witticism
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C2 noun /ˈwɪtɪˌsɪzəm/

witticism

Meaning
a clever or funny remark
Example
Her witticism made everyone laugh during the meeting.
C2 noun /ˈkwaɪəˌtuːd/

quietude

Meaning
A state of stillness and tranquility.
Example
She enjoys the quietude of the countryside.
C2 verb /məˈlɪŋɡər/

malinger

Meaning
to exaggerate or fake illness in order to escape duty or work
Example
He tried to malinger to avoid going to school.
C2 adjective /ˌɑːrbəˈrɛsənt/

arborescent

Meaning
having the appearance or characteristics of a tree; tree-like
Example
The coral had an arborescent form that resembled a miniature forest.
C2 noun ˌɒbfəsˈkeɪʃən

obfuscation

Meaning
The action of making something obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.
Example
The obfuscation of the data made it difficult to interpret.
C2 adjective /mæɡˈnæn.ɪ.məs/

magnanimous

Meaning
Very kind and generous, especially towards a rival or someone less powerful than oneself.
Example
His magnanimous nature made him respected by all.
C2 verb /ˈbaʊdləˌraɪz/

bowdlerize

Meaning
to remove or modify parts of a text considered offensive or inappropriate
Example
The editor bowdlerized the novel to make it suitable for children.
C2 adjective /ˌkrɪp.təˈɡræf.ɪk/

cryptographic

Meaning
Relating to cryptography; involving or using secret codes or ciphers for security.
Example
Banks use cryptographic technology to protect transactions.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈtɒmɪk/

diatomic

Meaning
Consisting of two atoms.
Example
Oxygen is a diatomic molecule.
C2 noun /ˈfʌriər/

furrier

Meaning
A person who prepares or deals in furs.
Example
The furrier displayed fine coats in his shop.
C2 noun /ˈdʒuː.dɪˌkeɪ.tʃər/

judicature

Meaning
the administration of justice or the system of courts
Example
The judicature ensures that laws are fairly applied.
C2 verb /kəˈlʌmnieɪt/

calumniate

Meaning
To make false and damaging statements about someone; to slander.
Example
He was furious when he realized they had calumniated his reputation.
C2 noun lɑːˈʒɛs

largesse

Meaning
Generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others.
Example
His largesse towards the charity was greatly appreciated.
C2 adjective /ˈfuːlˌhɑːrdi/

foolhardy

Meaning
Recklessly bold or rash; taking foolish risks.
Example
It was foolhardy of him to climb the mountain without proper gear.
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 /ˈpɑːrləs/

parlous

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

offertory

Meaning
The part of a religious service when offerings are collected; the offering itself.
Example
The offertory was taken during the Sunday service.
C2 noun /ˈɡraɪndstoʊn/

grindstone

Meaning
a thick disc of stone used for grinding, sharpening, or polishing tools
Example
The blacksmith sharpened his blade on the grindstone.
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 verb /ɡɪld/

gild

Meaning
to cover something with a thin layer of gold or to make something appear more attractive than it really is
Example
The craftsman gilded the frame to give it a luxurious look.
C2 noun /ɪnˈhɪərəns/

inherence

Meaning
The state of being an essential or permanent part of something.
Example
The inherence of risk is part of every business venture.
C2 noun /ˈæltruɪst/

altruist

Meaning
a person who has an unselfish concern for the welfare of others
Example
He is an altruist who always puts others' needs before his own.
C2 noun /ˌbaɪ.oʊ.rɪˌmiː.diˈeɪ.ʃən/

bioremediation

Meaning
The use of living organisms to neutralize or remove environmental contaminants.
Example
Bioremediation helps remove toxins from polluted soil.
C2 adjective /ˈɡɔːki/

gawky

Meaning
Awkward and clumsy in appearance or behavior.
Example
The teenager felt gawky in his oversized suit.
C2 noun /ˈʌŋɡwənt/

unguent

Meaning
A soothing or healing ointment applied to the skin.
Example
The doctor applied an unguent to heal the burn.
C2 noun /ˈmoʊlə ˈkɑrplɪt/

