meliorism
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C2 noun /ˈmiːliərɪzəm/

meliorism

Meaning
The belief that the world tends to improve and that humans can aid its betterment.
Example
Her philosophy of meliorism kept her hopeful during difficult times.
C1 adjective /ˌhɪpəˈkrɪtɪkəl/

Hypocritical

Meaning
behaving in a way that contradicts one's stated beliefs or values
Example
It's hypocritical to preach honesty while lying yourself.
B2 verb /ˈvæksɪneɪt/

vaccinate

Meaning
to give a vaccine to protect against a disease
Example
Children are usually vaccinated before starting school.
C1 noun /ˈpɛrəntɪdʒ/

parentage

Meaning
The identity and origins of one's parents; descent or lineage.
Example
Her noble parentage gave her access to the royal court.
C1 noun ˈkeɪ.dəns

cadence

Meaning
The rhythm and flow of speech with rise and fall in tone.
Example
His speech had a natural cadence that captivated the audience.
B2 noun ˈsʌbstɪˌtut

substitute

Meaning
A person or thing acting or serving in place of another.
Example
Money cannot be a substitute for genuine happiness.
C1 adjective /ɪˈnæmərd/

enamored

Meaning
filled with love or admiration
Example
He became enamored with classical music after attending the concert.
B2 verb /səˈrɛndər/

surrender

Meaning
to give up or yield to an opponent or authority
Example
The army finally surrendered after weeks of fighting.
B2 noun /ˈhæs.əl/

Hassle

Meaning
irritating inconvenience; trouble or difficulty; a situation causing problems
Example
Booking tickets online can save you the hassle of waiting in long queues at the theater.
C2 noun /səˈnɛs.əns/

senescence

Meaning
The process of growing old or the condition of aging.
Example
The biologist studied senescence in plants to understand aging.
B2 noun wɪnd ˈen.ə.dʒi

wind energy

Meaning
Energy generated from wind using wind turbines to convert kinetic energy into electrical power.
Example
Wind energy is harnessed in Masdar City.
C1 adjective ɪnˈdʒiː.ni.əs

ingenious

Meaning
Showing inventiveness and skill; clever, original, and inventive.
Example
His ingenious ideas transformed modern physics.
C2 adjective /ˈdjuːtiəbl/

dutiable

Meaning
subject to customs duty or tax
Example
Imported electronics are often dutiable at the border.
C1 verb /ˈkaʊər/

cower

Meaning
to crouch down in fear
Example
The child cowered behind the sofa during the thunderstorm.
A2 noun, verb /kəˈrɪər/

career

Meaning
As a noun: a person’s course of professional life; as a verb: to move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way.
Example
She built a successful career in medicine.
C1 noun /ˈɡreɪ.tər/

Grater

Meaning
a kitchen utensil with a rough surface for grating food into small pieces
Example
Use the grater to grate cheese for the pizza.
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 adjective /lɪˈtɪdʒəs/

litigious

Meaning
prone to engage in lawsuits or overly inclined to argue legally
Example
He is known as a litigious neighbor who often sues people.
C2 verb /ˈhɛnˌpɛk/

henpeck

Meaning
To continually criticize, nag, or dominate (especially a husband).
Example
He felt henpecked by his overly controlling wife.
B2 verb, noun /dɒn/

don

Meaning
to put on (an article of clothing); also used as a title for a respected person
Example
She donned her coat before leaving.
B2 noun kənˈtrækʃən

contraction

Meaning
The process of becoming smaller; a decrease in size or quantity.
Example
The economic contraction resulted in a rise in unemployment.
B2 noun /ˈpraɪ.vət ˈtuː.tər/

