Advanced English words with definitions. List 9

Abaciscus is a small abacus. Abatjour is a device, as a skylight, for diverting light into buildings. Abattoir is a slaughterhouse. Abecedarian is a person who is learning the letters of the alphabet. Abeyant means temporarily suspended. Absorbefacient means causing absorption. Acaulescent means either stemless or without a visible stem. Accoucheur is a person who assists during childbirth. Acquiesce means to comply or submit. Aerogramme is a pre-stamped, lightweight paper that folds into its own envelope. Affenpinscher is a breed of dog with wiry hair. Afrikaans is an official language of South Africa. Ageusia is the loss of the sense of taste. Albescent means to become whitish. Alette (ahleet) is a small wing of a building. Amethyst is a purple quartz, used as a gem. Amphitheater is an oval or round building with an open central area. Ampullaceous means bottle-shaped. Anathematize means to denounce or to curse. Androgynous means being both male and female. Ankh is an Egyptian cross used as a symbol of enduring life. Anopheles is a malaria-causing mosquito. Apartheid a rigid policy of segregation in South Africa. Appaloosa is a hardy breed of riding horse. Aqueous is of or pertaining to water, watery. Armoire is a large wardrobe or movable cupboard. Arrhythmia is any interruption in the heartbeat. Ascetic is a person who practices self-denial for religious reasons. Aurochs is a black European wild ox, extinct since 1627. Autocephalous is a bishop subordinate to no superior authority. Avuncular pertains to an uncle. Azimuth is the angle of horizontal deviation of a bearing from a standard direction. Babiche is a thong used in making snowshoes. Bacchanal is a drunken revelry. Bacciferous means bearing or producing berries. Badinage is light, playful banter. Bagatelle is something of little value. Bagheera is a velvet used to make evening wear and wraps. Baize is a felt used on tops of billiard tables. Baksheesh is a tip or gratuity _ used in the Middle East. Banquette is a long bench with an upholstered seat. Bassarisk is a carnivorous mammal. Bdellium is a resin obtained from plants (dellium). Bellwether is someone who assumes leadership. Beneficence is the doing of good. Beriberi is a disease caused by a vitamin B1 deficiency. Beryllium is a hard, light metallic element. Bight is the middle part of a rope. Bludgeon is a short, heavy club with one heavier end. Boudoir is a woman's private sitting room. Bouffant means puffed out, as in a teased hairdo. Brooch is a clasp or ornament. Bucolic is of or pertaining to shepherds. Bumbershoot is a name for an umbrella. Cacophony is a harsh discordance of sound. Caique is a single-masted sailing vessel (Mediterranean). Caliph is a spiritual leader of Islam. Cantle is the hind part of a saddle. Carillon is a set of bells sounded by manual or pedal action. Carrefour (carrefoor) is a crossroads, a road junction. Cartouche a surface for receiving a painted decoration. Casque is an open conical helmet with a nose guard (medieval). Catafalque is a raised structure on which the body of a dead person lies. Catarrh an inflammation of a mucous membrane. Caterwaul is to utter long wailing cries, as a cat. Cauterize is to burn for curative purposes. Cayuse is an Indian pony. Ceraceous is waxlike or waxy. Chancre is the initial lesion of infectious diseases. Chattel is a movable item of personal property. Chlorofluorocarbon is a substance blamed for the hole in the ozone layer. Cirrhosis is a disease of the liver. Claque a group of people hired to applaud an act or performer. Colonnade a series of regularly spaced columns. Contemn means to treat with disdain or scorn. Continuum is a continuous extent, series or whole. Convivial means friendly or agreeable. Copacetic means fine, completely satisfactory. Corporeity is materiality. Cuirass (kwirass) is defensive armor for the torso. Culottes are women's trousers, usually knee or calf-length. Dahlia is a flower. Daguerreotype is an obsolete photographic process. Deign to think fit or to condescend. Demagoguery are methods or practices of a demagogue. Demesne is possession of land as one's own. Demitasse is a small cup for serving strong black coffee. Desiccate is to dry thoroughly. Dhow is a sailing vessel used by Arabs. Diaphanous means very sheer and light. Dilettante is a person who takes up an occupation as an amusement. Dinghy is a small boat designed as a lifeboat. Dispossess is to put a person out of a possession, esp. property. Dormouse is a small rodent resembling a small squirrel. Doubloon is a former gold coin of Spain. Dysentery is an infectious disease. Ecru is a very light brown. Edelweiss is a small plant growing in the Alps. Egregious is extraordinary is some bad way. Emphysema is an irreversible disease of the lungs. Ephemeral is lasting a very short time. Epiphany is a Christian festival. Equestrienne is a woman who rides horses. Ersatz means serving as a substitute. Escutcheon is a shield on which a coat of arms is depicted. Euchre is a game of cards. Eviscerate is to disembowel. Exsiccate is to remove the moisture from. Facetious means not to be taken seriously. Fasciation is the act of bandaging. Fiefdom is the estate of a feudal lord. Finagle is to cheat or swindle someone. Fizgig is a firework that makes a hissing sound. Flaccid means soft and limp. Fluxion is an act of flowing. Formaldehyde is a colorless, toxic gas. Frankincense is an aromatic gum resin used as incense. Fricassee is meat browned, stewed and served in its own sauce. Frieze is a decorative band on an outside wall. Fulsome means offensive to good taste. Fusillade is a simultaneous discharge of firearms. Gabardine is a firm, tightly woven fabric. Gallimaufry is a hodgepodge, a jumble. Garrote is a method of capital punishment. Gesundheit is used to wish good health after a sneeze. Gewgaw is a trinket or bauble. Ghillie is a low-cut, tongueless shoe. Glaucescent means becoming a light bluish-green. Glyph is a pictograph or hieroglyph. Gneiss is a metamorphic rock. Gnome is a small being that guards the interior treasures of earth. Gnosis is knowledge of spiritual matters. Godet is a triangular piece of fabric inserted to give fullness. Golliwogg is a grotesque person. Grandiloquence is a speed that is lofty, often to being pompous. Guillemot is a seabird of Northern waters. Gyve is a shackle for the leg.