duress
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C1 noun /djʊˈrɛs/

duress

Meaning
threats, violence, or pressure used to force someone to do something
Example
She signed the contract under duress.
C2 noun /ˈproʊtoʊˌplæzəm/

protoplasm

Meaning
The living substance inside a cell, including the cytoplasm and nucleus.
Example
Scientists observed the movement of protoplasm under the microscope.
C1 noun /rɪt/

writ

Meaning
A formal written order issued by a court.
Example
The judge issued a writ of habeas corpus.
C1 noun /həˌluː.sɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

Hallucination

Meaning
an experience involving the apparent perception of something not present; a false or distorted perception
Example
The patient experienced visual hallucinations as a side effect of the medication.
C2 adjective /ˈtɔːni/

tawny

Meaning
A warm, sandy or golden-brown color.
Example
The owl's tawny feathers blended with the tree bark.
A1 determiner /sʌm/

some

Meaning
an unspecified amount or number of something
Example
I have some money in my wallet.
C1 adjective /əbˈstrʌk.tɪv/

Obstructive

Meaning
deliberately creating difficulties or preventing progress; hindering or blocking something
Example
The obstructive policies hindered economic growth.
B2 noun /dʒiˈɒl.ə.dʒi/

geology

Meaning
the science that deals with the Earth's physical structure and substances
Example
She studied geology to understand earthquakes.
C2 noun /ɪˈmɒdəsti/

immodesty

Meaning
lack of modesty or decency; behavior or attitude that is overly bold or improper
Example
The article was criticized for its tone of immodesty.
C2 adjective /roʊn/

roan

Meaning
denoting an animal, especially a horse, having a coat of mixed colors, typically reddish-brown and white
Example
The rider mounted a roan horse with a speckled coat.
C1 adjective /ˈrævənəs/

ravenous

Meaning
Extremely hungry; famished.
Example
After the long hike, she was ravenous and ate quickly.
B2 noun /ˈtraɪ.əl/

Trial

Meaning
a formal examination of evidence in a court; a test of performance or quality
Example
The murder trial lasted for three weeks in the county courthouse.
B2 noun /ˈblʌn.dər/

blunder

Meaning
A stupid or careless mistake; a serious error in judgment.
Example
His blunder cost the company a fortune.
B2 noun /ˈbækˌsaɪd/

backside

Meaning
the rear part or surface of something; informal term for the buttocks
Example
The kids slid down the hill on their backside.
C2 noun /ˈsɛm.ɪ.nɛr.i/

seminary

Meaning
A school or college for training priests, ministers, or rabbis.
Example
He decided to enroll in a seminary to study theology.
C2 noun /ˌtɜːsənˈtɛnəri/

tercentenary

Meaning
The 300th anniversary of an event.
Example
The city celebrated its tercentenary with a grand festival.
B2 noun /swɪŋ/

Swing

Meaning
move or cause to move back and forth or from side to side while suspended or on an axis
Example
The children love to swing in the park.
B1 noun /ˈɒnɪsti/

honesty

Meaning
the quality of being truthful and sincere
Example
Honesty is the best policy in all situations.
A2 adverb /dəˈrɛktli/ or /daɪˈrɛktli/

directly

Meaning
in a straight line or manner; without anything in between
Example
She spoke directly to the manager about her concerns.
A1 noun /ˈtɛnɪs/

tennis

Meaning
a sport played with rackets and a ball on a rectangular court
Example
He enjoys playing tennis with his friends on the weekends.
B2 adjective /ˈteɪst.fəl/

Tasteful

Meaning
showing good judgment in matters of style and beauty
Example
She decorated her home in a very tasteful manner.
A2 adjective /ˈʌɡ.li/

Ugly

Meaning
unpleasant or repulsive in appearance; morally reprehensible
Example
The old building looked ugly after years of neglect.
B1 noun /ˈædvərˌtaɪzɪŋ/

advertising

Meaning
the activity of producing advertisements for products or services
Example
The company spends millions on advertising every year.
B1 noun /ˈspiːʃiːz/

