votary
All a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
All CEFR A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
Content locale
EN English BN Bengali HI Hindi ES Spanish FR French DE German RU Russian ZH Chinese JA Japanese
All Vocabulary Cards All Vocabularies
C2 noun /ˈvoʊtəri/

votary

Meaning
A devoted follower or admirer of someone or something.
Example
He is a votary of classical music and attends every concert.
C2 adjective /prɪˈhɛnsɪbəl/

prehensible

Meaning
capable of being grasped or seized
Example
The tool has a prehensible handle that improves safety.
C2 noun /ˈdiːɪst/

deist

Meaning
a person who believes in the existence of a supreme being but rejects organized religion
Example
The philosopher identified himself as a deist.
C2 noun /dreɪk/

Drake

Meaning
a male duck; a type of waterfowl
Example
The drake led his family of ducks across the pond.
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 noun /ˈlɑːrdər/

larder

Meaning
A place, such as a pantry, where food is stored.
Example
The larder was full of fresh bread and cheese.
C2 noun /ˈbɪɡ.ə.mi/

bigamy

Meaning
The act of marrying one person while still legally married to another.
Example
He was charged with bigamy after his second marriage was discovered.
C2 noun /ˌæd.ʌmˈbreɪ.ʃən/

adumbration

Meaning
a vague foreshadowing or symbolic representation of something
Example
The play offers an adumbration of the political unrest to come.
C2 noun /ˌθɜː.məʊˈdʒen.ɪ.sɪs/

thermogenesis

Meaning
The process of heat production in living organisms, often associated with burning calories and energy expenditure.
Example
Spicy foods can enhance thermogenesis and calorie burning.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnɪˈsɛnʃəl/

inessential

Meaning
not necessary or important; not essential
Example
The report removes all inessential details to stay focused.
C2 verb /ˈprɑː.məl.ɡeɪt/

promulgate

Meaning
To announce or make a law, decree, or idea officially known.
Example
The government promulgated new regulations on data privacy.
C2 adjective /ˈfɛkləs/

feckless

Meaning
lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible
Example
His feckless attitude at work caused several missed deadlines.
C2 verb /ˌkɒmənˈdɪə/

commandeer

Meaning
To take control or possession of something, often by force or authority.
Example
The soldiers commandeered the villagers’ homes during the war.
C2 noun /ˌɪn.ɪˈbraɪ.ə.ti/

inebriety

Meaning
the state of being drunk or intoxicated
Example
His frequent inebriety led to the loss of his job.
C2 adjective /ˈfrəʊərd/

froward

Meaning
Difficult to deal with; contrary and disobedient.
Example
The teacher found the froward child hard to manage.
C2 adjective, adverb /ˌmæləprəˈpoʊ/

malapropos

Meaning
inappropriate or unsuitable; at an inconvenient or inappropriate time
Example
His comment was malapropos during the serious discussion.
C2 noun /hæˈʃiːʃ/

hashish

Meaning
a drug made from the resin of the cannabis plant
Example
The police arrested him for possessing hashish.
C2 noun /ˈmʌskɪt/

musket

Meaning
a type of long gun used in the past, especially by infantry soldiers
Example
The soldiers carried muskets into the battlefield.
C2 noun /ˌpæliˈeɪʃən/

palliation

Meaning
relief of symptoms without curing the underlying disease or problem
Example
Palliation is often the focus of care for terminally ill patients.
C2 noun /əˈprəʊ.bri.əm/

opprobrium

Meaning
Harsh criticism or public disgrace.
Example
The scandal brought opprobrium on the politician.
C2 adjective /sɪˈkweɪʃəs/

sequacious

Meaning
Lacking independence of thought; blindly following.
Example
The sequacious students never questioned their teacher's opinions.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈpɛptɪk/

dyspeptic

Meaning
Relating to indigestion or having a gloomy or irritable disposition.
Example
After the heavy meal, he felt dyspeptic and uncomfortable.
C2 noun /ˈdʒʌɡjələr/

jugular

Meaning
A large vein in the neck that carries blood from the head back to the heart.
Example
The doctor checked the patient's jugular vein for signs of pressure.
C2 noun /ɪnˈvaɪtər/

