wherewith
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C2 adverb, noun /ˈwɛə.wɪð/

wherewith

Meaning
With which; the means or resources needed for something.
Example
He lacked the money wherewith to buy a new house.
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 ˈfaɪ.təʊˌnjuː.tri.ənts

phytonutrients

Meaning
Bioactive compounds found in plants that have health benefits beyond basic nutrition.
Example
Green tea contains powerful phytonutrients.
C2 verb /ˈpɛtɪˌfɒɡ/

pettifog

Meaning
to argue or quibble over trivial matters; to engage in petty, dishonest practices
Example
The lawyer was accused of trying to pettifog instead of addressing the real issue.
C2 noun /ˌɪrɪˈdɛsəns/

iridescence

Meaning
a play of lustrous, changing colors like those of a rainbow
Example
The butterfly's wings shimmered with iridescence.
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 noun /niːˈɒlədʒɪzəm/

neologism

Meaning
A newly coined word or expression.
Example
The internet has given rise to many neologisms like 'selfie' and 'hashtag'.
C2 noun /hɜːrˈbɛəriəm/

herbarium

Meaning
A collection of preserved plant specimens and associated data used for scientific study.
Example
The university maintains a large herbarium for research and education.
C2 adjective /ˈfrəʊərd/

froward

Meaning
Difficult to deal with; contrary and disobedient.
Example
The teacher found the froward child hard to manage.
C2 noun /ˈaɪsinəs/

iciness

Meaning
The state of being cold in manner or temperature.
Example
There was a distinct iciness in his voice.
C2 verb /ˈɑːblɪˌɡeɪt/

obligate

Meaning
to bind legally or morally; to compel someone to do something
Example
The contract obligates the company to provide timely service.
C2 adjective /ˌdɪsəˈfɛktɪd/

disaffected

Meaning
Dissatisfied and rebellious, especially against authority or leadership.
Example
The reforms were introduced to calm the disaffected youth.
C2 verb ˈɪn.kʌl.keɪt

inculcate

Meaning
Instill an attitude, idea, or habit by persistent instruction; to teach and impress by frequent repetitions.
Example
Parents should inculcate good values in their children.
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 /ˌɪnkrʌˈsteɪʃən/

incrustation

Meaning
a crust or hard coating formed on the surface of something
Example
The old pipes were blocked due to heavy incrustation of minerals.
C2 noun /ˈpɑːrsɪmoʊni/

parsimony

Meaning
extreme unwillingness to spend money or use resources
Example
His parsimony was evident in the way he avoided any unnecessary expenses.
C2 noun /ˈpɜːrvjuː/

purview

Meaning
the scope or range of authority, responsibility, or knowledge
Example
The case does not fall within the purview of this court.
C2 verb /ɪnˈfætʃueɪt/

infatuate

Meaning
to inspire with an intense but short-lived passion or admiration
Example
He was infatuated with her beauty.
C2 adjective /ˌstaʊtˈhɑːrtɪd/

stouthearted

Meaning
Brave, determined, and courageous
Example
The stouthearted soldier never gave up.
C2 noun /məˈnɒkrəsi/

monocracy

Meaning
A system of government by a single person; autocracy.
Example
The nation suffered under decades of monocracy.
C2 noun ˌæm.ɔː.tɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

amortization

Meaning
The process of paying off debt with regular payments over time.
Example
The amortization schedule showed a 10-year repayment plan.
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 noun /kɔːrˈteɪʒ/

cortege

Meaning
a solemn procession, especially for a funeral
Example
A cortege of mourners followed the hearse to the cemetery.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒr.ə.ɡeɪ.tɪd/

corrugated

Meaning
shaped into ridges and grooves; wrinkled or folded
Example
The roof was made of corrugated metal sheets.
C2 noun əˈkjuː.ə.ti

acuity

Meaning
Sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing.
Example
His intellectual acuity made him a brilliant scientist.
C2 adjective /ˌfærɪˈseɪɪkəl/

