truculence
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C2 noun /ˈtrʌk.jʊ.ləns/

truculence

Meaning
Aggressiveness or eagerness to fight.
Example
His speech was full of truculence and threats.
C2 noun /ˌtrænsfəˈriː/

transferee

Meaning
A person to whom a right, property, or responsibility is transferred.
Example
The transferee must sign the contract before taking ownership.
C2 verb /bɪˈsmɜːrtʃ/

besmirch

Meaning
to damage someone's reputation; to make dirty or stained
Example
He tried to besmirch her good name with false rumors.
C2 noun /pɛnˈtæmɪtər/

pentameter

Meaning
A line of verse consisting of five metrical feet.
Example
Shakespeare often wrote his plays in iambic pentameter.
C2 adjective /ɪkˈsɛpʃənəbl/

exceptionable

Meaning
Open to objection; causing disapproval.
Example
His rude remarks were considered exceptionable by everyone present.
C2 noun /rɪˈkɒɡnɪzəns/

recognizance

Meaning
A legal obligation or bond entered into before a court, especially to ensure future appearance.
Example
He was released on his own recognizance.
C2 verb /əˈbeɪs/

abase

Meaning
to belittle or degrade someone
Example
He refused to abase himself before the king.
C2 verb /ˈwɪn.oʊ/

winnow

Meaning
to remove the less desirable parts from a group; originally, to separate grain from chaff by blowing air
Example
The committee will winnow the list of applicants to ten finalists.
C2 noun /mjuːˈlætoʊ/

mulatto

Meaning
an outdated and now offensive term historically used to describe a person of mixed white and Black ancestry
Example
The word 'mulatto' is now considered outdated and offensive.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnɪkˈsprɛsəbl/

inexpressible

Meaning
Too strong or extreme to be expressed in words.
Example
She felt inexpressible joy at the news of her success.
C2 verb /ˈkɒd.l̩/

coddle

Meaning
to treat someone with excessive care or kindness, often in a way that is overprotective
Example
Parents should support their children without coddling them.
C2 adjective /ˌrɒŋˈhɛd.ɪd/

wrongheaded

Meaning
Having or showing bad judgment or stubbornly holding to wrong ideas.
Example
The policy was considered wrongheaded and harmful.
C2 verb /ˈeksɔːrsaɪz/

exorcise

Meaning
To drive out an evil spirit or bad influence through rituals or prayers.
Example
The priest was called to exorcise the spirit from the house.
C2 verb /rɪˈsɪnd/

rescind

Meaning
to revoke, cancel, or repeal a law, order, or agreement
Example
The company decided to rescind the job offer.
C2 verb /ˌkaʊntərˈveɪl/

countervail

Meaning
to offset or counteract the effect of something
Example
The benefits of the new policy countervail its drawbacks.
C2 noun /ˈplɛdʒiː/

pledgee

Meaning
a person to whom something is pledged or given as security
Example
The bank is the pledgee of the collateral until the loan is repaid.
C2 noun /ˈlɪθəˌtaɪp/

lithotype

Meaning
a printing surface or type made for lithography
Example
The printer used a lithotype to produce multiple copies of the design.
C2 adjective /ˈhɔːrtətɪv/

hortative

Meaning
Giving strong encouragement or urging.
Example
The teacher gave a hortative speech to motivate the students before the exam.
C2 noun /ˈkæn.toʊ/

canto

Meaning
A main division of a long poem, especially in epic poetry.
Example
The Divine Comedy is divided into several cantos.
C2 adverb /ˈaɪsɪli/

icily

Meaning
In a very cold, unfriendly, or hostile manner.
Example
She replied icily to his question.
C2 noun /ˈnɛkrəˌmænsi/

necromancy

Meaning
the practice of communicating with the dead, often to predict the future
Example
Ancient texts described rituals of necromancy performed by priests.
C2 noun /ˈnes.lɪŋ/