Species

Meaning
a group of living organisms that can reproduce with each other; a type or kind
Example
The Amazon rainforest is home to thousands of animal species.
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 verb /ˈeksɪkreɪt/

execrate

Meaning
To feel or express great loathing or hatred for something.
Example
The community execrated the corrupt politician.
C1 noun /ˈɛksɜːrpt/

excerpt

Meaning
A short portion taken from a text, film, or piece of music.
Example
The teacher read an excerpt from the novel.
C2 noun /ˌæpəˈleɪʃən/

appellation

Meaning
a name or title
Example
The city has earned the appellation 'The Big Apple'.
B1 noun ˈstrʌɡ.əl

struggle

Meaning
A forceful or violent effort to get free of restraint or resist attack; a determined effort under difficult circumstances.
Example
The struggle for independence united the nation.
C2 noun /ˌæs.əˈfet.ɪ.də/

Asafoetida

Meaning
a pungent spice derived from the resin of a plant, commonly used in Indian cooking
Example
A pinch of asafoetida adds a distinctive flavor to the lentil curry.
C1 adjective ˌmæk.roʊ.iː.kəˈnɒm.ɪk

macroeconomic

Meaning
Relating to the large-scale or general economic factors, such as interest rates and national productivity.
Example
Government policies impact macroeconomic stability.
C2 noun /ˈtrʌmpəri/

trumpery

Meaning
worthless nonsense or showy but worthless things
Example
The speech was full of political trumpery.
B2 verb /pəˈzɛs/

possess

Meaning
To have or own something; to hold a quality or characteristic.
Example
She possesses great talent in music.
C1 verb /dɪˈsɛm.ɪ.neɪt/

disseminate

Meaning
To spread or give out something, especially news, information, ideas, etc., to a lot of people.
Example
Social media helps to disseminate information quickly.
B2 adverb /kənˈvɜːrsli/

conversely

Meaning
in an opposite or contrary manner
Example
He is rich, conversely, his brother struggles financially.
C1 adjective /ˈtɒrɪd/

torrid

Meaning
Very hot and dry; full of strong emotions or passion.
Example
The desert heat was torrid during the day.
B1 noun /ˈhaɪ.weɪ/

highway

Meaning
A main road, especially one connecting major towns or cities.
Example
The highway was blocked due to an accident.
B1 noun fʌnd

fund

Meaning
A sum of money saved or made available for a particular purpose.
Example
The government allocated a fund for disaster relief.
A2 noun /ˈwɜːrkər/

worker

Meaning
a person who is employed to perform tasks or duties
Example
The workers were busy building the bridge.
C1 noun /ˈɑːr.tər.i/

Artery

Meaning
a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to other parts of the body
Example
The doctor checked the pulse in his artery.
C2 verb /mʌlkt/

mulct

Meaning
to punish by a fine or to defraud someone of money
Example
The corrupt official was mulcted for his misconduct.
C1 noun /ˈstætʃuːt/

statute

Meaning
A written law passed by a legislative body.
Example
The new statute protects workers' rights.
B2 noun /kənˈdʌktər/

conductor

Meaning
a person who directs a performance or someone who collects fares on public transport; or a material that conducts electricity
Example
The conductor waved his baton to start the orchestra.
C2 adjective /hɜːrˈbeɪʃəs/

herbaceous

Meaning
Relating to or resembling herbs; plants with soft, non-woody stems.
Example
The garden was filled with herbaceous plants that thrived in the summer.
A2 noun /siːt/

seat

Meaning
a place to sit, especially a chair or other place for sitting
Example
I reserved a seat for you at the concert.
C1 noun /ˈkɒnfɪdænt/

confidant

Meaning
A person with whom one shares a secret or private matter, trusting them not to repeat it.
Example
She found a true confidant in her childhood friend.
C1 noun /ˈeɪ.nəs/

