Culture & History

Traditions, heritage, history, civilization, and collective memory.

189 words

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Some words in this topic are A2–C2 — part of Pro. A1 words are always free.

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A1 (2)

/ˈhɪs.tɹi/ The study of past events, especially in human affairs. M S

/ˈkʌlt͡ʃɚ/ The customs, beliefs, art, and way of life of a particular group or society. M S

A2 (5) Pro

/ˈeɪn.ʃənt/ Belonging to a time very long ago in history. M S

/ˈmɑdɚn/ Relating to the present time or recent times; not old. M S

/mjuˈziəm/ A building where important objects of art, history, or science are kept and shown to the public. M S

/tɹəˈdɪʃ.ən/ A custom or belief passed down from one generation to the next. M S

/ˈkʌstəm/ A traditional way of behaving or doing something that is common to a group or society. M S

B1 (8) Pro

/ˈemp(ə)ɹə/ The ruler of an empire M S

/ˈɛmˌpaɪ̯ɹ/ A large group of countries or territories ruled by one government or person M S

/ˈɹəʊmən/ relating to Rome, especially ancient Rome, its empire, people, or culture M S

/ˈsɛɹ.əˌmoʊ.ni/ A formal event held to mark an important occasion. M S

civilization B1

/ˌsɪv.ə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/ A society that has reached an advanced stage of culture, organization, and development. M S

/ˈkʌlt͡ʃ(ə)ɹəl/ Relating to the customs, beliefs, and way of life of a particular group or society. M S

/ˈklɛs.ɪ.kəl/ Relating to traditional, serious music written by composers such as Mozart and Beethoven. M S

/hɪˈstɔɹɪkəl/ Connected with the past or with the study of history. M S

B2 (12) Pro

/ɝːl/ a British or Irish nobleman ranking below a marquess and above a viscount, equivalent in rank to a count M S

thanksgiving B2

/ˌθæŋksˈɡɪvɪŋ/ the expression of gratitude, especially in a prayer or religious observance M S

/kɑːn/ a title borne by rulers or high-ranking leaders among Turkic, Mongol, and other Central Asian peoples M S

/mɪdˈi.vəl/ Relating to the Middle Ages, roughly from 500 to 1500 AD. M S

/ˈhɛɹ.ɪ.tɪd͡ʒ/ The traditions, values, and culture that a country or family has had for many years and passes on to younger generations. M S

/ˈraɪt/ A formal ceremony, especially a religious one, done in a set way. M S

/ˈɛθ.nɪk/ Relating to a group of people who share the same race, culture, language, or national background. M S

/ˈoʊɡɚ/ in folklore, a large and frightening humanoid monster that eats human beings, especially children M S

/təˈbuː/ a social or cultural prohibition against discussing, using, or doing something M S

/ˈnaɪthʊd/ the rank, title, or dignity of a knight, especially an honor conferred by a British monarch M S

/əˈlɪmpiæd/ A major competition modelled on the Olympic Games, often held every four years in a particular field such as maths or science. M S

/pəˈtrɪʃ.ən/ a member of the hereditary upper class in ancient Rome M S

C1 (20) Pro

/ˈɡrɪf.ɪn/ a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle M S

/ˈskwaɪɚ/ historically, a young nobleman who attended a knight before becoming a knight himself M S

/ˈtʃeɪm.bɚ.lɪn/ an officer who manages the household of a monarch or noble, often with important ceremonial or administrative duties M S

/ˈɑɹkaɪv/ A collection of historical documents or records, or the place where they are kept. M S

/ˈɡlæd.i.eɪ.t̬ɚ/ in ancient Rome, a trained fighter who took part in public arena combats against other people or animals M S

/ˈɡɑθɪk/ of a European architectural style marked by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and high, elaborate structures M S

/ˈkriː.meɪt/ to burn a dead body to ashes, usually as a funeral practice M S

/ˈsen.tɔːr/ in Greek mythology, a creature with a horse's body and a human head, arms, and torso M S

/rɪˈɡeɪ.li.ə/ ceremonial emblems, ornaments, or objects that indicate royalty, office, or membership M S

commemoration C1

/kəˌmɛməˈreɪʃən/ the act of formally remembering and honoring a person or event, often through a ceremony M S

/traɪˈʌm.fəl/ relating to, commemorating, or performed in celebration of a victory M S

/ˈhuːkə/ a pipe in which smoke is drawn through water and then inhaled through a long flexible tube M S

/ˈtiː.piː/ a portable conical dwelling traditionally made from poles and animal hides or canvas by Indigenous peoples of the North American Plains M S

/ˈhɑːbˌɡɑːblɪn/ a small, grotesque supernatural creature in folklore, often mischievous or frightening M S

/ˈnaɪtli/ relating to knights, knighthood, or medieval chivalry M S

/ɪmˈbɑːm/ to preserve a dead body by treating it with chemicals, oils, or spices M S

/ˈfjuː.dəl.ɪ.zəm/ the set of medieval social and political arrangements based on landholding and reciprocal obligations between lords and vassals M S

/ˈmʌm.ɪ.faɪ/ to preserve a dead body by drying, embalming, and wrapping it as a mummy M S

/ˈbiːfˌiː.tɚ/ a person who eats beef, especially one characterized as eating a great deal of it M S

/ˈtoʊ.t̬əm ˌpoʊl/ a tall carved and often painted wooden pole made by Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast of North America to represent family lineage, crests, histories, or important events M S

