Educational
eponym
[ep-uh-nim]
a person after whom a discovery, invention, place, etc., is named or thought to be named
reticent
[ret-uh-suhnt]
disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved
esteemable
[ih-stee-muh-buhl]
worthy of respect
criterion
[krahy-teer-ee-uhn]
a standard of judgment or criticism; a rule or principle for evaluating or testing something
subterfuge
[suhb-ter-fyooj]
an artifice or expedient used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, hide something, etc.
modicum
[mod-i-kuhm]
a moderate or small amount
precarious
[pri-kair-ee-uhs]
dependent on circumstances beyond one's control; uncertain; insecure
beast
[b-east]
a wild or dangerous animal; also used metaphorically for someone or something unruly.
vignette
[vin-yet]
a decorative design or small illustration used on the title page of a book or at the beginning of a chapter
mesmerizing
[mez-muh-rahy-zing]
completely engrossing; captivating or fascinating
choleric
[kol-er-ik]
extremely irritable or easily angered; irascible
petulant
[pech-uh-luhnt]
moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, especially over some trifling annoyance
predecessor
[pred-uh-ses-er]
something or someone succeeded or replaced by something else
impetus
[im-pi-tuhs]
a moving force; impulse; stimulus
percolate
[pur-kuh-leyt]
to pass through a porous substance or filter; steep
whir
[wh-ir]
a soft, continuous sound made by something in motion, such as machinery.
rebuke
[ri-byook]
to express sharp, stern disapproval of; reprove; reprimand
peculiar
[pe-cul-iar]
bizarre, strange
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
coulee
[koo-lee]
a lava flow
close-fisted
[klohs-fist-id]
stingy or unwilling to spend money
conspicuous
[kuhn-spik-yoo-uhs]
attracting special attention, as by outstanding qualities or eccentricities
stringent
[strin-juhnt]
strict, precise, and exacting
rowdy
[rou-dee]
slang; great; very enjoyable, often with boisterous fun