Educational

execrate

[ek-si-kreyt]

to curse; imprecate evil upon; damn; denounce

truncate

[truhng-keyt]

to shorten by cutting off a part; cut short

epiphany

[ih-pif-uh-nee]

a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience

tempestuous

[tem-pes-choo-uhs]

characterized by or subject to tempests

fabricate

[fab-ri-keyt]

to make by art or skill and labor; construct

minutia

[mi-noo-shuh]

precise details; small or trifling matters

trepidation

[trep-i-dey-shuhn]

tremulous fear, alarm, or agitation; perturbation

estivate

[es-tuh-veyt]

to spend the summer, as at a specific place or in a certain activity

benevolent

[buh-nev-uh-luhnt]

characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings

beleaguer

[bih-lee-ger]

to surround or beset, as with troubles

fluster

[fluhs-ter]

to put into a state of agitated confusion

malleable

[mal-ee-uh-buhl]

adaptable or tractable

carnation

[kahr-ney-shuhn]

any of numerous cultivated varieties of the clove pink, Dianthus caryophyllus, having long-stalked, fragrant, usually double flowers in a variety of colors: the state flower of Ohio

sienna

[see-en-uh]

a ferruginous earth used used as a yellowish-brown pigment (raw sienna) or, after roasting in a furnace, as a reddish-brown pigment (burnt sienna)

taciturn

[tas-i-turn]

dour, stern, and silent in expression and manner

aerate

[air-eyt]

to expose to the action or effect of air or to cause air to circulate through

sardonic

[sahr-don-ik]

characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; sneering; cynical

aromatic

[ar-uh-mat-ik]

having an aroma; fragrant or sweet-scented; odoriferous

raspy

[ras-pee]

harsh; grating; rasping

reciprocate

[ri-sip-ruh-keyt]

to give and receive reciprocally; interchange

dauntless

[dawnt-lis]

not to be daunted or intimidated; fearless; intrepid; bold

gallop

[gal-uhp]

to run rapidly by leaps, as a horse; go at a gallop

anthropomorphize

[an-thruh-puh-mawr-fahyz]

to ascribe human form or attributes to (an animal, plant, material object, etc.)

agitate

[aj-i-teyt]

to shake or move briskly