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scoundrel

noun

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a dishonest and morally questionable individual, often involved in deceitful or unlawful behavior

Example

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The notorious scoundrel swindled innocent people out of their savings with his elaborate scams.

She discovered that her business partner was a scoundrel when he embezzled company funds and disappeared.

buffet

noun

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a meal with many dishes from which people serve themselves at a table and then eat elsewhere

What is a "buffet"?

A buffet is a style of meal service where a variety of dishes are arranged on a table or series of tables, and guests serve themselves from this selection. This type of dining allows guests to choose their own portions and sample different foods according to their preferences. Buffets often feature a wide range of items, including appetizers, salads, main courses, side dishes, and desserts. Common settings for buffets include hotels, restaurants, parties, and events like weddings or conferences. Buffets offer convenience and flexibility, allowing for a casual and social dining experience as guests can return to the buffet for multiple servings and eat at their own pace.

quietus

noun

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a final and conclusive ending, often implying death or the settlement of a debt

vaudeville

noun

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a type of comic theatrical production combining pantomime, dance, singing, etc. popular in the 1800s and early 1900s

What is "vaudeville"?

Vaudeville is a style of variety theater that was popular from the late 19th to the early 20th century. It features a series of unrelated acts performed one after another, including comedy sketches, musical performances, dance routines, and specialty acts such as magic tricks or acrobatics. Each act is typically short and designed to entertain with a mix of humor, music, and visual effects. Vaudeville was known for its diverse and family-friendly content, making it a popular form of entertainment for audiences seeking a range of performances in a single show.

linchpin

noun

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a crucial element that holds something together or provides stability and support

rout

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a disorderly and frenzied crowd of people, often characterized by chaos and confusion

tenet

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a fundamental belief or principle that is central to a system of thought, philosophy, or religion

pontiff

noun

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the Pope in the Roman Catholic Church

paroxysm

noun

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a sudden and uncontrollable outburst or convulsion, often of emotion or action

deterrent

noun

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a thing that reduces the chances of someone doing something because it makes them aware of its difficulties or consequences

ruse

noun

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a cunning or deceptive strategy or action intended to deceive or trick someone

tyro

noun

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a beginner or novice in a particular field or activity

digraph

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a pair of characters used to represent a single sound, such as "sh" or "th", in phonetics or linguistics

What is a "digraph"?

A digraph is a pair of letters that together represent a single sound or phoneme in a language. This combination can consist of two consonants, two vowels, or a consonant and a vowel. For example, in English, the "ch" in "chair" represents a unique sound that is not the sum of the individual letters' sounds. Similarly, the "ea" in "bread" produces a distinct vowel sound. Digraphs are important in phonetics and linguistics because they help illustrate how sounds are represented in writing, contributing to the understanding of spelling patterns and pronunciation rules in different languages.

gauntlet

noun

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a protective glove, often made of leather, worn as armor

exponent

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a supporter of a theory, belief, idea, etc. who tries to persuade others that it is true or good in order to gain their support

lieu

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a place or location, often used as a substitute or in place of something else

gaffe

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a thing that was done or said in a social or public situation that is considered to be an embarrassing or tactless mistake

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