distain
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C2 verb /dɪsˈteɪn/

distain

Meaning
to treat with scorn or contempt (archaic form of disdain)
Example
He would never distain those who had less fortune than him.
C1 noun /ˈɡʌnˌpaʊdər/

Gunpowder

Meaning
explosive powder used in guns and fireworks
Example
Gunpowder was invented in ancient China.
B2 adjective /əˈbjuːsɪv/

abusive

Meaning
extremely offensive or insulting; involving physical or verbal harm
Example
She left her job because of her abusive boss.
C2 noun /ˈhæk.ni ˈkær.ɪdʒ/

Hackney carriage

Meaning
A taxi; a car licensed to carry passengers for hire
Example
I called a hackney carriage to get to the airport.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈæpt/

Inapt

Meaning
not suitable; inappropriate; unfit
Example
His comment was inapt for the formal meeting.
C1 verb /əˈlɒt/

allot

Meaning
to give or assign something, often a share or portion, to someone
Example
Each student was allotted ten minutes to present.
B2 adjective /ˈvɛriəbl/

Variable

Meaning
able to change; not consistent or having a fixed pattern
Example
The weather has been very variable this week.
B1 noun /ɡuːs/

Goose

Meaning
large waterbird with a long neck and webbed feet
Example
The goose swam gracefully across the pond.
B1 adjective /ˌɪmpəˈlaɪt/

impolite

Meaning
Not showing good manners; rude.
Example
It is impolite to interrupt someone while they are speaking.
A1 adjective /naɪs/

Nice

Meaning
pleasant; agreeable; satisfactory; good; attractive
Example
She wore a nice dress to the party.
B2 verb /ænˈtɪsɪˌpeɪt/

anticipate

Meaning
to expect or look forward to something; to realize or foresee in advance
Example
We anticipate a large crowd at the event.
B2 verb, noun /stɔːl/

stall

Meaning
to stop or cause to stop temporarily; a small shop or stand
Example
The car stalled on the way to the office.
A1 verb /kʌm/

come

Meaning
to move toward a place; to arrive at a place
Example
Please come to my birthday party.
C2 adjective /əˈluːsɪv/

allusive

Meaning
Making indirect references or hints; suggestive without being explicit.
Example
The novel is full of allusive passages that point to classical literature.
B2 adjective /ɪkˈsɛntrɪk/

eccentric

Meaning
unconventional and slightly strange in behavior or appearance
Example
The artist was known for his eccentric style.
C1 verb /trænsˈɡrɛs/

transgress

Meaning
to go beyond the limits of a moral law, command, or boundary; to sin
Example
He apologized after realizing he had transgressed the community's rules.
C1 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈspjuːtəbəl/

Indisputable

Meaning
impossible to deny or argue against; undeniable; certain
Example
The evidence against him was indisputable.
B2 noun /ˈpaɪpˌlaɪn/

pipeline

Meaning
a long tube through which liquids or gases are transported
Example
The company is building a new pipeline to transport natural gas.
C1 adjective /dɪˈfɛnsəbəl/

defensible

Meaning
Capable of being protected against attack or criticism; justifiable.
Example
Her decision was legally defensible.
A2 noun /ˈbenɪfɪt/

Benefit

Meaning
an advantage or profit gained from something; a helpful or good effect
Example
Exercise has many health benefits for your body.
A2 noun tuːlz

Tools

Meaning
A device or implement used to carry out a particular function.
Example
You can use online tools like FamilySearch to create a family tree.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈtru/

Untrue

Meaning
not true; false; incorrect
Example
His statement about the incident was completely untrue.
C2 adjective /ɪˈræsɪbl/

irascible

Meaning
Easily angered; quick-tempered.
Example
His irascible nature often got him into trouble.
C2 adjective fəˈleɪ.ʃəs

fallacious

Meaning
Based on false reasoning or misleading arguments.
Example
His argument was based on fallacious reasoning.
C2 noun /ˈɡævəl/

gavel

Meaning
A small ceremonial mallet used by a judge or an auctioneer to signal attention or mark a decision.
Example
The judge struck the gavel to call the court to order.
B2 noun /prəˈtɛktər/

