self-possession
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C1 noun ˈsɛlf pəˈzɪʃən

self-possession

Meaning
The quality of being calm and confident and in control of one's emotions; composure.
Example
His self-possession during the crisis was remarkable.
C1 adjective /ɔːˌθɒr.ɪˈteə.ri.ən/

authoritarian

Meaning
Demanding absolute obedience to authority; excessively controlling or strict in governance.
Example
Authoritarian parenting often limits a child's independence.
C1 adjective /prəˈsiːdʒərəl/

procedural

Meaning
Relating to an established or official way of doing something; concerned with procedure.
Example
The committee followed the procedural rules strictly.
C1 adjective /sɔɪld/

soiled

Meaning
dirty or stained; not clean
Example
His clothes were soiled after playing in the mud.
C1 verb /ˈɑːrbɪtreɪt/

arbitrate

Meaning
to settle a dispute between two parties by acting as an impartial judge
Example
The committee agreed to arbitrate the contract dispute.
C1 noun /truːp/

troupe

Meaning
A group of dancers, actors, or performers who work together.
Example
The theater troupe performed brilliantly on stage.
C1 verb /ɡoʊd/

goad

Meaning
to provoke, annoy, or urge someone to take action
Example
He tried to goad his opponent into making a mistake.
C1 verb /ˈkæptɪveɪt/

captivate

Meaning
to attract and hold the interest of; to charm or fascinate
Example
Her beautiful voice captivated the audience.
C1 adjective /əˈbliːk/

Oblique

Meaning
slanting; diagonal; indirect or evasive
Example
The artist drew an oblique line across the canvas.
C1 noun /deɪˈtɑːnt/

detente

Meaning
the easing of hostility or strained relations, especially between countries
Example
The two nations worked toward detente after decades of conflict.
C1 adjective /ˈdaʊn.kæst/

downcast

Meaning
feeling sad, dejected, or with lowered eyes
Example
He looked downcast after hearing the bad news.
C1 noun

Kin

C1 noun /prəˈvaɪzoʊ/

proviso

Meaning
a condition or stipulation attached to an agreement
Example
He accepted the job offer with the proviso that he could work remotely twice a week.
C1 noun /ˈtʃʌk.əl/

Chuckle

Meaning
a quiet or suppressed laugh; to laugh quietly or with amusement
Example
He gave a soft chuckle when he heard the funny joke.
C1 adjective /ˈʃeɪm.ləs/

Shameless

Meaning
having no shame; bold and rude; impudent
Example
The shameless politician refused to apologize for his mistakes.
C1 noun /kuːp/

coop

Meaning
a small enclosure or cage for chickens or other birds
Example
The farmer checked the chickens in the coop every morning.
C1 adjective /ˈpruː.dənt/

Prudent

Meaning
wise; careful; cautious;
Example
It's prudent to save money for the future.
C1 verb /trænˈzækt/

transact

Meaning
to conduct or carry out business, a deal, or activity
Example
Customers can transact their banking online.
C1 adjective /ˈpiːkənt/

piquant

Meaning
having a pleasantly sharp or spicy taste; interestingly provocative
Example
The chef added a piquant sauce to the dish to enhance its flavor.
C1 adjective /ˈlækˌlʌstər/

lackluster

Meaning
Lacking in vitality, force, or conviction; uninspired or uninspiring.
Example
The lackluster performance disappointed the audience.
C1 noun /əˈtrɑːsəti/

atrocity

Meaning
an extremely cruel or violent act, often involving physical violence
Example
The world condemned the atrocity committed against civilians.
C1 noun /ˌdep.rɪˈveɪ.ʃən/

deprivation

Meaning
The damaging lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society.
Example
Sleep deprivation affects cognitive function.
C1 adjective /ˈfræɡməntɪd/

fragmented

Meaning
Having been broken into fragments; disjointed or incomplete.
Example
The information was fragmented and difficult to understand.
C1 adjective /dɪˈmɛntɪd/

demented

Meaning
behaving irrationally due to mental illness or extreme excitement
Example
He looked demented after hearing the shocking news.
C1 adjective /trænˈsen.dənt/

transcendent

Meaning
Beyond or above the range of normal or merely physical human experience.
Example
His art has a transcendent quality.
C1 noun /ˈɪtʃ.i.nəs/

