catapult
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C1 noun/verb /ˈkætəpʌlt/

catapult

Meaning
A device for launching objects at high speed; to hurl or launch something suddenly.
Example
The invention catapulted him to international fame.
C1 adjective kənˈten.ʃəs

contentious

Meaning
Causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.
Example
The contentious issue divided global leaders.
C1 noun /ˌrek.ənˌsɪl.iˈeɪ.ʃən/

reconciliation

Meaning
The restoration of friendly relations; the action of making one view or belief compatible with another.
Example
The peace treaty was a major step toward reconciliation.
C1 adjective /əˈfɜːrmətɪv/

affirmative

Meaning
expressing agreement, approval, or a positive response
Example
She gave an affirmative answer to the proposal.
C1 adjective, verb, noun /ˈkaʊntərfɪt/

counterfeit

Meaning
made to look like something genuine in order to deceive
Example
The police seized a batch of counterfeit currency.
C1 adjective /ɪˌlɪzəˈbiːθən/

elizabethan

Meaning
Relating to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England (1558–1603), especially the style of that period.
Example
Shakespeare wrote many of his plays during the Elizabethan era.
C1 phrase ˌkæt.əˈɡɒr.ɪ.kəl.i rɪˈfjuː.tɪd

categorically refuted

Meaning
Completely and absolutely denied or disproved.
Example
The claims were categorically refuted by officials.
C1 noun /ˈɛksələnsɪ/

excellency

Meaning
a title of honor for people of high rank, especially ambassadors or governors
Example
His Excellency the Ambassador attended the ceremony.
C1 adjective dɪ ˈskrɛʃ.ən.er.i

discretionary

Meaning
Available for use at the discretion of the user; not required or mandatory.
Example
He set aside some discretionary income for travel.
C1 noun /ˈsɪmətri/

symmetry

Meaning
the quality of having balanced proportions or identical parts facing each other
Example
The building’s symmetry impressed the visitors.
C1 noun ˌkɒn.əˈteɪ.ʃən

connotation

Meaning
The implied or suggested meaning of a word beyond its literal definition
Example
The word 'home' has a warm connotation of comfort and family.
C1 noun /prɪˈdɒmɪnəns/

predominance

Meaning
The state of being greater in number, strength, or importance.
Example
The predominance of online shopping has changed retail forever.
C1 adjective /ˈnɔːʃəs/

nauseous

Meaning
feeling like you are about to vomit; causing a feeling of sickness
Example
The smell of rotten food made her feel nauseous.
C1 adjective /ˈstɔːlwərt/

stalwart

Meaning
Loyal, reliable, and hardworking; strongly built or sturdy.
Example
She has always been a stalwart supporter of the community.
C1 adjective /kənˈkluː.sɪv/

Conclusive

Meaning
final; decisive; settling a matter completely
Example
The evidence was conclusive and left no room for doubt.
C1 adjective /ˈɜːr.nɪst/

Earnest

Meaning
sincere; genuine; showing deep and serious conviction
Example
He made an earnest attempt to solve the problem.
C1 adjective /tɔːt/

taut

Meaning
stretched or pulled tight; tense
Example
The rope was pulled taut between the two poles.
C1 noun /ˈsaɪ.ən/

scion

Meaning
a descendant of a wealthy, aristocratic, or influential family
Example
He is the scion of a wealthy industrialist family.
C1 verb /ˈnuːtər/

neuter

Meaning
To remove the reproductive organs of an animal; or having no gender.
Example
They decided to neuter their cat to prevent more kittens.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈses.ənt/

incessant

Meaning
Continuing without pause or interruption; constant.
Example
The incessant noise from the construction site made it hard to concentrate.
C1 noun /fɔːrˈkloʊʒər/

foreclosure

Meaning
The legal process by which a lender takes control of a property from a borrower who has failed to make payments.
Example
The family lost their home due to foreclosure after missing several mortgage payments.
C1 noun /dɪˈsiːt/

Deceit

Meaning
the action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth
Example
His deceit was discovered when the truth about his qualifications came to light.
C1 adjective /ɪɡˈzuːbərənt/

exuberant

Meaning
full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness
Example
The children were exuberant after winning the game.
C1 noun /wæks ɡɔːrd/

