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English Vocabulary > Vocabulary Set 9 (24.05.14) > Flashcards

Vocabulary Set 9 (24.05.14) Flashcards

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1
Q

rifle (righ full) (v.)

A
  • to ransack especially with the intent to steal
  • to steal and carry away
    ex: I rifled his corpse, finding a light purse and a Covenant medallion.
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2
Q

plight (ply t) (v.)

A
  • to put or give in pledge : ENGAGE
    ex: plight his troth
    [Troth – ARCHAIC*FORMAL
    faith or loyalty when pledged in a solemn agreement or undertaking.
    “a token of troth”]
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3
Q

declaim (d clay m) (v.)

A
  • to speak rhetorically
    ex: speakers declaimed on a variety of issues
  • to speak pompously or bombastically : HARANGUE
    ex: In presence of this historical fact, it is foolish to declaim about natural rights.
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4
Q

palaver (pa lah vir) (v.) (n.)

A
  • a long parley usually between persons of different cultures or levels of sophistication
    ex: a palaver between foreign ministers
  • CONFERENCE, DISCUSSION
    ex: a palaver between union leaders
  • idle talk
    ex: Cut the palaver and get down to business.
  • misleading or beguiling speech
    ex: Don’t get taken in by the candidate’s palaver.
  • to talk profusely or idly // parley (V.)
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5
Q

knuckle one’s forehead (action)

A
  • to salute by touching two knuckles to the forehead
    ex: I once knuckled my forehead to those born of privilege.
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6
Q

bailey (bail lee) (n.)

A
  • the outer wall of a castle or any of several walls surrounding the keep
  • a courtyard within the external wall or between two outer walls of a castle
    ex: The cart halted in front of the outer bailey.
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7
Q

balladeer (bal la deer) (n.)

A
  • a person who sings ballads
    ex: His attempts at wooing maidens fell short of a balladeer’s ideal.
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8
Q

terminus (ter min us) (n.)

A
  • either end of a transportation line or travel route
    also : the station, town, or city at such a place : TERMINAL
  • an extreme point or element : TIP
    ex: the terminus of a glacier
  • a final goal : a finishing point
    ex: I dotted the terminus of the final line.
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9
Q

sibilant (sib ah lent) (adj.)

A

having, containing, or producing the sound of or a sound resembling that of the s or the sh in sash
ex: a sibilant hiss
ex: The buzz has a sizzling or sibilant quality.

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10
Q

effluent (eff loo ent) (n.)

A

something that flows out: such as
a
: an outflowing branch of a main stream or lake
b
: waste material (such as smoke, liquid industrial refuse, or sewage) discharged into the environment especially when serving as a pollutant
ex: The stink of effluent flowed down the river.

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11
Q

(un)expurgated (un ex per gate ed) (adj.)

A

not having potentially offensive or otherwise objectionable parts removed : not expurgated
ex: an unexpurgated edition

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12
Q

flux (fluh ux) (n.)

A
  • a flowing of fluid from the body: such as DIARRHEA, DYSENTERY
  • a continuous moving on or passing by (as of a stream)
  • a continued flow : FLOOD
    ex: a flux of words
  • INFLUX // CHANGE, FLUCTUATION
    ex: in a state of flux
    ex: the flux following the death of the emperor.
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13
Q

dolorous (dol luh rus) (adj.)

A
  • causing, marked by, or expressing misery or grief
    ex: He spoke in his dolorous accent of broad vowels and soft sibilants.
    ex: dolorous ballads of death and regret
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14
Q

sop (sahp) (n.)

A
  • chiefly dialectal : a piece of food dipped or steeped in a liquid
  • a conciliatory or propitiatory bribe, gift, or gesture
    ex: We employed it as a sop to Sihlda’s sensibilities.
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15
Q

acclamation (ack la may shun) (n.)

A
  • a loud eager expression of approval, praise, or assent
  • an overwhelming affirmative vote by cheers, shouts, or applause rather than by ballot
    ex: She has earned worldwide acclamation for her charitable works.
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16
Q

grizzle (grizz uhl) (v.)

A
  • GRIPE, GRUMBLE
  • to become, make grayish
    ex: He always grizzles that the weather is bad.
    ex: Age comes to grizzle and wrinkle us all, my boy.
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17
Q

insensate (in sin sate) (adj.)

