purvey
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C2 verb /pərˈveɪ/

purvey

Meaning
to supply or provide goods, services, or information, often as a business
Example
The company purveys organic food to health-conscious customers.
C2 verb /əbˈskɒnd/

abscond

Meaning
to leave secretly and quickly, often to avoid arrest or punishment
Example
The thief tried to abscond with the stolen jewelry.
C2 verb /ˌɪmpɔːrˈtuːnd/

importuned

Meaning
asked someone persistently and pressingly for something
Example
She importuned her boss for a raise until he finally gave in.
C2 verb /ɪnˈveɪɡəl/

inveigle

Meaning
To persuade someone to do something by deception or flattery.
Example
She inveigled him into signing the contract.
C2 noun /ˈsɪnjuː/

sinew

Meaning
A tendon; figuratively, the source of strength, power, or resilience.
Example
The sinews in his arms stood out as he lifted the heavy box.
C2 verb /ˈfɛstər/

fester

Meaning
to become worse or more intense, often through neglect or infection
Example
If grievances are ignored, they may fester into resentment.
C2 adjective /ˈbiːstiəl/

bestial

Meaning
Relating to beasts; showing savagery, brutality, or lacking human sensibility.
Example
The prisoners were treated in a bestial manner.
C2 noun /ˈhʌstɪŋz/

hustings

Meaning
the political campaigning and speeches before an election
Example
The candidate gained popularity during the hustings.
C2 adjective /laɪˈsɛnʃəs/

licentious

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

doughty

Meaning
brave, valiant, courageous
Example
The doughty soldier never backed down from a challenge.
C2 noun /ˌæɡ.rəˈdeɪ.ʃən/

aggradation

Meaning
The process of land being built up by sediment deposition.
Example
Aggradation helps in the natural expansion of riverbanks.
C2 adjective /hɪk/

Hick

Meaning
unsophisticated person from a rural area; country bumpkin
Example
He had a hick accent from growing up in a small town.
C2 noun /ˈdɛskænt/

descant

Meaning
An additional melody or counterpoint sung or played above the main melody.
Example
The choir added a beautiful descant to the hymn.
C2 adjective /sɒmˈnɪfərəs/

somniferous

Meaning
Tending to induce sleep; soporific.
Example
The professor's somniferous lecture put half the class to sleep.
C2 adjective /rɪˈkʌmbənt/

recumbent

Meaning
lying down or in a resting position
Example
He was found recumbent on the sofa after a long day.
C2 noun /prɪˈsɛʃən/

precession

Meaning
The slow movement of the axis of a spinning body around another axis, often referring to Earth's rotation.
Example
Astronomers study the precession of the equinoxes.
C2 adjective /ˈtjuːmɪd/

tumid

Meaning
Swollen, enlarged, or pompous in style.
Example
His tumid prose was difficult to read.
C2 noun əˌdʌl.təˈreɪ.ʃən

adulteration

Meaning
The action of making something poorer in quality by the addition of another substance.
Example
Adulteration of food is a serious health risk.
C2 adjective /ˈklɔɪ.ɪŋ/

cloying

Meaning
too sweet, rich, or sentimental, making it unpleasant
Example
The dessert was so cloying that I couldn't finish it.
C2 noun dʒɛsˌtɪk.jʊˈleɪ.ʃənz

gesticulations

Meaning
Expressive hand or body movements while speaking to convey thoughts or emotions
Example
His energetic gesticulations made the speech more engaging.
C2 noun /rɪˈfræk.tər/

refractor

Meaning
A type of telescope that uses lenses to focus light.
Example
Refractor telescopes use lenses to focus light.
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 noun /ˈsɒlɪˌsɪzəm/

solecism

Meaning
a grammatical mistake in speech or writing; a breach of good manners or etiquette
Example
His speech was full of solecisms and awkward phrases.
C2 verb /ˈwaŋɡl/

wangle

Meaning
To achieve something by clever or sometimes dishonest persuasion or trickery.
Example
He wangled a free ticket to the concert.
C2 noun /fækˈtoʊtəm/

