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TOEFL Word List # TOEFL/W21

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Description of sinister (adjective)
threatening or showing evil; dishonest; malicious

Samples of sinister
Some birds are sinister: the Carnero , a mean-spirited gray monster, is said to delight in picking out the eyeballs of shipwrecked sailors.



   
Description of impale (verb)
to pierce through with; to stick on; to pin down; to stab

Samples of impale
The knight was impaled by the sharp lance.



   
Description of gesticulate (verb)
to indicate feelings by motions; move the hands in an animated manner

Samples of gesticulate
He broke off to gesticulate hopelessly with his hands, expressing final despair.

Determination of gesticulate
Dictionary.com · Cambridge Dictionaries · Merriam-Webster · Onelook.com


   
Description of ennui (noun)
boredom; apathy; lethargy; tedium

Samples of ennui
Ennui set in when the children realized they had already played with all the toys.



   
Description of taunt (noun)
provocation; insulting, jeering or bitter remark; mockery

Samples of taunt
The newspaper reported that detectives believe it was just a vicious taunt to terrify the girl.



   
Description of fulsome (adjective)
disgusting due to excess; crude; repulsive; offensive

Samples of fulsome
The man became obese when he indulged in fulsome eating.



   
Description of sartorial (adjective)
pertaining to a tailor or clothes

Samples of sartorial
Not renowned for sartorial elegance, The Smiths had previously used their ill fitting and faded attire to maintain the connection with their low tech background.



   
Description of ignominious (adjective)
contemptible; degrading; humiliating; ignoble; contempt; base; mean

Samples of ignominious
The behavior was so ignominious he was ashamed to be associated with it.
She left him because of his ignominious treatment of her.

Determination of ignominious
Dictionary.com · Cambridge Dictionaries · Merriam-Webster · Onelook.com


   
Description of fracas (noun)
disorderly quarrel; tumult; riot; skirmish

Samples of fracas
And there was no way he could be prevailed upon to release it without an embarrassing fracas in front of the judge!



   
Description of felicity (noun)
state of happiness; high ability; talent; joy

Samples of felicity
He wrote just at the time when English was becoming an established literary language and with a felicity which later caused most of his translation - perhaps 75 per cent - to be retained in the King James Bible, the authorized version for 300 years.



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