A
  • lacking sense or understanding, foolish // lacking animate awareness or sensation
  • lacking humane feeling : BRUTAL
    ex: An insensate boss who refuses to allow time off for funerals.
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18
Q

propitiate (pro prish ee ate) (v.)
propitiatory (pro prish ee a tor ee) (adj.)

A

to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of : APPEASE
ex: The U.S. has sought to propitiate the regime in Tehran.

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19
Q

auspices (awss piss is) (n.)

A
  • (auspices - plural) kindly patronage and guidance
    ex: doing research under the auspices of the local historical society
  • a prophetic sign // especially : a favorable sign
    ex: The teacher’s smile was an auspice I would get an A.
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20
Q

goodly (good lee) (adj.)

A
  • pleasantly attractive (archaic)
  • significantly large : CONSIDERABLE
    ex: Her family owned a goodly portion of the best land in Alberis.
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21
Q

convocation (con vuh cay shun) (n.)

A

A large formal assembly of people for a special purpose, mostly ecclesiastical or academic.
ex: Crown and Covenant joined in humble convocation.

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22
Q

fractiousness (frack shus ness) (n.)

A
  • tending to be troublesome : UNRULY
    ex: a fractious crowd
  • QUARRELSOME, IRRITABLE
    ex: a fractious political campaign
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23
Q

urbane (ur bay n) (adj.)

A
  • courteous and refined in manner (typically used of a man).
    ex: The supposedly urbane, restrained English gentleman.
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24
Q

outmoded (out mow did) (adj.)

A
  • not being in style
  • no longer acceptable, current, or usable
    ex: outmoded customs
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25
Q

beggar (beg gir) (v.)

A
  • to reduce to poverty or the practice of asking for charity
    ex: Wealthy folk have beggared themselves searching for it.
  • to exceed the resources or abilities of : DEFY
    ex: beggars description // so outrageous as to beggar belief
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26
Q

jape (jay p) (n.) (v.)

A
  • to say or do something jokingly or mockingly (v.)
    ex: Oscar Wilde’s characters jape with an unnatural readiness.
  • something designed to arouse amusement or laughter (n.)
    ex: Who was to say his mercy wasn’t some sadistic jape?
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27
Q

calumny (cal um nee) (n.)

A
  • a misrepresentation intended to harm another’s reputation
    ex: He denounced his opponent for his calumny.
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28
Q

odium (o dee um) (n.)

A
  • general or widespread hatred or disgust directed toward someone as a result of their actions.
    ex: Time did nothing to diminish the odium in which the traitor lived.
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29
Q

ardency (are din cee) (n.)

A

the quality or state of being ardent (eager zeal and support)
ex: Her previous ardency had been a mere candle to this flame.

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30
Q

beauteous (b you tee us) (adj.)

A
  • beautiful (Chiefly Literary)
    ex: an unusually beauteous blonde woman
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31
Q

burr (bur) (v.) (n.)

A

If someone has a burr, they speak English with a regional accent in which ‘r’ sounds are pronounced more strongly than in the standard British way of speaking
ex: Din Faud’s southern burr returned.

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32
Q

yen (yen) (n.)

A
  • a strong desire or propensity
    ex: a yen for the sea
  • also : URGE, CRAVING
    ex: a yen for ice cream
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33
Q

cant (cant) (n.)

A
  • expression, repetition of conventional, trite opinions, sentiments
    especially : the insincere use of pious words
    ex: the cant of hypocrites
  • the private language of the underworld
    ex: the cant of thieves
  • affected singsong or whining speech
    ex: a beggar’s cant
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34
Q

flense (flen ssuh) (v.)

A
  • to strip of blubber or skin
    ex: flense a whale
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35
Q

prevail (pre vayl) (v.)

A
  • to gain ascendancy through strength or superiority : TRIUMPH
  • to use persuasion successfully
    ex: I prevailed on (or upon) him to sing.
  • to be frequent : PREDOMINATE // PERSIST
    ex: the west winds that prevail in the mountains
    ex: a custom that still prevails
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36
Q

misbegotten (mis be got ten) (adj.)

A
  • dated: unlawfully conceived / born to parents not married
    ex: a misbegotten child
  • having a disreputable or improper origin : ill-conceived
    ex: antiquated and misbegotten tax laws
  • CONTEMPTIBLE
    ex: a misbegotten scoundrel
  • DEFORMED
    ex: The door a misbegotten pine.
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37
Q

inchoate (inn co it) (adj.)

