CEFR Level
unsophisticated person from a rural area; country bumpkin
"He had a hick accent from growing up in a small town."
unwilling or unable to change because of tradition or convention
"He is too hidebound to accept new ideas."
A picture or symbol used in ancient writing systems, especially Egyptian writing.
"The walls of the temple were covered in hieroglyphs."
Relating to or written in hieroglyphs; symbols or writing that is difficult to understand.
"The archaeologists studied the hieroglyphic inscriptions carefully."
Using fancy or pretentious language; lofty in style but often overblown.
"The politician gave a high-flown speech full of promises."
intellectually superior or cultured; often describing art, literature, or activities appealing to intellectual tastes
"The museum is known for its highbrow exhibitions."
Extreme amusement, especially when expressed by laughter.
"The movie caused great hilarity among the audience."
A small hill or mound.
"The children climbed up the grassy hillock to watch the sunset."
a popular fish species found in South Asian rivers, especially prized in Bengali cuisine
"Hilsa fish is considered a delicacy in Bengali culture."
a female deer, especially a red deer
"The hind protected her fawn from predators."
Farthest back; last in position.
"The hindmost car in the convoy broke down first."
A person who works for payment only, often with little loyalty or principle.
"The mercenary was dismissed as just a hireling with no real loyalty."
Having a lot of hair, especially in an unusual place.
"The hirsute man stood out in the crowd with his long beard."
Overly dramatic or theatrical in behavior or style.
"Her histrionic reaction to the small problem surprised everyone."
gray or white with age; very old and respected
"The hoary oak tree stood as a witness to centuries of history."
to walk awkwardly with difficulty, usually due to injury
"He hobbled across the room after twisting his ankle."
A confusing mixture of different things; a jumble.
"The essay was a hodgepodge of unrelated ideas."
a gardening tool with a thin metal blade used for breaking up soil and removing weeds
"The farmer used a hoe to remove weeds from his vegetable garden."
tropical fruit with yellow skin and sour taste
"Hog plums are often used to make pickles and chutneys."
A large cask or barrel, traditionally used for storing liquids like wine or beer.
"The cellar was filled with hogsheads of ale."
A holder or case for carrying a gun, typically worn on a belt or shoulder.
"The sheriff kept his revolver in a leather holster."
The ability of a living system or organism to maintain internal stability despite changes in external conditions.
"Sweating helps the body maintain homeostasis in hot weather."
Simple and unsophisticated; made at home rather than in a factory.
"She wore a homespun dress to the village festival."
A religious or moral lecture; a sermon.
"The priest delivered a touching homily on kindness."
The quality or state of being all the same or all of the same kind.
"The cultural homogeneity of the village made it feel unified."
To make uniform or similar by blending or mixing different elements.
"The company tried to homogenize its products across global markets."
Having the same relation, relative position, or structure, especially due to evolutionary origin.
"The wings of bats and the arms of humans are homologous structures."
A payment given for professional services that are rendered without a fee.
"The guest lecturer received an honorarium for her talk."
To deceive or trick someone.
"The scammer hoodwinked many people with false promises."
a large tropical bird with a large curved beak and often a horn-like projection
"The colorful hornbill perched on the highest branch."
a large species of leech that was traditionally used in veterinary medicine
"The veterinarian explained that horse-leach was once commonly used to treat horses."
Giving strong encouragement or urging.
"The teacher gave a hortative speech to motivate the students before the exam."
Intended to encourage or urge to action.
"The manager’s hortatory words inspired the team to work harder."
Stockings, socks, and other knitted clothing for the legs and feet.
"She bought new hosiery for the winter season."
An inn or lodging place, especially one for travelers.
"They stayed at a small hostelry near the mountains."
A mixed dish; a hodgepodge of ingredients cooked together
"She made a delicious hotch potch with rice, lentils, and vegetables."
a confused mixture; a jumbled assortment of things
"The room was a hotchpotch of old furniture, books, and random decorations."
a person who acts quickly and without thinking when angry
"He is such a hothead that he often starts arguments."
the crime of breaking into a house with intent to steal
"The thief was arrested for housebreaking."
a small, poorly built, and dirty house
"The refugees lived in a makeshift hovel."
a boisterous or tomboyish girl
"The hoyden preferred climbing trees to playing with dolls."
A person who sells small items aggressively, often in a showy or dishonest way.
"The huckster loudly promoted his goods in the busy marketplace."
A loud public outcry or protest, often demanding action.
"There was a hue and cry over the new policy changes."
Deceptive or false talk or behavior; nonsense.
"He dismissed the idea as humbug."
Lacking excitement or variety; dull and monotonous.
"She grew tired of the humdrum routine of office life."
The process of organic matter decomposition to form humus in soil.
"Humification enhances soil structure and fertility."
A small hill, mound, or ridge of earth or ice.
"The hikers rested on a grassy hummock by the river."
The dark, organic material in soil formed from decayed plants and animals.
"The gardener enriched the soil with humus to improve plant growth."
To move or cause to move at great speed, often in a dangerous way.
"The car hurtled down the mountain road."
