Educational

derail

[dee-reyl]

to cause (a train, streetcar, etc.) to run off the rails of a track

aloof

[uh-loof]

reserved or reticent; indifferent; disinterested

absquatulate

[ab-skwoch-uh-leyt]

to flee; abscond

factoid

[fak-toid]

an insignificant or trivial fact

lauded

[law-did]

praised or extolled; spoken highly of

hoodwink

[hood-wingk]

to deceive or trick

prudent

[prood-nt]

careful in providing for the future; provident

skulk

[skuhlk]

to lie or keep in hiding, as for some evil reason

manuscript

[man-yuh-skript]

the original text of an author's work, handwritten or now usually typed, that is submitted to a publisher

dwindle

[dwin-dl]

to become smaller and smaller; shrink; waste away

renege

[ri-neg]

to go back on one's word

despicable

[des-pi-kuh-buhl]

deserving to be despised, or regarded with distaste, disgust, or disdain; contemptible

girandole

[jir-uhn-dohl]

a brooch or earring consisting of a central ornament with usually three smaller ornaments hanging from it

rebuke

[ri-byook]

to express sharp, stern disapproval of; reprove; reprimand

auspicious

[aw-spish-uhs]

favored by fortune; prosperous; fortunate

smitten

[smit-n]

very much in love

indelible

[in-del-uh-buhl]

making marks that cannot be erased, removed, or washed out

elicit

[ih-lis-it]

to draw or bring out or forth; educe; evoke

venerate

[ven-uh-reyt]

to regard or treat with reverence; revere

amicable

[am-i-kuh-buhl]

characterized by or showing goodwill; friendly; peaceable

exasperate

[ig-zas-puh-reyt]

to irritate or provoke to a high degree; annoy extremely

militate

[mil-i-teyt]

to have a substantial effect; weigh heavily

cosmopolitan

[koz-muh-pol-i-tn]

free from local, provincial, or national ideas, prejudices, or attachments; at home all over the world

riveting

[ri-vuh-ting]

absolutely fascinating; enthralling