itchiness

Meaning
The quality or condition of feeling an irritating sensation on the skin that causes a desire to scratch.
Example
Eye itchiness often leads to rubbing.
C1 verb /əˈbɔːrt/

abort

Meaning
to stop a process or action before it is completed; to end a pregnancy deliberately
Example
The pilot decided to abort the mission due to bad weather.
C1 verb /ɪˈlɛktrɪfaɪ/

electrify

Meaning
to charge with electricity; to excite or thrill intensely
Example
The speaker's speech electrified the audience.
C1 adjective /rɪˈsɜːrdʒənt/

resurgent

Meaning
Becoming strong, active, or popular again.
Example
The resurgent economy gave hope to many businesses.
C1 verb /ˈdʒepərdaɪz/

jeopardize

Meaning
to put something at risk of being damaged or destroyed
Example
His reckless behavior could jeopardize his career.
C1 adjective /ˈskɔːrnfəl/

Scornful

Meaning
showing contempt or disdain; expressing scorn
Example
She gave him a scornful look when he made the rude comment.
C1 adjective /ˈvendʒ.fəl/

Vengeful

Meaning
seeking to harm someone in return for a perceived injury; vindictive
Example
She felt vengeful after her friend betrayed her trust.
C1 verb /ˈɔːstrəˌsaɪz/

ostracize

Meaning
to exclude someone from a group or society; to banish or shun
Example
After the scandal, he was ostracized by his former colleagues.
C1 verb /ˈmæɡnɪfaɪ/

magnify

Meaning
to make something appear larger; to increase the importance or effect of something
Example
The microscope can magnify tiny objects for better observation.
C1 noun kənˈsɔː.ti.əm

consortium

Meaning
An association of several companies or organizations formed to undertake an enterprise beyond the resources of any one member.
Example
The consortium worked collaboratively to build the cable.
C1 adjective /ɪkˈstreɪ.ni.əs/

extraneous

Meaning
Not directly related or essential to the matter at hand; irrelevant.
Example
The editor removed extraneous details from the report.
C1 adverb /əˈlɜːrtli/

alertly

Meaning
in a watchful, attentive, and quick-to-notice manner
Example
She listened alertly to every sound in the dark forest.
C1 noun ˈɛksəʊˌplænɪt

exoplanet

Meaning
A planet that orbits a star outside the solar system.
Example
Astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets in the last decade.
C1 verb /ɪmˈpɑːrt/

impart

Meaning
to make information known; to bestow or communicate
Example
The teacher imparted valuable knowledge to her students.
C1 verb /dɪˈɡreɪd/

degrade

Meaning
To lower in dignity, quality, or value; to treat with disrespect or to deteriorate.
Example
Harsh words can degrade a person's confidence.
C1 noun /fəˈnætɪsɪzəm/

fanaticism

Meaning
the quality of being fanatical; extreme zeal or obsession
Example
Religious fanaticism can lead to intolerance and conflict.
C1 verb /broʊtʃ/

broach

Meaning
to bring up a subject for discussion
Example
She decided to broach the topic of salary with her manager.
C1 noun ˌɛkstərˈnælɪtiz

externalities

Meaning
A side effect or consequence of an industrial or commercial activity.
Example
Pollution is a negative externality of industrialization.
C1 noun /ˌriː.pəˈkʌʃ.ən/

repercussion

Meaning
An unintended consequence occurring some time after an event or action.
Example
The economic crisis had severe repercussions on global trade.
C1 noun /ˈsaɪkiː/

psyche

Meaning
the human soul, mind, or spirit
Example
The novel explores the depths of the human psyche.
C1 adjective /ˈmɒnstrəs/

Monstrous

Meaning
extremely large; shockingly evil or wrong; abnormal or unnatural
Example
The monstrous crime shocked the entire community.
C1 verb /ɡleɪz/

glaze

Meaning
to cover with a smooth, shiny surface; to coat with a glossy finish
Example
The chef glazed the cake with chocolate.
C1 adjective, noun /ˈmɑːrʃən/

martian

Meaning
Related to the planet Mars; or an imaginary being from Mars.
Example
The movie showed a Martian visiting Earth.
C1 noun /ˌəʊvərɪksˌplɔɪˈteɪʃən/

overexploitation

Meaning
The unsustainable use of natural resources at a rate that exceeds their ability to regenerate, leading to depletion and environmental degradation.
Example
Overexploitation of natural resources leads to environmental degradation.
C1 verb /ʌpˈruːt/

uproot

Meaning
To pull something out of the ground; to remove or displace completely.
Example
They uprooted the old tree from the garden.
C1 noun /ˌmɪsˈkɒn.dʌkt/