C2 (110) Pro

/ˈdɑː.nə/ an Italian title meaning lady, especially one applied to a woman of rank M S

/ˈdɛks.tɚ/ heraldry: on or toward the bearer's right side of a shield, which appears on the viewer's left M S

/siːnˈjɔːrə/ an Italian title of respect or form of address for a woman, equivalent to Mrs. or madam M S

/hʌn/ a member of a nomadic confederation that entered Europe in late antiquity and reached its greatest power under Attila in the fifth century M S

/ˈjuː.nək/ a man who has been castrated M S

/ˈlɛprəˌkɔn/ a small solitary supernatural being in Irish folklore, traditionally portrayed as a shoemaker who guards hidden treasure M S

/ˈtrɪbjuːn/ in ancient Rome, an elected official charged with protecting the interests and rights of the plebeians M S

/ˈkɛltɪk/ of or relating to the Celts or their cultures and traditions M S

/ˈtoʊtəm/ a natural being or object that serves as the emblem of a kinship group and may have a special spiritual relationship with it M S

/ˈkɔɹtəzæn/ historical: a woman who had wealthy or powerful lovers or clients, often in exchange for financial support and with access to elite society M S

/sɑːrˈkɑːfəɡəs/ a stone coffin, often carved or decorated and displayed above ground M S

/ˌkriː.məˈtɔːr.i.əm/ a building or facility where dead bodies are cremated M S

/ˌʃevəˈlɪr/ a knight or chivalrous, courtly gentleman, especially in a historical or literary context M S

/ˈɑːrtʃˌduːk/ a prince of the former ruling house of Austria, especially a son or male-line grandson of an emperor M S

/ˈkriː.oʊl/ a natural language that developed in a contact community from elements of two or more languages and became a community's first language M S

/ˈvæsəl/ a person holding a fief M S

/ˈʃɛvrən/ a V-shaped or inverted-V-shaped mark, pattern, or structure M S

/ˈɑbəlɪsk/ a tall, four-sided stone pillar that tapers to a pyramidal point, often erected as a monument M S

/ˈɛpɪˌtæf/ an inscription on a grave or monument commemorating the person buried there M S

/bɔːr/ historical: a Dutch-speaking settler or farmer in southern Africa, especially an ancestor of the Afrikaner population M S

/ˈtɑːməˌhɔːk/ a light axe or hatchet associated historically with Indigenous peoples of North America and later made in many specialized forms M S

/ˈkɝtsi/ a formal gesture of greeting or respect made by bending the knees and lowering the body M S

/ˌniːoʊˈlɪθɪk/ the final major phase of the Stone Age, associated in many regions with farming, permanent settlements, and polished stone tools M S

/fiːf/ historical: land, revenue, or another right held from a feudal superior in return for allegiance and service M S

See all 110

C2+ (32) Pro

Anglo-Saxon C2+

/ˌæŋ.ɡloʊˈsæk.sən/ a member of the Germanic-speaking peoples who settled in England from the fifth century and whose kingdoms preceded Norman rule M S

/ˌsuː.təˈnɝː/ A man who protects, and commonly compels, a prostitute of any gender and lives off the earnings; a pimp. Originally a Parisian term, but since adopted into other languages such as English M S

/ˈnɑːmbrəl/ heraldry: the point midway between the center and the bottom of an escutcheon M S

/ˌlæpɪˈdeɪʃən/ the act of pelting with stones M S

acculturation C2+

/əˌkʌltʃəˈreɪʃən/ adoption of the cultural traits of another group M S

/ˈpeɪtrənɪdʒ/ support or custom given by a patron, or the power to grant appointments M S

/ˈpoʊɡrəm/ an organized massacre, especially of an ethnic group M S

/ˌbæbəˈloʊniən/ of ancient Babylon or its people, language, or culture M S

/ˈklæsəˌsɪzəm/ adherence to the principles of ancient Greek and Roman art and culture M S

conventionalism C2+

/kənˈvɛnʃənəˌlɪzəm/ adherence to convention or established custom M S

/ˈdɛkədəns/ moral or cultural decline marked by self-indulgence M S

/ˈdɑndʒən/ the great central tower or keep of a medieval castle M S

/ˈɛθnɪkəl/ of or relating to ethnic groups or races; ethnic M S

/həˈbɪtʃuəli/ as a regular practice or custom M S

/hɛˈlɛnɪk/ relating to ancient or modern Greece, its people, or culture M S

/ɪmˈpɪriəli/ in a manner befitting an emperor or empire; majestically M S

nontraditional C2+

/ˌnɑntrəˈdɪʃənəl/ not following tradition or convention M S

/ˈtaɪðɪŋ/ the practice of paying a tithe; a historical group of ten households M S

traditionalism C2+

/trəˈdɪʃənəˌlɪzəm/ adherence to tradition, especially in opposition to change M S

unconventionally C2+

/ˌʌnkənˈvɛnʃənəli/ in a way that departs from accepted custom or practice M S

through-stone C2+

/ˈθruːˌstoʊn/ a flat horizontal tombstone or grave slab, especially in Scottish and northern English usage M S

/ˈdɛθˌsɑːrk/ a shirt or garment put on a dead body for burial; a shroud M S

/sɪˈsɪt.i.ə/ historical communal meals or dining groups for male citizens and youths in ancient Greece, especially in Sparta and Crete M S

logographer C2+

/loʊˈɡɑɡrəfɚ/ an early ancient Greek prose writer who recorded genealogies, legends, local histories, or accounts of peoples and places M S

See all 32

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