Private tutor

Meaning
a teacher who gives individual instruction to a student outside of regular school
Example
The private tutor helped the student improve his math skills.
C1 noun /əˈtoʊnmənt/

atonement

Meaning
the act of making amends for a wrong, sin, or injury
Example
The festival was celebrated as a day of atonement.
C1 adjective /ɡɔːnt/

gaunt

Meaning
extremely thin, bony, and haggard in appearance, often due to hunger or illness
Example
After weeks of illness, he looked pale and gaunt.
C2 noun /ˈrɒndoʊ/

rondo

Meaning
a musical composition with a recurring leading theme
Example
The pianist ended the recital with a lively rondo.
B2 noun /ˈkaʊn.səl.ər/

counselor

Meaning
a person trained to give guidance on personal, social, or psychological problems
Example
The school counselor helped the student deal with stress.
C2 noun /luːn/

lune

Meaning
A crescent-shaped figure formed by two intersecting arcs; also means 'moon' in French.
Example
The mathematician studied the properties of the lune.
C2 adjective /eɪˈsɛfələs/

acephalous

Meaning
having no leader or head; headless
Example
The acephalous group soon fell into disorganization.
C1 noun /sleɪ/

sleigh

Meaning
A vehicle pulled by horses or reindeer over snow or ice.
Example
Children were excited to ride in the sleigh through the snowy village.
B1 adjective /æmˈbɪʃ.əs/

Ambitious

Meaning
having strong desire for success or achievement; aspiring
Example
She is ambitious and works hard to achieve her goals.
B2 adjective /ˈvaɪ.brənt/

Vibrant

Meaning
full of energy and life; bright and striking
Example
The vibrant colors of the sunset painted the sky beautifully.
C1 adjective /ˈfɒnɪk/

phonic

Meaning
relating to speech sounds or their production; connected to phonics
Example
Children learn phonic rules to read new words accurately.
B2 adjective /ˈpeɪ.ə.bəl/

Payable

Meaning
required to be paid; owed as a debt
Example
The amount is payable within thirty days of the invoice date.
B2 noun /ˈkʊk.uː/

Cuckoo

Meaning
a bird known for its distinctive call and for laying eggs in other birds' nests
Example
We heard the cuckoo calling from the forest early in the morning.
C1 noun /ˌsaɪkoʊˈθɛrəpi/

psychotherapy

Meaning
The treatment of mental disorder by psychological rather than medical means.
Example
She attended weekly psychotherapy sessions to cope with her anxiety.
B2 adjective /pəˈsɪs.tənt/

persistent

Meaning
continuing to exist or endure over a prolonged period
Example
Despite many setbacks, her persistent efforts led to success.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnkəmˈprɛsəbl/

incompressible

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

perdition

Meaning
A state of eternal spiritual ruin, often referring to hell or damnation.
Example
The preacher warned that greed would lead to perdition.
B1 adjective ˈlɔːŋ.tɜːrm

long-term

Meaning
Occurring over or involving a relatively long period of time.
Example
Long-term planning is necessary for environmental conservation.
C1 verb /splaɪs/

splice

Meaning
to join two pieces of rope, film, or other material by weaving or attaching them together
Example
The technician spliced the two wires to restore the connection.
C2 noun /ˈlɛtʃ.əri/

lechery

Meaning
excessive or offensive sexual desire; lustfulness
Example
The novel depicted the lechery of corrupt nobles.
B2 adjective /ˈstɑːrtəld/

startled

Meaning
suddenly shocked or surprised by something unexpected
Example
She was startled by the loud noise outside.
C1 noun /ˈɡlɒs.ər.i/

Glossary

Meaning
an alphabetical list of terms in a particular domain of knowledge with explanations; a brief dictionary
Example
The textbook includes a helpful glossary at the end to define technical terms.
B2 adjective /ˈnær.ə.tɪv/

