serpentine
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C1 adjective /ˈsɜːrpənˌtiːn/

serpentine

Meaning
Having the shape, movement, or qualities of a serpent; winding or twisting.
Example
The road took a serpentine path through the mountains.
A2 noun /stoʊn/

stone

Meaning
a hard, naturally occurring mineral material found in the earth
Example
He threw a stone into the lake.
C1 adjective ˈsek.tər spəˈsɪf.ɪk

sector-specific

Meaning
Relating to or designed for a particular sector or industry.
Example
Sector-specific policies attract targeted investments.
C1 adjective /ˈθɪŋ.kə.bəl/

thinkable

Meaning
Capable of being imagined or conceived; possible to consider or believe
Example
It is hard to believe that such an outcome is even thinkable.
A2 noun ˈmuːv.mənts

movements

Meaning
Organized efforts by groups of people working together to advance their shared political, social, or artistic ideas.
Example
Freedom movements paved the way for independence.
B2 adjective /ˈpɔɪn.tɪd/

Pointed

Meaning
having a sharp end; direct and unambiguous
Example
She made a pointed remark about his behavior.
B2 adverb /ˈpʌŋk.tʃu.əl.i/

Punctually

Meaning
at the exact time arranged; on time; not late
Example
She always arrives punctually for meetings.
C2 noun /ˈæntɪfɒn/

antiphon

Meaning
a short chant or verse sung responsively in Christian worship, typically sung before or after a psalm or canticle
Example
The choir sang the antiphon before beginning the main hymn.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈflɛdʒd/

unfledged

Meaning
Inexperienced, immature, or not fully developed.
Example
The unfledged writer struggled to complete his first novel.
C2 noun /ˈæntɪkwɛri/

antiquary

Meaning
A person who studies, collects, or deals in antiques or ancient objects.
Example
The antiquary spent years collecting rare manuscripts from the medieval period.
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.
B1 verb /hiːl/

heal

Meaning
to cure; to become healthy again
Example
Time will heal all wounds.
C2 verb /ˈɛnərˌveɪt/

enervate

Meaning
To weaken or drain someone of strength or vitality.
Example
The long hours of work enervated him.
C1 verb /fɔːrˈɡoʊ/

forgo

Meaning
to decide not to do or have something
Example
She decided to forgo dessert to maintain her diet.
C2 adjective /ˈpjuːɪsənt/

puissant

Meaning
having great power or influence; mighty
Example
The king was a puissant ruler whose word was law.
C1 phrase ˌdɪp.ləˈmæt.ɪk rɛz.əˈluː.ʃən

diplomatic resolution

Meaning
A peaceful solution to conflicts through negotiation and diplomatic channels.
Example
A diplomatic resolution is necessary for peace.
C2 noun /ˌkælɪsˈθɛnɪks/

calisthenics

Meaning
exercises that use body weight for strength and flexibility
Example
She practices calisthenics every morning in the park.
A2 verb /ʃeɪk/

shake

Meaning
to move quickly back and forth; to tremble
Example
The earthquake made the building shake.
B2 verb /əˈbɒlɪʃ/

abolish

Meaning
to formally end or stop something; to cancel or eliminate completely
Example
The government decided to abolish the old tax system.
C1 noun, adjective /ˌproʊlɪˈtɛəriən/

proletarian

Meaning
Relating to the working class, especially those who do not own property.
Example
The movement was rooted in proletarian struggles.
C2 verb /ˈstræɡəl/

straggle

Meaning
To move or spread in an irregular, scattered, or untidy way.
Example
The children began to straggle behind on the long hike.
C2 noun /əˈmæl.ɡəm/

amalgam

Meaning
a mixture or blend of different things
Example
The new policy is an amalgam of several previous laws.
C1 adjective /ˈræɡ.ɪd/

