shroud
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C1 verb /ʃraʊd/

shroud

Meaning
to cover or hide; to wrap in cloth
Example
The mountain peak was shrouded in mist.
C1 verb /koʊˈhæbɪt/

cohabit

Meaning
To live together, often as partners without being married.
Example
They decided to cohabit before getting married.
C1 noun /dɪsˈɪntrəst/

disinterest

Meaning
lack of interest or concern
Example
His disinterest in the project was obvious.
C1 noun /ˌɪmpɔːrˈteɪʃən/

importation

Meaning
The act of bringing goods or services into a country from abroad
Example
The importation of luxury goods is strictly regulated.
C1 adjective /ˈæntɪkweɪtɪd/

antiquated

Meaning
Old-fashioned or outdated.
Example
The office still uses an antiquated filing system.
C1 noun /ˈstəʊ.ɪ.sɪ.zəm/

stoicism

Meaning
The endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without complaint.
Example
His stoicism during hardship was admirable.
C1 noun /ˌprɑːfɪˈtɪr/

profiteer

Meaning
a person who makes excessive profits, especially unfairly or illegally
Example
The government punished war profiteers.
C1 verb ˈɛk.spɪ.daɪt

expedite

Meaning
Make an action or process happen sooner or be accomplished more quickly.
Example
The government took steps to expedite the approval process.
C1 noun /ˈnɪkəl/

nickel

Meaning
a small coin, typically worth five cents in the United States
Example
He found a nickel on the ground.
C1 noun /ˈtʃæs.tɪ.ti/

Chastity

Meaning
the practice of refraining from extramarital or premarital sexual relations; sexual purity
Example
Many religious traditions value chastity as a virtue of moral purity.
C1 noun /ˈstɒpɪdʒ/

stoppage

Meaning
The act of stopping or ceasing; a halt in operation or activity
Example
The sudden stoppage of the train caused delays for all passengers.
C1 adjective /əˈɡrɛəriən/

agrarian

Meaning
Related to farming, agriculture, or rural land.
Example
The country’s economy is still largely agrarian.
C1 adjective /ˈboʊɡəs/

bogus

Meaning
false, fake, or not genuine
Example
The police arrested him for using a bogus ID card.
C1 noun ˈpɛd.ə.ɡɒ.dʒi

pedagogy

Meaning
The method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept.
Example
Modern pedagogy focuses on student-centered learning.
C1 verb /əˈkwɪt/

acquit

Meaning
to declare someone not guilty of a criminal charge; to conduct oneself in a specified way
Example
The jury decided to acquit the defendant of all charges.
C1 adjective /juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/

ubiquitous

Meaning
Existing or being everywhere at the same time.
Example
Social media has become ubiquitous among young people.
C1 noun /ˈpʊlpɪt/

pulpit

Meaning
a raised platform in a church from which the preacher delivers a sermon
Example
The pastor stood at the pulpit to address the congregation.
C1 adjective /ˈstɔːlwərt/

stalwart

Meaning
Loyal, reliable, and hardworking; strongly built or sturdy.
Example
She has always been a stalwart supporter of the community.
C1 verb /mɔːl/

maul

Meaning
To wound or injure someone by scratching or tearing; to handle roughly.
Example
The bear mauled the camper in the forest.
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 /ˈfæk.ʃən/

Faction

Meaning
a small organized dissenting group within a larger one
Example
Different factions within the party disagreed about the new policy.
C1 adjective /ˌzɛnəˈfoʊbɪk/

xenophobic

Meaning
having or showing a dislike or fear of people from other countries
Example
The leader’s xenophobic comments sparked outrage across the country.
C1 adjective /ˌkɒndɪˈsɛndɪŋ/

condescending

Meaning
having or showing an attitude of patronizing superiority
Example
Her condescending tone upset her colleagues.
C1 adjective /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnsəbl̩/

reprehensible

Meaning
Deserving strong criticism or blame.
Example
His dishonest actions were truly reprehensible.
C1 noun /ˈmæksɪm/