Mola carplet

Meaning
a small freshwater fish of the carp family, commonly found in South Asian rivers and ponds
Example
The mola carplet is a popular small fish used in Bengali cuisine.
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 noun /θroʊz/

throes

Meaning
intense or violent pain and struggle, often at the beginning or end of something
Example
The country was in the throes of a political crisis.
C2 noun /hɪˈdʒɛməni/ or /ˈhɛdʒəmoʊni/

hegemony

Meaning
leadership or dominance, especially by one state or group over others
Example
The empire maintained its hegemony over neighboring states.
C2 noun /ˌmjuːtəˈbɪləti/

mutability

Meaning
The quality of being changeable or capable of change.
Example
The mutability of fashion trends makes it hard to keep up.
C2 noun /oʊf/

Oaf

Meaning
a clumsy, stupid, or insensitive person
Example
Don't be such an oaf - handle the dishes carefully!
C2 noun /mæŋˈɡoʊ.li.ə/

Mangolia

Meaning
a type of flowering tree with large, fragrant pink or white flowers
Example
The beautiful magnolia tree bloomed in spring with pink flowers.
C2 noun /ˈdʒɛntaɪl/

gentile

Meaning
A person who is not Jewish
Example
The synagogue welcomed both Jews and Gentiles.
C2 noun /ˈhækəlz/

hackles

Meaning
the hairs on the back of an animal’s neck that rise when it is angry or alarmed; figuratively, feelings of anger or resentment
Example
His rude comment raised my hackles.
C2 noun /ˈtɪl.ər/

Tiller

Meaning
a person who tills or cultivates land; a farmer
Example
The tiller worked hard in the fields every morning.
C2 verb /ˈwaŋɡl/

wangle

Meaning
To achieve something by clever or sometimes dishonest persuasion or trickery.
Example
He wangled a free ticket to the concert.
C2 noun /ˈpɪərɪdʒ/

peerage

Meaning
the title or rank of a peer; the nobility as a group
Example
He was elevated to the peerage by the king.
C2 noun /ˌself əˈbeɪs.mənt/

self-abasement

Meaning
The act of belittling or humiliating oneself.
Example
His constant self-abasement made others uncomfortable.
C2 noun /wiːl/

weal

Meaning
A raised mark on the skin left after a blow; or general well-being and prosperity.
Example
The charity worked for the common weal of the community.
C2 adjective /ˈtjuːtɪlɑːr/

tutelar

Meaning
Serving as a guardian or protector.
Example
The tutelar spirit of the forest was believed to protect travelers.
C2 verb /əˈdjuːs/

adduce

Meaning
To provide evidence or reasons to support an argument or idea.
Example
The lawyer adduced several examples to support his case.
C2 noun /ˌriːkruːˈdɛsəns/

recrudescence

Meaning
a new outbreak or revival of something that had subsided, especially an undesirable condition
Example
Health officials warned of a recrudescence of measles in several districts.
C2 verb /ˌɛfəˈvɛs/

effervesce

Meaning
To give off bubbles of gas; to show excitement, liveliness, or enthusiasm.
Example
The soda began to effervesce as soon as it was opened.
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 noun /traɪst/

tryst

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

physiognomy

Meaning
the study of facial features to judge character or personality
Example
He believed in physiognomy and tried to read people's personalities from their faces.
C2 noun /ˈfoʊ.li.oʊ/

folio

Meaning
A sheet of paper folded once to form two leaves (four pages) of a book; also a term for a large book or manuscript.
Example
The library houses an ancient Shakespeare folio.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈæl.əˌbæs.tər/

alabaster

Meaning
A fine-grained, usually white variety of gypsum, often used for carving; also describes something smooth and pale like alabaster.
Example
The statue was carved from pure alabaster.
C2 verb /bɪˈθɪŋk/