invitor

Meaning
a person who invites someone to an event, meeting, or place
Example
The invitor greeted all the guests warmly at the entrance.
C2 verb ɪmˈbaɪb

imbibe

Meaning
Absorb or assimilate ideas or knowledge. To drink or take in.
Example
He tried to imbibe the wisdom from his mentor.
C2 adjective /ˈbɛərˌfeɪst/

barefaced

Meaning
shameless and undisguised; openly bold or unashamed
Example
He told a barefaced lie in front of everyone.
C2 noun /pəˈlɛmɪks/

polemics

Meaning
the art or practice of engaging in controversial debate or dispute
Example
The conference was full of polemics on economic reforms.
C2 noun /ˈkɒŋ.kɔː.dæt/

concordat

Meaning
An agreement or treaty, especially between the Vatican and a secular government.
Example
The concordat established the rights of the church within the country.
C2 noun /ˈæk.rɪ.moʊ.ni/

acrimony

Meaning
Bitterness and anger, especially in speech or behavior.
Example
The divorce was filled with acrimony and disputes.
C2 verb /ˈkænənaɪz/

canonize

Meaning
To officially declare a dead person a saint; to regard as great or significant.
Example
The church canonized the martyr after years of investigation.
C2 verb /əˈvaʊ/

avow

Meaning
to openly declare or admit something, often publicly and firmly
Example
He avowed his loyalty to the cause without hesitation.
C2 noun /ˈkælvəri/

calvary

Meaning
A place or experience of intense suffering, originally the site of Jesus’s crucifixion.
Example
For many refugees, the journey across the desert was a calvary.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈælɔɪd/

unalloyed

Meaning
Pure, complete, and not mixed with anything else.
Example
She felt unalloyed joy at the news of her success.
C2 noun /ˌɒn.əˌmæt.əˈpiː.ə/

onomatopoeia

Meaning
The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named.
Example
The word 'buzz' is an example of onomatopoeia.
C2 verb /ˌɪntərˈsiːd/

intercede

Meaning
to act or plead on behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble; to intervene between parties to help resolve a dispute
Example
She interceded with the teacher to give her brother another chance.
C2 noun /əˈplɒm/

aplomb

Meaning
Complete and confident self-assurance or poise.
Example
She handled the difficult questions with aplomb.
C2 verb /ˈwɪzn/

wizen

Meaning
To become dry, shrunken, and wrinkled.
Example
The flowers began to wizen after days without water.
C2 adverb/adjective /lɪˈɡɑːtoʊ/

legato

Meaning
In music, played or sung smoothly and connectedly.
Example
The pianist played the passage legato, with each note flowing into the next.
C2 verb /ˈbækbaɪt/

backbite

Meaning
to speak negatively about someone who is not present; to slander behind someone’s back
Example
It is wrong to backbite your colleagues behind their backs.
C2 verb /ˈlɪk.wɪ.faɪ/

liquefy

Meaning
to make or become liquid
Example
The heat will liquefy the butter in a few minutes.
C2 noun /lɪˈbrɛtoʊ/

libretto

Meaning
The text of an opera or other long vocal work.
Example
She studied the libretto before attending the opera performance.
C2 adjective /prəˈpʌlsɪv/

propulsive

Meaning
Having the power to drive or push something forward.
Example
The propulsive force of the rocket lifted it off the ground.
C2 adjective /ˈflæs.ɪd/

Flaccid

Meaning
soft and limp; lacking firmness; drooping
Example
The plant's leaves became flaccid after days without water.
C2 adverb /hərˈmɛtɪkli/

hermetically

Meaning
In a way that is completely airtight or sealed off.
Example
The jars were hermetically sealed to preserve freshness.
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 adjective /kəˈnaɪ.vɪŋ/

conniving

Meaning
secretly scheming or plotting to help in wrongdoing
Example
He is a conniving politician who manipulates people for power.
C2 noun /ˈkriːdoʊ/

credo

Meaning
A statement of the beliefs or aims that guide someone's actions.
Example
Honesty has always been the central credo of his life.
C2 noun /ˌdɛprɪˈdeɪʃən/

depredation

Meaning
An act of attacking or plundering; damage caused by such acts.
Example
The villagers feared the depredation of wild animals at night.
C2 adjective /ˈklɛmənt/

