Register & Style
Words marked by formal, informal, slang, archaic, dialectal, or literary usage.
2323 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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peter
C2
/ˈpiː.tɚ/
usually peter out: to diminish gradually in strength, quantity, or activity and finally stop
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la
C2
/lɑ/
an archaic exclamation expressing surprise, emphasis, or mild protest
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gimme
C2
/ˈɡɪmiː/
informal: a written representation of the rapid pronunciation of give me
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slut
C2
/slʌt/
offensive: a person, especially a woman, contemptuously judged to be sexually promiscuous
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sonny
C2
/ˈsʌni/
an informal, often affectionate form of address to a boy or younger man
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heroin
C2
/ˈhɛɹ.oʊ.ɪn/
a powerful, highly addictive opioid made from morphine, usually illegal and associated with a high risk of overdose and dependence
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lo
C2
/loʊ/
archaic or literary: used to call attention to something surprising or important
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nigger
C2
/ˈnɪɡɚ/
extremely offensive racial slur directed at a Black person; included for understanding historical texts, never as a neutral term
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palmer
C2
/ˈpɑmɚ/
historical: a pilgrim to the Holy Land, traditionally identified by the palm branch carried on returning home
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napoleon
C2
/nəˈpoʊ.li.ən/
historical: a French gold coin worth twenty francs, first issued under Napoleon I
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orphanage
C2
/ˈɔːr.fən.ɪdʒ/
a residential institution that houses and cares for children without parents or guardians
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epic
C2
/ˈep.ɪk/
constituting or having to do with or suggestive of a literary epic
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faggot
C2
/ˈfæɡ.ət/
historical: a bundle of sticks or branches bound together for fuel
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yah
C2
/jɑː/
a dialect or eye-dialect spelling of you
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steed
C2
/stiːd/
A stallion, especially one used for riding.
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abigail
C2
/ˈa.bɪ.ɡeɪl/
historical: a lady's maid or female personal attendant
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madonna
C2
/məˈdɑː.nə/
an artistic representation of the Virgin Mary, especially with the infant Jesus
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stereo
C2
/ˈsteriˌoʊ/
a sound system that records or reproduces audio through two or more separate channels
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Negro
C2
/ˈniɡroʊ/
dated and now generally offensive: a historical racial label for a Black person; retained in quotations and some historical institutional names
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cartel
C2
/kɑːrˈtel/
an association of independent businesses or producers that coordinate prices, output, or markets in order to limit competition
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douche
C2
/duːʃ/
offensive slang: an unpleasant, contemptible, or obnoxious person
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rover
C2
/ˈroʊvɚ/
a person who wanders or travels without settling in one place
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erotic
C2
/ɪˈrɑtɪk/
relating to sexual desire, love, or sexual excitement
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thug
C2
/θʌɡ/
a violent criminal or a person hired to intimidate or attack others
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yer
C2
/jɚ/
nonstandard pronunciation spelling of your
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padre
C2
/ˈpɑdɹeɪ/
a Christian priest, especially in a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking community
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sermon
C2
/ˈsɝ.mən/
Religious discourse; a written or spoken address on a religious or moral matter.
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cadet
C2
/kəˈdɛt/
a student or trainee preparing to become a military or police officer
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lea
C2
/liː/
an open grassy field, meadow, or pasture; chiefly literary
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mutt
C2
/mʌt/
informal: a foolish, contemptible, or irritating person
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tit
C2
/tɪt/
a small, active songbird that often feeds on insects and seeds
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shag
C2
/ʃæɡ/
strong, coarse-cut tobacco
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knob
C2
/nɑb/
a rounded handle on a door, drawer, lid, or similar object
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ducky
C2
/ˈdʌki/
informal, especially British and sometimes dated: an affectionate form of address for a person
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anal
C2
/ˈeɪnəl/
of, near, intended for, or involving the anus
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viva
C2
/ˈvaɪvə/
chiefly British: an oral examination, especially one for an academic degree
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signor
C2
/siːˈnjɔːr/
a courtesy title used before the name of, or in addressing, an Italian man; equivalent to Mr. or sir
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mandarin
C2
/ˈmæn.də.rɪn/
the major group of Chinese varieties spoken across much of China, especially Standard Mandarin
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posse
C2
/ˈpɑːsi/
a group of people summoned by a law officer to help keep order or pursue a suspect
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platter
C2
/ˈplætɚ/
a large, shallow dish or tray used for serving food
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babu
C2
/ˈbɑːbuː/
South Asian, often historical in English: a respectful title or form of address for a man, commonly placed after a personal name
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git
C2
/ɡɪt/
an eye-dialect or pronunciation spelling of get
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wench
C2
/wɛntʃ/
a girl or young woman; now dated and often humorous, dismissive, or offensive
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loony
C2
/ˈluːni/
informal and potentially offensive: a person regarded as foolish, eccentric, or mentally unstable
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raccoon
C2
/ræˈkuːn/
a nocturnal North American mammal with a black facial mask, dexterous forepaws, and a ringed tail
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booby
C2
/ˈbuːbi/
a foolish or inept person; dated and insulting
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cactus
C2
/ˈkæktəs/
Any member of the family Cactaceae, a family of flowering New World succulent plants suited to a hot, semi-desert climate.