Misconduct

Meaning
Unacceptable or improper behavior, especially by a professional person
Example
The officer was dismissed for professional misconduct.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈseɪvəri/

unsavory

Meaning
Disagreeable, unpleasant, or morally offensive.
Example
The politician was linked to an unsavory scandal.
C1 verb /nʌdʒ/

nudge

Meaning
To push someone gently, usually with your elbow, in order to attract attention.
Example
She nudged him to be quiet during the meeting.
C1 noun /ˈfɛlən/

felon

Meaning
a person who has committed a serious crime
Example
The felon was sentenced to ten years in prison.
C1 noun /nɑːrˈkɒtɪk/

narcotic

Meaning
A drug that dulls the senses and relieves pain, often causing sleep and sometimes addiction.
Example
The police seized a large amount of narcotic substances.
C1 verb /kwɑːʃ/

quash

Meaning
To reject or void something legally or to put an end to something forcefully.
Example
The court quashed the decision due to lack of evidence.
C1 noun /ˈkʌntrɪmən/

countryman

Meaning
a person from one's own country or rural area
Example
He was proud to meet a fellow countryman at the international conference.
C1 noun /ˈskep.tɪ.sɪ.zəm/

skepticism

Meaning
A skeptical attitude; doubt as to the truth of something.
Example
His skepticism about new technology often makes him resistant to change.
C1 verb /ˈreɪdieɪt/

radiate

Meaning
to emit energy or light; to spread out from a center
Example
The fireplace radiates warmth throughout the room.
C1 noun /trentʃ/

Trench

Meaning
a long, narrow ditch; a deep furrow in the ground, especially one used for military defense
Example
The soldiers dug a trench for protection during the battle.
C1 adjective /ɡroʊˈtɛsk/

grotesque

Meaning
comically or repulsively ugly or distorted
Example
The sculpture was so grotesque that it frightened the children.
C1 noun /ˈænvɪl/

anvil

Meaning
A heavy iron block used by blacksmiths for hammering and shaping metal.
Example
The blacksmith placed the hot iron on the anvil.
C1 verb /ˌæprɪˈhɛnd/

apprehend

Meaning
to arrest or seize someone; to understand or perceive something
Example
The police managed to apprehend the thief after a long chase.
C1 noun /pɜːrl drɒp/

Pearl drop

Meaning
a single pearl used as jewelry, often in earrings or pendants
Example
The elegant pearl drop earrings complemented her outfit perfectly.
C1 noun /ɪˈnɪɡ.mə/

enigma

Meaning
A person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.
Example
Life remains an enigma to many.
C1 noun /straɪf/

strife

Meaning
angry or violent conflict; struggle or discord
Example
The region has been torn apart by political strife.
C1 noun ˈɛf.lu.ənt

effluent

Meaning
Liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the sea.
Example
Factory effluent contaminates nearby rivers and lakes.
C1 noun /braɪn/

brine

Meaning
Water saturated with salt, often used for preserving food.
Example
The olives were stored in brine to keep them fresh.
C1 noun /ˈmænər/

manor

Meaning
A large country house with lands; the main house of an estate.
Example
The old manor stood proudly on the hill for centuries.
C1 noun /kənˈsɜːvəˌtɔːri/

conservatory

Meaning
A greenhouse for growing plants or a school for music and the arts.
Example
They grew exotic plants in the conservatory.
C1 verb /kəmˈpjuːt/

compute

Meaning
To calculate or determine by using a computer or mathematical methods.
Example
The software can compute the total cost in seconds.
C1 noun /ˈpʌntʃ laɪn/

punch line

Meaning
The final part of a joke or story that makes it funny.
Example
Everyone laughed loudly at the punch line of his joke.
C1 noun /ˈhæv.ək/

Havoc

Meaning
widespread destruction; great confusion or disorder; chaos
Example
The hurricane wreaked havoc on the coastal towns, destroying homes and businesses.
C1 noun /ˈtæl.i/