clement

Meaning
mild or merciful; describing weather as mild and pleasant
Example
The prisoners hoped for a clement judge.
C2 noun /ˈθrɛnədi/

threnody

Meaning
A song, poem, or speech of mourning for someone who has died; a lament.
Example
The poet composed a moving threnody for the fallen soldiers.
C2 verb /ˈʌndərˌraɪt/

underwrite

Meaning
To guarantee financial support, especially by agreeing to cover losses or risks; in insurance, to assess and accept risks.
Example
The bank agreed to underwrite the company's new bond issue.
C2 adjective /ˈsiːkwənt/

sequent

Meaning
Following in order or as a result.
Example
The sequent events changed the course of history.
C2 adjective /ˈtrʌŋkeɪtɪd/

truncated

Meaning
shortened by cutting off a part; cut short
Example
The meeting was truncated due to time constraints.
C2 noun /fɪˈlæt.əl.i/

philately

Meaning
the collection and study of postage stamps
Example
Philately is a hobby enjoyed by people of all ages.
C2 noun ˈpær.ə.ɡən

paragon

Meaning
A person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality; a model of excellence.
Example
Neom is a paragon of sustainable urban design.
C2 noun /ˈrɛk.tɪ.tjuːd/

rectitude

Meaning
Morally correct behavior or thinking; righteousness and integrity.
Example
His rectitude earned him respect in society.
C2 adjective /ˈvoʊlənt/

volant

Meaning
able to fly or moving swiftly
Example
The volant bird soared gracefully across the sky.
C2 verb /fɪltʃ/

filch

Meaning
to steal something in a sneaky or petty way
Example
He tried to filch a candy bar from the shop.
C2 verb /əˈɡlɒməˌreɪt/

agglomerate

Meaning
To collect or form into a mass or group.
Example
The dust particles began to agglomerate into larger clusters.
C2 adjective /məˈlɛfɪsənt/

maleficent

Meaning
Causing harm or destruction, especially by supernatural means.
Example
The maleficent witch cursed the young princess.
C2 adjective /vəˈreɪʃəs/

veracious

Meaning
Truthful, honest; habitually speaking the truth.
Example
She gave a veracious account of what happened that day.
C2 noun /dʒuːt liːf/

Jute leaf

Meaning
the edible leaves of the jute plant, commonly eaten as a leafy green vegetable
Example
Jute leaf is rich in vitamins and minerals and is often cooked with lentils in Bengali cuisine.
C2 noun /ˌtɛliˈɒlədʒi/

teleology

Meaning
the explanation of phenomena by the purpose they serve rather than by cause
Example
Aristotle is often associated with the concept of teleology in philosophy.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkoʊətɪv/

inchoative

Meaning
relating to the beginning of something; in an initial stage
Example
The poet used inchoative expressions to depict the dawn of creation.
C2 noun /ˈmɪs.kri.ənt/

Miscreant

Meaning
A person who behaves badly or illegally; a villain or criminal
Example
The miscreant was caught stealing from the store.
C2 adjective /fjuːˈnɪəriəl/

funereal

Meaning
having the mournful, somber character of a funeral
Example
The room was filled with a funereal silence after the announcement.
C2 adjective /ˈleɪ.baɪl/ or /ˈlæb.aɪl/

labile

Meaning
easily altered or unstable; prone to change
Example
Her mood was so labile that it changed several times in an hour.
C2 noun /ˈfʌŋkʃəˌnɛri/

functionary

Meaning
a person who has official duties in an organization, especially one with little authority
Example
The minor functionary was responsible for filing reports.
C2 noun /ˈskɪnˌflɪnt/

skinflint

Meaning
a person who spends as little money as possible; a miser
Example
The landlord was such a skinflint that he never repaired anything.
C2 adjective /ˈhʌski/

husky

Meaning
deep, rough, and slightly hoarse voice; also refers to a strong and sturdy build
Example
He spoke in a husky voice after shouting all day.
C2 adjective /ˈæsɪnaɪn/

asinine

Meaning
Extremely foolish or stupid.
Example
It was an asinine idea to drive into the storm without checking the weather.
C2 noun /ˈrɛkwiəm/

requiem

Meaning
A mass, music, or ceremony for the repose of the souls of the dead.
Example
The choir performed a requiem in memory of the late leader.
C2 verb /ˌsɜːrkəmˈnævɪɡeɪt/

circumnavigate

Meaning
to travel all the way around something, especially the earth
Example
Magellan was the first to circumnavigate the globe.
C2 noun /ˈbɛnɪsən/

benison

Meaning
A blessing or benefit.
Example
The rain was a benison for the drought-stricken farmers.
C2 noun /kɒŋk/