Anus

Meaning
the opening at the end of the digestive tract through which waste leaves the body
Example
The doctor examined the patient's anus during the medical checkup.
A2 adjective ˈfɪz.ɪ.kəl

physical

Meaning
Relating to things perceived through the senses as opposed to the mind; tangible or concrete.
Example
Physical components form the system's base.
B1 noun ˌɔː.ɡən.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

organization

Meaning
An organized group of people with a particular purpose, such as a business or government department.
Example
The organization was officially inaugurated in 2024.
C2 adjective /ˈɛnərˌveɪtɪd/

enervated

Meaning
Lacking energy, vitality, or strength; weakened or exhausted.
Example
After the long meeting, she felt completely enervated.
C2 adjective /ˈwɪloʊi/

willowy

Meaning
Gracefully tall, slender, and flexible, like a willow tree.
Example
She moved with a willowy elegance across the stage.
C1 adjective /məˈlaɪn/

Malign

Meaning
evil in nature or effect; harmful; slanderous
Example
He spread malign rumors about his colleague.
B2 adjective /ˈprɛsɪŋ/

pressing

Meaning
Requiring immediate attention or urgent action.
Example
The manager had to deal with several pressing issues at once.
A2 noun /sɛlf/

self

Meaning
a person's essential being that distinguishes them from others, especially considered as the object of introspection or reflexive action
Example
She has a strong sense of self.
C2 noun /ˌɪnˌkeɪpəˈbɪləti/

incapability

Meaning
lack of ability or power to do something; inability or incompetence
Example
His incapability to manage the team led to serious problems.
C2 adjective /ˈvɜːrdənt/

verdant

Meaning
Green with grass or other rich vegetation; lush and fertile.
Example
The hills looked verdant after the monsoon rains.
B2 noun /dɪˈdʌk.ʃən/

deduction

Meaning
The process of reaching a conclusion through logical reasoning.
Example
His deduction from the evidence was accurate.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈmɪtɪɡeɪtɪd/

unmitigated

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

effeminacy

Meaning
The quality of showing traits traditionally associated with women, such as delicacy or softness.
Example
In ancient times, effeminacy was often criticized as a sign of weakness.
B1 noun /rɪˈkʌvəri/

recovery

Meaning
the process of recovering or returning to a normal state
Example
The patient is in recovery after the surgery.
C2 adjective /kənˈvɪviəl/

convivial

Meaning
friendly, lively, and enjoyable; sociable
Example
The party had a convivial atmosphere with music and laughter.
C2 adjective /ˌɪn.trəˈsɛl.jʊ.lər/

intracellular

Meaning
Located or occurring within a cell.
Example
The drug works by targeting intracellular bacteria.
C1 verb /kənˈfaʊnd/

confound

Meaning
to confuse or surprise someone, often by acting against their expectations
Example
The magician's trick seemed to confound the entire audience.
C2 verb /fɔːrˈfɛnd/

forfend

Meaning
to protect or defend against something undesirable; to prevent
Example
May good fortune forfend any danger from our journey.
C2 noun /ˌæŋɡləˈfoʊbiə/

anglophobia

Meaning
Dislike or fear of England, English people, or English culture.
Example
The politician was accused of promoting Anglophobia in his speeches.
B2 adverb /ˈæk.jə.rət.li/

Accurately

Meaning
in an exact way, without any mistakes; precisely; correctly
Example
She accurately predicted the outcome of the election.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈkɒŋɡruəs/

incongruous

Meaning
Not fitting in with or suitable for the surroundings.
Example
His jokes were incongruous during the serious meeting.
C1 noun /ˈæntlɚ/

antler

Meaning
The branched horns on the head of a deer or similar animal, usually shed and regrown annually.
Example
The deer’s antlers grew larger each year.
A2 noun /roʊl/

role

Meaning
a part or function of something
Example
Her role in the project was crucial.
C2 verb /ˈdʒæbər/

jabber

Meaning
To talk quickly and excitedly but with little sense.
Example
The children jabbered happily after the show.
C2 adjective /kəˈmɛnʃərət/

commensurate

Meaning
corresponding in size, degree, or extent; proportionate
Example
Salary will be commensurate with experience.
B2 noun /fraɪt/