factotum

Meaning
an employee who does many different types of work; a general servant
Example
He worked as a factotum, handling both clerical and maintenance duties.
C2 adjective /ˈhæŋ.dɔːɡ/

hangdog

Meaning
looking or feeling ashamed, guilty, or defeated.
Example
He gave me a hangdog look after being caught lying.
C2 noun /ˈkæriən/

carrion

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

undulate

Meaning
To move with a smooth, wave-like motion.
Example
The snake undulated across the sand.
C2 noun /ˈbʊlrʌʃ/

bulrush

Meaning
A tall plant with long leaves that grows in or near water, also known as a cattail.
Example
The pond was surrounded by tall bulrushes swaying in the wind.
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.
C2 noun /ˈhɔːθɔːrn/

hawthorn

Meaning
A thorny shrub or small tree with white or pink flowers, often used for hedges.
Example
The garden was lined with blooming hawthorn bushes.
C2 noun /kənˌɡlɒməˈreɪʃən/

conglomeration

Meaning
A collection or mixture of different things grouped together.
Example
The market is a conglomeration of small shops and food stalls.
C2 verb /kənˈdʒiːl/

congeal

Meaning
to become thick or solid, especially from cooling
Example
The soup began to congeal after being left on the table.
C2 adjective /ˌpjuːsɪˈlænɪməs/

pusillanimous

Meaning
showing a lack of courage or determination; timid
Example
The pusillanimous leader avoided making tough decisions.
C2 noun /ˈsɜːrtɪˌtjuːd/

certitude

Meaning
Absolute certainty or conviction about something.
Example
She spoke with certitude about the outcome of the case.
C2 verb /ˈbækbaɪt/

backbite

Meaning
to speak negatively about someone who is not present; to slander behind someone’s back
Example
It is wrong to backbite your colleagues behind their backs.
C2 verb /ˈvɪtrɪfaɪ/

vitrify

Meaning
to turn into glass or a glass-like substance by heat
Example
Sand can vitrify under intense heat.
C2 noun /nuːt/

Newt

Meaning
a small amphibian with a long tail that lives both in water and on land
Example
The newt swam gracefully in the pond.
C2 noun /ˈhɔːrs.liːt͡ʃ/

Horse-leach

Meaning
a large species of leech that was traditionally used in veterinary medicine
Example
The veterinarian explained that horse-leach was once commonly used to treat horses.
C2 adjective /ˈruːmi/

rheumy

Meaning
Watery, especially referring to the eyes.
Example
His rheumy eyes showed signs of age and fatigue.
C2 noun /ˈɑːm.lət/

Armlet

Meaning
a band worn around the upper arm as an ornament
Example
The traditional dancer wore golden armlets that gleamed in the spotlight.
C2 noun /bəˈθɪm.ə.tri/

bathymetry

Meaning
The measurement of depth of water in oceans, seas, or lakes.
Example
Bathymetry is essential for understanding oceanic topography.
C2 adjective /ˈmɪn.ɪ.skjuːl/

miniscule

Meaning
Extremely small or tiny.
Example
The error was so miniscule that nobody noticed it.
C2 noun /ˈjuːʒəri/

usury

Meaning
The practice of lending money at unreasonably high interest rates.
Example
The law strictly prohibits usury.
C2 noun /ˈhɛfər/

heifer

Meaning
a young cow that has not borne a calf
Example
The farmer raised a heifer for dairy production.
C2 noun /kəmˈpleɪsəns/

complaisance

Meaning
willingness to please others; courteous compliance
Example
Her complaisance made her popular among her colleagues.
C2 adjective /ˌpaɪroʊˈtɛknɪk/

pyrotechnic

Meaning
Relating to fireworks or spectacular displays involving fire.
Example
The city celebrated with a grand pyrotechnic display on New Year's Eve.
C2 adjective /ˌsæsərˈdoʊtl/

sacerdotal

Meaning
Relating to priests or the priesthood.
Example
The ritual had a distinctly sacerdotal character.
C2 verb /ʌnˈkaʊtʃ/

uncouch

Meaning
to remove from a couch or to release from being laid down (rare/archaic usage)
Example
The surgeon attempted to uncouch the cataract.
C2 adjective /ɑːlˈfæktəri/

