CEFR Level
curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement
"He had a droll sense of humor that made everyone laugh."
worthless or unwanted material; rubbish or impurities
"Most of his early writings were considered dross."
A person made to do hard, menial, or dull work.
"He felt like a drudge, stuck in repetitive tasks all day."
a small drum used in military or marching bands
"The drummer played a steady beat on the drumet during the parade."
dehydrated amla fruit, rich in vitamin C and used for medicinal and culinary purposes
"Dry goose berry powder is excellent for hair growth."
a tangy powder made from dried raw mangoes, used as a spice in Indian cuisine
"The chef sprinkled dry mango powder over the chaat for extra tanginess."
capable of being stretched into a thin wire without breaking; easily influenced
"Gold is a very ductile metal."
an older woman acting as a governess or chaperone, especially in Spanish families
"The young lady was accompanied by a duenna during the festival."
sweet and soothing (often used ironically)
"She was enchanted by his dulcet voice."
a slow or stupid person
"He was considered a dullard by his classmates."
to greatly astonish or shock someone so they are temporarily speechless
"The magician's trick dumbfounded the audience."
To deceive or trick someone into believing or doing something.
"He was duped into buying a fake watch."
Deceitful; deliberately deceptive or dishonest.
"The politician was criticized for his duplicitous statements."
Deceitfulness or double-dealing; dishonesty.
"Her duplicity was revealed during the investigation."
imprisonment or confinement
"The prisoner spent years in durance before his release."
dutiful; obedient and respectful
"The duteous child always followed her parents’ instructions."
subject to customs duty or tax
"Imported electronics are often dutiable at the border."
A unit of force in the centimeter-gram-second (cgs) system equal to 10⁻⁵ newtons.
"The physicist measured the force in dynes."
A prefix meaning abnormal, bad, difficult, or impaired.
"Words like 'dysfunction' and 'dyslexia' use the prefix dys- to indicate difficulty or impairment."
Relating to indigestion or having a gloomy or irritable disposition.
"After the heavy meal, he felt dyspeptic and uncomfortable."
A young eagle.
"The eaglet waited in the nest for its mother to return."
the range or distance within which a sound can be heard
"The children whispered secrets out of earshot of their parents."
extremely loud or piercing sound
"The earsplitting noise of the fire alarm startled everyone."
the movement of the tide out to sea; a time when the sea level is falling
"During ebb-tide, we could walk further out on the beach."
the quality of being cheerful, enthusiastic, and full of energy
"The teacher's ebullience inspired her students."
cheerful and full of energy
"She was ebullient after receiving the good news."
A member of the clergy or church official.
"The council was attended by several high-ranking ecclesiastics."
Brilliant success, acclaim, or great public approval.
"The artist's debut performance was met with great éclat."
A method or practice of deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.
"The architect’s work shows eclecticism by blending modern and traditional elements."
The apparent path of the sun across the sky; relating to eclipses or this path.
"The ecliptic is the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun."
The study of the effects of chemical pollution on the environment.
"Ecotoxicology studies the effects of pesticides on wildlife."
Promoting unity among different Christian churches or religions.
"The leaders gathered for an ecumenical conference to encourage dialogue."
A circular movement of water, air, or smoke, counter to the main current, causing a small whirlpool or turbulence.
"The canoe was caught in an eddy near the rocks."
To instruct or improve someone morally or intellectually.
"Good books can both entertain and edify the reader."
Providing moral or intellectual instruction or enlightenment.
"The documentary was both entertaining and edifying."
To draw out or bring forth something latent or hidden.
"The teacher tried to educe a response from the shy student."
To erase or wipe out something; to make oneself inconspicuous.
"Time had effaced the letters on the old gravestone."
erasing or making oneself inconspicuous; to remove or diminish in significance
"She kept effacing herself during the meeting so that others could shine."
producing a desired or intended effect, often used in formal contexts
"Her effectual efforts brought peace to the community."
to put into force or cause to happen; to bring about
"The manager effectuated the changes to improve efficiency."
The quality of showing traits traditionally associated with women, such as delicacy or softness.
"In ancient times, effeminacy was often criticized as a sign of weakness."
Having traits, tastes, or habits traditionally considered feminine, often used negatively for men.
"The critics described him as effeminate due to his gentle manner."
To give off bubbles of gas; to show excitement, liveliness, or enthusiasm.
"The soda began to effervesce as soon as it was opened."
The release of gas bubbles; vivacity or high-spiritedness.
"Her effervescence made her the life of the party."
Giving off bubbles; lively, enthusiastic, and full of energy.
"She had an effervescent personality that brightened every room."
Lacking vitality, strength, or effectiveness; weak and overrefined.
"The empire became effete after centuries of indulgence."
Effective in producing the desired result.
"The medicine proved efficacious in treating the disease."
the process of flowering or reaching an optimal stage of development
"The garden was at the peak of its efflorescence in spring."
in the process of blooming or flourishing
"The efflorescent trees made the park look beautiful."