maxim

Meaning
a short, well-known statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct
Example
Honesty is a timeless maxim valued in every culture.
C1 noun prɪˈzɝː.və.tɪv

preservative

Meaning
A chemical substance that prevents decay, fermentation, or other natural processes that cause food deterioration.
Example
Artificial preservatives are harmful to health.
C1 adjective /ˈtæksɪŋ/

taxing

Meaning
Requiring a lot of effort; physically or mentally demanding.
Example
Preparing for the exam was a taxing experience.
C1 verb /ˈrɛzəneɪt/

resonate

Meaning
To produce or be filled with a deep, full, and reverberating sound; to evoke a feeling or memory.
Example
Her words resonated with the audience.
C1 verb /kɜːrˈteɪl/

curtail

Meaning
to reduce or limit something, especially something considered undesirable
Example
The company had to curtail its spending due to budget cuts.
C1 verb /ˈmʌtər/

mutter

Meaning
to speak in a low or barely audible voice, often in dissatisfaction or irritation
Example
He muttered something under his breath as he walked away.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈmænɪdʒəbəl/

Unmanageable

Meaning
difficult or impossible to control or handle
Example
The large class became unmanageable without proper supervision.
C1 adjective /ˈɡruːsəm/

gruesome

Meaning
Causing horror or disgust.
Example
The police discovered a gruesome crime scene.
C1 verb /dɪˈbɑːr/

debar

Meaning
To officially prevent someone from doing something.
Example
He was debarred from entering the competition due to cheating.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈvɔɪst/

unvoiced

Meaning
not expressed in speech; in phonetics, a sound produced without vocal cord vibration
Example
The student kept her opinion unvoiced during the meeting.
C1 adjective /əˈvɜːrs/

averse

Meaning
having a strong dislike of or opposition to something
Example
He was averse to taking unnecessary risks.
C1 adjective, verb /muːt/

moot

Meaning
Adjective: subject to debate or irrelevant. Verb: to suggest an idea for discussion.
Example
The issue of funding became a moot point after the project was canceled.
C1 adjective /ˈloʊli/

lowly

Meaning
humble in status, position, or manner
Example
She rose from a lowly position to become the company's CEO.
C1 verb /ɪkˈskriːt/

excrete

Meaning
to eliminate waste matter from the body
Example
Humans excrete carbon dioxide through breathing.
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 /ˈpɪt.i.ləs/

pitiless

Meaning
showing no pity or compassion; cruel
Example
The pitiless ruler ignored the suffering of his people.
C1 noun /ˈpʌndɪt/

pundit

Meaning
An expert in a particular subject or field who is frequently called upon to give opinions to the public.
Example
Political pundits debated the election results on television.
C1 verb /wɑːft/

waft

Meaning
to move gently through the air, carried by a breeze
Example
The smell of fresh bread wafted through the kitchen.
C1 adjective /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪəbəl/

unemployable

Meaning
Not able to be employed; lacking the skills or qualities necessary for employment
Example
Due to his criminal record, he was considered unemployable in most companies.
C1 verb /ˈædʒ.ɪ.teɪt/

agitate

Meaning
to stir up feelings or disturb; to campaign for change
Example
The protesters agitated for better working conditions.
C1 noun /ˈɡoʊld.smɪθ/

Goldsmith

Meaning
a person who makes or repairs articles of gold
Example
The goldsmith crafted a beautiful wedding ring.
C1 noun /ˈrʌp.tʃər/

Rupture

Meaning
breaking or bursting apart; breakdown of relations
Example
The rupture in the pipeline caused a massive oil spill.
C1 adjective /sər'pæs.ɪŋ/