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python
C2
/ˈpaɪθɑn/
a large nonvenomous constricting snake of the family Pythonidae, native chiefly to Africa, Asia, and Australia
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ahoy
C2
/əˈhɔɪ/
nautical: used to hail a ship, lookout, or person and attract attention
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elope
C2
/iˈloʊp/
to leave secretly in order to marry, or to marry privately without a public ceremony or advance announcement
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bey
C2
/beɪ/
historical: a governor, ruler, or other high official in the Ottoman Empire and some of its former territories
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mercer
C2
/ˈmɝsɚ/
historical: a merchant who dealt in textiles, especially silk and other fine cloth
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girlie
C2
/ˈgɝːli/
informal, often dated: a girl or young woman, sometimes used as an affectionate form of address
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assailant
C2
/əˈseɪlənt/
a person who physically attacks another person
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proctor
C2
/ˈprɑːk.tɚ/
especially in the US, a person who supervises an examination to prevent cheating
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concubine
C2
/ˈkɑːŋkjəbaɪn/
historical: a woman recognized as a man's sexual partner but given lower social or legal status than a wife
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homage
C2
/ˈ(h)ɑmɪd͡ʒ/
An artistic work imitating another in a flattering style.
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limousine
C2
/ˌlɪməˈziːn/
a large luxurious car, often with a chauffeur and sometimes with a lengthened passenger compartment
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roach
C2
/roʊtʃ/
a silvery-green European freshwater fish, or any of several related fishes
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chestnut
C2
/ˈt͡ʃɛs(t)ˌnʌt/
of a golden brown to reddish brown color
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jerky
C2
/ˈd͡ʒɝki/
moving or proceeding in sudden, uneven starts rather than smoothly
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dementia
C2
/dɪˈmɛnʃə/
a syndrome involving progressive decline in memory, reasoning, language, or other cognitive abilities
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Hun
C2
/hʌn/
a member of a nomadic confederation that entered Europe in late antiquity and reached its greatest power under Attila in the fifth century
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hoop
C2
/huːp/
a rigid circular or curved band of metal, wood, or another material, used for holding, fastening, hanging, or forming a framework
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topless
C2
/ˈtɑːpləs/
having the chest or breasts uncovered
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privy
C2
/ˈprɪvi/
sharing secret or private knowledge of something, normally followed by to
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tod
C2
/tɑːd/
a former British unit of weight for wool, usually equal to 28 pounds (about 12.7 kilograms)
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pox
C2
/pɑks/
dated, especially in the pox or great pox: syphilis
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damsel
C2
/ˈdæmzəl/
dated or literary: a young unmarried woman, especially one of noble birth
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attire
C2
/əˈtaɪɚ/
clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
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curator
C2
/kjʊəˈɹeɪtə(ɹ)/
A person who manages and organizes a collection in a museum, gallery, or library.
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nightgown
C2
/ˈnaɪtˌɡaʊn/
a loose garment, especially a dresslike one, worn in bed
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dole
C2
/doʊl/
chiefly British and informal: money paid by the government to people who are unemployed
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alderman
C2
/ˈɔldəɹmən/
a member of a municipal council, especially in a city or in a historical system of local government
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emir
C2
/əˈmɪr/
a ruler, prince, governor, or military commander in an Islamic country or polity
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uber
C2
/ˈuːbɚ/
informal: extreme, outstanding, or superior to others of its kind
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mavis
C2
/ˈmeɪvɪs/
the song thrush; chiefly literary or Scottish
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chivalry
C2
/ˈʃɪvəlɹi/
honourable, generous, and courteous conduct, especially toward someone perceived as vulnerable
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psychosis
C2
/saɪˈkoʊsɪs/
a severe mental state involving impaired contact with reality, often including delusions or hallucinations
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eskimo
C2
/ˈɛskɪmoʊ/
historical collective label for Inuit and Yupik peoples and related Arctic communities; now often considered outdated or offensive, especially in Canada and Greenland
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pap
C2
/pæp/
US dialect: father; pa
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castor
C2
/ˈkæstɚ/
historical: a small table container or a stand holding cruets and shakers for condiments
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coney
C2
/ˈkoʊni/
archaic or historical: a rabbit, especially the European rabbit, or its fur
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Neanderthal
C2
/niˈændərˌtɑːl/
a member of an extinct human species, Homo neanderthalensis, that lived in Europe and western Asia until about 40,000 years ago
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bale
C2
/beɪl/
a large quantity of material compressed and tightly bound for storage or transport
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armpit
C2
/ˈɑːrm.pɪt/
the hollow beneath the shoulder where the arm joins the body
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cavalier
C2
/ˌkævəˈlɪɚ/
showing an arrogant or dismissive lack of proper concern
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deadbeat
C2
/ˈdɛdˌbiːt/
informal, disparaging: a lazy or irresponsible person who avoids work or depends on others for support
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pug
C2
/pʌɡ/
a small, sturdy dog with a short muzzle, broad wrinkled face, smooth coat, and tightly curled tail
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eulogy
C2
/ˈjuː.lə.dʒi/
a speech or piece of writing praising a person who has died, usually delivered at a funeral
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gunny
C2
/ˈɡʌni/
a coarse, strong fabric made from jute or hemp, especially for sacks
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eradicate
C2
/ɪˈɹæd.ɪ.keɪt/
to destroy or remove something completely, especially a disease, problem, or harmful practice
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vixen
C2
/ˈvɪksən/
a female fox
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thyself
C2
/ðaɪˈsɛlf/
the reflexive or emphatic form of thou, meaning yourself; archaic or literary
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hunchback
C2
/ˈhʌntʃ.bæk/
a dated and potentially offensive term for a person with a markedly hunched back or kyphosis
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filly
C2
/ˈfɪli/
a young female horse, especially one below the age at which it is called a mare
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