Advanced English/world Vocabulary 4

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provenance

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/ˈprɒvənəns, -ˌnɑns/ Pronunciation[prov-uh-nuhns, -nahns]
–noun place or source of origin: The provenance of the ancient manuscript has never been determined.

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Tetrachromacy

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the condition of possessing four independent channels for conveying color information, or possessing four different cones. Organisms with tetrachromacy are called tetrachromats. . . . Humans and closely related primates normally have three types of cone cells and are therefore trichromats (animals with three different cones). However, at low light intensities the rod cells may contribute to color vision, giving a small region of tetrachromacy in the color space.

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badinage

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bad·i·nage /ˌbædnˈɑʒ, ˈbædnɪdʒ/ [bad-n-ahzh, bad-n-ij] noun, verb, -naged, -nag·ing.
–noun
1. light, playful banter or raillery.
–verb (used with object)
2. to banter with or tease (someone) playfully.

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bane

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/beɪn/ [beyn]
–noun
1. a person or thing that ruins or spoils: Gambling was the bane of his existence.
2. a deadly poison (often used in combination, as in the names of poisonous plants): wolfsbane; henbane.
3. death; destruction; ruin.
4. Obsolete. that which causes death or destroys life: entrapped and drowned beneath the watery bane.

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depredation

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/ˌdɛprɪˈdeɪʃən/ [dep-ri-dey-shuhn]
–noun
the act of preying upon or plundering; robbery; ravage.
[Origin: 1475–85; < LL dépraedātiōn- (s. of dépraedātiō) a plundering, equiv. to dépraedāt(us) (see depredate) + -iōn- -ion]

—Related forms
dep·re·da·tion·ist, noun

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mise en scène, mise en scene

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/mi zɑ̃ ˈsɛn/ [mee zahn sen]
French.
1. the process of setting a stage, with regard to placement of actors, scenery, properties, etc.
2. the stage setting or scenery of a play.
3. surroundings; environment.

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sonorous

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/səˈnɔrəs, -ˈnoʊr-, ˈsɒnərəs/ [suh-nawr-uhs, -nohr-, son-er-uhs]
–adjective
1. giving out or capable of giving out a sound, esp. a deep, resonant sound, as a thing or place: a sonorous cavern.
2. loud, deep, or resonant, as a sound.
3. rich and full in sound, as language or verse.
4. high-flown; grandiloquent: a sonorous speech.
[Origin: 1605–15; < L sonōrus noisy, sounding, equiv. to sonōr-, s. of sonor sound (son(āre) to sound1 + -or -or1) + -us -ous]

—Related forms
so·no·rous·ly, adverb
so·no·rous·ness, noun

—Synonyms 4. eloquent, florid, grandiose, orotund.

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dereliction

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/ˌdɛrəˈlɪkʃən/ [der-uh-lik-shuhn]
–noun
1. deliberate or conscious neglect; negligence; delinquency: dereliction of duty.
2. the act of abandoning something.
3. the state of being abandoned.
4. Law. a leaving dry of land by recession of the water line.
[Origin: 1590–1600; < L dérelictiōn- (s. of dérelictiō) an abandoning, equiv. to dérelict(us) (see derelict) + -iōn- -ion]

—Synonyms 1. See neglect. 2. desertion.

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elan, é·lan

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(ā-läɴ', ā-län')
n.

1. Enthusiastic vigor and liveliness.
2. Distinctive style or flair.

[French, from Old French eslan, rush, from eslancer, to hurl : es-, out (from Latin ex-; see ex-) + lancer, to throw (from Late Latin lanceāre, to throw a lance, from Latin lancea, lance).]

