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