Wax Gourd

Meaning
a large white or green gourd with waxy skin, commonly used in Asian cooking
Example
The wax gourd soup is very nutritious and helps with digestion.
C1 verb /rɪˈnɛɡ/

renege

Meaning
to go back on a promise, agreement, or commitment
Example
The company reneged on its promise to increase wages.
C1 adjective /ˈven.ə.məs/

Venomous

Meaning
secreting venom; full of malice or spite; extremely hostile
Example
The venomous snake struck quickly at its prey.
C1 adjective /ˈdaʊn.kæst/

downcast

Meaning
feeling sad, dejected, or with lowered eyes
Example
He looked downcast after hearing the bad news.
C1 adjective /ˈɡɑːrdɪd/

guarded

Meaning
Cautious and careful in speech or action, often to avoid giving too much away.
Example
He gave a guarded reply to the journalist.
C1 verb /sleɪ/

slay

Meaning
to kill violently; informally, to impress greatly
Example
The hero vowed to slay the dragon.
C1 noun trəˈdʒek.tər.i

trajectory

Meaning
The path followed by a projectile flying or an object moving under the action of given forces.
Example
The satellite followed its intended trajectory.
C1 adjective /bəˈroʊk/

baroque

Meaning
relating to a highly ornate and extravagant style of art, architecture, or music from the 17th and early 18th centuries; excessively elaborate or complex
Example
The church was decorated in a baroque style with intricate details.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnrɪˈkwaɪtɪd/

unrequited

Meaning
Not returned or reciprocated, especially in the context of love or affection.
Example
He suffered from unrequited love for years.
C1 noun /ˌrɛs.ɪˈprɒs.ɪ.ti/

reciprocity

Meaning
The practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit.
Example
Business relationships thrive on reciprocity.
C1 adjective /ˌfʊl ˈbɒd.id/

full-bodied

Meaning
Having a strong, rich, and robust quality, especially of wine, coffee, or voice.
Example
He prefers a full-bodied red wine with his dinner.
C1 adjective /əbˈzɜːrvənt/

Observant

Meaning
quick to notice things; watchful; attentive
Example
The observant detective noticed every small detail at the crime scene.
C1 noun ˌvæljuˈeɪʃən

valuation

Meaning
An estimation of the worth of something.
Example
The valuation of the property was much higher than expected.
C1 noun /ˈtriːtɪs/

treatise

Meaning
a formal and systematic written work dealing with a subject in detail
Example
He wrote a treatise on modern economic theory.
C1 verb rɪˈpel

repel

Meaning
To push away or force apart due to similar charges or properties.
Example
Protons repel each other.
C1 noun /ɪˈreləvəns/

irrelevance

Meaning
the quality of not being connected to or important for a particular matter; lack of significance
Example
His long explanation only highlighted the irrelevance of the details to the main issue.
C1 noun /ˈriːpər/

reaper

Meaning
a person or machine that cuts and gathers crops
Example
The reaper moved slowly through the golden fields.
C1 verb /dɪsˈoʊn/

disown

Meaning
to refuse to acknowledge or accept responsibility for someone or something
Example
He decided to disown his reckless brother.
C1 noun /ˈheɪvən/

haven

Meaning
a safe place or shelter
Example
The library became a haven for students during exams.
C1 verb /ˈkwentʃɪŋ/

quenching

Meaning
The act of satisfying thirst or extinguishing something like fire.
Example
Drinking cold water was quenching her thirst.
C1 noun ˈlɪniɪdʒ

Lineage

Meaning
Direct descent from an ancestor; ancestry or pedigree.
Example
Tracing your lineage can reveal unknown ancestors.
C1 noun /ˈkɪləˌwɒt/

kilowatt

Meaning
a unit of power equal to 1,000 watts
Example
The generator produces ten kilowatts of electricity.
C1 noun /ˈprəʊ.lɒɡ/

prologue

Meaning
an introduction to a book, play, or event
Example
The novel begins with a short prologue set in the past.
C1 noun ˌɔːɡ.menˈteɪ.ʃən

augmentation

Meaning
Increasing quantity, power or performance.
Example
The company invested in the augmentation of its workforce.
C1 noun /ˈdiːviəns/

deviance

Meaning
Behavior that differs from accepted social or moral standards.
Example
The book studies deviance in urban youth culture.
C1 noun /djuːˈɛt/

