Word Formation & Derivatives

wretchedness C2

/ˈɹɛt͡ʃɪdnəs/ the quality of being poor and inferior and sorry M S

sylvan C2

/ˈsɪlvən/ relating to or characteristic of wooded regions M S

chronologically C2

/ˌkɹɒnəˈlɒdʒɪkli/ In the order in which things happened in time. M S

fluctuate C2

/ˈflʌkt͡ʃu.eɪt/ To rise and fall or change irregularly. M S

modulate C2

/ˈmɑ.d͡ʒəˌleɪt/ change the key of, in music M S

ad-lib C2

/ˈædˈlɪb/ To say or do something without any preparation; to improvise. M S

subsistence C2

/səbˈsɪstəns/ The food, money, or other things a person needs simply to stay alive. M S

unobtrusive C2

/ˌʌnəbˈtɹusɪv/ Not easily noticed; quiet and not drawing attention. M S

nascent C2

/ˈnæɪ.sənt/ Just coming into existence and beginning to develop. M S

calamitous C2

/kəˈlæmətəs/ Causing or involving great harm or disaster. M S

preeminent C2

/priːˈɛmənənt/ Better than all others; outstanding in rank or quality. M S

distillation C2

/ˌdɪstɪˈleɪʃən/ The process of purifying a liquid by boiling it and condensing the vapor. M S

communicable C2

/kəˈmjuːnɪkəbəl/ readily communicated M S

utilitarian C2

/juˌtɪləˈtɛɹi.ən/ Designed to be useful and practical rather than attractive. M S

muscle-bound C2

Having very large, stiff muscles from too much exercise. M S

dogmatic C2

/dɔɡˈmæt.ɪk/ relating to or involving dogma M S

incongruous C2

/ɪnˈkɑn.ɡɹu.əs/ Out of place; not matching or fitting the surroundings. M S

catastrophically C2

In a way that causes a disaster or terrible damage. M S

egalitarian C2

/ɪˌɡæl.ɪˈtɛɹ.i.ən/ Believing in or based on equal rights and opportunities for everyone. M S

menacingly C2

/ˈmɛnəsɪŋli/ In a threatening way that suggests danger. M S

tranquilize C2

/ˈtɹeɪ̯ŋkwɪlaɪ̯z/ To make a person or animal calm, often by giving them a sedative drug. M S

convivial C2

/kənˈvɪv.i.əl/ occupied with or fond of the pleasures of good company M S

constriction C2

/kənˈstɹɪk.ʃən/ a tight feeling in some part of the body M S

lyricist C2

/ˈlɪɹ.ɪsɪst/ A person who writes the words for songs. M S

edification C2

/ˌɛdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ The act of improving someone morally, intellectually, or spiritually. M S

articulation C2

/ɑɹˌtɪk.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/ The act of expressing thoughts or feelings clearly in words. M S

reverberate C2

/ɹəˈvɜɹbəˌɹeɪt/ To be repeated as an echo; to ring or resound off surfaces. M S

vestigial C2

/vɛˈstɪd͡ʒɪəl/ Remaining as a small trace of something that was once larger or more important. M S

kitschy C2

/ˈkɪt͡ʃi/ effusively or insincerely emotional M S

confection C2

/kənˈfɛkʃən/ A sweet food such as a cake, candy, or pastry, often elaborately decorated. M S

ponderous C2

/ˈpɑn.dɚ.əs/ Slow and heavy, moving in a clumsy way because of great weight. M S

amorphous C2

/əˈmɔ(ɹ)fəs/ Having no clear shape or form. M S

colloquial C2

/kəˈloʊ.kwi.əl/ Used in ordinary, informal conversation rather than formal speech or writing. M S

engender C2

/ɛnˈd͡ʒɛn.dɚ/ To cause something, especially a feeling or situation, to come into being. M S

unwary C2

/ənˈwɛri/ not alert to danger or deception M S

vehement C2

/ˈviː.hə.mənt/ marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions M S

crony C2

/ˈkɹoʊni/ A close friend or companion, often one who shares in someone's activities. M S

domesticity C2

/ˌdoʊˌmɛˈstɪsəti/ Home life and the everyday activities of running a household. M S

insular C2

/ˈɪnsəlɚ/ Not interested in new ideas or in people outside your own group; narrow-minded. M S

virtuosity C2

/ˌvɜː(ɹ)tjuˈɒsɪti/ Outstanding technical skill, especially in music or art. M S

allegorical C2

/ˌæl.ɪˈɡɔɹ.ɪ.kəl/ Using a story or symbols to express a deeper, hidden meaning. M S

anarchic C2

/əˈnɑɹ.kɪk/ Without any law, order, or control; chaotic. M S

adornment C2

/əˈdɔːnm(ə)nt/ Something added to make a person or thing more attractive; a decoration. M S

brandish C2

/ˈbɹændɪʃ/ To wave or swing something, especially a weapon, in a threatening or excited way. M S

prescient C2

/ˈpɹɛʃ(i)ənt/ perceiving the significance of events before they occur M S

archival C2

/ˌɑɹˈkaɪv(ə)l/ Relating to an archive or to old records and documents kept for the future. M S