Conck

Meaning
a shell, especially a large spiral one used as a horn or for decoration
Example
The priest blew the conch shell to signal the start of the ceremony.
C2 noun /ˈprɪvɪti/

privity

Meaning
A close, private, or special relationship; in law, the direct connection between parties to a contract.
Example
There was no privity of contract between the supplier and the customer.
C2 adjective /ˌpjuːsɪˈlænɪməs/

pusillanimous

Meaning
showing a lack of courage or determination; timid
Example
The pusillanimous leader avoided making tough decisions.
C2 verb /əˈbreɪd/

abrade

Meaning
to scrape or wear away the surface by friction or erosion
Example
The rough cloth can easily abrade the skin.
C2 noun /prɒɡˌnɒstɪˈkeɪʃən/

prognostication

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

prefigure

Meaning
to represent, show, or foreshadow something in advance
Example
The economic reforms prefigure major social changes.
C2 noun /ˌmɪsˈtʃæns/

mischance

Meaning
An unfortunate accident or event; bad luck.
Example
By mischance, he missed the last train home.
C2 noun /ˌbɪbliəʊˈmeɪniə/

bibliomania

Meaning
An extreme obsession with collecting or possessing books.
Example
His bibliomania led him to fill every room with books.
C2 noun /ˈdɔɪən/

doyen

Meaning
The most respected or prominent person in a particular field.
Example
He is regarded as the doyen of modern literature in the country.
C2 noun /məˈʃiː.nɪst/

machinist

Meaning
a person who operates machine tools or makes and repairs machines
Example
The machinist carefully adjusted the gears on the lathe.
C2 verb /ɪˈmɛnd/

emend

Meaning
to correct or revise a text, especially for errors
Example
The editor emended the manuscript before publication.
C2 verb /ˈɡrʌvəl/

grovel

Meaning
To act in an excessively humble or submissive way to gain favor.
Example
He groveled before his boss to avoid punishment.
C2 noun /tɛkˈnɒɡrəfi/

technography

Meaning
the descriptive study or writing about the practical arts, technologies, or technical methods of a society
Example
The anthropologist specialized in technography to understand indigenous tool-making traditions.
C2 verb /vɪˈtjuːpəreɪt/

vituperate

Meaning
To criticize harshly or abuse verbally.
Example
The politician was quick to vituperate his opponents during the debate.
C2 noun /ˈkwɪzlɪŋ/

quisling

Meaning
A traitor who collaborates with an enemy force occupying their country.
Example
During the war, he was branded a quisling for aiding the invaders.
C2 verb /bɪˈweɪl/

bewail

Meaning
to express deep sorrow or regret over something; to mourn openly
Example
She bewailed the loss of her childhood home.
C2 noun /ˌpɛntəˈhiːdrən/

pentahedron

Meaning
A solid geometric figure with five faces.
Example
In geometry class, the teacher explained the structure of a pentahedron.
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 verb /prəˈpɪʃieɪt/

propitiate

Meaning
to win or regain the favor of someone by doing something that pleases them
Example
He offered gifts to propitiate the angry gods.
C2 noun /kænˈtɑː.tə/

cantata

Meaning
A vocal composition with instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir.
Example
The choir performed a beautiful cantata during the festival.
C2 noun /hæp/

hap

Meaning
luck, fortune, or chance occurrence
Example
By sheer hap, he discovered the old letter hidden in the drawer.
C2 adverb /ˌɛkspəˈdɪʃəsli/

expeditiously

Meaning
in a quick and efficient manner
Example
The application was processed expeditiously.
C2 adjective /ˌæpəˈplɛktɪk/

apoplectic

Meaning
Extremely angry; furious.
Example
He was apoplectic when he heard about the unfair decision.
C2 noun /ˈrɛkluːsəri/

