2019-20 Spelling UIl

Gloucester (glŏstər, glôstər)

1. A city of southwest-central England on the Severn River west-northwest of London. Built on the site of the Roman city Glevum, it was the Saxon capital of Mercia. 2. A city of northeast Massachusetts on Cape Ann and the Atlantic Ocean northeast of Boston. Its harbor has been used by fishing fleets for three centuries.

Indochina * (ĭn′dō-chīnə)

1. A peninsula of southeast Asia comprising Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), and the mainland territory of Malaysia. The area was influenced in early times by the cultures of India and China. 2. The former French colonial empire in southeast Asia, including much of the eastern part of the Indochinese peninsula. French influence extended from roughly 1858 to the fall of Dien Bien Phu (1954).

Greenwich time * (grĕnĭch, grĭnĭj)

1.n. Abbr. UTC An international time standard calculated by atomic clock and incorporating occasional leap seconds to compensate for changes in the rotation of the earth. Coordinated universal time serves as the basis for standard time around the world. 2.n. Abbr. UT The time at the Prime Meridian, calculated from the apparent rotation of the celestial sphere and used primarily by astronomers.

Gettysburg (gĕtēz-bûrg′, gĕtəs-)

A borough of southern Pennsylvania east-southeast of Chambersburg. It was the site of a major Union victory in the Civil War (July 1-3, 1863), which checked Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North. The battle and Abraham Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address (delivered at the dedication of a cemetery here on November 19, 1863) are commemorated by a national park. President Dwight D. Eisenhower's farm, a national historic site, is also in Gettysburg.

milites gloriosi (mēlĭ-tās glôr′ē-ōsē)

A bragging and often cowardly soldier, especially as a stock character in comedy.

Karbala (kärbə-lə, kär′bə-lä) also Ker·be·la (kûrbə-lə)

A city of central Iraq south-southwest of Baghdad. It is a pilgrimage site for Shiite Muslims, who visit the tomb of Hussein, grandson of Muhammad.

Versailles (vər-sī, vĕr-)

A city of north-central France west-southwest of Paris. It is best known for its magnificent palace, built by Louis XIV in the late 1600s, where the treaty ending World War I was signed in 1919.

Benghazi, Bengasi * (bĕn-gäzē, bĕng-)

A city of northeast Libya on the Gulf of Sidra. Inhabited since Greek and Roman times, it is a major port and was a capital of Libya from 1951 to 1972.

Saltillo * (säl-tēyō)

A city of northeast Mexico southwest of Monterrey. It was founded c. 1575 and occupied by Zachary Taylor's forces during the Mexican War.

Mosul (mō-sl, mōsəl)

A city of northern Iraq on the Tigris River north-northwest of Baghdad. An important center on the historical caravan route across northern Mesopotamia, it became part of the Ottoman Empire in the 1500s. Mosul was awarded to Iraq by the League of Nations in 1926.

Ketchikan (kĕchĭ-kăn′)

A city of southeast Alaska on an island in the Alexander Archipelago. A supply point for miners during the gold rush of the 1890s, it is now a major port and tourist center on the Inside Passage.

Oaxacan (wə-häkə)

A city of southeast Mexico south-southwest of Veracruz. It was founded c. 1490 as an Aztec garrison post and was conquered by the Spanish in 1521.

Minneapolis (mĭn′ē-ăpə-lĭs)

A city of southeast Minnesota on the Mississippi River adjacent to St. Paul. The largest city in the state, it developed as a lumber and flour mill center.

Antarctica (ănt-ärktĭ-kə, -ärtĭ-)

A continent lying chiefly within the Antarctic Circle and asymmetrically centered on the South Pole. Some 95 percent of Antarctica is covered by an icecap averaging 1.6 km (1 mi) in thickness. The region was first explored in the early 1800s, and although there are no permanent settlements, many countries have made territorial claims. The Antarctic Treaty of 1959, signed by 12 nations, prohibited military operations on the continent and provided for the interchange of scientific data.

Saudi Arabia (soudē, sôdē, sä-dē)

A country occupying most of the Arabian Peninsula. Inhabited since ancient times by nomadic Semitic tribes, the region was consolidated under Muhammad, who established a theocratic state at Medina and gained control of all Arabia c. 630. After the caliphate was moved from Medina to Damascus in 661, the peninsula remained fragmented until most of it was united in the 1700s under the Saud family, who adopted the Wahhabi form of Islam. Crushed by Egyptian and Ottoman opposition in the 1800s, Saudi forces reconquered the peninsula in the early 1900s. The unified kingdom of Saudi Arabia was created in 1932 as an absolute monarchy under Wahhabi law. Oil was discovered in 1938 and soon became the mainstay of the economy. Riyadh is the capital and the largest city.

Kyrgyzstan (kîrgē-stän′, kîr′gē-stän)

A country of Central Asia bordering on Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and northwest China. Inhabited since the 1200s by the Kyrgyz people, the region was annexed by Russia (1876), incorporated into the USSR after the Russian Revolution (1922), and established as the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic in 1936. Kyrgyzstan, sometimes called Kirghizia, declared its independence in 1991 upon the dissolution of the USSR. Bishkek is the capital and the largest city.

Libya (lĭbē-ə)

A country of northern Africa on the Mediterranean Sea. Controlled at various times by Carthage, Rome, Arabia, and Spain, the area was part of the Ottoman Empire from 1551 to 1911. It was subsequently seized by Italy and became an Italian colony during World War II, achieving independence as a kingdom in 1951. In 1969 Colonel Muammar al-Qaddafi took power in a coup d'état, establishing a socialist dictatorship. Tripoli is the capital and the largest city.

Yemen * (yĕmən, yāmən)

A country of southwest Asia at the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula. It was ruled by various peoples, such as the Sabaeans, Himyarites, Romans, Ethiopians, and Persians, in ancient times. It was conquered in the 7th century AD by Muslim Arabs and became part of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. The northern part (known as Yemen or North Yemen) was established as an independent kingdom in 1918 and made a republic in 1962. The southern part consisted of several British protectorates in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Britain withdrew from the area in 1967, and South Yemen became independent soon after. The two united in May 1990. San'a is the capital and the largest city.

Liberia * (lī-bîrē-ə)

A country of western Africa on the Atlantic Ocean. Established by the American Colonization Society in 1821 as a settlement for freed slaves, Liberia was the first colonized country in Africa to achieve independence (1847). A military coup in 1980 initiated a period of civil unrest leading to full-scale civil war in 1990. After a cease-fire in 1996, Charles Taylor was elected president in 1997 but was ousted in 2003, and new democratic elections were held in 2005. Monrovia is the capital and the largest city.

Côte d'Ivoire (dē-vwär) also I·vo·ry Coast (īvə-rē, īvrē)

A country of western Africa on the Gulf of Guinea. Divided into various isolated kingdoms at the time of European discovery in the 15th century, it was organized as a French colony in 1893, became a part of French West Africa in 1904, and declared its independence in 1960. Yamoussoukro is the capital and Abidjan is the largest city and de facto administrative center.

Melanesia (mĕl′ə-nēzhə)

A division of Oceania in the southwest Pacific Ocean comprising the islands northeast of Australia and south of the equator. It includes the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, the Bismarck Archipelago, various other island groups, and sometimes New Guinea.

Moluccas * (mə-lŭkəz) also Ma·lu·ku (mä-lk)

A group of islands of eastern Indonesia between Sulawesi and New Guinea. Inhabited by various Malay and Papuan peoples, the islands were colonized first by the Portuguese in the 1500s and later fell to the Dutch in the 1600s. The Moluccas, long known as the "Spice Islands," have historically provided much of the world's cloves, nutmeg, and mace.

Oregon Trail

A historical overland route to the western United States extending from various cities on the Missouri River to the Oregon Country and later Oregon Territory. It was a major path of western migration from the early 1840s until the coming of the railroad in the 1870s.

Zululand * (zl-lănd′)

A historical region of northeast Natal province in South Africa, settled by Zulus. It was annexed by the British in 1887.

Corcovado (kôr′kə-vädō, kôr′kô-väd)

A mountain, 705 m (2,310 ft) high, of southeast Brazil overlooking Rio de Janeiro. A popular tourist attraction, it has a cog railroad and is topped by the enormous concrete statue Christ the Redeemer.

Yucatán (y′kə-tăn, -tän)

A peninsula mostly in southeast Mexico between the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. It includes many Mayan and Toltec sites and is separated from Cuba by the Yucatán Channel.

Bataan * bə-tăn, -tän)

A peninsula of western Luzon, Philippines, between Manila Bay and the South China Sea. After an extended siege, US and Philippine World War II troops on Bataan surrendered to the Japanese in April 1942. US forces recaptured it in February 1945.

Walden Pond * (wôldən)

A pond of northeast Massachusetts near Concord. Henry David Thoreau lived in a cabin near the pond from 1845 to 1847.

Monaco (mŏnə-kō′, mə-näkō)

A principality on the Mediterranean Sea consisting of an enclave in southeast France. Probably settled by Phoenicians, it has been ruled by the Grimaldi family since the 1200s. At various times Monaco was under the protection of Spain, Sardinia, and France but regained its sovereignty in 1861. The village of Monaco, or Monaco-Ville, is the capital.

Maghreb, Maghrib (mŭgrəb)

A region of northwest Africa comprising the coastlands and the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

Basilicata (bə-zĭl′ĭ-kätə, bä-zē′lē-kätä)

A region of southern Italy bordering on the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Gulf of Taranta. It forms the instep of the Italian "boot."

Fertile Crescent (fŭrtl)

A region of the Middle East extending from the Levant across the northern part of the Syrian Desert to the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Climatic and ecological conditions in the Fertile Crescent favored the Neolithic development of agriculture, eventually giving rise to such civilizations as Sumer, Egypt, Babylonia, and Phoenicia.

Darfur * (där-fr)

A region of western Sudan. Originally an independent sultanate, the area fell to the Egyptians in 1874 and later to the British. Under independent Sudan, the region has been the site of continuing ethnic conflict that developed into a major humanitarian crisis that began in 2003.

Euphrates (y-frātēz)

A river of southwest Asia flowing about 2,800 km (1,740 mi) from central Turkey through Syria and into Iraq, where it joins the Tigris River to form the Shatt al Arab. Its waters were a major source of irrigation for the flourishing civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia

Tigris (tīgrĭs)

A river of southwest Asia rising in eastern Turkey and flowing about 1,850 km (1,150 mi) southeast through Iraq to the Euphrates River. It was a major transportation route in ancient times.

Zambezi * (zăm-bēzē)

A river, about 2,735 km (1,700 mi) long, of central and southern Africa rising in northwest Zambia and flowing south and east to the Mozambique Channel.

Copán (kō-pän)

A ruined Mayan city of western Honduras that flourished from c. 300 BC to AD 900. The ruins include the Hieroglyphic Stairway with over 2,000 glyphs.

Abu Dhabi *

A sheikhdom and city of eastern Arabia on the Persian Gulf. The city is the capital of the United Arab Emirates. With enormous oil revenues, the sheikhdom has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.

Quantico (kwäntĭ-kō′)

A town of northwest Virginia on the Potomac River south-southwest of Alexandria. A US Marine Corps base was established here in 1918.

Tipperary (tĭp′ə-rârē)

A town of south-central Ireland southwest of Dublin. The song "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" was used as marching music by the British Expeditionary Force in World War I.

Ouija (trademark) (wējə, -jē)

A trademark for a board with the alphabet and other symbols on it, and a planchette that is thought, when touched with the fingers, to move in such a way as to spell out spiritualistic and telepathic messages on the board.

Plexiglass, plexiglass (plĕksĭ-glăs′)

A trademark for a light, transparent, weather-resistant thermoplastic. This trademark sometimes occurs in print lowercased and spelled plexiglass: "The display pieces are double sealed inside plexiglass cases" (Los Angeles Times).

Naugahyde (trademark) (nôgə-hīd′)

A trademark for an artificial leather made of vinyl-coated fabric.

Champs Élysées (shäɴ zā-lē-zā)

A tree-lined thoroughfare of Paris, France, leading from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe.

Agincourt *(ăjĭn-kôrt′)

A village of northern France west-northwest of Arras. On October 25, 1415, Henry V of England decisively defeated a much larger French army here. The victory showed the effectiveness of troops equipped with longbows over heavily armored knights.

floruit (flôry-ĭt, --, flŏr-)

Abbr. fl. Used to indicate the period during which a person lived or a school or movement was most active or flourishing.

Miletus * (mī-lētəs)

An ancient Ionian city of western Asia Minor in present-day Turkey. Occupied by Greeks c. 1000 BC, it became an important trading and colonizing settlement and also flourished as a center of learning. The city declined after its harbor silted up early in the Christian era.

Herculaneum (hûr′kyə-lānē-əm)

An ancient city of south-central Italy on the Bay of Naples. A popular resort during Roman times, it was completely destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius (AD 79). Important ruins have been unearthed since the early 1700s.

Pompeii (pŏm-pā, -pāē)

An ancient city of southern Italy southeast of Naples. Founded in the sixth or early fifth century BC, it was a Roman colony by 80 BC and became a prosperous port and resort with many noted villas, temples, theaters, and baths. Pompeii was destroyed by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. The incredibly well-preserved ruins were rediscovered in 1748 and have been extensively excavated.

Lusitania (l′sĭ-tānē-ə)

An ancient region and Roman province of the Iberian Peninsula. It corresponded roughly to modern-day Portugal.

Tyrrhenian Sea (tə-rēnē-ən)

An arm of the Mediterranean Sea between the Italian peninsula and the islands of Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily. The Strait of Messina connects it with the Ionian Sea.

Maldives (môldīvz, -dēvz, măl-) Formerly Mal·dive Islands (-dīv, -dēv)

An island country in the Indian Ocean southwest of Sri Lanka, consisting of about 20 atolls made up of more than 2,000 coral islands. Settled by various groups from southern Asia, the islands were converted to Islam in the 1100s. The Maldives became a self-governing British protectorate in 1887 and achieved independence as a sultanate (1965) and subsequently as a republic (1968). Male is the capital.

