rarefied
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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.
B1 adverb /əˈperəntli/

Apparently

Meaning
seemingly; as far as one knows or can see; clearly; evidently
Example
Apparently, the meeting has been postponed to next week.
C2 adjective /ˈmʌltɪfɔːrm/

multiform

Meaning
Having many different forms or appearances.
Example
The festival was a multiform celebration of art, music, and culture.
A2 adjective /ˈskeəri/

scary

Meaning
causing fear or making you feel frightened
Example
That horror movie was really scary.
C2 adjective /spɪk/

Spick

Meaning
extremely clean and neat; immaculate
Example
The house was spick and span after the cleaning.
B2 noun /ˈmeɪnstriːm/

mainstream

Meaning
the ideas, attitudes, or activities that are regarded as normal or conventional; the dominant trend in opinion or fashion
Example
Social media has become a mainstream source of news for many people.
C1 adjective /ˈneɪm.ləs/

Nameless

Meaning
having no name; anonymous; unknown; unidentified
Example
The nameless fear haunted him throughout the night.
C2 noun /kroʊn/

crone

Meaning
An old woman, often one who is thin and ugly, sometimes associated with witch-like qualities.
Example
The children were scared by the story of the wicked crone in the forest.
B2 adjective ɔːrˈɡæn.ɪk

organic

Meaning
Produced or involving production without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial agents.
Example
Organic farming improves soil health and reduces pollution.
B2 verb /rɪˈkɔːl/

recall

Meaning
to bring (a memory, fact, or situation) back into one's mind
Example
I can't recall the last time we met.
C2 adjective /ˈɡæŋ.ɡli/

gangly

Meaning
Tall, thin, and awkward in movement or appearance.
Example
The gangly teenager stumbled while trying to dance.
C2 noun /ˈmaɪkrəˌkɒzəm/

microcosm

Meaning
A small, representative system having analogies to a larger system; a miniature version of something.
Example
The small town is a microcosm of the entire nation.
C2 noun /ˌæbnɪˈɡeɪʃən/

abnegation

Meaning
the act of renouncing or rejecting something, especially self-denial
Example
The monk’s life was one of complete abnegation of worldly pleasures.
C1 adjective /səbˈsɜːviənt/

subservient

Meaning
prepared to obey others unquestioningly; less important than something else
Example
She was too subservient to challenge his decision.
C2 adjective /ˈtɔːrpɪd/

torpid

Meaning
Mentally or physically inactive; sluggish or lethargic.
Example
After the long hike, he felt torpid and unmotivated.
C2 adjective /stɛnˈtɔːriən/

stentorian

Meaning
Extremely loud and powerful in sound.
Example
The teacher’s stentorian voice quieted the noisy classroom.
B2 adverb /sɪˈvɪərli/

severely

Meaning
to a great degree; very seriously or harshly
Example
The patient was severely injured in the accident.
C2 verb /bɪˈlaɪ/

belie

Meaning
To give a false impression of something; to contradict.
Example
His calm face belied his inner anxiety.
B2 noun /beɪs/

bass

Meaning
the lowest adult male singing voice; also, low-frequency sounds in music or a type of fish
Example
He played the bass guitar at the concert.
B1 noun /ˈspæroʊ/

Sparrow

Meaning
small brown and grey bird commonly found in cities and towns
Example
The sparrow chirped cheerfully from the tree branch.
C1 adjective /kənˈɡrɛʃənl/

congressional

Meaning
relating to a congress, especially the US Congress
Example
The bill received strong congressional support.
C2 noun /spliːn/

spleen

Meaning
an organ in the body that produces lymphocytes and filters blood; also refers to bad temper or spite
Example
He vented his spleen on his coworkers after the meeting.
B2 noun /ˈnɒvəlɪst/

novelist

Meaning
a person who writes novels
Example
The novelist spent years writing his new book.
B2 noun pɪər ˈɪnfluəns

peer influence

Meaning
The effect that members of a peer group have on each other, especially in terms of behavior, attitudes, and decision-making.
Example
Peer influence can shape juvenile behavior significantly.
B2 noun /dɪˈnaɪ.əl/

