C1 Reading
slumber — sleep
tinge — a slight amount of a color, feeling, or quality
premise — a belief, assumption, or starting idea
dogmatic — stubbornly insisting one’s opinion is correct
unpretentious — humble; not showing off
apprised (of) — informed about
incensed (by) — very angry because of
rectify — to fix or correct
retain — to keep
acquired — gained; obtained
speculated — guessed or formed a theory without certainty
supposition — an assumption or belief made without proof
surmise — to guess or infer with limited evidence
innocuous — harmless
discern — to recognize or notice
explicable — able to be explained
epitomize — to be the perfect example of
transcend — to go beyond; exceed
anticipate — to expect beforehand
variable — changeable; not constant
stymie — to block or prevent progress
disparage — to criticize or belittle
outstrip — to surpass; exceed
competent — capable; skilled
transpose — to switch or exchange positions
mediate — to influence, intervene, or act as a middleman
decouple — to separate; disconnect
haphazard — random; disorganized
arduous — difficult; requiring great effort
contract (verb) — to become smaller; shrink; develop
exhaustive — complete and thorough
impenetrable — impossible to enter or understand
indecipherable — impossible to understand or read
desultory — lacking a plan; disconnected; random
spurious — false; fake
veritable — genuine; true
notional — theoretical; existing only as an idea
irrelevant — not related; not important to the topic
repudiate — to reject completely
contemporary — modern; existing now
recant — to publicly take back a statement or belief
corroborate — to confirm or support with evidence
disseminate — to spread or distribute widely (especially information)
optimize — to make as effective or efficient as possible
cause — the reason something happens
existence — the state of being real or existing
implication — a consequence or suggested meaning
scale — size, extent, or magnitude
contrived — artificial; forced; unnatural
nuisance — something or someone that is annoying; an inconvenience
subsume (under/in) — to include or absorb into a larger group or category
Laity — ordinary people who are not religious leaders.
Pulpits — raised platforms in a church where a preacher speaks.
Recount — to tell or describe something that happened.
Dread — great fear or worry about something.
Convey — to communicate or express an idea or feeling.
Dilemma — a difficult choice between two or more options.
Inherent — naturally existing as part of something.
Repose — a state of rest or peace.
Abide — to follow or obey.
Zealous — very passionate or enthusiastic.
Desirous — wanting something.
Parlour (Parlor) — a sitting room for guests.
Drawback — a disadvantage.
Facilitates — makes something easier.
Maneuvering — moving or acting skillfully.
Foliage — the leaves of plants or trees.
Tender — gentle or soft.
Languish — to weaken or decline.
Floweret — a small flower.
Displaced — moved from the usual place.
Preliminary — coming before the main event.
Transplanted — moved and replanted in a new place.
Induced — caused or persuaded.
Tenuous — weak or fragile.
Amid — in the middle of.
Conducive — helping to produce a result.
Inconceivable — impossible to imagine or believe.
Commiserating — expressing sympathy for someone’s troubles.
Woe — great sadness or distress.
Proffer — to offer or present.
Stifling — extremely hot, restrictive, or suffocating.
Synchronized — happening at the same time.
Disputed — questioned or argued about.
Disorienting — causing confusion or loss of direction.
Invigorating — giving energy or strength.
Immersive — deeply involving or absorbing.
Wander — to move without a clear direction.
Labyrinthine — very confusing or maze-like.
Hinges — depends on.
Depart — to leave.
Endorse — to publicly support, approve, or recommend something or someone.
Desultory — lacking a clear plan or purpose.
Spurious — false or not genuine.
Veritable — real; true; genuine.
Notional — existing only as an idea or concept.
Indistinct — not clear or difficult to see or understand.
Implicit — implied but not directly stated.
Repudiates — rejects or refuses to accept.
Recants — takes back a previously stated belief or opinion.
Proclaims — announces publicly or declares.
Recants — takes back or withdraws a previous statement or belief.
Contracted — became smaller, shorter, or tighter; or entered into an agreement (depends on context).
Indecipherable — impossible or very difficult to read or understand.
Transposed with — swapped or exchanged with.
Mediated by — influenced or affected by.
Decoupled from — separated from or made independent of.
Antecedent to — happening before; preceding.
Haphazard — lacking order or planning; random.
Contentious — causing or involving disagreement or argument.
Arduous — requiring great effort; very difficult.
Epitomizing — perfectly representing or being the best example of.
Anticipating — expecting or predicting in advance.
Stymie — to stop or block progress.
Disparage — to speak of negatively; criticize.
Outstrip — to surpass or exceed.
Deceptive — misleading; causing someone to believe something false.
Innocuous — harmless; not likely to cause harm.
Novel — new or original.
Discern — to recognize or understand something by noticing it carefully.
Displacement — the act of moving something or someone from its usual place.
Concedes = acknowledges or admits a point, often one that favors the opposing side.
Toil — work very hard
Repose — rest; peace
Abide — tolerate; obey (“abide by”)
Zealous — very enthusiastic; passionate