Seychelles (sā-shĕl, -shĕlz)

An island country in the western Indian Ocean north of Madagascar. Previously uninhabited, the islands were explored by Vasco da Gama in the early 1500s and colonized by the French in the mid-1700s. They were taken by the British in 1794, and Britain gained permanent control of them in 1814. The Seychelles were a crown colony from 1903 until 1975, when they became self-governing. Independence as a Commonwealth nation was achieved in 1976. Victoria, on Mahé Island, is the capital.

Saint Croix (kroi)

An island of the US Virgin Islands in the West Indies east of Puerto Rico. Sighted and named by Columbus in 1493, it was controlled successively by Holland, England, Spain, France, and Denmark, which sold it to the United States in 1917.

Sumatran (s-mätrə)

An island of western Indonesia in the Indian Ocean south of the Malay Peninsula. Long an important stopping point on the trading route between China and India, the island came under Dutch control in the 1600s, becoming part of the Dutch East Indies in 1800. Sumatra joined newly independent Indonesia in 1949.

Bethesda (bə-thĕzdə)

An unincorporated city of west-central Maryland, a residential suburb of Washington, DC. The National Institutes of Health and Naval Medical Center are here.

Woodstock (wdstŏk′)

An unincorporated community of southeast New York south-southwest of Albany. In 1969, it was the scheduled site of an eponymous rock music festival that was actually held in Bethel, New York, a small town to its southwest.

Debussy * (də-bysē, dĕb′y-sē, də-bü-sē),

Claude Achille 1862-1918. French composer best known for impressionist works such as the tone poem Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (1894).

Baltic States

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. Formerly Russian provinces, they became independent countries after World War I and were incorporated into the USSR as constituent republics in 1940. They became independent again in 1991.

aortography (ā′ôr-tŏgrə-fē)

Examination of the aorta using x-rays following the injection of a radiopaque substance.

Nietzsche (nēchə, -chē)

Friedrich Wilhelm 1844-1900. German philosopher who argued that Christianity's emphasis on the afterlife makes its believers less able to cope with earthly life. He suggested that the ideal human, the Übermensch, would be able to channel passions creatively instead of suppressing them. His written works include Beyond Good and Evil (1886) and Thus Spake Zarathustra (1883-1892).

Byronic (bīrən)

George Gordon Sixth Baron Byron. 1788-1824. British poet acclaimed as one of the leading figures of the romantic movement. The "Byronic hero"—lonely, rebellious, and brooding—first appeared in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage (1812-1818). Among his other works are Manfred (1817) and the epic satire Don Juan (1819-1824). He died while working to secure Greek independence from the Turks.

Demosthenes(dĭ-mŏsthə-nēz′) 384-322 BC.

Greek orator whose reputation is based mainly on his Philippics, a series of orations exhorting the citizens of Athens to rise up against Philip II of Macedon.

nimrod, Nimrod

In the Bible, a mighty hunter and king of Shinar who was a grandson of Ham and a great-grandson of Noah.

Wovoka (wō-vōkə)

Jack Wilson. 1858?-1932. Paiute religious leader who founded the Ghost Dance movement. The movement faded when a number of its followers, thought to have supernatural protection, were massacred at Wounded Knee (1890).

Maccabeus, Maccabaeus (măk′ə-bēəs)

Judas or Judah Died 160 BC. Jewish patriot and most famous member of the Maccabee family. His rededication of the Temple at Jerusalem (164 BC) is commemorated by the feast of Hanukkah.

Herodotus (hĭ-rŏdə-təs)

Known as "the Father of History." Fifth century BC. Greek historian whose writings on the Persian Wars are among the earliest known works of narrative history.

della Robbia (dĕlə rōbē-ə, dĕllä rōbbyä)

Luca 1400?-1482. Italian sculptor noted for his works in glazed terra cotta, including many images of the Nativity.

Mandela (măn-dĕlə)

Nelson Rolihlahla 1918-2013. South African president (1994-1999) and political leader imprisoned for nearly 30 years for his antiapartheid activities. Released in 1990, he led the African National Congress in negotiating an end to apartheid. In 1993 he shared the Nobel Peace Prize. His former wife, Winnie (c. 1936-2018), also played a key role as a leader of the ANC.

Paganini (păg′ə-nēnē, pä′gä-)

Niccolò 1782-1840. Italian violinist and composer whose works include six violin concertos and many other virtuoso violin pieces.

laissez-faire (lĕs′ā fâr, lā′zā)

Noninterference in the affairs of others.

Baryshnikov (bə-rĭshnĭ-kôf′), Mikhail Nikolayevich Born 1948.

Soviet-born ballet dancer and choreographer who, after performing with the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), defected to the United States (1974), where he danced for and later directed the American Ballet Theater. In 1990 he helped found the White Oak Dance Project, a modern-dance company.

Pillars of Hercules (pĭlərz)

The ancient name for two promontories at the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar and the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. They are usually identified as Gibraltar in Europe and Jebel Musa in North Africa.

Reykjavik (rākyə-vēk′, -vĭk′)

The capital and largest city of Iceland, in the southwest part of the island. Traditionally founded in 874, it became capital of the country in 1918 after Denmark recognized Iceland's sovereignty.

Baghdad, Bagdad (băgdăd′)

The capital and largest city of Iraq, in the center of the country on the Tigris River. Founded in the eighth century, it was heavily damaged by US forces during the Gulf War and the Iraq War.

Antananarivo (ăn′tə-năn′ə-rēvō, än′tə-nä′nə-)

The capital and largest city of Madagascar, in the east-central part of the country. It was founded in the 17th century as a walled citadel. The city is also known by its French name, Tananarive.

Pyongyang (pyŭngyäng, -yăng, pyông-)

The capital and largest city of North Korea, in the southwest-central part of the country. It was an important cultural center and Chinese colony after 108 BC, later fell to the Japanese, and became capital of North Korea in 1948.

Bucharest (bkə-rĕst′, by-)

The capital and largest city of Romania, in the southeast part of the country on a tributary of the Danube River. Founded in the 14th century, it soon became a fortress and a center for trade between Wallachia and Constantinople.

Dakar (də-kär, dăkär′)

The capital and largest city of Senegal, in the western part of the country on the Atlantic Ocean. It grew around a French fort built in 1857 and was the capital of French West Africa from 1902 to 1959.

Damascus * (də-măskəs)

The capital and largest city of Syria, in the southwest part of the country. Inhabited since prehistoric times, the city became a thriving commercial center under the Romans and was a Saracen stronghold during the Crusades.

Kiev * (kēĕf, -ĕv) or Ky·yiv (kēē)

The capital and largest city of Ukraine, in the north-central part of the country on the Dnieper River. Founded in the fifth century, it became the capital of Kievan Russia in the ninth century. Invaded by the Mongols in 1240, Kiev passed to Lithuania in the 14th century, became part of the Russian empire in 1686, and was ceded to the USSR in 1920.

Juneau (jnō′)

The capital of Alaska, in the Panhandle northeast of Sitka. It was settled by gold miners in 1880 and designated territorial capital in 1900 (effective 1906) and state capital in 1959.

Dar es Salaam (där′ ĕs sə-läm)

The largest city and former capital of Tanzania, in the eastern part of the country on an arm of the Indian Ocean. It was founded in 1862 by the sultan of Zanzibar.

Auckland * (ôklənd)

The largest city of New Zealand, on an isthmus of northwest North Island. It is a major port and an industrial center.

Roethke (rĕtkē, -kə, rĕth-)

Theodore 1908-1963. American poet whose short lyrical works were published in The Waking (1953) and other collections.

Torquemada * (tôr′kə-mädə, tôr′kĕ-mäthä)

Tomás de 1420-1498. Spanish Dominican friar who headed the Spanish Inquisition (1483-1498). Under his authority thousands of people, many of them descendants of Jewish or Muslim converts to Christianity, were tortured and executed for apostasy and heresy.

Yeats * (yāts)

William Butler 1865-1939. Irish writer. A founder of the Irish National Theatre Company at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, he wrote many short plays, including The Countess Kathleen (1892). His poetry, published in collections such as The Winding Stair (1929), ranges from early love lyrics to the complex symbolist works of his later years. He won the 1923 Nobel Prize for literature

mutable (mytə-bəl)

adj. 1. a. Capable of or subject to change or alteration. b. Prone to frequent change; inconstant: mutable weather patterns. 2. Tending to undergo genetic mutation: a mutable organism; a mutable gene.

antipathetic (ăn-tĭp′ə-thĕtĭk) also an·tip·a·thet·i·cal (-ĭ-kəl)

adj. 1. a. Having or showing a strong aversion or repugnance: antipathetic to new ideas. b. Opposed in nature or character; antagonistic: antipathetic factions within the party. 2. Causing a feeling of antipathy; repugnant: "The whole place and everything about it was antipathetic to her" (Anthony Trollope).

composite, Composite (kəm-pŏzĭt, kŏmpə-zĭt)

adj. 1. a. Made up of distinct components; compound. b. Made by combining two or more existing things, such as photographs. 2. Mathematics Having factors; factorable. 3. Botany Of, belonging to, or characteristic of the composite family. 4. Composite Architecture Of, relating to, or being in the Composite order. n. 1. A structure or entity made up of distinct components: a musical suite that is a composite of operatic themes. 2. A material in which two or more distinct, structurally complementary materials, usually a matrix material and a reinforcing material, are combined to produce structural or functional properties not present in any individual component. Wood, bone, concrete, plastic reinforced by glass fibers, and graphite reinforced with carbon fibers are all composite materials. 3. Botany A plant in the composite family. 4. Mathematics The application of one function to another. For example, if (x) = x2 and g(x) = x + 1, then the composite (g(x)) = (x + 1)2 and the composite g((x)) = x2 + 1. tr.v. com·pos·it·ed, com·pos·it·ing, com·pos·ites 1. To make using distinct components. 2. To make by combining two or more photographs or images.

presidential (prĕz′ĭ-dĕnshəl)

adj. 1. a. Of or relating to a president or presidency. b. Befitting a president, especially the office of the president of the United States: criticized the candidate for not looking presidential. 2. Of or relating to a political system in which the chief officer is a president who is elected independently of the legislature for a fixed term: a presidential government.

anarchic (ăn-ärkĭk) or an·ar·chi·cal (-kĭ-kəl)

adj. 1. a. Of, like, or supporting anarchy: anarchic oratory. b. Likely to produce or result in anarchy. 2. Lacking order or control: an anarchic state of affairs in the office; an anarchic mobile sculpture.

solicitously (sə-lĭsĭ-təs)

adj. 1. a. Showing great attention or concern to another: a solicitous parent; solicitous for your welfare; solicitous of his young sister. b. Expressing care or concern for another: made solicitous inquiries about our family. See Synonyms at thoughtful. c. Showing great care; careful or meticulous: solicitous in the care of critically ill patients. d. Worried; anxious: solicitous about his son's behavior. 2. Archaic Full of desire; eager: "an opinion which he had seemed solicitous to give" (Jane Austen).

vitrescent (vĭ-trĕsənt)

adj. 1. a. Tending to turn into glass. b. Capable of being turned into glass. 2. Resembling glass; vitreous.

placidity (plăsĭd)

adj. 1. a. Undisturbed by tumult or disorder; calm or quiet: led a placid life. b. Not agitated physically; not disturbed: a placid stream. 2. Not easily upset or excited; mild or complacent: a placid demeanor. See Synonyms at calm.

pellucid * (pə-lsĭd)

adj. 1. Admitting the passage of light; transparent or translucent. See Synonyms at clear. 2. Transparently clear in style or meaning: pellucid prose.

woefulness (wōfəl)

adj. 1. Affected by or full of woe; mournful: feeling woeful. 2. Causing, involving, or expressing woe: a woeful situation; woeful eyes. 3. Deplorably bad: woeful errors in judgment.

palsied (pôlzēd)

adj. 1. Affected with palsy. 2. Trembling or shaking.

umbrageously (ŭm-brājəs)

adj. 1. Affording or forming shade; shady. 2. Easily offended; irritable.

moribund * (môrə-bŭnd′, mŏr-)

adj. 1. Approaching death; about to die. 2. On the verge of becoming obsolete: moribund customs; a moribund way of life. 3. Barely active or in use, especially after a period of intense activity: a moribund stock market.

primordial (prī-môrdē-əl)

adj. 1. Being or happening first in sequence of time; original. 2. Primary or fundamental: play a primordial role. 3. Biology Belonging to or characteristic of the earliest stage of development of an organism or a part: primordial cells. n. A basic principle.

incurable (ĭn-kyrə-bəl)

adj. 1. Being such that a cure is impossible; not curable: an incurable disease. 2. Incapable of being altered, as in disposition or habits: an incurable optimist; an incurable smoker.

