profligacy
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C2 noun /ˈprɑːflɪɡəsi/

profligacy

Meaning
reckless wastefulness or extravagance
Example
His profligacy with money led him to bankruptcy.
C2 noun /əˈkʌmpənɪst/

accompanist

Meaning
A person who plays a musical instrument to support a singer or another musician.
Example
The pianist served as the accompanist for the singer during the concert.
C2 noun /əˈmɛrɪkəˌnɪzəm/

americanism

Meaning
A word, phrase, or practice characteristic of American English or culture.
Example
The term 'sidewalk' is an Americanism, while 'pavement' is used in British English.
C2 noun /ˈsɛntɔːr/

centaur

Meaning
A mythological creature with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse.
Example
The centaur is a well-known figure in Greek mythology.
C2 noun /ˈmʌskɪt/

musket

Meaning
a type of long gun used in the past, especially by infantry soldiers
Example
The soldiers carried muskets into the battlefield.
C2 noun /ˈaɪ.ərn.wʊd/

Ironwood

Meaning
a hard, dense wood from various trees; also the tree itself that produces small flowers
Example
The ironwood tree blooms with tiny white flowers.
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 adjective /dɪˈskrɛpənt/

discrepant

Meaning
showing a difference or inconsistency
Example
The witnesses gave discrepant accounts of the incident.
C2 noun /səbˈsɜːviəns/

subservience

Meaning
the condition of being too willing to obey or serve others
Example
His subservience to authority annoyed his colleagues.
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 noun /ˌmɪnəˈrɛt/

minaret

Meaning
A tall, slender tower of a mosque, from which the call to prayer is announced.
Example
The minaret of the mosque could be seen from miles away.
C2 adjective /rɪˈfɛrəbəl/

referable

Meaning
able to be related or directed to something
Example
The issue is referable to the new policy changes.
C2 noun /sɛnˈsɔːrɪəm/

sensorium

Meaning
The part of the brain or mind concerned with the reception and interpretation of sensory stimuli.
Example
The patient’s sensorium was clouded after the accident.
C2 adjective /eɪˈsɛfələs/

acephalous

Meaning
having no leader or head; headless
Example
The acephalous group soon fell into disorganization.
C2 noun /ˈiːən/

eon

Meaning
an indefinitely long period of time; an age
Example
Dinosaurs lived millions of years ago, in a different eon.
C2 noun /ˈtæksɪˌdɜːrmi/

taxidermy

Meaning
The art of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of animals for display.
Example
The museum had a large collection of taxidermy animals.
C2 noun /dʒenˈtɪl.ə.ti/

Gentility

Meaning
social superiority as demonstrated by polite and refined manners; the quality of being well-mannered and refined
Example
Her natural gentility and grace made her popular among high society circles.
C2 adjective /ˈfiːbəlˌmaɪndɪd/

feebleminded

Meaning
lacking intelligence or mental capacity; foolish or weak-minded
Example
The feebleminded man struggled to understand basic instructions.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsrɪˈpjuːt/

disrepute

Meaning
the state of being held in low esteem or having a bad reputation
Example
The scandal brought the politician into disrepute.
C2 adjective /ˈplɛntɪəs/

plenteous

Meaning
existing in great quantity; abundant
Example
The harvest was plenteous, providing enough food for the entire village.
C2 verb /əˈsɛvəˌreɪt/

asseverate

Meaning
to affirm or declare positively and earnestly
Example
He asseverated that he had never seen the man before.
C2 verb /ˈhɑːrpɪŋ/

harping

Meaning
continuously talking or complaining about something in a tiresome way
Example
She kept harping on about the mistakes I made.
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 /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 noun /ˈfɪli/

filly

Meaning
a young female horse
Example
The filly ran swiftly across the meadow.
C2 adjective /rɪˈfjuː.tə.bəl/

Refutable

Meaning
capable of being proven wrong or false; able to be disproved
Example
His theory was refutable because it could be tested experimentally.
C2 noun /ˈmɪstəs/

