crustaceous
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C2 adjective /krʌˈsteɪʃəs/

crustaceous

Meaning
relating to or having a hard shell like a crustacean
Example
The scientist studied the crustaceous fossils.
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 adjective /ˈlɔːdəˌtɔːri/

laudatory

Meaning
Expressing praise or admiration.
Example
She wrote a laudatory review of the new book.
C2 noun /ˌdɪləˈtænt/

dilettante

Meaning
A person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, especially in a superficial way.
Example
He was dismissed as a dilettante in the art world because he lacked formal training.
C2 noun /ˈmænˌiː.tər/

man-eater

Meaning
An animal that kills and eats humans; informally, a woman who is very assertive in relationships.
Example
The tiger became a notorious man-eater in the village.
C2 adjective /ˈɪm.pi.əs/

Impious

Meaning
irreligious; lacking reverence for religion; blasphemous
Example
The impious act shocked the religious community.
C2 noun /ˈpɛrɪstaɪl/

peristyle

Meaning
A continuous porch formed by a row of columns surrounding the perimeter of a building or courtyard.
Example
The Roman villa featured a beautiful peristyle garden.
C2 noun /ɡriːn pəˈpaɪə/

Green Papaya

Meaning
unripe papaya fruit used as a vegetable in cooking, especially in Asian cuisine
Example
Green papaya salad is a popular dish in Thai cuisine.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈlɛtəd/

unlettered

Meaning
lacking education or the ability to read and write; illiterate
Example
The unlettered villagers relied on oral traditions to preserve their history.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛlɪˈkwɛsənt/

deliquescent

Meaning
tending to become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air
Example
Sugar is not deliquescent, but salt can be.
C2 adjective /ˌpɛrənˈθɛtɪkəl/

parenthetical

Meaning
Relating to or expressed in parentheses; a side remark or digression.
Example
He added a parenthetical comment during the lecture.
C2 noun/verb /dɪsˈfeɪvər/

disfavor

Meaning
disapproval or dislike; to regard with disapproval
Example
The new policy fell into disfavor with the public.
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 verb /ˌsuːpərˈæn.ju.eɪt/

superannuate

Meaning
to retire someone with a pension, usually due to age or long service
Example
The company decided to superannuate its senior employees after thirty years of service.
C2 noun /ˈɡrɑːtoʊ/

grotto

Meaning
a small picturesque cave, often artificial
Example
Tourists visited the grotto hidden behind the waterfall.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsæprəˈbeɪʃən/

disapprobation

Meaning
strong disapproval, typically on moral grounds
Example
The policy was met with widespread disapprobation.
C2 noun /ˈrɛlɪkwɛri/

reliquary

Meaning
a container for holy relics
Example
The ancient reliquary was decorated with gold and precious stones.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɛndiˌɛri/

incendiary

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

sinuosity

Meaning
The quality or state of being winding, curving, or having many turns.
Example
The sinuosity of the river made navigation challenging.
C2 noun /ˌɪn.strəˈmɛn.təl.ɪst/

instrumentalist

Meaning
A person who plays a musical instrument.
Example
The instrumentalist played a beautiful solo on the violin.
C2 adjective /ˈɪkθiɪk/

ichthyic

Meaning
Relating to or resembling fish.
Example
The artist's painting had an ichthyic quality.
C2 noun /əˈstɪɡmətɪzəm/

astigmatism

Meaning
An eye defect causing blurred vision due to irregular curvature of the cornea or lens.
Example
She wears glasses to correct her astigmatism.
C2 adjective /ɪˈnɪmɪkəl/

inimical

Meaning
tending to obstruct or harm; unfriendly or hostile
Example
The policy was inimical to the country's economic growth.
C2 noun /ˈstiː.vəˌdɔːr/

stevedore

Meaning
A person employed to load and unload cargo from ships.
Example
The stevedores worked tirelessly to unload the cargo before dawn.
C2 noun /əˈpɜːrtənəns/

