Educational

opine

[oh-pahyn]

to hold or express an opinion

portend

[pawr-tend]

to indicate in advance; to foreshadow or presage, as an omen does

obviate

[ob-vee-eyt]

to anticipate and prevent or eliminate (difficulties, disadvantages, etc.) by effective measures; render unnecessary

derisive

[d-er-is-iv-e]

expressing ridicule or mockery; scornful in tone or behavior.

pervasive

[per-vey-siv]

spread throughout

deprecate

[dep-ri-keyt]

to express earnest disapproval of

salient

[sey-lee-uhnt]

prominent or conspicuous

endemic

[en-dem-ik]

natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous

falsity

[f-als-ity]

the quality or state of being untrue or deceptive.

iconoclast

[ic-ono-ast]

one who attacks common beliefs or institutions

beseech

[bih-seech]

to beg eagerly for; solicit

quip

[kwip]

a sharp, sarcastic remark; a cutting jest

frenzied

[fren-zeed]

wildly excited, enthusiastic, or agitated; frantic

incompetent

[ink-omp-et-ent]

lacking the necessary skills, ability, or qualifications to perform a task successfully.

pachyderm

[pak-i-durm]

a very large mammal with thick skin, especially an elephant, rhinoceros, or hippopotamus

inject

[in-jekt]

to introduce a substance into something, typically a body or system

posthumous

[pos-chuh-muhs]

arising, occurring, or continuing after one’s death

kapellmeister

[kah-pel-mahy-ster]

the leader or conductor of an orchestra or choir

coax

[kohks]

to manipulate to a desired end by adroit handling or persistent effort

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)

ordinal

[awr-dn-uhl ]

of or relating to order, rank, or position in a series

mystifying

[mis-tuh-fahy-ing]

to perplex (a person) by playing upon the person's credulity; bewilder purposely

crestfallen

[krest-faw-luhn]

dejected; dispirited; discouraged

comely

[kuhm-lee]

pleasing in appearance; attractive; fair