olfactory

Meaning
Relating to the sense of smell.
Example
The perfume activated her olfactory nerves immediately.
C2 noun /ˌtɛliˈɒlədʒi/

teleology

Meaning
the explanation of phenomena by the purpose they serve rather than by cause
Example
Aristotle is often associated with the concept of teleology in philosophy.
C2 noun /ˈspuːnərɪzəm/

spoonerism

Meaning
A verbal error in which the initial sounds of words are swapped to create a humorous effect.
Example
He made a spoonerism by saying 'queer old dean' instead of 'dear old queen'.
C2 verb /ɪˈmjʊər/

immure

Meaning
to confine or enclose someone against their will
Example
The prisoner was immured in a dark cell.
C2 noun /ˈsɛpəlˌtʃər/

Sepulture

Meaning
the act of burying a dead body; burial; a grave or tomb
Example
The ancient king's sepulture was discovered by archaeologists.
C2 verb /ˈpɛrəɡrɪˌneɪt/

peregrinate

Meaning
To travel or wander from place to place.
Example
He loved to peregrinate across the countryside during summer.
C2 verb /ˈɒsɪfaɪ/

ossify

Meaning
to turn into bone or become rigid and inflexible
Example
With age, some tissues tend to ossify.
C2 noun /ˈbriːzˌweɪ/

breezeway

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

abrade

Meaning
to scrape or wear away the surface by friction or erosion
Example
The rough cloth can easily abrade the skin.
C2 noun /ˌdeɪnuːˈmɒ̃/

denouement

Meaning
The final resolution or conclusion of a story, drama, or complicated situation.
Example
The novel's denouement was both surprising and satisfying.
C2 noun /ˈlɪmərɪk/

limerick

Meaning
a humorous five-line poem with a specific rhythm and rhyme scheme (AABBA).
Example
She recited a funny limerick at the party.
C2 noun ˌsɜːkəmˈspekʃən

circumspection

Meaning
The quality of being wary and unwilling to take risks; prudence.
Example
His circumspection ensured no mistakes were made.
C2 noun juːˈbɪkwɪti

ubiquity

Meaning
The fact of appearing everywhere or of being very common.
Example
The ubiquity of smartphones has transformed communication.
C2 noun /ˈpɒlɪti/

polity

Meaning
an organized society or form of government
Example
The ancient Greek polity had a system of city-states.
C2 adjective, adverb /əˈbʌvˌbɔːrd/

aboveboard

Meaning
Open and honest; without deception or trickery.
Example
The business deal was completely aboveboard.
C2 noun /ˈlɪŋ.ɡwə/

lingua

Meaning
A language, especially one used for communication among people.
Example
English has become a global lingua for business and science.
C2 noun, verb /ˈkæŋkər/

canker

Meaning
A fungal disease of plants; an ulcerous sore in the mouth; to corrupt or destroy slowly
Example
The tree was infected with a canker that damaged its bark.
C2 adjective /ˈvɜːrnəl/

vernal

Meaning
related to spring; fresh, youthful
Example
The garden was filled with vernal beauty after the long winter.
C2 adjective /ˌnɒnkəˈmɪtl̩/

noncommittal

Meaning
Not expressing or showing a clear opinion, decision, or commitment.
Example
She gave a noncommittal reply when asked about her future plans.
C2 verb /vɪˈtjuːpəreɪt/

vituperate

Meaning
To criticize harshly or abuse verbally.
Example
The politician was quick to vituperate his opponents during the debate.
C2 adjective /ɪkˈstɛnsəbl/

extensible

Meaning
able to be extended; capable of expansion.
Example
The software is designed to be extensible with new features.
C2 noun /sɪˈmɪlɪtjuːd/