Fright

Meaning
a sudden intense feeling of fear; a shock or surprise that causes fear
Example
The loud thunder gave her such a fright that she dropped her coffee cup.
C1 adjective /ˈɡɔːri/

gory

Meaning
involving or showing a lot of bloodshed and violence
Example
The movie was too gory for children.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈkrɛd.ɪ.bəl/

credible

Meaning
able to be believed; convincing
Example
Her explanation was credible enough to convince the committee.
C2 noun /ˌlɛksɪˈkɒɡrəfər/

lexicographer

Meaning
A person who compiles, writes, or edits dictionaries.
Example
The lexicographer spent years compiling the dictionary.
C1 adjective /ˌeɪ.bəlˈbɒd.id/

able-bodied

Meaning
physically strong and healthy, not disabled
Example
The company is looking for able-bodied workers for the construction site.
C2 verb /dɒf/

doff

Meaning
to take off an item of clothing, especially a hat, as a sign of respect
Example
He doffed his hat as the procession passed.
C2 verb /kəˈmɪŋɡəl/

commingle

Meaning
To mix or blend different things together.
Example
The charity does not commingle donations with operational funds.
C1 noun /ˈdæɡ.ər/

Dagger

Meaning
a short knife with a pointed blade used as a weapon
Example
The ancient warrior carried a silver dagger.
B2 noun /sɛnˈseɪʃən/

Sensation

Meaning
a physical feeling or perception resulting from something that happens to or comes into contact with the body; a widespread reaction of interest and excitement
Example
The new singer became an overnight sensation.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnˈekspɜːrt/

inexpert

Meaning
not skilled or experienced; lacking expertise
Example
The inexpert handling of the machine caused several mistakes.
A2 noun /bel/

Bell

Meaning
a hollow metal device that makes a ringing sound when struck
Example
The church bell rang at noon.
B1 verb /rɪˈper/

repair

Meaning
to fix something that is broken or damaged
Example
The mechanic will repair the car's engine tomorrow.
C2 adjective /ˈreɪ.moʊs/

ramose

Meaning
having many branches.
Example
The ramose tree shaded the entire garden.
C2 adverb /ˌsʌb ˈroʊzə/

sub rosa

Meaning
secretly, in confidence, or in private
Example
The deal was made sub rosa to avoid public scrutiny.
C1 adjective /həˈred.ɪ.ter.i/

Hereditary

Meaning
passed down through family genes; inherited from ancestors
Example
The hereditary disease was passed down through generations.
C1 noun /dɪˈmaɪz/

demise

Meaning
Death or end of something, especially the end of an institution or system.
Example
The sudden demise of the company shocked investors.
A2 noun /dɪˈziːz/

disease

Meaning
An illness or medical condition that affects the body or mind.
Example
The doctor is researching a cure for the disease.
A1 adjective /bluː/

Blue

Meaning
having the color of the clear sky or the sea
Example
The blue ocean stretched endlessly to the horizon.
C1 noun /kənˈspɪrə.tər/

conspirator

Meaning
a person who secretly plans with others to do something unlawful or harmful
Example
The conspirator was arrested before the plan could be carried out.
C1 noun /oʊθ/

Oath

Meaning
a solemn promise or declaration; a sworn statement
Example
The doctor took an oath to help patients.
B1 noun /ˈpɔːtrət/

portrait

Meaning
a painting, drawing, photograph, or engraving of a person, especially one showing the face
Example
The artist painted a beautiful portrait of his wife.
A2 noun /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/

invitation

Meaning
a written or spoken request to attend an event or to participate in something
Example
She sent me an invitation to her wedding.
B1 noun /ˈæʃ.treɪ/

Ash tray

Meaning
a receptacle for tobacco ash and cigarette butts
Example
Please use the ash tray for your cigarette.
B2 adverb /ˈnɔɪzɪli/

