This week on The Missing Workbook
1 new learner
12 reviews
Word
English Vocabulary
Pick a CEFR level (A1–C2, plus C2+ for rare words beyond the CEFR scale) — A1 is the friendliest place to start — and browse its words grouped by topic: travel, food, the body, emotions, and more. Each word shows its meaning, example sentences, and US/UK pronunciation.
Choose your level
View all levelsC2+ is beyond the official CEFR scale: rare, specialist, and literary words kept for reference.
167 words
la
C2
/lɑ/
an archaic exclamation expressing surprise, emphasis, or mild protest
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
gimme
C2
/ˈɡɪmiː/
informal: a written representation of the rapid pronunciation of give me
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
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
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
lo
C2
/loʊ/
archaic or literary: used to call attention to something surprising or important
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
napoleon
C2
/nəˈpoʊ.li.ən/
historical: a French gold coin worth twenty francs, first issued under Napoleon I
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
orphanage
C2
/ˈɔːr.fən.ɪdʒ/
a residential institution that houses and cares for children without parents or guardians
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
faggot
C2
/ˈfæɡ.ət/
historical: a bundle of sticks or branches bound together for fuel
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
abigail
C2
/ˈa.bɪ.ɡeɪl/
historical: a lady's maid or female personal attendant
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
madonna
C2
/məˈdɑː.nə/
an artistic representation of the Virgin Mary, especially with the infant Jesus
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
sermon
C2
/ˈsɝ.mən/
Religious discourse; a written or spoken address on a religious or moral matter.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
lea
C2
/liː/
an open grassy field, meadow, or pasture; chiefly literary
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
shag
C2
/ʃæɡ/
strong, coarse-cut tobacco
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
knob
C2
/nɑb/
a rounded handle on a door, drawer, lid, or similar object
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
mandarin
C2
/ˈmæn.də.rɪn/
the major group of Chinese varieties spoken across much of China, especially Standard Mandarin
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
homage
C2
/ˈ(h)ɑmɪd͡ʒ/
An artistic work imitating another in a flattering style.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
pox
C2
/pɑks/
dated, especially in the pox or great pox: syphilis
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
mavis
C2
/ˈmeɪvɪs/
the song thrush; chiefly literary or Scottish
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
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
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
chalice
C2
/ˈtʃælɪs/
a stemmed ceremonial cup, especially the cup used for wine in the Christian Eucharist
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
midge
C2
/mɪdʒ/
a very small two-winged fly, including both biting and non-biting kinds
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
britches
C2
/ˈbrɪtʃɪz/
informal or dialectal: trousers; especially breeches
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
bourne
C2
/bɔːrn/
a boundary or limit, especially in archaic or literary use
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
grange
C2
/ɡreɪndʒ/
a farm or farmhouse with its outbuildings, especially one formerly belonging to a monastery or estate
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
vamp
C2
/væmp/
a short, repeated, often improvised musical accompaniment or chord progression
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
fie
C2
/faɪ/
archaic or literary: an exclamation expressing disgust, disapproval, shame, or outrage, often followed by on or upon
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
pulpit
C2
/ˈpʊlpɪt/
A raised platform in a church, sometimes enclosed, where the minister or preacher stands when giving the sermon; also, the lectern on such a platform.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
injun
C2
/ˈɪndʒən/
offensive and dated: an alteration of Indian formerly used for a Native American
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
blam
C2
/blæm/
used to represent a sudden explosive impact or gunshot
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
fen
C2
/fɛn/
a low, waterlogged wetland fed by groundwater or runoff, often peat-forming and richer in minerals than a bog
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
trove
C2
/troʊv/
a valuable or interesting collection of things, especially one that has been discovered
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
mews
C2
/mjuːz/
chiefly British, a short street or courtyard lined with buildings that were originally stables and are now often homes
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
dominus
C2
/ˈdɑːmənəs/