Noachian * (nō-ākē-ən) also No·ach·ic (-ăkĭk) or No·ach·i·cal (-ĭ-kəl)

adj. 1. Bible Of or relating to Noah or his time. 2. Antiquated; ancient; long obsolete.

canescent * (kə-nĕsənt)

adj. 1. Biology Covered with short, fine whitish or grayish hairs or down; hoary. 2. Turning white or grayish.

strigose (strīgōs′)

adj. 1. Botany Having stiff, straight, closely appressed hair: strigose leaves. 2. Zoology Marked with fine, close-set grooves, ridges, or streaks.

demonstrable (dĭ-mŏnstrə-bəl)

adj. 1. Capable of being demonstrated or proved: demonstrable truths. 2. Obvious or apparent: demonstrable lies.

renewable (rĭ-nə-bəl, -ny-)

adj. 1. Capable of being renewed: a renewable membership; renewable subscriptions. 2. Relating to or being a commodity or resource, such as solar energy or firewood, that is inexhaustible or replaceable by new growth.

solvent (sŏlvənt, sôl-)

adj. 1. Capable of meeting financial obligations. 2. Chemistry Capable of dissolving another substance. n. 1. Chemistry a. A substance in which another substance is dissolved, forming a solution. b. A substance, usually a liquid, capable of dissolving another substance. 2. Something that solves or explains.

anodyne (ănə-dīn′)

adj. 1. Capable of soothing or eliminating pain. 2. Relaxing: anodyne novels about country life. 3. Watered-down; insipid: "Many journalists, desperate to escape the anodyne and often absurd publicity releases, were drawn to Bogart's caustic, irreverent and highly quotable outbursts" (Jeffrey Meyers). n. 1. A medicine, such as aspirin, that relieves pain. 2. A source of soothing comfort.

transparent (trăns-pârənt, -păr-)

adj. 1. Capable of transmitting light so that objects or images can be seen as if there were no intervening material. See Synonyms at clear. 2. Permeable to electromagnetic radiation of specified frequencies, as to visible light or radio waves. 3. So fine in texture that it can be seen through; sheer. 4. a. Easily seen through or detected; obvious: transparent lies. b. Free from guile; candid or open: transparent sincerity. c. Open to public scrutiny; not hidden or proprietary: transparent financial records. 5. Obsolete Shining through; luminous.

grievousness (grēvəs)

adj. 1. Causing grief, pain, or anguish: a grievous loss. 2. Serious or dire; grave: a grievous crime.

rigorously * (rĭgər-əs)

adj. 1. Characterized by or adhering to strict standards or methods; exacting and thorough: a rigorous study of the medication; a rigorous researcher. 2. a. Harsh, severe, or demanding: a rigorous taskmaster; a rigorous schedule. b. Very unpleasant or inclement: a rigorous climate. 3. Adhering strictly to a belief or ideology; uncompromising or inflexible: a rigorous Catholic; a rigorous sense of correctness.

vibratile (vībrə-tl, -tīl′)

adj. 1. Characterized by vibration. 2. Capable of or adapted to vibratory motion.

pretentious (prĭ-tĕnshəs)

adj. 1. Claiming that or behaving as if one is important or deserving of merit when such is not the case: a pretentious socialite. 2. Showing or betraying an attitude of superiority: made pretentious remarks about his education. 3. Marked by an extravagant or presumptuous outward show; ostentatious: a pretentious house. See Synonyms at showy.

plenary (plēnə-rē, plĕnə-)

adj. 1. Complete in all respects; unlimited or full: a diplomat with plenary powers. 2. Fully attended by all qualified members: a plenary session of the council.

fallacious (fə-lāshəs)

adj. 1. Containing or based on a fallacy: a fallacious assumption. 2. Tending to mislead; deceptive: fallacious testimony.

execrable (ĕksĭ-krə-bəl)

adj. 1. Deserving of execration; hateful. 2. Extremely inferior; very bad: an execrable meal.

achromatic (ăk′rə-mătĭk, ā′krə-)

adj. 1. Designating color perceived to have zero saturation and therefore no hue, such as neutral grays, white, or black. 2. Refracting light without spectral color separation. 3. Biology Difficult to stain with standard dyes. Used in reference to cells or tissues. 4. Music Having only the diatonic tones of the scale.

philharmonic, Philharmonic (fĭl′här-mŏnĭk, fĭl′ər-)

adj. 1. Devoted to or appreciative of music. 2. Relating to a symphony orchestra. n. also Philharmonic A symphony orchestra or the group that supports it.

unimpeachable (ŭn′ĭm-pēchə-bəl)

adj. 1. Difficult or impossible to impeach: an unimpeachable witness. 2. Beyond reproach; blameless: unimpeachable behavior. 3. Beyond doubt; unquestionable: "works of such unimpeachable greatness" (Musical Heritage Review).

unpronounceable * (ŭn′prə-nounsə-bəl)

adj. 1. Difficult or impossible to pronounce correctly: an unpronounceable last name. 2. Not fit to be mentioned.

unfathomable * (ŭn-făthə-mə-bəl)

adj. 1. Difficult or impossible to understand; incomprehensible: unfathomable theories. 2. Difficult or impossible to measure: the unfathomable depths.

ductility (dŭktəl, -tīl′)

adj. 1. Easily drawn into wire or hammered thin: ductile metals. 2. Easily molded or shaped. See Synonyms at malleable. 3. Capable of being readily persuaded or influenced; tractable: a ductile young mind.

underemployed (ŭn′dər-ĕm-ploid)

adj. 1. Employed only part-time when one needs and desires full-time employment. 2. Employed at a low-paying job that requires less skill or training than one possesses. n. (used with a pl. verb) Underemployed persons considered as a group. Used with the.

isochronal (ī-sŏkrə-nəl) or i·soch·ro·nous (-nəs)

adj. 1. Equal in duration. 2. Characterized by or occurring at equal intervals of time.

supernumerary (s′pər-nmə-rĕr′ē, -ny-)

adj. 1. Exceeding a fixed, prescribed, or standard number; extra: a supernumerary rib. 2. Exceeding the required or desired number or amount; superfluous: an employee who became supernumerary after the merger. n. pl. su·per·nu·mer·ar·ies 1. One that is in excess of the regular, necessary, or usual number. 2. An actor without a speaking part, as one who appears in a crowd scene.

intramural (ĭn′trə-myrəl)

adj. 1. Existing or carried on within the bounds of an institution, especially a school: intramural athletics. 2. Anatomy Occurring or situated within the wall of a cavity or organ.

ravenous (răvə-nəs)

adj. 1. Extremely hungry or characterized by extreme hunger; voracious: missed lunch and was ravenous by dinnertime. 2. Predatory or ferocious in predation: ravenous lions. 3. Eager for gratification or extremely desirous: "I'm ravenous for news, any kind of news" (Margaret Atwood).

apathetic (ăp′ə-thĕtĭk) also ap·a·thet·i·cal (-ĭ-kəl

adj. 1. Feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent. 2. Feeling or showing little or no emotion; unresponsive.

fraught (frôt)

adj. 1. Filled with a specified element or elements; charged: an incident fraught with danger; an evening fraught with high drama. 2. Marked by or causing distress; emotional: "an account of a fraught mother-daughter relationship" (Francesca Simon). n. Scots Freight; cargo.

profligate * (prŏflĭ-gĭt, -gāt′)

adj. 1. Given to or characterized by licentiousness or dissipation: a profligate nightlife. 2. Given to or characterized by reckless waste; wildly extravagant: a profligate spender; the profligate use of water. n. A profligate person.

auxiliary (ôg-zĭlyə-rē, -zĭlə-rē)

adj. 1. Giving assistance or support; helping. 2. Acting as a subsidiary; supplementary: the main library and its auxiliary branches. 3. Held in or used as a reserve: auxiliary troops; an auxiliary power generator. 4. Nautical Equipped with a motor as well as sails. 5. Grammar Of, relating to, or being an auxiliary verb. n. pl. aux·il·ia·ries 1. An individual or group that assists or functions in a supporting capacity: a volunteers' auxiliary at a hospital. 2. A member of a foreign body of troops serving a country in war. 3. Grammar An auxiliary verb. 4. Nautical a. A sailing vessel equipped with a motor. b. A vessel, such as a supply ship or a tug, that is designed for and used in instances and services other than combat.

actionable (ăkshə-nə-bəl)

adj. 1. Giving cause for legal action: an actionable statement. 2. Relating to or being information that allows a decision to be made or action to be taken. 3. Capable of being put into practice: proposed several actionable measures to reduce the federal deficit.

Dionysian, dionysian (dī′ə-nĭshən, -nĭzhən, -nĭsē-ən)

adj. 1. Greek Mythology a. Of or relating to Dionysus. b. Of or devoted to the worship of Dionysus. 2. often dionysian Of an ecstatic, orgiastic, or irrational nature; frenzied or undisciplined: "remained the nearest to the instinctual, the irrational in music, and thus to the Dionysian spirit in art" (Musco Carner). 3. often dionysian In the philosophy of Nietzsche, of or displaying creative-intuitive power as opposed to critical-rational power.

pendulous (pĕnjə-ləs, pĕndyə-, -də-)

adj. 1. Hanging loosely; suspended so as to swing or sway. 2. Wavering; undecided.

conterminous (kən-tûrmə-nəs) also co·ter·mi·nous (kō-)

adj. 1. Having a boundary in common; contiguous: The northern border of the United States is conterminous with the southern border of Canada. 2. Contained in the same boundaries; coextensive: the conterminous 48 states. 3. Having the same scope, range of meaning, or extent in time.

apolitical (ā′pə-lĭtĭ-kəl)

adj. 1. Having no interest in or association with politics. 2. Having no political relevance or importance: claimed that the president's upcoming trip was purely apolitical.

convoluted (kŏnvə-l′tĭd, kŏn′və-ltĭd)

adj. 1. Having numerous overlapping coils or folds: a convoluted seashell. 2. Intricate; complicated: convoluted legal language; convoluted reasoning.

tetramerous * (tĕ-trămər-əs)

adj. 1. Having or consisting of four similar parts. 2. Having flower parts, such as sepals, petals, and stamens, in sets of four.

variegated (vârē-ĭ-gā′tĭd, vârĭ-gā′-, văr-)

adj. 1. Having streaks, marks, or patches of a different color or colors; varicolored: a plant with variegated leaves. 2. Distinguished or characterized by variety; diversified: her variegated experience.

trifoliate (trī-fōlē-ĭt)

adj. 1. Having three leaves or leaflike parts. 2. Trifoliolate.

bifunctional * (bī-fŭngkshə-nəl)

adj. 1. Having two functions: bifunctional neurons. 2. Chemistry Having or involving two functional groups or binding sites: bifunctional reagents.

infinitesimal * (ĭn′fĭn-ĭ-tĕsə-məl)

adj. 1. Immeasurably or incalculably minute. 2. Mathematics Capable of having values approaching zero as a limit. n. 1. An immeasurably or incalculably minute amount or quantity. 2. Mathematics A function or variable continuously approaching zero as a limit.

impracticable (ĭm-prăktĭ-kə-bəl)

adj. 1. Impossible to do or carry out: Refloating the sunken ship intact proved impracticable because of its fragility. 2. Unfit for passage: roads impracticable in winter. 3. Archaic Unmanageable; intractable.

evasiveness * (ĭ-vāsĭv)

adj. 1. Inclined or intended to evade: took evasive action. 2. Intentionally vague or ambiguous; equivocal: an evasive statement.

atrabilious (ăt′rə-bĭlyəs) also at·ra·bil·i·ar (-bĭlē-ər)

adj. 1. Inclined to melancholy. 2. Having a peevish disposition; surly.

ascendant, ascendent (ə-sĕndənt)

adj. 1. Inclining or moving upward; ascending or rising. 2. Dominant in position or influence; superior. n. 1. The position or state of being dominant or in control: a conservative policy currently in the ascendant. 2. In astrology, the point of the ecliptic or the sign of the zodiac that rises in the east at the time of a person's birth or other event. 3. An ancestor.

indefensible (ĭn′dĭ-fĕnsə-bəl)

adj. 1. Inexcusable; unpardonable: indefensible behavior. 2. Invalid; untenable: an indefensible assumption. 3. Vulnerable to physical attack: indefensible borders.

daedal (dēdl)

adj. 1. Ingenious and complex in design or function; intricate. 2. Finely or skillfully made or employed; artistic.

didactic (dī-dăktĭk) also di·dac·ti·cal (-tĭ-kəl)

adj. 1. Intended to instruct. 2. Morally instructive. 3. Inclined to teach or moralize excessively.

excruciatingly (ĭk-skrshē-ā′tĭng)

adj. 1. Intensely painful; agonizing. 2. Very intense or extreme: wrote with excruciating precision.

flaccid * (flăsĭd, flăksĭd)

adj. 1. Lacking firmness; hanging limply: flaccid muscles. 2. Lacking force, vigor, or effectiveness: a flaccid acting performance.

edentate (ē-dĕntāt′)

adj. 1. Lacking teeth. 2. Of or belonging to the former order Edentata of mammals having few or no teeth, including the anteaters, armadillos, and sloths. These animals have been reclassified in the order Xenarthra. n. A member of the former order Edentata.

ephemeral * (ĭ-fĕmər-əl)

adj. 1. Lasting for a markedly brief time: "There remain some truths too ephemeral to be captured in the cold pages of a court transcript" (Irving R. Kaufman). 2. Having a short lifespan or a short annual period of aboveground growth. Used especially of plants. n. Something, especially a plant, that is ephemeral.

otiose (ōshē-ōs′, ōtē-)

adj. 1. Lazy; indolent. 2. Of no use; pointless or superfluous: It is otiose to review what happened when the events are so well-known. 3. Ineffective; futile.

recumbent * (rĭ-kŭmbənt)

adj. 1. Lying down, especially in a position of comfort or rest; reclining. 2. Resting; idle. 3. Biology Resting on the surface from which it arises. Used of an organ or other structure. n. A recumbent bicycle.

waxen * (wăksən)

adj. 1. Made of or covered with wax. 2. Pale or smooth as wax: waxen skin. 3. Weak, pliable, or impressionable: waxen minds.

multiracial (mŭltē-rā′shəl, -tī-)

adj. 1. Made up of, involving, or acting on behalf of various races: a multiracial society. 2. Having ancestors of several or various races.

gyral (jīrəl)

adj. 1. Moving in a circle or spiral; gyratory. 2. Of or relating to a gyrus.

quintuplicate (kwĭn-tplĭ-kĭt, -ty-)

adj. 1. Multiplied by five; fivefold. 2. Being the fifth of a set of five identical copies. n. 1. One of a set of five identical things. 2. A set of five copies. tr.v. (-kāt′) quin·tu·pli·cat·ed, quin·tu·pli·cat·ing, quin·tu·pli·cates To make five copies of.

discordant (dĭ-skôrdnt)

adj. 1. Not being in accord; conflicting. 2. Disagreeable in sound; harsh or dissonant.

extraneous (ĭk-strānē-əs)

adj. 1. Not constituting an essential or vital element or part: school rules forbidding extraneous clothing like hats. 2. Unrelated to the topic or matter at hand. See Synonyms at irrelevant. 3. Coming from the outside: extraneous noise.

unplumbed * (ŭn-plŭmd)

adj. 1. Not equipped with or connected to a plumbing system. 2. Not measured or sounded with a plumb: unplumbed ocean depths. 3. Not fully examined or explored: unplumbed ideas.

unhallowed (adj.) (ŭn-hălōd)

adj. 1. Not hallowed or consecrated. 2. a. Lacking reverence; impious or irreligious. b. Not conforming to accepted ethical standards; immoral.

unbudging (ŭn-bŭjĭng)

adj. 1. Not moving or willing to move: unbudging demonstrators. 2. Not changing or willing to change from a position or belief: an unbudging negotiator; unbudging rectitude.

noninvasive (nŏn′ĭn-vāsĭv)

adj. 1. Not penetrating the body, as by incision or injection: noninvasive surgery. 2. Not invading healthy tissue: noninvasive cancer of the bladder.

tacit * (tăsĭt)

adj. 1. Not spoken: indicated tacit approval by smiling and winking. 2. Implied by or inferred from actions or statements: Management has given its tacit approval to the plan. 3. Archaic Not speaking; silent.

undocumented * (ŭn-dŏkyə-mĕn′tĭd)

adj. 1. Not supported by written evidence: undocumented income tax deductions; undocumented accusations. 2. Not having the needed documents, as for permission to live or work in a foreign country.

intemperate * (ĭn-tĕmpər-ĭt, -prĭt)

adj. 1. Not temperate or moderate, especially in rhetoric or tone; unrestrained: an intemperate denunciation. 2. Given to excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages.

recurrent (rĭ-kûrənt)

adj. 1. Occurring or appearing again or repeatedly. 2. Anatomy Turning in a reverse direction. Used of blood vessels and nerves.

simpatico (sĭm-pätĭ-kō′, -pătĭ-)

adj. 1. Of like mind or temperament; compatible. 2. Having attractive qualities; pleasing.

rosaceous (rō-zāshəs)

adj. 1. Of or belonging to the rose family. 2. Resembling the flower of a rose.

epigrammatic * (ĕp′ĭ-grə-mătĭk) also ep·i·gram·mat·i·cal (-ĭ-kəl)

adj. 1. Of or having the nature of an epigram. 2. Containing or given to the use of epigrams.

crepuscular (krĭ-pŭskyə-lər)

adj. 1. Of or like twilight; dim: "The gustatory landscape then was dominated by dark, masculine establishments with crepuscular lighting, meat, more meat and puddles of Old World artery-attacking sauces" (Karen Heller). 2. a. Active primarily at dawn or dusk or both. Used of animals. b. Occurring at dawn or dusk or both: crepuscular foraging; a crepuscular stroll through the park.

