C2 English Vocab

Consummation

the completion or ultimate fulfillment of a thing

Portents

a prophetic sign, omen, or warning that foreshadows an upcoming event

Libations

the ritual pouring of a liquid (like water, wine, or milk) as an offering to a deity, spirit, or in honor of ancestors

Inviolate

something that is secure from violation, harm, or infringement

Rill

a very small, shallow stream or brook

Prerogative

an exclusive right, power, or privilege granted to a particular individual, group, or official body

Expiation

the act of atoning for a wrongdoing, making amends, or paying a penalty to cleanse guilt

Felicity

a state of intense happiness, joy, or bliss

Accede

to express approval, agree to a demand/request, or take on a specific office or position

Sojourn

a temporary stay or brief period of residence in a place that is not your permanent home

Bluster

loud, aggressive, and boastful talk or behavior that is meant to intimidate others but often lacks real substance or follow-through

Throngs

A large number often referring to a crowd

Crocus

a small perennial flower in the iris family known for blooming in early spring or autumn. Its symbolic meanings span hope, rebirth, and youthful gladness

Littoral

refers to or is situated on or near the shore of a body of water, such as an ocean, sea, or lake

Briny

salty or resembling brine (water saturated with salt). It is commonly used to describe seawater, ocean air, or foods with a sharp, salty flavor

Conferred

the past tense and past participle of the verb confer. It generally has two distinct meanings: to officially award or grant something (like a title, degree, or honor), or to discuss and exchange ideas in order to reach a decision

Whet

To stimulate a desire or interest: Figuratively, it means to excite, arouse, or make eager

Wheedle

to use flattery, charm, or smooth, persistent talk to persuade someone to do something or to get them to give you what you want

Rejoinder

A rejoinder is a reply or response, typically a quick, witty, or critical comeback to a previous remark

Adjudged

to make a formal, official decision or judgment about someone or something based on available facts

Craven

contemptibly lacking in courage

Countenance

Noun: refers to a person's face or their facial expression. It often describes the emotional "look" or demeanor someone is giving off

Verb: to admit as acceptable, to approve, or to tolerate something. It is frequently used to express what someone will or will not allow

Girt

Encircled or Bound: The most common definition is an archaic past tense or past participle of the verb "gird". It means to be surrounded, enclosed, or strapped

Assiduous

someone who shows great care, relentless attention, and persistent effort when doing a task

Banality

the quality of being boring, trite, or completely lacking in original thought

Pantomime

any of various dramatic or dancing performances in which a story is told by expressive bodily or facial movements of the performers

Taciturn

someone who is habitually untalkative, reserved, and uncommunicative

Wantonness

the state or quality of lacking restraint, control, or moral discipline, usually malicious

Bellicose

eager, inclined, or aggressive enough to start a fight or engage in warfare. It is most commonly used to describe individuals, national leaders, or governments that display a hostile and warlike demeanor

Poultice

a soft, moist, and often heated mass—such as a paste of herbs, clay, or bread—applied to the body.

Malingering

the intentional fabrication or extreme exaggeration of physical or psychological symptoms, motivated by an external incentive

Stultifying

something so boring, restrictive, or monotonous that it deadens the mind, suppresses creativity, or prevents new ideas from developing

Inimical

describes something that is harmful, hostile, or actively opposed to something else

Stolid

describes someone or something that is calm, dependable, and shows little to no emotion or animation

Indefatigable

persisting tirelessly; untiring; incapable of being fatigued

Concupiscence

strong sexual desire; lust

Welter

1. A large, confused mass or jumble of items, ideas, or people.

2. A state of commotion, turmoil, or upheaval.

Vulpine

1. Of, relating to, or resembling a fox.

2. Cunning, crafty, or sly in a clever, calculating way.

Obsequious

obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree; fawning and eager to please or placate

Quirt

a short, stout riding whip with a braided leather lash, traditionally used in the Western United States to goad cattle or urge a horse

Harrow

heavy, spiked or disked farm implement that is dragged behind a tractor or animal to break up clods of earth

Truculent

adjective describing someone who is aggressively self-assertive, belligerent, or quick to argue and fight

Placid

adjective that means pleasantly calm, peaceful, and free from disturbance

Convalescent

a person who is gradually recovering their health and strength after an illness, injury, or surgery

Fallow

cultivated land that is plowed but left unsown or unseeded for a period (usually a growing season or a year) to allow the soil to recover its fertility, replenish its nutrients, and retain moisture

Fiat

an authoritative or arbitrary order, decree, or command issued by someone in authority

Conflagration

a particularly large, intensely destructive, and uncontrolled fire that consumes a significant amount of land, property, or densely packed structures

Tautology

the repetition of the same idea using different words, making a statement unnecessarily redundant

Didacticism

an artistic and literary philosophy that emphasizes instructional or moral lessons over mere entertainment

Flotsam

floating wreckage, cargo, or debris from a ship that has been lost at sea

Dilettante

a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts or sciences, purely for amusement or casually

Rote

the mechanical or habitual repetition of something to memorize it, often without engaging your understanding or giving thought to the meaning

Ameliorate

to make a bad or unpleasant situation better, more tolerable, or satisfactor

Auspices

the support, patronage, or kindly guidance of a person or organization

Raptly

to do something with complete, spellbound attention or intense emotional absorption

Lase

to emit coherent light (function as a laser) or to subject something to laser radiation