misadventure
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C2 noun /ˌmɪsədˈvɛntʃər/

misadventure

Meaning
An unlucky accident, mishap, or unfortunate event.
Example
He broke his leg during a skiing misadventure.
C2 adjective /ˈɪm.pi.əs/

Impious

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

lucent

Meaning
shining or glowing with light
Example
The lucent stars brightened the night sky.
C2 adjective /kəˈpeɪ.ʃəs/

Capacious

Meaning
having a lot of space inside; roomy and spacious
Example
The capacious hall can accommodate five hundred people.
C2 noun /ˈkɔː.seər/

corsair

Meaning
a pirate, especially one operating along the Mediterranean coasts
Example
The corsair plundered ships along the coast.
C2 verb /ˈærəˌɡeɪt/

arrogate

Meaning
To claim or take something without justification.
Example
The dictator arrogated all powers to himself.
C2 adjective /ˌmækɪəˈvɛliən/

machiavellian

Meaning
cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics or in advancing one's career
Example
The politician was known for his Machiavellian tactics.
C2 adjective /ˈfɪliəl/

filial

Meaning
relating to a son or daughter; showing respect or affection toward parents
Example
He showed filial respect by caring for his aging parents.
C2 noun/verb /læˈsuː/

lasso

Meaning
a rope with a loop used to catch animals; to catch with such a rope
Example
The cowboy lassoed the horse quickly.
C2 adjective /ˈreə.rɪ.faɪd/

rarefied

Meaning
Of high moral, intellectual, or cultural value; distant from ordinary life.
Example
He works in the rarefied world of classical music.
C2 noun /daɪˈvɛstɪtʃər/

divestiture

Meaning
the action of selling off or disposing of business interests or assets
Example
The divestiture of the subsidiary was completed last year.
C2 noun /ˈplɔːdɪt/

plaudit

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

vegetal

Meaning
relating to or consisting of plants or vegetation
Example
The soup had a distinct vegetal flavor.
C2 noun /təˈmɛrɪti/

temerity

Meaning
Excessive confidence or boldness; audacity.
Example
He had the temerity to challenge the professor’s argument.
C2 verb /loʊp/

lope

Meaning
to run or move with a long, bounding stride
Example
The horse loped gracefully across the field.
C2 adjective /ˌmæl.əˈfɪʃ.ənt/

maleficient

Meaning
Doing harm or evil; having a harmful effect.
Example
The maleficient acts of the tyrant ruined the kingdom.
C2 adjective /ˈfʌndʒəbl/

fungible

Meaning
interchangeable; able to replace or be replaced by another identical item
Example
In finance, money is considered a fungible asset.
C2 adjective /rɪˈprɛsəbl̩/

repressible

Meaning
Capable of being restrained or suppressed.
Example
The movement proved to be hardly repressible.
C2 verb /əˈnɔɪnt/

anoint

Meaning
To smear or rub with oil, often as part of a religious ceremony or as a sign of consecration.
Example
The priest anointed the king with holy oil.
C2 verb /ˌweɪˈleɪ/

waylay

Meaning
to stop or interrupt someone unexpectedly, often to attack or detain them
Example
He was waylaid by reporters as he left the courthouse.
C2 adjective /ˌoʊvərˈwiːnɪŋ/

overweening

Meaning
excessively arrogant or prideful
Example
His overweening pride cost him many friends.
C2 verb /ˈek.stər.peɪt/

extirpate

Meaning
to completely remove or destroy something unwanted
Example
The government launched a program to extirpate corruption from public offices.
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.
C2 adjective /rəˈkoʊkoʊ/

rococo

Meaning
characterized by ornate detail and elaborate decoration, especially in art, architecture, and design
Example
The palace was decorated in a lavish rococo style.
C2 adjective /ɡrɪˈɡɛəriəs/

gregarious

Meaning
Fond of company; sociable.
Example
She is a gregarious person who loves meeting new people.
C2 noun /ˈræʃənəlɪzəm/

