Perfect for IELTS, TOEFL, everyday English, or anyone who simply loves learning new words.
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10 Words of the Day | Episode 1
Hello, hello! You’re listening to 10 Words of the Day — the quickest, most delightful way to give your English vocabulary a proper boost in just a few minutes!
I’m your host, and whether you’re preparing for IELTS, TOEFL, simply brushing up your everyday English, or just enjoy uncovering lovely words… you’ve come to the right place.
Today is Episode 1 — our very first adventure through ten powerful, fascinating, and sometimes surprisingly handy English words.
We’ll go through each word with a clear definition and a natural example sentence. Grab your notebook… or just sit back and listen — let’s get started!
Word #1: Dalliance This noun describes a casual romantic or sexual relationship — usually brief, not serious, and often rather playful. Example: “Their dalliance lasted only three weeks, but it was quite the summer adventure.” A brilliant word when you’re chatting about light-hearted, short-lived romance.
Word #2: Libation A slightly formal or literary word meaning a drink poured out as an offering to a god or spirit. Example: “Before the ceremony began, they poured a libation of wine onto the ground to honour their ancestors.” You’ll mostly come across this in historical, religious, or fantasy settings.
Word #3: Amalgamate A verb that means to combine or unite separate things — especially companies, groups, or organisations — to form one stronger whole. Example: “The two small tech startups decided to amalgamate and compete with the big players.” Very common in business and formal writing.
Word #4: Doctrinaire An adjective describing someone who clings rigidly to a doctrine or theory, even when it doesn’t work in real life. Example: “Her doctrinaire approach to education ignored the actual needs of the students.” It carries a negative tone — think stubborn ideologue.
Word #5: Emulate A verb meaning to try to equal or surpass someone by imitating them — usually in a positive, admiring way. Example: “Many young coders try to emulate Elon Musk’s work ethic and bold thinking.” A cracking word for talking about role models and inspiration.
Word #6: Unbridled An adjective that means completely uncontrolled or unrestrained — like a horse without a bridle. Example: “The crowd’s unbridled enthusiasm turned the concert into an unforgettable night.” Very vivid — often used with emotions like joy, anger, or passion.
Word #7: Fustian A noun (or sometimes adjective) describing pompous, pretentious, overblown speech or writing that sounds impressive but is actually empty. Example: “The politician’s speech was pure fustian — lots of big words, very little substance.” A wonderful literary insult!
Word #8: Prodigious An adjective meaning remarkably great in size, extent, degree, or ability — almost astonishing. Example: “She showed prodigious talent on the violin at only seven years old.” Think “extraordinary” but with a sense of awe.
Word #9: Preclude A verb that means to prevent something from happening or make it impossible in advance. Example: “The new evidence precluded any doubt about who was responsible.” Very formal — common in academic, legal, and serious writing.
Word #10: Disparage A verb meaning to speak of someone or something as unimportant, worthless, or inferior — basically, to belittle. Example: “It’s unfair to disparage her work just because it’s different from yours.” Great for discussions about criticism, reviews, or unfair judgement.
And that’s our first ten! From playful dalliance to rigid doctrinaire, uncontrolled unbridled energy to empty fustian talk — quite a colourful collection.
Until next time… keep learning, keep practising, and I’ll see you in Episode 2!