Educational

castigate

[kas-ti-geyt]

to criticize or reprimand severely

apologia

[ap-uh-loh-jee-uh]

a defense especially of one's opinions, position, or actions

blanch

[blahnch]

to scald briefly and then drain, as peaches or almonds to facilitate removal of skins, or as rice or macaroni to separate the grains or strands

baksheesh

[bak-sheesh]

a tip, present, or gratuity

bolide

[boh-lahyd]

a large, brilliant meteor, especially one that explodes; fireball

eponym

[ep-uh-nim]

a person after whom a discovery, invention, place, etc., is named or thought to be named

imminent

[im-uh-nuhnt]

projecting or leaning forward; overhanging

diegetic

[dahy-uh-jet-ik]

(of sound in a movie, television program, etc.) occurring within the context of the story and able to be heard by the characters

dissimulate

[dih-sim-yuh-leyt]

to disguise or conceal under a false appearance; dissemble

sagacious

[suh-gey-shuhs]

having or showing acute mental discernment and keen practical sense; shrewd

heuristic

[hyoo-ris-tik]

encouraging a person to learn, discover, understand, or solve problems on his or her own, as by experimenting, evaluating possible answers or solutions, or by trial and error

tergiversate

[tur-ji-ver-seyt]

to turn renegade

aberration

[ab-uh-rey-shuhn]

a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome

circumspect

[sur-kuhm-spekt]

watchful and discreet; cautious; prudent; well-considered

banausic

[buh-naw-sik]

serving utilitarian purposes only; mechanical; practical

horripilation

[haw-rip-uh-ley-shuhn]

the erection of hairs on the skin due to cold, fear, or excitement

inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

settled or confirmed in a habit, practice, feeling, or the like

abjure

[ab-joor, ab-jur]

solemnly renounce

prodigious

[pruh-dij-uhs]

extraordinary in size, amount, extent, degree, force, etc.

logophile

[law-guh-fahyl]

a lover of words

yearning

[yur-ning]

deep longing, especially when accompanied by tenderness or sadness

noetic

[noh-et-ik]

originating in or apprehended by the reason

contemporary

[kuhn-tem-puh-rer-ee]

of the present time; modern

comport

[kuhm-pawrt]

to bear or conduct (oneself); behave