Laotian (lā-ōshən, loushən)

adj. 1. Of or relating to Laos or its people, language, or culture. 2. Of or relating to the Lao people. n. 1. a. A native or inhabitant of Laos. b. A person of Laotian ancestry. 2. A Lao.

dystopian (dĭs-tōpē-ən)

adj. 1. Of or relating to a dystopia. 2. Dire; grim: "AIDS is one of the dystopian harbingers of the global village" (Susan Sontag).

statutory * (stăchə-tôr′ē)

adj. 1. Of or relating to a statute. 2. Enacted, regulated, or authorized by statute.

alveolar (ăl-vēə-lər)

adj. 1. Of or relating to an alveolus. 2. Anatomy a. Relating to the jaw section containing the tooth sockets: the alveolar ridge. b. Relating to the alveoli of the lungs. 3. Linguistics Formed with the tip of the tongue touching or near the inner ridge of the gums of the upper front teeth, as the English (t), (d), and (s). n. Linguistics An alveolar sound.

cogitative (kŏjĭ-tā′tĭv)

adj. 1. Of or relating to cogitation. 2. Inclined to or capable of cogitation.

holographic (hŏl′ə-grăfĭk, hō′lə-) also hol·o·graph·i·cal (-ĭ-kəl)

adj. 1. Of or relating to holography or holograms. 2. also hol·o·graph (hŏlə-grăf, hōlə-) Of or being a document written wholly in the handwriting of the person whose signature it bears: a holographic will.

lacustrine (lə-kŭstrĭn)

adj. 1. Of or relating to lakes. 2. a. Living or growing in or along the edges of lakes. b. Relating to a system of inland deep-water and wetland habitats associated with lakes and reservoirs and characterized by the absence of trees, shrubs, or emergent vegetation.

saltatorial (săl′tə-tôrē-əl, sôl′-)

adj. 1. Of or relating to leaping or dancing. 2. Zoology Characterized by or used for leaping: saltatorial rodents.

pecuniary * (pĭ-kynē-ĕr′ē)

adj. 1. Of or relating to money: a pecuniary loss; pecuniary motives. 2. Requiring payment of money: a pecuniary offense.

oleaginous (ō′lē-ăjə-nəs)

adj. 1. Of or relating to oil. 2. Falsely or smugly earnest; unctuous: oleaginous flattery.

paralytic (păr′ə-lĭtĭk)

adj. 1. Of or relating to paralysis. 2. Characteristic of or resembling paralysis. 3. Affected with paralysis; paralyzed. n. A person affected with paralysis.

internecine (ĭn′tər-nĕsēn′, -ĭn, -nēsīn′)

adj. 1. Of or relating to struggle within a nation, organization, or group. 2. Mutually destructive; ruinous or fatal to both sides. 3. Characterized by bloodshed or carnage.

mythopoeic, mythopeic (mĭth′ə-pēĭk) also myth·o·po·et·ic (-pō-ĕtĭk)

adj. 1. Of or relating to the making of myths. 2. Serving to create or engender myths; productive in mythmaking.

stomachic (stə-măkĭk)

adj. 1. Of or relating to the stomach; gastric. 2. Beneficial to or stimulating digestion in the stomach. n. An agent, such as a medicine, that strengthens or stimulates the stomach.

exceptive (ĭk-sĕptĭv)

adj. 1. Of, being, or containing an exception. 2. Archaic Captious; faultfinding.

vitelline (vĭ-tĕlĭn, -ēn′, vī-)

adj. 1. Of, relating to, or associated with the yolk of an egg. 2. Having the yellow hue of an egg yolk; dull yellow. n. The yolk of an egg.

thematic (thĭ-mătĭk)

adj. 1. Of, relating to, or being a theme: a scene of thematic importance. 2. Linguistics Of, constituting, or relating to the theme of a word: a thematic vowel.

oracular (ô-răkyə-lər, ō-răk-)

adj. 1. Of, relating to, or being an oracle. 2. Resembling or characteristic of an oracle: a. Solemnly prophetic. b. Enigmatic; obscure.

gramineous (grə-mĭnē-əs)

adj. 1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of grasses. 2. Of or belonging to the grass family.

judgmental (jŭj-mĕntl)

adj. 1. Of, relating to, or dependent on judgment: a judgmental error. 2. Inclined to make judgments, especially moral or personal ones: a marriage counselor who tries not to be judgmental.

algebraic * (ăl′jə-brāĭk)

adj. 1. Of, relating to, or designating algebra. 2. Designating an expression, equation, or function in which only numbers, letters, and arithmetic operations are contained or used. 3. Indicating or restricted to a finite number of operations involving algebra.

monitorial (mŏn′ĭ-tôrē-əl)

adj. 1. Of, relating to, or performed by monitors. 2. Monitory.

umbilical (ŭm-bĭlĭ-kəl)

adj. 1. Of, relating to, or resembling a navel or an umbilical cord. 2. Located near the central area of the abdomen. n. Aerospace An umbilical cord.

pivotal * (pĭvə-tl)

adj. 1. Of, relating to, or serving as a pivot. 2. Being of vital or central importance; crucial: a decision that was pivotal to our success.

vulpine (vŭlpīn′)

adj. 1. Of, resembling, or characteristic of a fox. 2. Cunning; clever.

quiescent * (kwē-ĕsənt, kwī-)

adj. 1. Quiet, still, or inactive. See Synonyms at inactive. 2. Characterized by an absence of upheaval or discord: "We tend to think of the decades following the final overthrow of Napoleon as remarkably quiescent" (Walter McDougall). 3. Astronomy Having little or no sunspot activity. 4. Medicine Asymptomatic: a quiescent infection.

peripheral * (pə-rĭfər-əl)

adj. 1. Related to, located in, or constituting an outer boundary or periphery. 2. Perceived or perceiving near the outer edges of the retina: peripheral vision. 3. Anatomy a. Of the surface or outer part of a body or organ; external. b. Of, relating to, or being part of the peripheral nervous system. 4. Of minor relevance or importance. 5. Auxiliary. n. Computers An auxiliary device, such as a printer, modem, or storage system, that works in conjunction with a computer.

correlative (kə-rĕlə-tĭv)

adj. 1. Related; corresponding. 2. Grammar Indicating a reciprocal or complementary relationship: a correlative conjunction. n. 1. Either of two correlative entities; a correlate. 2. Grammar A correlative word or expression.

sabbatical, Sabbatical (sə-bătĭ-kəl)

adj. 1. Relating to a sabbatical year. 2. Sabbatical also Sabbatic Relating or appropriate to the Sabbath as the day of rest. n. A sabbatical year.

orthogonal (ôr-thŏgə-nəl)

adj. 1. Relating to or composed of right angles. 2. Mathematics a. Of or relating to a matrix whose transpose equals its inverse. b. Of or relating to a linear transformation that preserves the length of vectors. 3. Very different or unrelated; sharply divergent: "Radical Islamists are ultimately seeking to create something orthogonal to our model of democracy" (Richard A. Clarke).

expeditionary * (ĕk′spĭ-dĭshə-nĕr′ē)

adj. 1. Relating to or constituting an expedition. 2. Sent on or designed for military operations abroad: the French expeditionary force in Indochina.

aquiline ăkwə-līn′, -lĭn)

adj. 1. Relating to or having the characteristics of an eagle. 2. Curved or hooked like an eagle's beak: an aquiline nose.

sanguineous (săng-gwĭnē-əs)

adj. 1. Relating to or involving blood or bloodshed. 2. Having the color of blood; blood-red.

technological (tĕk′nə-lŏjĭ-kəl) also tech·no·log·ic (-lŏjĭk)

adj. 1. Relating to or involving technology, especially scientific technology. 2. Affected by or resulting from scientific and industrial progress.

decennial (dĭ-sĕnē-əl)

adj. 1. Relating to or lasting for ten years. 2. Occurring every ten years. n. A tenth anniversary.

diurnal (dī-ûrnəl)

adj. 1. Relating to or occurring in a 24-hour period; daily. 2. Occurring or active during the daytime rather than at night: diurnal animals. 3. Botany Opening during daylight hours and closing at night. n. 1. A book containing all the offices for the daily canonical hours of prayer except matins. 2. Archaic a. A diary or journal. b. A daily newspaper.

capillary (kăpə-lĕr′ē)

adj. 1. Relating to or resembling a hair; fine and slender. 2. Having a very small internal diameter: a capillary tube. 3. Anatomy Of or relating to the capillaries. 4. Physics Of or relating to capillarity. n. pl. cap·il·lar·ies 1. Anatomy One of the minute blood vessels that connect arterioles and venules. These blood vessels form an intricate network throughout the body for the interchange of various substances, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, between blood and tissue cells. 2. A tube with a very small internal diameter.

organoleptic * (ôr′gə-nō-lĕptĭk, ôr-găn′ə-)

adj. 1. Relating to perception by a sensory organ. 2. Involving the use of sense organs: organoleptic tests.

spasmodic * (spăz-mŏdĭk)

adj. 1. Relating to, affected by, or having the character of a spasm; convulsive. 2. Happening intermittently; fitful: spasmodic rifle fire. 3. Given to sudden outbursts of energy or feeling; excitable.

praedial, predial (prēdē-əl)

adj. 1. Relating to, containing, or possessing land; landed. 2. Attached to, bound to, or arising from the land: praedial serfs.

commutative (kŏmyə-tā′tĭv, kə-mytə-tĭv)

adj. 1. Relating to, involving, or characterized by substitution, interchange, or exchange. 2. Independent of order. Used of a logical or mathematical operation that combines objects or sets of objects two at a time. If a × b = b × a, the operation indicated by × is commutative.

membranous (mĕmbrə-nəs)

adj. 1. Relating to, made of, or similar to a membrane. 2. Medicine Characterized by the formation of a usually abnormal membrane or a layer similar to a membrane: membranous nephropathy.

voluptuous (və-lŭpch-əs)

adj. 1. Relating to, providing, or arising from sensual pleasure: "a rich, voluptuous cascade of notes from a Spanish guitar" (Tony Perrottet). See Synonyms at sensuous. 2. Having a curvaceous figure. Used of a woman or a woman's body. 3. Devoted to or indulging in sensual pleasures: "the most beautiful woman of that voluptuous Court" (Winston S. Churchill).

mandatory (măndə-tôr′ē)

adj. 1. Required or commanded by authority; obligatory: Attendance at the meeting is mandatory. 2. Of, having the nature of, or containing a mandate. 3. Holding a League of Nations mandate over a territory. n. pl. man·da·to·ries A mandatary.

complacent (kəm-plāsənt)

adj. 1. Satisfied with the current situation and unconcerned with changing it, often to the point of smugness: "a geologic cautionary tale for a complacent world accustomed to reliable infusions of cheap energy" (Paul Roberts). 2. Eager to please; complaisant.

sardonicism (sär-dŏnĭk)

adj. 1. Scornfully or cynically mocking: a sardonic sense of humor. 2. Given to making sardonic remarks: "He was proud, sardonic, harsh to inferiority of every description" (Charlotte Brontë).

indicative (ĭn-dĭkə-tĭv)

adj. 1. Serving to indicate: symptoms indicative of anemia; an insignia indicative of high rank. 2. Grammar Of, relating to, or being the mood of the verb used in ordinary objective statements. n. Grammar 1. The indicative mood. 2. A verb in the indicative mood.

idiotically (ĭd′ē-ŏtĭk)

adj. 1. Showing foolishness or stupidity. 2. Exhibiting profound intellectual disability. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive.

transpacific (trăns′pə-sĭfĭk, trănz′-)

adj. 1. Situated on or coming from the other side of the Pacific Ocean. 2. Spanning or crossing the Pacific Ocean.

quizzical (kwĭzĭ-kəl)

adj. 1. Suggesting puzzlement; questioning. 2. Teasing; mocking: "His face wore a somewhat quizzical almost impertinent air" (Lawrence Durrell). 3. Eccentric; odd.

inexhaustible (ĭn′ĭg-zôstə-bəl)

adj. 1. That cannot be entirely consumed or used up: an inexhaustible supply of coal. 2. Never wearying; tireless: an inexhaustible campaigner.