Denial

Meaning
the action of declaring something to be untrue; refusal to acknowledge something
Example
His denial of involvement in the scandal was met with skepticism.
B2 noun, verb /ræmp/

ramp

Meaning
a sloping surface joining two different levels; as a verb, to increase or rise sharply
Example
The car drove up the ramp into the parking garage.
A2 noun /ədˈvaɪs/

advice

Meaning
Guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent future action.
Example
Experts provide advice for better air quality.
C2 adjective /ˈsætərˌnaɪn/

saturnine

Meaning
slow and gloomy in mood
Example
His saturnine expression made everyone in the room uncomfortable.
C2 noun /ˈsɛnʃəns/

sentience

Meaning
The capacity to feel, perceive, or experience subjectively.
Example
Many argue that animals possess sentience.
C2 noun /ˌmælˈoʊdər/

malodor

Meaning
An unpleasant smell; bad odor.
Example
The garbage bin gave off a terrible malodor.
B2 adverb /ˌælfəˈbɛtɪkli/

alphabetically

Meaning
in the order of the letters of the alphabet
Example
The names are listed alphabetically in the register.
C2 noun /ˈnoʊzˌɡeɪ/

nosegay

Meaning
a small bunch of flowers, typically given as a gift or carried for decoration
Example
She carried a nosegay of fresh roses to the ceremony.
C1 adjective /ˈrɛvərənt/

reverent

Meaning
Showing deep and solemn respect.
Example
They listened to the speech in a reverent silence.
C1 adjective /ˈsleɪ.vɪʃ/

slavish

Meaning
showing no originality; completely imitative or overly submissive
Example
His slavish devotion to tradition prevented any innovation.
A2 noun /tɛkst/

text

Meaning
a written or printed work or passage, especially a book or document
Example
The teacher asked us to read the text on page 50.
B1 noun /striːm/

stream

Meaning
A small, narrow river; a continuous flow of something.
Example
The stream of life is unstoppable.
B2 noun /ˈkʊriər/

courier

Meaning
a person or company that delivers messages, packages, or mail
Example
The courier delivered the documents on time.
B2 verb /prəˈhɪbɪt/

prohibit

Meaning
to forbid something by law, rule, or other authority
Example
The law prohibits smoking in public places.
C1 noun /ˌɪməˈtjʊərəti/

immaturity

Meaning
the state of not being fully developed emotionally, mentally, or physically; lack of maturity
Example
His immaturity made it difficult for him to handle responsibility.
A2 adjective /ˈlʌv.li/

Lovely

Meaning
beautiful; charming; delightful; attractive
Example
What a lovely day for a picnic!
C1 adjective /ˌɪnkənˈkluːsɪv/

inconclusive

Meaning
Not leading to a definite result or decision.
Example
The investigation remained inconclusive due to a lack of evidence.
B2 noun /ˌreɡ.jʊˈlær.ɪ.ti/

Regularity

Meaning
the quality of being regular; occurring at fixed intervals or in a consistent pattern
Example
The regularity of his exercise routine helped him stay healthy.
C1 adjective /ˈɡɔːri/

gory

Meaning
involving or showing a lot of bloodshed and violence
Example
The movie was too gory for children.
B2 noun /prɪˈdɪk.ʃən/

Prediction

Meaning
a statement about what will happen in the future; a forecast
Example
The weather prediction says it will rain tomorrow.
C1 adjective /ˈæmərəs/

amorous

Meaning
Showing, feeling, or relating to romantic love or desire.
Example
He sent her an amorous letter filled with declarations of love.
C1 adjective /koʊˈɪnsɪdənt/

coincident

Meaning
Occurring at the same time; occupying the same position in space or time.
Example
The festival was coincident with the national holiday.
A2 noun /ˈɪʃ.uːz/

issues

Meaning
Important topics or problems for debate or discussion.
Example
Health issues from pollution are increasing.
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.
A1 verb /steɪ/

stay

Meaning
to remain in the same place; to continue being
Example
Please stay here until I return.
C2 verb /ˈstʌltɪfaɪ/