rationalism

Meaning
a belief or theory that opinions and actions should be based on reason and knowledge rather than religious belief or emotion
Example
Rationalism emphasizes logic and reasoning over faith.
C2 noun /ˈkɒŋ.kɔː.dæt/

concordat

Meaning
An agreement or treaty, especially between the Vatican and a secular government.
Example
The concordat established the rights of the church within the country.
C2 noun /ˈɛərəˌnɔːt/

aeronaut

Meaning
A person who travels in an airship, balloon, or other aircraft.
Example
The aeronaut skillfully guided the hot-air balloon across the valley.
C2 noun /səˈɡæs.ə.t̬i/

sagacity

Meaning
The quality of being sagacious; having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment.
Example
His sagacity made him a great leader.
C2 adverb /əˈθwɔːrt/

athwart

Meaning
Across or in opposition to something.
Example
A fallen tree lay athwart the road, blocking traffic.
C2 noun /ˈsaɪ.nəˌʃʊr/

cynosure

Meaning
A person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration.
Example
She was the cynosure of all eyes at the 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.
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 verb /bɪˈleɪbə/

belabour

Meaning
to explain something repeatedly or with excessive detail; to criticize or attack verbally at length
Example
The teacher did not belabour the point once the students understood it.
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.
C2 adjective /ɔːˈrɪkjʊlər/

auricular

Meaning
Relating to the ear or hearing.
Example
The doctor used an auricular thermometer to check the patient's temperature.
C2 noun /ruːd/

rood

Meaning
a crucifix, especially one positioned above the entrance to the chancel of a church
Example
The old church displayed a carved rood above the altar.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛndrɔɪd/

dendroid

Meaning
tree-shaped or branching like a tree
Example
The coral has a dendroid structure.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɔːrˈdeɪn/

preordain

Meaning
To decide or determine an outcome in advance, especially by fate or divine will.
Example
They believed their meeting was preordained by destiny.
C2 adjective /ˌæp.rɪˈhen.sə.bəl/

Apprehensible

Meaning
able to be understood or grasped; comprehensible
Example
The complex theory became apprehensible after the professor's explanation.
C2 noun /ˈkɒksweɪn/

coxswain

Meaning
the person in charge of navigating and steering a boat, especially a racing or small boat
Example
The coxswain shouted instructions to the rowing team.
C2 noun /ˈbɑːrtərər/

barterer

Meaning
A person who trades goods or services without using money.
Example
The barterer exchanged fruits for some pottery.
C2 noun /əˈreɪ.bi.ən ˈdʒæz.mɪn/

Arabian Jasmine

Meaning
A fragrant white flower native to South and Southeast Asia, commonly used in perfumes and religious ceremonies
Example
The Arabian jasmine filled the garden with its sweet fragrance.
C2 noun /əˈklɪvɪti/

acclivity

Meaning
An upward slope or incline on the ground.
Example
The hikers struggled as they climbed the steep acclivity.
C2 verb /lɑːl/

loll

Meaning
To sit, lie, or stand in a lazy, relaxed way.
Example
He lolled on the sofa after a long day at work.
C2 adjective /bɪˈnɪɡnənt/

benignant

Meaning
Kindly and benevolent in nature.
Example
The teacher’s benignant attitude made the students feel comfortable.
C2 verb /vɔːnt/

vaunt

Meaning
to boast or brag about something, especially in an excessive way
Example
He would often vaunt his achievements in front of his colleagues.
C2 adjective /ˈmɜːrkəntaɪl/

mercantile

Meaning
related to trade or commerce
Example
The city grew rapidly due to its mercantile activities.
C2 noun /ˈdɪfθɒŋ/

diphthong

Meaning
A complex vowel sound that begins with one vowel and glides into another within the same syllable.
Example
The word 'coin' contains a diphthong.
C2 noun /ɪˈlɪziəm/

elysium

Meaning
A place or state of perfect happiness; in Greek mythology, the afterlife paradise.
Example
For her, the garden was a personal elysium.
C2 noun /ˈɪrɪɡənt/