exhaustive (ĭg-zôstĭv)

adj. 1. Treating all parts or aspects without omission; thorough: an exhaustive study. 2. Tending to exhaust.

slovenly * (slŭvən-lē)

adj. 1. Untidy, as in dress or appearance. 2. Marked by negligence; careless or slipshod: a slovenly legal defense.

obnoxiousness (ŏb-nŏkshəs, əb-)

adj. 1. Very annoying or objectionable; offensive or odious: "I know no method to secure the repeal of bad or obnoxious laws so effective as their stringent execution" (Ulysses S. Grant). 2. Archaic Exposed or subject to harm, injury, or evil: "Those who are most obnoxious to punishment will flee from the country" (George Washington). 3. Archaic Deserving of or liable to censure.

multitudinous (mŭl′tĭ-tdn-əs, -tyd-)

adj. 1. Very numerous; existing in great numbers. 2. Consisting of many parts. 3. Populous; crowded.

peripatetic, Peripatetic (pĕr′ə-pə-tĕtĭk)

adj. 1. Walking about or from place to place; traveling on foot. 2. Peripatetic Of or relating to the philosophy or teaching methods of Aristotle, who conducted discussions while walking about in the Lyceum of ancient Athens. n. 1. One who walks from place to place; an itinerant. 2. Peripatetic A follower of the philosophy of Aristotle; an Aristotelian.

jackbooted, jack-booted (jăkb′tĭd)

adj. 1. Wearing jackboots. 2. Cruelly and violently oppressive: "a revival of the aggressive, jack-booted militarism of the Thirties and Forties" (Saturday Review).

exemplary (ĭg-zĕmplə-rē)

adj. 1. Worthy of imitation; commendable: exemplary behavior. 2. Serving as a model. 3. Serving as an illustration; typical. 4. Serving as a warning; admonitory.

viviparous * (vī-vĭpər-əs, vĭ-)

adj. 1. Zoology Giving birth to living offspring that develop within the mother's body. Most mammals and some other animals are viviparous. 2. Botany a. Germinating or producing seeds that germinate before becoming detached from the parent plant, as in the mangrove. b. Producing bulbils or new plants rather than seed, as in the tiger lily.

carcinogenic (kär-sĭnə-jən, kärsə-nə-jĕn′)

adj. A cancer-causing substance or agent.

eurythermal (yr′ə-thûrməl) also eu·ry·ther·mic (-mĭk) or eu·ry·ther·mous (-məs)

adj. Adaptable to a wide range of temperatures. Used of an organism.

carnassial * (kär-năsē-əl)

adj. Adapted for tearing apart flesh: carnassial teeth. n. A tooth adapted for tearing apart flesh, especially one of the last upper premolar or first lower molar teeth in carnivorous mammals.

egalitarian * (ĭ-găl′ĭ-târē-ən)

adj. Affirming, promoting, or characterized by belief in equal political, economic, social, and civil rights for all people.

radiolucent (rā′dē-ō-lsənt)

adj. Allowing the passage of x-rays or other radiation; not radiopaque.

ad feminam (ăd fĕmĭ-năm′, -nəm)

adj. Appealing to irrelevant personal considerations concerning women, especially prejudices against them.

intriguing * (ĭn-trēgĭng)

adj. Arousing interest or curiosity: an intriguing plot.

verticillate (vûr′tĭ-sĭlĭt, -āt′)

adj. Arranged in or forming whorls or a whorl.

labiodental * (lā′bē-ō-dĕntl)

adj. Articulated with the lower lip and upper teeth, as the sounds (f) and (v). n. A labiodental sound.

complicit (kəm-plĭsĭt)

adj. Associated with or participating in a questionable act or a crime; having complicity: "Presidential handlers and a complicit press corps managed to suppress public awareness" (Andrew P.N. Erdmann).

principled (prĭnsə-pəld)

adj. Based on, marked by, or manifesting principle: a principled decision; a highly principled person.

beauteous * (bytē-əs)

adj. Beautiful, especially to the sight.

alkalescent (ăl′kə-lĕsənt)

adj. Becoming alkaline; slightly alkaline.

intergenerational (ĭn′tər-jĕn′ə-rāshə-nəl)

adj. Being or occurring between generations.

lateen (lə-tēn, lă-)

adj. Being, relating to, or rigged with a triangular sail hung on a long yard that is attached at an angle to the top of a short mast. n. 1. A lateen-rigged boat. 2. A lateen sail.

aeneus, aeneous (ā-ēnē-əs)

adj. Brassy or golden green in color.

defeasible (dĭ-fēzə-bəl)

adj. Capable of being annulled or invalidated: a defeasible claim to an estate.

appropriable (ə-prōprē-ə-bəl)

adj. Capable of being appropriated: appropriable funds.

assimilable * (ə-sĭmə-lə-bəl)

adj. Capable of being assimilated: assimilable nutrients; assimilable information.

interchangeable (ĭn′tər-chānjə-bəl)

adj. Capable of being interchanged: interchangeable items of clothing; interchangeable automotive parts.

refrangible * (rĭ-frănjə-bəl)

adj. Capable of being refracted: refrangible rays of light.

voidable (voidə-bəl)

adj. Capable of being voided and especially annulled: voidable contracts.

annihilative (ə-nīə-lā′tĭv, -ə-lə-)

adj. Capable of causing utter destruction or serving to destroy utterly: annihilative firepower.

reconcilable (rĕk′ən-sīlə-bəl, rĕkən-sī′-)

adj. Capable of or qualified for reconciliation: reconcilable differences.

anti-infective * (ăn′tē-ĭn-fĕktĭv, ăn′tī-)

adj. Capable of preventing or counteracting infection. n. An anti-infective substance.

crotchety (krŏchĭ-tē)

adj. Capriciously stubborn or eccentric; perverse.

afferent (ăfər-ənt)

adj. Carrying inward to a central organ or section, as nerves that conduct impulses from the periphery of the body to the brain or spinal cord

ruefulness (rfəl)

adj. Causing, feeling, or expressing sorrow or regret: "He gave the young officer the rueful look of a father exasperated with his misbehaving son" (Khaled Hosseini).

pluvious * (plvē-əs) also plu·vi·ose (-ōs′)

adj. Characterized by heavy rainfall; rainy.

iniquitous (ĭ-nĭkwĭ-təs)

adj. Characterized by iniquity; wicked.

Falstaffian (fôl-stăfē-ən)

adj. Characterized by joviality and conviviality.

rivalrous (rīvəl-rəs)

adj. Characterized by or given to rivalry or competition.

capriciousness * (kə-prĭshəs, -prēshəs)

adj. Characterized by, arising from, or subject to caprice; impulsive or unpredictable: capricious decisions; capricious weather

coadunate * (kō-ăjə-nĭt, -nāt′)

adj. Closely joined; grown together; united.

garden-variety (gärdn-və-rī′ĭ-tē)

adj. Common; unremarkable: situation comedies and other garden-variety television fare.

addlepated (ădl-pā′tĭd)

adj. Confused or stupid; befuddled: "[Her] estates ... are odes to addlepated excess, a melange of priceless antiques and thrift-store horrors" (Michelle Green).

auriferous * (ô-rĭfər-əs)

adj. Containing gold; gold-bearing.

populous (pŏpyə-ləs)

adj. Containing many people or inhabitants; having a large population.

calumnious (kə-lŭmnē-əs)

adj. Containing or implying calumny; slanderous or defamatory.

seleniferous (sĕl′ə-nĭfər-əs)

adj. Containing selenium: seleniferous soil.

siliceous (sĭ-lĭshəs)

adj. Containing, resembling, relating to, or consisting of silica.

prepense (prĭ-pĕns)

adj. Contemplated or arranged in advance; premeditated: malice prepense

hispid (hĭspĭd)

adj. Covered with stiff or rough hairs; bristly: hispid stems.

bumptious (bŭmpshəs)

adj. Crudely or loudly assertive; pushy.

tenebrous * (tĕnə-brəs) also te·neb·ri·ous (tə-nĕbrē-əs)

adj. Dark and gloomy.

muraled, muralled (myrəld)

adj. Decorated with murals or a mural: muraled halls.

absent-minded (ăb′sənt-mīndĭd)

adj. Deep in thought and heedless of present circumstances or activities; preoccupied.

inimitable (ĭ-nĭmĭ-tə-bəl)

adj. Defying imitation; matchless.

monoclonal (mŏn′ə-klōnəl)

adj. Derived as clones from a single cell or produced by clones of a single cell: a monoclonal tumor. n. A monoclonal product, such as a monoclonal antibody.

unilocular * (y′nə-lŏkyə-lər)

adj. Divided into or containing a single cavity or compartment: a unilocular cyst.

transpicuous (trăn-spĭky-əs)

adj. Easily understood or seen through: transpicuous motives.

luculent (lky-lənt)

adj. Easily understood; clear or lucid.

circumambient * (sûr′kəm-ămbē-ənt)

adj. Encompassing on all sides; surrounding.

coequal (kō-ēkwəl)

adj. Equal with one another, as in rank or size. n. An equal.

hypercritical * (hī′pər-krĭtĭ-kəl)

adj. Excessively critical; captious.

tax-deductible * (tăks′dĭ-dŭktə-bəl)

adj. Exempt from inclusion in one's taxable income.

opalescence (ō′pə-lĕsənt)

adj. Exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal.

extraordinaire (ĕk′strə-ôr′dn-âr, -dē-nâr)

adj. Extraordinary: a jazz singer extraordinaire.

perdurable * (pər-drə-bəl, -dyr-)

adj. Extremely durable; permanent.

stenophagous (stə-nŏfə-gəs)

adj. Feeding on a limited number of foods, often within one taxonomic genus.

vermivorous (vər-mĭvər-əs)

adj. Feeding on worms.

electability (ĭ-lĕktə-bəl)

adj. Fit or able to be elected, especially to public office: an electable candidate.

curvilinear (kûr′və-lĭnē-ər) also cur·vi·lin·e·al (-əl)

adj. Formed, bounded, or characterized by curved lines.

dégagé (dā′gä-zhā)

adj. Free and relaxed in manner; casual. n. In dance, a pointing of the foot in which the foot leaves the floor.

guileful (gīlfəl)

adj. Full of guile; deceitfully or treacherously cunning.

wrathfulness (răthfəl, räth-)

adj. Full of or characterized by wrath; fiercely angry.

exorbitant (ĭg-zôrbĭ-tənt)

adj. Going beyond what is reasonable or customary, especially in cost or price: exorbitant rent; exorbitant telephone bills.

sinistrorse (sĭnĭ-strôrs′)

adj. Growing upward in a spiral that turns from right to left: a sinistrorse vine.

nocuous * (nŏky-əs)

adj. Harmful; noxious.

malodorous * (măl-ōdər-əs)

adj. Having a bad odor; foul.

metagnathous (mĭ-tăgnə-thəs)

adj. Having a bill in which the tips of the mandibles cross. Used of a bird.

crenate (krēnāt′) also cre·nat·ed (-nā′tĭd)

adj. Having a margin with low, rounded or scalloped projections: a crenate leaf.

massless (măslĭs)

adj. Having a mass of zero.

presentient (prē-sĕnshənt, -shē-ənt)

adj. Having a presentiment.

gimlet-eyed (gĭmlĭt-īd′)

adj. Having keen vision.

zero-defect (zîrō-dēfĕkt′, -dĭ-fĕkt, zērō-)

adj. Having no flaws or errors: a zero-defect political campaign.

glabrous (glābrəs)

adj. Having no hairs or pubescence; smooth: glabrous leaves.

unwarranted (ŭn-wôrən-tĭd, -wŏr-)

adj. Having no justification; groundless: unwarranted suspicions of dishonest dealing.

univocal (y-nĭvə-kəl)

adj. Having only one meaning; unambiguous. n. A word or term having only one meaning.

depilatory (dĭ-pĭlə-tôr′ē)

adj. Having the capability to remove hair. n. pl. de·pil·a·to·ries A preparation in the form of a liquid or cream that is used to remove unwanted hair from the body.

immunocompetent (ĭm′yə-nō-kŏmpĭ-tənt, ĭ-my′-)

adj. Having the normal bodily capacity to develop an immune response following exposure to an antigen.

pervasive (pər-vāsĭv, -zĭv)

adj. Having the quality or tendency to pervade or permeate: the pervasive odor of garlic.

dicephalous * (dī-sĕfə-ləs)

adj. Having two heads.

omnipotent, Omnipotent (ŏm-nĭpə-tənt)

adj. Having unlimited or universal power, authority, or force; all-powerful. n. 1. One having unlimited power or authority: the bureaucratic omnipotents. 2. Omnipotent God. Used with the.

circumspect * (sûrkəm-spĕkt′)

adj. Heedful of circumstances and potential consequences; prudent.

archconservative * (ärch′kən-sûrvə-tĭv)

adj. Highly conservative, especially in political viewpoint.

outré * (-trā)

adj. Highly unconventional; eccentric or bizarre: "outré and affected stage antics" (Michael Heaton).

incontrovertible (ĭn-kŏn′trə-vûrtə-bəl, ĭn′kŏn-)

adj. Impossible to dispute; unquestionable: incontrovertible proof of the defendant's innocence.

immeasurable * (ĭ-mĕzhər-ə-bəl)

adj. Impossible to measure; limitless

submissiveness (səb-mĭsĭv)

adj. Inclined or willing to submit.

incommodious (ĭn′kə-mōdē-əs)

adj. Inconvenient or uncomfortable, as by not affording sufficient space.

insatiate (ĭn-sāshē-ĭt)

adj. Insatiable.

sociopolitical * (sō′sē-ō-pə-lĭtĭ-kəl, -shē-)

adj. Involving both social and political factors.