protector

Meaning
a person or thing that protects someone or something
Example
The dog was seen as the family's protector.
B1 adjective /ˌʌnˈɪntrəstɪŋ/

uninteresting

Meaning
not holding attention or curiosity; boring
Example
The lecture was uninteresting and difficult to stay focused on.
A2 verb /prɪˈfɜːr/

prefer

Meaning
to like better; to choose as more desirable
Example
I prefer tea over coffee in the morning.
C1 verb /ˈfɜːrmɛnt/

ferment

Meaning
to undergo a chemical process where sugars are converted to alcohol or acid; to incite or stir up change
Example
The grapes are left to ferment for several weeks.
C2 verb /ˈhæroʊ/

harrow

Meaning
to cause distress or torment; also to break up and smooth soil with a farm tool
Example
The tragic news harrowed the entire family.
A2 noun /ˈsɪz.ərz/

Scissors

Meaning
a cutting instrument with two sharp blades that are joined and work against each other
Example
She used scissors to cut the paper into small pieces.
A2 noun /ˈɑːrtɪkl/

article

Meaning
a piece of writing included in a newspaper, magazine, or journal
Example
He wrote an article about climate change.
C2 verb /juˈzɜrp/

usurp

Meaning
to take someone's position of power illegally or by force
Example
The general tried to usurp the king's throne.
B2 adjective /kəˈreɪdʒəs/

Courageous

Meaning
brave; fearless; showing courage in the face of danger
Example
The courageous firefighter rescued the family from the burning building.
C1 adjective /dɪˈfɪʃənt/

Deficient

Meaning
not having enough of a specified quality or ingredient; lacking or inadequate
Example
His diet was deficient in essential vitamins.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈskeɪðd/

unscathed

Meaning
Without suffering any injury, damage, or harm.
Example
She escaped from the accident unscathed.
C2 adjective /ˈboʊvaɪn/

bovine

Meaning
relating to cattle; showing a dull or sluggish nature
Example
Her bovine expression revealed no emotions.
C1 noun /kəˈlɪɡrəfi/

calligraphy

Meaning
The art of beautiful and decorative handwriting.
Example
She took a course to improve her calligraphy skills.
B2 noun /ˌrezəˈveɪʃən/

Reservation

Meaning
the action of reserving something; an arrangement whereby something is reserved for a particular person; a qualification to an expression of agreement or approval
Example
I made a reservation at the restaurant for tonight.
A1 verb /muːv/

move

Meaning
to change position; to go from one place to another; to relocate
Example
They decided to move to a bigger house.
A2 noun /ɡɑːd/

god

Meaning
a deity; a supreme being believed to control the universe
Example
People in different cultures worship God in various ways.
B1 noun /ˈproʊɡræmɪŋ/

programing

Meaning
the process of writing computer code to create software or applications
Example
He spends most of his time learning computer programming.
C1 verb /klæsp/

clasp

Meaning
to grasp or hold tightly; also a device for fastening
Example
She clasped her hands together in prayer.
B2 adjective ˌkɒm.prɪˈhen.sɪv

comprehensive

Meaning
Including or dealing with all or nearly all elements or aspects of something; complete and thorough.
Example
A comprehensive study enhances understanding.
C1 adjective /ˈruːfəl/

rueful

Meaning
Expressing sorrow, regret, or pity.
Example
He gave a rueful smile after losing the match.
B1 noun /hjuːˈmænɪti/

humanity

Meaning
the quality of being human; kindness or compassion towards others; all human beings collectively
Example
Kindness is one of the greatest expressions of humanity.
A2 noun /ˈwʌndər/

wonder

Meaning
a feeling of amazement and admiration, caused by something beautiful, remarkable, or unfamiliar
Example
The view from the mountain was a true wonder.
C1 verb /ˈɛkstrəˌdaɪt/

extradite

Meaning
to hand over a person accused or convicted of a crime to another country or state
Example
The government agreed to extradite the fugitive to his home country.
C1 noun /səˈlaɪ.və/

Saliva

Meaning
the watery liquid secreted into the mouth by glands
Example
The dentist asked her to rinse the saliva from her mouth.
C2 noun /bɪˈhiː.mɒθ/

behemoth

Meaning
Something enormous, especially a large and powerful organization.
Example
The company grew into a corporate behemoth.
C2 verb /lɔːd/

laud

Meaning
To praise someone or something highly, especially in public.
Example
The critic lauded the actor's performance as a masterpiece.
C1 adjective /ˈtep.ɪd/