Nestling

Meaning
a young bird that has not yet left its nest
Example
The mother bird fed the hungry nestling with worms.
C2 adjective /blɑːˈzeɪ/

blase

Meaning
unimpressed or indifferent to something because it has been experienced so often before
Example
After years of luxury travel, she felt blase about another trip to Paris.
C2 noun /ˌsuː.pər.əˈbʌn.dəns/

superabundance

Meaning
An excessive or overflowing amount of something.
Example
The garden was filled with a superabundance of flowers.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈtɛmpərd/

untempered

Meaning
not moderated or softened; lacking proper balance or control
Example
The untempered anger of the crowd caused chaos.
C2 noun /ˈoʊ.kəm/

oakum

Meaning
loose fibers obtained by untwisting old ropes, used for caulking ships
Example
The shipbuilders used oakum to seal the gaps in the wooden planks.
C2 adjective /ˈdaʊ.di/

dowdy

Meaning
unfashionable, dull, or shabby in appearance
Example
She wore a dowdy dress to the party.
C2 adjective /ˈmɛdəlsəm/

meddlesome

Meaning
fond of interfering in other people’s affairs
Example
She found her neighbor to be meddlesome and annoying.
C2 noun /ˌɪntərˈrɛɡnəm/

interregnum

Meaning
A period between rulers or governments when normal leadership is suspended.
Example
The country faced instability during the interregnum after the king’s death.
C2 noun /ˈkɪldʒɔɪ/

killjoy

Meaning
a person who spoils the fun or enjoyment of others
Example
Don’t be a killjoy at the party.
C2 adjective /əˈbɑː.mə.nə.bəl/

abominable

Meaning
causing moral revulsion; extremely unpleasant
Example
The prisoners were kept in abominable conditions.
C2 noun /kəmˈpɒz.ɪ.tər/

Compositor

Meaning
a person who arranges type for printing or creates musical compositions
Example
The compositor carefully arranged the text for the newspaper.
C2 noun /ˈbɔːlsəm/

Balsam

Meaning
a flowering plant with colorful blooms that often open in the evening; also refers to aromatic resin
Example
The garden balsam flowers bloomed beautifully in various shades of pink and purple.
C2 adjective /rɪˈfræktəri/

refractory

Meaning
Stubborn or resistant to control, authority, or treatment.
Example
The refractory child refused to follow the teacher's instructions.
C2 verb /məˈmɔːriəlaɪz/

memorialize

Meaning
to preserve the memory of a person or event, often through a ceremony, monument, or record
Example
The city decided to memorialize the hero with a statue in the central square.
C2 noun /ˈhɔːzər/

hawser

Meaning
A thick rope or cable used in mooring or towing a ship.
Example
The sailors secured the ship to the dock with a heavy hawser.
C2 noun /ˌɒpəˈrɛtə/

operetta

Meaning
a short opera with light and humorous themes
Example
The theater staged a famous operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan.
C2 noun /ˈleɪ.ɪ.ti/

laity

Meaning
Ordinary members of a religious community who are not clergy.
Example
The church welcomed the laity to participate in the event.
C2 adjective /ɪkˌstɛmpəˈreɪniəs/

extemporaneous

Meaning
Spoken or done without preparation.
Example
He gave an extemporaneous speech at the meeting.
C2 adjective /ˈɑːrtləs/

artless

Meaning
Without deception or pretentiousness; natural and simple.
Example
Her artless smile made everyone feel at ease.
C2 adjective /ˈæpəˌleɪt/

appellate

Meaning
relating to appeals in a court of law
Example
The case was taken to an appellate court.
C2 adjective /ˈsloʊθfəl/

slothful

Meaning
Lazy, idle, and unwilling to work.
Example
She was too slothful to get out of bed early.
C2 adverb /bɪˈtaɪmz/

betimes

Meaning
early; in good time
Example
She rose betimes to finish her work.
C2 noun /dɪˈkrɛpɪˌtjuːd/

decrepitude

Meaning
the state of being old, weak, and worn out
Example
The once-great empire fell into decrepitude.
C2 noun /ˈbeɪlɔːr/

bailor

Meaning
a person who temporarily transfers possession of goods or property to another under a bailment agreement
Example
The bailor entrusted the valuable artwork to the museum for safekeeping.
C2 noun /ˈkɔːrmərənt/

cormorant

Meaning
a large black sea bird that catches fish by diving
Example
The cormorant perched on the rock, drying its wings after a dive.
C2 noun /ˈtaɪtwɒd/

tightwad

Meaning
a person who is unwilling to spend money; a miser
Example
Everyone calls him a tightwad because he never buys gifts.
C2 adjective /ˈæbdʒɛkt/

abject

Meaning
extremely bad, unpleasant, and degrading
Example
They lived in abject poverty.
C2 noun /ˈpɛrɪstaɪl/