historical: a lord or master; a title formerly applied to a knight, cleric, or academic master
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
gad
C2
/ɡæd/
dated: a mild exclamation of surprise, emphasis, or impatience, used as a euphemism for God
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
beeswax
C2
/ˈbiːzˌwæks/
the wax produced by honeybees to build honeycomb, used in candles, polish, and other products
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
bijou
C2
/ˈbiːʒuː/
a small jewel, ornament, or finely made decorative object
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
kodak
C2
/ˈkoʊdæk/
a camera, especially a small hand camera (historical generic use of the trademark)
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
palazzo
C2
/pəˈlɑːt.soʊ/
an imposing urban residence or public building in Italy, especially one of historical or architectural importance
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
palp
C2
/pælp/
a paired sensory or feeding appendage near the mouth of an arthropod or another invertebrate
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
vinaigrette
C2
/ˌvɪn.əˈɡret/
a dressing or sauce made chiefly from oil, vinegar, and seasonings
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
moonstone
C2
/ˈmuːnˌstoʊn/
a translucent feldspar gemstone that displays a floating pearly or bluish sheen called adularescence
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
doge
C2
/doʊdʒ/
historical: the elected chief magistrate of the former republics of Venice or Genoa
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
palais
C2
/pəˈleɪ/
a palace or grand public building, especially one with a French name or cultural setting
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
dumbbell
C2
/ˈdʌm.bɛl/
a short bar with a weight at each end, held in one hand for exercise
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
phallus
C2
/ˈfæl.əs/
formal, anatomical, or anthropological: the penis, especially when erect
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
pish
C2
/pɪʃ/
dated: used to express impatience, disdain, contempt, or dismissal
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
ramrod
C2
/ˈræmˌrɑːd/
a rod used to push a charge down the barrel of a muzzle-loading firearm or to clean a gun barrel
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
tabernacle
C2
/ˈtæbɚnækl̩/
the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites according to the Hebrew Bible
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
vesta
C2
/ˈves.tə/
historical: a short friction match, especially one made with a wax-coated stem
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
minuet
C2
/ˌmɪn.juˈɛt/
a slow, formal dance in triple time that was fashionable in European courts during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
een
C2
/iːn/
Scots and Northern English: eyes
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
addendum
C2
/əˈden.dəm/
a section of additional information appended to a document or publication
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
sot
C2
/sɑt/
dated and disapproving: a habitual drunkard
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
groat
C2
/ɡroʊt/
historical: an English or Scottish coin, especially the English silver coin worth four old pence
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
yucca
C2
/ˈjʌkə/
any of a genus of evergreen plants with stiff sword-shaped leaves and tall clusters of white flowers, native chiefly to warm, dry parts of North and Central America
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
florin
C2
/ˈflɔːr.ɪn/
a gold coin first minted in medieval Florence, or any of several European coins modeled on it
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
saddlebag
C2
/ˈsædəlˌbæɡ/
one of a pair of bags carried across or beside a saddle, or a similar bag fitted to a bicycle or motorcycle
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
jingo
C2
/ˈdʒɪŋɡoʊ/
dated: used as a mild oath, usually in the phrase by jingo
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
esprit
C2
/eˈspriː/
lively intelligence, wit, or vivacious cleverness
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
crevasse
C2
/kɹəˈvæs/
a deep crack or fissure in a glacier, ice sheet, or snowfield
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
rigmarole
C2
/ˈrɪɡməˌroʊl/
a long, complicated, and often unnecessary procedure
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
polecat
C2
/ˈpoʊlˌkæt/
a dark-brown Eurasian mustelid that releases a strong-smelling secretion when threatened
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
swipes
C2
/swaɪps/
dated British slang: weak, watery, or inferior beer
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
kilowatt
C2
/ˈkɪləˌwɑːt/
a unit of power equal to one thousand watts; symbol kW
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
mote
C2
/moʊt/
a tiny particle or speck, especially one visible in the air
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
codicil
C2
/ˈkɑdəsəl/
