Educational

imbricate

[im-bri-keyt]

overlapping in sequence, as tiles or shingles on a roof

spondee

[spon-dee]

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

portend

[pawr-tend]

to indicate in advance; to foreshadow or presage, as an omen does

vernal

[vur-nl]

of, in, or appropriate to spring

ailurophile

[ahy-loor-uh-fahyl]

a person who likes cats; cat fancier

obdurate

[ob-doo-rit]

unmoved by persuasion, pity, or tender feelings; stubborn; unyielding

dissemble

[dih-sem-buhl]

to give a false or misleading appearance to; conceal the truth or real nature of

acumen

[uh-kyoo-muhn]

keen insight; shrewdness

excoriate

[ik-skawr-ee-eyt]

to denounce or berate severely; flay verbally

prostrate

[pros-treyt ]

to cast (oneself) face down on the ground in humility, submission, or adoration

achene

[ey-keen]

a small, dry one-seeded fruit that does not open to release the seed

entrench

[en-trench]

establish (an attitude, habit, or belief) so firmly that change is very difficult or unlikely

eponym

[ep-uh-nim]

a person after whom a discovery, invention, place, etc., is named or thought to be named

convey

[kuhn-vey]

to communicate; impart; make known

frazil

[fraz-uhl]

ice crystals formed in turbulent water, as in swift streams or rough seas

transcend

[tran-send]

to rise above or go beyond; overpass; exceed

equivocal

[ih-kwiv-uh-kuhl]

allowing the possibility of several different meanings, as a word or phrase, especially with intent to deceive or misguide; susceptible of double interpretation; deliberately ambiguous

efface

[ih-feys]

to wipe out; do away with; expunge

incumbent

[in-kuhm-buhnt]

necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility

endemic

[en-dem-ik]

natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous

threnody

[thren-uh-dee]

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

sarcophagus

[sahr-kof-uh-guhs]

a stone coffin, typically adorned with a sculpture or inscription and associated with the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Rome, and Greece

imperious

[im-peer-ee-uhs]

domineering in a haughty manner; dictatorial; overbearing

petty

[pet-ee]

of little or no importance or consequence