Mengra / Mystus

Meaning
a genus of catfish found in Asia, commonly known as bagrid catfish
Example
The mystus fish is commonly found in rivers and streams of South Asia.
C2 adjective /daɪˈɡrɛsɪv/

digressive

Meaning
Tending to depart from the main subject in speech or writing.
Example
The speaker's digressive style made the lecture difficult to follow.
C2 noun /ˌiː.mɛnˈdeɪ.ʃən/

emendation

Meaning
a correction or improvement made to a text
Example
The article required several emendations before it was ready for print.
C2 noun /ˈsfɛrɔɪd/

spheroid

Meaning
A three-dimensional shape that is almost spherical but slightly flattened or elongated.
Example
The Earth is not a perfect sphere but an oblate spheroid.
C2 noun /ˈlæn.sɪt/

lancet

Meaning
a small, sharp, two-edged surgical knife used for making small incisions
Example
The doctor used a lancet to prick the patient’s finger for a blood test.
C2 adjective /ˌsɒpəˈrɪfɪk/

soporific

Meaning
tending to induce drowsiness or sleep; causing sleepiness
Example
The professor's lecture was so soporific that half the class fell asleep.
C2 noun /ˌpaɪroʊˈmeɪniæk/

pyromaniac

Meaning
A person with an uncontrollable desire to set things on fire.
Example
The pyromaniac was arrested for setting several buildings ablaze.
C2 adjective /ˈærənt/

arrant

Meaning
complete or utter (used negatively, e.g., 'arrant nonsense')
Example
His excuse was arrant nonsense.
C2 noun /prɔːŋ/

prong

Meaning
a projecting pointed part, such as one of the pointed ends of a fork
Example
The fork has four prongs.
C2 noun /sɪˈnɛrəsɪs/

syneresis

Meaning
The contraction of two adjacent vowels into a single syllable or the separation of liquid from a gel.
Example
The yogurt showed syneresis when liquid separated on top.
C2 noun /ˈsækrɪsti/

sacristy

Meaning
a room in a church where sacred vessels and vestments are kept
Example
The priest entered the sacristy before the mass began.
C2 adjective /rəˈpeɪ.ʃəs/

rapacious

Meaning
having an extreme desire to take things for oneself, greedy
Example
The rapacious landlord raised the rent without reason.
C2 noun /prɪˈpɒndərəns/

preponderance

Meaning
The quality or fact of being greater in number, quantity, or importance.
Example
There was a preponderance of evidence against the defendant.
C2 noun ˈhɑːrbərɪdʒ

harborage

Meaning
A place of shelter or refuge for pests or animals.
Example
Pests need a harborage site to survive and breed.
C2 verb /ˈkæstreɪt/

castrate

Meaning
To remove the testicles of a male animal or human.
Example
The farmer castrated the young bulls to make them easier to manage.
C2 noun /krəˈdjuːlɪti/

credulity

Meaning
A tendency to be too ready to believe that something is real or true.
Example
The scam succeeded because of the victim's credulity.
C2 noun /ˌɛntəˈmɒlədʒi/

entomology

Meaning
The scientific study of insects.
Example
She studied entomology to understand the behavior of bees.
C2 noun /moʊˈtɪləti/

motility

Meaning
The ability of an organism or cell to move independently.
Example
The motility of sperm is crucial for successful fertilization.
C2 verb /əˈbæʃ/

abash

Meaning
to make someone feel embarrassed or ashamed
Example
Her sudden question seemed to abash him.
C2 verb /tæmp/

tamp

Meaning
to press down tightly by packing
Example
He tamped the soil around the plant to secure it.
C2 noun ˈnjʊə.rəʊ ˌfiːd.bæk

neurofeedback

Meaning
A technique that uses real-time displays of brain activity to teach self-regulation of brain function.
Example
Neurofeedback enhances cognitive performance and relaxation.
C2 adjective /ˈækwɪˌlaɪn/

aquiline

Meaning
curved like an eagle's beak; hooked
Example
He had an aquiline nose that gave him a distinguished appearance.
C2 verb /ʌnˈfrɒk/

