pastiche
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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 verb /əˈpraɪz/

apprise

Meaning
to inform or notify someone
Example
The manager will apprise the staff of the new policies.
C2 noun ˈsaɪəns ˈdezət

science-desert

Meaning
A region or area lacking in scientific development, research facilities, or educational institutions.
Example
J.C. Bose thrived in a science-desert.
C2 noun /məˈlɑː.ti/

Malati

Meaning
a fragrant climbing plant with small white flowers, commonly known as jasmine
Example
The malati vine covered the garden wall with sweet-smelling flowers.
C2 noun /ˈdaɪˌsɪləbəl/

disyllable

Meaning
a word consisting of two syllables
Example
The word 'happy' is a disyllable.
C2 verb ˈɑːb.fə.skeɪt

obfuscate

Meaning
Render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.
Example
Politicians often obfuscate facts to mislead people.
C2 noun /ˈpiːən/

paean

Meaning
A song or piece of writing expressing great praise or triumph.
Example
The article was a paean to the beauty of nature.
C2 adjective /ˈkwɛrʊləs/

querulous

Meaning
Complaining in a whining or irritable manner.
Example
The querulous customer kept finding fault with every detail.
C2 noun /səˈlɛrɪti/

celerity

Meaning
swiftness of movement; speed
Example
The soldier moved with great celerity to deliver the message.
C2 verb /dɪsˈkaʊntənəns/

discountenance

Meaning
To disapprove of or discourage something.
Example
The teacher strongly discountenanced cheating in exams.
C2 noun /dɪˈstreɪnər/

distrainor

Meaning
a person, usually a landlord, who seizes another's property for unpaid debt or rent
Example
The distrainor took possession of the tenant's car until the debt was cleared.
C2 verb /aʊtˈraɪd/

outride

Meaning
to ride faster, farther, or better than someone else
Example
The young rider managed to outride his competitors in the race.
C2 adjective /ˈfuːlˌhɑːrdi/

foolhardy

Meaning
Recklessly bold or rash; taking foolish risks.
Example
It was foolhardy of him to climb the mountain without proper gear.
C2 adjective, noun /ˈænθrəpɔɪd/

anthropoid

Meaning
Resembling a human being in form; a primate such as apes and monkeys.
Example
The gorilla is considered an anthropoid ape.
C2 noun /ˈstænʃən/

stanchion

Meaning
a strong upright bar or post used as support or to control movement
Example
The red rope was attached to the stanchions to guide the crowd.
C2 noun /sneɪk ɡɔːrd/

Snake gourd

Meaning
a long, curved vegetable that resembles a snake, commonly used in South Asian cuisine
Example
The snake gourd grows in a twisted, serpentine shape in the garden.
C2 noun /ˈsɪnəd/

synod

Meaning
An assembly of the clergy in a Christian church convened to decide on issues of doctrine or administration.
Example
The synod gathered to discuss reforms in the church.
C2 noun /ˈɒbsɪkwi/

obsequy

Meaning
A funeral rite, usually used in plural form obsequies.
Example
The village gathered for the obsequy of their beloved teacher.
C2 adjective /ˈliːwərd/

leeward

Meaning
On or toward the sheltered side away from the wind.
Example
They built their camp on the leeward side of the hill.
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 /ˌtɜːdʒɪvərˈseɪʃən/

tergiversation

Meaning
Evasion of straightforward action or speech; changing sides or being inconsistent.
Example
The politician’s tergiversation frustrated his supporters.
C2 noun /ˈɪəri/

eyry

Meaning
an alternative spelling of eyrie; a nest of a bird of prey
Example
The falcon guarded its eyry fiercely.
C2 verb /ˌæntɪˈsiːd/

antecede

Meaning
to come before in time or order
Example
A short introduction usually antecedes the main text.
C2 noun /ˈhɑːdɪhʊd/

hardihood

Meaning
Courage, boldness, or daring behavior; also physical robustness.
Example
The mountaineer's hardihood impressed the entire team.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌliːtər/