appurtenance

Meaning
an accessory or supplementary part of something
Example
The garage is an appurtenance of the main house.
C2 noun /ɪˌkwɪvəˈkeɪʃən/

equivocation

Meaning
The use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing oneself.
Example
The politician’s equivocation frustrated voters who wanted a clear answer.
C2 adjective /ˌæntɪˈmʌndeɪn/

antemundane

Meaning
Existing or occurring before the creation of the world.
Example
Some myths speak of an antemundane chaos before order was established.
C2 noun /ˈɛəri/

aerie

Meaning
A large nest of a bird of prey, especially an eagle, typically built high in a tree or on a cliff.
Example
The eagle built its aerie on the high cliff.
C2 verb /hjuː/

hew

Meaning
To chop or cut something, especially wood or stone, with a tool.
Example
The workers hewed logs to build the cabin.
C2 noun /ɪnˌtɜːrpəˈleɪʃən/

interpolation

Meaning
The act of inserting something into a text or estimating values within a sequence of data.
Example
The scientist used interpolation to predict the missing data points.
C2 noun /ˈmeɪsə/

mesa

Meaning
An isolated flat-topped hill with steep sides, found in arid regions.
Example
The hikers stopped to admire the mesa rising above the desert floor.
C2 noun /ˈfɔɪbəl/

foible

Meaning
A minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character.
Example
She loved him despite his little foibles.
C2 verb /dɪˈkæpɪteɪt/

decapitate

Meaning
To cut off the head of a person or animal.
Example
The ancient executioner decapitated the criminal.
C2 verb /ɪnˈtræp/

entrap

Meaning
To catch or trick someone into a difficult situation.
Example
The police tried to entrap the criminal with false evidence.
C2 noun /ˈɔːspɪs/

auspice

Meaning
A sign, omen, or divine token; also refers to protection or support.
Example
The project was launched under the auspice of the government.
C2 adjective /ˈhɔːrtətɪv/

hortative

Meaning
Giving strong encouragement or urging.
Example
The teacher gave a hortative speech to motivate the students before the exam.
C2 verb /həˈræŋ/

harangue

Meaning
to deliver a long, passionate, and often angry speech
Example
The politician harangued the crowd for over an hour.
C2 adjective /ˌsuːprəˈmʌndeɪn/

supramundane

Meaning
beyond the physical or ordinary world; transcendent
Example
The monk spoke of supramundane peace beyond material life.
C2 noun /ˌniːoʊˈpeɪɡənɪzəm/

neopaganism

Meaning
Modern religious movements influenced by or claiming to be derived from the various historical pagan beliefs of pre-modern Europe.
Example
Neopaganism has gained popularity as people seek spiritual alternatives to mainstream religions.
C2 adjective /ˈvɪnsəbl/

vincible

Meaning
capable of being overcome or defeated
Example
The enemy seemed vincible after losing their main base.
C2 noun /ˈkætɪtʃuː/

Catechu

Meaning
an extract from a tropical Asian plant, used in tanning and dyeing
Example
Catechu extract is commonly used in traditional medicine.
C2 noun /ˈpraɪəri/

priory

Meaning
a small monastery or convent governed by a prior or prioress
Example
The old priory was converted into a museum.
C2 noun /miːd/

mead

Meaning
An alcoholic drink made from fermented honey and water.
Example
The Vikings were known to drink large amounts of mead during feasts.
C2 noun ˌmɛtəkɒɡˈnɪʃən

metacognition

Meaning
Awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes
Example
Metacognition enhances problem-solving abilities.
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 /ˈstrɪplɪŋ/

stripling

Meaning
a young man who is not yet fully grown
Example
The stripling dreamed of becoming a brave knight.
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 noun /ˌrɛtroʊˈɡrɛʃən/

retrogression

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

inapprehensible

Meaning
not understandable; incomprehensible
Example
The concept was so abstract that it seemed inapprehensible to most students.
C2 noun /riːm/

ream

Meaning
A large quantity of paper (typically 500 sheets); informally, a large amount of something.
Example
The office ordered ten reams of paper.
C2 adjective /ˈbɪliəs/