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orotund

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/ˈɔrəˌtʌnd, ˈoʊr-/ [awr-uh-tuhnd, ohr-]
–adjective
1. (of the voice or speech) characterized by strength, fullness, richness, and clearness.
2. (of a style of speaking) pompous or bombastic.
[Origin: 1785–95; contr. of L phrase ōre rotundō, with round mouth]

—Related forms
o·ro·tun·di·ty /ˌɔrəˈtʌndɪti, ˌoʊr-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[awr-uh-tuhn-di-tee, ohr-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation, noun

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temporize

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/ˈtɛmpəˌraɪz/ [tem-puh-rahyz]
–verb (used without object), -rized, -riz·ing.
1. to be indecisive or evasive to gain time or delay acting.
2. to comply with the time or occasion; yield temporarily or ostensibly to prevailing opinion or circumstances.
3. to treat or parley so as to gain time (usually fol. by with).
4. to come to terms (usually fol. by with).
5. to effect a compromise (usually fol. by between).
Also, especially British, tem·po·rise.

[Origin: 1570–80; < ML temporizāre to hang back, delay, equiv. to L tempor- (s. of tempus) time + ML -izāre -ize]

—Related forms
tem·po·ri·za·tion, noun
tem·po·riz·er, noun
tem·po·riz·ing·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. hedge, stall, equivocate.

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ummah

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Islam. Community of faithful, of modern Muslim fundamentalists.

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dawa

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Islam. Preaching and living by example and exhortation to spread the word.

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fallibilism

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Fallibilism is the philosophical doctrine that absolute certainty about knowledge is impossible; or at least that all claims to knowledge could, in principle, be mistaken.... Unlike scepticism, fallibilism does not imply the need to abandon our knowledge - we needn't have logically conclusive justifications for what we know. Rather, it is an admission that because empirical knowledge can be revised by further observation, any of the things we take as knowledge might possibly turn out to be false.

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auto de fe

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refers to the ritual of public penance of condemned heretics and apostates that took place when the Spanish Inquisition or the Portuguese Inquisition had decided their punishment (that is, after the trial). Auto de fé in medieval Spanish means "act of faith". The phrase also commonly occurs in English in its Portuguese form auto-da-fé.

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syllogism

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a kind of logical argument in which one proposition (the conclusion) is inferred from two others (the premises) of a certain form. ...
For example:

Major premise: All humans are mortal.
Minor premise: Socrates is human.
Conclusion: Socrates is mortal.

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se·nes·cent

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/sɪˈnɛsənt/ [si-nes-uhnt]
–adjective
growing old; aging.
[Origin: 1650–60; < L senéscent- (s. of senéscéns) prp. of senéscere to grow old, equiv. to sen- old + -éscent- -escent]

—Related forms
se·nes·cence, noun

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arrant

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/ˈærənt/ [ar-uhnt]
–adjective
1. downright; thorough; unmitigated; notorious: an arrant fool.

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prepossessing

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pre·pos·sess·ing /ˌpripəˈzɛsɪŋ/ [pree-puh-zes-ing]
–adjective
that impresses favorably; engaging or attractive: a confident and prepossessing young man.
[Origin: 1635–45; prepossess + -ing2]

—Related forms
pre·pos·sess·ing·ly, adverb
pre·pos·sess·ing·ness, noun

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caisson

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cais·son /ˈkeɪsən, -sɒn/ [key-suhn, -son]
–noun
1. a structure used in underwater work, consisting of an airtight chamber, open at the bottom and containing air under sufficient pressure to exclude the water.
2. a boatlike structure used as a gate for a dock or the like.
3. Nautical.
a. Also called camel, pontoon. a float for raising a sunken vessel, sunk beside the vessel, made fast to it, and then pumped out to make it buoyant.
b. a watertight structure built against a damaged area of a hull to render the hull watertight; cofferdam.
4. a two-wheeled wagon, used for carrying artillery ammunition.
5. an ammunition chest.
6. a wooden chest containing bombs or explosives, used formerly as a mine.
7. Architecture. coffer (def. 4).
[Origin: 1695–1705; < F, MF < OPr, equiv. to caissa box (see case2) + -on aug. suffix]

—Related forms
caissoned, adjective

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inveigle

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in·vei·gle /ɪnˈveɪgəl, -ˈvi-/ [in-vey-guhl, -vee-]
–verb (used with object), -gled, -gling.
1. to entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk or inducements (usually fol. by into): to inveigle a person into playing bridge.
2. to acquire, win, or obtain by beguiling talk or methods (usually fol. by from or away): to inveigle a theater pass from a person.
[Origin: 1485–95; var. of envegle < AF enveogler, equiv. to en- en-1 + OF (a)vogler to blind, deriv. of avogle blind < VL *aboculus eyeless, adj. deriv. of phrase *ab oculīs without eyes. See ab-, ocular]

—Related forms
in·vei·gle·ment, noun
in·vei·gler, noun

—Synonyms 1. induce, beguile, persuade. 2. wheedle.

