Word Formation & Derivatives

testimonial C2

/tɛstɪˈmoʊni.əl/ A written or spoken statement praising someone's worth, character, or a product. M S

collider C2

/kəˈlaɪdɚ/ A machine that speeds up particles and makes two beams of them crash into each other for research. M S

ephemeral C2

/ɛˈfɛ.mə.ɹəl/ Lasting for only a short time. M S

condensation C2

/kənˌɖɛnˌse.ʃən/ The process by which a gas, especially water vapor, turns into a liquid. M S

sporadic C2

/spɝˈædɪk/ recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances M S

slither C2

/ˈslɪð.ɚ/ To move smoothly along the ground with a twisting, side-to-side motion, like a snake. M S

philanthropy C2

/fɪˈlæn.θɹə.pi/ The act of giving money and help to good causes to improve people's lives. M S

inscrutable C2

/ˌɪnˈskɹuːtəbl̩/ Impossible to understand or read; mysterious. M S

despondent C2

/dɪˈspɑːndənt/ without or almost without hope M S

remorseful C2

/ɹɪˈmɔː(ɹ)sfʊl/ Feeling deep regret and guilt for something you have done wrong. M S

elation C2

/ɪˈleɪʃən/ A feeling of great happiness and excitement M S

meteorological C2

/ˌmitiəɹəˈlɑd͡ʒɪkl̩/ Relating to the weather or the study of the weather. M S

divination C2

/ˌdɪvɪˈneɪʃən/ The practice of trying to predict the future or discover hidden things by supernatural means. M S

virginal C2

/ˈvɜː(ɹ)d͡ʒɪnəl/ Pure and untouched; like a virgin. M S

confrontational C2

/ˌkɒnfɹənˈteɪʃənˈəl/ Likely to cause an argument or fight; aggressive and hostile. M S

digress C2

/daɪˈɡɹɛs/ lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking M S

inexperience C2

/ˌɪnɪkˈspɪriːəns/ lack of experience and the knowledge and understanding derived from experience M S

stipulate C2

/ˈstɪpjuˌleɪt/ To state clearly that something must be done, as part of an agreement or rule. M S

scholarly C2

/ˈskɑːlɝli/ Connected with serious academic study and research M S

melodious C2

/məˈloʊdi.əs/ Pleasant to listen to; having a beautiful tune. M S

strangeness C2

/ˈstreɪndʒnəs/ the quality of being alien or not native M S

affiliate C2

/əˈfɪliːˌeɪt/ a subsidiary or subordinate organization that is affiliated with another organization M S

allegory C2

/ˈæləˌɡɔɹi/ A story whose characters and events stand for a deeper meaning, often a moral or political one. M S

avian C2

/ˈeɪvi.ən/ Relating to or typical of birds. M S

palatable C2

/ˈpælətəbəl/ Pleasant to taste; good to eat. M S

topography C2

/təˈpɑɡɹəfi/ The shape and physical features of an area of land, such as hills and valleys. M S

ornate C2

/ɔɹˈneɪt/ Decorated with a lot of complicated detail, sometimes too much. M S

materialism C2

/məˈtɪɹiəlɪzəm/ A strong focus on owning things and having money rather than on spiritual or moral values. M S

assimilation C2

/əˌsɪməˈleɪʃən/ The process of a group taking on the customs and attitudes of a larger culture. M S

malleable C2

/ˈmæl.iː.ə.bəl/ Easily shaped or changed; flexible. M S

monastic C2

/məˈnæstɪk/ Relating to monks, nuns, or the life of a monastery. M S

unequivocally C2

/ˌʌnɪˈkwɪvək(ə)li/ In a way that leaves no doubt; clearly and firmly. M S

finicky C2

/ˈfɪnɪki/ exacting, especially about details M S

habitation C2

/ˌhæb.ɪˈtæɪ.ʃən/ The state of people living in a place. M S

dampen C2

/ˈdæmpən/ To make a feeling or activity weaker or less lively. M S

ostensibly C2

/ɑˈstɛn.sə.bli/ According to what is stated or appears to be true, though the real situation may be different. M S

toady C2

/ˈtoʊ.di/ a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage M S

loiter C2

/ˈlɔɪtɚ/ To stand or wait around a place with no clear purpose. M S

tangent C2

/ˈtæn.d͡ʒənt/ a ratio of the opposite to the adjacent side of a right-angled triangle M S

pervasive C2

/pɚˈveɪ.sɪv/ Present or spreading everywhere; affecting every part of something. M S

preoccupation C2

/ˌpɹiɑkjʊˈpeɪʃən/ The state of being so absorbed in a thought that you notice little else. M S

zoology C2

/zoʊˈɑləd͡ʒi/ The branch of biology that studies animals. M S

acrobatics C2

/ˌækrəˈbætɪks/ Difficult and impressive physical movements such as jumps, flips, and balances. M S

buoyancy C2

/ˈbɔɪənsi/ irrepressible liveliness and good spirit M S

intrinsic C2

/ɪnˈtɹɪn.zɪk/ Belonging naturally to something as part of its basic nature. M S

attuned C2

/əˈtuːnd/ Aware of and able to respond well to something, such as people's feelings or a situation. M S

listless C2

/ˈlɪstlɪs/ lacking zest or vivacity M S

ferment C2

/fɚˈmɛnt/ a state of agitation or turbulent change or development M S

wistful C2

/ˈwɪstfəl/ Sad and thoughtful, especially when remembering something or longing for it. M S