stultify

Meaning
to make someone or something appear foolish, or to hinder effectiveness and enthusiasm
Example
The repetitive tasks seemed to stultify the workers' creativity.
C1 noun /faɪˈnælɪti/

finality

Meaning
the quality of being final or irreversible; a sense of conclusiveness
Example
The judge's decision gave the case a sense of finality.
C1 verb /dɪsˈoʊn/

disown

Meaning
to refuse to acknowledge or accept responsibility for someone or something
Example
He decided to disown his reckless brother.
A1 noun /haʊs/

house

Meaning
A building for people to live in, usually with rooms and a roof.
Example
They bought a new house in the city.
B1 noun ˌɪndɪˈpendəns

independence

Meaning
The fact or state of being independent; freedom from outside control; not being subject to another's authority.
Example
Independence inspired the movement.
C1 verb /ˈrævɪdʒ/

ravage

Meaning
to cause severe and extensive damage or destruction
Example
The hurricane ravaged the coastal villages.
C1 noun /ˈmɔːrtər/

mortar

Meaning
a mixture used in building to bond bricks or stones together; also, a small cannon for firing shells
Example
The workers applied mortar between the bricks.
B2 noun /kwest/

Quest

Meaning
a journey or search for something; an adventure to achieve a goal
Example
The knight embarked on a quest to find the legendary treasure.
C2 adjective /ˈrɛd.ələnt/

redolent

Meaning
having a strong pleasant smell; strongly reminiscent or suggestive of something
Example
The kitchen was redolent of spices and fresh herbs.
C1 noun /ˈheəˌkʌtər/

haircutter

Meaning
a person whose job is to cut and style hair; barber or hairdresser
Example
The haircutter gave me a neat and stylish haircut.
A2 noun /niːs/

niece

Meaning
the daughter of one's brother or sister
Example
My niece is studying at the university this year.
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.
C1 noun /ˈmæn.juˌskrɪpt/

manuscript

Meaning
a handwritten or typed document, especially a writer’s draft before publication
Example
The author submitted her manuscript to the publisher.
B2 adjective /ˈsɛksi/

sexy

Meaning
sexually attractive or exciting
Example
She wore a sexy red dress to the party.
B2 noun /ˈmɪd.deɪ/

Midday

Meaning
The middle of the day; twelve o'clock in the daytime; noon
Example
The sun is brightest at midday when it's directly overhead.
B1 adverb /ˈrel.ə.tɪv.li/

Relatively

Meaning
in comparison to something else; quite; fairly
Example
The weather is relatively warm today.
C1 noun /ˈsɪk.əl/

Sickle

Meaning
a tool with a curved metal blade and short handle used for cutting grain crops
Example
The farmer harvested wheat using a traditional sickle.
B2 verb /ˈstreɪtən/

straighten

Meaning
to make something straight or tidy; to correct or organize
Example
She straightened her hair before the meeting.
A2 noun /ɡəˈrɑːʒ/

Garage

Meaning
a building or space for housing a motor vehicle; a commercial establishment for repairing motor vehicles
Example
He parked his car in the garage to protect it from the hailstorm.
A2 noun ˈtem.pər.ə.tʃər

temperature

Meaning
The degree or intensity of heat present in a substance or object.
Example
Rising temperatures affect agricultural output.
B1 noun /ˈdɛv.əl/

devil

Meaning
An evil spirit or supernatural being often regarded as the embodiment of wickedness and harm.
Example
The story warned children about making deals with the devil.
A2 adjective /dʌtʃ/

dutch

Meaning
relating to the Netherlands, its people, or their language
Example
She enjoys Dutch paintings from the 17th century.
C2 noun /ˈdʒaɪənt sneɪk hɛd/