Surpassing

Meaning
exceeding; going beyond; outstanding
Example
Her surpassing beauty made everyone stop and stare.
C1 verb /ˈlæmɪˌneɪt/

laminate

Meaning
to cover or enclose something with a protective layer, usually plastic
Example
She laminated her important documents to protect them from damage.
C1 adjective /ˈraɪtfəl/

rightful

Meaning
having a legitimate or just claim; proper or lawful
Example
She is the rightful owner of the property.
C1 adjective /səkˈsɪŋkt/

succinct

Meaning
Briefly and clearly expressed; characterized by clear, precise expression in few words.
Example
His speech was succinct and impactful.
C1 phrase ˌhjuː.məˈnɪt.ər.i.kəˈtæs.trə.fi

humanitarian catastrophe

Meaning
A widespread disaster affecting human life, health, and well-being on a large scale.
Example
The war created a humanitarian catastrophe.
C1 adjective /ˈtɔːrtʃərəs/

torturous

Meaning
Extremely painful or causing great suffering; relating to or involving torture.
Example
The journey through the desert was long and torturous.
C1 noun /ˈraɪtʃəsnəs/

righteousness

Meaning
the quality of being morally right or justifiable
Example
His life was dedicated to righteousness and truth.
C1 noun, adjective /ˈkɪndrəd/

kindred

Meaning
A person's relatives or family; similar in nature or character.
Example
They discovered kindred spirits in each other.
C1 adjective /ˈkoʊpiəs/

copious

Meaning
abundant in supply or quantity
Example
She took copious notes during the lecture.
C1 noun /ˈdeɪ.li.ə/

Dahlia

Meaning
a garden plant with brightly colored flowers that bloom in summer and autumn
Example
She planted colorful dahlias in her garden last summer.
C1 noun /blæk plʌm/

Black plum

Meaning
a dark purple or black colored edible fruit with sweet and sour taste
Example
I picked some fresh black plums from the tree in our backyard.
C1 verb /ɪnˈreɪdʒ/

enrage

Meaning
To make someone extremely angry.
Example
His unfair remarks enraged the audience.
C1 verb /ˈnʌlɪfaɪ/

nullify

Meaning
to make something legally invalid or ineffective
Example
The court decided to nullify the contract.
C1 verb /lʌl/

lull

Meaning
to soothe or calm; to cause to sleep or rest
Example
The gentle music lulled the baby to sleep.
C1 noun /ˈpen.əns/

Penance

Meaning
punishment that you accept for doing something wrong; an act of showing that you are sorry for sin
Example
The monk performed penance for his past mistakes.
C1 noun /ˈvɛriəns/

variance

Meaning
the state of being different or inconsistent; in statistics, a measure of the spread between numbers
Example
There is a wide variance in students' performance levels.
C1 verb /məˈlɛst/

molest

Meaning
to assault or abuse someone, especially in a sexual or physical way
Example
The criminal was arrested for attempting to molest a child.
C1 adjective ˌɡæs.troʊ.ɪnˈtes.tɪ.nəl

gastrointestinal

Meaning
Relating to the stomach and intestines.
Example
Spicy food can cause gastrointestinal issues.
C1 noun ˈsɪn.tæks

syntax

Meaning
The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.
Example
Programming languages follow strict syntax rules.
C1 noun /ˈtrɪŋkɪt/

trinket

Meaning
a small ornament or piece of jewelry that is not expensive
Example
She bought a little trinket from the beach market as a souvenir.
C1 adjective /praɪˈmɔːrdiəl/

primordial

Meaning
Existing at or from the beginning of time; fundamental and original.
Example
Scientists study the primordial soup from which life emerged.
C1 noun /ˈwʊd.ən ˈsæn.dəl/

Wooden sandal

Meaning
a type of footwear made of wood, typically worn as traditional shoes
Example
She wore wooden sandals to the traditional ceremony.
C1 adjective /ˈɑːtfəl/

Artful

Meaning
clever or skillful, especially in a cunning way
Example
She gave an artful answer that avoided the real question.
C1 adjective /ˈvɛnəˌreɪtɪd/

venerated

Meaning
respected and admired deeply
Example
The venerated professor was honored with an award.
C1 noun /ˈkaʊərdɪs/

cowardice

Meaning
lack of courage; behavior showing fear
Example
His cowardice prevented him from speaking up.
C1 verb /siːð/

seethe

Meaning
To be filled with intense but unexpressed anger or agitation.
Example
She was seething with anger after the unfair decision.
C1 adjective /ˈpræk.tɪ.kə.bəl/

practicable

Meaning
able to be done or put into practice successfully
Example
The plan is not practicable without more resources.
C1 verb ˈdwɪn.dl

dwindle

Meaning
To diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength; to become progressively smaller.
Example
His savings dwindled due to unexpected expenses.
C1 adjective /pərˈvɜːrs/

perverse

Meaning
showing a deliberate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable, contrary, or unacceptable
Example
He took a perverse pleasure in upsetting his colleagues.
C1 noun /ˈwɔː.tər hen/