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impudence

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im·pu·dence /ˈɪmpyədəns/ [im-pyuh-duhns]
–noun
1. the quality or state of being impudent; effrontery; insolence.
2. impudent conduct or language.
3. Obsolete. lack of modesty; shamelessness.
Also, im·pu·den·cy.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME < L impudentia shamelessness. See impudent, -ence]

—Synonyms 1. impertinence, rudeness; brass, brazenness, face, lip, boldness, presumption, sauce, pertness; nerve, gall.
—Antonyms 1. courtesy.

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redoubtable

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re·doubt·a·ble /rɪˈdaʊtəbəl/ [ri-dou-tuh-buhl]
–adjective
1. that is to be feared; formidable.
2. commanding or evoking respect, reverence, or the like.
[Origin: 1325–75; ME redoutable < MF, equiv. to redout(er) to fear (re- re- + douter to fear, doubt) + -able -able]

—Related forms
re·doubt·a·ble·ness, noun
re·doubt·a·bly, adverb

Front 24

scrum

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scrum /skrʌm/ [skruhm] noun, verb, scrummed, scrum·ming.
–noun
1. a Rugby play in which, typically, three members of each team line up opposite one another with a group of two and a group of three players behind them, making an eight-person, three-two-three formation on each side; the ball is then rolled between the opposing front lines, the players of which stand with arms around a teammate's waist, meeting the opponent shoulder to shoulder, and attempt to kick the ball backward to a teammate.
2. British. a place or situation of confusion and racket; hubbub.
–verb (used without object)
3. to engage in a scrum.

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ingenue, ingénue

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in·gé·nue /ˈænʒəˌnu, -ˌnyu; Fr. ɛ̃ʒeɪˈnü/ [an-zhuh-noo, -nyoo; Fr. an-zhey-ny]
–noun, plural -nues /-ˌnuz, -ˌnyuz; Fr. -ˈnü/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[-nooz, -nyooz; Fr. -ny] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation.
1. the part of an artless, innocent, unworldly girl or young woman, esp. as represented on the stage.
2. an actress who plays such a part or specializes in playing such parts.
Also, in·ge·nue.

[Origin: 1840–50; < F, fem. of ingénu < L ingenuus native, inborn, etc.; see ingenuous]

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Zapruder

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Abraham Zapruder (May 15, 1905 – August 30, 1970) was an American manufacturer of women's clothing who filmed U.S. President John F. Kennedy's 1963 motorcade traveling through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, and unexpectedly recorded the assassination of the President. The Zapruder film is famous for being the most complete visual record of the assassination.

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shank

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(shāngk)
n.

1.
1. The part of the human leg between the knee and ankle.
2. A corresponding part in other vertebrates.
3. The whole leg of a human.

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sommelier

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(sŭm'əl-yā', sô'mə-lyā') /ˌsʌməlˈyeɪ; Fr. sɔməˈlyeɪ/ [suhm-uhl-yey; Fr. saw-muh-lyey]
n. A restaurant employee who orders and maintains the wines sold in the restaurant and usually has extensive knowledge about wine and food pairings.

[French, from Old French, officer in charge of provisions, pack-animal driver, alteration of *sommerier, from sommier, beast of burden, from Vulgar Latin *saumārius; see summer2.]