pharisaical

Meaning
Excessively concerned with formal rules or outward show of morality, often in a hypocritical way.
Example
His pharisaical behavior made people doubt his sincerity.
C2 adjective /ˌpəʊstˈprændɪəl/

postprandial

Meaning
Occurring after a meal.
Example
He went for a postprandial walk after dinner.
C2 noun /ˈbɒdɪs/

bodice

Meaning
the part of a woman's dress that covers the body from the neck to the waist
Example
She wore a dress with an embroidered bodice.
C2 adverb /ˈbruːskli/ or /ˈbrʌskli/

brusquely

Meaning
in a blunt, abrupt, or rude manner
Example
She brusquely dismissed the suggestion.
C2 verb /dʒaɪb/

jibe

Meaning
to make an insulting remark; to be in agreement or harmony with
Example
His actions did not jibe with his words.
C2 noun /ˈɒb.stɪ.nə.si/

obstinacy

Meaning
Stubborn refusal to change one's opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.
Example
His obstinacy made negotiations difficult.
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 adjective /ˈlɪsɪt/

licit

Meaning
Permitted by law or by rules; legal.
Example
The trade of certain goods is licit under international law.
C2 noun /ˌmɪsæprɪˈhɛnʃən/

misapprehension

Meaning
a mistaken belief or misunderstanding
Example
There is a common misapprehension about the causes of the disease.
C2 noun /ɪnˈvɛstɪtʃər/

investiture

Meaning
the formal ceremony of conferring authority, rank, or office
Example
The king held an investiture ceremony for the new knight.
C2 verb /ɪˈmæskjʊleɪt/

emasculate

Meaning
To make someone weaker or less effective; to deprive of strength or vigor.
Example
The constant criticism emasculated his confidence.
C2 noun /ˈkʌvi/

covey

Meaning
a small group of birds, especially partridges or quails
Example
A covey of quails flew across the field.
C2 adjective /traɪˈɛniəl/

triennial

Meaning
Occurring once every three years.
Example
The art festival is a triennial event in the city.
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 noun /ˌɔːrdɪˈneɪʃən/

ordination

Meaning
The ceremony of conferring holy orders or official religious authority.
Example
The church held a special service for the ordination of new priests.
C2 noun /pluːˈtɒkrəsi/

plutocracy

Meaning
a system of government where the wealthy hold power
Example
The country was ruled as a plutocracy.
C2 noun /ˈɒbsɪkwiːz/

obsequies

Meaning
Funeral rites or ceremonies.
Example
The obsequies for the late leader drew thousands of mourners.
C2 verb /əˈleɪ/

allay

Meaning
to reduce the intensity of fear, worry, or pain; to calm
Example
The teacher tried to allay the students’ fears before the exam.
C2 verb /bɪˈmjuːz/

bemuse

Meaning
To confuse or puzzle someone.
Example
The complex instructions bemused the new employees.
C2 adjective /ˈbɪz.ən.taɪn/ or /ˈbaɪ.zənˌtiːn/

byzantine

Meaning
Extremely complicated and detailed; relating to the Byzantine Empire or its style.
Example
The new tax regulations are so byzantine that few understand them.
C2 noun/verb /ˈpɪləri/

pillory

Meaning
a device for publicly punishing someone / to expose to public ridicule
Example
The corrupt official was placed in the pillory for the town to jeer at.
C2 noun /ˈmuːn.biːm/

moonbeam

Meaning
A ray of light from the moon.
Example
A moonbeam lit up the quiet forest clearing.
C2 adjective /ˌæn.θrə.pəˈdʒen.ɪk/

anthropogenic

Meaning
Originating in human activity; caused by humans.
Example
Climate change is largely due to anthropogenic activities.
C2 adjective /prɪˈsɛnʃənt/

presentient

Meaning
Having a feeling or sense of something about to happen; predictive.
Example
She was presentient of the coming disaster.
C2 noun /ˌkæθəˈlɪsɪti/