A
  • being only partly in existence or operation : INCIPIENT
    especially : imperfectly formed or formulated : FORMLESS, INCOHERENT
    ex: I have inchoate suspicions that all is not well with the nation.
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38
Q

novitiate (no vish it) (n.)

A
  • the period or state of being a novice
  • a houses where novices are trained
  • a novice, especially in a religious order.
    ex: He was one of the novitiates who had flocked to her banner.
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39
Q

conurbation con ner bay shun) (n.)

A

an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities
ex: Like the far smaller conurbation of Callintor, the sanctuary city was splendid.

40
Q

drover (drove ur) (n.)

A
  • one who drives cattle or sheep
    ex: Lancashire heelers are drovers, meaning they have been used to herd cattle and other livestock.
41
Q

by rights (phrase)

A
  • if things had happened or been done fairly or correctly.
    ex: By rights, he should not be playing next week.
42
Q

gratis (gra tiss) (adj.)

A
  • without charge or recompense : FREE
    ex: The food was supplied gratis.
    ex: He made gratis contributions to our cause.
43
Q

castellan (cas till in) (n.)

A
  • a governor or warden of a castle or fort
    ex: The castellan might capitulate if certain promises are provided.
44
Q

in point of fact (idiom)

A

used to introduce a true statement which shows that another statement is not true
ex: He whistled, but not because he was having a pleasant day. In point of fact, the day God had provided was close to horrible.

45
Q

hie (high) (v.)

A
  • to cause (oneself) to go quickly // HASTEN
    ex: Well hie me to Damnation.
    ex: thither we advise you to hie
    ex: hie you to church
46
Q

snootful (snoot full) (n.)

A

*enough alcoholic liquor to cause drunkenness
ex: He was afraid he’d get a real snootful if he had any more.

47
Q

burble (burr bull) (v./n.)

A
  • to make a bubbling sound // BABBLE, PRATTLE
    ex: The baby burbled happily in her crib.
    ex: Water burbling through the streams.
    ex: The burble of babies can be so endearing.
48
Q

traduce (tra deuce) (v.)

A
  • to expose to shame or blame by means of falsehood and misrepresentation
    ex: The restaurant’s owner insisted that he had been unfairly traduced by a freeloader.
  • VIOLATE, BETRAY
    ex: He traduced a principle of law
49
Q

cotton (cot tin) (v.)

A
  • to take a liking —used with to
    ex: My golden retriever cottons to people easily.
  • to come to understand —used with to or on to
    ex: He cottoned on to the fact that our children work hard.
50
Q

trepan (trah pan) (v.) (n.)

A
  • (historical) a trephine (hole saw) used by surgeons for perforating the skull. (n.)
    ex: He used the trepan to bore a hole in the man’s skull.
  • perforate (a person’s skull) with a trepan. (v.)
    ex: It was an 8,500-year-old trepanned skull.
51
Q

intercessor (in turr cess er) (n.)
intercession (in turr cess shun) (n.)

A
  • a person who intervenes on behalf of another, especially by prayer.
    ex: They rejected the notion that an intercessor was needed to appeal to God.
  • Intercession or intercessory prayer is the act of praying to a deity on behalf of others
52
Q

chancery (chan sir ee) (n.)

A
  • a record office for public archives or those of ecclesiastical, legal, or diplomatic proceedings
  • a court of equity
    ex: The chancery court can’t afford to allow its orders to be flouted.
53
Q

resurgam (reh sur gam)

A
  • I shall rise again
54
Q

assiduity (ass a due eh tee)

A
  • the quality or state of being assiduous : diligence
    ex: The project was successful because of the people’s assiduity.
55
Q

exigency (ex eh gen cee)

A
  • what is required in a particular situation
    ex: He quickly responded to the exigencies of modern warfare.
56
Q

blain (blayn) (n.)

A
  • an inflammatory swelling or sore
    ex: You can get chilblains when it’s cold.
57
Q

penurious (peh nur ee us) (n.)

A
  • marked by or suffering from penury (lack of resources)
    ex: penurious peasants and fisherfolk
58
Q

moiety (moi eh tee) (n.)

A
  • one of two equal parts
    ex: War and famine claimed a moiety of the population.
59
Q

disembarrass (dis em bare us) (v.)

A
  • to free (someone, including oneself) from something troublesome or superfluous
    ex: She struggles to disembarrass herself of the emotional baggage of a failed relationship.
60
Q

unplumbed (un plumb d) (adj.)

