wantonness
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C2 noun /ˈwɒntənnəs/

wantonness

Meaning
The quality of being reckless, cruel, or deliberately malicious.
Example
His wantonness shocked everyone at the gathering.
C2 noun /ˌpriːɪɡˈzɪstəns/

preexistence

Meaning
the state of existing before something else
Example
Philosophers often debated the preexistence of the soul.
C2 verb /kəˈvɔrt/

cavort

Meaning
to jump or dance around excitedly
Example
The children cavorted happily in the garden.
C2 adjective /ˌlækəˈdeɪzɪkəl/

lackadaisical

Meaning
lacking enthusiasm, energy, or determination; careless or lazy
Example
His lackadaisical attitude toward work annoyed his boss.
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 /ˈbɑːrtərər/

barterer

Meaning
A person who trades goods or services without using money.
Example
The barterer exchanged fruits for some pottery.
C2 adjective /lʌɡˈʒʊəriənt/

luxuriant

Meaning
abundant in growth or richly abundant
Example
The luxuriant forest was teeming with life.
C2 verb /ˈkɔː.tə.raɪz/

cauterize

Meaning
to burn tissue to stop bleeding or prevent infection
Example
The doctor cauterized the wound to stop the bleeding.
C2 adjective ˌlæb.əˈrɪn.θaɪn

labyrinthine

Meaning
Like a labyrinth; complicated and confusing; having many interconnected paths or passages.
Example
The old city streets were labyrinthine.
C2 noun /dɪsˈdʒʌŋkʃən/

disjunction

Meaning
A lack of connection between things; separation or disunity.
Example
There is a clear disjunction between theory and practice.
C2 noun /ˈpɒlɪti/

polity

Meaning
an organized society or form of government
Example
The ancient Greek polity had a system of city-states.
C2 verb /bɪˈnʌm/

benumb

Meaning
to make physically numb or without sensation; to make mentally dull or insensitive
Example
The freezing wind seemed to benumb his fingers within minutes.
C2 verb /ɪnˈsteɪt/

instate

Meaning
To set up in position, office, or authority.
Example
The board decided to instate her as the new director.
C2 adjective /ˈreə.rɪ.faɪd/

rarefied

Meaning
Of high moral, intellectual, or cultural value; distant from ordinary life.
Example
He works in the rarefied world of classical music.
C2 noun /ˈsɛkstənt/

sextant

Meaning
a navigational instrument with a graduated arc of 60°, used to measure the angle between a celestial object and the horizon
Example
Using a sextant, the navigator fixed the ship’s position at noon.
C2 noun /bəˈsuːn/

bassoon

Meaning
a large woodwind instrument with a deep sound
Example
The orchestra featured a beautiful bassoon solo.
C2 verb /ɛksˈhjuːm/

exhume

Meaning
to dig out something buried, especially a body from the ground
Example
The archaeologists decided to exhume the ancient remains.
C2 noun /bɪˈnɪɡnɪti/

Benignity

Meaning
kindness; gentleness; the quality of being benign or gracious
Example
Her benignity towards all people made her beloved by everyone.
C2 noun /ˈbɪlɪŋzˌɡeɪt/

billingsgate

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

hardihood

Meaning
Courage, boldness, or daring behavior; also physical robustness.
Example
The mountaineer's hardihood impressed the entire team.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈvɛtərət/

inveterate

Meaning
having a long-established habit, activity, or interest that is unlikely to change
Example
He is an inveterate reader who spends hours in the library every day.
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 /ˈɡræn.jʊ.leɪt/

granulate

Meaning
To form or cause to form into grains or small particles.
Example
The sugar began to granulate as it cooled.
C2 adjective /pərˈsɪpiənt/

percipient

Meaning
Having good understanding or insight; able to perceive things clearly.
Example
As a percipient critic, she recognized the deeper meaning of the play.
C2 noun /ˈliː.vɪŋz/

Leavings

Meaning
things that have been left behind or remain; remnants or scraps
Example
The leavings from dinner were given to the dog.
C2 noun /ˈæpəˌθɛm/

apothegm

Meaning
A short, witty, and instructive saying or maxim.
Example
His speech was filled with apothegms about life and success.
C2 noun /kəˈdʌm.bə/