irrigant

Meaning
A liquid used for irrigation, especially in medical or agricultural contexts.
Example
The doctor used a sterile irrigant during the procedure.
C2 verb /ˈtʃæfɪŋ/

chaffing

Meaning
Teasing or joking in a lighthearted way.
Example
They were chaffing each other during lunch.
C2 adjective /bjuːˈkɒlɪk/

bucolic

Meaning
Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
Example
They enjoyed a bucolic picnic by the river.
C2 noun /ˌɪmprɪˈmɑːtər/

imprimatur

Meaning
An official license or approval, especially to publish a book.
Example
The book was released with the official imprimatur of the church.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪtərəl/

littoral

Meaning
Related to or situated on the shore of the sea or a lake.
Example
The littoral zone is home to many unique marine species.
C2 noun /rɪˌkrɪmɪˈneɪʃən/

recrimination

Meaning
an accusation made in response to an accusation; mutual blaming
Example
The debate quickly descended into mutual recriminations.
C2 adjective ˈen.də.krɪn

endocrine

Meaning
Relating to or denoting glands that secrete hormones directly into the blood.
Example
The endocrine system regulates metabolism and growth.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnəˈʃʊəd/

unassured

Meaning
Lacking confidence or certainty.
Example
She gave an unassured answer during the interview.
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 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 /ˈfɪlɪɡri/

filigree

Meaning
delicate ornamental work of fine wire, usually of gold or silver
Example
The necklace was decorated with intricate gold filigree.
C2 adjective /ˌæntɪməˈrɪdiən/

antemeridian

Meaning
Relating to the time before noon; occurring in the morning.
Example
She scheduled all her important meetings during the antemeridian hours.
C2 noun /ˌpɛntəˈhiːdrən/

pentahedron

Meaning
A solid geometric figure with five faces.
Example
In geometry class, the teacher explained the structure of a pentahedron.
C2 verb /ˈæbrəɡeɪt/

abrogate

Meaning
To formally repeal, cancel, or abolish a law, agreement, or custom.
Example
The government decided to abrogate the outdated treaty.
C2 noun ˈoʊʃən ˌstrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən

ocean stratification

Meaning
The formation of layers in ocean water due to differences in density.
Example
Ocean stratification affects marine biodiversity.
C2 verb /bɪˈwɪtʃ/

bewitch

Meaning
to enchant or fascinate someone as if by magic
Example
The dancer's performance bewitched the audience.
C2 adjective /ˈmʌɡi/

muggy

Meaning
uncomfortably warm and humid
Example
It was a muggy afternoon in July.
C2 noun ˈfaɪ.təʊˌnjuː.tri.ənt

phytonutrient

Meaning
Chemical compounds produced by plants that are beneficial to human health but not essential nutrients.
Example
Broccoli is rich in phytonutrients that enhance immunity.
C2 adjective /ˈmɔːkɪʃ/

mawkish

Meaning
excessively sentimental, often to the point of being sickly
Example
The movie was criticized for its mawkish sentimentality.
C2 noun /rɪˈfrækʃən/

refraction

Meaning
The bending of light, sound, or other waves when they pass from one medium to another of different density.
Example
The refraction of light in water makes objects appear bent.
C2 noun /θiˈɒsəfi/

theosophy

Meaning
A religious or philosophical belief system that seeks direct knowledge of the mysteries of life and the divine.
Example
Theosophy attracted people interested in mysticism and spiritual growth.
C2 noun /ˈdʒʊntə/

junta

Meaning
A military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force.
Example
The junta seized power after the coup.
C2 noun /ˌdoʊ.məˈstɪs.ə.ti/

domesticity

Meaning
Life at home or devotion to family life.
Example
She enjoys the domesticity of cooking and gardening.
C2 adjective /ˌiːvənˈhændɪd/

evenhanded

Meaning
Fair and impartial; showing no bias or favoritism.
Example
The judge was praised for her evenhanded approach to the case.
C2 noun, verb /ˈbɛvəl/

bevel

Meaning
A sloping edge or surface; to cut or shape an edge at an angle.
Example
The carpenter beveled the edges of the table.
C2 noun /ˈbriːzˌweɪ/

breezeway

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

Rabble

Meaning
a disorderly crowd; the common people regarded as socially inferior
Example
The politician dismissed the protesters as mere rabble.
C2 noun /ˌvɪvɪˈsɛkʃən/

vivisection

Meaning
the practice of performing operations on live animals for scientific research
Example
Vivisection has long been a controversial topic among scientists and animal rights activists.
C2 adjective /ˈoʊ.pən ˈhɑrt.ɪd/