Narrative

Meaning
relating to storytelling; descriptive; telling a story; recounting events
Example
The narrative structure of the novel was quite complex.
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 adjective /ɪmˈpɛn.ɪ.tənt/

impenitent

Meaning
Not feeling regret or shame about one's actions.
Example
The criminal remained impenitent after the trial.
C2 noun /ˈrɛvəlri/

revelry

Meaning
Lively and noisy festivities, especially involving drinking and dancing.
Example
The sound of revelry could be heard throughout the night.
B1 verb /ɪnˈtend/

intend

Meaning
to plan or have in mind as a purpose; to mean
Example
I intend to finish this project by tomorrow.
B2 noun/verb /ˈkɒmplɪmənt/

complement

Meaning
something that completes or goes well with something; to add something that enhances or improves
Example
The scarf complements her outfit perfectly.
C1 adjective /ˌmʌltɪˈfæsɪtɪd/

multifaceted

Meaning
Having many different aspects or features
Example
The multifaceted approach to the problem resulted in innovative solutions.
C2 noun /praɪˈveɪʃən/

privation

Meaning
A state in which things essential for human well-being such as food and warmth are lacking.
Example
The refugees suffered great privation during the harsh winter.
C2 verb /ɪˈluːmɪn/

illumine

Meaning
to light up or make clear
Example
The rising sun illumined the mountain peaks.
B2 adjective /ˈbraʊn.ɪʃ/

Brownish

Meaning
having a color somewhat like brown; tending toward brown
Example
The old paper had a brownish tint from age.
B1 noun, verb /ɡreɪd/

grade

Meaning
A level of quality, rank, or performance; to assign a score or mark to work or performance.
Example
The teacher graded all the papers by the weekend.
B2 noun /ˈkæbɪnət/

Cabinet

Meaning
a piece of furniture with doors and shelves used for storage
Example
The kitchen cabinet is full of dishes and utensils.
C2 verb /dɪsˈtɛnd/

distend

Meaning
to swell or expand by pressure from within
Example
Her stomach began to distend after the large meal.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈdʒʌŋktɪv/

disjunctive

Meaning
Serving to separate or divide; expressing a choice between alternatives.
Example
In grammar, 'or' is a disjunctive conjunction.
C1 adjective /ˌkaʊntərɪnˈtuːɪtɪv/

counterintuitive

Meaning
contrary to what one would intuitively expect
Example
His approach seems counterintuitive but it actually works.
B2 adjective /kənˈtɛntɪd/

contented

Meaning
Feeling or expressing happiness and satisfaction.
Example
She was contented with her simple life.
B2 noun /jel/

Yell

Meaning
a loud, sharp cry of pain, surprise, or delight; to shout loudly
Example
He let out a yell when he saw the spider.
B1 verb /pərˈfɔːrm/

perform

Meaning
to carry out an action or present entertainment; to function
Example
The orchestra will perform at the concert hall tonight.
B1 noun /ˈdʒʌm.pər/

Jumper

Meaning
a knitted garment worn on the upper body; a person or animal that jumps
Example
She wore a warm woolen jumper during the cold winter evening.
C1 noun /ˈfræk.tʃər/

Fracture

Meaning
the cracking or breaking of a hard object or material; a break in a bone
Example
The doctor confirmed that he had a hairline fracture in his wrist.
A2 noun /piˈænoʊ/

Piano

Meaning
a large keyboard musical instrument with black and white keys that produces sound by striking strings with hammers
Example
The little girl practiced piano for one hour every day.
C1 noun /ˈwiː.vər bɜːd/

Weaver bird

Meaning
a small bird that builds elaborate woven nests from grass and twigs
Example
The weaver bird skillfully constructs its intricate nest.
A2 noun /ˈsɪk.nəs/

Sickness

Meaning
the state of being ill; a disease or illness
Example
She took time off work due to sickness.
C1 verb /ˈædʒ.ɪ.teɪt/

agitate

Meaning
to stir up feelings or disturb; to campaign for change
Example
The protesters agitated for better working conditions.
B1 noun /ˈpoʊ.lər beər/

Polar Bear

Meaning
a large white bear that lives in the Arctic regions
Example
The polar bear swims in the icy Arctic waters.
C2 noun /ˈeb.taɪd/

Ebb-tide

Meaning
the movement of the tide out to sea; a time when the sea level is falling
Example
During ebb-tide, we could walk further out on the beach.
C1 adjective /nɑːkˈtɜr.nəl/

Nocturnal

Meaning
active at night; happening during the night
Example
Owls are nocturnal animals that hunt at night.
C1 adjective /mjuːˈnɪsɪpəl/

municipal

Meaning
relating to a city or town or its local government
Example
The municipal authority is responsible for maintaining the park.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈnoʊn/