Kadamba

Meaning
A tropical tree with round, fragrant orange flowers, sacred in Hindu culture and associated with Lord Krishna
Example
The kadamba tree is mentioned frequently in ancient Indian poetry.
C2 verb /ɪnˈkʌmbər/

encumber

Meaning
to burden or weigh down something, making it difficult to move or progress
Example
She was encumbered by the heavy luggage during her journey.
C2 noun ˌɛr.jʊˈdɪʃ.ən

erudition

Meaning
The quality of having or showing great knowledge or learning; scholarship.
Example
His erudition in history impressed the entire audience.
C2 noun /mælˈfiːzəns/

malfeasance

Meaning
Wrongdoing or misconduct, especially by a public official.
Example
The mayor was accused of malfeasance in office.
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 /ˌlɛksɪˈkɒɡrəfər/

lexicographer

Meaning
A person who compiles, writes, or edits dictionaries.
Example
The lexicographer spent years compiling the dictionary.
C2 adjective /ˌænθrəpəˈmɔːrfəs/

anthropomorphous

Meaning
having the form or attributes of a human
Example
The statue had an anthropomorphous shape resembling a human.
C2 noun /ˈriːdʒənt/

regent

Meaning
a person who rules in place of a monarch when the monarch is absent or too young
Example
The prince acted as regent until the king came of age.
C2 noun /ˈʃaɪstər/

shyster

Meaning
a person, especially a lawyer, who uses unscrupulous or dishonest methods
Example
The businessman was exposed as a shyster who cheated clients.
C2 noun /ˈhæk.ni ˈkær.ɪdʒ/

Hackney carriage

Meaning
A taxi; a car licensed to carry passengers for hire
Example
I called a hackney carriage to get to the airport.
C2 adjective /ˌsuːdəˈrɪfɪk/

sudorific

Meaning
causing or increasing sweating
Example
The doctor prescribed a sudorific drug to help reduce the fever.
C2 noun /dɪˌlɪniˈeɪʃən/

delineation

Meaning
the precise description, drawing, or outlining of something
Example
The artist’s delineation of the landscape was remarkably accurate.
C2 noun /ˈhɒdʒ.pɒdʒ/

hodgepodge

Meaning
A confusing mixture of different things; a jumble.
Example
The essay was a hodgepodge of unrelated ideas.
C2 verb /ˈsɪmpər/

simper

Meaning
to smile in a silly, self-conscious, or affected way
Example
She simpered at his compliment, clearly embarrassed.
C2 noun /ˌbluː ˈblʌd/

Blue-blood

Meaning
a person of noble birth; aristocrat
Example
She came from a family of blue-bloods with centuries of royal heritage.
C2 adjective /ˈhaɪdrəs/

hydrous

Meaning
Containing water, especially water of crystallization.
Example
The mineral is hydrous because it contains water molecules in its structure.
C2 noun ˌmɛtəkɒɡˈnɪʃən

metacognition

Meaning
Awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes
Example
Metacognition enhances problem-solving abilities.
C2 noun /dɪˈtrækʃən/

detraction

Meaning
The act of belittling or taking away from the value of something.
Example
Her constant detraction of others made her unpopular.
C2 verb /əˈɡriːv/

aggrieve

Meaning
to cause distress or make someone feel resentful
Example
She felt aggrieved by the unfair decision.
C2 adjective /ˈsfɪŋks laɪk/

sphinx-like

Meaning
Mysterious, enigmatic, or difficult to interpret
Example
Her sphinx-like smile made it hard to guess what she was thinking.
C2 noun /ˈjuːzjuːfrʌkt/

usufruct

Meaning
The legal right to use and enjoy the benefits of someone else’s property without owning it.
Example
The tenant had the usufruct of the land but not its ownership.
C2 noun /ɔːˈreɪʃən/

oration

Meaning
A formal speech, especially one given on a ceremonial occasion
Example
The president delivered an inspiring oration.
C2 verb /ˈdʌv.teɪl/

dovetail

Meaning
to fit or combine perfectly together
Example
Her plans dovetail perfectly with our goals.
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 verb /ɪˈmɛnd/

emend

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

bewitch

Meaning
to enchant or fascinate someone as if by magic
Example
The dancer's performance bewitched the audience.
C2 noun /ˈbæs.tərd tiːk/