Open-hearted

Meaning
Kind and generous; sincere and honest; warmly receptive;
Example
She welcomed the strangers with an open-hearted smile and invited them for dinner.
C2 verb /ˈblʌdʒən/

bludgeon

Meaning
to hit someone with a heavy object; to force someone into doing something
Example
The guard was bludgeoned by the attacker in the alley.
C2 noun /ˈθiː.ɑːr.ki/

thearchy

Meaning
Rule or government by the gods; divine sovereignty.
Example
In ancient cultures, some societies believed in thearchy where gods directly guided human affairs.
C2 adjective /vəˈreɪʃəs/

veracious

Meaning
Truthful, honest; habitually speaking the truth.
Example
She gave a veracious account of what happened that day.
C2 noun /ˈkæriən/

carrion

Meaning
the decaying flesh of dead animals
Example
Vultures feed on carrion left in the fields.
C2 noun /ˌjuːzɜːrˈpeɪʃən/

usurpation

Meaning
The act of taking someone's power or property illegally or by force.
Example
The general's usurpation of the presidency led to political unrest.
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.
C2 noun /kænˈtoʊnmənt/

Cantonment

Meaning
a military base or permanent military station
Example
The soldiers lived in the cantonment outside the city.
C2 noun /ˈlæŋɡər/

languor

Meaning
A state of tiredness, inertia, or dreamy relaxation.
Example
The hot afternoon filled her with languor.
C2 noun /pæˈstiːʃ/

pastiche

Meaning
a work of art, literature, or music that imitates the style of another artist, period, or genre
Example
The film was a clever pastiche of 1950s detective movies.
C2 noun /dɪˈkrɛpɪˌtjuːd/

decrepitude

Meaning
the state of being old, weak, and worn out
Example
The once-great empire fell into decrepitude.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈtraɪkʌlər/

tricolor

Meaning
A flag with three colors; consisting of three colors.
Example
The French tricolor is one of the most famous national flags in the world.
C2 noun /ˈdʒɪŋɡoʊɪst/

jingoist

Meaning
a person who supports jingoism; an extreme nationalist with aggressive foreign policies
Example
He was labeled a jingoist for his extreme views.
C2 noun /skriːd/

screed

Meaning
a long, tedious piece of writing or speech; also a layer of material like cement spread on a surface
Example
He delivered a long screed against corruption.
C2 adjective /rɪˈflɛksəbl/

reflexible

Meaning
Capable of being reflected or bent back.
Example
The surface was highly reflexible, bouncing light in different directions.
C2 noun /ˈtʃælɪs/

chalice

Meaning
A large cup or goblet, typically used for drinking wine in religious ceremonies.
Example
The priest lifted the golden chalice during the ceremony.
C2 adjective /ˈtaɪmwɔːrn/

timeworn

Meaning
Worn or impaired by age; old and used many times.
Example
The timeworn house carried a sense of history and nostalgia.
C2 noun /kɛn/

ken

Meaning
one's range of knowledge or understanding
Example
Quantum physics is beyond my ken.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnɪkˈsɛpʃənəbl/

unexceptionable

Meaning
Not open to objection; acceptable and unobjectionable
Example
His behavior was unexceptionable throughout the event.
C2 noun /ˈsteɪsɪs/ or /ˈstæsɪs/

stasis

Meaning
A state of inactivity or equilibrium; a situation where nothing changes.
Example
The negotiations reached a state of stasis with no progress made.
C2 noun /ˌproʊɪˈbɪʃənɪst/

