2 noun /næˈteɪʃən/

natation

Meaning
The act or sport of swimming.
Example
She took lessons in natation to improve her swimming skills.
C2 adjective /rɪˈtɪkjʊlət/

reticulate

Meaning
Having a net-like pattern or structure.
Example
The leaf had a reticulate pattern of veins.
C2 adjective /ˈæprəbəˌtɔːri/

approbatory

Meaning
expressing approval or praise
Example
The teacher gave an approbatory nod after reading the essay.
C2 noun /ˈfɔːθ.raɪt.nəs/

forthrightness

Meaning
The quality of being honest and straightforward; directness.
Example
Her forthrightness made her a respected journalist.
C2 adjective /ˌlækəˈdeɪzɪkəl/

lackadaisical

Meaning
lacking enthusiasm, energy, or determination; careless or lazy
Example
His lackadaisical attitude toward work annoyed his boss.
C2 verb /ˌmɪsəˈproʊpriˌeɪt/

misappropriate

Meaning
to use something dishonestly or illegally for one's own purposes
Example
He was accused of misappropriating company funds.
C2 noun /ˈaɪ.ərn.wʊd/

Ironwood

Meaning
a hard, dense wood from various trees; also the tree itself that produces small flowers
Example
The ironwood tree blooms with tiny white flowers.
C2 adjective sɑːˈtɔːrɪəl

sartorial

Meaning
Of or relating to clothing or style or manner of dress.
Example
His sartorial choices were always on trend and admired.
C2 noun /ˈfrɛs.koʊ/

fresco

Meaning
A painting done rapidly in watercolor on wet plaster so that the colors penetrate the surface
Example
The church walls were decorated with beautiful frescoes.
C2 adjective /ɪˈlɪbərəl/

illiberal

Meaning
Opposed to liberal principles; restricting freedom of thought or behavior.
Example
The government was criticized for its illiberal policies.
C2 adjective /ˈmʌski/

musky

Meaning
having a strong, sweet, earthy smell like musk
Example
The perfume had a musky fragrance.
C2 noun /ˈmɛtəfɔːrm/

metaphorm

Meaning
A coined or rare term sometimes used to describe a hybrid form of metaphor and form in literature or art.
Example
The poet introduced a metaphorm to blend imagery with structure.
C2 adjective /ˈɡæŋ.ɡli/

gangly

Meaning
Tall, thin, and awkward in movement or appearance.
Example
The gangly teenager stumbled while trying to dance.
C2 noun /ˌɪntərpəˈzɪʃən/

interposition

Meaning
The act of intervening or coming between two things, often to influence or prevent an outcome.
Example
The manager’s interposition prevented a heated argument from escalating.
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.
C2 adjective /ədˈmɒnɪtəri/

admonitory

Meaning
giving or conveying a warning or reprimand
Example
She gave him an admonitory glance.
C2 adjective /ɪɡˈnoʊ.bəl/

Ignoble

Meaning
dishonorable; not noble in character; base or mean
Example
His ignoble actions betrayed his friends' trust.
C2 noun /ɪmˌprɒb.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/

Improbability

Meaning
the quality or state of being improbable; unlikely to be true or to happen
Example
The improbability of winning the lottery twice didn't stop her from buying tickets.
C2 adjective /kəˈprɪʃəs/

capricious

Meaning
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
Example
The stock market can be capricious, shifting dramatically without warning.
C2 noun

Kinsfolk

C2 noun /ˌsɪɡnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

signification

Meaning
the meaning or sense conveyed by a word, action, or symbol
Example
The signification of the gesture was misunderstood.
C2 verb /əˈkriːt/

accrete

Meaning
to grow or increase gradually by accumulation or addition
Example
Dust particles accrete over time to form larger celestial bodies.
C2 noun /ˈneɪˌseɪ.ɪŋ/

naysaying

Meaning
The act of expressing negative or pessimistic views.
Example
His constant naysaying discouraged the team.
C2 adjective /ˈvɛdʒɪtəl/

vegetal

Meaning
relating to or consisting of plants or vegetation
Example
The soup had a distinct vegetal flavor.
C2 verb /ˈwaŋɡl/

wangle

Meaning
To achieve something by clever or sometimes dishonest persuasion or trickery.
Example
He wangled a free ticket to the concert.