Educational

precipitate

[pri-sip-i-teyt]

headlong

banausic

[buh-naw-sik]

serving utilitarian purposes only; mechanical; practical

avuncular

[uh-vuhng-kyuh-ler]

acting like an uncle, as in being kind, patient, generous, etc., especially to younger people

abridge

[uh-brij]

to reduce or lessen in duration, scope, authority, etc.

respite

[res-pit]

a delay or cessation for a time, especially of anything distressing or trying; an interval of relief

irrefragable

[ih-ref-ruh-guh-buhl]

not to be disputed or contested

incumbent

[in-kuhm-buhnt]

necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility

subterfuge

[suhb-ter-fyooj]

an artifice or expedient used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, hide something, etc.

horripilation

[haw-rip-uh-ley-shuhn]

the erection of hairs on the skin due to cold, fear, or excitement

williwaw

[wil-ee-waw]

a sudden violent squall blowing offshore from a mountainous coast

tantamount

[tan-tuh-mount]

equivalent, as in value, force, effect, or signification

polemic

[puh-lem-ik]

a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc.

copious

[koh-pee-uhs]

large in quantity or number; abundant; plentiful

spondee

[spon-dee]

in poetry, a "foot" of two syllables, both of which are long in quantitative meter or stressed in accentual meter

execrable

[ek-si-kruh-buhl ]

utterly detestable; abominable; abhorrent

saturnine

[sat-er-nahyn]

sluggish in temperament; gloomy; taciturn

connive

[kuh-nahyv]

to cooperate secretly; conspire (often followed by with)

poignant

[poin-yuhnt]

keenly distressing to the feelings

somber

[som-ber]

gloomily dark; shadowy; dimly lighted

threnody

[thren-uh-dee]

a poem, speech, or song of lamentation, especially for the dead; dirge; funeral song

imbricate

[im-bri-keyt]

overlapping in sequence, as tiles or shingles on a roof

obsequious

[uhb-see-kwee-uhs]

characterized by or showing servile obedience and excessive eagerness to please; deferential; fawning:

vocational

[voh-key-shuh-nl]

of, relating to, or connected with a vocation or occupation

deprecate

[dep-ri-keyt]

to express earnest disapproval of