Educational

construe

[kuhn-stroo]

to deduce by inference or interpretation; infer

translucent

[trans-loo-suhnt]

allowing light to pass through but not transparent

mendacious

[men-dey-shuhs]

telling lies, especially habitually; dishonest; untruthful

hostile

[hos-tl]

unfriendly or antagonistic; opposed to something

demagogue

[dem-uh-gog]

a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument

treatise

[tree-tis]

a formal and systematic exposition in writing of the principles of a subject, generally longer and more detailed than an essay

mystifying

[mis-tuh-fahy-ing]

to perplex (a person) by playing upon the person's credulity; bewilder purposely

ignoble

[ig-noh-buhl]

of low character, aims, etc.; mean; base

emulate

[em-yuh-leyt]

to try to equal or excel; imitate with effort to equal or surpass

precarious

[pri-kair-ee-uhs]

dependent on circumstances beyond one's control; uncertain; insecure

veracity

[vuh-ras-i-tee]

habitual observance of truth in speech or statement; truthfulness

brackish

[brak-ish]

having a slightly salty or briny flavor

oracle

[awr-uh-kuhl]

a priest or priestess acting as a medium through whom advice or prophecy was sought from the gods in classical antiquity

triptych

[trip-tik]

a tablet written on in ancient times with a stylus

insubordinate

[in-suh-bor-din-it]

defiant of authority; disobedient

celerity

[suh-ler-i-tee]

swiftness; speed

disparage

[dih-spar-ij]

to bring reproach or discredit upon; lower the estimation of

plucky

[pluk-ee]

showing courage and determination when facing difficulty

conflate

[kuhn-fleyt]

to fuse into one entity; merge

repertory

[rep-er-tawr-ee]

a type of theatrical presentation in which a company presents several works regularly or in alternate sequence in one season

burrow

[bur-oh]

to lodge in a burrow

conterminous

[kuhn-tur-muh-nuhs]

having a common boundary

moot

[moot]

of little or no practical value, meaning, or relevance; purely academic

pack

[pak]

a group of animals or things, or to place items together