Tepid

Meaning
only slightly warm; lukewarm; showing little enthusiasm
Example
The tea was tepid and unappetizing.
C2 adjective /vɪˈtjuːpərətɪv/

vituperative

Meaning
Characterized by abusive or harsh language.
Example
The teacher’s vituperative remarks left the students in tears.
C1 noun /hɪpˈnoʊsɪs/

hypnosis

Meaning
A trance-like state of consciousness usually induced by suggestion.
Example
She underwent hypnosis to overcome her fear of flying.
C1 noun /ˈmɒn.ɑːk/

Monarch

Meaning
a sovereign ruler, especially a king or queen
Example
The monarch addressed the nation on television.
B1 noun /ˈhaʊswaɪf/

housewife

Meaning
a married woman who manages a household and whose main occupation is caring for her family and home
Example
She chose to work as a housewife while raising her children.
C1 adjective /ɔːˈtʌmnəl/

autumnal

Meaning
relating to or characteristic of autumn; occurring in autumn
Example
The autumnal colors of red and gold filled the forest.
C1 noun /luː/

lieu

Meaning
Instead of; in place of.
Example
He gave money in lieu of flowers.
B1 noun /ˈeɪ.dʒən.si/

Agency

Meaning
a business or organization that provides a particular service
Example
She works for a travel agency downtown.
C2 noun /ˈmɒnəɡrɑːf/

monograph

Meaning
A detailed written study of a single specialized subject or aspect of it.
Example
The professor published a monograph on ancient pottery.
C2 verb /ˈæntɪdeɪtɪd/

antedated

Meaning
assigned to an earlier date than the actual one; happened earlier
Example
The letter was antedated to appear more official.
C2 noun /ˈpɔːrfəri/

porphyry

Meaning
A hard igneous rock containing crystals, often used for decorative or building purposes.
Example
The ancient Romans used porphyry to make columns and statues.
B2 verb /ˈrɛnəˌveɪt/

renovate

Meaning
to restore something old to a good state or to improve it
Example
They decided to renovate the old house before moving in.
B2 noun /ˌrɪəlɪˈzeɪʃən/

realization

Meaning
the act of becoming fully aware of something as a fact
Example
Her realization of the problem helped solve the issue.
B2 verb /ˈresəl/

wrestle

Meaning
to fight by grappling and trying to throw down an opponent; to struggle with a problem
Example
The children like to wrestle on the playground.
B2 verb /dæʃ/

dash

Meaning
to move quickly and suddenly; to strike or break something violently
Example
She dashed across the street to catch the bus.
B2 adjective /ˈkɒn.trər.i/

Contrary

Meaning
opposite in nature, direction, or meaning; completely different
Example
Contrary to popular belief, cats can be very social animals.
C2 adjective /dɪˈmoʊniˌæk/

demoniac

Meaning
possessed, produced, or influenced by a demon; frenzied or violent
Example
The soldiers fought with demoniac fury.
B2 noun ˌkɒn.fɪ.den.ʃiˈæl.ɪ.ti

confidentiality

Meaning
The state of keeping or being kept secret or private
Example
Confidentiality is crucial in data security.
C2 noun /draɪd ˈfɛnjʊˌɡriːk livz/

Dried Fenugreek Leaves

Meaning
dehydrated leaves of the fenugreek plant used as a herb in cooking
Example
Add dried fenugreek leaves to the curry for extra flavor.
C2 noun /əˈluːviən/

alluvion

Meaning
The gradual increase of land by the deposit of soil from water; also, a flood or overflow of water.
Example
The river’s alluvion added new fertile land to the village fields.
C1 noun /ˈkæv.əl.ri/