Ragged

Meaning
torn; tattered; frayed; shabby
Example
The homeless man wore ragged clothes.
C1 verb /ɪˈlæps/

elapse

Meaning
to pass or go by, usually referring to time
Example
Several hours elapsed before he finally returned home.
C2 adjective /ˈpɛkənt/

peccant

Meaning
Guilty of a moral offense or wrongdoing; sinful.
Example
The judge declared the peccant official unfit for office.
C1 adjective /ˌfɪl.ænˈθrɒp.ɪk/

philanthropic

Meaning
showing concern for the welfare of others; generous and charitable
Example
She is known for her philanthropic activities in the city.
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.
B2 noun /kɔːrd/

cord

Meaning
a long, thin, flexible string or rope
Example
He tied the package with a strong cord.
C2 adjective /ˌpəʊstˈprændɪəl/

postprandial

Meaning
Occurring after a meal.
Example
He went for a postprandial walk after dinner.
B2 verb rɪˈstɔːr

restore

Meaning
To bring back to a former or original state; to reinstate.
Example
Restoring the tradition of student politics is necessary.
A2 verb /fiːd/

feed

Meaning
to give food to a person or animal
Example
She feeds the birds every morning.
C2 adjective /ˈkoʊltɪʃ/

coltish

Meaning
Playful, energetic, and not fully mature or disciplined.
Example
The coltish boy ran around the field without a care.
C1 adjective /ˈruːfəl/

rueful

Meaning
Expressing sorrow, regret, or pity.
Example
He gave a rueful smile after losing the match.
B2 verb /ænˈtɪsɪˌpeɪt/

anticipate

Meaning
to expect or look forward to something; to realize or foresee in advance
Example
We anticipate a large crowd at the event.
C1 noun /rəˈpɪdəti/

rapidity

Meaning
The quality of moving or happening quickly; swiftness or speed.
Example
The rapidity of technological change is astonishing.
C1 noun /ˈiː.zi tʃeər/

Easy-chair

Meaning
a comfortable chair with arms and a back that reclines
Example
He relaxed in his favorite easy-chair after work.
C1 adjective /ɛnˌsaɪkləˈpiːdɪk/

encyclopedic

Meaning
Having comprehensive knowledge of many subjects; relating to or characteristic of an encyclopedia.
Example
Her encyclopedic knowledge of history amazed everyone at the conference.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈfeɪ.vər.ə.bəl/

Unfavourable

Meaning
not helpful or advantageous; adverse
Example
The weather conditions were unfavourable for our outdoor event.
C2 adjective /ˌhæfˈhɑːr.tɪd/

halfhearted

Meaning
lacking enthusiasm or determination; unenthusiastic
Example
His halfhearted attempt to study did not bring good results.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈɡeɪnli/

ungainly

Meaning
Awkward, clumsy, or lacking grace in movement or appearance.
Example
The tall boy moved in an ungainly manner.
C2 noun /ˈoʊdiəm/

odium

Meaning
general or widespread hatred or disgust directed toward someone as a result of their actions
Example
The scandal brought public odium on the corrupt minister.
B2 adjective /kənˈtɛmpərɛri/

contemporary

Meaning
belonging to the same time period; modern
Example
She enjoys contemporary art exhibitions.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnkəmˈbʌstəbl/

incombustible

Meaning
Not capable of catching fire or burning.
Example
This material is incombustible and safe for construction.
B2 noun ˈiːkoʊˌtʊrɪzəm

Eco-tourism

Meaning
A form of tourism involving responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.
Example
Eco-tourism promotes responsible travel to natural areas.
B2 noun /ˈlɒbi/

lobby

Meaning
a large open area near the entrance of a building; also a group trying to influence decisions.
Example
We met the manager in the hotel lobby before the meeting.
C1 adjective /ˈhæloʊd/

hallowed

Meaning
regarded as holy or greatly respected
Example
They walked across the hallowed halls of the old university.
B2 noun ˌɪr.ɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən

irrigation

Meaning
The artificial application of water to land or soil.
Example
Irrigation systems improve crop yields in dry regions.
B2 noun /ˈkrɪstəl/

crystal

Meaning
a clear, transparent mineral or glass that forms a solid structure with regular patterns
Example
She wore a necklace made of sparkling crystal.
C1 verb /ˈduːdəl/

doodle

Meaning
To draw or scribble absentmindedly, often while thinking about something else.
Example
She doodled flowers in the corner of her notebook during class.
B2 verb /prəˈvoʊk/

provoke

Meaning
To cause someone to become angry or to cause a reaction.
Example
His words provoked a heated argument.
B1 adjective /ˈhɑːrmfəl/