bethink

Meaning
to cause oneself to consider or remember something
Example
He bethought himself of the promise he had made.
C2 verb /ˈdʒɜːrnəlaɪz/

journalize

Meaning
to record daily transactions or events in a journal, especially in accounting
Example
The accountant will journalize all financial transactions at the end of the day.
C2 noun /ˈpruːdəri/

prudery

Meaning
the behavior or attitude of people who are too easily shocked or offended by sexual matters
Example
His prudery often made others uncomfortable during open discussions.
C2 noun /ˈsfɛrɔɪd/

spheroid

Meaning
A three-dimensional shape that is almost spherical but slightly flattened or elongated.
Example
The Earth is not a perfect sphere but an oblate spheroid.
C2 noun /stɒˈkeɪd/

stockade

Meaning
a defensive barrier made of strong posts or timbers, often around a fort or prison
Example
The prisoners were kept inside the wooden stockade.
C2 verb /bɪˈɡaɪl/

beguile

Meaning
to charm or enchant someone, often in a deceptive way
Example
She beguiled the audience with her storytelling.
C2 verb /ˈɒsɪfaɪ/

ossify

Meaning
to turn into bone or become rigid and inflexible
Example
With age, some tissues tend to ossify.
C2 adjective /daɪˈdæktɪk/

didactic

Meaning
Intended to teach, often with a moral lesson.
Example
The novel is not just entertaining but also didactic in nature.
C2 noun /ˈkɒrənɛt/

coronet

Meaning
a small crown, especially one worn by a prince, princess, or noble
Example
She wore a delicate coronet on her head for the ceremony.
C2 verb /ɪˈmɛnd/

emend

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

frizzle

Meaning
to fry something until it becomes crisp and curled, or to make a sizzling noise
Example
The bacon began to frizzle in the pan.
C2 noun /bʊr/

Boor

Meaning
a rough and bad-mannered person; someone who lacks refinement or culture
Example
The wealthy businessman was actually a boor who showed no respect for others.
C2 noun /ˈoʊɡər/

ogre

Meaning
A mythical monster, often depicted as large, hideous, and cruel; metaphorically, a cruel or terrifying person.
Example
The villagers feared the ogre who lived in the dark forest.
C2 adjective /dɪˈkɔːrəs/

decourous

Meaning
characterized by propriety, good taste, and proper manners
Example
She maintained a decourous silence during the ceremony.
C2 noun, adjective /ˈɡɒsəmər/

gossamer

Meaning
Something light, thin, and delicate, like a fine fabric or cobweb.
Example
The bride's veil was made of delicate gossamer fabric.
C2 verb /ˌænɪmədˈvɜːt/

animadvert

Meaning
To comment critically or unfavorably.
Example
The teacher animadverted on the student's careless mistakes.
C2 adjective /kənˈvɜːrsənt/

conversant

Meaning
familiar with or knowledgeable about something
Example
She is conversant with the latest developments in technology.
C2 adjective /ˈbeɪlfəl/

baleful

Meaning
Threatening harm; menacing or expressing hatred.
Example
She gave him a baleful look after the insult.
C2 adjective /ˌiːvənˈhændɪd/

evenhanded

Meaning
Fair and impartial; showing no bias or favoritism.
Example
The judge was praised for her evenhanded approach to the case.
C2 adjective /ˈmæk.jʊˌleɪ.tɪd/

maculated

Meaning
Spotted or stained; marked with blemishes.
Example
The maculated surface of the old mirror gave it a unique charm.
C2 noun /rɪˈpoʊst/

riposte

Meaning
a quick and clever reply to criticism or an insult
Example
Her sharp riposte left everyone in silence.
C2 adjective /ˈfʌsti/

fusty

Meaning
smelling stale, damp, or stuffy; old-fashioned
Example
The room smelled fusty after being closed for months.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒndaɪn/