decaliter

Meaning
A metric unit of capacity equal to ten liters.
Example
The container could hold up to one decaliter of water.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈseɪʃiət/

insatiate

Meaning
impossible to satisfy; always wanting more
Example
He had an insatiate desire for power.
C2 noun /ˈdɛsɪkənt/

desiccant

Meaning
a substance that absorbs moisture and keeps things dry
Example
Silica gel packets are commonly used as a desiccant in packaging.
C2 verb /ˌmɪsæprɪˈhɛnd/

misapprehend

Meaning
to misunderstand or misinterpret something
Example
He misapprehended the teacher’s instructions and did the task incorrectly.
C2 adjective /ˈɛkstənt/

extant

Meaning
Still in existence; surviving.
Example
Only a few manuscripts from the ancient library are extant.
C2 noun /naɪt ˈdʒæz.mɪn/

Night-jesmine

Meaning
a fragrant flowering tree that blooms at night with small white flowers
Example
The night-jasmine tree blooms only after sunset with its tiny white flowers.
C2 adjective /ˈɪnˌbrɛd/

inbred

Meaning
existing naturally in a person or animal; also related to reproduction within a limited community
Example
He has an inbred sense of loyalty.
C2 noun /ˈnɪk.næk/

knickknack

Meaning
A small decorative object, especially in a house.
Example
The shelf was full of little knickknacks collected from their travels.
C2 adjective /ˌæk.si.əˈmæt.ɪk/

axiomatic

Meaning
Self-evident, obviously true without need for proof
Example
It is axiomatic that hard work leads to success.
C2 noun /ˈlæriət/

lariat

Meaning
A long rope with a noose at one end used to catch animals such as cattle or horses.
Example
The cowboy threw his lariat to catch the stray horse.
C2 verb /læmˈpuːn/

lampoon

Meaning
to publicly criticize or ridicule someone or something with humor, irony, or sarcasm
Example
The cartoonist lampooned the politician for his contradictory statements.
C2 noun /neɪv/

nave

Meaning
the central part of a church building intended to accommodate the congregation
Example
The choir sang beautifully in the church nave.
C2 adjective ˌmɔː.fəˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl

morphological

Meaning
Related to the structure and formation of words; concerning morphology in linguistics.
Example
Morphological analysis helps AI understand word structures.
C2 noun /ˈreɪmənt/

raiment

Meaning
clothing, especially fine or formal wear
Example
The king wore royal raiment during the ceremony.
C2 noun /ˈvɜːrbiɪdʒ/

verbiage

Meaning
Excessive use of words, often with little content or meaning; wordiness.
Example
The contract was filled with unnecessary legal verbiage.
C2 adjective /ˈɡɔːdi/

gaudy

Meaning
excessively showy or flashy, often in a tasteless way
Example
She wore a gaudy necklace that clashed with her elegant dress.
C2 noun /ˈlɔːndrəs/

laundress

Meaning
A woman whose job is washing clothes and linens.
Example
The laundress delivered the freshly cleaned clothes to the household.
C2 noun /ˈsɛrəf/

seraph

Meaning
An angelic being associated with light and purity, often depicted as a high-ranking angel in Christian theology.
Example
The stained-glass window depicted a seraph with outstretched wings.
C2 noun /ˈpɒliˌɑːrki/

polyarchy

Meaning
government by many people
Example
Polyarchy allows multiple parties to share power.
C2 noun /ˈmæŋɡoʊ fɪʃ/

Mango fish

Meaning
A popular white fish also known as barramundi or Asian sea bass
Example
Mango fish is prized for its delicate flavor and tender texture.
C2 noun /ˈɡæd.flaɪ/

gadfly

Meaning
A person who annoys or criticizes others to stimulate change or provoke action.
Example
The journalist was a gadfly, constantly questioning the government's policies.
C2 noun /ˈpɜːrsənɪdʒ/

personage

Meaning
an important or famous person
Example
He is considered a great personage in the world of literature.
C2 noun /ˈɔːfəl/

offal

Meaning
the internal organs and entrails of an animal used as food; waste parts
Example
The butcher prepared sausages using pork offal.
C2 noun /ˈbiːtənd raɪs/