Cavalry

Meaning
soldiers who fight on horseback; the part of an army formerly composed of troops on horseback
Example
The cavalry charged across the field with great speed.
B2 adjective /aɪˈrɒnɪkəl/

ironical

Meaning
expressing irony; having the nature of irony
Example
Her ironical tone made everyone uncomfortable.
A2 noun /ˈbɪznəsˌwʊmən/

businesswoman

Meaning
a woman who works in business, especially one who owns or manages a company
Example
The businesswoman expanded her company into international markets.
C2 adjective /ˈræŋ.kər.əs/

rancorous

Meaning
Characterized by bitterness or resentment.
Example
Their rancorous debate lasted for hours.
B1 noun/adjective /ˌæfrɪkən əˈmɛrɪkən/

african-american

Meaning
A person of African descent living in or originating from the United States; relating to such people.
Example
She is proud of her African-American heritage.
B1 noun /rɪˈliːf/

Relief

Meaning
a feeling of comfort after worry or distress; assistance given to those in need
Example
She felt great relief when the exam was over.
C1 adjective /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnsəbl̩/

reprehensible

Meaning
Deserving strong criticism or blame.
Example
His dishonest actions were truly reprehensible.
B1 noun /ˈvɪn.ɪ.ɡər/

Vinegar

Meaning
a sour liquid made from fermented alcohol, used for cooking and preserving
Example
I added vinegar to the salad dressing for extra flavor.
B2 noun /ˌkɔːrpəˈreɪʃən/

corporation

Meaning
A large company or group of companies that is legally recognized as a single entity.
Example
The corporation invested heavily in renewable energy projects.
B1 verb /straɪk/

Strike

Meaning
to hit forcefully; to stop work as a form of protest
Example
Lightning strikes the tall building during the storm.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌlɔːɡ/

decalogue

Meaning
The Ten Commandments in the Bible; a set of fundamental rules or principles.
Example
The priest gave a sermon on the importance of the Decalogue.
C2 verb /ˌɪnkəˈpæsɪteɪt/

incapacitate

Meaning
to deprive someone or something of the ability or strength to function
Example
The severe injury incapacitated the player for the rest of the season.
B2 verb /prɪˈskrʌɪb/

prescribe

Meaning
to recommend or authorize the use of something, especially medicine
Example
The doctor prescribed medication for my cold.
C2 verb /ɪnˈdʒɛst/

ingest

Meaning
To take food, drink, or another substance into the body, usually by swallowing.
Example
The patient must ingest the medicine with water.
A2 pronoun /huːz/

whose

Meaning
used to ask or talk about the person or thing that owns something
Example
The girl whose phone was stolen is my cousin.
C2 verb /voʊˈsɪfəˌreɪt/

vociferate

Meaning
to shout, complain, or argue loudly or vehemently
Example
The protesters vociferated against the unfair law.
B2 noun /ˈmɪd.deɪ/

Midday

Meaning
The middle of the day; twelve o'clock in the daytime; noon
Example
The sun is brightest at midday when it's directly overhead.
B2 adjective ˌpriːhɪˈstɒrɪk

prehistoric

Meaning
Belonging to the time before written records.
Example
The prehistoric era was marked by the rise of early humans.
C1 verb /ˈæmbʊʃ/

ambush

Meaning
To attack suddenly and unexpectedly from a hidden position.
Example
The soldiers planned to ambush the enemy at dawn.
B2 verb /ˈstræŋɡəl/

strangle

Meaning
to kill or stop someone or something by squeezing the throat or restricting flow
Example
The villain tried to strangle his opponent in the dark alley.
B2 verb əˈkwaɪər

acquire

Meaning
To gain or obtain something, especially knowledge or skills, through effort or experience.
Example
Volunteers acquire new skills through their experiences.
C2 noun /hɒtʃ pɒtʃ/

Hotch potch

Meaning
A mixed dish; a hodgepodge of ingredients cooked together
Example
She made a delicious hotch potch with rice, lentils, and vegetables.
C1 noun/verb /rɪˈpriːz/

reprise

Meaning
A repetition or return to an earlier theme, role, or action.
Example
The actor reprised his role in the sequel.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈflɛdʒd/

unfledged

Meaning
Inexperienced, immature, or not fully developed.
Example
The unfledged writer struggled to complete his first novel.
C1 noun /haɪˈpɜːrbəli/

hyperbole

Meaning
Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
Example
Saying he could run a thousand miles in a day is pure hyperbole.
A2 adjective /ɪkˈspɛnsɪv/