catholicity

Meaning
Universality; broad-mindedness; acceptance of a wide variety of things.
Example
Her catholicity of interests makes her a fascinating person.
C2 noun /əˈsɛt.ɪˌsɪz.əm/

asceticism

Meaning
The practice of severe self-discipline and abstaining from indulgence, typically for religious or spiritual reasons.
Example
Asceticism has been a part of many religious traditions throughout history.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrbɪtər/

arbiter

Meaning
a person who has the authority to settle a dispute or decide an issue
Example
The principal acted as the arbiter in the conflict between the students.
C2 verb /stɑːntʃ/

stanch

Meaning
to stop the flow of blood or liquid from a wound or source
Example
The nurse quickly stanched the bleeding from the cut.
C2 adjective /kənˈdʒɛktʃərəl/

conjectural

Meaning
based on guesswork or incomplete evidence rather than certain knowledge
Example
His explanation was purely conjectural and lacked proof.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈtræn.sɪ.dʒənt/

intransigent

Meaning
Unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something.
Example
His intransigent stance delayed the agreement.
C2 noun /ˌsuːdəʊəˈpɒsəl/

pseudapostle

Meaning
a false or pretended apostle
Example
The preacher was condemned as a pseudapostle.
C2 adjective /ˈnaɪt.li/

Knightly

Meaning
having the characteristics of a knight; chivalrous; noble and brave
Example
He showed knightly courage in defending the innocent.
C2 noun /ˈsɛpəlˌtʃər/

Sepulture

Meaning
the act of burying a dead body; burial; a grave or tomb
Example
The ancient king's sepulture was discovered by archaeologists.
C2 adjective /əˈmɔːrfəs/

amorphous

Meaning
Lacking a clear shape or form; without a defined structure.
Example
The plan remained amorphous and lacked concrete details.
C2 noun /rɪˈdʒɔɪndər/

rejoinder

Meaning
a quick or witty reply; a response to a remark or argument
Example
His sharp rejoinder silenced the crowd.
C2 noun /kənˈkɔːrdəns/

concordance

Meaning
Agreement; also an alphabetical index of the principal words in a book.
Example
There is a strong concordance between the two reports.
C2 noun /ˌmjuːtəˈbɪləti/

mutablility

Meaning
A misspelled form of 'mutability', meaning the quality of being changeable.
Example
The document contained the misspelled word 'mutablility' instead of 'mutability'.
C2 adjective /ˈreɪ.moʊs/

ramose

Meaning
having many branches.
Example
The ramose tree shaded the entire garden.
C2 verb /dɪˈfreɪ/

defray

Meaning
to provide money to pay the costs of something
Example
The grant will help defray the cost of education.
C2 verb /prɪˈpɒndəreɪt/

preponderate

Meaning
To be greater in influence, weight, or number.
Example
In the debate, logical arguments preponderated over emotional appeals.
C2 verb /fɔɪst/

foist

Meaning
To impose something unwelcome or unnecessary on someone.
Example
He tried to foist his old books onto his friends.
C2 noun /ˈʌmbrɪdʒ/

umbrage

Meaning
A feeling of resentment or offense.
Example
She took umbrage at his rude remark.
C2 noun /ˈproʊtoʊˌplæzəm/

protoplasm

Meaning
The living substance inside a cell, including the cytoplasm and nucleus.
Example
Scientists observed the movement of protoplasm under the microscope.
C2 noun ˌkɒmpjʊˈteɪʃənəl kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən

computational communication

Meaning
Digital exchange and automated interaction; the use of computational methods and systems to facilitate communication and information sharing.
Example
Computational communication is reshaping how we share information.
C2 noun /əˈfreɪ/

affray

Meaning
A public fight or noisy disturbance that causes alarm.
Example
The police were called to break up an affray outside the stadium.
C2 noun /rɪˈmɒnstrəns/