Similitude

Meaning
the quality or state of being similar; resemblance
Example
The similitude between the two paintings suggested they were by the same artist.
C2 noun /ˌfɔːrɔːrdɪˈneɪʃən/

foreordination

Meaning
the act of determining something in advance; predestination
Example
The doctrine of foreordination suggests that events are fixed by divine will.
C2 noun /ˈhɔːtɪnəs/

haughtiness

Meaning
The appearance or quality of being arrogantly superior and disdainful.
Example
His haughtiness made him unpopular among his peers.
C2 verb /ˌmɪsæprɪˈhɛnd/

misapprehend

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

laudation

Meaning
The act of praising or expressing approval.
Example
The poet received much laudation for his moving verses.
C2 adjective /pəˈnjʊəriəs/

penurious

Meaning
extremely poor; poverty-stricken; miserly
Example
The penurious family struggled to buy food.
C2 noun /ˈkærɪlɒn/

carillon

Meaning
A set of bells played using a keyboard, usually in a tower.
Example
The carillon bells rang across the town square.
C2 noun /ɪˈluːmɪnənt/

illuminant

Meaning
A substance or device that produces light.
Example
The lamp acted as an illuminant in the dark cave.
C2 noun /kænˈtɑː.tə/

cantata

Meaning
A vocal composition with instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir.
Example
The choir performed a beautiful cantata during the festival.
C2 noun /ˈdjʊərəns/

durance

Meaning
imprisonment or confinement
Example
The prisoner spent years in durance before his release.
C2 noun /fɪˈlæt.əl.ɪst/

philatelist

Meaning
a person who collects or studies postage stamps
Example
The philatelist spent years building a rare stamp collection.
C2 noun /kɒˈkeɪd/

cockade

Meaning
a rosette or knot of ribbon, usually worn on a hat as a badge of office or party
Example
The soldier wore a red cockade on his cap.
C2 verb /rɪˈvaɪl/

revile

Meaning
to criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner
Example
The politician was reviled by the public for his corruption.
C2 adjective /ˈnɒmɪk/

nomic

Meaning
Relating to laws, rules, or systems.
Example
The philosopher discussed the nomic necessity of natural laws.
C2 noun /ˈsɪlədʒɪzəm/

syllogism

Meaning
A form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed premises.
Example
The philosopher explained the concept of syllogism using simple examples.
C2 noun (plural) /maɪˈnjuːʃiiː/

minutiae

Meaning
the small, precise, or trivial details of something
Example
The lawyer focused on the minutiae of the contract.
C2 noun /meɪndʒ/

mange

Meaning
a skin disease in animals caused by parasitic mites, leading to hair loss and sores
Example
The stray dog was suffering from mange.
C2 noun /ˈɛpɪˌsaɪkl/

epicycle

Meaning
a small circle whose center moves around the circumference of a larger one, used in ancient astronomy
Example
The concept of the epicycle was used to explain planetary motion.
C2 noun /ˈzɛfər/

zephyr

Meaning
A soft gentle breeze.
Example
A warm zephyr blew through the valley.
C2 verb /prəˈpaʊnd/

propound

Meaning
To put forward an idea, theory, or point for consideration.
Example
The professor propounded a new theory on climate change.
C2 adjective /ɪˈræsɪbl/

irascible

Meaning
Easily angered; quick-tempered.
Example
His irascible nature often got him into trouble.
C2 noun /slaɪt/

sleight

Meaning
Skill or dexterity, especially in performing tricks.
Example
The magician amazed the crowd with his sleight of hand.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkoʊ.ɪt/ or /ɪnˈkoʊ.eɪt/

inchoate

Meaning
Just begun and not fully formed; rudimentary.
Example
His inchoate ideas needed more research to be developed.
C2 noun /taɪð/

tithe

Meaning
A tenth part of one’s income or produce, often given as a religious offering.
Example
He gave a tithe of his earnings to the church.
C2 adjective /ˈfæləbl/

fallible

Meaning
capable of making mistakes or being wrong
Example
Even experts are fallible and can make errors.
C2 adjective /ˈrʌdi/

ruddy

Meaning
Having a healthy red color in the face.
Example
She had a ruddy complexion from working outdoors.
C2 adjective /ˈvjuː.ləs/

Viewless

Meaning
invisible; having no views or opinions
Example
The ghost remained viewless to most people in the haunted house.
C2 noun /ˈklaɪ.mɪŋ læŋ læŋ/

