Educational

askance

[uh-skans]

with suspicion, mistrust, or disapproval

finesse

[fi-ness]

extreme delicacy or subtlety in action, performance, skill, discrimination, taste, etc.

unabashed

[uhn-uh-basht]

not ashamed, disconcerted, or apologetic; boldly certain of one's position

abeyance

[uh-bey-uhns]

temporary inactivity, cessation, or suspension

grift

[grift]

a group of methods for obtaining money falsely through the use of swindles, frauds, dishonest gambling, etc.

allege

[uh-lej]

to assert without proof

contemporary

[kuhn-tem-puh-rer-ee]

of the present time; modern

compact

[kuhm-pakt, kom-pakt]

joined or packed together; closely and firmly united; dense; solid

emulate

[em-yuh-leyt]

to try to equal or excel; imitate with effort to equal or surpass

swoon

[swoon]

to enter a state of hysterical rapture or ecstasy

insurgent

[in-sur-juhnt]

of or characteristic of an insurgent or insurgents

imprudent

[im-prood-nt]

not prudent; lacking discretion; incautious; rash

limerick

[lim-er-ik]

a kind of humorous verse of five lines, in which the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme with each other, and the third and fourth lines, which are shorter, form a rhymed couplet

pivotal

[piv-uh-tl]

of vital or critical importance

nuzzle

[nuhz-uhl]

to thrust the nose, muzzle, etc.

pitiable

[pit-ee-uh-buhl]

evoking or deserving pity; lamentable; miserable; contemptible

haphazard

[hap-haz-erd]

characterized by lack of order or planning, by irregularity, or by randomness; determined by or dependent on chance; aimless

interlay

[in-ter-ley]

to lay between; interpose

vanguard

[van-gahrd]

the forefront in any movement, field, activity, or the like

predilection

[pred-l-ek-shuhn]

a tendency to think favorably of something in particular; partiality; preference

braggart

[brag-ert]

a person who does a lot of bragging

judicial

[joo-dish-uhl]

pertaining to judgment in courts of justice or to the administration of justice

rancid

[ran-sid]

having a rank, unpleasant, stale smell or taste, as through decomposition

cinematic

[sin-uh-mat-ik]

having to do with movies, as either an industry or an art form