remonstrance

Meaning
A forceful protest or objection.
Example
The workers’ remonstrance against unfair treatment was ignored.
C2 adjective /ˌɪn.trəˈmjʊə.rəl/

intramural

Meaning
Occurring within the walls of a single institution, especially a school or college.
Example
The college organizes intramural sports competitions every semester.
C2 noun /slaɪt/

sleight

Meaning
Skill or dexterity, especially in performing tricks.
Example
The magician amazed the crowd with his sleight of hand.
C2 adjective /ˈkjʊərətɪv/

curative

Meaning
Able to cure disease or restore health.
Example
The doctor prescribed a curative treatment for the illness.
C2 adjective /sɛnˈtrɪpɪtəl/

centripetal

Meaning
Moving or directed toward a center.
Example
Centripetal force keeps the planets in orbit around the sun.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈdɛkərəs/

indecorous

Meaning
Not in keeping with good taste and propriety; improper.
Example
His indecorous behavior shocked the audience.
C2 noun /daɪˈɡrɛʃən/

digression

Meaning
A temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing.
Example
Her story was full of interesting digressions.
C2 noun /ˌæriˈviːst/

arriviste

Meaning
A person who has recently gained wealth or status but is considered arrogant or socially unsophisticated.
Example
The business world is full of ambitious arrivistes.
C2 adjective /ˈræŋ.kər.əs/

rancorous

Meaning
Characterized by bitterness or resentment.
Example
Their rancorous debate lasted for hours.
C2 noun /ˌmɪsˈtʃæns/

mischance

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

amorally

Meaning
In a way that shows no concern about whether behavior is morally right or wrong.
Example
He acted amorally, ignoring the consequences of his actions.
C2 adjective /ˈʌndjʊleɪtɪŋ/

undulating

Meaning
Having a smoothly rising and falling form or motion like waves.
Example
We drove through undulating hills.
C2 noun /ˈdʒæk.dɔː/

Jack-daw

Meaning
a small gray and black bird of the crow family, known for its intelligence
Example
The jackdaw collected shiny objects for its nest.
C2 noun /ˈʌn.dɚˌstɔː.ri/

understory

Meaning
The layer of vegetation beneath the main canopy of a forest.
Example
The understory of a rainforest is home to small mammals and insects.
C2 noun /ænˈtɪstrəfi/

antistrophe

Meaning
A rhetorical device in which a word or phrase is repeated at the end of successive clauses; in Greek choral poetry, the part of the ode sung by the chorus in return movement.
Example
The poet used antistrophe to emphasize the repeated phrase.
C2 adjective /ˈvoʊlənt/

volant

Meaning
able to fly or moving swiftly
Example
The volant bird soared gracefully across the sky.
C2 noun /ˈruː.mɪ.nənt/

ruminant

Meaning
a cud-chewing mammal, such as a cow or sheep
Example
Cows are ruminants that chew cud.
C2 noun /ˌfɑːrməkəˈpiːə/

pharmacopoeia

Meaning
An official book listing medicinal drugs, their effects, and directions for use.
Example
The doctor referred to the pharmacopoeia to check the drug's proper dosage.
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 adjective /ˈlɪɡ.ni.əs/

ligneous

Meaning
having the texture or appearance of wood; woody
Example
The ligneous stem supported the heavy flowers.
C2 verb /ˌmɪsæprɪˈhɛnd/

misapprehend

Meaning
to misunderstand or misinterpret something
Example
He misapprehended the teacher’s instructions and did the task incorrectly.
C2 adjective /ɪkˈskɜːsɪv/

excursive

Meaning
Tending to digress or wander; moving away from the main subject.
Example
His excursive lecture left the students confused about the main topic.
C2 adjective /ˈrɛstɪv/

restive

Meaning
unable to stay still or silent; restless and impatient
Example
The crowd grew restive as they waited for the concert to begin.
C2 noun /ˈpærəpɛt/