Unknown

Meaning
not known or identified; unfamiliar
Example
The author of this letter remains unknown.
C2 verb /sleɪk/

slake

Meaning
To satisfy thirst or desire.
Example
She drank cold water to slake her thirst.
B2 adjective /ɪmˈpɜːrfɪkt/

imperfect

Meaning
Not perfect; having faults or flaws.
Example
The painting was beautiful despite being imperfect.
A2 noun /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/

dining

Meaning
the act of eating a meal, especially in a formal setting
Example
We enjoyed fine dining at the new restaurant.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnpriːpəˈzɛsɪŋ/

unprepossessing

Meaning
not attractive or appealing in appearance
Example
Despite his unprepossessing looks, he was very kind and intelligent.
B2 verb /mɔːrn/

mourn

Meaning
To feel or express deep sadness or grief, especially because of someone's death.
Example
They gathered to mourn the loss of their friend.
C1 noun /pəˈzɛsər/

possessor

Meaning
A person who owns or holds something.
Example
The possessor of the land built a new house.
B1 noun /ˌvɒl.ənˈtɪər/

Volunteer

Meaning
a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task
Example
Many volunteers helped distribute food to the homeless.
C1 adjective /pərˈvɜːrs/

perverse

Meaning
showing a deliberate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable, contrary, or unacceptable
Example
He took a perverse pleasure in upsetting his colleagues.
C1 noun /ˌdɛrɪˈveɪʃən/

derivation

Meaning
The origin or development of something from a source.
Example
The derivation of the word comes from Latin.
B2 verb /ˈɪl.ə.streɪt/

illustrate

Meaning
to explain or make something clear by using examples, pictures, or comparisons
Example
The teacher used diagrams to illustrate the concept.
B1 noun /ˈspæroʊ/

Sparrow

Meaning
small brown and grey bird commonly found in cities and towns
Example
The sparrow chirped cheerfully from the tree branch.
C1 verb ɪɡˈzæsərbeɪt

exacerbate

Meaning
To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.
Example
Climate change exacerbates flooding issues.
C2 adjective /ˈprʊəriənt/

prurient

Meaning
having or showing an excessive interest in sexual matters
Example
The magazine was criticized for its prurient content.
C1 noun ˌpriː.dɪs.pəˈzɪʃ.ən

predisposition

Meaning
A natural tendency or inclination toward a particular behavior or condition.
Example
Genetic factors can influence a person's predisposition to diseases.
C1 noun /ɪnˈdjuːsmənt/

inducement

Meaning
something that persuades or encourages someone to do something
Example
The company offered a bonus as an inducement to employees.
B2 noun ˈbluː.prɪnt

blueprint

Meaning
A detailed plan or framework for a work or project, a pre-planned structure.
Example
The architect presented a blueprint for the new building.
B2 noun /dɪˈtɜːrdʒənt/

detergent

Meaning
a substance used for cleaning, especially for washing clothes and dishes
Example
She bought a new brand of detergent for laundry.
C1 noun /vəˈnɪər/

veneer

Meaning
A thin decorative covering of fine wood applied to a coarser wood or other material; a superficially attractive appearance.
Example
The table was covered with a thin veneer of mahogany.
C2 noun /əˈnjuː.ɪ.ti/

annuity

Meaning
a fixed sum of money paid to someone each year, typically for the rest of their life
Example
She receives an annuity from her late husband's insurance policy.
B2 noun /θred/

thread

Meaning
a long, thin strand of cotton, nylon, or other fibers used for sewing
Example
She used a red thread to sew the torn button back on.
B1 adjective /ˈprɛɡnənt/

pregnant

Meaning
having a child developing in the womb; also, full of meaning or significance
Example
She announced that she was three months pregnant.
B1 verb /bæn/

ban

Meaning
to officially forbid something; to prohibit
Example
The government banned smoking in public places.
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.
C2 noun /ˈɛlɪdʒi/

elegy

Meaning
A poem or song expressing sorrow, especially for someone who has died.
Example
The poet wrote an elegy for his late friend.
B2 adjective /ˈæm.pəl/