Tally

Meaning
a count or record of a number or amount; a score or total
Example
Keep a tally of how many books you read this month.
C1 adjective ˌɪn.trəˈspek.tɪv

introspective

Meaning
Characterized by or given to introspection; examining one's own thoughts and feelings.
Example
Writers tend to be highly introspective individuals.
C1 noun /dɪˌsem.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

dissemination

Meaning
The action or fact of spreading something, especially information, widely.
Example
The dissemination of false information is a major issue.
C1 verb /ˈpɜːrkəleɪt/

percolate

Meaning
To filter gradually through a porous surface or substance; to spread slowly.
Example
The rainwater percolated through the soil into the groundwater.
C1 verb /səbˈsaɪd/

subside

Meaning
to become less intense, violent, or severe; to sink or fall to a lower level
Example
After the storm, the floodwaters began to subside.
C1 noun/verb /ˈslʌmbər/

slumber

Meaning
A state of sleep; to sleep lightly or rest.
Example
The child slumbered peacefully through the night.
C1 noun kəˈmjuːnɪti ˈsɜːrvɪs aɪˈdiːəlz

community service ideals

Meaning
Principles and standards of serving the community for social good.
Example
Community service ideals must be taught in schools.
C1 verb /aɪˈdiː.ə.laɪz/

idealize

Meaning
To regard or represent something as perfect or better than it really is.
Example
Children often idealize their parents.
C1 verb /ˈviːtoʊ/

veto

Meaning
to reject or forbid a decision, proposal, or law
Example
The president decided to veto the new bill.
C1 verb /hoʊn/

hone

Meaning
To sharpen a blade or to improve a skill through practice.
Example
She honed her presentation skills before the big meeting.
C1 noun /ɡaɪz/

guise

Meaning
An external form, appearance, or manner of presentation, often hiding the true nature
Example
He approached in the guise of a friend.
C1 /ˈdʒɛtɪsən/

jettison

Meaning
to throw or drop something from a ship, aircraft, or vehicle to lighten the load; to abandon something no longer wanted
Example
The crew had to jettison cargo to save the sinking ship.
C1 noun ˈhɪn.drəns

hindrance

Meaning
Something that creates difficulties or delays in progress.
Example
Lack of funds was a major hindrance to the project.
C1 noun /ˈfjuː.dʒə.tɪv/

Fugitive

Meaning
a person who has escaped from a place or is in hiding, especially to avoid arrest
Example
The police launched a manhunt to capture the fugitive who escaped from prison.
C1 noun /ˈsɪstərn/

cistern

Meaning
A tank or container for storing water, usually for household use.
Example
The old house still had a cistern to collect rainwater.
C1 adjective ˈkɒn.və.luː.tɪd

convoluted

Meaning
Extremely complex and difficult to follow; twisted or intricate.
Example
His argument was so convoluted that no one understood it.
C1 noun ˈdɛtrɪ.mənt

detriment

Meaning
Harm, damage, impairment.
Example
Smoking is a detriment to health.
C1 noun ˌrɛk.əˈlɛk.ʃən

Recollection

Meaning
Remembering past events or information
Example
His recollection of childhood memories was vivid.
C1 verb /ˈɡɑː.nɪʃ/

garnish

Meaning
To decorate food with small items for added flavor or visual appeal.
Example
She garnished the dish with fresh coriander leaves.
C1 verb /diːˈkoʊd/

decode

Meaning
to convert a coded message into a readable form; to interpret meaning
Example
The software can decode the hidden message within seconds.
C1 adjective /ˈmaɪndləs/

mindless

Meaning
without thought or intelligence; done without consideration
Example
He was bored by the mindless tasks at work.
C1 adjective /dɪˈpreɪvd/

depraved

Meaning
morally corrupt or wicked
Example
The film depicts the life of a depraved criminal.
C1 noun /ˌvəʊ.kəl.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/

vocalization

Meaning
The action of producing sounds with the voice; the expression of thoughts or feelings in spoken words.
Example
The vocalization of the singer captivated the audience.
C1 noun /jɛn/

yen

Meaning
A deep, strong desire or craving.
Example
She felt a strong yen to travel the world.
C1 noun ˌtoʊ.kə.nɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

