Educational

bemuse

[bih-myooz]

to bewilder or confuse

zealous

[zel-uhs]

full of, characterized by, or due to zeal; ardently active, devoted, or diligent

willies

[wil-eez]

a strong feeling of nervousness or unease

skittish

[skit-ish]

restlessly or excessively lively

defraud

[dih-frawd]

to cheat or deceive someone out of something valuable

disparate

[dis-per-it]

distinct in kind; essentially different; dissimilar

nomadic

[no-mad-dic]

wandering from place to place

embarcadero

[em-bahr-kuh-dair-oh]

a pier, wharf, or landing place

fabricate

[fab-ri-keyt]

to make by art or skill and labor; construct

undulate

[uhn-juh-leyt]

to move with a sinuous or wavelike motion; display a smooth rising-and-falling or side-to-side alternation of movement

cultivate

[kuhl-tuh-veyt]

to prepare and work on (land) in order to raise crops; till

ichor

[ahy-kawr]

from Classical Mythology: the blood of the gods

permeate

[pur-mee-eyt]

to pass into or through every part of

soporific

[sop-uh-rif-ik]

causing or tending to cause sleep

torque

[tawrk]

the ability of an element that rotates, like a gear or shift, to overcome resistance

grisly

[griz-lee]

formidable; grim

dock

[dok]

a platform for loading or unloading ships; to deduct something

kismet

[kiz-met]

fate; destiny

possessions

[puh-zesh-uns]

items that someone owns

portend

[pawr-tend]

to indicate in advance; to foreshadow or presage, as an omen does

aberration

[ab-uh-rey-shuhn]

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

murmur

[mur-mer]

to speak in a low tone or indistinctly

cover

[kuhv-er]

to place something over or upon to conceal, protect, or enclose

drowse

[drouz]

to be sleepy or half-asleep