English vocabulary Features and Attributes

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affectation

/ˌæfɛkˈteɪʃən/

noun

an insincere and unnatural manner of speaking, behaving, or writing that is intended to impress

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amalgam

/əˈmæɫɡəm/

noun

a combination or blend of different things

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din

/ˈdɪn/

noun

an unpleasant and loud noise that could be heard for an extended amount of time

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guile

/ˈɡaɪɫ/

noun

an artful cleverness used to perform trickery, deception, and manipulation

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levity

/ˈɫɛvɪti/

noun

the lack of seriousness that is wrongly suited to or respectful of the circumstances

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to clamor

/ˈkɫæmɝ/

verb

to loudly complain about something or demand something

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to mollify

/ˈmɑɫəˌfaɪ/

verb

to do something that lessens someone's anger or sadness

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aberrant

/æˈbɛɹənt/

adjective

different from the usual, normal, and accepted way

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to run amok

phrase

to behave in a wild, uncontrolled, and often violent manner

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antic

/ˈæntɪk/

adjective

behaving or acting in a way that is funny, energetic, or silly, it is usually annoying or strange

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becoming

/bɪˈkəmɪŋ/

adjective

(of clothes, colors, hairstyles etc.) enhancing the wearer's appearance and making them more attractive

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bereft

/bɝˈɛft/

adjective

(of people) feeling very lonely and sorrowful, particularly as a result of a loss

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bleak

/ˈbɫik/

adjective

(of situations) not giving any or much hope or encouragement

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callow

/ˈkæɫoʊ/

adjective

being young and behaving in a manner that displays one's inexperience or immaturity

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choleric

/ˈkɑɫɝɪk/

adjective

easily angered or irritated

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covert

/ˈkoʊvɝt/

adjective

not displayed or acknowledged openly; secret, concealed, or hidden

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cynical

/ˈsɪnɪkəɫ/

adjective

(of a person) having the belief that people are dishonest and everything they do is motivated by self-interest

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erratic

/ɪˈɹætɪk/

adjective

lacking a regular or fixed pattern of behavior or movement

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facile

/ˈfæsəɫ/

adjective

lacking deep thought and true understanding thus being superficial

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inherent

/ɪnˈhɛɹənt/, /ɪnˈhɪɹənt/

adjective

inseparable essential part or quality of someone or something that is in their nature

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intrinsic

/ˌɪnˈtɹɪnsɪk/

adjective

belonging to something or someone's character and nature

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keen

/ˈkin/

adjective

(of senses) sharp and highly-developed

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novel

/ˈnɑvəɫ/

adjective

new and unlike anything else

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obsolete

/ˈɑbsəˌɫit/, /ˌɑbsəˈɫit/

adjective

outdated and gone out of use because a new thing has replaced it

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optimal

/ˈɑptəməɫ/

adjective

being the best and most desirable possibility; achieving the best results possible

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placid

/ˈpɫæsəd/, /ˈpɫæsɪd/

adjective

peaceful and calm, not easily excited, irritated, angered, or upset

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pragmatic

/pɹæɡˈmætɪk/

adjective

taking a practical and realistic approach to things rather than theoretical and idealistic approaches

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retiring

/ɹiˈtaɪɝɪŋ/, /ɹiˈtaɪɹɪŋ/, /ɹɪˈtaɪɹɪŋ/

adjective

shy and not fond of being with others or being noticed

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sportive

/spˈoːɹɾɪv/

adjective

behaving in a playful, fun, and light-hearted way

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timely

/ˈtaɪmɫi/

adjective

happening at exactly the best time possible

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unprecedented

/ənˈpɹɛsɪˌdɛntɪd/

adjective

never having existed or happened before

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vintage

/ˈvɪntɪdʒ/

adjective

belonging to the past and holding the most typical and best qualities of a specific thing

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volatile

/ˈvɑɫətəɫ/

adjective

prone to unexpected and sudden changes, usually gets worse or dangerous

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whimsical

/ˈhwɪmzɪkəɫ/, /ˈwɪmzɪkəɫ/

adjective

driven by impulses and desires rather than logical necessity or reasoning

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byzantine

/ˈbɪzənˌtaɪn/, /ˈbɪzənˌtin/

adjective

so detailed and complex that understanding becomes difficult

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