prohibitionist

Meaning
A person who supports or advocates prohibition, especially of alcohol.
Example
The prohibitionist campaigned against the sale of liquor in the town.
C2 verb /dʒaɪb/

gibe

Meaning
To make insulting or mocking remarks; to taunt.
Example
The fans gibed at the losing team.
C2 adjective /ˌsuːprəˈmʌndeɪn/

supramundane

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

exhaustible

Meaning
able to be used up completely; not infinite
Example
Coal and oil are exhaustible resources.
C2 noun /ˈproʊtoʊˌmɑːrtɚ/

protomartyr

Meaning
The first martyr in a cause or religion, often referring to the first Christian martyr.
Example
St. Stephen is known as the protomartyr of Christianity.
C2 verb əˈtɛn.ju.eɪt

attenuate

Meaning
To reduce the force, effect, or value of something; to make weak or thin.
Example
The medicine helps attenuate the pain.
C2 adjective /ˈɒf.biːt/

offbeat

Meaning
Unusual, unconventional, or different from the norm.
Example
She has a very offbeat sense of humor.
C2 noun /ɪmˈpɒs.tʃər/

Imposture

Meaning
the practice of deceiving others by pretending to be someone else; fraudulent deception
Example
The elaborate imposture lasted for months before investigators uncovered the truth.
C2 noun /ˌɪntərˈsɛʃən/

intercession

Meaning
the act of intervening or pleading on behalf of another person
Example
The prisoner was released due to the intercession of influential leaders.
C2 verb /skwɛltʃ/

squelch

Meaning
to make a soft sucking sound, such as when walking on mud; to suppress or silence
Example
His boots squelched in the wet ground.
C2 verb /bɪˈtəʊkən/

betoken

Meaning
to be a sign or indication of something
Example
Dark clouds betoken an approaching storm.
C2 noun /ɒkˈteɪvoʊ/

octavo

Meaning
A size of book page resulting from folding a sheet of paper into eight leaves (sixteen pages).
Example
The old library contained rare octavo editions of Shakespeare.
C2 noun /kəmˈpleɪsəns/

complaisance

Meaning
willingness to please others; courteous compliance
Example
Her complaisance made her popular among her colleagues.
C2 noun /ˈbuːt.leɪs/

Boot-lace

Meaning
a cord or string used to fasten a boot or shoe
Example
I need to tie my boot-lace before going for a walk.
C2 adjective /ˌɪntərˈlɒkjətəri/

interlocutory

Meaning
Given during the course of a legal action, not final but temporary or provisional.
Example
The judge issued an interlocutory order to maintain the status quo until the hearing.
C2 verb /ˌfɔːrˈrʌn/

forerun

Meaning
To go before; to precede in time, place, or action.
Example
Dark clouds often forerun a storm.
C2 adjective /fəˈloʊniəs/

felonious

Meaning
relating to or involved in serious criminal activity
Example
He was charged with felonious assault after the incident.
C2 adjective /ˈrɛstɪv/

restive

Meaning
unable to stay still or silent; restless and impatient
Example
The crowd grew restive as they waited for the concert to begin.
C2 adjective /ˈflaɪti/

flighty

Meaning
unstable, impulsive, or easily distracted; lacking seriousness or stability
Example
She’s too flighty to stick with one job for long.
C2 noun /drɛɡz/

dregs

Meaning
the remnants of a liquid left in a container, together with any sediment or grounds; the most worthless part of something
Example
He drank the dregs of the coffee before leaving.
C2 verb /ʃʌk/

shuck

Meaning
To remove the outer covering, such as the husk of corn or shell of shellfish.
Example
She learned how to shuck oysters quickly.
C2 noun/verb /ɡəˈfɔː/

guffaw

Meaning
a loud and boisterous laugh
Example
The audience guffawed at the comedian’s joke.
C2 adjective, noun /pləˈbiːən/

plebeian

Meaning
common, ordinary, or belonging to the lower social classes
Example
The festival was enjoyed by both plebeian and noble citizens.