bilious

Meaning
Relating to bile or an ill-tempered, irritable disposition.
Example
He became bilious after hearing the unfair criticism.
C2 noun /ˌɪnsəˈrɛkʃən/

insurrection

Meaning
A violent uprising against an authority or government.
Example
The army was called in to suppress the insurrection.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrɡoʊ/

argot

Meaning
the specialized vocabulary or jargon of a particular group, especially one with a common interest or occupation
Example
The thieves communicated in an argot that outsiders could not understand.
C2 noun /nɪˈkrɒlədʒi/

necrology

Meaning
An obituary notice or a list of people who have recently died.
Example
The newspaper published a necrology of notable figures who passed away that year.
C2 noun /ˈhɛdʒɪrə/ or /hɪˈdʒaɪrə/

hegira

Meaning
a journey, especially when undertaken to escape from a dangerous or undesirable situation
Example
The refugees began their hegira across the desert.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌɡɒn/

decagon

Meaning
A polygon with ten sides and ten angles.
Example
The geometry teacher drew a perfect decagon on the board.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnkəmˈprɛsəbl/

incompressible

Meaning
Not able to be pressed or squeezed into a smaller space.
Example
Liquids are generally considered incompressible.
C2 adjective /ˈmiːzli/

measly

Meaning
contemptibly small or insignificant
Example
He was paid a measly sum for the hard work.
C2 noun/verb /ˈsʌkər/

succor

Meaning
Assistance and support in times of hardship or distress.
Example
The charity provided succor to the flood victims.
C2 noun /ˈpɒsi/

posse

Meaning
A group of people, often friends or a group organized to support or enforce the law.
Example
He arrived at the party with his posse of friends.
C2 noun /spliːn/

spleen

Meaning
an organ in the body that produces lymphocytes and filters blood; also refers to bad temper or spite
Example
He vented his spleen on his coworkers after the meeting.
C2 noun /ˈpɒntɪf/

pontiff

Meaning
the pope or a high-ranking bishop in the Christian church
Example
The pontiff addressed the nation in a televised speech.
C2 noun /ˈbriːzˌweɪ/

breezeway

Meaning
A roofed outdoor passage, often connecting two buildings.
Example
The breezeway connected the house to the garage.
C2 adverb /ˈaɪsɪli/

icily

Meaning
In a very cold, unfriendly, or hostile manner.
Example
She replied icily to his question.
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 adjective /ˌprɒvɪˈdɛnʃəl/

providential

Meaning
occurring at a favorable or opportune time, as if guided by divine intervention
Example
Their timely rescue was considered providential.
C2 noun /ˈfetiʃ/

fetich

Meaning
an object believed to have magical powers or to be inhabited by a spirit
Example
The villagers treated the statue as a powerful fetich.
C2 noun /ɪnˈfrækʃən/

infraction

Meaning
A violation or breach of a rule, law, or agreement.
Example
The student was punished for a minor infraction of the school rules.
C2 adjective /əbˈstrɛpərəs/

obstreperous

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

burnish

Meaning
To polish something by rubbing; to enhance or improve.
Example
He burnished the old table until it shone.
C2 adjective /ˈfʊtˌluːs/

footloose

Meaning
Free to go anywhere or do anything; not tied down by responsibilities.
Example
After graduating, he felt footloose and ready to explore the world.
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 /ˈplɔːdɪt/

plaudit

Meaning
an expression of praise or approval
Example
The actor received plaudit for his outstanding performance.
C2 adjective /ˈloʊð.səm/