gravitationally C2

/ˌgrævəˈteɪʃnəli/ In a way relating to or caused by gravity. M S

indolence C2

/ˈɪndl̩əns/ Habitual laziness; a dislike of work or effort. M S

unsuspected C2

/ˌənsəˈspɛktɪd/ Not suspected; not thought to be involved or present. M S

lamentation C2

/ˌlæm.ənˈteɪ.ʃən/ The act of expressing deep grief, often loudly; a sorrowful cry. M S

tetchy C2

/ˈtɛt͡ʃi/ Easily annoyed or irritated; bad-tempered. M S

dissipation C2

/ˌdɪsɪˈpeɪʃən/ breaking up and scattering by dispersion M S

astringent C2

/əˈstɹɪn.d͡ʒənt/ Causing a dry, puckering feeling in the mouth, as some unripe fruits do. M S

circadian C2

/sɚˈkeɪ.di.ən/ of or relating to biological processes occurring at 24-hour intervals M S

dissemination C2

/dɪˌsɛmɪˈneɪʃən/ The act of spreading information or ideas widely. M S

imperceptibly C2

/ˌɪmpɝˈsɛptɪbli/ In a way too small or gradual to be noticed. M S

idiosyncratic C2

/ˌɪd.i.oʊ.sɪŋˈkɹæt.ɪk/ Particular to one individual; distinctive or peculiar to a person. M S

topographical C2

Relating to the physical features and shape of an area of land. M S

magnanimity C2

/ˌmæɡnəˈnɪmɪti/ The quality of being generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival. M S

midwifery C2

/ˈmɪdˌwaɪfəɹi/ The practice and skill of helping women through pregnancy and childbirth. M S

extant C2

/ˈɛk.stənt/ Still existing; not lost or destroyed. M S

timidity C2

/tɪˈmɪdɪti/ The quality of being shy and lacking confidence or courage. M S

convulsion C2

/kənˈvʌlʃən/ a violent disturbance M S

cogent C2

/ˈkoʊd͡ʒn̩t/ Clear, logical, and convincing. M S

pressurize C2

/ˈpɹɛʃəɹaɪz/ To increase the air or gas pressure inside something, or keep it at a fixed level. M S

vilify C2

/ˈvɪl.ɪ.faɪ/ to spread negative information about M S

disdainful C2

/dɪsˈdeɪnfəl/ Showing contempt or scorn for someone or something you think is not worthy. M S

lyrically C2

/ˈlɪrɪkli/ In a way that expresses deep emotion beautifully. M S

buffoonery C2

/bəˈfuːnəɹi/ Silly, clownish behavior meant to amuse or that looks foolish. M S

equanimity C2

/ˌɛkwəˈnɪmɪti/ steadiness of mind under stress M S

synchronous C2

/ˈsɪŋkɹənəs/ occurring or existing at the same time or having the same period or phase M S

improvisational C2

/ɪmˌpɹɑvəˈzeɪʃənəl/ Made up on the spot, without preparation. M S

derisive C2

/dɪˈraɪsɪv/ Showing scorn or contempt; mocking. M S

fractious C2

/ˈfɹæk.ʃəs/ Easily annoyed and inclined to complain or quarrel. M S

haphazardly C2

/hæpˈhæzɚdli/ In a careless, random way, without any clear plan. M S

granular C2

/ˈɡɹæn.jə.lə(ɹ)/ composed of or covered with particles resembling meal in texture or consistency M S

bristly C2

/ˈbɹɪsli/ having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc. M S

farcical C2

/ˈfɑː(ɹ)sɪkəl/ So ridiculous or absurd that it seems like a joke. M S

aural C2

/ˈɔɹəl/ relating to or characterized by an aura M S

quixotic C2

/kwɪkˈsɑtɪk/ not sensible about practical matters; overly idealistic or impractical M S

callously C2

/ˈkæləsli/ In a cruel, uncaring way, with no regard for others' feelings. M S

hermetic C2

/hə(ɹ)ˈmɛtɪk/ Completely sealed so that no air or gas can pass through; airtight. M S

numeric C2

/n(j)uˈmɛɹɪk/ measured or expressed in numbers M S

adhesion C2

/ædˈhiːʒən/ The way one surface sticks to another. M S

ingenuous C2

/ɪnˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.əs/ Innocent and trusting in a simple, honest way; not suspicious of others. M S

all-encompassing C2

Including everything; very broad in scope. M S

prurient C2

/ˈpɹʊɹ.i.ənt/ Having or showing too much interest in sexual matters. M S

supercilious C2

/ˌsu.pɚˈsɪ.li.əs/ expressive of contempt M S

curvaceous C2

/kɚˈveɪ.ʃɪs/ (of a woman's body) having a large bosom and pleasing curves M S

ruminate C2

/ˈɹumɪneɪt/ To think about something deeply and at length. M S

intelligible C2

/ɪnˈtɛləd͡ʒəbəl/ well articulated or enunciated, and loud enough to be heard distinctly M S

feebly C2

/ˈfiːbli/ in a halting and feeble manner M S

rapturous C2

/ˈɹæp.t͡ʃəɹ.əs/ Showing or feeling great joy or enthusiasm. M S

subsist C2

/səbˈsɪst/ To stay alive with only the bare minimum of food or resources. M S

trilateral C2

/ˌtrɪˈlæ.təɹ.əl/ involving three parties M S

leaven C2

/ˈlev.ən/ A substance, such as yeast, added to dough to make it rise. M S