peristyle

Meaning
A continuous porch formed by a row of columns surrounding the perimeter of a building or courtyard.
Example
The Roman villa featured a beautiful peristyle garden.
C2 noun /ˌfoʊˈtɑːmɪtər/

photometer

Meaning
an instrument for measuring the intensity of light
Example
The scientist used a photometer to measure the light in the laboratory.
C2 noun /ˈɪɡ.nəˌmɪn.i/

ignominy

Meaning
Public shame, disgrace, or dishonor.
Example
He lived the rest of his life in ignominy after the scandal.
C2 noun /ˈtaɪroʊ/

tyro

Meaning
A beginner or novice in a field or activity.
Example
As a tyro in programming, she needed constant guidance.
C2 noun /ˌprɒdɪˈɡæləti/

prodigality

Meaning
the quality of being wastefully extravagant
Example
His prodigality with money left him bankrupt.
C2 noun /ˈrɛlɪkwɛri/

reliquary

Meaning
a container for holy relics
Example
The ancient reliquary was decorated with gold and precious stones.
C2 noun /lɔːŋ ɡɔːrd/

Long gourd

Meaning
an elongated green vegetable belonging to the cucumber family, used in cooking
Example
She sliced the long gourd thinly for the stir-fry dish.
C2 adjective /ˈkoʊməˌtoʊs/

comatose

Meaning
In a state of deep unconsciousness, resembling or related to coma.
Example
The comatose patient was kept under constant observation.
C2 noun /ˈfʌriər/

furrier

Meaning
A person who prepares or deals in furs.
Example
The furrier displayed fine coats in his shop.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒŋɡruənt/

congruent

Meaning
in agreement or harmony; having the same shape and size in geometry
Example
Their values are congruent with the goals of the organization.
C2 adjective /ˈbɑː.bər.əs/

Barbarous

Meaning
extremely cruel; uncivilized; savage
Example
The barbarous treatment of prisoners was condemned by human rights organizations.
C2 verb /ˌʌn.dɪˈsiːv/

undeceive

Meaning
To free someone from a misconception or false belief.
Example
She tried to undeceive him about the false rumors.
C2 adjective /pʌŋkˈtɪliəs/

punctilious

Meaning
Showing great attention to detail or correct behavior.
Example
She was punctilious in her attention to etiquette.
C2 noun, verb /ˈbɛvəl/

bevel

Meaning
A sloping edge or surface; to cut or shape an edge at an angle.
Example
The carpenter beveled the edges of the table.
C2 noun /lɪnt/

lint

Meaning
small soft fibers that come off cloth, often found in dryers or on clothes
Example
There was lint all over his black shirt after the wash.
C2 noun /ˈbroʊmiːn/

bromine

Meaning
a dark red, dense, toxic liquid element used in making dyes, flame retardants, and medications
Example
Bromine is commonly used in water treatment chemicals.
C2 adjective /pɔːrˈtɛntəs/

portentous

Meaning
Giving a sign or warning that something, often bad or serious, is going to happen; or overly solemn and pompous.
Example
His portentous tone made everyone nervous about the news.
C2 noun /kænˈtoʊnmənt/

Cantonment

Meaning
a military base or permanent military station
Example
The soldiers lived in the cantonment outside the city.
C2 adjective /ˈfluːviəl/

fluvial

Meaning
relating to or found in a river
Example
The fluvial deposits indicated the presence of an ancient river system.
C2 adjective /sʌbˈdʒeɪsənt/

subjacent

Meaning
lying immediately beneath; underlying
Example
The geological survey revealed subjacent layers of rock.
C2 noun /tʃæf/

Chaff

Meaning
the husks of corn or other seed separated by winnowing; worthless things; light-hearted joking
Example
The farmer separated the wheat from the chaff using traditional methods.
C2 noun ˈtræn.zi.əns

transience

Meaning
The state or fact of lasting only for a short time; impermanence.
Example
The transience of youth makes it more precious.
C2 adjective ˈkoʊ.dʒənt

cogent

Meaning
Clear, logical, and convincing.
Example
His cogent argument convinced the jury.
C2 adjective /bɪˈfɒɡd/

befogged

Meaning
Confused or clouded in mind; made unclear like being surrounded by fog.
Example
His mind felt befogged after the long and exhausting meeting.
C2 noun /pərˈsɪpiəns/

percipience

Meaning
The ability to perceive, understand, or notice things quickly.
Example
His percipience in reading people made him a great negotiator.
C2 noun /əˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/

