Educational
teetotaler
[tee-toht-ler]
a person who refrains from alcoholic drink
vermouth
[ver-mooth]
a white wine in which herbs, roots, barks, and bitters have been steeped to make it aromatic
shibboleth
[shib-uh-lith]
a common saying or belief with little current meaning or truth
noetic
[noh-et-ik]
originating in or apprehended by the reason
tory
[tawr-ee]
an American colonist who supported the British side during the American Revolution
banshee
[ban-shee]
(in Irish legend) a female spirit whose wailing warns of an impending death in a house
amalgam
[uh-mal-guhm]
a blend or mixture
brackish
[brak-ish]
having a slightly salty or briny flavor
subterfuge
[suhb-ter-fyooj]
an artifice or expedient used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, hide something, etc.
writhe
[rahyth]
to shrink mentally in discomfort or embarrassment.
belie
[bih-lahy]
to show to be false; contradict
sigil
[sij-il]
a seal or signet
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"
dissertation
[dis-er-tey-shuhn]
a written essay, treatise, or thesis, especially one written by a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
disparage
[dih-spar-ij]
to bring reproach or discredit upon; lower the estimation of
solipsism
[sol-ip-siz-uhm]
the theory that only the self exists, or can be proved to exist
aghast
[uh-gast]
struck with overwhelming shock or amazement; filled with sudden fright or horror
abyss
[uh-bis]
a vast chasm, or a deep immeasurable space or cavity
ailurophile
[ahy-loor-uh-fahyl]
a person who likes cats; cat fancier
yarborough
[yahr-bur-oh]
a hand in which no card is higher than a nine
trousseau
[troo-soh]
an outfit, clothing, or linen for a bride
heuristic
[hyoo-ris-tik]
encouraging a person to learn, discover, understand, or solve problems on his or her own, as by experimenting, evaluating possible answers or solutions, or by trial and error
cunctation
[kuhngk-tey-shuhn]
lateness; delay
glean
[gleen]
to collect or gather anything little by little or slowly