pugnacity
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C2 noun /pʌɡˈnæsɪti/

pugnacity

Meaning
A natural disposition to be combative or aggressive.
Example
The coach admired the player's pugnacity on the field.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈmɪtɪɡeɪtɪd/

unmitigated

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

meliorate

Meaning
To make something better or improve a condition.
Example
The new policies aim to meliorate the living conditions of the poor.
C2 noun /ˈɪmɪˌteɪtər/

imitator

Meaning
a person who copies the behavior, style, or actions of others
Example
He became famous as an imitator of popular singers.
C2 adjective /trænzˈmɪsəbl/

transmissible

Meaning
able to be passed or spread from one person or thing to another
Example
COVID-19 is a highly transmissible disease.
C2 adjective /ˈʃɪft.ləs/

shiftless

Meaning
Lacking ambition or the ability to accomplish anything; lazy and unmotivated.
Example
He was seen as a shiftless young man with no goals.
C2 noun /eɪˈklɑː/

eclat

Meaning
Brilliant success, acclaim, or great public approval.
Example
The artist's debut performance was met with great éclat.
C2 noun /ˈmʌŋɡrəl/

mongrel

Meaning
A dog of mixed breed; sometimes used to describe something mixed or of inferior quality.
Example
The stray dog was a friendly mongrel.
C2 adjective /kəmˈprɛsəbl̩/

compressible

Meaning
Capable of being compressed or reduced in volume.
Example
Air is a compressible substance, unlike water.
C2 noun /əˈpɒθəˌkɛri/

apothecary

Meaning
A historical term for a person who prepared and sold medicines and drugs.
Example
The village apothecary provided remedies for many common illnesses.
C2 noun /ˌɒstɛnˈteɪʃən/

ostentation

Meaning
excessive display of wealth or knowledge intended to attract admiration or envy
Example
The billionaire’s party was full of ostentation and luxury.
C2 noun /ˌɛksɪˈkreɪʃən/

execration

Meaning
An act of cursing or denouncing someone or something with hatred.
Example
The dictator’s name was spoken with execration after his fall.
C2 noun /ˈdaɪətraɪb/

diatribe

Meaning
A forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something.
Example
The politician launched a diatribe against his opponents.
C2 verb /ˈlɪk.wɪ.faɪ/

liquefy

Meaning
to make or become liquid
Example
The heat will liquefy the butter in a few minutes.
C2 noun /sfɛˈrɪsɪti/

sphericity

Meaning
The quality or state of being spherical; roundness.
Example
The sphericity of the ball made it roll smoothly on the ground.
C2 adjective /ˈhiːðənɪʃ/

heathenish

Meaning
Lacking culture or religion; barbaric or uncivilized.
Example
They considered the ancient tribe’s rituals heathenish.
C2 noun /ˈvaɪnəri/

vinery

Meaning
A place where vines are cultivated, especially a vineyard or greenhouse for vines.
Example
The old vinery was filled with grapevines.
C2 verb /ˈsɛreɪt/

serrate

Meaning
To make a saw-toothed edge or notched margin.
Example
The craftsman serrated the knife blade for better cutting.
C2 adjective /ˈnɒti/

knotty

Meaning
Complicated, difficult to solve or full of knots.
Example
He faced a knotty legal issue.
C2 noun /ˈæf.ə.rɪ.zəm/

aphorism

Meaning
a short, witty saying that expresses a general truth or principle
Example
He began his speech with an aphorism about life and success.
C2 verb /ˈkɒd.l̩/

coddle

Meaning
to treat someone with excessive care or kindness, often in a way that is overprotective
Example
Parents should support their children without coddling them.
C2 adjective /ˈʌndjʊləs/

undulous

Meaning
Having a wavy surface or form.
Example
The artist painted the undulous sea at sunset.
C2 noun /bɪˈtroʊðəl/

betrothal

Meaning
The formal engagement to be married.
Example
Their betrothal was announced to the whole village.
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 /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 /ˈdəʊ.lə.rəs/