Rh-negative (ärāch-nĕgə-tĭv)

adj. Lacking an Rh factor.

gauche (gōsh)

adj. Lacking grace or social polish; awkward or tactless.

supraorbital (s′prə-ôrbĭ-tl)

adj. Located above the orbit of the eye: the supraorbital ridge.

subdural * (səb-drəl, -dyr-)

adj. Located or occurring beneath the dura mater: subdural space; a subdural hematoma.

subcutaneous (sŭb′ky-tānē-əs)

adj. Located or placed just beneath the skin: subcutaneous tissue; a subcutaneous implant.

clarion (klărē-ən)

adj. Loud and clear: a clarion call to resistance. n. Music 1. A medieval trumpet with a shrill clear tone. 2. The sound of this instrument or a sound resembling it.

tumultuary * (t-mŭlch-ĕr′ē, ty-)

adj. Marked by haste, confusion, disorder, and irregularity.

knockdown-dragout (nŏkdoun′drăgout′)

adj. Marked by roughness, violence, and acrimony: a knockdown-dragout fight.

wholehearted (hōlhärtĭd)

adj. Marked by unconditional commitment, unstinting devotion, or unreserved enthusiasm: wholehearted approval.

red-letter (rĕdlĕtər)

adj. Memorably happy: a red-letter day.

asymptomatic (ā′sĭmp-tə-mătĭk)

adj. Neither causing nor exhibiting symptoms of disease.

unremitting (ŭn′rĭ-mĭtĭng)

adj. Never slackening; persistent.

defunct (dĭ-fŭngkt)

adj. No longer in existence or use: a defunct political organization.

nonaligned * (nŏn′ə-līnd)

adj. Not allied with any other nation or bloc; neutral: A group of 20 nonaligned nations urged a treaty to ban space weapons.

off-the-record (ôfthə-rĕkərd, ŏf-)

adj. Not for publication or attribution: off-the-record comments by the senator.

nontenured * (nŏn-tĕnyərd, -yrd′)

adj. Not having or leading to tenure: a nontenured academic post.

unbidden (ŭn-bĭdn)

adj. Not invited, asked, or requested; unasked: unbidden guests; comments unbid and unwelcome.

non compos mentis (nŏn kŏm′pəs mĕntĭs)

adj. Not of sound mind and hence not legally competent. n. One who is not legally competent.

irrecusable (ĭr′ĭ-kyzə-bəl)

adj. Not subject to challenge or objection: an irrecusable premise.

insubordinate (ĭn′sə-bôrdn-ĭt)

adj. Not submissive to authority: has a history of insubordinate behavior.

unnameable, unnamable (ŭn-nāmə-bəl)

adj. Not to be named or identified: "We lived in dread of various unnameable calamities" (Garrison Keillor).

unwonted (ŭn-wôntĭd, -wōn-, -wŭn-)

adj. Not usual or accustomed: "Her unwonted breach of delicacy ... perplexed him" (George Meredith).

adamant (ădə-mənt, -mănt′)

adj. Not willing to change one's opinion, purpose, or principles; unyielding. n. 1. A stone once believed to be impenetrable in its hardness. 2. An extremely hard substance.

epizootic (ĕp′ĭ-zō-ŏtĭk)

adj. Occurring at the same time among an unusually large number of animals in a particular geographic area. Used of a disease. n. An epizootic disease.

quartan (kwôrtn)

adj. Occurring every fourth day, counting inclusively, or every 72 hours. Used of a fever. n. A malarial fever recurring every 72 hours.

semiannual (sĕm′ē-ăny-əl, sĕm′ī-)

adj. Occurring or issued twice a year.

uxorial (ŭk-sôrē-əl, ŭg-zôr-)

adj. Of a wife; regarded as befitting a wife.

portal-to-portal (pôrtl-tə-pôrtl)

adj. Of or based on the time a worker spends on the employer's property, calculated from the moment of arrival to that of departure: portal-to-portal pay.

hircine (hûrsīn′, -sĭn)

adj. Of or characteristic of a goat, especially in strong odor.

leporine (lĕpə-rīn′, -ər-ĭn)

adj. Of or characteristic of rabbits or hares.

Javanese (jăv′ə-nēz, -nēs, jä′və-)

adj. Of or relating to Java or its people, language, or culture. n. pl. Javanese 1. A native or inhabitant of Java, especially a member of the Javanese-speaking majority population. 2. The Austronesian language of the principal ethnic group of Java.

mosaic, Mosaic (mō-zāĭk)

adj. Of or relating to Moses or the laws and writings attributed to him.

hierarchal (hī′ə-rärkĭ-kəl, hī-rär-) or hi·er·ar·chic (-kĭk) or hi·er·ar·chal (-rärkəl)

adj. Of or relating to a hierarchy.

maxillary (măksə-lĕr′ē)

adj. Of or relating to a jaw or jawbone, especially the upper one. n. pl. max·il·lar·ies A maxillary bone; a jawbone.

neonatal (nē′ō-nātl)

adj. Of or relating to a newborn infant or to the first 28 days of an infant's life: neonatal care.

Churrigueresque (chr′ĭ-gə-rĕsk)

adj. Of or relating to a style of baroque architecture of Spain and its Latin-American colonies, characterized by elaborate and extravagant decoration.

paludal * (pə-ldl, pălyə-dəl)

adj. Of or relating to a swamp; marshy.

casuistic * (kăzh′-ĭstĭk) also ca·su·is·ti·cal (-tĭ-kəl)

adj. Of or relating to casuists or casuistry.

ontic * (ŏntĭk)

adj. Of or relating to essence or the nature of being; ontological.

pharmaceutic (fär′mə-stĭ-kəl) also phar·ma·ceu·tic (-tĭk)

adj. Of or relating to pharmacy or pharmacists. n. A pharmaceutical product or preparation.

Kurdish (kûrdĭsh, kr-)

adj. Of or relating to the Kurds or their language or culture. n. Any of a group of Iranian languages spoken by the Kurds.

Skinnerian (skĭ-nîrē-ən)

adj. Of or relating to the behavioristic theories and methods of B.F. Skinner. n. A follower of B.F. Skinner's theories or methods.

mucocutaneous (my′kō-ky-tānē-əs)

adj. Of or relating to the skin and a mucous membrane.

lapidarian * (lăp′ĭ-dârē-ən)

adj. Of or relating to the working of stone or gems; lapidary.

funerary (fynə-rĕr′ē)

adj. Of or suitable for a funeral or burial.

Neapolitan (nē′ə-pŏlĭ-tən)

adj. Of, belonging to, or characteristic of Naples, Italy. n. 1. A native or resident of Naples, Italy. 2. A Romance language of southern Italy, spoken in the area of the former kingdom of Naples.

sibilant (sĭbə-lənt)

adj. Of, characterized by, or producing a hissing sound like that of (s) or (sh): the sibilant consonants; a sibilant bird call. n. A sibilant speech sound, such as English (s), (sh), (z), or (zh).

natatorial * (nā′tə-tôrē-əl, năt′ə-) also na·ta·to·ry (nātə-tôr′ē, nătə-)

adj. Of, relating to, adapted for, or characterized by swimming: a natatorial appendage; natatorial birds.

sacroiliac (săk′rō-ĭlē-ăk′, sā′krō-)

adj. Of, relating to, or affecting the sacrum and ilium and their articulation or associated ligaments. n. The sacroiliac region or cartilage.

paramilitary (păr′ə-mĭlĭ-tĕr′ē)

adj. Of, relating to, or being a group of civilians organized in a military fashion, especially to operate in place of or assist regular army troops. n. pl. par·a·mil·i·tar·ies A member of a paramilitary force.

tête-bêche (tĕtbĕsh)

adj. Of, relating to, or being a pair of similar objects or images arranged such that one is upside down in relation to the other: a tête-bêche pair of postage stamps.

ichthyic (ĭkthē-ĭk)

adj. Of, relating to, or characteristic of fishes.

oedipal, Oedipal (ĕdə-pəl, ēdə-)

adj. Of, relating to, or characteristic of the Oedipus complex: oedipal conflicts.

proletarian (prō′lĭ-târē-ən)

adj. Of, relating to, or characteristic of the proletariat. n. A member of the proletariat; a worker.

protolithic * (prō′tə-lĭthĭk)

adj. Of, relating to, or characteristic of the very beginning of the Stone Age; Eolithic.

do-it-yourselfer (d′ĭt-yər-sĕlf)

adj. Of, relating to, or designed to be done by an amateur or as a hobby: do-it-yourself home repairs; a do-it-yourself sailboat kit.

schematically * (skē-mătĭk, skĭ-)

adj. Of, relating to, or in the form of a scheme or diagram. n. A structural or procedural diagram, especially of an electrical or mechanical system.

procephalic (prō′sə-fălĭk)

adj. Of, relating to, or located on or near the front of the head.

amylaceous * (ăm′ə-lāshəs)

adj. Of, relating to, or resembling starch; starchy.

sub-Saharan (sŭb′sə-hârən, -hăr-, -här-)

adj. Of, relating to, or situated in the region of Africa south of the Sahara.

postmeridian (pōst′mə-rĭdē-ən)

adj. Of, relating to, or taking place in the afternoon.

standpatter (stăndpăt)

adj. Opposed or resistant to change; stubbornly conservative.

permissibility * (pər-mĭsə-bəl)

adj. Permitted; allowable: permissible tax deductions; permissible behavior in school.

unflappable (ŭn-flăpə-bəl)

adj. Persistently calm, whether when facing difficulties or experiencing success; not easily upset or excited.

phytotoxic (fī′tō-tŏksĭk)

adj. Poisonous to plants.

resistible (rĭ-zĭstə-bəl)

adj. Possible to resist: resistible impulses.

separable (sĕpər-ə-bəl, sĕprə-)

adj. Possible to separate: separable sheets of paper.

Procrustean, procrustean (prō-krŭstē-ən)

adj. Producing or designed to produce strict conformity by ruthless or arbitrary means.

effectual (ĭ-fĕkch-əl)

adj. Producing or sufficient to produce a desired effect.

rubefacient (r′bə-fāshənt)

adj. Producing redness, as of the skin. n. A substance that irritates the skin, causing redness.

errhine (ĕrīn′)

adj. Promoting or inducing nasal discharge. n. A medication that promotes or induces such discharge.

pro bono * (prō bōnō)

adj. Provided free or at low cost to certain legal clients in order to serve the public good: a lawyer's pro bono representation of low-income families.

quadricentennial (kwŏd′rĭ-sĕn-tĕnē-əl)

adj. Quadricentenary. n. A quadricentenary event or celebration.

immemorial (ĭm′ə-môrē-əl)

adj. Reaching beyond the limits of memory, tradition, or recorded history.

intransigent, intransigeant (ĭn-trănsə-jənt, -zə-)

adj. Refusing to moderate a position, especially an extreme position; uncompromising.

sacrosanct * (săkrō-săngkt′)

adj. Regarded as sacred and inviolable.

sexcentenary (sĕk-sĕntə-nĕr′ē, sĕk′sĕn-tĕnə-rē)

adj. Relating to 600 or to a 600-year period. n. pl. sex·cen·te·nar·ies A 600th anniversary or its commemoration.

apiarian (ā′pē-ârē-ən)

adj. Relating to bees or to the keeping and care of bees.

bimaxillary (bī-măksə-lĕr′ē)

adj. Relating to or affecting both jaws.

adversarial (ăd′vər-sârē-əl)

adj. Relating to or characteristic of an adversary; involving antagonistic elements: "Some speakers fall almost willingly into an adversarial relationship with the audience" (Don Pfarrer).

fatidic * (fə-tĭdĭk) also fa·tid·i·cal (-ĭ-kəl)

adj. Relating to or characterized by prophecy; prophetic.

precatory * (prĕkə-tôr′ē) also prec·a·tive (-tĭv)

adj. Relating to or expressing entreaty or supplication.

valvular * (vălvyə-lər)

adj. Relating to, having, or operating by means of valves or valvelike parts.

marmoreal (mär-môrē-əl) also mar·mo·re·an (-ē-ən)

adj. Resembling marble, as in smoothness, whiteness, or hardness.

scarlatinoid * (skär′lə-tēnoid′)

adj. Resembling scarlet fever or its rash.

counterfactual * (koun′tər-făkch-əl)

adj. Running contrary to the facts: "Cold war historiography vividly illustrates how the selection of the counterfactual question to be asked generally anticipates the desired answer" (Timothy Garton Ash).

sedate * (sĭ-dāt)

adj. Serenely deliberate, composed, and dignified in character or manner.

dendriform (dĕndrə-fôrm′)

adj. Shaped like or having the form of a tree.

presynaptic * (prē′sĭ-năptĭk)

adj. Situated in front of or occurring before a synapse: a presynaptic nerve fiber; a presynaptic stimulus.

transcontinental (trăns′kŏn-tə-nĕntl)

adj. Spanning or crossing a continent.

polyglot * (pŏlē-glŏt′)

adj. Speaking, writing, written in, or composed of several languages. n. 1. A person having a speaking, reading, or writing knowledge of several languages. 2. A book, especially a Bible, containing several versions of the same text in different languages. 3. A mixture or confusion of languages.

fatigable (fătĭ-gə-bəl)

adj. Subject to fatigue.