tokenization

Meaning
The process of breaking text into smaller units like words, phrases, or symbols for analysis.
Example
NLP uses tokenization to break text into smaller units.
C1 verb /ˈkwɪkən/

quicken

Meaning
to make or become faster; to accelerate
Example
His pulse began to quicken as he approached the finish line.
C1 adjective ɪnˈdʒiː.ni.əs

ingenious

Meaning
Showing inventiveness and skill; clever, original, and inventive.
Example
His ingenious ideas transformed modern physics.
C1 adjective /ˌaʊt ən ˈaʊt/

out-and-out

Meaning
complete; absolute; used to emphasize something extreme
Example
The speech was an out-and-out lie.
C1 verb /præns/

prance

Meaning
To move with high, springy steps, often to show off or attract attention.
Example
The horse pranced around the field gracefully.
C1 adjective /ˌæntiˈsleɪvəri/

antislavery

Meaning
Opposed to the practice or system of slavery.
Example
The antislavery movement gained momentum in the 19th century.
C1 noun /ˈleθ.ər.dʒi/

Lethargy

Meaning
a lack of energy and enthusiasm; tiredness and inactivity
Example
The hot weather caused a feeling of lethargy.
C1 adjective /ˈkɑːr.di.æk/

cardiac

Meaning
Relating to the heart.
Example
The patient was admitted with a cardiac condition.
C1 noun /ˈduːmz.deɪ/

Doomsday

Meaning
the last day of the world's existence; a time of catastrophic destruction
Example
The preacher spoke about doomsday and the importance of preparing spiritually.
C1 adjective /ˌiːvænˈdʒɛlɪkəl/

evangelical

Meaning
Relating to the Christian gospel, especially the teachings that emphasize personal faith and the authority of the Bible.
Example
She grew up in an evangelical church community.
C1 noun /ˌdiːˈmer.ɪt/

Demerit

Meaning
a fault or disadvantage; a mark given for a fault or offense
Example
The student received a demerit for arriving late to class repeatedly.
C1 noun /ˈbænɪstər/

banister

Meaning
a railing supported by posts at the side of a staircase or balcony
Example
She held the banister tightly while going down the stairs.
C1 noun /ˈfren.zi/

Frenzy

Meaning
a state or period of uncontrolled excitement or wild behavior; intense activity
Example
The announcement of the sale created a shopping frenzy at the mall.
C1 noun /bɑːm/

balm

Meaning
A soothing ointment or something that provides comfort or relief.
Example
The balm helped relieve the pain from her sunburn.
C1 noun ˌsɛlf.rɪˈstreɪnt

self-restraint

Meaning
The practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something, typically an impulse or desire.
Example
Practicing self-restraint helps in avoiding impulsive decisions.
C1 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈsaɪsɪv/

Indecisive

Meaning
unable to make decisions quickly; hesitant; wavering
Example
She was indecisive about which university to attend.
C1 adjective /ɪmˈpæsɪv/

impassive

Meaning
Not showing or feeling emotion; expressionless.
Example
Despite the shocking news, she remained impassive.
C1 verb /prəˈlɪf.ə.reɪt/

proliferate

Meaning
To increase rapidly in numbers; to grow or spread quickly and extensively.
Example
Startups tend to proliferate in a thriving economy.
C1 noun /ˈkʌl.ən.dər/

Colander

Meaning
a bowl-shaped kitchen utensil with holes in it used for draining food such as pasta or rice
Example
She drained the pasta using a colander.
C1 noun /ˈʌp.ʃɒt/

Upshot

Meaning
the final result or outcome of a series of events; conclusion
Example
The upshot of the meeting was a decision to postpone the project.
C1 adjective, noun /əbˈzɔːrbənt/

absorbent

Meaning
able to soak up liquid, moisture, or energy easily; a material or substance that absorbs
Example
This towel is highly absorbent and dries quickly.
C1 noun /pəˈzɛsər/

possessor

Meaning
A person who owns or holds something.
Example
The possessor of the land built a new house.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnkəʊˈhɪərənt/

incoherent

Meaning
Not clear or easy to understand; lacking logical connection.
Example
His explanation was so incoherent that nobody could follow it.
C1 noun /fɑːrs/

farce

Meaning
a comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay, or a ridiculous situation
Example
The meeting turned into a complete farce with everyone arguing.