Educational

bemuse

[bih-myooz]

to bewilder or confuse

ricochet

[rik-uh-shey]

the motion of an object or a projectile in rebounding or deflecting one or more times from the surface over which it is passing or against which it hits a glancing blow

encomium

[en-koh-mee-uhm]

a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly

rowdy

[rou-dee]

rough and disorderly

invincible

[in-vin-suh-buhl]

incapable of being conquered, defeated, or subdued

catastrophize

[kuh-tas-truh-fahyz]

to view or talk about (an event or situation) as worse than it actually is, or as if it were a catastrophe

transpire

[tran-spahyuhr]

to occur, happen; take place

parboil

[pahr-boil]

to boil for a short amount of time; pre-cook

estranged

[ih-streynjd]

displaying or evincing a feeling of alienation; alienated

prolific

[pruh-lif-ik]

characterized by abundant production

commiserate

[kuh-miz-uh-reyt]

to feel or express sorrow or sympathy for; empathize with; pity

elide

[ih-lahyd]

to suppress or omit; ignore or pass over

treacherous

[trech-er-uhs]

unstable or insecure, as in footing

distend

[dih-stend]

to spread in all directions; expand; swell

cascade

[kas-keyd]

anything that resembles a waterfall, especially in seeming to flow or fall in abundance

mollycoddle

[mol-ee-kod-l]

to coddle; pamper

prance

[prans]

to spring from the hind legs; to move by springing, as a horse

parvenu

[pahr-vuh-noo]

a person who has recently or suddenly acquired wealth, importance, position, or the like, but has not yet developed the conventionally appropriate manners, dress, surroundings, etc.

nostalgic

[nuh-stal-jik]

experiencing or exhibiting nostalgia, a sentimental or wistful yearning for the happiness felt in a former place, time, or situation

phlegmatic

[fleg-mat-ik]

not easily excited to action or display of emotion; apathetic; sluggish

maquillage

[mak-ee-ahzh]

make-up; cosmetics

coax

[kohks]

to attempt to influence by gentle persuasion, flattery, etc.; cajole

pirouette

[pir-oo-et]

a whirling about on the foot or on the points of the toes, as in ballet dancing

undulant

[uhn-juh-luhnt]

undulating; wavelike in motion or pattern