parapet

Meaning
A low protective wall along the edge of a roof, balcony, or bridge.
Example
The soldier hid behind the parapet for protection.
C2 noun ˌhiː.məˈfɪl.i.ə

hemophilia

Meaning
A medical condition in which the ability of the blood to clot is severely reduced, causing the sufferer to bleed severely from even a slight injury.
Example
Hemophilia treatment benefits from genetic editing.
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 /məˈnæʒəri/

menagerie

Meaning
a collection of wild animals kept for exhibition; a diverse or strange group of people or things
Example
The circus had a menagerie of exotic animals.
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 noun /ˈfriːˌbuːtər/

freebooter

Meaning
A pirate or plunderer who roams freely in search of wealth.
Example
The freebooter raided the merchant ships along the coast.
C2 noun /traɪst/

tryst

Meaning
a private romantic meeting between lovers
Example
They arranged a secret tryst in the park.
C2 adjective /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪbəl/

exhaustible

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

forecourt

Meaning
an open area in front of a large building, especially a petrol station or hotel
Example
The car was parked in the hotel forecourt.
C2 noun /ˈiːɒn/ or /ˈiːən/

aeon

Meaning
An indefinitely long period of time; an age or eternity.
Example
Dinosaurs roamed the Earth millions of aeons ago.
C2 noun /ˌæv.oʊˈkeɪ.ʃən/

avocation

Meaning
a hobby or minor occupation pursued in addition to one's main work
Example
Painting is his avocation after office hours.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪvəˈɡeɪʃən/

divagation

Meaning
digression; wandering from a path or subject
Example
His lecture was full of divagation, making it hard to follow the main point.
C2 noun /ˌænɪmædˈvɜːʒən/

animadversion

Meaning
Strong criticism or censure.
Example
The policy attracted severe animadversion from the public.
C2 noun /sfɛˈrɪsɪti/

sphericity

Meaning
The quality or state of being spherical; roundness.
Example
The sphericity of the ball made it roll smoothly on the ground.
C2 noun /ˌsæv.wɑːr ˈfeər/

savoir-faire

Meaning
The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations; polished social skills.
Example
She handled the delicate situation with remarkable savoir-faire.
C2 noun /hɜːrs/

Hearse

Meaning
a vehicle for conveying the coffin at a funeral; a funeral car
Example
The black hearse slowly made its way to the cemetery, followed by a procession of mourners.
C2 adjective /ˈdɔːrsəl/

dorsal

Meaning
Relating to the back or upper side of an animal or body part.
Example
Sharks have a prominent dorsal fin.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/

deferential

Meaning
Showing or expressing respect and high regard.
Example
He was always deferential toward his teachers.
C2 adjective /əˈkjuː.zəˌtɔːr.i/

accusatory

Meaning
Suggesting blame or indicating someone has done wrong.
Example
He gave her an accusatory glance.
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 /mæn əv wɔːr/

Man of war

Meaning
a warship; a naval vessel equipped with weapons for warfare
Example
The man of war sailed across the ocean to defend the coast.
C2 noun /ˌkæl.sɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

calcification

Meaning
The process of calcium accumulation in soil, making it hard.
Example
Calcification reduces soil permeability and affects crop growth.
C2 noun /ˌhaɪdroʊməˈkænɪks/

hydromechanics

Meaning
The study of the mechanical properties and behavior of fluids in motion and at rest.
Example
Hydromechanics provides the foundation for naval architecture.
C2 adjective /ˌpɒliˈæn.ɪ.ɪʃ/

pollyannaish

Meaning
overly or blindly optimistic
Example
Her pollyannaish attitude ignored the obvious problems.
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/verb /dɪsˈfeɪvər/

disfavor

Meaning
disapproval or dislike; to regard with disapproval
Example
The new policy fell into disfavor with the public.
C2 verb /ɛksˈproʊprieɪt/

expropriate

Meaning
To take property from its owner, especially by authority or for public use.
Example
The government decided to expropriate the land for a new highway.
C2 noun /dreɪk/

Drake

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