Bastard teak

Meaning
A flowering tree with bright orange-red flowers, also known as flame of the forest
Example
The bastard teak tree blooms with vibrant orange flowers in spring.
C2 noun /ˈɪntərˌveɪl/

intervale

Meaning
A low-lying tract of land along a river, usually fertile and flat.
Example
The farmers cultivated crops on the lush intervale by the river.
C2 noun /ˌɪnkənˈɡruːəti/

incongruity

Meaning
The state of being inconsistent or out of place.
Example
The incongruity of his cheerful mood during the funeral shocked everyone.
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 noun /kɔːrˈteɪʒ/

cortege

Meaning
a solemn procession, especially for a funeral
Example
A cortege of mourners followed the hearse to the cemetery.
C2 noun /ˌɪnsəˈrɛkʃən/

insurrection

Meaning
A violent uprising against an authority or government.
Example
The army was called in to suppress the insurrection.
C2 noun /ˈsiːkənt/

secant

Meaning
A straight line that intersects a curve at two or more points.
Example
In geometry, a secant cuts the circle at two distinct points.
C2 noun /ˈpɔl.zi/

Palsy

Meaning
paralysis, especially that which is accompanied by involuntary tremors; loss of muscle control
Example
The elderly man suffered from palsy in his hands.
C2 verb /rɛnd/

rend

Meaning
to tear something apart violently or forcefully
Example
The explosion rent the air with a deafening noise.
C2 adjective /ˈflæb.i/

Flabby

Meaning
soft and loose; lacking firmness or muscle tone; weak
Example
His flabby arms showed he needed to exercise more.
C2 verb /əˈdʒʊər/

adjure

Meaning
to urge or command someone solemnly, often under oath or a strong sense of duty
Example
The witness was adjured to tell the truth in court.
C2 noun /dɪˈfoʊliənt/

defoliant

Meaning
a chemical that causes leaves to drop from plants, often used in warfare or agriculture
Example
The army sprayed defoliant to clear the forest cover.
C2 adjective /ˈdæpəld/

dappled

Meaning
Marked with spots or patches of light and shade or different colors.
Example
The forest floor was dappled with sunlight.
C2 noun /dɪˈpɑːzɪtər/

depositor

Meaning
a person who places money in a bank or financial institution
Example
The bank provides insurance to protect depositors’ funds.
C2 noun /ˈfoʊksl/

forecastle

Meaning
The forward part of a ship below the deck, traditionally used as living quarters for the crew.
Example
The sailors gathered in the forecastle after their shift.
C2 noun /ˌæk.rəˈfoʊ.bi.ə/

acrophobia

Meaning
An extreme or irrational fear of heights.
Example
Her acrophobia prevented her from climbing the tall building.
C2 verb /ˈmiːliəˌreɪt/

meliorate

Meaning
To make something better or improve a condition.
Example
The new policies aim to meliorate the living conditions of the poor.
C2 verb /trænsˈfɪɡjʊər/

transfigure

Meaning
To transform the outward appearance or form, often in a way that elevates or glorifies.
Example
The artist managed to transfigure simple clay into a beautiful sculpture.
C2 verb /bɪˈtaɪd/

betide

Meaning
to happen or occur, usually of something that befalls someone
Example
Woe betide anyone who breaks the rules.
C2 adjective /ˈræfɪʃ/

raffish

Meaning
unconventional and slightly disreputable but attractive
Example
He had a raffish charm that made him popular in the city.
C2 noun /ˈkɪŋʃɪp/

kingship

Meaning
The position, dignity, or authority of a king.
Example
The king’s advisors often reminded him of the responsibilities of kingship.
C2 adjective /ɡoʊʃ/

gauche

Meaning
lacking social grace, sensitivity, or tact; awkward
Example
His gauche remarks embarrassed everyone at the dinner party.
C2 noun /kjuːˈpɪdəti/