duet

Meaning
a musical performance by two singers or instrumentalists
Example
They sang a beautiful duet together on stage.
C1 noun /ˈɪmɪnəns/

imminence

Meaning
the state of being about to happen
Example
The imminence of the storm forced people to take shelter.
C1 noun /ˈtɜː.mɔɪl/

turmoil

Meaning
A state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty.
Example
The political turmoil led to mass protests.
C1 adjective /ænˈtɪriər/

anterior

Meaning
Situated at or toward the front; coming before in position or time.
Example
The anterior part of the brain controls logical thinking.
C1 adjective liːst prɪˈpeərd

least prepared

Meaning
Having the minimum level of readiness or equipment to handle a situation.
Example
Bangladesh is among the least prepared for climate adaptation.
C1 verb /ænˈtæɡənaɪz/

antagonize

Meaning
to cause someone to become hostile or angry; to provoke opposition
Example
His rude remarks only served to antagonize his colleagues.
C1 noun /ˈroʊz ˈwɔː.tər/

Rose-water

Meaning
a flavored water made by steeping rose petals in water, used in cooking and cosmetics
Example
She added a few drops of rose-water to the dessert.
C1 verb ˈsɪn.ɚ.dʒaɪz

synergize

Meaning
combine in such a way as to enhance effectiveness.
Example
The departments must synergize to improve efficiency.
C1 noun /ˈtuːsəm/

twosome

Meaning
A pair of people considered together, often in a romantic or competitive context.
Example
They entered the dance competition as a twosome.
C1 adjective kəˈlɒs.əl

Colossal

Meaning
Extremely large, gigantic, enormous in size or extent.
Example
The colossal pyramids of Egypt are a marvel of architecture.
C1 noun rɪˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən

regeneration

Meaning
Renewal, growth and development of cells, tissues or energy
Example
Proper rest allows muscle regeneration after exercise.
C1 noun /sɪˈdʌk.ʃən/

Seduction

Meaning
the action of seducing someone; temptation to do something wrong
Example
He fell victim to the seduction of easy money.
C1 noun ˌoʊ.vɚˈɡreɪ.zɪŋ

overgrazing

Meaning
The practice of allowing livestock to graze to the point of damaging vegetation.
Example
Overgrazing leads to soil erosion and loss of biodiversity.
C1 noun /ˈrɛspɪt/

respite

Meaning
A short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.
Example
The weekend provided a welcome respite from work.
C1 noun /ˈnʌt.meg/

Nut meg

Meaning
a spice made from the seed of the fruit of an evergreen tree, used in cooking and baking
Example
The recipe called for a teaspoon of ground nutmeg to flavor the custard.
C1 adjective /kəˈmɛmərətɪv/

commemorative

Meaning
Serving as a reminder or in honor of a person or event.
Example
They issued a commemorative coin for the independence anniversary.
C1 noun /ˌɪm.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/

Imposition

Meaning
the action or process of imposing something or of being imposed; an unfair burden or demand
Example
The imposition of new taxes without consultation angered the citizens greatly.
C1 adjective /ˈfruːt.ləs/

Fruitless

Meaning
unsuccessful; futile; pointless;
Example
After hours of searching, their efforts proved fruitless.
C1 adjective ˌɪn.təˈstel.ər

interstellar

Meaning
Occurring or situated between stars.
Example
Scientists study interstellar travel possibilities.
C1 noun /ˈmɒnəˌlɒɡ/

monologue

Meaning
A long speech by one person, often in a play or performance.
Example
The actor delivered a powerful monologue on stage.
C1 noun /wæɡ/

Wag

Meaning
a humorous or playful person; someone who enjoys joking around
Example
The class wag always made everyone laugh with his clever jokes.
C1 noun /təˈpɒɡrəfi/

topography

Meaning
the arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area
Example
The topography of the region made construction very challenging.
C1 noun /ˈɡraʊnd kruː/

ground crew

Meaning
a team of people who maintain and service aircraft on the ground
Example
The ground crew prepared the plane for takeoff.
C1 noun ɪnˈsɛpʃən

inception

Meaning
The establishment or starting point of an institution or activity.
Example
The inception of the company marked a new era in the industry.
C1 noun /kənˈfɛdərəsi/

confederacy

Meaning
a group of states, people, or organizations united for a common purpose
Example
The southern states formed a confederacy during the civil war.
C1 noun /ˈpɒpjʊlɪst/

populist

Meaning
A politician or person who seeks to appeal to ordinary people who feel their concerns are ignored by elites.
Example
The populist leader promised to put the needs of common citizens first.
C1 noun /ɪˈnɜː.ʃə/