drudgery C2

/ˈdrʌdʒɝi/ Hard, boring, and tiring work that requires little skill. M S

triplicate C2

/ˈtɹɪp.lɪ.kət/ to reproduce threefold M S

dismember C2

/ˌdɪsˈmɛmbə(ɹ)/ separate the limbs from the body M S

abhorrent C2

/æbˈhɔɹ.ənt/ Causing strong feelings of disgust and hatred; utterly unacceptable. M S

proximal C2

/ˈprɑːksəməl/ Located nearest to the point of attachment, origin, or the body's centre. M S

philanthropic C2

/ˌfɪl.ənˈθɹɑ.pɪk/ Generous in giving money and help to good causes. M S

maliciously C2

/məˈlɪʃɪsli/ In a way that is intended to harm or hurt others. M S

torrential C2

/tɔˈɹɛn.t͡ʃəl/ Of rain, falling very heavily. M S

indivisible C2

/ˌɪndɪˈvɪzɪbəl/ impossible of undergoing division M S

elasticity C2

/ɪ.læsˈtɪs.ɪ.ti/ The ability of a material to return to its original shape after being stretched or squeezed. M S

revulsion C2

/ɹɪˈvʌlʃən/ A strong feeling of disgust or loathing. M S

counterproductive C2

/ˌkaʊntəpɹəˈdʌktɪv/ Having the opposite effect to the one you intended; doing more harm than good. M S

painstakingly C2

/ˈpeɪnˌsteɪkɪŋli/ With great care and effort; very slowly and carefully. M S

fallacy C2

/ˈfɛl.ə.si/ A mistaken belief based on faulty reasoning. M S

surrealist C2

Relating to surrealism, or having a strange, dreamlike quality. M S

instigator C2

/ˈɪnstəˌɡeɪtɚ/ someone who deliberately foments trouble M S

vindication C2

/vɪndɪˈkeɪʃən/ Proof that someone was right or free from blame. M S

emphatic C2

/ɛmˈfætɪk/ forceful and definite in expression or action M S

acrobatic C2

/ˌækɹəˈbætɪk/ Involving skilful, agile movements like those of an acrobat. M S

stringent C2

/ˈstɹɪn.d͡ʒənt/ Strict, severe, and demanding close attention to rules or standards. M S

burgeoning C2

/ˈbɝ.d͡ʒə.nɪŋ/ Growing or developing quickly. M S

irrevocably C2

/ɪˈɹɛ.və.kə.bli/ In a way that cannot be changed, reversed, or undone. M S

foray C2

/ˈfɔɹ.eɪ/ an initial attempt (especially outside your usual areas of competence) M S

dissension C2

/dɪˈsɛnʃən/ Strong disagreement that causes division within a group. M S

measurable C2

/ˈmeʒəɹəbəl/ of distinguished importance M S

minster C2

/ˈmɪnstɚ/ A large or important church, especially a cathedral. M S

attrition C2

/əˈtɹɪʃən/ A gradual reduction in number, especially of staff who leave and are not replaced. M S

buccaneer C2

/ˌbʌkəˈnɪɚ/ A pirate, especially one who attacked Spanish ships in the Caribbean in the 1600s. M S

stipulation C2

/ˌstɪp.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/ A condition that must be met as part of an agreement. M S

scholastic C2

/skɵˈlasʈɪk/ of or relating to schools M S

subsidize C2

/ˈsʌbsɪˌdaɪz/ To help pay for something by giving money, usually so its cost stays low. M S

jarring C2

[d͡ʒɑːrɪŋ] Unpleasantly shocking or out of place; clashing. M S

unadulterated C2

/ˌənəˈdʌltɝˌeɪtɪd/ Pure; not mixed with anything else. M S

disparaging C2

/dɪˈspɛrɪdʒɪŋ/ Showing a low opinion of someone or something; insulting or critical. M S

sandwiched C2

/ˈsænˌdwɪtʃt/ Squeezed or fitted tightly between two other things. M S

contractual C2

/kənˈtræktʃuːəl/ Relating to or required by a binding legal agreement. M S

paradoxical C2

/ˌpɛɹəˈdɑːksɪkəl/ Seeming to contradict itself, yet possibly true. M S

individualism C2

/ˌɪndɪvɪˈduːəˌlɪzəm/ The belief that the freedom and self-reliance of each person matter more than the group or the state. M S

surrealism C2

/sɝˈiːlɪzəm/ An early 20th-century art and literary movement that used dreamlike, fantastic images to express the unconscious mind. M S

dowdy C2

/ˈdaʊdi/ lacking in smartness or taste M S

spurious C2

/ˈspjʊɹ.i.əs/ False or fake; not genuine or authentic. M S

asexual C2

/eɪˈsɛk.ʃu.əl/ not having or involving sex M S

opulent C2

/ˈɒpjʊlənt/ Showing great wealth and luxury; richly grand. M S

proliferation C2

/pɹəˌlɪf.əˈɹæɪ.ʃən/ A rapid increase in the number or spread of something. M S

additive C2

/ˈæd.ɪ.tɪv/ A substance added to food, fuel, or another product to give it certain qualities. M S

parochial C2

/pəˈɹoʊki.əl/ Narrow in outlook; concerned only with local matters and ignoring the wider world. M S

recitation C2

/ˌɹɛsəˈteɪʃən/ The act of saying a poem, speech, or passage aloud, usually from memory. M S