cadence n. Rhythmical flow of words or movement.
Cadence typically referes to music or poetry, but can also be found in speeches, dance, and marching (as in “military cadence, the famous sing-song used by soldiers when marching or jogging.”)
Pronounced kay-dense
confluence n. A flowing together, as in streams, or a confluence of events.
Pronounced con-flew-ens
vindicate v. To prove true; to justify or defend, so as to clear one’s name.
Vindicate, vindictive, and vengeance all have the same Latin root word — vindex, an avenger.
Pronounced vin-deh-kate
bier n. A stand on which a coffin rests before burial.
Pronounced beer.
Do not confuse bier with beer. It leads to an embarrassing funeral.
acrimony n. Bitter speech or disposition.
Acrimony has many causes, but a lack of money can be one of them.
Pronounced ak-reh-moh-nee
insidious adj. Sinister, dangerous or manipulative, as in insidious plot.
Very few people are actually insidious. It’s more a supervillain thing.
Pronounced in-sid-ee-us
cursory adj. Rapid or hastily conducted; not thorough; haphazard; e.g. a cursory blow or glance.
Being cursory causes trouble.
Pronounced ker-sur-ree