Inertia

Meaning
a tendency to do nothing or remain unchanged; lack of activity or movement
Example
The team's inertia prevented them from adapting to the rapidly changing market conditions.
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 adjective /ˈpælpəbl̩/

palpable

Meaning
easily perceived or felt; so intense as to seem almost tangible
Example
There was a palpable sense of excitement in the room.
C1 noun /ˌɛksɪˈkjuːʃənər/

executioner

Meaning
A person who carries out a death sentence by execution.
Example
The executioner prepared the gallows for the condemned prisoner.
C1 noun /ˌɛlɪˈveɪʃən/

elevation

Meaning
The act of raising something to a higher position or level.
Example
The hikers reached a high elevation after hours of climbing.
C1 adjective /ˈveɪɡrənt/

Vagrant

Meaning
wandering aimlessly; having no settled home
Example
The vagrant man was asking for food near the station.
C1 noun /woʊ/

woe

Meaning
great sorrow, distress, or trouble
Example
Her heart was filled with woe after hearing the sad news.
C1 adjective /ˈɪəri/

eerie

Meaning
Strange and frightening in a mysterious way.
Example
The abandoned house had an eerie silence.
C1 adjective /prəˈhɪbɪtɪv/

prohibitive

Meaning
Too high or expensive to be affordable; serving to prevent or discourage action.
Example
The cost of the medication is prohibitive for many families.
C1 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋkt/

indistinct

Meaning
Not clear or sharply defined; vague or blurred.
Example
The sound of voices was indistinct in the distance.
C1 noun /ˈsed.ɪ.mənt/

Sediment

Meaning
matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid; particles deposited by water or wind
Example
The river carried sediment downstream during the flood.
C1 noun ɪɡˌzæs.pəˈreɪ.ʃən

exasperation

Meaning
Extreme irritation or frustration.
Example
He sighed in exasperation after hearing the same excuse again.
C1 adjective /ɑːrˈkeɪɪk/

archaic

Meaning
very old or old-fashioned; belonging to an earlier time
Example
Some laws are considered archaic and no longer relevant.
C1 noun /ˌekspəˈzɪʃən/

exposition

Meaning
a detailed explanation or a large public exhibition
Example
The scientist gave a clear exposition of the theory.
C1 verb /rɪˈsiːd/

recede

Meaning
To move back or further away from a previous position.
Example
The floodwaters began to recede after the heavy rain stopped.
C1 noun /ˈpoʊtənsi/

potency

Meaning
The power or ability of something to affect or influence; strength or effectiveness.
Example
The potency of the new medicine amazed the doctors.
C1 noun /ˌdiː.mɑːˈkeɪ.ʃən/

Demarcation

Meaning
the action of fixing the boundary or limits of something; separation or division
Example
The demarcation between public and private land was clearly marked.
C1 noun /ˌsɛnsəˈbɪləti/

Sensibility

Meaning
the ability to appreciate and respond to complex emotional or aesthetic influences; sensitivity
Example
Her artistic sensibility made her appreciate fine details in paintings.
C1 noun /ˈɛmbləm/

emblem

Meaning
A symbolic object, design, or figure representing an idea, group, or identity.
Example
The dove is an emblem of peace.
C1 noun ˈsɒv.rɪn.ti

sovereignty

Meaning
The authority of a state to govern itself or another state; supreme power or authority.
Example
Sovereignty is essential for a nation's identity.
C1 adjective /ˈplæsɪd/

placid

Meaning
calm and peaceful, not easily disturbed
Example
She had a placid expression despite the chaos around her.
C1 adjective /ˈɡɪdi/

giddy

Meaning
Feeling dizzy or light-headed; also overly excited and frivolous.
Example
She felt giddy after spinning around so many times.
C1 verb /ˈbɑːrtər/

barter

Meaning
To exchange goods or services without using money.
Example
They bartered their crops for handmade tools.
C1 adjective /vɜːrˈboʊs/

verbose

Meaning
Using or expressed in more words than are needed; wordy.
Example
His verbose explanation confused the audience instead of clarifying the issue.
C1 adjective ˌhaɪ.pəˈθet.ɪ.kəl