Loathsome

Meaning
causing hatred or disgust; repulsive
Example
The loathsome smell from the garbage made everyone leave the room.
C2 noun /ˌmjuːtəˈbɪləti/

mutability

Meaning
The quality of being changeable or capable of change.
Example
The mutability of fashion trends makes it hard to keep up.
C2 adjective /ləˈsɪviəs/

lascivious

Meaning
showing an overt and often offensive sexual desire
Example
The lascivious remarks made everyone uncomfortable.
C2 noun /nəˈkrɒpəlɪs/

necropolis

Meaning
a large ancient cemetery with elaborate tombs
Example
The archaeologists discovered artifacts in the necropolis of the ancient city.
C2 adjective /ɪˈlɪʒən/

elysian

Meaning
Relating to or characteristic of paradise; delightful and heavenly.
Example
They spent an elysian week on the quiet island.
C2 noun /ˈɡɜːrdər/

girder

Meaning
a large, strong beam used to support buildings or bridges
Example
The steel girders held the weight of the bridge.
C2 noun /ɪnˈtriːti/

entreaty

Meaning
An earnest or humble request or plea.
Example
She made an entreaty for peace during the heated argument.
C2 noun /ˈmɪsənˌθroʊp/

misanthrope

Meaning
a person who dislikes or distrusts humankind
Example
The old man was considered a misanthrope who avoided all social gatherings.
C2 verb /bɪˈteɪk/

betake

Meaning
to go or resort to a place or course of action, especially as a response; to apply oneself
Example
After dinner, she betook herself to her room to read.
C2 adjective /dɪˈluːsɪv/

delusive

Meaning
Giving a false or misleading impression; deceptive.
Example
His promises turned out to be delusive and untrustworthy.
C2 noun /ɛnˈkoʊmiəm/

encomium

Meaning
A speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly.
Example
He delivered an encomium to his retiring teacher.
C2 adjective /ˌsuːpərˈæn.ju.eɪ.tɪd/

superannuated

Meaning
old and no longer useful or valid; retired due to age
Example
The factory was filled with superannuated machines that slowed production.
C2 adjective /njuːˈtoʊniən/

newtonian

Meaning
relating to the laws of motion and gravitation formulated by Sir Isaac Newton
Example
The scientist explained the Newtonian laws of motion.
C2 adjective ɪnˈdɒm.ɪ.tə.bəl

indomitable

Meaning
Impossible to subdue or defeat.
Example
Her indomitable spirit helped her overcome adversity.
C2 noun /ˈɔːrdʒi/

orgy

Meaning
A wild party involving excessive indulgence, especially of a sexual nature.
Example
The novel described a scandalous orgy in a wealthy mansion.
C2 noun /ˌɛksaɪˈteɪʃən/

excitation

Meaning
a state of great excitement or the process of stimulating activity
Example
The news created great excitation among the fans.
C2 noun /ˈblʌfər/

bluffer

Meaning
a person who pretends to be more confident, skilled, or knowledgeable than they really are; someone who deceives others by bluffing
Example
Everyone eventually realized that he was just a bluffer with no real experience.
C2 noun /ˌperəˈreɪʃən/

peroration

Meaning
The concluding part of a speech, often intended to inspire or persuade.
Example
The politician's peroration left the audience applauding enthusiastically.
C2 noun /ɪˌpɪstəˈmɒlədʒi/

epistemology

Meaning
The branch of philosophy that studies the nature, origin, and scope of knowledge.
Example
Epistemology explores the difference between justified belief and opinion.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/

deferential

Meaning
Showing or expressing respect and high regard.
Example
He was always deferential toward his teachers.
C2 noun /voʊˈsɪfərəns/

vociferance

Meaning
the act of shouting or making a loud outcry
Example
The vociferance of the protesters filled the streets.
C2 noun /ˈsɛnʃəns/

sentience

Meaning
The capacity to feel, perceive, or experience subjectively.
Example
Many argue that animals possess sentience.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒrɪdʒəbl/

corrigible

Meaning
capable of being corrected or improved
Example
The student's mistakes were corrigible with practice.
C2 verb /dɪˈsɪmjʊˌleɪt/

dissimulate

Meaning
To disguise or conceal one's true feelings or intentions.
Example
He tried to dissimulate his fear with a smile.
C2 noun /ˈsfɛrɔɪd/

spheroid

Meaning
A three-dimensional shape that is almost spherical but slightly flattened or elongated.
Example
The Earth is not a perfect sphere but an oblate spheroid.
C2 noun /ˈweɪstrəl/

