 Doe-eyed

(ajd.) Having large, innocent-looking eyes. / Having an innocent, naïve outlook on

something.
The way she uses eyeliner makes her look young and doe-eyed.
He is just a shy, doe-eyes child.

 Crux (of)

(n.) The most important part of an argument or a problem.

I can easily dispute the crux of his argument.
The crux of your problem is that you don’t have realistic expectations.

 Evidenced (by)

(v.) Proven or shown.

Their professionalism is evidenced by their great customer reviews.
As evidenced during the trial, the prosecution’s case had no legs to stand on.

 Falsehood

(n.) A lie or an incorrect statement.

At times it is hard to tell truth and falsehood apart.
Her speech was riddled with scientific falsehoods.

 Musculature

(n.) The system of muscles in the body, their position and structure.
This specimen’s musculature was deduced only from the remains found.

 Denigrate

(v.) To say that something or someone is not important or good, to demean, to undermine.
People who denigrate others are likely just insecure.
We mustn’t denigrate the importance of regular medical check-ups.

 Gargantuan

(n.) Very large.

My gosh, you have a gargantuan appetite!
If she doesn’t change, you’ll have a problem of gargantuan proportions.

 Be saddled with/ Saddle someone with something

(ph.v.) To be given a job or a task you don’t want, to be burdened with something.
As per usual, I am saddled with fetching the office supplies.
On top of everything, he saddled me with all his emotional problems.

 Spellbound (by)

(adj.) To have one’s attention completely held by something, mesmerized, entranced.

They listened to my story, spellbound.
I was completely spellbound by your performance, well done!

 Conjugal

(adj.) Connected with marriage or a relationship between two married people.

Some prisons grant their inmates conjugal visitation rights.

 Scullion

(n.) Someone employed in a kitchen to do jobs requiring very little skill. (outdated term)
He managed to find work as a scullion in the castle kitchens.

 Grapple with

(ph.v.) To struggle with a difficult issue or subject. / To wrestle or fight someone.

Many American students are grappling with college debt.
A police officer and a bystander grappled with the gunman in the street.

 Coinage

(n.) A set of coins of different values used in a country’s monetary system. / A newly
invented word.
It is estimated that in 2025 their local coinage will have already disappeared.
That word is believed to be an 1850s coinage
(v.) Coin
Isaac Asimov coined the words ``robotics`` and ``positronic``.
 Invariable

(adj.) Staying the same, never changing.

Her rules are invariable, she won’t budge!
That’s his invariable reaction to being questioned, defensiveness.

 Ambivalence

(n.) The state of having two opposing views, opinions or feelings at the same time,
uncertainty, ambiguity.
She’s so ambivalent towards me, I wish she would just decide if she likes me or not.
Until the rules are set, we will remain in the state of perpetual ambivalence.

 In and of itself

(ph.) Intrinsically, considered alone, itself.

It’s a good plan in and of itself, but I doubt he would agree to it.

 Stratum (pl. strata)

(n.) Layer, one of the parts into which something is separated.

The lowest stratum of society is often uneducated and poor.
Analyzing different strata of soil can tell us a lot about the history of the area.

 Naught

(n.) Nothing.
All our efforts were for naught.
(num.) Zero. (UK nought)
You can’t divide by naught.

 Restitution

(n.) The return of things that were lost or stolen. / Payment made for some kind of damage or
loss.
They are demanding the restitution of the ancient artifact from the British Museum.
In light of recent events, restitution will be made in full to all those affected.
 Cramming

(v.) To force a lot of things into a small space. / To do a lot of things in a short period of
time. / To study a lot in a short amount of time.
I managed to cram all my clothes into that suitcase.
We had to cram 5 family visits into one weekend.
You’ll have to cram 5 entire chapters in one night if you want to pass that exam.

 Serenity

(n.) The quality of feeling calm and at peace.

Spending time in nature gives me an overwhelming sense of serenity.

 Orchestrate

(v.) To arrange or write a piece of music that is to be played by an orchestra. / To arrange or

plan something carefully and/or secretly in order to achieve a desired result.

This particular piece was beautifully orchestrated.

You didn’t run into her by accident, she had orchestrated the entire thing!

 To pull out all the stops

(ph.) To do everything in your power to make something successful.

This wedding is amazing, they really pulled out all the stops!

 Vestige

(n.) A small part or amount of something larger or more important that still remains from
something that existed in the past.

This structure is a vestige of an ancient altar.

There is no vestige of hope that they will get back together.

 Conducive (conditions)

(adj.) Providing the right conditions for something good to happen or exist.

The university library provides a conducive atmosphere for studying.

The weather of that region is conducive to growing wheat and rye.

 Venerate

(v.) To honour or greatly respect a thing or person

Shakespeare is one of the world’s most venerated playwrights.

 In (the) face of

(ph.) Despite having to deal with something difficult. / When confronted with something
difficult.

She got married abroad in the face of her family’s disapproval.

In the face of public ridicule, they dropped the lawsuit.

 Marshal

(v.) To bring together or organize people or things in order to achieve a specific goal.

Both presidential candidates are trying to marshal support for their campaigns.

The rebel forces have managed to marshal a lot of firepower.

 Simulacrum (pl. simulacra/simulacrums)

(n.) Something that looks like, resembles or represents something else.

In the future, all humans will live in the matrix, a mere digital simulacrum of our reality.

 Disillusionment (with)

(n.) The feeling of being disappointed or unhappy due to discovering the previously unknown
truth about something or someone you used to admire.

She expressed her disillusionment with the company upon finding out about the
embezzlement.

(adj.) Disillusioned (with)

He’s become a disillusioned man after the divorce.