Day 33

45 words to learn

0 / 45 words learned

abyss

deep cavity

uh-BIHS

a deep hole or cavity

archaeology

study of antiquity

ahr-kee-OL-uh-jee

the study of physical remains of past cultures and periods of history

axiom

principle

AAK-see-uhm

a universally recognized principle or rule

befuddle

confuse

bih-FUHD-l

to confuse with glib statements

bourgeois

middle class

boor-ZHWAA

consisting of the middle class

canvass

examine carefully

KAN-vuhs

to examine carefully; discuss

cartography

art of drawing maps

kahr-TAHG-ruh-fee

the art of making maps

catholic

universal

KAA-thlihk

universal; broad-minded

chantey

sailors song

SHAN-tee

a song sung by sailors in rhythm to work

chastisement

punishment

CHAS-tiz-muhnt

punishment; severe criticism

conviction

firm belief

kuhn-VIK-shuhn

firm belief

crass

coarse, stupid

kras

coarse, stupid

didactic

intended to teach

dy-DAK-tik

intended to teach or instruct

discord

disagreement

dis-kawrd

lack of agreement or harmony between persons or things

edifice

building

ED-uh-fis

building; structure; construction

egregious

outrageous

ih-GREE-juhs

outstandingly bad

embellish

decorate

ehm-BEHL-ihsh

to beautify by adding ornamental details

filibuster

delaying tactics

FIL-uh-bus-tur

using prolonged speech making to delay legislative action

flinch

wince

flinch

to move back; wince

halcyon

calm

HAL-see-un

calm and peaceful

holster

carrying case

HOHL-ster

carrying case

imperious

domineering

im-PEER-ee-us

domineering, commanding

invidious

envious

ihn-VIHD-ee-uhs

tending to arouse envy

irksome

irritating

URK-suhm

irritating, tiresome

larceny

theft

LAAR-suh-nee

the crime of stealing personal goods from someone

liberality

bounty

lib-uh-RAL-i-tee

generosity

misconstrue

misinterpret

mis-kuhn-STROO

put a wrong interpretation on something; misinterpret

pestilence

epidemic

PEH-stihl-ehns

any epidemic outbreak of a deadly and highly infectious disease, such as the plague

precursor

predecessor

PRE-kur-sur

predecessor

proliferate

increase quickly

proh-LIH-fuhr-ayt

to increase quickly

propitious

favorable

proh-PI-shus

auspicious, favorable

protagonist

central figure

proh-TAG-uh-nist

main character in film, book, play etc.

rift

fissure

rift

fissure; a difference in opinion or belief

rigor

thoroughness

RIG-er

thoroughness

seemly

appropriate

SEEM-lee

appropriate (of behavior); fitting

senescent

aging

sih-NEHS-uhnt

aging, growing old

subtle

not obvious

SUH-tul

not obvious; difficult to discern; crafty

taciturn

not talkative

TAA-sih-tuhrn

not talkative; quiet

tamper

interfere

TAM-per

interfere

thespian

actor

THES-pee-uhn

an actor or actress

undermine

weaken

uhn-der-MAHYN

to weaken gradually

unprepossessing

unattractive

uhn-pree-puh-ZES-ing

not creating a favorable impression; unattractive

variegated

multicolored

VAAR-ee-uh-GAYT-ehd

marked with different colors; varied

voluble

talkative

VAHL-yuh-buhl

talkative, fluent

vortex

whirlpool

VAWR-teks

a mass of air, water etc. that spins around very fast and pulls things into its center