Educational

chthonian

[thoh-nee-uhn]

of Classical Mythology, relating to the deities, spirits, and other dwellings under the earth

triptych

[trip-tik]

three panels or compartments side by side with pictures or carvings

retinue

[ret-n-oo]

a body of retainers in attendance upon an important personage; suite

ptarmigan

[tahr-mi-guhn]

any of the several birds from the genus Lagopus

czar

[zahr]

a person of great power

threnody

[thren-uh-dee]

a poem, speech, or song of lamentation, especially for the dead; dirge; funeral song

glisten

[glis-uhn]

to reflect a sparkling light or a faint intermittent glow; shine lustrously

aspergillum

[as-per-jil-uhm]

a brush or instrument for sprinkling holy water

solecism

[sol-uh-siz-uhm]

a breach of good manners or etiquette

chiaroscuro

[kee-ahr-uh-skyoor-oh]

the treatment of light and shade in drawing and painting

vignette

[vin-yet]

an engraving, drawing, photograph, or the like that is shaded off gradually at the edges so as to leave no definite line at the border

zwetschenwasser

[zwet-shun-waz-er]

a colorless plum brandy with a bitter almond taste

qualitative

[kwol-i-tey-tiv]

relating to, measuring, or measured by the quality of something rather than its quantity

vermilion

[ver-mil-yuhn]

a scarlet red

troglodyte

[trog-luh-dayt]

a prehistoric caveman; a person of primitive behavior

aqueous

[ey-kwee-uhs]

of, like, or containing water

sepulchral

[suh-puhl-kruhl]

gloomy; dismal

teutonic

[too-ton-ik]

noting or pertaining to the northern European stock that includes the German, Dutch, Scandinavian, British, and related peoples

coulee

[koo-lee]

a deep ravine

virulence

[vir-yuh-luhns]

quality of being poisonous or noxious

voyeuristic

[vwah-yuh-ris-tik]

relating to the enjoyment from seeing others in pain or upset

cybersquatting

[sahy-ber-skwot-ing]

the registration of a commercially valuable internet domain name, as a trademark, with the intention of selling it or profiting from its use

anfractuous

[an-frak-choo-uhs]

characterized by windings and turnings; sinuous; circuitous

vitiate

[vish-ee-eyt]

to impair or weaken effectiveness and quality of