a legal document added to a will to explain, modify, add, or revoke a provision
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
rathole
C2
/ˈrætˌhoʊl/
a burrow, entrance, or hole made or used by a rat
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
galoot
C2
/ɡəˈluːt/
slang, mildly insulting or humorous: a fellow, especially one who is awkward, foolish, or uncouth
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
harelip
C2
/ˈhɛrˌlɪp/
dated and sometimes offensive: a cleft lip, a congenital opening or split in the upper lip
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
handmaid
C2
/ˈhændˌmeɪd/
dated or historical: a female personal servant or attendant
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
pshaw
C2
/pʃɔː/
dated: used to express impatience, disbelief, contempt, or dismissal
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
tress
C2
/tɹɛs/
literary, often plural: a long lock, curl, or braid of hair
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
marmoset
C2
/ˈmɑːrməˌzɛt/
a small Central or South American monkey of the callitrichid group, typically with clawlike nails on most digits
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
seigneur
C2
/seɪnˈjɝː/
historical: a feudal lord or nobleman in France or another French-speaking territory
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cortege
C2
/ˈkɔːr.teʒ/
a formal or ceremonial procession, especially at a funeral, wedding, or royal occasion
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
epistle
C2
/ɪˈpɪsəl/
a formal or literary letter, especially a long one
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
hist
C2
/hɪst/
an archaic call used quietly to attract attention or command silence
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
tapir
C2
/ˈteɪpiːə(ɹ)/
An odd-toed ungulate of the genus Tapirus with a long prehensile upper lip.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
majordomo
C2
/ˌmeɪ.dʒɚˈdoʊ.moʊ/
historical: the chief servant or steward in a wealthy or royal household
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
morass
C2
/məˈɹæs/
Anything that entraps or makes progress difficult.
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
withe
C2
/wɪð/
a slender, flexible twig or shoot, especially one used for binding
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
seraph
C2
/ˈsɛɹəf/
an angel of the seraphim, traditionally represented with six wings and ranked in the highest order of Christian angelology
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cubit
C2
/ˈkjuː.bɪt/
any of several ancient units of length based on the forearm from elbow to fingertip, commonly about 18 inches or 46 centimetres
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
eventide
C2
/ˈiːvənˌtaɪd/
evening or the late part of the day around sunset; literary or poetic
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
weal
C2
/wil/
welfare, prosperity, or the common good, now chiefly archaic or literary
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
bodkin
C2
/ˈbɑːdkɪn/
a blunt, large-eyed needle used to pull cord or ribbon through a hem or casing
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
obsequies
C2
/ˈɑːbsɪkwiz/
funeral rites or ceremonies, especially formal ones
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
erg
C2
/ɝɡ/
the centimeter-gram-second unit of work or energy, equal to one dyne-centimeter or 10^-7 joule
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
septicaemia
C2
/ˌsɛptɪˈsiːmiə/
chiefly British: a serious infection involving pathogenic microorganisms in the bloodstream; blood poisoning
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
turbit
C2
/ˈtɝbɪt/
a breed of fancy domestic pigeon with a short beak, a peaked or shell-shaped crest, and a frill of feathers on the breast
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
catarrh
C2
/kəˈtɑr/
inflammation of a mucous membrane, especially in the nose or throat, accompanied by excessive mucus; now chiefly a dated medical term
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
switchback
C2
/ˈswɪtʃˌbæk/
chiefly British, dated: a roller coaster or amusement ride with steep rises and descents
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
cinematograph
C2
/ˌsɪnəməˈtæɡræf/
an early apparatus that recorded and projected motion pictures
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
ultramarine
C2
/ˌʌltrəməˈriːn/
a vivid deep-blue pigment originally made by grinding lapis lazuli and now also produced synthetically
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
merk
C2
/mɝːk/
a historical Scottish silver coin and unit of account worth thirteen shillings and fourpence Scots
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
scrofula
C2
/ˈskrɑfjələ/
dated: tuberculosis of the lymph nodes, especially those of the neck; cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off
dyspepsia
C2
/dɪsˈpepsiə/
pain, discomfort, bloating, nausea, or heartburn arising from the upper digestive tract; indigestion
Meaning
Off
Sound
Off