unfrock

Meaning
To remove a priest from his position or deprive someone of a rank.
Example
The corrupt priest was unfrocked after the investigation.
C2 adjective /ˈmʌski/

musky

Meaning
having a strong, sweet, earthy smell like musk
Example
The perfume had a musky fragrance.
C2 noun /ˈhʌk.stər/

huckster

Meaning
A person who sells small items aggressively, often in a showy or dishonest way.
Example
The huckster loudly promoted his goods in the busy marketplace.
C2 adjective /kəˈkɒfənəs/

cacophonous

Meaning
Producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
Example
The cacophonous sounds of the city kept her awake all night.
C2 noun /ˌkɒnvəˈluːʃən/

convolution

Meaning
a twist, coil, or a complex and intricate shape or arrangement
Example
The brain has many convolutions that increase its surface area.
C2 noun /ˈflæɡ ˌɒfɪsər/

flag-officer

Meaning
a senior naval officer entitled to fly a flag to mark the command
Example
The flag-officer reviewed the fleet before the ceremony.
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 adjective /ɪmˈperɪʃəbəl/

Imperishable

Meaning
not subject to decay; lasting forever; eternal
Example
The imperishable beauty of classical art continues to inspire generations.
C2 adjective /ˈvoʊlənt/

volant

Meaning
able to fly or moving swiftly
Example
The volant bird soared gracefully across the sky.
C2 verb /əˈniːl/

anneal

Meaning
To heat and cool metal or glass to make it stronger or less brittle.
Example
The blacksmith annealed the steel to improve its durability.
C2 adjective /heɪl/

hale

Meaning
strong and healthy, especially of an elderly person
Example
Despite his age, the man remained hale and active.
C2 adjective /ˈdʒes.tɪŋ/

Jesting

Meaning
joking or teasing in a playful manner
Example
He was only jesting when he said he would quit his job.
C2 noun /ˈplɛdʒiː/

pledgee

Meaning
a person to whom something is pledged or given as security
Example
The bank is the pledgee of the collateral until the loan is repaid.
C2 noun /ˈseɪ.ɡoʊ/

Sago

Meaning
starchy foodstuff obtained from the pith of various tropical palm stems
Example
She prepared sago pudding for dessert.
C2 adjective /ˈbrækɪʃ/

brackish

Meaning
Slightly salty, often describing water that is a mix of fresh and seawater.
Example
The river estuary contained brackish water.
C2 verb /dɪˈskraɪ/

descry

Meaning
to catch sight of something, especially something distant or obscure
Example
From the hilltop, they descried a small village in the distance.
C2 verb /bɪˈtaɪd/

betide

Meaning
to happen or occur, usually of something that befalls someone
Example
Woe betide anyone who breaks the rules.
C2 adverb /ˌeɪˈmɔːrəli/

amorally

Meaning
In a way that shows no concern about whether behavior is morally right or wrong.
Example
He acted amorally, ignoring the consequences of his actions.
C2 adjective /droʊl/

droll

Meaning
curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement
Example
He had a droll sense of humor that made everyone laugh.
C2 adjective /ˌmɛtəˈlɜrdʒɪkəl/

metallurgical

Meaning
Relating to metallurgy or the branch of science concerned with the properties of metals and their production.
Example
He studied metallurgical engineering at the university.
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 noun /ɪkˈsɔːr.ə/

Ixora

Meaning
a tropical flowering shrub with clusters of small bright red, orange, or yellow flowers
Example
The bright red ixora bushes lined the pathway to the tropical garden.
C2 noun /ˈlɔɪtərər/

loiterer

Meaning
A person who lingers aimlessly in a place without purpose.
Example
The police questioned the loiterer outside the store.
C2 adjective /ˌɪm.pəˈfɛk.tə.bəl/

imperfectible

Meaning
Incapable of being made perfect or complete.
Example
Some human qualities are considered imperfectible.
C2 noun /neɪv/