Water hen

Meaning
a waterbird with dark plumage that lives near ponds and wetlands
Example
The water hen swam gracefully across the pond.
C1 noun /ˈhaɪbrɪd/

hybrid

Meaning
a mixture of two different things, often combining the best qualities of both
Example
The car is a hybrid that runs on both electricity and fuel.
C1 noun /ˌpɑːrʃiˈæləti/

partiality

Meaning
an unfair preference or bias toward one side or person
Example
The judge was criticized for showing partiality in the case.
C1 adjective /rɪˈtɜː.nə.bəl/

Returnable

Meaning
able to be returned or given back
Example
The bottle is returnable for a deposit refund.
C1 adjective /ˈnæs.ənt/

nascent

Meaning
Emerging, developing, or in the early stages of formation
Example
The nascent technology is revolutionizing industries.
C1 noun /hɪm/

hymn

Meaning
A religious song or poem of praise to God or a deity.
Example
The congregation sang a hymn during the morning service.
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 noun /əˈsɛnʃən/

ascension

Meaning
The act of rising or going up, often to an important position or a higher place.
Example
His rapid ascension in the company surprised everyone.
C1 noun /ˈʃoʊ.vəˌnɪz.əm/

chauvinism

Meaning
Excessive or prejudiced support for one's own cause, group, or gender, often with contempt for others.
Example
The company's culture was criticized for promoting male chauvinism.
C1 noun /ˈlɪŋɡwɪst/

linguist

Meaning
A person skilled in foreign languages or in the scientific study of language.
Example
She is a linguist who speaks six languages fluently.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈʃeɪkən/

Unshaken

Meaning
not disturbed or affected; firm and steady; unwavering
Example
Her faith remained unshaken despite all the challenges.
C1 verb /ˌdiː.kəmˈprɛs/

decompress

Meaning
To relax and recover from stress or pressure.
Example
Taking deep breaths helps to decompress after a stressful day.
C1 adjective /bɪˈmjuːzd/

bemused

Meaning
confused, puzzled, or lost in thought
Example
She looked bemused when he asked the strange question.
C1 adjective daɪˈvɜː.dʒənt

divergent

Meaning
Tending to be different or develop in different directions
Example
Divergent policies create challenges in collaboration.
C1 verb /ˈʃʌdər/

shudder

Meaning
to tremble or shake suddenly, often due to fear, cold, or strong emotion
Example
She shuddered at the thought of walking alone in the dark forest.
C1 verb /əˈfɪks/

affix

Meaning
to attach or stick something firmly to another thing
Example
Please affix the stamp to the envelope.
C1 adjective /ˈɪmpətənt/

impotent

Meaning
Lacking power, ability, or strength to take effective action.
Example
The citizens felt impotent against the corrupt system.
C1 adjective /ˌsæŋktɪˈmoʊniəs/

sanctimonious

Meaning
Making a show of being morally superior to others; hypocritically pious.
Example
He gave a sanctimonious speech about honesty while he himself was corrupt.
C1 noun /rɪˈdʒɪdəti/