dolorous

Meaning
Expressing great sorrow or distress.
Example
He spoke in a dolorous tone after the loss.
C2 verb /ˈfʌdəl/

fuddle

Meaning
To confuse or stupefy, especially with alcohol or overwhelming information.
Example
The complicated instructions fuddled the new employees.
C2 verb /ɪkˈspɒstjʊleɪt/

expostulate

Meaning
to express strong disapproval or disagreement
Example
She expostulated with her friend about the risky decision.
C2 noun /ˈvaɪənd/

viand

Meaning
an item of food, especially a delicacy
Example
The banquet was filled with rich viands and wines.
C2 adjective /ˈvɪtriəs/

vitreous

Meaning
having a glass-like appearance or quality
Example
The mineral has a vitreous shine.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkɒntɪnənt/

incontinent

Meaning
lacking control over urination or defecation; lacking self-restraint
Example
The patient was incontinent after surgery.
C2 adjective /fækˈtɪʃəs/

factitious

Meaning
artificial or fabricated; not natural or genuine
Example
The excitement in his story seemed factitious and forced.
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 verb /ˌɪmpɔːrˈtuːn/

importune

Meaning
To ask someone persistently or pressingly for something
Example
The child importuned his mother for a new toy.
C2 noun /ˈɑb.lə.kwi/

Obloquy

Meaning
harsh criticism or verbal abuse; strong public condemnation
Example
The politician faced obloquy after the scandal.
C2 adjective /ˌsɛm.iˈkɒn.ʃəs/

semiconscious

Meaning
Only partly conscious; not fully aware of surroundings.
Example
He was semiconscious after the accident and could barely respond.
C2 noun /ˌɛksɪˈɡjuːɪti/

exiguity

Meaning
the quality of being scanty or meager in amount
Example
The exiguity of resources made the project difficult to complete.
C2 noun /niːˈɒkrəsi/

neocracy

Meaning
A government or leadership run by inexperienced or new officials.
Example
The sudden revolution led to a neocracy with inexperienced leaders.
C2 noun /ˈsaɪnɪkjʊər/

sinecure

Meaning
a position requiring little or no work but giving financial benefit or status
Example
He was given a sinecure at the university as a reward for his loyalty.
C2 noun /ˈjuːfəni/

euphony

Meaning
The quality of being pleasing to the ear, especially through harmonious combination of words.
Example
The orator's speech was full of euphony and rhythm.
C2 noun /ˈsɜːrklət/

circlet

Meaning
A small circular band, typically worn as an ornament on the head.
Example
The princess wore a golden circlet on her forehead.
C2 noun /ɡæsˈtraɪtɪs/

gastritis

Meaning
Inflammation of the lining of the stomach.
Example
The doctor diagnosed him with gastritis after his endoscopy.
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.
C2 noun /ˈkoʊdə/

coda

Meaning
the concluding passage of a piece of music or a literary work
Example
The novel ends with a reflective coda that ties up the themes.
C2 noun /ˌlɪk.wəˈfeɪ.ʃənt/

liquefacient

Meaning
a substance that causes something to become liquid
Example
The chemist explained how the liquefacient worked in the experiment.
C2 noun /fluː/

flue

Meaning
A pipe or channel for smoke and waste gases produced by a fire, gas heater, or power station.
Example
The chimney flue needs to be cleaned regularly.
C2 adjective /ˈhɜːrsuːt/

hirsute

Meaning
Having a lot of hair, especially in an unusual place.
Example
The hirsute man stood out in the crowd with his long beard.
C2 noun /ˈdeb.juː.tɑːnt/

debutante

Meaning
A young woman making her first formal appearance in society.
Example
The debutante wore a white gown at the ball.
C2 noun dʒʊˈdɪʃəsnɪs

judiciousness

Meaning
Having, showing, or done with good judgment or sense.
Example
Her judiciousness in making decisions was appreciated.
C2 noun /ɪnˈvaɪtər/