Beatened rice

Meaning
flattened rice; rice that has been parboiled, dried, and beaten into flat flakes
Example
Beaten rice is commonly eaten with milk and sugar for breakfast.
C2 noun /ˈsuːθˌseɪər/

soothsayer

Meaning
a person who claims to predict the future
Example
The king consulted a soothsayer before going to war.
C2 verb /ˌaʊtməˈnuːvər/

outmaneuver

Meaning
to gain an advantage over an opponent by skillful or clever action
Example
The smaller company managed to outmaneuver its larger rival.
C2 noun /ˈdʒaɪər/

gyre

Meaning
A circular or spiral motion or form, especially a giant circular oceanic surface current.
Example
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is trapped in a gyre.
C2 noun /ˈdʒɛtsəm/

jetsam

Meaning
Unwanted material or goods thrown overboard from a ship and washed ashore.
Example
The beach was littered with jetsam after the storm.
C2 noun /ˈoʊpiət/

opiate

Meaning
a drug containing opium or its derivatives, used to relieve pain or cause sleep
Example
The doctor prescribed an opiate to relieve the patient's pain.
C2 verb /ɪkˈspɛktəreɪt/

expectorate

Meaning
to cough up and spit out mucus from the throat or lungs
Example
The patient began to expectorate thick mucus.
C2 noun /meɪs/

mace

Meaning
a ceremonial staff carried as a symbol of authority or a weapon similar to a club
Example
The guard carried a mace as a symbol of authority.
C2 noun /ɪnˈtɛstəsi/

intestacy

Meaning
The condition of dying without having made a valid will.
Example
His estate was divided according to the laws of intestacy.
C2 noun /ˈtrɪp.lɪ.kət/

triplicate

Meaning
A set of three identical copies of something.
Example
The documents were prepared in triplicate for official use.
C2 noun /ˈhɒthɛd/

hothead

Meaning
a person who acts quickly and without thinking when angry
Example
He is such a hothead that he often starts arguments.
C2 noun /ˌɒktədʒəˈnɛəriən/

octogenarian

Meaning
A person who is between 80 and 89 years old.
Example
The octogenarian still jogs every morning to stay healthy.
C2 noun /ˈɡɒz.lɪŋ/

gosling

Meaning
a young goose
Example
The mother goose carefully protected her goslings.
C2 noun /ˌrɛtəˈrɪʃən/

rhetorician

Meaning
A person who is skilled in the art of rhetoric or persuasive speaking/writing.
Example
The rhetorician captivated the audience with his eloquence.
C2 adjective /ˈdæpəld/

dappled

Meaning
Marked with spots or patches of light and shade or different colors.
Example
The forest floor was dappled with sunlight.
C2 adjective /bruːsk/ or /brʌsk/

brusque

Meaning
abrupt or blunt in manner or speech, often seen as rude
Example
His brusque reply ended the conversation.
C2 verb /kruːn/

croon

Meaning
to sing or hum in a soft, low, and gentle voice
Example
She crooned a lullaby to help the baby fall asleep.
C2 noun, adjective /nɒn ˈkɒmbətənt/

non-combatant

Meaning
a person not engaged in fighting during a war, such as civilians or medical staff
Example
The Red Cross workers were treated as non-combatants in the conflict.
C2 adjective /ɪkˈsɛpʃənəbl/

exceptionable

Meaning
Open to objection; causing disapproval.
Example
His rude remarks were considered exceptionable by everyone present.
C2 verb /drɔːl/

drawl

Meaning
to speak in a slow, lazy way with prolonged vowel sounds
Example
He tends to drawl when he is tired.
C2 noun /baɪˈmɛstər/

bimester

Meaning
A period of two months.
Example
The academic program is divided into six bimesters.
C2 noun ˌsaɪ.bəˈnet.ɪks

cybernetics

Meaning
The science of communications and automatic control systems in both machines and living things.
Example
Cybernetics plays a crucial role in artificial intelligence.
C2 noun /ˌkəʊ.əˈles.əns/