Rigidity

Meaning
inability to bend or be forced out of shape; unwillingness to change or compromise
Example
The rigidity of the old system prevented any innovation.
C1 adjective ˌkwɪn.tɪˈsen.ʃəl

quintessential

Meaning
representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.
Example
The artist's work is the quintessential example of modernism.
C1 noun /ˈsɛntɪnəl/

sentinel

Meaning
A soldier or guard whose job is to stand and keep watch.
Example
A sentinel stood at the entrance of the camp.
C1 noun /ləˈɡuːn/

lagoon

Meaning
A shallow body of water separated from the sea by sandbars or reefs.
Example
We swam in the calm waters of the lagoon.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈwɪtɪŋ/

unwitting

Meaning
Not aware of what is happening; done without realizing.
Example
She became an unwitting participant in the scam.
C1 noun /ˈdɛspɒt/

despot

Meaning
a ruler with absolute power, often ruling in a cruel or oppressive way
Example
The despot ruled the nation with fear and violence.
C1 noun /ˈsaɪnəs/

sinus

Meaning
A cavity within a bone or tissue, especially those in the bones of the face connected with the nasal cavities.
Example
He suffered from a sinus infection that caused headaches.
C1 noun /ˌkɒn.əˈsɜːr/

connoisseur

Meaning
an expert judge in matters of taste, especially in food, art, or wine
Example
She is a true connoisseur of fine art.
C1 adjective /ˈlɔː.ləs/

Lawless

Meaning
without law; anarchic; unruly; criminal
Example
The frontier town was known for its lawless behavior and chaos.
C1 noun /ˈbaɪ.lɔː/

by-law

Meaning
A rule made by a company, organization, or local authority to control the actions of its members.
Example
The city council passed a new by-law regulating street vendors.
C1 verb /dɪˈpoʊz/

depose

Meaning
to remove someone from office or power, especially suddenly and forcefully
Example
The rebels managed to depose the dictator after years of unrest.
C1 noun /ˈherən/

Heron

Meaning
large wading bird with long legs and neck that feeds on fish
Example
The heron stood motionless by the water's edge, waiting for fish.
C1 noun /bʊk ˈbaɪn.dər/

Book binder

Meaning
a person whose job is to fasten the pages of books together and put covers on them
Example
The old book binder carefully restored the antique manuscript.
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 verb /ˌrɛzəˈrɛkt/

resurrect

Meaning
To bring back to life or revive something from the past.
Example
The director decided to resurrect the old play for a new audience.
C1 adjective ˈklaɪ.mət rɪˈzɪl.i.ənt

climate-resilient

Meaning
Able to cope with the adverse effects of climate change; sustainable and adaptable.
Example
Climate-resilient crops can survive extreme weather conditions.
C1 verb /ˈtɪŋkər/

tinker

Meaning
to make small adjustments or repairs to something, often experimentally or imperfectly
Example
He likes to tinker with old radios in his garage.
C1 noun /ˈoʊvərˌsiːər/

overseer

Meaning
a person who supervises work or workers; a manager
Example
The overseer made sure the workers followed safety rules.
C1 noun /ˈprɑːtɪstənt/

protestant

Meaning
a member of the Christian church that separated from the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation
Example
Martin Luther was a key figure in the Protestant Reformation.
C1 adjective /raɪf/

rife

Meaning
widespread or common, often in a negative sense
Example
Corruption was rife in the old government system.
C1 noun /ˈwɔː.tər ˈspɪn.ɪtʃ/

Water Spinach

Meaning
A semi-aquatic leafy vegetable with hollow stems, popular in Asian cuisine
Example
Water spinach grows well in wet soil.
C1 noun /ˈlɪbərəlɪzəm/

liberalism

Meaning
a political and social philosophy advocating individual freedoms, democracy, and equality
Example
Liberalism emphasizes freedom of speech and human rights.
C1 adjective /əˈmiːnəbl/

amenable

Meaning
willing to cooperate or be influenced; open to suggestions
Example
She was amenable to the idea of working longer hours.
C1 adjective /ˈtɛmpərd/

tempered

Meaning
having a specified temper or disposition; strengthened or moderated.
Example
She gave a tempered response to the criticism.
C1 noun /straɪf/

strife

Meaning
angry or violent conflict; struggle or discord
Example
The region has been torn apart by political strife.
C1 adjective /əˈbliːk/

Oblique

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

aloof

Meaning
Not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant.
Example
He remained aloof during the entire discussion.
C1 noun, verb /ˈskʌf.əl/

scuffle

Meaning
a short, confused fight or struggle; to engage in such a fight
Example
Two players scuffled on the field after the foul.