Giant snake head

Meaning
a large predatory freshwater fish with an elongated body and snake-like head
Example
The giant snake head is a fierce predator that can survive out of water for hours.
C1 adjective /ʃrɪl/

shrill

Meaning
High-pitched and piercing in sound.
Example
The shrill whistle startled everyone in the room.
C1 adjective /ˌsɛlf əbˈzɔːrbd/

self-absorbed

Meaning
Excessively preoccupied with oneself and one’s own thoughts, feelings, or interests.
Example
He was too self-absorbed to notice his friend's distress.
C1 verb /lʊər/

lure

Meaning
to attract or tempt someone, often by offering something appealing
Example
The advertisement lured customers with promises of discounts.
B2 verb /nɪt/

knit

Meaning
To make clothes or fabric by interlocking loops of yarn with needles.
Example
She loves to knit scarves for her friends during the winter.
C1 verb /əˈpɔːl/

appall

Meaning
To shock or horrify someone with something unpleasant or bad.
Example
The cruelty of the crime appalled the entire community.
C1 verb /ˈklæmbər/

clamber

Meaning
to climb with effort or difficulty, often using both hands and feet
Example
The children clambered over the rocks to reach the cave.
C1 noun /kəˈres/

Caress

Meaning
a gentle or loving touch
Example
The mother's gentle caress calmed the crying baby.
C1 verb /aʊtˈwɪt/

outwit

Meaning
to defeat or gain an advantage over someone by being more clever or cunning
Example
The fox managed to outwit the hunters.
C2 adjective /mɔːrˈdeɪʃəs/

mordacious

Meaning
Sharp or biting in style, tone, or remark; sarcastic.
Example
The critic’s mordacious review offended the author.
C1 noun /əˈpɒsəl/

apostle

Meaning
A vigorous and pioneering advocate or supporter of a particular cause, often used for the early Christian disciples.
Example
He became an apostle of environmental protection.
C1 verb /ˈkæp.saɪz/

capsize

Meaning
to overturn in the water
Example
The small fishing boat capsized during the storm.
C1 noun /ɪmˈbɑː.ɡoʊ/

embargo

Meaning
A trade ban, restriction, or prohibition imposed by a government or international organization on a country.
Example
The UN imposed an embargo on arms exports.
A2 adjective /kənˈsɜːnd/

concerned

Meaning
worried or anxious about something; involved or interested in something
Example
She was concerned about her mother's health.
C1 noun ɔːrˈdiːl

ordeal

Meaning
A physical or mental painful experience that must be endured
Example
Surviving the wilderness was a tough ordeal for them.
C2 verb /dɪsˈɡɔːrdʒ/

disgorge

Meaning
to discharge or pour out; to vomit; to give up reluctantly
Example
The broken pipe disgorged water all over the floor.
A1 adjective /seɪm/

same

Meaning
identical; not different or changed
Example
We wore the same dress at the party.
C1 adjective /ˈsted.fæst/

Steadfast

Meaning
firm in belief, determination, or adherence; unwavering
Example
She remained steadfast in her commitment to helping the poor.
B2 adjective /ɪnˈdjʊər.ɪŋ/

Enduring

Meaning
lasting; permanent; continuing for a long time
Example
Their enduring friendship lasted for decades.
B2 verb /ɡraɪnd/

grind

Meaning
to crush into small particles; to work hard
Example
She grinds coffee beans every morning.
B1 adjective /ˈkəʊstəl/

coastal

Meaning
relating to or near a coast or shoreline
Example
They built a resort in a coastal area.
C1 adjective /dʒəˈnɛrɪk/

generic

Meaning
characteristic of or relating to a whole group or class; not specific
Example
This medicine is available in generic form.
C2 noun, adjective /klɛərˈvɔɪənt/

clairvoyant

Meaning
a person who claims to have clairvoyance; having the ability to see beyond normal senses
Example
The clairvoyant predicted that she would travel abroad soon.
C2 adjective /ˈʌndjʊleɪtɪŋ/

undulating

Meaning
Having a smoothly rising and falling form or motion like waves.
Example
We drove through undulating hills.
C2 noun /ˈlɪtɪɡənt/

litigant

Meaning
a person involved in a lawsuit
Example
The court summoned both litigants for the hearing.
A2 verb əˈdres

address

Meaning
To deal with or tackle (a problem or issue); to focus attention on.
Example
The government must address the issues of student politics.
B2 noun /ɪˈlɛktrɪk drɪl/