Harmful

Meaning
causing or likely to cause harm; damaging
Example
Smoking is harmful to your health.
B1 adverb /ˈɪnstəntli/

instantly

Meaning
immediately, without any delay
Example
He replied instantly to the message.
C1 noun /ˈfɪʃˌmʌŋ.ɡər/

fishmonger

Meaning
a person or store that sells fish
Example
I bought fresh salmon from the local fishmonger.
C2 noun /niˈɒlədʒi/

neology

Meaning
The use of new words or the study of their origin.
Example
The professor specialized in neology, studying the creation of modern slang.
C2 verb /ˈbætn/

batten

Meaning
To fasten or secure something tightly.
Example
They battened down the hatches before the storm.
C1 adjective /kənˈtɪɡ.ju.əs/

contiguous

Meaning
sharing a common border; touching
Example
The two continguous houses shared a wall.
B1 noun /ˈælkəhɒl/

alcohol

Meaning
A colorless volatile liquid that is the intoxicating constituent of wine, beer, spirits, and other drinks.
Example
Too much alcohol can damage your liver.
C1 noun /ˈɪmɪdʒəri/

imagery

Meaning
visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work
Example
The poet's use of imagery brought the scene to life.
A2 noun /wɛb/

web

Meaning
a network of fine threads spun by a spider or a complex interconnected system
Example
The spider spun a large web in the corner of the room.
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.
A1 noun /ˈhʌzbənd/

husband

Meaning
A married man regarded in relation to his spouse.
Example
Her husband is very supportive of her career.
C1 adjective /əbˈzɜːrvənt/

Observant

Meaning
quick to notice things; watchful; attentive
Example
The observant detective noticed every small detail at the crime scene.
C1 adjective /ɪˈstreɪndʒd/

estranged

Meaning
no longer close or affectionate with someone; alienated
Example
She felt estranged from her family after the long dispute.
C1 adjective /steɪd/

staid

Meaning
Serious, respectable, and unadventurous.
Example
He came from a staid family background.
C1 adjective /kəˈləʊ.kwi.əl/

colloquial

Meaning
Used in ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal language.
Example
His colloquial expressions made the speech relatable.
B2 noun /ˈbiː.təl/

Beetle

Meaning
a hard-bodied insect with wing covers
Example
The black beetle scurried across the garden path.
B2 noun ˈruθləs ˌkɑmpəˈtɪʃən

ruthless competition

Meaning
Fierce and merciless rivalry or contest, without pity or compassion.
Example
Ruthless competition for power leads to societal issues.
C2 noun /ˈpɒliˌɑːrki/

polyarchy

Meaning
government by many people
Example
Polyarchy allows multiple parties to share power.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈskruːtəbl̩/

inscrutable

Meaning
impossible to understand or interpret
Example
His inscrutable expression made it hard to know what he was thinking.
B1 adjective /ʌnˈnoʊn/

Unknown

Meaning
not known or identified; unfamiliar
Example
The author of this letter remains unknown.
C1 verb /trænˈspaɪər/

transpire

Meaning
to occur, happen, or become known
Example
It transpired that he had lied about his age.
B1 adjective /ˈsensəbəl/

Sensible

Meaning
having or showing good sense; practical and reasonable
Example
It would be sensible to take an umbrella because it might rain.
A1 noun /faɪər/