A

not measured with a plumb // not thoroughly explored
ex: They fell to unplumbed depths.

61
Q

repose (reh poz) (n.) (v.)

A
  • a place of rest // peace, tranquility (n.)
    ex: The repose of the bayous.
  • composure of manner : poise (n.)
    ex: The diplomat faced the hostile crowd with remarkable repose.
  • lack of activity : quiescence (n.)
    ex: the face in repose is grave and thoughtful
  • to lay to rest // to take a rest // to lie dead (v.)
    ex: She lay in repose in her casket.
  • to place (confidence, trust, etc.) in someone or something (v.)
    ex: She reposed in me the secret of her hidden wealth.
62
Q

confabulate (con fab u lay t) (v.)
confabulation (con fab u lay shun) (n.)

A

to talk informally : chat // to hold a discussion : confer
ex: Michael confabulated much longer and more fruitfully.

63
Q

intimate (in ta mate) (v.)

A
  • to communicate delicately and indirectly : hint
  • to make known especially publicly or formally : announce
    ex: His advisers kept intimating to journalists.
64
Q

ignus fatuus (ig nus fat tu us) (n.)

A
  • a light that sometimes appears in the night over marshy ground and is often attributable to the combustion of gas from decomposed organic matter
    (will-o-the-wisp)
  • a deceptive goal or hope
    ex: Several sources say ignis fatuus is the likely cause of the strange light.
65
Q

charwoman (char wom an) (n.)

A
  • a cleaning woman especially in a large building
    ex: The couple finally hired a charwoman as they were just too busy to clean
66
Q

gallant (gal lunt) (adj.) (n.) (v.)

A
  • showy in dress or bearing : smart (adj.)
  • splendid, stately (adj.)
    ex: a gallant ship
  • spirited, brave (adj.)
    ex: gallant efforts against the enemy
  • nobly chivalrous and often self-sacrificing (adj.)
  • courteously and elaborately attentive especially to ladies (adj.)
  • a young man of fashion (n.)
    ex: The gallant offered the madam a boutique.
  • to pay court to (a lady) : attend (v.)
    ex: He used to gallant her in his youth.
67
Q

contumacy (con tu ma cy) (n.)

A
  • stubborn resistance to authority
    specifically : willful contempt of court
    ex: A rogue archbishop who was excommunicated on grounds of contumacy
68
Q

saturnine (sat ur nine) (adj.)

A
  • cold and steady in mood : slow to act or change
  • of a gloomy or surly disposition
  • having a sardonic (derisively mocking or disdainfully humorous) aspect
    ex: She has a saturnine smile.
69
Q

importunate (im por thu nit) (adj.)
importunity (im por tun a tee) (n.)
importune (im por tune) (v.)

A
  • troublesomely urgent : overly persistent in request or demand // troublesome (adj.)
    ex: Damn these importunate creditors!
  • an importunate request or demand
    ex: I was overwhelmed by the conflicting importunities.
  • to press or urge with troublesome persistence (v.)
    ex: He importuned them to help.
70
Q

diablerie (dee ob lure ee) (n.)

A

devilry // black magic : sorcery // mischievous conduct or manner
ex: The boy, who was once filled with diablerie, grew up to be a staid and rather dull man.

71
Q

precepts (pre cept) (n.)

A
  • a command or principle intended especially as a general rule of action
  • an order issued by legally constituted authority to a subordinate official
    ex: I was taught by precept and by example.
    ex: the basic precepts of a religion
72
Q

lassitude (lass eh tude) (n.)

A
  • a condition of weariness or debility : fatigue
    ex: The patient complained of headache, nausea, and lassitude.
  • a condition characterized by lack of interest, energy, or spirit : languor
    ex: He surrendered to an overpowering lassitude.
73
Q

window sash (n.)

A

the frame holding the pane of a window
ex: He slammed the window sash, shattering the glass.

74
Q

casement (cay ss ment) (n.)

A

a window sash that opens on hinges at the side
also : a window with such a sash
ex: Its original steel casement windows were untouched.

75
Q

sagacious (sa gay shus) (adj.)
sagacity (sa ga sa tee) (n.)

A
  • of keen and farsighted penetration and judgment : discerning (adj.)
    ex: He is a sagacious judge of character.
  • the quality of being sagacious (n.)
    ex: He’s a novelist of surprising sagacity.
76
Q

pyramidal (pa ram eh duhl) (adj.)