Electric drill

Meaning
A power tool used for drilling holes in various materials
Example
He used an electric drill to make holes in the wall for hanging pictures.
A2 noun ˈprɒdʒ.ekts

projects

Meaning
Individual or collaborative enterprises that are carefully planned to achieve a particular aim.
Example
These projects aim for technological breakthroughs.
C1 noun /ˈklæmər/

clamor

Meaning
a loud and confused noise, especially of people shouting insistently
Example
The clamor of the protesting crowd filled the square.
C2 noun /ˌpærəˈɡɔːrɪk/

paregoric

Meaning
a medicine containing opium, once used to relieve pain and diarrhea
Example
Doctors once prescribed paregoric to treat diarrhea in children.
C2 noun /nɪb/

nib

Meaning
the pointed end of a pen used for writing or drawing
Example
He dipped the nib into the ink before writing.
C2 noun /ˈaɪ.səˌbɑːr/

isobar

Meaning
A line on a weather map connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure.
Example
The meteorologist explained how isobars indicate wind speed and direction.
C1 verb /wiːn/

wean

Meaning
To gradually stop a child or animal from breastfeeding; to detach from a habit.
Example
Parents often wean their babies around six months old.
B2 adverb /ˈsoʊlli/

solely

Meaning
only; not involving anyone or anything else
Example
He is solely responsible for the decision.
B1 noun /ˈbʊt.ʃər/

Butcher

Meaning
a person whose job is cutting up and selling meat in a shop
Example
The butcher recommended the best cut of beef for our dinner.
C1 adjective /ˈeɪ.mi.ə.bəl/

Amiable

Meaning
friendly and pleasant; good-natured; kind
Example
My neighbor is very amiable and always greets everyone warmly.
C2 noun /ˈɡɔːntlɪt/

gauntlet

Meaning
a protective glove; a challenge or trial; to 'throw down the gauntlet' means to issue a challenge
Example
The knight threw down his gauntlet as a sign of challenge.
C2 noun /ɪmˌpɜːrtərbəˈbɪləti/

imperturbability

Meaning
The quality of being calm and not easily disturbed or upset.
Example
Her imperturbability during the crisis impressed everyone.
A2 verb /ˈbɑroʊ/

borrow

Meaning
to take temporarily with intention to return; to take on loan
Example
Can I borrow your pen for a moment?
B1 adjective /dɪsˈɒnəst/

Dishonest

Meaning
not honest; fraudulent; deceitful
Example
The dishonest salesman tried to sell them a broken car.
C1 noun /ˈmɪm.ɪk/

Mimic

Meaning
A person who copies or imitates the actions, speech, or mannerisms of others
Example
The talented mimic could perfectly imitate famous celebrities.
B2 verb /ɪnˈlaɪtən/

enlighten

Meaning
to give someone greater knowledge or understanding about a subject or situation
Example
The teacher tried to enlighten the students about ancient history.
C1 verb /ˈkɪndəl/

kindle

Meaning
to light a fire; to arouse or inspire
Example
She kindled the campfire with dry wood.
B2 adjective /θiˈætrɪkl/

theatrical

Meaning
Relating to the theater or exaggerated and dramatic in behavior or style.
Example
Her theatrical performance won the audience's applause.
B2 noun /əˈtɜːrni/

attorney

Meaning
a person who practices law; a lawyer
Example
She hired an attorney to represent her in court.
B1 noun /ˈwɪtnəs/

Witness

Meaning
a person who sees an event, typically a crime or accident; someone who gives evidence in a court of law
Example
The witness testified in court yesterday.
C1 noun /ˈdæmpər/

damper

Meaning
something that reduces or lessens the force, effect, or excitement
Example
The cancellation of the trip put a damper on their enthusiasm.
C2 noun /klɛərˈvɔɪəns/

clairvoyance

Meaning
the supposed ability to perceive events beyond normal sensory contact; psychic insight
Example
She claimed to have clairvoyance and predicted the future.
C1 noun ˌmek.ə.naɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

mechanization

Meaning
The process of introducing machines or replacing manual labor with machines.
Example
Mechanization has revolutionized agriculture.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpɜːrsənl/

impersonal

Meaning
not influenced by, showing, or involving personal feelings; lacking human warmth or emotion
Example
The letter was written in a very impersonal style.