invitor

Meaning
a person who invites someone to an event, meeting, or place
Example
The invitor greeted all the guests warmly at the entrance.
C2 adjective /ˌaɪdəˈlɑːtrɪəs/

idolatrious

Meaning
Excessively devoted or reverent towards idols or false gods.
Example
The ancient tribe was known for its idolatrious practices.
C2 adjective /ˌɪm.pəˈfɛk.tə.bəl/

imperfectible

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

roue

Meaning
A man devoted to a life of sensual pleasure; a debauched man.
Example
The old roue squandered his fortune on gambling and women.
C2 noun /ˈprɛləsi/

prelacy

Meaning
The office, dignity, or system of church government by prelates.
Example
The medieval church was dominated by prelacy and its traditions.
C2 verb /ʧeɪf/

chafe

Meaning
To make or become sore by rubbing; to feel irritation or impatience.
Example
The tight shoes began to chafe his heels.
C2 noun /məˈnɒkrəsi/

monocracy

Meaning
A system of government by a single person; autocracy.
Example
The nation suffered under decades of monocracy.
C2 adjective /ˈfɒp.ɪʃ/

Foppish

Meaning
excessively concerned with one's appearance and clothes; vain about dress
Example
His foppish behavior and expensive clothes made him stand out.
C2 noun /ˈtɒksɪn/

tocsin

Meaning
an alarm bell or signal; a warning that something bad is about to happen
Example
The data breach sounded a tocsin for stricter security.
C2 noun /ˈliː.vɪŋz/

Leavings

Meaning
things that have been left behind or remain; remnants or scraps
Example
The leavings from dinner were given to the dog.
C2 noun /ˈnɪn.i/

Ninny

Meaning
a silly or foolish person; someone who lacks common sense
Example
Don't be such a ninny, use your brain!
C2 noun /ˈlɔːrdlɪŋ/

lordling

Meaning
A young or petty lord; someone of minor nobility.
Example
The arrogant lordling demanded respect despite his lack of experience.
C2 adjective /ˈtɔːdri/

tawdry

Meaning
cheap and showy but of poor quality
Example
She wore a tawdry necklace that broke easily.
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 verb /foʊˈmɛnt/

foment

Meaning
To instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action).
Example
The rebel leader tried to foment unrest among the people.
C2 verb /ˈsɪmpər/

simper

Meaning
to smile in a silly, self-conscious, or affected way
Example
She simpered at his compliment, clearly embarrassed.
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 adjective /ˈbɪz.ən.taɪn/ or /ˈbaɪ.zənˌtiːn/

byzantine

Meaning
Extremely complicated and detailed; relating to the Byzantine Empire or its style.
Example
The new tax regulations are so byzantine that few understand them.
C2 noun /ˈsʌbtrəˌhɛnd/

subtrahend

Meaning
a number that is to be subtracted from another number
Example
In the equation 10 - 4, the number 4 is the subtrahend.
C2 adjective /ˈmiːzli/

measly

Meaning
contemptibly small or insignificant
Example
He was paid a measly sum for the hard work.
C2 noun /ˈbɒdɪs/

bodice

Meaning
the part of a woman's dress that covers the body from the neck to the waist
Example
She wore a dress with an embroidered bodice.
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.
C2 noun /ˈsɒfɪzəm/

sophism

Meaning
a clever but misleading argument; fallacious reasoning
Example
The politician's speech was full of sophism designed to mislead voters.
C2 noun/adjective /prɪˈsɪpɪtənt/

precipitant

Meaning
As a noun: a substance that causes a substance to be deposited from a solution; as an adjective: acting hastily or impulsively.
Example
The chemist added a precipitant to the solution to observe the reaction.
C2 noun /ˈkeɪ.tɪf/

caitiff

Meaning
A contemptible or cowardly person.
Example
The knight despised the caitiff who betrayed his comrades.
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 noun /ˈpɔːpərɪzəm/