annunciation

Meaning
The announcement of something; in Christianity, the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Mary that she would conceive Jesus.
Example
The church celebrated the Feast of the Annunciation with a special service.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛprɪkətɔːri/

deprecatory

Meaning
expressing disapproval or belittling
Example
He gave a deprecatory remark about their performance.
C2 noun /ˈdrækmə/

drachma

Meaning
The basic monetary unit of Greece before the adoption of the euro.
Example
The old coin collection included a silver drachma.
C2 verb /hjuː/

hew

Meaning
To chop or cut something, especially wood or stone, with a tool.
Example
The workers hewed logs to build the cabin.
C2 noun /ˈmɔːreɪz/

mores

Meaning
the essential or characteristic customs and conventions of a community
Example
Social mores often dictate how people behave in public.
C2 noun /rɛtʃ/

wretch

Meaning
an unfortunate or miserable person; a despicable or contemptible person
Example
The poor wretch was left out in the cold with no shelter.
C2 noun /ɪmˈpjuːɪsəns/

impuissance

Meaning
inability to take effective action; helplessness
Example
The government’s impuissance in the face of crisis frustrated the people.
C2 adjective /kənˈvɪviəl/

convivial

Meaning
friendly, lively, and enjoyable; sociable
Example
The party had a convivial atmosphere with music and laughter.
C2 noun /foʊl fʊt/

Foal-foot

Meaning
a yellow flowering plant with leaves shaped like a horse's hoof, also known as coltsfoot
Example
The foal-foot plant grows wild in many meadows and is often the first flower to bloom in spring.
C2 adjective /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪbəl/

exhaustible

Meaning
able to be used up completely; not infinite
Example
Coal and oil are exhaustible resources.
C2 noun /draɪ ˈmæŋgoʊ ˈpaʊdər/

Dry Mango Powder

Meaning
a tangy powder made from dried raw mangoes, used as a spice in Indian cuisine
Example
The chef sprinkled dry mango powder over the chaat for extra tanginess.
C2 noun /ˈfɔːltˌfaɪndər/

faultfinder

Meaning
a person who habitually finds fault with others
Example
He is such a faultfinder that nothing anyone does is ever good enough.
C2 noun /rɪˌkrɪmɪˈneɪʃən/

recrimination

Meaning
an accusation made in response to an accusation; mutual blaming
Example
The debate quickly descended into mutual recriminations.
C2 noun /prəˈtɛktərət/

protectorate

Meaning
A state that is controlled and protected by another.
Example
The small country became a protectorate of the empire.
C2 adjective /ˈtrɛntʃənt/

trenchant

Meaning
expressed strongly, effectively, and clearly; sharp or cutting in style or expression
Example
Her trenchant criticism of the policy left no room for misunderstanding.
C2 adjective /ˈfædɪʃ/

faddish

Meaning
Following a temporary trend or fashion
Example
Wearing neon clothes was a faddish style in the 1980s.
C2 noun /ɪnˈkwɪzɪtər/

inquisitor

Meaning
A person who asks many questions, often in an official or harsh manner.
Example
The inquisitor demanded detailed answers from the witness.
C2 noun /kəmˈpɛndiəm/

compendium

Meaning
A collection of concise but detailed information about a subject.
Example
The book is a compendium of ancient myths and legends.
C2 verb /dɪsˈkaʊntənəns/

discountenance

Meaning
To disapprove of or discourage something.
Example
The teacher strongly discountenanced cheating in exams.
C2 noun /ˈkæt.aɪ.ɒn ɪksˌtʃeɪndʒ/

cation-exchange

Meaning
A chemical process in soil that helps retain nutrients.
Example
The cation-exchange capacity of soil affects plant growth.
C2 noun /ɛˌspriː də ˈkɔːr/

esprit de corps

Meaning
A feeling of pride, fellowship, and loyalty shared by members of a group.
Example
The team's esprit de corps was evident in their cooperative effort.
C2 noun (plural) /ˈlɪniəmənts/

lineaments

Meaning
The features or distinctive characteristics of the face or body.
Example
The lineaments of his face were sharp and stern.
C2 noun /prɒɡˌnɒstɪˈkeɪʃən/

prognostication

Meaning
The act of foretelling or predicting future events.
Example
The astrologer's prognostication fascinated the audience.
C2 adjective /ˈpɜːrviəs/

