Educational

trousseau

[troo-soh]

an outfit, clothing, or linen for a bride

implement

[im-ple-ent]

an instrument, utensil, tool

surmount

[ser-mount]

to prevail over

naive

[nah-eev]

having or showing a lack of experience, judgment, or information; credulous

nimble

[nim-buhl ]

quick and light in movement; moving with ease; agile; active; rapid

dauntless

[dawnt-lis]

not to be daunted or intimidated; fearless; intrepid; bold

tory

[tawr-ee]

an American colonist who supported the British side during the American Revolution

ascetic

[uh-set-ik]

relating to asceticism, the doctrine that one can reach a high spiritual state through the practice of extreme self-denial or self-mortification

rejoinder

[ri-join-der]

an answer to a reply; response

placate

[pley-keyt]

to appease or pacify, especially by concessions or conciliatory gestures

analogous

[uh-nal-uh-guhs]

similar but not identical

union

[un-ion]

the act of joining or combining; also refers to an organization formed for mutual benefit.

listless

[list-lis]

having or showing little or no interest in anything; languid; spiritless; indifferent

tocsin

[tok-sin]

a signal, especially of alarm, sounded on a bell or bells

marmoreal

[mahr-mawr-ee-uhl]

of or like marble

ambivalent

[am-biv-uh-luhnt ]

having mixed feelings about someone or something; being unable to choose between two (usually opposing) courses of action

askance

[uh-skans]

with suspicion, mistrust, or disapproval

undulant

[uhn-juh-luhnt]

undulating; wavelike in motion or pattern

grift

[grift]

a group of methods for obtaining money falsely through the use of swindles, frauds, dishonest gambling, etc.

contumacious

[kon-too-mey-shuhs]

stubbornly perverse or rebellious; willfully and obstinately disobedient

caducity

[kuh-doo-si-tee]

the infirmity or weakness of old age; senility

finesse

[fi-ness]

extreme delicacy or subtlety in action, performance, skill, discrimination, taste, etc.

rueful

[roo-ful]

expressing regret or sorrow, sometimes with a touch of humor.

rowdy

[rou-dee]

slang; great; very enjoyable, often with boisterous fun