expensive

Meaning
costing a lot of money
Example
That car is too expensive for me to buy.
B1 noun hoʊm əˈplaɪ.ənsɪz

home appliances

Meaning
Electrical devices and machines used in households for daily tasks and convenience.
Example
Modern home appliances enhance convenience.
C1 noun /ˈrɒstrəm/

rostrum

Meaning
A raised platform for speakers, performers, or leaders.
Example
The politician delivered a speech from the rostrum.
C1 noun ˌɪntədɪˈpɛndənsi

interdependency

Meaning
The dependence of two or more people or things on each other.
Example
The interdependency of the countries led to greater cooperation.
B2 adverb /ˈpjʊərli/

purely

Meaning
only and completely; entirely
Example
The decision was purely based on economic factors.
A2 noun/verb/adjective /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/ (noun), /səbˈdʒɛkt/ (verb)

subject

Meaning
noun: a topic or theme; verb: to cause to undergo; adjective: dependent or under authority
Example
The teacher introduced a new subject in class.
B2 noun/verb /pəʊl/

poll

Meaning
a survey of public opinion or voting in an election
Example
The poll revealed that most people favored the new policy.
C1 noun /ˈiːkwɪnɒks/

equinox

Meaning
The time or date when day and night are of equal length, occurring twice a year.
Example
The spring equinox marks the beginning of longer days.
A2 noun /ˈkændl/

candle

Meaning
a stick of wax with a wick that burns to give light
Example
She lit a candle during the power cut.
B2 noun /ˈrɔɪəlti/

royalty

Meaning
Members of a royal family or payment made to the owner of a patent, copyright, or natural resource.
Example
The author receives a royalty for every book sold.
C2 verb /ɪnˈsteɪt/

instate

Meaning
To set up in position, office, or authority.
Example
The board decided to instate her as the new director.
C2 adjective /ˈsʌmp.tʃuˌɛr.i/

sumptuary

Meaning
Relating to laws or regulations intended to limit personal spending on luxury goods.
Example
In medieval Europe, sumptuary laws restricted the wearing of expensive fabrics to the nobility.
B2 noun /sərˈkʌmfərəns/

circumference

Meaning
the distance around the edge of a circle
Example
The teacher asked us to calculate the circumference of the circle.
C1 verb /taʊt/

tout

Meaning
to promote, praise, or advertise aggressively
Example
The company touted its new product as a game-changer.
B2 adjective /ˈeɪ.li.ən/

alien

Meaning
Belonging to a foreign country or nation; extraterrestrial.
Example
The telescope is capable of detecting alien signals.
B2 noun /toʊl/

toll

Meaning
A charge payable for using a road or bridge; also the extent of damage or suffering caused by something.
Example
The flood took a heavy toll on the village.
A1 adjective/adverb /ˈoʊnli/

only

Meaning
without others; solely
Example
He is the only person who knows the secret.
C2 adjective /ɔːˈɡʌst/

august

Meaning
Respected and impressive; inspiring reverence or admiration.
Example
The king entered the hall with an august presence.
A2 adverb /əˈkrɒs/

Across

Meaning
from one side to the other side of something; in every part of a place
Example
The bridge stretches across the river.
B2 noun /ˌdɪsəˈpruːvəl/

disapproval

Meaning
The expression of an unfavorable opinion or judgment
Example
Her parents showed clear disapproval of her decision to drop out of college.
B2 adverb /ɪnˈɛvɪtəbli/

inevitably

Meaning
in a way that cannot be avoided or prevented
Example
Inevitably, the team faced challenges during the project.
B1 noun /ˈʃel.tər/

Shelter

Meaning
a place giving temporary protection from bad weather or danger
Example
The hikers found shelter in a cave during the heavy rain.
B1 verb /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.keɪt/

communicate

Meaning
to share or exchange information, ideas, or feelings
Example
They used gestures to communicate across the noisy room.
A2 noun /ˈlʌɡ.ɪdʒ/

Luggage

Meaning
suitcases or other bags in which to pack personal belongings for traveling
Example
Please check your luggage at the airport counter.
B2 verb /ɪnˈtriːɡ/

intrigue

Meaning
to arouse curiosity or interest; to make someone fascinated
Example
The mystery novel will intrigue any reader.