Knave

Meaning
a dishonest person, especially a man; a playing card with a picture of a male servant
Example
The knave tried to cheat the old woman out of her savings.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈeɪliənəbl/

inalienable

Meaning
Unable to be taken away or transferred; absolute and permanent.
Example
Freedom of speech is an inalienable right.
C2 noun /ˌaɪ.diˈeɪ.ʃən/

ideation

Meaning
The process of forming and developing new ideas or concepts through creative thinking and brainstorming.
Example
The team engaged in ideation sessions to generate new product ideas.
C2 verb /dɪˈkænt/

decant

Meaning
To pour liquid gently from one container into another, especially without disturbing the sediment.
Example
She carefully decanted the wine into a clean glass.
C2 noun /ˈdɛswɪˌtuːd/

desuetude

Meaning
a state of disuse or inactivity
Example
The old law has fallen into desuetude.
C2 adjective /dʒʊˈrɪdɪkəl/

juridical

Meaning
Relating to judicial proceedings or the administration of law.
Example
The case raised important juridical questions.
C2 noun /ˌfɑːsfəˈrɛsəns/

phosphorescence

Meaning
the property of emitting light without noticeable heat
Example
The deep-sea creatures displayed a beautiful phosphorescence.
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 /həˈrɛtɪkəl/

heretical

Meaning
Relating to or characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards, especially in religion.
Example
The priest condemned the book as heretical.
C2 verb /ˈnɔːzieɪt/

nauseate

Meaning
To make someone feel sick, with an inclination to vomit.
Example
The spoiled food nauseated him quickly.
C2 verb /fleɪl/

flail

Meaning
to wave or swing something about wildly; to thrash about
Example
He flailed his arms to keep afloat in the water.
C2 noun /ænˈtɪfəni/

antiphony

Meaning
a form of music in which two or more groups or choirs sing alternately in response to each other
Example
The cathedral's architecture was designed to enhance the effect of antiphony.
C2 verb /ɪˈfeɪsɪŋ/

effacing

Meaning
erasing or making oneself inconspicuous; to remove or diminish in significance
Example
She kept effacing herself during the meeting so that others could shine.
C2 adjective /ˈtrʌk.jʊ.lənt/

truculent

Meaning
Eager or quick to argue, fight, or show aggression.
Example
She became truculent when her ideas were challenged.
C2 verb /ˈskærɪfaɪ/

scarify

Meaning
to make shallow cuts or scratches; to loosen the surface of soil
Example
The farmer scarified the soil before planting seeds.
C2 noun /mɔːrˈtɪʃən/

mortician

Meaning
a person whose job is to prepare dead bodies for burial or cremation and to arrange funerals
Example
The mortician prepared the body for the funeral service.
C2 adjective /ˌdɪspjuːˈteɪʃəs/

disputatious

Meaning
fond of or given to argument and debate
Example
His disputatious nature often led to heated conversations.
C2 adjective /bəˈθɛt.ɪk/

bathetic

Meaning
displaying insincere or trivial emotion; producing an unintended ridiculous effect through sudden change from serious to silly
Example
The movie's ending was unintentionally bathetic rather than tragic.
C2 verb /ˌdɒmɪˈnɪə/

domineer

Meaning
to assert one's will over another in an arrogant way
Example
He tends to domineer over his younger colleagues.
C2 adjective /ˈɛkstənt/

extant

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

poultice

Meaning
a soft, moist mass of material applied to the body to relieve soreness and inflammation
Example
The nurse applied a warm poultice to his injured leg.
C2 noun /ˈkæriən/

carrion

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

fumigation

Meaning
The practice of disinfecting or purifying an area using gas or smoke.
Example
Fumigation is an effective method to control pest infestations.
C2 noun /ˈklæŋər/

clangor

Meaning
A loud, resonant, and continuous noise, often metallic.
Example
The clangor of the church bells filled the town square.
C2 noun /dɪˈpɔːrtmənt/

deportment

Meaning
A person's behavior or manners, especially in a formal situation.
Example
Her deportment during the ceremony impressed everyone.
C2 noun /ˈsɪmpəltən/

simpleton

Meaning
a foolish or gullible person
Example
They treated him like a simpleton who could not understand anything complex.
C2 adjective /ˈvoʊtɪv/

