The annual Scripps National Spelling Bee, which begins on May 28 in an auditorium outside Washington, D.C., and ends on May 30 with a live telecast on ESPN, will test the spelling mettle of a record 565 young people, ages 7 to 15. Here are some of the hardest winning words from past contests, and their definitions according to Merriam-Webster:

REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

koinonia, 2018: the Christian fellowship or body of believers. REUTERS/Corinna Kern

cymotrichous, 2011: having wavy hair. REUTERS/Mike Segar

serrefine, 2007: a small forceps for clamping a blood vessel. REUTERS/Michael Buholzer

appoggiatura, 2005: an accessory embellishing note or tone preceding an essential melodic note or tone and usually written as a note of smaller size. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

autochthonous, 2004: indigenous, native. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

prospicience, 2002: the act of looking forward. REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler

succedaneum, 2001: one that comes next after or replaces another in an office, position or role. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

logorrhea, 1999: excessive and often incoherent talkativeness or wordiness. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

chiaroscurist, 1998: an artist who specializes in chiaroscuro, arranging light and dark parts in works of art. REUTERS/Andrea Comas

antipyretic, 1991: an agent that reduces fever. REUTERS/Gary Cameron

odontalgia, 1986: toothache. REUTERS/Jim Young

elucubrate, 1980: to work out or express by studious effort. REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson

maculature, 1979: an impression made from an intaglio engraved plate to remove ink from the recessed areas. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

cambist, 1977: one who deals in bills of exchange or who is skilled in the science and practice of exchange. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

ratoon, 1966: a shoot of a perennial plant (such as sugarcane). REUTERS/Jose Cabezas

esquamulose, 1962: not covered with or consisting of minute scales. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle

smaragdine, 1961: emerald. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

eudaemonic, 1960: producing happiness, based on the idea of happiness as the proper end of conduct. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas

foulard, 1931: a lightweight plain-woven or twilled silk usually decorated with a printed pattern. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

abrogate, 1927: to abolish by authoritative action. REUTERS/Phil Noble

gladiolus, 1925: any of a genus of chiefly African perennial plants of the iris family with erect sword-shaped leaves and spikes of brilliantly colored irregular flowers arising from corms. REUTERS/Krishnendu Halder