Ample

Meaning
large in size, extent, or capacity; plentiful; more than enough
Example
We have ample time to finish the project before the deadline.
C2 adverb /ɪkˈstem.pɔːr/

Extempore

Meaning
without preparation; spontaneously; improvised
Example
The speaker delivered an impressive extempore speech at the conference.
C2 adjective /ˈlʌstrəs/

lustrous

Meaning
having a gentle sheen or soft glow
Example
Her hair looked smooth and lustrous.
C2 adjective /ˈtʃɜːrlɪʃ/

churlish

Meaning
Rude in a mean-spirited and surly way.
Example
It would be churlish to refuse her kind invitation.
B2 adjective /slaɪ/

sly

Meaning
Clever in a deceitful or cunning way.
Example
She gave him a sly smile.
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.
C2 noun /ˈbɑːrtərər/

barterer

Meaning
A person who trades goods or services without using money.
Example
The barterer exchanged fruits for some pottery.
B2 adjective /ˈɒp.tɪ.məl/

optimal

Meaning
Best or most favorable; the most effective under particular conditions.
Example
The optimal temperature for plant growth is around 25°C.
B2 adjective /ˈspɒtɪd/

Spotted

Meaning
having spots or marks; noticed or seen
Example
The spotted leopard moved silently through the jungle.
C2 noun /ˈæn.ə.lɪst/

annalist

Meaning
A person who writes annals or records events year by year.
Example
The annalist carefully documented the events of the king's reign.
A1 preposition, conjunction, adverb /ˈæftər/

after

Meaning
in the time following an event or another action
Example
We went for ice cream after the movie.
C1 adjective /bɪˈriːvd/

Bereaved

Meaning
having lost a loved one through death
Example
The bereaved family received many condolences.
C1 adverb /ˈðɛərfɔːr/

therefor

Meaning
For that or for it.
Example
He received payment and gave a receipt therefor.
C1 adjective /ˈbrɪtl/

brittle

Meaning
easily broken or cracked; hard but liable to break
Example
The glass was so brittle that it cracked easily.
C2 noun /ænˈtɪlədʒi/

antilogy

Meaning
A contradiction in terms or ideas; inconsistency in speech or writing.
Example
The politician's statement was criticized for its antilogy.
C1 adjective /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnsəbl̩/

reprehensible

Meaning
Deserving strong criticism or blame.
Example
His dishonest actions were truly reprehensible.
C2 verb /ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːrt/

controvert

Meaning
to dispute or argue against; to contradict
Example
The scientist controversed the previous research findings.
B1 adjective /dʌl/

Dull

Meaning
lacking interest or excitement; not bright; lacking intelligence; tedious
Example
The lecture was very dull and boring.
B2 noun ˈsɜːrkjələr ɪˈkɒnəmi

circular economy

Meaning
An economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources through reuse, sharing, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing and recycling.
Example
Adopting a circular economy can reduce waste.
B2 noun /dɒk/

dock

Meaning
a structure where ships are loaded, unloaded, or repaired
Example
The ship stayed at the dock for two days.
C2 noun /ˈsteɪtkraft/

statecraft

Meaning
The art of governing and managing state affairs effectively.
Example
The leader was praised for his exceptional statecraft in handling international relations.
C2 noun /doʊˈniː/

donee

Meaning
A person who receives a gift or donation.
Example
The scholarship fund’s donee expressed heartfelt gratitude.
A1 adjective/adverb /ɪˈnʌf/

enough

Meaning
as much or as many as required
Example
We have enough food for everyone.
C2 noun /məˈnɪʃən/

monition

Meaning
A warning or caution, often of a religious or moral nature.
Example
The priest gave a monition against dishonesty.
C1 verb /ˈdʒɪtər/

jitter

Meaning
to shake or tremble slightly, often from fear, nervousness, or excitement
Example
He began to jitter nervously before giving his speech.