hypothetical

Meaning
Based on or serving as a hypothesis; supposed but not necessarily real or true.
Example
The discussion was based on hypothetical scenarios.
C1 noun /ˈtæbloʊ/

tableau

Meaning
a striking or artistic scene or arrangement of people or objects, often presented on stage or in art
Example
The actors froze in a tableau that captured the final moment of the play.
C1 noun /ˌstætɪˈstɪʃən/

statistician

Meaning
A person who specializes in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting numerical data.
Example
The statistician presented the survey results with great clarity.
C1 noun /djuːn/

dune

Meaning
A hill or ridge of sand formed by the wind, usually found in deserts or near beaches.
Example
The children played on the sand dune by the beach.
C1 verb /kənˈstruː/

construe

Meaning
to interpret or understand the meaning of something in a particular way
Example
His words could be construed as a threat.
C1 noun /ˈmuːdi.nəs/

moodiness

Meaning
The state of being frequently subject to changes in mood, especially irritability or sadness.
Example
Her moodiness made it difficult to predict how she would react.
C1 adjective /ˈpɒs.tʃə.məs/

Posthumous

Meaning
occurring or continuing after death; published after the author's death
Example
The author received a posthumous award for his last novel.
C1 noun /ˈsɛpərətɪst/

separatist

Meaning
A person who supports the separation of a group from a larger body, often for political or cultural independence.
Example
The separatist group demanded independence from the central government.
C1 verb ˌsɝː.kəmˈvent

circumvent

Meaning
To cleverly avoid or find a way around obstacles or rules.
Example
He tried to circumvent the security system.
C1 noun /ˈprɒfəsi/

prophecy

Meaning
a prediction or message about the future, often believed to be divinely inspired
Example
The prophecy foretold the rise of a great leader.
C1 adjective /dɪˈfaɪənt/

Defiant

Meaning
boldly resistant or challenging; disobedient
Example
The defiant student refused to follow the rules.
C1 noun /ˈblɒk.ɪdʒ/

Blockage

Meaning
an obstruction that makes movement or flow difficult or impossible
Example
The drain blockage caused water to overflow in the kitchen.
C1 adjective /ˈwɒn.tən/

Wanton

Meaning
deliberate and unprovoked; sexually immodest or promiscuous
Example
The vandals caused wanton destruction to the public property.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsˈmaʊnt/

dismount

Meaning
to get off or down from something, especially a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle
Example
The rider dismounted from the horse after a long journey.
C1 noun /ˈmænəˌrɪzəm/

Mannerism

Meaning
A habitual gesture or way of speaking or behaving; an idiosyncrasy
Example
His constant throat clearing had become an annoying mannerism.
C1 adjective /bəˈlɪdʒ.ər.ənt/

belligerent

Meaning
Hostile and aggressive, ready to fight or argue.
Example
His belligerent attitude often leads to conflicts.
C1 noun /draɪ fɪʃ/

Dry fish

Meaning
fish that has been preserved by drying in the sun or by other dehydration methods
Example
Dry fish is a popular preserved food in many coastal regions.
C1 adjective /bəˈnɑːl/ or /ˈbeɪnəl/

banal

Meaning
Lacking originality; boringly obvious and commonplace.
Example
His speech was full of banal clichés.
C1 verb /ˈpɛtrɪfaɪ/

petrify

Meaning
to make someone so frightened that they are unable to move or think; to turn into stone
Example
The loud noise petrified the little child.
C1 noun/verb /ˈɪnsɛns/

incense

Meaning
a substance burned for its sweet smell (noun); to make very angry (verb)
Example
The smell of incense filled the temple, but his rude words incensed her.
C1 adjective tɪˈneɪ.ʃəs

tenacious

Meaning
Not readily letting go of, giving up, or separated from an object that one holds, a position, or a principle; persistent.
Example
Her tenacious spirit helped her overcome hardships.
C1 adjective /ˌəʊ.vərˈɑː.tʃɪŋ/

overarching

Meaning
Comprehensive or all-embracing; forming an arch over something.
Example
The overarching theme of the book is human resilience.
C1 noun /oʊˈmɪʃ.ən/

Omission

Meaning
the action of excluding or leaving out someone or something; a failure to include
Example
The omission of his name from the list was intentional.