cupidity

Meaning
Excessive desire for wealth or possessions; greed.
Example
The king's downfall was caused by his cupidity.
C2 noun /ˈiːdʒɪs/

aegis

Meaning
The protection, backing, or support of a particular person or organization.
Example
The project was carried out under the aegis of the United Nations.
C2 noun /aɪˈdɒlətri/

idolatry

Meaning
The worship of idols or extreme admiration for someone or something.
Example
The priest condemned the idolatry practiced in the village.
C2 verb /skʌlk/

skulk

Meaning
to move or hide secretly, often because you are planning something bad or are feeling guilty
Example
He tried to skulk in the shadows to avoid being seen.
C2 adjective /səˈɡeɪ.ʃəs/

sagacious

Meaning
Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; wise.
Example
His sagacious leadership saved the company from failure.
C2 verb /bɪˈteɪk/

betake

Meaning
to go or resort to a place or course of action, especially as a response; to apply oneself
Example
After dinner, she betook herself to her room to read.
C2 noun /ˈkrɪptəɡræm/

cryptogram

Meaning
a text written in code or cipher
Example
The detective solved the cryptogram hidden in the letter.
C2 adjective /əˈkwɪzətɪv/

acquisitive

Meaning
excessively interested in acquiring money or material things
Example
The acquisitive businessman bought every piece of land he could find.
C2 noun /ˈhɔːrs.liːt͡ʃ/

Horse-leach

Meaning
a large species of leech that was traditionally used in veterinary medicine
Example
The veterinarian explained that horse-leach was once commonly used to treat horses.
C2 adjective /ɪˈfiːt/

effete

Meaning
Lacking vitality, strength, or effectiveness; weak and overrefined.
Example
The empire became effete after centuries of indulgence.
C2 noun /ˈdʒɪb.ər.ɪʃ/

gibberish

Meaning
Unintelligible or meaningless speech or writing.
Example
He was so nervous that his explanation sounded like gibberish.
C2 verb /əˈfaɪəns/

affiance

Meaning
to promise or pledge marriage; to formally engage
Example
They decided to affiance after years of friendship.
C2 verb /ˈsæŋktɪfaɪ/

sanctify

Meaning
to make holy or sacred; to purify
Example
The priest will sanctify the marriage ceremony.
C2 adjective /ˈpɑːrləs/

parlous

Meaning
Full of danger or risk; precarious.
Example
The company is in a parlous financial state.
C2 verb /ɪˈvɪns/

evince

Meaning
to show or demonstrate clearly
Example
She evinced her interest in the project through active participation.
C2 noun /ˌhaɪdrəˈstætɪks/

hydrostatics

Meaning
The branch of science concerned with the mechanical properties of fluids at rest.
Example
Hydrostatics is essential in understanding how dams and reservoirs function.
C2 noun /ˈaʊtˌrɪɡər/

outrigger

Meaning
a projecting structure on a boat, used for stability, or a boat fitted with such support
Example
The fisherman paddled his outrigger canoe across the lagoon.
C2 noun /nɪb/

nib

Meaning
the pointed end of a pen used for writing or drawing
Example
He dipped the nib into the ink before writing.
C2 noun /ˈiːən/

eon

Meaning
an indefinitely long period of time; an age
Example
Dinosaurs lived millions of years ago, in a different eon.
C2 noun /voʊˈsɪfərəns/

vociferance

Meaning
the act of shouting or making a loud outcry
Example
The vociferance of the protesters filled the streets.
C2 adjective /ˈkæp.ʃəs/