A
  • like a form of four triangles that meet in a point at the top
    ex: The pyramidal structure of Melee-Magthere, the school of fighters.
77
Q

unction (unc shun) (n.)

A
  • the act of anointing as a rite of consecration or healing
  • something used for anointing : ointment, unguent
    ex: That unction now seems like too little, too late.
78
Q

bathos (ba thos) (n.)

A
  • (especially in a work of literature) an effect of anticlimax created by an unintentional lapse in mood from the sublime to the trivial or ridiculous.
    ex: The serious message of the film is ruined by the bathos of its ridiculous ending.
79
Q

expostulate (ex pos tchu late) (v.)

A
  • to reason earnestly with a person for purposes of dissuasion or remonstrance
    ex: The concerned parents tried to expostulate with their daughter when she announced her intention to live on her own in New York.
80
Q

cui bono (kwee bone oh) (LATIN phrase)

A
  • to whom is it a benefit?
    ex: The question to ask in a leak case is always, cui bono?
81
Q

grange (gray ng) (n.)

A
  • farm (especially : a farmhouse with outbuildings)
  • one of the lodges of a nat’l fraternal association originally made up of farmers
    ex:
82
Q

plebiscite (pleb eh sight) (n.)

A
  • a vote by which the people of an entire country or district express an opinion for or against a proposal especially on a choice of government or ruler
    ex: The issue will be decided by plebiscite.
83
Q

lachrymose (lack ra mo sss) (adj.)

A
  • given to tears or weeping : tearful // causing tears
    ex: He tends to become lachrymose when he was drunk.
    ex: It was a lachrymose drama.
    ex: the lachrymose story of a grieving parent and a dying world
84
Q

phlegmatic (fleg ma tic) (adj.)

A
  • having or showing a slow and stolid temperament
    ex: Enter, then, Penélope Cruz, the raging storm to Driver’s phlegmatic calm
85
Q

sententiously (sen ten shus ly) (adv.)

A

in a sententious way (= trying to appear wise, intelligent, and important)
ex: These gentlemen deliver their opinions sententiously..

86
Q

tortuous (tor chew us) (adj.)

A
  • marked by repeated twists, bends, or turns : winding
    ex: a tortuous path
  • marked by devious or indirect tactics : crooked, tricky
    ex: a tortuous conspiracy
87
Q

caddish (cad dish) (adj.)
cad (cad) (n.)

A
  • dishonorable, especially toward a woman (typically used of a man)
    ex: He’s an impoverished charmer with caddish tendencies
  • a man who acts with deliberate disregard for another’s feelings or rights (n.)
    ex: He’s a selfish cad
88
Q

unction (unc shun) (n.)

A
  • the act of anointing as a rite of consecration or healing
  • something used for anointing : ointment, unguent
  • religious or spiritual fervor or the expression of such fervor
  • a strong show of emotion, especially one that is not sincere
    ex: Napoleon knelt to receive the triple unction from the Pope on head, arms, and hands.
89
Q

coxcomb (cox comb) (n.)

A
  • a jester’s cap adorned with a strip of red
  • a conceited foolish person : fop
    ex: You are right; I am a prating coxcomb.
90
Q

sententious (sin ten shus) (adj.)

A
  • given to or abounding in excessive moralizing
  • try to appear wise, intelligent, important, in a way that is annoying
    ex: He’s a smug and sententious writer.
91
Q

cosmogony (cos mog ah nee) (n.)

A
  • a theory of the origin of the universe
  • the creation or origin of the world or universe
    ex: The mien of the Frost Giants was reflective of their symbolic role in the Norse cosmogony
92
Q

embower (em bough ur) (v.)

A
  • to shelter or enclose in or as if in a bower
    ex: like a rose embowered in its own green leaves
93
Q

bedclothes (bed clothes) (n.)

A
  • coverings for a bed, such as sheets and blankets
    ex: Crisp nights call for hibernation-worthy bedclothes.
94
Q

twit (twit) (v.) (n.)

A
  • to subject to light ridicule or reproach // to make fun of as a fault (v.)
    ex: You shouldn’t have twitted her about her looks!
  • a silly annoying person : fool // act of twitting; taunt (n.)
    ex: Only a complete twit would insult his hosts.
95
Q

counterpane (counter pane) (n.)

A
  • bedspread
    ex: Get your muddy boots off that clean counterpane.
96
Q
A

English Vocabulary (9 decks)

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