C2 Unit 45: Arts & media 4
16 C2 words: melodious, impresario, ephemera, improvisational, impressionistic, hauntingly… Learn them in 4 steps, then review them every day.
Word list
| Word | Meaning | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| melodious/məˈloʊdiəs/ adj | melodiouspleasant to hear, like music | The choir sang a melodious song that filled the church.The choir sang a melodious song that filled the church. | |
| impresario/ˌɪmprɪˈsɑriˌoʊ/ n | impresarioa person who organizes shows or concerts | The impresario organized a huge concert for the summer festival.The impresario organized a huge concert for the summer festival. | |
| ephemera n | ephemerasmall printed items not meant to last | The museum keeps old tickets, posters and other ephemera from the show.The museum keeps old tickets, posters and other ephemera from the show. | |
| improvisational/ˌɪmprɑvɪˈzeɪʃənəl/ adj | improvisationalmade up on the spot without preparation | The improvisational comedy show was funny because nothing was planned.The improvisational comedy show was funny because nothing was planned. | |
| impressionistic/ˌɪmˌprɛʃəˈnɪstɪk/ adj | impressionisticshowing a general feeling rather than exact details | The painter’s impressionistic style uses soft colours instead of sharp lines.The painter’s impressionistic style uses soft colours instead of sharp lines. | |
| hauntingly/ˈhɔntɪŋli/ adv | hauntinglyin a beautiful way that stays in mind | The singer performed a hauntingly beautiful song about the sea.The singer performed a hauntingly beautiful song about the sea. | |
| histrionic/ˌhɪstriˈɑnɪk/ adj | histrionicoverly dramatic, as if performing | The actor gave a histrionic speech full of wild gestures and tears.The actor gave a histrionic speech full of wild gestures and tears. | |
| verisimilitude/ˌvɛrəsəˈmɪləˌtud/ n | verisimilitudethe appearance of being true or real | The film’s verisimilitude made the old village seem completely real.The film’s verisimilitude made the old village seem completely real. | |
| totemic adj | totemicrelating to a sacred symbol of a group | The village’s totemic carving stands for the family’s ancestors.The village’s totemic carving stands for the family’s ancestors. | |
| melodiously adv | melodiouslyin a pleasing, musical way | The birds sang melodiously outside her window every morning.The birds sang melodiously outside her window every morning. | |
| inartistic adj | inartisticlacking skill or beauty in art | Critics said his painting was inartistic and lacked any talent.Critics said his painting was inartistic and lacked any talent. | |
| choreographical adj | choreographicalrelating to the planning of dance steps | The choreographical details of the ballet took weeks to practise.The choreographical details of the ballet took weeks to practise. | |
| evokingly adv | evokinglyin a way that brings back feelings | The artist painted the sea evokingly, so you could almost hear the waves.The artist painted the sea evokingly, so you could almost hear the waves. | |
| fabulation n | fabulationthe telling of invented, fantastic stories | The novel is a work of fabulation, with talking animals and magic.The novel is a work of fabulation, with talking animals and magic. | |
| histrionically adv | histrionicallyin an overly dramatic way | The actor histrionically fell to his knees and cried out.The actor histrionically fell to his knees and cried out. | |
| impressionistically adv | impressionisticallyin a style showing general feeling, not detail | The artist impressionistically painted the garden with soft, bright dots of colour.The artist impressionistically painted the garden with soft, bright dots of colour. |