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decamped

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/dɪˈkæmp/ [di-kamp]
–verb (used without object)
1. to depart from a camp; to pack up equipment and leave a camping ground: We decamped before the rain began.
2. to depart quickly, secretly, or unceremoniously: The band of thieves decamped in the night.
[Origin: 1670–80; < F décamper, equiv. to dé- dis-1 + camper to encamp; see camp1]

—Related forms
de·camp·ment, noun

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vertiginous

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/vərˈtɪdʒənəs/ [ver-tij-uh-nuhs]
–adjective
1. whirling; spinning; rotary: vertiginous currents of air.
2. affected with vertigo; dizzy.
3. liable or threatening to cause vertigo: a vertiginous climb.
4. apt to change quickly; unstable: a vertiginous economy.
[Origin: 1600–10; < L vertīginōsus dizzy, equiv. to vertīgin- (s. of vertīgō) vertigo + -ōsus -ous]

—Related forms
ver·tig·i·nous·ly, adverb
ver·tig·i·nous·ness, noun

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triptych

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/ˈtrɪptɪk/ [trip-tik]
–noun
1. Fine Arts. a set of three panels or compartments side by side, bearing pictures, carvings, or the like.
2. a hinged, three-leaved tablet, written on, in ancient times, with a stylus.
[Origin: 1725–35; < Gk tríptychos of three plates, equiv. to tri- tri- + ptych- (s. of ptýx) plate + -os adj. suffix]

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caltrop

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/ˈkæltrəp/ [kal-truhp]
–noun
1. any of several plants having spiny heads or fruit, as those of the genera Tribulus and Kallstroemia, or the star thistle, Centaurea calcitrapa.
2. an iron ball with four projecting spikes so disposed that when the ball is on the ground one of them always points upward: used to obstruct the passage of cavalry, armored vehicles, etc.
Also, cal·throp /ˈkælθrəp/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kal-thruhp] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation, caltrap.

[Origin: bef. 1000; ME calketrappe, OE calcatrippe, colte-træppe, equiv. to calce- (< L calci-, s. of calx spur, heel) + træppe trap1]

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oracular

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/ɔˈrækyələr, oʊˈræk-/ [aw-rak-yuh-ler, oh-rak-]
–adjective
1. of the nature of, resembling, or suggesting an oracle: an oracular response.
2. giving forth utterances or decisions as if by special inspiration or authority.
3. uttered or delivered as if divinely inspired or infallible; sententious.
4. ambiguous; obscure.
5. portentous; ominous.
[Origin: 1625–35; < L ōrācul(um) oracle + -ar1]

—Related forms
o·rac·u·lar·ly, adverb
o·rac·u·lar·i·ty /ɔˌrækyəˈlærɪti, oʊˌræk-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[aw-rak-yuh-lar-i-tee, oh-rak-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation, o·rac·u·lar·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. prophetic. 2. authoritative, dogmatic. 4. equivocal.

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inimitable

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/ɪˈnɪmɪtəbəl/ [i-nim-i-tuh-buhl]
–adjective
incapable of being imitated or copied; surpassing imitation; matchless.
[Origin: 1525–35; < L inimitābilis. See in-3, imitable]

—Related forms
in·im·i·ta·bil·i·ty, in·im·i·ta·ble·ness, noun
in·im·i·ta·bly, adverb

Front 35

steganography

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Hiding a secret message within a larger one in such a way that others can not discern the presence or contents of the hidden message. For example, a message might be hidden within an image by changing the least significant bits to be the message bits.

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revenant

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/ˈrɛvənənt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[rev-uh-nuhnt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. a person who returns.
2. a person who returns as a spirit after death; ghost.
One that returns after a lengthy absence.

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polyphonic

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/ˌpɒliˈfɒnɪk/ [pol-ee-fon-ik]
–adjective
1. consisting of many voices or sounds.
2. Music.
a. having two or more voices or parts, each with an independent melody, but all harmonizing; contrapuntal (opposed to homophonic).
b. pertaining to music of this kind.
c. capable of producing more than one tone at a time, as an organ or a harp.
3. Phonetics. having more than one phonetic value, as the letter s, that is voiced (z) in nose and unvoiced (s) in salt.

Front 38

apophenia

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x

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hieratic

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x

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crepuscular

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x

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putative

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x