coalescence

Meaning
The process of coming together to form one mass or whole.
Example
The coalescence of different cultures creates diversity.
C2 noun /ˈdɒkɪt/

docket

Meaning
a list or schedule of cases to be tried in a court or items to be done
Example
The judge reviewed the docket before starting the session.
C2 verb /ˈɪməleɪt/

immolate

Meaning
To kill or sacrifice, especially by burning.
Example
The protesters threatened to immolate themselves in front of the building.
C2 noun /ˈɪrɪtənsi/

irritancy

Meaning
the quality or state of causing irritation; legal or formal invalidation
Example
The constant noise became an irritancy to the neighbors.
C2 noun/adjective /ælˈbaɪ.noʊ/

albino

Meaning
A person, animal, or plant lacking normal pigmentation, resulting in pale skin, hair, and eyes.
Example
The albino rabbit had white fur and pink eyes.
C2 noun /mɪˈsænθrəpi/

misanthropy

Meaning
a general dislike, distrust, or hatred of humankind
Example
His misanthropy was evident in the way he avoided people.
C2 noun /ˈkriːməri/

creamery

Meaning
a place where milk and cream are processed and dairy products are made
Example
The local creamery produces fresh butter and cheese daily.
C2 verb /ɪkˈstruːd/

extrude

Meaning
to force something out through a small opening; to shape by pushing material through a mold
Example
The factory extrudes plastic pipes using modern machines.
C2 verb /bɪˈhuːv/

behoove

Meaning
to be necessary, proper, or appropriate for someone to do
Example
It would behoove you to study before the exam.
C2 verb /ˈreə.rɪ.faɪ/

rarefy

Meaning
To make something less dense or more refined.
Example
The air rarefies as you climb higher into the mountains.
C2 noun /ˈstrætədʒəm/

stratagem

Meaning
a plan or scheme designed to achieve a particular goal, often by trickery
Example
The general devised a clever stratagem to outwit the enemy.
C2 adjective /ˈvɔːntɪd/

vaunted

Meaning
praised or boasted about, especially excessively
Example
The vaunted technology failed to deliver the expected results.
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 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 verb /ɪˈmɛnd/

emend

Meaning
to correct or revise a text, especially for errors
Example
The editor emended the manuscript before publication.
C2 adjective /prəˈpɪʃəs/

propitious

Meaning
giving or indicating a good chance of success; favorable
Example
The sunny weather was a propitious start to the picnic.
C2 adjective, noun /bɪˈtroʊðd/

betrothed

Meaning
Engaged to be married; a person who is engaged.
Example
She introduced him as her betrothed.
C2 noun, verb /ˈtræməl/

trammel

Meaning
A restriction or impediment to freedom of action; to restrict.
Example
The strict rules trammel the creativity of the students.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɪpɪd/

insipid

Meaning
lacking flavor, interest, or excitement; dull
Example
The soup was insipid and needed more seasoning.
C2 verb /ˌdɪspəˈzɛs/

dispossess

Meaning
to deprive someone of land, property, or other possessions
Example
The new law threatened to dispossess many farmers of their land.
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 /rɪˈfɛktəri/

refectory

Meaning
a dining hall, especially in a monastery, convent, or school
Example
Students had lunch in the refectory.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪ.jʊˈret.ɪk/

diuretic

Meaning
A substance that promotes the production of urine.
Example
Coffee has a mild diuretic effect.
C2 verb /kɔːk/

caulk

Meaning
to seal a crack or gap with a waterproof filler
Example
He caulked the window frames to stop the draft.
C2 adjective /kəˈnjuːbiəl/

connubial

Meaning
Relating to marriage or the relationship of a married couple.
Example
They celebrated their connubial bliss with a honeymoon trip.
C2 adverb /əˈsɪdʒuəsli/

assiduously

Meaning
with great care and persistence
Example
He worked assiduously to complete the project before the deadline.
C2 adjective /haɪˈbɜːrnəl/

hibernal

Meaning
Relating to or occurring in winter.
Example
The hibernal season is often harsh in the mountains.
C2 noun /məˈʃiː.nɪst/