reclusory

Meaning
A place for seclusion or retreat, especially for a recluse or hermit.
Example
The monk spent years in the reclusory away from society.
C2 noun /ˈoʊvərlɔːrd/

overlord

Meaning
A ruler, master, or person of great power and authority over others.
Example
The peasants were forced to pay taxes to their overlord.
C2 noun /ˈkɪləˌliːtər/

kiloliter

Meaning
a unit of capacity equal to 1,000 liters
Example
The tank can hold up to three kiloliters of water.
C2 noun /ˈhɛptəˌɡɒn/

heptagon

Meaning
A polygon with seven sides and seven angles.
Example
The math teacher drew a heptagon on the board.
C2 noun /kəˈpærɪsən/

caparison

Meaning
an ornamental covering for a horse; rich and elaborate clothing or decoration
Example
The king’s horse was adorned with a golden caparison.
C2 noun /ˈbʌt.ə.flaɪ piː/

Butterfly Pea

Meaning
a blue flowering plant with butterfly-shaped flowers, used to make herbal tea
Example
Butterfly pea flowers turn tea into a beautiful blue color.
C2 adjective /dɪˈsɛnʃəs/

dissentious

Meaning
Causing or likely to cause disagreement and conflict.
Example
His dissentious remarks divided the group further.
C2 noun /ˈkɜːrtʃɪf/

kerchief

Meaning
a piece of cloth worn around the head or neck
Example
She wore a red kerchief on her head.
C2 noun /ˈkrɪsəndəm/

christendom

Meaning
the worldwide body or community of Christians
Example
The news spread quickly across Christendom.
C2 noun /nɑːrˈsɪsəs/

narcissus

Meaning
A type of flowering plant with yellow or white blooms, often associated with self-love from Greek mythology.
Example
A narcissus bloomed in the garden during spring.
C2 noun /ˈlɪθəˌɡræf/

lithograph

Meaning
a print made by lithography, often artistic
Example
The museum displayed a rare lithograph from the 19th century.
C2 noun /ˈlɔːˌɡɪvər/

lawgiver

Meaning
A person who creates or enforces laws; a legislator.
Example
Moses is often regarded as a great lawgiver in history.
C2 noun /draɪd roʊz ˈpɛtəlz/

Dried Rose Petals

Meaning
dehydrated petals from roses used for culinary and aromatic purposes
Example
The dessert was garnished with dried rose petals.
C2 noun /ɜːrˈbænɪti/

urbanity

Meaning
refined courtesy, elegance, and sophistication in manner
Example
Her urbanity made her popular among diplomats and leaders.
C2 adjective /ˈfʌndʒəbl/

fungible

Meaning
interchangeable; able to replace or be replaced by another identical item
Example
In finance, money is considered a fungible asset.
C2 noun ˈɡoʊldən ˈbʌtərflaɪ

Golden Butterfly

Meaning
A beautiful species of butterfly with golden coloration, symbolizing beauty and nature.
Example
The Golden Butterfly is a symbol of beauty and nature.
C2 noun /ˈdaɪɡræf/

digraph

Meaning
A pair of letters representing a single sound, such as 'sh' in 'ship'.
Example
In the word 'phone', the letters 'ph' form a digraph.
C2 noun /ˈbɪlɪŋzˌɡeɪt/

billingsgate

Meaning
Coarse or abusive language; vulgar or offensive speech.
Example
The heated argument quickly descended into billingsgate.
C2 noun /juː/

Ewe

Meaning
a female sheep
Example
The ewe gave birth to twin lambs.
C2 adjective /sɛnˈsɔːriəs/

censorious

Meaning
severely critical of others
Example
She was always censorious about her colleagues' mistakes.
C2 verb /kəˈraʊz/

carouse

Meaning
to drink and enjoy oneself noisily, often with others
Example
They stayed up all night to carouse after the victory.
C2 noun /loʊd/

lode

Meaning
A rich source of something, often a vein of valuable metal in the earth.
Example
The miners discovered a rich lode of silver.
C2 noun /ˈzel.ət/

zealot

Meaning
A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their ideals.
Example
He was considered a zealot for his strict political views.
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.