votive

Meaning
Offered or dedicated in fulfillment of a vow.
Example
She lit a votive candle in the church as a prayer.
C2 noun /ˈpraɪəri/

priory

Meaning
a small monastery or convent governed by a prior or prioress
Example
The old priory was converted into a museum.
C2 verb /dɪˈkleɪm/

declaim

Meaning
to speak aloud in a formal, passionate, or theatrical way
Example
The actor declaimed his lines with great intensity.
C2 noun /ɪˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/

enunciation

Meaning
The act of saying or pronouncing words clearly and distinctly.
Example
His enunciation was clear during the presentation.
C2 noun /ˈæn.dʒi.əʊ.plæs.ti/

angioplasty

Meaning
A medical procedure to open blocked or narrowed blood vessels that supply blood to the heart.
Example
Angioplasty is now safer with robotic assistance.
C2 adjective /haɪˈbɜːrnəl/

hibernal

Meaning
Relating to or occurring in winter.
Example
The hibernal season is often harsh in the mountains.
C2 adjective /ˌæn.θrə.pəˈdʒen.ɪk/

anthropogenic

Meaning
Originating in human activity; caused by humans.
Example
Climate change is largely due to anthropogenic activities.
C2 adjective /kəmˈpleɪzənt/

complaisant

Meaning
willing to please others or to accept what they do or say without protest
Example
He was too complaisant to refuse their demands.
C2 adjective /ˈtʃɜːrlɪʃ/

churlish

Meaning
Rude in a mean-spirited and surly way.
Example
It would be churlish to refuse her kind invitation.
C2 verb /ˈlɔɪtər/

loiter

Meaning
To stand or wait around idly without apparent purpose.
Example
The teenagers were told not to loiter outside the shop.
C2 noun /ˈkær.ə.weɪ siːdz/

Caraway seeds

Meaning
aromatic seeds of the caraway plant used as a spice in cooking and baking
Example
The bread was flavored with caraway seeds.
C2 verb /ˈsnʌfəl/

snuffle

Meaning
to breathe noisily through the nose, often because of crying or a cold
Example
The child began to snuffle after crying for a long time.
C2 verb /ʌnˈjoʊk/

unyoke

Meaning
To release from a yoke or to free from restraint or obligation.
Example
The farmer unyoked the oxen after a long day of work.
C2 noun /djuːˈplɪsɪti/

duplicity

Meaning
Deceitfulness or double-dealing; dishonesty.
Example
Her duplicity was revealed during the investigation.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrɡoʊ/

argot

Meaning
the specialized vocabulary or jargon of a particular group, especially one with a common interest or occupation
Example
The thieves communicated in an argot that outsiders could not understand.
C2 noun /ˌvæs.ɪˈleɪ.ʃən/

Vacillation

Meaning
the inability to decide between different opinions or actions; indecision
Example
His constant vacillation between career choices frustrated his parents.
C2 noun /ˈpʌlkrɪˌtjuːd/

pulchritude

Meaning
physical beauty
Example
The actress was admired for her pulchritude as well as her talent.
C2 adjective /ˈdʒɜːrmɪnəl/

germinal

Meaning
Relating to the earliest stage of development.
Example
The idea was still in its germinal stage.
C2 noun /ˈdʌlərd/

dullard

Meaning
a slow or stupid person
Example
He was considered a dullard by his classmates.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɛndiˌɛri/

incendiary

Meaning
designed to cause fires or stir up conflict
Example
The politician’s incendiary remarks angered the crowd.
C2 noun /ˈvɪrjʊləns/

virulence

Meaning
The severity or harmfulness of a disease or poison.
Example
Scientists studied the virulence of the new virus strain.
C2 noun /wiːl/

weal

Meaning
A raised mark on the skin left after a blow; or general well-being and prosperity.
Example
The charity worked for the common weal of the community.
C2 adjective /səˈprɛsəbl̩/

suppressible

Meaning
capable of being restrained, controlled, or prevented
Example
The symptoms of the disease are suppressible with medication.