pervious

Meaning
Allowing water, air, or other substances to pass through; permeable.
Example
The soil here is pervious to rainwater.
C2 verb /dɪsˈbɜːrdən/

disburden

Meaning
to relieve someone of a burden or load
Example
She disburdened herself of worries by sharing them with her friend.
C2 verb /skwɛltʃ/

squelch

Meaning
to make a soft sucking sound, such as when walking on mud; to suppress or silence
Example
His boots squelched in the wet ground.
C2 noun /nəˈkrɒpəlɪs/

necropolis

Meaning
a large ancient cemetery with elaborate tombs
Example
The archaeologists discovered artifacts in the necropolis of the ancient city.
C2 verb /əˈsɪdɪfaɪ/

acidify

Meaning
to make something acidic or more acidic
Example
Farmers worry that pollution will acidify the soil.
C2 noun /juːˈkeɪs/

ukase

Meaning
An authoritative decree or order, especially one issued by a sovereign or government.
Example
The czar issued a ukase restricting the freedom of the press.
C2 adjective /ˈprɪɡɪʃ/

priggish

Meaning
self-righteously moralistic and superior
Example
He came across as priggish when correcting everyone's manners.
C2 verb /ɛnˈkɪndl/

enkindle

Meaning
to set on fire or inspire strong emotion
Example
The speech enkindled hope in the audience.
C2 noun /ˌmæskəˈreɪd/

masquerade

Meaning
a party or gathering where people wear masks and costumes; a false outward show
Example
The charity event was held as a grand masquerade.
C2 noun /ˌænəlˈdʒiːziə/

analgesia

Meaning
The inability to feel pain while still conscious.
Example
The doctor induced analgesia before performing the procedure.
C2 adjective /ˈvɛdʒɪtəl/

vegetal

Meaning
relating to or consisting of plants or vegetation
Example
The soup had a distinct vegetal flavor.
C2 noun /ˈstriːmlɪt/

streamlet

Meaning
a small stream; a tiny brook or rivulet
Example
A streamlet flowed through the meadow.
C2 noun /ˈfɔːrʃɔːr/

foreshore

Meaning
The part of the shore between the high and low tide marks
Example
Children were playing on the foreshore, collecting shells.
C2 noun /mɪf/

miff

Meaning
A petty quarrel or annoyance.
Example
They had a slight miff over the seating arrangement.
C2 adjective /ˈsɪmiən/

simian

Meaning
Relating to, resembling, or affecting apes or monkeys.
Example
The scientist studied the simian behavior of the chimpanzees.
C2 noun /ˌɪnkænˈteɪʃən/

incantation

Meaning
a series of words used as a magic spell or charm
Example
The wizard chanted an incantation to summon the spirits.
C2 noun /ˈsʌbtrəˌhɛnd/

subtrahend

Meaning
a number that is to be subtracted from another number
Example
In the equation 10 - 4, the number 4 is the subtrahend.
C2 noun /ˈtuːb.roʊz/

Tube-rose

Meaning
a night-blooming flower with an intensely sweet fragrance, native to Mexico
Example
The tuberose flowers filled the evening air with their heavenly scent.
C2 verb /ˌɪn.trəˈmɪt/

intromit

Meaning
To insert or introduce something into a place or body.
Example
The doctor carefully intromitted the instrument into the wound.
C2 adjective /ˈdɪfɪdənt/

diffident

Meaning
Shy or lacking confidence in one's own abilities.
Example
He was too diffident to ask a question in class.
C2 noun /ˌɪnvəˈlɪdɪti/

invalidity

Meaning
the state of being invalid, legally void, or lacking force or validity
Example
The court ruled that the contract suffered from invalidity.
C2 verb /dɪˈkæmp/

decamp

Meaning
To depart suddenly or secretly, often to avoid trouble or escape.
Example
The thief decamped before the police arrived.
C2 adjective /əˈkjuː.zəˌtɔːr.i/

accusatory

Meaning
Suggesting blame or indicating someone has done wrong.
Example
He gave her an accusatory glance.
C2 noun /ˈɒbsɪkwi/

obsequy

Meaning
A funeral rite, usually used in plural form obsequies.
Example
The village gathered for the obsequy of their beloved teacher.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsəˈbjuːz/

disabuse

Meaning
To free someone from a false belief or misconception.
Example
The teacher tried to disabuse the students of their misunderstanding.