Lincolnesque (lĭng′kə-nĕsk)

adj. Suggestive of Abraham Lincoln.

quotability (kwōtə-bəl)

adj. Suitable for or worthy of quoting: a quotable slogan; a quotable pundit.

moroseness (mə-rōs, mô-)

adj. Sullenly melancholy; gloomy.

seagirt (sēgûrt′)

adj. Surrounded by the sea.

delusory (dĭ-lsə-rē, -zə-)

adj. Tending to deceive; delusive.

self-deprecating (sĕlfdĕprĭ-kā′tĭng)

adj. Tending to undervalue oneself and one's abilities.

quondam * (kwŏndəm, -dăm′)

adj. That once was; former: "the quondam drunkard, now perfectly sober" (Bret Harte).

peroral (pər-ôrəl)

adj. Through or by way of the mouth: a peroral infection; peroral administration of fluids.

rumbustious * (rŭm-bŭschəs)

adj. Uncontrollably exuberant; unruly: a rumbustious child, a rumbustious street market; a rumbustious political campaign.

uncharacteristic (ŭn′kăr-ək-tə-rĭstĭk)

adj. Unusual or atypical: an uncharacteristic display of anger.

ceraceous (sə-rāshəs)

adj. Waxy or waxlike.

resiniferous (rĕz′ə-nĭfər-əs)

adj. Yielding or containing resin.

xanthous (zănthəs)

adj. Archaic Yellow.

triglyph * (trīglĭf′)

adj. Architecture An ornament in a Doric frieze, consisting of a projecting block having on its face two parallel vertical glyphs or grooves and two half grooves or chamfers on either vertical end, that separates the metopes.

cernuous (sûrny-əs)

adj. Botany Nodding; drooping.

passant (păsənt)

adj. Heraldry Being a beast facing and walking toward the viewer's left with one front leg raised.

mind-boggling (mīndbŏg′lĭng)

adj. Informal Intellectually or emotionally overwhelming: "a mind-boggling bazaar of competing manufacturers and overlapping technologies" (William D. Marbach).

pareve (pärə-və) also par·ve (pärvə)

adj. Judaism Prepared without meat, milk, or their derivatives and therefore permissible to be eaten with meat or dairy dishes according to dietary laws: pareve margarine.

nuncupative (nŭnkyə-pā′tĭv, nŭng-, nŭn-kypə-tĭv)

adj. Law Relating to or being a will that is delivered orally to witnesses rather than written.

trigger-happy (trĭgər-hăp′ē)

adj. Slang 1. Having a tendency or desire to shoot a firearm before adequately identifying the target. 2. Inclined to react violently at the slightest provocation.

infrared (ĭn′frə-rĕd)

adj. Abbr. IR 1. Of or relating to electromagnetic radiation between microwaves and red visible light in the electromagnetic spectrum, having frequencies between 300 gigahertz and 400 terahertz and wavelengths between 1 millimeter and 750 nanometers. 2. Generating, using, or sensitive to infrared radiation. n. Infrared light or the infrared part of the spectrum.

levorotatory (lē′və-rōtə-tôr′ē) also le·vo·ro·ta·ry (-tə-rē)

adj. Symbol l- Of or relating to an optically active substance that rotates the plane of polarized light to the left, or counterclockwise (when looking toward the light source): Only levorotatory amino acids are biologically active.

heroically (hĭ-rōĭk)

adj. also he·ro·i·cal (-ĭ-kəl) 1. Of, relating to, or resembling the heroes of literature, legend, or myth. 2. Having, displaying, or characteristic of the qualities appropriate to a hero; courageous: heroic deeds. 3. a. Impressive in size or scope; grand: heroic undertakings. b. Of a size or scale that is larger than life: heroic sculpture. n. 1. A line of heroic verse. 2. heroics Heroic behavior or action. 3. heroics Melodramatic behavior or language: "Activism has nothing to do with publicity or heroics or being visible" (Patricia Bosworth).

chichi (shēshē)

adj. chi·chi·er, chi·chi·est Ostentatiously stylish; deliberately chic. n. Ostentatious stylishness.

eeriest (îrē)

adj. ee·ri·er, ee·ri·est 1. Inspiring inexplicable fear, dread, or uneasiness; strange and frightening. See Synonyms at weird. 2. Scots Frightened or intimidated by superstition.

fluky, flukey (flkē)

adj. fluk·i·er, fluk·i·est 1. Resulting from or depending on mere chance. 2. Constantly shifting; uncertain: a fluky wind.

kookiest (kkē)

adj. kook·i·er, kook·i·est Slang Characteristic of a kook; strange or crazy.

obtuseness (ŏb-ts, -tys, əb-)

adj. ob·tus·er, ob·tus·est 1. a. Lacking quickness of perception or intellect. b. Characterized by a lack of intelligence or sensitivity: an obtuse remark. c. Not distinctly felt: an obtuse pain. 2. a. Not sharp, pointed, or acute in form; blunt. b. Having an obtuse angle: an obtuse triangle. c. Botany Having a blunt or rounded tip: an obtuse leaf.

paunchiness (pônchē, pän-)

adj. paunch·i·er, paunch·i·est Having a potbelly.

succinct (sək-sĭngkt)

adj. suc·cinct·er, suc·cinct·est 1. Characterized by clear, precise expression in few words; concise and terse: a succinct reply; a succinct style. 2. Archaic Encircled as if by a girdle; girded.

incidentally * (ĭn′sĭ-dĕntl-ē)

adv. 1. As a minor or subordinate matter: by profession a lawyer and incidentally a musician. 2. (also -dĕntlē) Apart from the main subject; parenthetically.

regrettably (rĭ-grĕtə-blē)

adv. 1. To an extent deserving of regret: a regrettably brief career. 2. As a matter of regret: Regrettably, the book is not available.

mañana (mä-nyänə)

adv. 1. Tomorrow. 2. At an unspecified future time. n. An indefinite time in the future.

willy-nilly (wĭl′ē-nĭlē)

adv. 1. Whether desired or not: After her boss fell sick, she willy-nilly found herself directing the project. 2. Without order or plan; haphazardly: "We laid our sleeping bags out willy-nilly, as if having fallen from the stars" (Rick Bass). adj. 1. Being or occurring whether desired or not: willy-nilly cooperation. 2. Disordered; haphazard: willy-nilly zoning laws.

scot-free (skŏtfrē)

adv. 1. Without having to pay: got away from the restaurant scot-free. 2. Without incurring any penalty or punishment: came away from the incident scot-free.

en bloc (äɴ blôk, ĕn blŏk)

adv. As a unit; all together.

widdershins * (wĭdər-shĭnz′)

adv. In a contrary or counterclockwise direction: "The coracle whirled round, clockwise, then widdershins" (Anthony Bailey).

regardless (rĭ-gärdlĭs)

adv. In spite of everything; anyway: continues to work regardless. adj. Heedless; unmindful.

imprimis (ĭm-prīmĭs)

adv. In the first place.

higgledy-piggledy (hĭg′əl-dē-pĭgəl-dē)

adv. In utter disorder or confusion. adj. Topsy-turvy; jumbled.

literatim (lĭt′ə-rātĭm, -rä-)

adv. Letter for letter: a word transcribed literatim.

in toto (ĭn tōtō)

adv. Totally; altogether: recommendations that were adopted in toto.

sine prole (sī′nĭ prōlē, sĭn′ā)

adv. Without offspring.

per capita * (pər kăpĭ-tə)

adv. & adj. 1. Per unit of population; per person: In that year, Americans earned $15,304 per capita. Among the states, Connecticut has a high per c

rallentando (răl′ən-tăndō, räl′lĕn-tändō)

adv. & adj. Gradually slackening in tempo; ritardando. Used chiefly as a direction. n. pl. ral·len·tan·dos A rallentando passage or movement.

cantabile (kän-täbĭ-lā′)

adv. & adj. In a smooth, lyrical, flowing style. Used chiefly as a direction. n. A cantabile passage or movement.

post hoc (hŏk, hōk)

adv. & adj. In or of the form of an argument in which one event is asserted to be the cause of a later event simply by virtue of having happened earlier: grasping at reasons post hoc; a post hoc fallacy.

hors de combat (ôr′ də kôɴ-bä)

adv. & adj. Out of action; disabled.

nip and tuck

adv. & adj. So close that the advantage or lead shifts from one to another and is virtually indeterminable. n. Informal A cosmetic surgical procedure in which skin and usually fat are removed and muscle is sometimes tightened to create a slimmer or more youthful appearance.

industrywide (ĭndə-strē-wīd′)

adv. & adj. Throughout an entire industry: sales that decreased industrywide; industrywide cooperation.

semplice * (sĕmplĭ-chā′)

adv. & adj. Music In a simple or plain manner. Used chiefly as a direction.

moderato (mŏd′ə-rätō)

adv. & adj. Abbr. mod. Music In moderate tempo that is slower than allegretto but faster than andante. Used chiefly as a direction.

rinforzando (rēn′fôr-tsändō)

adv. & adj. Abbr. rf or rfz Music With a sudden increase of emphasis. Used chiefly as a direction.

ceteris paribus (kā′tər-ĭs părə-bəs)

adv. Abbr. cet. par. With all other factors or things remaining the same.

mutatis mutandis (m-tätĭs m-tändĭs)

adv. Abbr. m.m. With differences or changes in various details corresponding to a given overall difference or change: the application of maritime law, mutatis mutandis, to space travel.

videlicet (vĭ-dĕlĭ-sĕt′, vī-, wĭ-dālĭ-kĕt′)

adv. Abbr. viz. That is; namely. Used to introduce examples, lists, or items.

fermium (fûrmē-əm, fĕr-)

fer·mi·um (fûrmē-əm, fĕr-) Share: n. Symbol Fm A synthetic transuranic metallic element having over 20 isotopes and isomers with mass numbers ranging from 242 to 260. The longest-lived isotope has mass number 257 and a half-life of approximately 100 days. Atomic number 100; melting point 1527°C; valence 3.

shalom (shä-lōm, shə-)

interj. Used as a traditional Jewish greeting or farewell.

mazel tov, mazal tov (mäzəl tôf′, tôv′, tōv′)

interj. Used to express congratulations or best wishes.

allude * (ə-ld)

intr.v. al·lud·ed, al·lud·ing, al·ludes To make an indirect reference: The candidate alluded to the recent war by saying, "We've all made sacrifices."

burgeon, bourgeon (bûrjən)

intr.v. bur·geoned, bur·geon·ing, bur·geons also bour·geoned or bour·geon·ing or bour·geons 1. a. To put forth new buds, leaves, or greenery; sprout. b. To begin to grow or blossom. 2. To grow or develop rapidly; expand or proliferate.

cachinnation (kăkə-nāt′)

intr.v. cach·in·nat·ed, cach·in·nat·ing, cach·in·nates To laugh hard, loudly, or convulsively; guffaw.

cerebrate (sĕrə-brāt′)

intr.v. cer·e·brat·ed, cer·e·brat·ing, cer·e·brates To use the power of reason; think. See Synonyms at think.

evanesce (ĕv′ə-nĕs)

intr.v. ev·a·nesced, ev·a·nesc·ing, ev·a·nesc·es To dissipate or disappear like vapor.

malingerer * (mə-lĭnggər)

intr.v. ma·lin·gered, ma·lin·ger·ing, ma·lin·gers To feign illness or other incapacity in order to avoid duty or work.

perennate * (pĕrə-nāt′, pə-rĕnāt)

intr.v. per·en·nat·ed, per·en·nat·ing, per·en·nates To survive from one growing season to the next, often with a period of reduced or arrested growth between seasons. Used of plants or plant parts.

persevere (pûr′sə-vîr)

intr.v. per·se·vered, per·se·ver·ing, per·se·veres To persist in or remain constant to a purpose, idea, or task in the face of obstacles or discouragement.

phonate (fōnāt′)

intr.v. pho·nat·ed, pho·nat·ing, pho·nates To produce speech sounds; vocalize.

plea bargain, plea-bargain (plēbär′gən)

intr.v. plea bar·gained, plea bar·gain·ing, plea bar·gains also plea-bar·gained or plea-bar·gain·ing or plea-bar·gains To agree to plead guilty, especially to a lesser criminal offense, in exchange for some concession from the prosecution, such as dismissal of more serious charges.

pullulate (pŭlyə-lāt′)

intr.v. pul·lu·lat·ed, pul·lu·lat·ing, pul·lu·lates 1. To breed rapidly or abundantly. 2. To be or increase in great numbers: "Ideas pullulated in his brain" (G.D. Dess). 3. To teem; swarm: a lagoon that pullulated with fish.

recrudesce (rē′kr-dĕs)

intr.v. re·cru·desced, re·cru·desc·ing, re·cru·desc·es To break out anew or come into renewed activity, as after a period of quiescence.

whistle-stop (wĭsəl-stŏp′, hwĭs-)

intr.v. whis·tle-stopped, whis·tle-stop·ping, whis·tle-stops To conduct a political campaign by making brief appearances or speeches in a series of small towns.

numismatist (n′mĭz-mătĭks, -mĭs-, ny′-)

n. (used with a sing. verb) The study or collection of money, coins, and often medals.

troika (troikə)

n. 1. a. A Russian carriage drawn by a team of three horses abreast. b. A team of three horses abreast. 2. An association or a group of three.

louvered (lvər)

n. 1. a. A framed opening, as in a wall, door, or window, fitted with fixed or movable horizontal slats for admitting air or light and often for shedding rain. b. One of the slats used in such an opening. c. One of the narrow openings formed by such slats. 2. A slatted, ventilating opening, as on the hood of a motor vehicle. 3. A lantern-shaped cupola on the roof of a medieval building for admitting air and providing for the escape of smoke.

regime, régime (rā-zhēm, rĭ-)

n. 1. a. A government, especially an oppressive or undemocratic one: a fascist regime. b. A usually heavy-handed administration or group in charge of an organization: Raises were canceled under the new regime. 2. a. A way of organizing or managing something; a system: an admissions regime at a college. b. A regulated system of diet, exercise, or medical treatment; a regimen. 3. The period during which a particular administration or system prevails. 4. A prevailing pattern of water flow, as of a river.

drugget * (drŭgĭt)

n. 1. a. A heavy felted fabric usually of wool or wool and cotton, used as a floor covering. b. A coarse rug of this fabric. 2. A fabric woven wholly or partly of wool, formerly used for clothing.

omnibus (ŏmnĭ-bŭs′, -bəs)

n. 1. a. A large horse-drawn public conveyance, especially of the late 1800s. b. A long motor vehicle for passengers; a bus. 2. A printed anthology of the works of one author or of writings on related subjects. adj. Including or covering many things or classes: an omnibus trade bill.

bight (bīt)

n. 1. a. A loop in a rope. b. The middle or slack part of an extended rope. 2. a. A bend or curve, especially in a shoreline. b. A wide bay formed by such a bend or curve.

batik * (bə-tēk, bătĭk)

n. 1. a. A method of dyeing a fabric by which the parts of the fabric not intended to be dyed are covered with removable wax. b. A design that is created by this method. 2. Fabric dyed by this method. tr.v. ba·tiked, ba·tik·ing, ba·tiks To dye (fabric) using this method: batiked a T-shirt.