Climbing lang lang

Meaning
a climbing plant with fragrant flowers native to tropical regions
Example
The climbing lang lang vine produces beautiful fragrant flowers.
C2 adjective /ˌsuːpərˈnuːmərɛri/

supernumerary

Meaning
Exceeding the usual number; extra or unnecessary.
Example
The play included several supernumerary actors to fill the background scenes.
C2 noun /ˈæntiˌkraɪst/

antichrist

Meaning
A person regarded as the supreme opponent of Christ, often seen as a figure of ultimate evil.
Example
Some people fear the rise of an Antichrist in the future.
C2 noun /ˈvoʊkəbəl/

vocable

Meaning
a word, term, or sound that has meaning
Example
The dictionary contained thousands of vocables from different languages.
C2 noun /ˌɪnkrɪˈdjuːləti/

incredulity

Meaning
the state of being unwilling or unable to believe something
Example
She looked at him with incredulity after hearing the strange story.
C2 noun /pəˈlɛmɪk/

polemic

Meaning
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something
Example
The article was a fierce polemic against the government's policies.
C2 noun /ˈfæn.feər/

fanfare

Meaning
a short ceremonial tune or display of publicity to attract attention
Example
The new product was launched with much fanfare.
C2 adjective /ˌsʌb.əˈkwɒt.ɪk/

subaquatic

Meaning
Existing, living, or located under water.
Example
Divers explored the subaquatic cave system filled with rare fish.
C2 noun /ɛmˈpɔːriəm/

emporium

Meaning
A large retail store selling a wide variety of goods.
Example
They visited the new emporium to buy furniture and home decor.
C2 verb /ˈsæŋktɪfaɪ/

sanctify

Meaning
to make holy or sacred; to purify
Example
The priest will sanctify the marriage ceremony.
C2 adjective /tɛnˈdɛnʃəs/

tendentious

Meaning
Expressing or promoting a particular cause or point of view, often biased.
Example
The article was criticized for its tendentious tone.
C2 verb /əˈbrɪdʒ/

abridge

Meaning
to shorten a text without losing its meaning
Example
The editor decided to abridge the long novel for young readers.
C2 noun /əˈrɪə/

arrear

Meaning
A debt or payment that is overdue and unpaid.
Example
He was sued for an arrear of rent.
C2 noun /ˈbɪvuˌæk/

bivouac

Meaning
a temporary camp without tents or cover, usually used by soldiers or mountaineers
Example
The climbers set up a bivouac on the mountainside.
C2 noun, verb /ˈæseɪ/

assay

Meaning
To test or analyze the quality, purity, or content of a substance; the act of such testing.
Example
The scientists assayed the mineral sample for gold content.
C2 adverb /ˌpɛlˈmɛl/

pell-mell

Meaning
In a confused, rushed, or disorderly manner.
Example
The children ran pell-mell through the playground.
C2 adjective /ˌnɒnpəˈreɪl/

nonpareil

Meaning
Having no equal; unrivaled or matchless.
Example
Her beauty was considered nonpareil in the region.
C2 noun /ɪˈfjuːʒən/

effusion

Meaning
An unrestrained outpouring of words, feelings, or emotions.
Example
His letter was an effusion of love and longing.
C2 noun /ˌæk.wiˈes.əns/

acquiescence

Meaning
The reluctant acceptance of something without protest.
Example
His silent acquiescence to unfair rules was surprising.
C2 noun /dəˈɡerəˌtaɪp/

daguerreotype

Meaning
An early type of photograph produced on a silver or silver-covered copper plate.
Example
The museum displayed a rare daguerreotype of Abraham Lincoln.
C2 noun /məˈlɪŋɡərər/

malingerer

Meaning
a person who pretends to be sick to avoid duty or work
Example
The manager suspected that John was a malingerer.
C2 noun /ˈdrɪvəl/

drivel

Meaning
silly or nonsensical talk
Example
The politician’s speech was full of meaningless drivel.
C2 adjective /eɪˈsɛptɪk/

aseptic

Meaning
Free from contamination caused by harmful microorganisms; sterile.
Example
Surgeons must work in an aseptic environment to prevent infection.
C2 adjective /ˈfer.əs/

ferrous

Meaning
containing or consisting of iron
Example
Ferrous metals are commonly used in construction.