Captious

Meaning
tending to find fault or raise petty objections; fault-finding; critical
Example
His captious remarks about every small detail made the meeting very unpleasant.
C2 verb /ɡɜːrd/

gird

Meaning
to encircle with a belt or band; to prepare for action
Example
The knight girded his sword before battle.
C2 verb /ˈhʊdwɪŋk/

hoodwink

Meaning
To deceive or trick someone.
Example
The scammer hoodwinked many people with false promises.
C2 noun əˌklaɪ.mə.tɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

acclimatization

Meaning
The process of adapting to a new environment or condition.
Example
The hikers needed time for acclimatization to high altitudes.
C2 verb /fɔːrˈfɛnd/

forfend

Meaning
to protect or defend against something undesirable; to prevent
Example
May good fortune forfend any danger from our journey.
C2 verb /əbˈvɜːrt/

obvert

Meaning
To turn something so as to face in a different direction; in logic, to convert a proposition by negating both subject and predicate.
Example
The teacher asked the students to obvert the statement for practice.
C2 noun ˈoʊʃən ˌstrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən

ocean stratification

Meaning
The formation of layers in ocean water due to differences in density.
Example
Ocean stratification affects marine biodiversity.
C2 noun /ˈsɪkəfənt/

sycophant

Meaning
A person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.
Example
The manager was surrounded by sycophants who agreed with everything he said.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsuːpərəbl/

insuperable

Meaning
Impossible to overcome or surpass.
Example
The team faced insuperable challenges during the expedition.
C2 noun /ˌhɛtərəʤəˈniːɪti/

heterogeneity

Meaning
the quality or state of being diverse in character or content
Example
The cultural heterogeneity of the city makes it vibrant and unique.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈpræktɪkəbl/

impracticable

Meaning
Not capable of being carried out or put into practice.
Example
The plan seemed impracticable due to limited resources.
C2 adjective /əˈrækjələr/

oracular

Meaning
Resembling an oracle; giving wise, mysterious, or prophetic statements
Example
Her oracular words left the audience deep in thought.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈtiːtʃəbəl/

unteachable

Meaning
not able or willing to learn; resistant to instruction or guidance
Example
He was so stubborn that he became almost unteachable.
C2 adjective /ˈvɛəriəˌɡeɪtɪd/

variegated

Meaning
Having different colors, especially in irregular patches or streaks.
Example
The garden was full of variegated plants.
C2 noun ˌmæɡnəˈnɪmɪti

magnanimity

Meaning
Generosity in forgiving an insult or injury; forbearance.
Example
His magnanimity towards his competitors was admirable.
C2 noun /ˌkæt ə ˈnaɪn ˌteɪlz/

cat-o-nine-tails

Meaning
A whip with nine knotted cords, historically used for punishment.
Example
The sailor feared the cat-o-nine-tails more than the storm at sea.
C2 adjective /mæɡˈnɪləkwənt/

magniloquent

Meaning
using high-flown or pompous language
Example
The politician’s magniloquent speech impressed the crowd.
C2 verb /bɪˈsmɪər/

besmear

Meaning
to smear or cover with a sticky or dirty substance; to soil
Example
His clothes were besmeared with mud.
C2 noun /ˈtʊrnɪkɪt/

tourniquet

Meaning
a device used to stop bleeding by compressing blood vessels
Example
The medic applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.
C2 noun /ˈvɛrɪti/

verity

Meaning
a true principle or belief; the state of being true
Example
The verity of his statement was confirmed by evidence.
C2 adjective /njuːˈmætɪk/

pneumatic

Meaning
operated by air or gas under pressure
Example
The factory uses pneumatic tools for assembly.
C2 noun /pɒmˈpɒsəti/

pomposity

Meaning
self-important behavior or exaggerated dignity
Example
His speech was full of pomposity and arrogance.
C2 adjective /ˈhiːðənɪʃ/

heathenish

Meaning
Lacking culture or religion; barbaric or uncivilized.
Example
They considered the ancient tribe’s rituals heathenish.
C2 noun /ˈɛksplɪkeɪtər/

explicator

Meaning
a person who explains or interprets something in detail
Example
The critic served as an explicator of the poet’s complex works.
C2 noun /ˌdɛd ˈhiːt/

dead-heat

Meaning
a race or contest in which two or more competitors finish exactly equal
Example
The race ended in a dead-heat between the two runners.
C2 noun /ˈmaɪ.nə/

Mynah

Meaning
a tropical bird with dark feathers that can mimic human speech
Example
The mynah bird repeated every word I said.
C2 adjective /ˈneb.jə.ləs/

Nebulous

Meaning
vague or unclear; lacking definite form; hazy
Example
His plans for the future remain nebulous and unclear.