pauperism

Meaning
The state of being extremely poor.
Example
The country struggled with rising pauperism in the 19th century.
C2 adjective /ˌtaɪtˈfɪstɪd/

tightfisted

Meaning
unwilling to spend money; stingy
Example
He is so tightfisted that he refuses to tip at restaurants.
C2 verb /ˈfrɪzəl/

frizzle

Meaning
to fry something until it becomes crisp and curled, or to make a sizzling noise
Example
The bacon began to frizzle in the pan.
C2 noun /laʊt/

lout

Meaning
An uncouth or aggressive man or boy.
Example
The drunken lout caused a scene at the party.
C2 noun /ˌænɪˈmɒmɪtər/

anemometer

Meaning
An instrument used to measure the speed and direction of wind.
Example
The scientist used an anemometer to record the wind speed during the storm.
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 noun /ˈθɔːməˌtɜrdʒɪst/

thaumaturgist

Meaning
A worker of miracles or magician.
Example
The thaumaturgist amazed the audience with his tricks.
C2 noun /ˈtɔːrpər/

torpor

Meaning
A state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy.
Example
The heat induced a state of torpor in the workers.
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 /ˈpætwɑː/

patois

Meaning
a regional or social dialect, especially one considered nonstandard or informal
Example
The guide slipped into local patois when chatting with the fishermen.
C2 noun /rɪˈkɒɡnɪzəns/

recognizance

Meaning
A legal obligation or bond entered into before a court, especially to ensure future appearance.
Example
He was released on his own recognizance.
C2 noun /ˈluː.mən/

lumen

Meaning
A unit of luminous flux, measuring the amount of visible light emitted by a source.
Example
The bulb produces 800 lumens of light.
C2 adjective /əˈsɛt.ɪk/

ascetic

Meaning
Practicing strict self-denial and abstaining from worldly pleasures, often for religious reasons.
Example
He lived an ascetic life in the mountains, far from worldly comforts.
C2 adverb /ˈdɑːrklɪŋ/

darkling

Meaning
In the dark or growing dark; dimly.
Example
The forest creatures moved darkling through the night.
C2 verb /əˈdʌltəreɪt/

adulterate

Meaning
to make something poorer in quality by adding another substance, usually of lower quality
Example
The company was fined for adulterating its products with cheap chemicals.
C2 adjective /ˈkʌvətəs/

covetous

Meaning
having or showing a strong desire for someone else's possessions
Example
She gave him a covetous look when he showed his new watch.
C2 adjective /rɪˈmjuːnərətɪv/

remunerative

Meaning
Financially rewarding or profitable.
Example
He chose a remunerative career in medicine.
C2 verb /ˈræm.ɪ.faɪ/

ramify

Meaning
to spread or branch out into divisions or subdivisions.
Example
The river ramifies into several smaller streams.
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 adjective /ˈsiːkwənt/

sequent

Meaning
Following in order or as a result.
Example
The sequent events changed the course of history.
C2 noun /kjuːˈpɪdəti/

cupidity

Meaning
Excessive desire for wealth or possessions; greed.
Example
The king's downfall was caused by his cupidity.
C2 verb /ˈæntɪdeɪtɪd/

antedated

Meaning
assigned to an earlier date than the actual one; happened earlier
Example
The letter was antedated to appear more official.
C2 verb /ˈtɛmpəˌraɪz/

temporize

Meaning
To delay making a decision or taking action in order to gain time.
Example
The politician temporized when asked about the controversial issue.
C2 adjective /ɪˈnjʊərd/

inured

Meaning
Accustomed to something, especially something unpleasant.
Example
After years of hardship, she was inured to suffering.
C2 noun ˈfaɪ.təʊˌnjuː.tri.ənts

phytonutrients

Meaning
Bioactive compounds found in plants that have health benefits beyond basic nutrition.
Example
Green tea contains powerful phytonutrients.
C2 noun /friːz/