Fire

Meaning
combustion or burning, in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air
Example
The fire in the fireplace provided warmth and a cozy atmosphere.
B2 noun /ˌkrɛd.ɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

credibility

Meaning
The quality of being trusted and believed in; trustworthiness.
Example
His credibility as a leader remains unquestioned.
B2 noun /ˈprəʊsesə/

processor

Meaning
a machine or device that processes something, especially a computer's central processing unit (CPU)
Example
The new laptop has a faster processor.
B2 noun /ˈkaʊn.səl.ər/

counselor

Meaning
a person trained to give guidance on personal, social, or psychological problems
Example
The school counselor helped the student deal with stress.
B2 adjective /ˈɡræf.ɪk/

Graphic

Meaning
relating to visual design; vivid; clearly described;
Example
The graphic design was colorful and eye-catching.
C1 adjective /ˌoʊvərˈbloʊn/

overblown

Meaning
excessively exaggerated or inflated
Example
The controversy was overblown by the media.
C1 adjective /ˈhɛdˌstrɔŋ/

headstrong

Meaning
Determined to do what one wants, even if it is not sensible.
Example
The headstrong child refused to listen to anyone.
B1 noun /ʃel/

Shell

Meaning
hard outer covering of an animal; explosive projectile for a gun
Example
The artillery fired a shell at the enemy position.
A1 verb /wɪn/

win

Meaning
to be successful or victorious in a contest or competition
Example
Our team will win the championship.
C1 noun /ˈkleɪmənt/

claimant

Meaning
a person who makes a claim, especially in a legal or financial context
Example
The claimant filed for compensation after the accident.
C2 adjective /ˈnɛðər/

nether

Meaning
situated down or below; lower
Example
They explored the nether regions of the cave.
B2 adverb /kənˈvɜːrsli/

conversely

Meaning
in an opposite or contrary manner
Example
He is rich, conversely, his brother struggles financially.
C1 noun /ˈfɔːrdʒəri/

forgery

Meaning
the crime of making fake documents, money, or artworks
Example
The bank detected a forgery in the signature on the cheque.
C2 adjective /ˈluː.ni/

Loony

Meaning
crazy; silly; mentally unstable
Example
His loony behavior made everyone laugh.
B1 noun /əˌkɒm.əˈdeɪ.ʃənz/

accommodations

Meaning
Lodging; room and board; places to stay.
Example
The students had proper accommodations.
A2 noun /ˈiː.ɡəl/

Eagle

Meaning
large bird of prey with powerful wings and sharp talons
Example
The eagle soared high above the mountains.
C1 verb /ˈsɪn.θə.saɪz/

synthesize

Meaning
To combine a number of things into a coherent whole.
Example
Scientists synthesize new compounds for medical research.
B1 noun, adjective /ˈkrɪmɪnəl/

criminal

Meaning
A person who has committed a crime; relating to crime
Example
The police arrested a dangerous criminal last night.
C1 noun kɒɡˈnɪʃ.ən

cognition

Meaning
The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.
Example
Cognition plays a key role in learning.
C2 noun /ˈvɪzɪdʒ/

visage

Meaning
A person's face or facial expression.
Example
Her stern visage intimidated the children.
A2 noun /ˈsoʊldʒər/

soldier

Meaning
a person who serves in an army, especially as a professional fighter
Example
The soldier marched proudly with his unit.
C1 adverb /ˈpiːs.miːl/

Piecemeal

Meaning
done or made gradually, one piece at a time; fragmentary; unsystematic
Example
The renovation was done piecemeal over several years due to budget constraints.
B1 noun /træm kɑːr/

Tram car

Meaning
An electric vehicle that runs on rails along the street
Example
The tram car stopped at every station in the city center.
C1 adjective /prɪˈpɒstərəs/

preposterous

Meaning
completely ridiculous or absurd; contrary to reason or common sense
Example
The idea that pigs could fly is preposterous.
B2 adjective /ʌnˈwɪl.ɪŋ/

Unwilling

Meaning
not ready to do something; reluctant; not wanting to do
Example
He was unwilling to share his secret with anyone.
B2 adjective /ˈlaɪf.lɒŋ/

lifelong

Meaning
Lasting or existing for the whole of a person's life.
Example
They remained lifelong friends.
B2 noun, verb /rɪər/

rear

Meaning
the back part of something; to bring up or raise children or animals
Example
The mother cat reared her kittens in a quiet corner.
A2 noun /ɡɑːrd/

