Educational
spondee
[spon-dee]
in poetry, a "foot" of two syllables, both of which are long in quantitative meter or stressed in accentual meter
crwth
[krooth]
ancient Celtic instrument that is similar to a violin
abrogate
[ab-ruh-geyt]
to abolish by formal or official means; annul by an authoritative act; repeal
alabaster
[al-uh-bas-ter]
a finely granular variety of gypsum, often white and translucent, used for ornamental objects or work, such as lamp bases, figurines, etc.
Fun
piffle
[pif-uhl]
nonsense, as trivial or senseless talk
jabberwocky
[jab-er-wok-ee]
invented or meaningless language; nonsense
bougie
[boo-zhee, ‐jee]
relating to or characteristic of a person who indulges in some of the luxuries and comforts of a fancy lifestyle; relating to or characteristic of a person who aspires to the upper middle class, especially when regarded as being elitist or snobbish
shambolic
[sham-bol-ik]
very disorganized; messy or confused
Slang
knackered
[nak-erd]
exhausted; very tired
blatherskite
[blath-er-skahyt]
a person given to voluble, empty talk; nonsense; blather
ribald
[rib-uhld]
vulgar or indecent in speech, language, etc.; coarsely mocking, abusive, or irreverent; scurrilous
schadenfreude
[shahd-n-froi-duh]
satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune
Uncommon
Trending
jejune
[ji-joon]
(of ideas or writings) dry and uninteresting
tyro
[tahy-roh]
a beginner in learning anything; novice
sigil
[sij-il]
a pictorial symbol used in ritualistic magic and supposed to have supernatural power
limivorous
[lahy-miv-er-uhs]
of or relating to animals, usually worms or bivalves, that ingest earth or mud to extract the organic matter from it
torrid
[tawr-id]
ardent; passionate
rhadamanthine
[rad-uh-man-theen]
portraying strict and inflexible judgment
propitiate
[pruh-pish-ee-eyt]
to make favorably inclined; appease; conciliate
prothalamion
[proh-thuh-ley-mee-on]
a song or poem celebrating an upcoming wedding
rutilant
[root-l-uhnt]
glowing or glittering with red or golden light
weave
[weev]
to interlace (threads, yarns, strips, fibrous material, etc.) so as to form a fabric or material
petty
[pet-ee]
of little or no importance or consequence
avuncular
[uh-vuhng-kyuh-ler]
acting like an uncle, as in being kind, patient, generous, etc., especially to younger people
tautology
[taw-tol-uh-jee]
needless repetition of an idea, especially in words other than those of the immediate context, without imparting additional force or clearness, as in "widow woman"
noisome
[noi-suhm]
of or related to an offensive, unpleasant, or disgusting as an odor
pule
[pyool]
to cry in a thin voice; whine; whimper
bellicose
[bel-i-kohs]
inclined or eager to fight; aggressively hostile; belligerent; pugnacious
shambolic
[sham-bol-ik]
very disorganized; messy or confused
pretermit
[pree-ter-mit]
to let pass without notice; disregard
pellucid
[puh-loo-sid]
allowing the maximum passage of light, as glass; translucent; clear
sycophant
[sik-uh-fuhnt, sik-uh-fant]
a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite
serpentine
[sur-puhn-teen]
of, characteristic of, or resembling a serpent, as in form or movement
hegira
[hi-jahy-ruh]
any flight or journey to a more desirable or congenial place
persiflage
[pur-suh-flahzh]
light and slightly contemptuous mockery or banter
diphthong
[dif-thawng]
a sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable, in which the sound begins as one vowel and moves toward another (as in coin, loud, and side)