Educational

disparate

[dis-per-it]

distinct in kind; essentially different; dissimilar

triptych

[trip-tik]

three panels or compartments side by side with pictures or carvings

akimbo

[uh-kim-boh]

with hands on the hips and elbows turned outward

polemic

[puh-lem-ik]

a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc.

shibboleth

[shib-uh-lith]

a common saying or belief with little current meaning or truth

prosopopoeia

[proh-soh-puh-pee-uh]

personification, as of inanimate things

accrete

[uh-kreet]

to grow together; adhere (usually followed by to)

gawk

[gawk]

to stare stupidly; gape

sigil

[sij-il]

a pictorial symbol used in ritualistic magic and supposed to have supernatural power

pretermit

[pree-ter-mit]

to let pass without notice; disregard

alabaster

[al-uh-bas-ter]

a finely granular variety of gypsum, often white and translucent, used for ornamental objects or work, such as lamp bases, figurines, etc.

connive

[kuh-nahyv]

to cooperate secretly; conspire (often followed by with)

perpetuate

[per-pech-oo-eyt]

to enable or allow the continuation of into the future; keep alive (used most often in reference to something considered harmful or false)

engender

[en-jen-der]

to produce, cause, or give rise to

spondee

[spon-dee]

in poetry, a "foot" of two syllables, both of which are long in quantitative meter or stressed in accentual meter

buttress

[buh-tris]

any external prop or support built to steady a structure by opposing its outward thrusts, especially a projecting support built into or against the outside of a masonry wall

aberration

[ab-uh-rey-shuhn]

a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome

tautology

[taw-tol-uh-jee]

needless repetition of an idea, especially in words other than those of the immediate context, without imparting additional force or clearness, as in "widow woman"