wastrel

Meaning
A person who wastes time, money, or resources; an idler or spendthrift.
Example
The young man was dismissed as a wastrel by his family.
C2 noun /vəˈliːɪti/

velleity

Meaning
A wish or inclination not strong enough to lead to action.
Example
His interest in painting never grew beyond a mere velleity.
C2 adjective /loʊˈkweɪʃəs/

loquacious

Meaning
tending to talk a great deal; very talkative
Example
The loquacious child entertained everyone with endless stories.
C2 noun /ˌdɪskwɪˈzɪʃən/

disquisition

Meaning
A long or elaborate discussion or written essay on a particular subject.
Example
The professor gave a lengthy disquisition on ancient philosophy.
C2 noun /dɪˈklɪvɪti/

declivity

Meaning
a downward slope of ground
Example
They carefully climbed down the declivity of the hill.
C2 noun /ˈmæk.rəˌkɒz.əm/

macrocosm

Meaning
The whole universe considered as a large, complex system; a large-scale representation of something.
Example
The macrocosm of the universe reflects the microcosm of human life.
C2 adjective /sæŋˈɡwɪniəs/

sanguineous

Meaning
Relating to blood; bloody.
Example
The surgeon examined the sanguineous discharge from the wound.
C2 noun /əˈblɪkwɪti/

obliquity

Meaning
Deviation from moral or usual conduct; indirectness or lack of straightforwardness.
Example
The politician was criticized for the obliquity of his answers.
C2 adjective /ˈflæs.ɪd/

Flaccid

Meaning
soft and limp; lacking firmness; drooping
Example
The plant's leaves became flaccid after days without water.
C2 verb /ˈkæn.tər/

canter

Meaning
To ride a horse at a controlled, easy pace between a trot and a gallop.
Example
She cantered her horse across the field with ease.
C2 verb /ˌkaʊˈtaʊ/

kowtow

Meaning
To act in an excessively subservient or obedient manner.
Example
He refused to kowtow to the unreasonable demands.
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 adjective /ˈmʌɡi/

muggy

Meaning
uncomfortably warm and humid
Example
It was a muggy afternoon in July.
C2 adjective /ˈsʌb.æs.ɪd/

subacid

Meaning
Slightly sour or acidic in taste or nature.
Example
The fruit had a subacid flavor that was refreshing on a hot day.
C2 noun /ˈpær.ɪ.saɪd/

parricide

Meaning
The act of killing one's father, mother, or other close relative.
Example
The court tried him for parricide after the tragic incident.
C2 noun /ˈtɒnʃər/

tonsure

Meaning
the practice of shaving or cutting the hair on the scalp, especially in a religious context
Example
The monk received his tonsure as part of his religious initiation.
C2 adjective /woʊnt/ or /wɔːnt/

wont

Meaning
accustomed or used to doing something
Example
She rose early, as she was wont to do.
C2 adjective /ɔːˈrɪfərəs/

auriferous

Meaning
Containing or producing gold.
Example
The miners discovered an auriferous vein in the mountains.
C2 adjective /dæŋk/

dank

Meaning
unpleasantly damp and cold
Example
The basement was dark and dank, filled with a musty smell.
C2 verb /ˌriː.kəˈpɪtʃ.ə.leɪt/

recapitulate

Meaning
To summarize and state again the main points of something.
Example
The teacher asked the student to recapitulate the lesson.
C2 noun /ɪˈrʌp.ʃən/

Irruption

Meaning
a sudden violent entry; an invasion or raid; a sudden outburst or eruption
Example
The army's irruption into enemy territory caught the opposing forces completely off guard.
C2 adjective /sɪˈnɜːrdʒɪk/

synergic

Meaning
Working together in a cooperative and effective manner.
Example
The two departments have a synergic relationship that boosts productivity.
C2 noun /kənˈsaɪnər/

consignor

Meaning
a person or company that sends goods to be sold or transported
Example
The consignor shipped the goods to the warehouse.