English vocabulary From Rags to Riches

to defray

/dɪˈfɹeɪ/

verb

bear the expenses of

Examples

to divest

/daɪˈvɛst/, /dɪˈvɛst/

verb

take away possessions from someone

Examples

to fleece

/ˈfɫis/

verb

rip off; ask an unreasonable price

Examples

to incorporate

/ˌɪnˈkɔɹpɝˌeɪt/

verb

form a corporation

Examples

to levy

/ˈɫɛvi/, /ˈɫivi/

verb

impose and collect

Examples

to mulct

/ˈməɫkt/

verb

deprive of by deceit

Examples

to slack

/ˈsɫæk/

verb

avoid responsibilities and work, be idle

Examples

to speculate

/ˈspɛkjəˌɫeɪt/

verb

invest at a risk

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Examples

Such inventions led scientists and philosophers to speculate that the human brain itself was just an elaborate automaton.

People were speculating left and right who cheated on who, why did they break up?

to tender

/ˈtɛndɝ/

verb

offer or present for acceptance

Examples

to underwrite

/ˈəndɝˌɹaɪt/

verb

guarantee financial support of

Examples

hedge

/ˈhɛdʒ/

noun

any technique designed to reduce or eliminate financial risk; for example, taking two positions that will offset each other if prices change

Examples

illiberality

/ɪlˌɪbɚɹˈælɪɾi/

noun

a disposition not to be liberal (generous) with money

Examples

lagniappe

/ˈɫæˌŋɑp/

noun

a small gift (especially one given by a merchant to a customer who makes a purchase)

Examples

offset

/ˈɔfˌsɛt/, /ɔfˈsɛt/

noun

a compensating equivalent

Examples

pittance

/ˈpɪtəns/

noun

an inadequate payment

Examples

sinecure

/sˈaɪnkjʊɹ/

noun

an office that involves minimal duties

Examples

spendthrift

/ˈspɛndˌθɹɪft/

noun

a person who wastes money or uses it extravagantly

Examples

stipend

/ˈstaɪpənd/

noun

a sum of money allotted on a regular basis; usually for some specific purpose

Examples

venality

/vɪˈnæɫɪti/

noun

prostitution of talents or offices or services for reward

Examples

exorbitant

/ɪɡˈzɔɹbɪtənt/

adjective

(of a price) extremely high or expensive

Examples

frugal

/ˈfɹuɡəɫ/

adjective

avoiding waste

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Examples

Three - well, you might come across some YouTubers that are really, really frugal.

impecunious

/ˌɪmpɪkjˈuːnɪəs/

adjective

not having enough money to pay for necessities

Examples

insolvent

/ˌɪnˈsɑɫvənt/

adjective

unable to meet or discharge financial obligations

Examples

internecine

/ˌɪnˈtɝnəˌsin/

adjective

(of conflict) within a group or organization

Examples

lavish

/ˈɫævɪʃ/

adjective

very generous

Examples

net

/ˈnɛt/

adjective

final amount after the deduction of all costs

Examples

parsimonious

/ˌpɑɹsəˈmoʊniəs/

adjective

excessively unwilling to spend

Examples

pecuniary

/pɛkˈjuniˌɛɹi/

adjective

relating to or involving money

Examples

penurious

/ˌpɛnˈjuɹiəs/

adjective

not having enough money to pay for necessities

Examples

prodigal

/ˈpɹɑdɪɡəɫ/

adjective

recklessly wasteful

Examples

provident

/ˈpɹɑvɪdənt/

adjective

providing carefully for the future

Examples

stingy

/ˈstɪndʒi/

adjective

unwilling to spend (money, time, resources, etc.)

Examples

thrifty

/ˈθɹɪfti/

adjective

mindful of the future in spending money

Examples

to consolidate

/kənˈsɑɫɪˌdeɪt/

verb

to merge several financial accounts into one