condign

Meaning
deserved, appropriate, and fitting (especially punishment)
Example
The criminal received condign punishment for his crimes.
C2 adverb /əˈskæns/

askance

Meaning
With suspicion, mistrust, or disapproval.
Example
She looked askance at his unusual proposal.
C2 noun /ˈkætəˌklɪzəm/

cataclysm

Meaning
A sudden and violent event that causes great destruction or upheaval.
Example
The earthquake was a cataclysm that reshaped the city.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈpɛn.ɪ.tənt/

impenitent

Meaning
Not feeling regret or shame about one's actions.
Example
The criminal remained impenitent after the trial.
C2 noun kwɔːrk

quark

Meaning
A fundamental subatomic particle that combines to form protons and neutrons.
Example
Quarks form protons and neutrons.
C2 verb /dɪˈsɪmjʊˌleɪt/

dissimulate

Meaning
To disguise or conceal one's true feelings or intentions.
Example
He tried to dissimulate his fear with a smile.
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 /ˈiːɡres/

egress

Meaning
The action of going out or leaving a place; an exit.
Example
The emergency door provided an egress for the trapped workers.
C2 verb /ˌnɒnˈplʌs/

nonplus

Meaning
To surprise and confuse someone so much that they are unsure how to react.
Example
The unexpected question seemed to nonplus the speaker.
C2 noun /ˈsɛʃən/

cession

Meaning
The formal giving up of rights, property, or territory, especially by a state.
Example
The treaty resulted in the cession of land to the neighboring country.
C2 adjective /ˈæfərənt/

afferent

Meaning
carrying impulses toward a central organ or part, especially toward the brain or spinal cord
Example
Afferent nerves carry signals from the body to the brain.
C2 adjective /dɪˈtɜːrmɪnət/

determinate

Meaning
having exact and definite limits or form
Example
The contract is for a determinate period of two years.
C2 adjective /ɪˈkwɪvəkəl/

equivocal

Meaning
Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous.
Example
His equivocal answer confused everyone.
C2 adjective /dɪˈspjuːtəbl/

Disputable

Meaning
open to debate or argument; questionable
Example
The facts in the case are disputable and need further investigation.
C2 noun /prɔːŋ/

prong

Meaning
a projecting pointed part, such as one of the pointed ends of a fork
Example
The fork has four prongs.
C2 noun /liːdʒ/

liege

Meaning
A feudal lord entitled to allegiance and service; a loyal subject.
Example
The knight pledged loyalty to his liege.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkɒŋɡruənt/

incongruent

Meaning
Not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects.
Example
His casual outfit looked incongruent at the formal dinner.
C2 noun /ˈəʊpəs/

opus

Meaning
A creative work, especially a large and important piece of music or art.
Example
The composer considered the symphony his greatest opus.
C2 noun /ˌɛərəˈstætɪks/

aerostatics

Meaning
The branch of physics that deals with the equilibrium of air and gases and the forces acting on bodies in them.
Example
Aerostatics is essential for understanding how balloons float.
C2 adjective /ˌɔːfˈkiː/

off-key

Meaning
out of tune; not in accordance with expected standards
Example
The singer was slightly off-key during the performance.
C2 noun əˈdrɔɪt.nəs

adroitness

Meaning
Cleverness or skill, especially in using the hands or mind; skillful dexterity.
Example
His adroitness in negotiations secured the deal.
C2 adjective /ˌpriːpəˈzɛsɪŋ/

prepossessing

Meaning
Attractive or appealing in appearance or manner.
Example
She had a prepossessing smile that charmed everyone.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnsəˈluːbriəs/

insalubrious

Meaning
Unhealthy or not conducive to well-being.
Example
They moved out of the insalubrious neighborhood for the sake of their health.
C2 noun /ˌsɜːrkəmləˈkjuːʃn/

circumlocution

Meaning
the use of many words when fewer would do, especially to avoid stating something directly
Example
The politician's speech was filled with circumlocution.
C2 noun /ˈtrɛsəl/