machinist

Meaning
a person who operates machine tools or makes and repairs machines
Example
The machinist carefully adjusted the gears on the lathe.
C2 noun /sfɪˈrɒmɪtər/

spherometer

Meaning
An instrument used for measuring the curvature of spherical surfaces.
Example
The scientist used a spherometer to measure the lens curvature.
C2 noun /ˈjuːzjuːfrʌkt/

usufruct

Meaning
The legal right to use and enjoy the benefits of someone else’s property without owning it.
Example
The tenant had the usufruct of the land but not its ownership.
C2 noun /ɡɑːrˈdiː.ni.ə/

Gardenia

Meaning
a white or yellow fragrant flower with waxy petals
Example
The gardenia bush produced beautiful white flowers with a lovely scent.
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 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 verb /dɪsˈbɜːrdən/

disburden

Meaning
to relieve someone of a burden or load
Example
She disburdened herself of worries by sharing them with her friend.
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 verb /ˈvɛdʒɪteɪt/

vegetate

Meaning
to live in a dull, inactive, or unchallenging way, often with little physical or mental effort
Example
He spent his vacation vegetating on the couch in front of the TV.
C2 noun /ˌɪn.trəˈɡreʃ.ən/

introgression

Meaning
The transfer of genetic information from one species to another through repeated backcrossing.
Example
Introgression plays a significant role in plant breeding.
C2 adjective /bəˈnɛfɪsənt/

beneficent

Meaning
generous or doing good
Example
The beneficent leader donated funds to build a hospital.
C2 noun /dɪˈprævɪti/

depravity

Meaning
moral corruption; wickedness
Example
The film portrays the moral depravity of a corrupt society.
C2 adjective /səˈræfɪk/

seraphic

Meaning
Of or like a seraph; angelic, pure, and blissful.
Example
She gave him a seraphic smile that calmed his fears.
C2 noun /ɪɡˈzɛmplɑːr/

exemplar

Meaning
A model or pattern to be copied or imitated.
Example
She is an exemplar of kindness and generosity.
C2 noun /ˈɛdi/

eddy

Meaning
A circular movement of water, air, or smoke, counter to the main current, causing a small whirlpool or turbulence.
Example
The canoe was caught in an eddy near the rocks.
C2 adjective /ˈsiːmi/

seamy

Meaning
Morally degraded, unpleasant, or sordid.
Example
The novel reveals the seamy side of city life.
C2 noun/verb /ˈkɜːrtsi/

curtsy

Meaning
a respectful bow made by women by bending the knees with one foot in front of the other
Example
She gave a quick curtsy before leaving the stage.
C2 noun /ˈmʌstərd ɔɪl/

Mustard Oil

Meaning
oil extracted from mustard seeds, commonly used for cooking and medicinal purposes
Example
We use mustard oil for cooking vegetables in our kitchen.
C2 adjective /laɪˈsɛnʃəs/

licentious

Meaning
Lacking moral restraint; disregarding accepted rules of conduct.
Example
The novel was criticized for its licentious themes.
C2 noun /dɪˈtraɪtəs/

detritus

Meaning
Waste or debris of any kind; fragments left from destruction or decay.
Example
The riverbank was covered with detritus after the flood.
C2 noun /ˈʃaɪstər/

shyster

Meaning
a person, especially a lawyer, who uses unscrupulous or dishonest methods
Example
The businessman was exposed as a shyster who cheated clients.
C2 noun /ˈkɒn.tjʊ.mə.li/

contumely

Meaning
insulting or humiliating treatment
Example
He endured the contumely of his colleagues with patience.
C2 noun /wɛlt/

welt

Meaning
A raised mark on the skin, usually from a blow or allergic reaction.
Example
He had a red welt on his arm after the bee sting.
C2 verb /bɪˈfaʊl/

befoul

Meaning
to make dirty or polluted; to disgrace or corrupt
Example
The factory waste befouled the river.
C2 noun /seɪn/

seine

Meaning
A large fishing net that hangs vertically in the water.
Example
The fishermen cast their seine into the river.