frieze

Meaning
a decorative horizontal band, often sculpted or painted, usually on a wall near the ceiling
Example
The frieze above the entrance depicts scenes from ancient mythology.
C2 noun /ˈvɛləm/

vellum

Meaning
a fine parchment made originally from the skin of a calf, used for writing or printing
Example
The ancient manuscript was written on vellum.
C2 adjective /vɛˈstɪdʒiəl/

vestigial

Meaning
Relating to a small, undeveloped remnant of something that was once much larger or more functional.
Example
Humans have a vestigial tailbone that no longer serves its original purpose.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈpɪəriəs/

imperious

Meaning
Arrogantly domineering or overbearing.
Example
Her imperious tone made it hard for others to argue.
C2 adjective /æbˈstruːs/

abstruse

Meaning
Difficult to understand; obscure.
Example
The abstruse nature of the philosophical debate left many confused.
C2 verb /priːˈdɛstɪn/

predestine

Meaning
to determine or decide something in advance, often regarded as being fixed by fate or divine will
Example
They believed their paths were predestined by fate.
C2 adjective /əˈmɔːrfəs/

amorphous

Meaning
Lacking a clear shape or form; without a defined structure.
Example
The plan remained amorphous and lacked concrete details.
C2 verb /bɪˈleɪ/

belay

Meaning
to secure a rope by winding it around an object; to stop or cancel an order (nautical/military use)
Example
The climber asked his partner to belay the rope tightly.
C2 verb /ɪnˈsnɛər/

ensnare

Meaning
to catch or trap, often by trickery or deceit
Example
The hunter ensnared the rabbit with a net.
C2 noun /liːən/

lien

Meaning
A legal right to keep possession of property until a debt is paid.
Example
The bank placed a lien on the house until the mortgage was cleared.
C2 adjective /stəˈkɑː.təʊ/

staccato

Meaning
short and detached in sound or style, often used in music
Example
The pianist played the notes in a staccato rhythm.
C2 noun /hoʊ/

Hoe

Meaning
a gardening tool with a thin metal blade used for breaking up soil and removing weeds
Example
The farmer used a hoe to remove weeds from his vegetable garden.
C2 noun /foʊl fʊt/

Foal-foot

Meaning
a yellow flowering plant with leaves shaped like a horse's hoof, also known as coltsfoot
Example
The foal-foot plant grows wild in many meadows and is often the first flower to bloom in spring.
C2 adjective /ʌpˈrɔːr.i.əs/

uproarious

Meaning
Extremely funny or noisy; causing loud laughter or commotion.
Example
The comedian's jokes were absolutely uproarious.
C2 verb /ˈfɜːrbɪʃ/

furbish

Meaning
to polish, renovate, or give a fresh look to something
Example
The workers furbished the old sword until it gleamed like new.
C2 noun /ˈkwɪzlɪŋ/

quisling

Meaning
A traitor who collaborates with an enemy force occupying their country.
Example
During the war, he was branded a quisling for aiding the invaders.
C2 adjective /ˈviːnəl/

venal

Meaning
willing to do dishonest things in return for money; corrupt
Example
The politician was accused of being venal and corrupt.
C2 adjective /bɪˈwɪtʃɪŋ/

bewitching

Meaning
charming, enchanting, or captivating in a magical or irresistible way
Example
She wore a bewitching smile that captivated everyone in the room.
C2 noun /ˈkɒnsənəns/

consonance

Meaning
Agreement or harmony among parts; a pleasing combination of sounds in music or words.
Example
The consonance between their ideas made the project successful.
C2 adjective /ˌpærəˈdɪɡmətɪk/

paradigmatic

Meaning
Serving as a typical example or model of something.
Example
Her success story is paradigmatic of the opportunities education can provide.
C2 noun /ˈfaɪər.brænd/

firebrand

Meaning
a person who is passionate about a cause, often inciting change or action
Example
The activist was a true firebrand, inspiring everyone around him to join the protest.