ruck
a mass of people crowded together, especially in sport
Vocabulary directory
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skimpy
too small in amount or coverage
strangulation
the act of killing or injuring by compressing the throat
swampy
wet and soft like a swamp
tutelage
instruction or guidance from a teacher
unconscionable
shockingly unfair or unreasonable
vagrant
a person without a settled home who wanders from place to place
walkout
a sudden departure from work as a form of protest
bristle
to react angrily or defensively
chaff
the dry outer coverings separated from grain
chlorophyll
the green substance in plants that absorbs light for photosynthesis
cloister
a covered walkway around an open courtyard, often in a monastery
domicile
the place where a person has a permanent home
hilarity
loud laughter and cheerful amusement
impropriety
behavior that violates accepted standards of conduct
monogamy
the practice of having one spouse or partner at a time
natty
neat and stylish in appearance
nebulous
unclear, vague, or poorly defined
prowl
to move about quietly in search of prey or an opportunity
quagmire
a situation that is complicated and difficult to escape
quash
to reject or cancel something by official decision
repose
a state of rest and calm
reptilian
relating to reptiles or resembling them
sleight
skillful deception, especially in magic tricks
spiky
covered with sharp points or projecting spikes
temperamental
liable to sudden changes of mood or performance
understudy
a performer who learns another performer's part as a substitute
untamed
not controlled or domesticated
wring
to twist and squeeze something to remove liquid
abolitionist
a person who campaigns to end a practice, especially slavery
apothecary
a person who once prepared and sold medicines
beseech
to ask urgently and earnestly
coda
a final passage of music or a concluding part of something
didactic
intended to teach, sometimes in an overly obvious way
excitable
easily becoming enthusiastic or upset
grisly
causing horror or disgust
homeostasis
the process by which a living body maintains stable internal conditions
lasso
a looped rope used to catch animals
nihilism
the belief that life and moral values have no inherent meaning
nonchalant
calm and appearing unconcerned
opportune
happening at a convenient or favorable time
pejorative
expressing disapproval or contempt
penalize
to impose a penalty or put at a disadvantage
planetarium
a building where images of stars are projected onto a dome
serendipity
the chance discovery of something valuable or pleasant
steeple
a tall pointed structure on top of a church
wizardry
skill that seems almost magical
boarder
a person who lives and eats in another person's home for payment
bough
a large branch of a tree
celibate
not having sexual relations, often for religious reasons
disembodied
seeming to have no visible body or source
emaciated
extremely thin, especially through illness or lack of food
fanaticism
extreme and unquestioning devotion to a belief
floodplain
flat land beside a river that may be flooded
glandular
relating to glands or their secretions
intricately
with many small, carefully connected details
invigorating
making someone feel energetic and refreshed
lurid
shocking or sensational in an unpleasant way
misnomer
a wrong or misleading name
peruse
to read or examine something carefully
petulant
childishly irritable or impatient
pretence
a false appearance or claim; British spelling of pretense
recuperate
to recover health or strength after illness or exertion
scurvy
a disease caused by a severe lack of vitamin C
subjugation
the act of bringing people under control by force
tangential
only slightly related to the main subject
voluptuous
having a full and curving shape, or appealing to the senses
askew
not straight or in the expected position
authenticate
to prove that something is genuine
canter
to ride a horse at a gentle, controlled gallop
demeanour
a person's outward behavior or manner; British spelling of demeanor
detritus
scattered remains or debris left by a process
dimple
a small natural hollow in the cheek or chin
disown
to refuse to acknowledge a connection with someone or something
driftwood
pieces of wood carried onto shore by water
drivel
foolish or meaningless talk
headlong
in a rushed and uncontrolled way
iniquity
gross injustice or wickedness
ironclad
impossible to weaken or dispute
meld
to combine or blend smoothly
mettle
courage and determination in a difficult situation
outdo
to do better than someone else or than before
patronize
to speak to someone as if they are less capable or knowledgeable
postoperative
relating to the period after an operation
pygmy
very small compared with others of its kind, especially in animal names
riven
split apart by conflict or disagreement
rustle
to make a soft sound as dry things move against each other
standardize
to make things follow the same standard
stupor
a state in which a person is barely aware of what is happening
unselfish
putting others' needs before one's own
unsound
not safe, reliable, or based on good reasoning
utterance
something spoken, especially a word or sentence
wean
to gradually stop feeding a baby milk or reduce dependence on something
deserter
a person who leaves the military without permission
diction
the choice and pronunciation of words in speech or writing
elegy
a poem or song expressing sorrow for the dead
gaggle
a group of geese or a noisy group of people
gouge
to cut or force out a deep piece of something
herder
a person who looks after a herd of animals
hydrant
a street fixture that supplies water for firefighting