Guard

Meaning
a person who keeps watch, especially a soldier or police officer; a device worn or fitted to prevent injury
Example
The security guard checked everyone's identification before allowing entry to the building.
B2 noun /ˈmɑːrbəl/

marble

Meaning
a hard, smooth stone used in building and sculpture, often white with colored lines
Example
The floor of the palace was made of white marble.
A1 noun, verb /ˈiː.meɪl/

e-mail

Meaning
messages distributed by electronic means from one computer user to another
Example
I sent an e-mail to my professor yesterday.
B2 adjective /ˌmæθəˈmætɪkəl/

mathematical

Meaning
relating to mathematics or the use of mathematics
Example
The mathematical equation was difficult to solve.
C2 adjective /səˈræfɪk/

seraphic

Meaning
Of or like a seraph; angelic, pure, and blissful.
Example
She gave him a seraphic smile that calmed his fears.
B2 noun /vəˈlɪd.ɪ.ti/

Validity

Meaning
the quality of being legally or officially acceptable; the quality of being logically or factually sound
Example
The validity of the contract expires next month.
C1 verb /ˈsælvɪdʒ/

salvage

Meaning
To save something from loss, damage, or destruction.
Example
They managed to salvage some goods from the fire.
C2 adjective /ɛmˈpaɪriəl/

empyreal

Meaning
Heavenly, divine, or relating to the highest heavens.
Example
The poet described the empyreal beauty of the stars.
C1 adjective /ˈtʃɛkərd/

chequered

Meaning
Having a pattern of squares, or marked by varied and contrasting experiences or periods.
Example
He had a chequered career with both great successes and failures.
C2 noun /ˈreɪləri/

raillery

Meaning
good-humored teasing or joking
Example
Their friendship was full of light-hearted raillery.
C1 noun /tiˈɑː.rə/

Tiara

Meaning
a jeweled ornamental crown worn on formal occasions
Example
The princess wore a sparkling diamond tiara at the royal ball.
B2 adverb /ˈlaɪk.waɪz/

Likewise

Meaning
in the same way; also; similarly
Example
She studied hard for the exam, and her brother did likewise.
B2 noun jiːld

yield

Meaning
A financial return or reward (especially a dividend or interest) from an investment.
Example
The investment yielded high returns last year.
C2 noun /ˈveɪnɡlɔːri/

vainglory

Meaning
Excessive vanity or boastfulness about one's achievements.
Example
His speech was filled with vainglory and self-praise.
B1 noun /ˈstʌmək eɪk/

stomach ache

Meaning
Pain in the stomach or abdominal area
Example
I have a stomach ache after eating too much.
C1 noun /ˌʌnbɪˈliːf/

Unbelief

Meaning
lack of religious belief; skepticism or doubt
Example
His unbelief in the supernatural made him a skeptic.
A2 noun /ɡoʊld/

Gold

Meaning
a precious yellow metallic element; jewelry or ornaments made of gold
Example
The gold bracelet sparkled in the sunlight.
B1 noun /ɪnˈʃʊərəns/

insurance

Meaning
An arrangement by which a company provides compensation for loss, damage, or illness in return for a premium.
Example
He bought health insurance to cover medical expenses.
C2 adjective /ˌmæləˈdrɔɪt/

maladroit

Meaning
clumsy or awkward in movement or behavior
Example
His maladroit attempt at fixing the chair made it worse.
B2 adjective /ˈtʌtʃ.ɪŋ/

Touching

Meaning
causing feelings of sympathy or emotion; moving
Example
The touching story brought tears to everyone's eyes.
B2 noun /reɪˈʒiːm/

regime

Meaning
a system or form of government, often authoritarian
Example
The military regime controlled the country for decades.
B1 verb /rɪˈleɪt/

relate

Meaning
to connect or show a link between; to tell a story
Example
She relates her experience to the audience.