Noisily

Meaning
in a way that makes a lot of noise; loudly
Example
The children were playing noisily in the playground.
C1 adjective bəˈnev.əl.ənt

benevolent

Meaning
Kind, generous, showing goodwill and kindness.
Example
His benevolent nature made him beloved.
B2 noun, verb /ˌɪnkənˈviːniəns/

inconvenience

Meaning
trouble or difficulty caused to someone; to cause trouble or difficulty to someone
Example
We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the delay.
C1 noun /ˈliːweɪ/

leeway

Meaning
Freedom to act within certain limits; extra space or time.
Example
The manager gave the team some leeway to finish the project.
C2 noun /ˈfɜːrnəri/

fernery

Meaning
a place or greenhouse where ferns are cultivated
Example
The garden's fernery was full of exotic plants.
C2 noun /ˈpælɪˌnoʊd/

palinode

Meaning
a poem or statement in which the writer retracts something said in an earlier work
Example
The poet wrote a palinode to apologize for his earlier harsh words.
C2 noun /flɔːˈrɛsəns/

florescence

Meaning
The process, state, or period of flowering.
Example
The garden reached its peak florescence in spring.
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.
B1 noun /kɔːr/

core

Meaning
the central or most important part of something
Example
Honesty is at the core of their values.
B1 adjective əkˈsep.tɪd

accepted

Meaning
Generally believed or recognized to be valid or correct.
Example
The accepted terms were discussed in detail.
B2 adjective /ˈspiː.di/

Speedy

Meaning
moving or happening quickly; fast
Example
The speedy delivery service arrived within an hour.
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 /ˌɪmpəˈtjuːəsəti/

impetuosity

Meaning
The quality of being rash or impulsive.
Example
His impetuosity often got him into trouble.
B2 noun /ˈkɒl.ər/

Collar

Meaning
a band of material around the neck; in jewelry context, a close-fitting necklace
Example
She wore an elegant pearl collar to the formal dinner.
C2 adjective /blɑːˈzeɪ/

blase

Meaning
unimpressed or indifferent to something because it has been experienced so often before
Example
After years of luxury travel, she felt blase about another trip to Paris.
B2 noun /ˌpɜː.sɪˈvɪə.rəns/

perseverance

Meaning
Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success
Example
His perseverance helped him achieve his dreams.
C1 noun /ˈriːbeɪt/

rebate

Meaning
a partial refund given to someone who has paid too much money for something
Example
The store offered a rebate on bulk purchases.
C1 noun /ˈprɛsɪdəns/ or /prɪˈsiːdəns/

precedence

Meaning
the condition of being considered more important than someone or something else; priority
Example
Safety takes precedence over speed in this factory.
C1 adjective/verb /ˈleɪ.bərd/

labored

Meaning
done with great effort and difficulty; or past tense of labor
Example
He gave a labored explanation that confused the audience.
C1 noun /meɪl treɪn/

Mail train

Meaning
a train that carries mail and postal packages
Example
The mail train departs every evening to deliver letters across the country.
C2 verb /əˈbreɪd/

abrade

Meaning
to scrape or wear away the surface by friction or erosion
Example
The rough cloth can easily abrade the skin.
C1 adjective /səbˈdʒɛktɪv/

subjective

Meaning
based on personal feelings, tastes, or opinions rather than facts
Example
Beauty is often considered a subjective concept.
B1 adjective /ˈkʌtɪŋ/

cutting

Meaning
sharp or severe, often used to describe remarks or actions
Example
Her cutting remarks made everyone feel uncomfortable.
B2 noun /ˈkreɪ.dəl/

Cradle

Meaning
a small bed for a baby, especially one that rocks from side to side
Example
The baby sleeps peacefully in the cradle.
B2 adjective /ˌfæʃ.ənd/

Outdated

Meaning
obsolete; no longer current
Example
This computer software is completely outdated.
B2 adjective /əˈpærənt/

apparent

Meaning
Clearly visible or understood; obvious.
Example
It soon became apparent that he was not telling the truth.