trestle

Meaning
a frame or support consisting of a horizontal beam held up by two pairs of sloping legs, used especially for supporting a bridge or table
Example
The workers built a wooden trestle to support the temporary bridge.
C2 adjective /ˌkloʊs ˈhɔːld/

close-hauled

Meaning
of a sailing ship, sailing as nearly as possible towards the direction from which the wind is blowing.
Example
The yacht was close-hauled as it cut through the waves.
C2 adjective /ˌmɒnəkrəˈmætɪk/

monochromatic

Meaning
Consisting of or displaying only one color.
Example
The artist created a striking monochromatic painting in shades of blue.
C2 adjective /ˌpɪkəˈrɛsk/

picaresque

Meaning
relating to a style of fiction depicting the adventures of a roguish hero
Example
The novel is a picaresque tale of a clever vagabond.
C2 adjective /ˈflæs.ɪd/

Flaccid

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

bulbous

Meaning
Bulging, round, or swollen in shape; resembling a bulb.
Example
The frog had a bulbous nose and big eyes.
C2 adjective /ˈɪl bred/

Ill-bred

Meaning
lacking good manners; rude; showing poor upbringing
Example
His ill-bred behavior shocked everyone at the dinner party.
C2 adjective /pəˈlædʒ.ɪk/

pelagic

Meaning
Relating to the open sea or ocean water column, away from the shore.
Example
Pelagic fish like tuna are found far from the coast.
C2 noun /ɡlʌt/

glut

Meaning
An excessive supply of something; more than is needed.
Example
There was a glut of cheap smartphones in the market.
C2 adjective /hɛkˈsæŋɡjələr/

hexangular

Meaning
Having six angles or corners.
Example
The artist designed a hexangular frame for the mirror.
C2 noun /ɪnˈtɛnʃən/

intension

Meaning
The internal content of a concept; the set of attributes implied by a word or phrase.
Example
The intension of the word 'dog' includes being a mammal and domesticated.
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 noun /ˈdæstərd/

dastard

Meaning
a cowardly or dishonorable person
Example
Only a dastard would betray his closest friend.
C2 noun /kɒnˌtek.stʃu.ə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/

contextualization

Meaning
The process of placing something in its proper context or setting to understand it better.
Example
Contextualization of historical events helps students understand them better.
C2 noun /əˈsɜːrbəti/

acerbity

Meaning
bitterness or sharpness of tone, manner, or taste
Example
The acerbity of his remarks left everyone silent.
C2 adverb /əˈbɛd/

abed

Meaning
in bed
Example
She stayed abed all day due to illness.
C2 noun /ˈpjuː.pɪ.lɪdʒ/

pupilage

Meaning
The state of being a pupil or under instruction.
Example
During his pupilage, he studied law under a senior barrister.
C2 noun /ˈmaɪtər/

miter

Meaning
a tall, pointed hat worn by bishops; also a type of joint made between two pieces of material
Example
The bishop placed the miter on his head during the ceremony.
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 /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 noun, verb /ˈtræməl/

trammel

Meaning
A restriction or impediment to freedom of action; to restrict.
Example
The strict rules trammel the creativity of the students.
C2 verb /ˈɪŋkʌlpeɪt/

inculpate

Meaning
To blame or accuse someone of wrongdoing.
Example
The evidence seemed to inculpate the suspect in the crime.
C2 noun /ˈdəʊ.lər/

dolor

Meaning
A state of great sorrow or distress.
Example
The nation was in deep dolor after the tragedy.
C2 adjective /eɪˈsɛfələs/

acephalous

Meaning
having no leader or head; headless
Example
The acephalous group soon fell into disorganization.
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 /ˈkɒɡneɪt/

cognate

Meaning
a word related to another word in origin; having the same linguistic root
Example
The Spanish word 'madre' and the English word 'mother' are cognates.