Bavarian * (bə-vârē-ən)

n. 1. a. A native or inhabitant of Bavaria. b. A person of Bavarian ancestry. 2. The High German dialect of Bavaria and Austria.

aubergine (ōbĕr-zhēn′, ōbər-jēn)

n. 1. a. A plant (Solanum melongena) native to India, cultivated for its edible, glossy, usually ovoid fruits that are chiefly purple but can be white, yellow, or green. b. A fruit of this plant. 2. A blackish purple.

montage (mŏn-täzh, môɴ-)

n. 1. a. A single pictorial composition made by juxtaposing or superimposing many pictures or designs. b. The art or process of making such a composition. 2. a. A relatively rapid succession of different shots in a movie. b. The juxtaposition of such successive shots as a cinematic technique. 3. A composite of closely juxtaposed elements: a montage of voices on an audiotape. tr.v. mon·taged, mon·tag·ing, mon·tag·es To use or incorporate in a montage.

bergamot (bûrgə-mŏt′)

n. 1. a. A small tree (Citrus bergamia) commercially grown chiefly in southern Italy for its sour citrus fruits, the rinds of which yield an aromatic oil. Also called bergamot orange. b. The oil itself, used extensively in perfumery. Also called bergamot oil. 2. Any of various aromatic plants in the genus Monarda of the mint family.

spinet (spĭnĭt)

n. 1. a. A small, compact upright piano. b. A small, compact upright electronic organ. 2. A small harpsichord with a single keyboard.

luge (lzh)

n. 1. a. A sport in which a small open sled is ridden by one or two people lying face-up with the feet pointed downhill, usually over an ice-covered course in a timed competition. b. The sled used in this sport. 2. a. The sport of street luge. b. The board used in street luge.

tantara (tăn-tărə, -tärə)

n. 1. a. A trumpet or horn fanfare. b. A sound resembling such a fanfare. 2. A hunting cry.

lame duck (noun)

n. 1. a. An elected officeholder or group continuing in office during the period between failure to win an election and the inauguration of a successor. b. An officeholder who has chosen not to run for reelection or is ineligible for reelection. 2. An ineffective person; a weakling.

commissar (kŏmĭ-sär′)

n. 1. a. An official of the Communist Party in charge of political indoctrination and the enforcement of party loyalty. b. The head of a commissariat in the Soviet Union until 1946. 2. A person who tries to control public opinion.

wormwood (wûrmwd′)

n. 1. a. Any of several aromatic plants of the genus Artemisia. b. A perennial aromatic Eurasian herb (Artemisia absinthium) in the composite family, naturalized in North America and having pinnatifid, silvery, silky leaves and numerous nodding flower heads. 2. Something harsh or embittering: "Mr. Dempster could never think of his lost client without strong irritation, and the very sight of Mr. Jerome passing in the street was wormwood to him" (George Eliot).

apocalypse, Apocalypse (ə-pŏkə-lĭps′)

n. 1. a. Apocalypse Abbr. Apoc. Bible The Book of Revelation. b. Any of a number of anonymous Jewish or Christian texts from around the second century BC to the second century AD containing prophetic or symbolic visions, especially of the imminent destruction of the world and the salvation of the righteous. 2. a. The end of the world, especially as described in one of these texts. b. A great catastrophe that results in widespread destruction or the collapse of civilization: "The United States was calling in air strikes and heavy armor until we had the feeling that the whole thing was going to end in apocalypse" (Phillip Robertson). 3. A prophetic disclosure; a revelation.

bullion (blyən)

n. 1. a. Gold or silver considered with respect to quantity rather than value. b. Gold or silver in the form of bars, ingots, or plates. 2. A heavy lace trimming made of twisted gold or silver threads.

palaver (pə-lăvər, -lävər)

n. 1. a. Idle chatter. b. Talk intended to charm or beguile. 2. A negotiation or discussion concerning matters in dispute, especially in the traditional cultures of West Africa. v. pa·lav·ered, pa·lav·er·ing, pa·lav·ers v.intr. To talk idly or at length. v.tr. Archaic To flatter or cajole.

dispensation (dĭs′pən-sāshən, -pĕn-)

n. 1. a. The act of dispensing. b. Something dispensed. c. A specific arrangement or system by which something is dispensed. 2. An exemption or release from an obligation or rule, granted by or as if by an authority. 3. a. An exemption from a church law, a vow, or another similar obligation granted in a particular case by an ecclesiastical authority. b. The document containing this exemption. 4. Theology a. The divine ordering of worldly affairs. b. A religious system or code of commands considered to have been divinely revealed or appointed.

hospitalization (hŏs′pĭ-tl-ĭ-zāshən)

n. 1. a. The act of placing a person in a hospital as a patient. b. The condition of being hospitalized. 2. Insurance that fully or partially covers a patient's hospital expenses.

revelation, Revelation (rĕv′ə-lāshən)

n. 1. a. The act of revealing or disclosing. b. Something revealed, especially a dramatic disclosure of something not previously known or realized. c. A sudden insight or idea: "I'd had the idea to dig up Dad's coffin ... I was lying in bed and I had the revelation, like a simple solution to an impossible problem" (Jonathan Safran Foer). 2. Theology A manifestation of divine will or truth. 3. Revelation

derivation (dĕr′ə-vāshən)

n. 1. a. The act or process of deriving. b. The state or fact of being derived; origination: a custom of recent derivation. c. Something derived; a derivative. 2. The form or source from which something is derived; an origin. 3. Linguistics a. The historical origin and development of a word; an etymology. b. The process by which words are formed from existing words or bases by adding affixes, as singer from sing or undo from do, by changing the shape of the word or base, as song from sing, or by adding an affix and changing the pronunciation of the word or base, as electricity from electric. c. In generative linguistics, the generation of a linguistic structure through an ordered or partially ordered series of operations on other structures, such as the creation of a surface structure from a deep structure, or of a complex word from its morphological components. d. The formal description of the process of such generation. 4. Logic & Mathematics A logical or mathematical process indicating through a sequence of statements that a result such as a theorem or a formula necessarily follows from the initial assumptions.

malediction * (măl′ĭ-dĭkshən)

n. 1. a. The calling down of a curse. b. A curse. 2. Slander.

turgescence (tûr-jĕsəns)

n. 1. a. The condition of being swollen. b. The process of swelling. 2. Pomposity; self-importance.

empyrean (ĕm′pī-rēən, ĕm-pîrē-ən)

n. 1. a. The highest reaches of heaven, believed by the ancients to be a realm of pure fire or light. b. The abode of God and the angels; paradise. 2. The sky. adj. Of or relating to the empyrean of ancient belief.

reveille * (rĕvə-lē)

n. 1. a. The sounding of a bugle early in the morning to awaken and summon people in a camp or garrison. b. This bugle call or its equivalent. c. The first military formation of the day. 2. A signal to get up out of bed.

martyrdom * (märtər-dəm)

n. 1. a. The state of being a martyr. b. The suffering of death by a martyr. 2. Extreme suffering of any kind.

orthoepy (ôr-thōə-pē, ôrthō-ĕp′ē)

n. 1. a. The study of the pronunciation of words. b. The study of the relationship between the pronunciation of words and their orthography. 2. The customary pronunciation of words.

avionics (ā′vē-ŏnĭks, ăv′ē-)

n. 1. (used with a sing. verb) The science and technology of electronics and the development of electronic devices as applied to aeronautics and astronautics: Avionics has become even more important with the development of the space program. 2. (used with a pl. verb) The electronic systems, equipment, and other devices so developed: The avionics on this spacecraft represent a new generation of sophistication.

Celticism (kĕltĭ-sĭz′əm, sĕl-)

n. 1. A Celtic custom. 2. A Celtic idiom. 3. A fondness for Celtic culture.

teriyaki (tĕr′ē-yäkē)

n. 1. A Japanese dish of grilled or broiled slices of meat or seafood that have been marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar or honey, garlic, ginger, and mirin. 2. The sauce used to marinate such a dish.

Beguine (bĭ-gēn)

n. 1. A ballroom dance similar to the foxtrot, based on a dance of Martinique and St. Lucia. 2. The music for this dance.

pablum, Pablum (păbləm)

n. 1. A bland soft cereal for infants. 2. Intellectual material that is bland, trite, or insipid: "It was the sort of pablum routinely pronounced by State Department spokesmen when they had no real policy to describe" (Steve Coll).

halation (hā-lāshən)

n. 1. A blurring or spreading of light around bright areas on a photographic image. 2. A glow around a bright object on a television screen.

quinceañera (kēnsĕ-ə-nyârə)

n. 1. A celebration of the fifteenth birthday of a Hispanic or Latina girl, typically including a Roman Catholic Mass and often serving as a social debut. 2. The girl whose birthday is celebrated at a quinceañera.

claymore (klāmôr′)

n. 1. A claymore mine. 2. A large, double-edged broadsword formerly used by Scottish Highlanders.

bibliotheca (bĭb′lē-ə-thēkə)

n. 1. A collection of books; a library. 2. A catalog of books.

knowledge base

n. 1. A collection of data organized in a form that facilitates analysis by automated deductive processes, such as an expert system. 2. The collection of information representing the collective knowledge of an organization, arranged for easy search and retrieval.

cartel (kär-tĕl)

n. 1. A combination of independent business organizations formed to regulate production, pricing, and marketing of goods by the members. 2. An official agreement between governments at war, especially one concerning the exchange of prisoners. 3. A group of parties, factions, or nations united in a common cause; a bloc.

synesthesia, synaesthesia (sĭn′ĭs-thēzhə)

n. 1. A condition in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the visualization of a color. 2. A sensation felt in one part of the body as a result of stimulus applied to another, as in referred pain. 3. The description of one kind of sense impression by using words that normally describe another.

Sagittarius (săj′ĭ-târē-əs)

n. 1. A constellation in the Southern Hemisphere near Scorpius and Capricorn. 2. a. The ninth sign of the zodiac in astrology. b. One who is born under this sign. In all senses also called Archer.

Aquarius (ə-kwârē-əs)

n. 1. A constellation in the equatorial region of the Southern Hemisphere near Pisces and Aquila. 2. a. The 11th sign of the zodiac in astrology. b. One who is born under this sign. In all senses also called Water Bearer.

counterpoise * (kountər-poiz′)

n. 1. A counterbalancing weight. 2. A force or influence that balances or equally counteracts another. 3. The state of being in equilibrium. tr.v. coun·ter·poised, coun·ter·pois·ing, coun·ter·pois·es 1. To oppose with an equal weight; counterbalance. 2. To act against with an equal force or power; offset.

recension (rĭ-sĕnshən)

n. 1. A critical revision of a text incorporating the most plausible elements found in varying sources. 2. A text so revised.

carrefour (kăr′ə-fr′)

n. 1. A crossroads. 2. A public square; a plaza.

sorghum, Sorghum (sôrgəm)

n. 1. A cultivated grass (Sorghum bicolor) native to sub-Saharan Africa, several varieties of which are widely grown for their grain, as forage, or as a source of syrup. 2. Syrup made from the juice of this plant.

sensor (sĕnsər, -sôr′)

n. 1. A device, such as a photoelectric cell, that receives and responds to a signal or stimulus. 2. A specialized organ or structure, such as the eye, ear, tongue, nose, or skin, where sensory neurons are concentrated and that functions as a receptor.

Via Dolorosa (vī′ə dō′lə-rōsə, vē′ə)

n. 1. A difficult course or experience. 2. Jesus's route from Pilate's judgment hall to Calvary.

plebiscite (plĕbĭ-sīt′, -sĭt)

n. 1. A direct vote in which the entire electorate is invited to accept or refuse a proposal: The new constitution was ratified in a plebiscite. 2. A vote in which a population exercises the right of national self-determination.

pantheism (pănthē-ĭz′əm)

n. 1. A doctrine identifying the Deity with the universe and its phenomena. 2. Belief in and worship of all gods.

nightmarishly * (nītmâr′)

n. 1. A dream arousing feelings of intense fear, horror, and distress. 2. An event or experience that is intensely distressing. 3. A demon or spirit once thought to plague sleeping people.

razorback (rāzər-băk′)

n. 1. A feral hog (Sus scrofa) of the southern United States, having a narrow body with a ridged back. 2. A large baleen whale (Balaenoptera physalus) having grooves on the throat, a prominent dorsal fin, and a whitish underside. 3. A sharp ridged hill.

mousseline (ms-lēn)

n. 1. A fine sheer fabric resembling muslin, often made of silk, rayon, cotton, or wool. 2. A hollandaise sauce to which whipped cream has been added. 3. An aspic containing whipped cream.

saber rattling

n. 1. A flamboyant display of military power. 2. A threat or implied threat to use military force.

swashbuckler * (swŏshbŭk′lər, swôsh-)

n. 1. A flamboyant swordsman or adventurer. 2. A sword-wielding ruffian or bully. 3. A dramatic or literary work dealing with a swashbuckler.

effluxion (ĕflŭks′)

n. 1. A flowing outward. 2. Something that flows out or forth; an effluence. 3. A passing or an expiration, as of time.

wordsmith (wûrdsmĭth′)

n. 1. A fluent and prolific writer, especially one who writes professionally. 2. An expert on words.

rhyme royal

n. 1. A form of verse having stanzas with seven lines in iambic pentameter rhyming ababbcc. 2. One of these stanzas.

carafe * (kə-răf)

n. 1. A glass or metal bottle, often with a flared lip, used for serving beverages, such as water or wine. 2. A glass pot with a pouring spout, used in making coffee.

chiliad (kĭlē-ăd′, -əd)

n. 1. A group that contains 1,000 elements. 2. One thousand years; a millennium.

diktat (dĭk-tät)

n. 1. A harsh, unilaterally imposed settlement with a defeated party. 2. An authoritative or dogmatic statement or decree.

argyle, argyll (ärgīl′)

n. 1. A knitting pattern of varicolored, diamond-shaped areas on a solid background. 2. A sock knit in this pattern.

technostructure (tĕknō-strŭk′chər)

n. 1. A large-scale corporate system. 2. A network of skilled professionals who control such a corporate system.

rapier (rāpē-ər, rāpyər)

n. 1. A long, slender, two-edged sword with a cuplike hilt, used in the 1500s and 1600s. 2. A light, sharp-pointed sword lacking a cutting edge and used only for thrusting.

gourmand (gr-mänd, grmənd)

n. 1. A lover of good food. 2. A person who often eats too much.

redingote (rĕdĭng-gōt′)

n. 1. A man's long double-breasted topcoat with full skirt. 2. A woman's full-length unlined coat or dress open down the front to show a dress or underdress.

bombardier (bŏm′bər-dîr)

n. 1. A member of a combat aircraft crew who operates the bombsight and drops the bombs. 2. Chiefly British A noncommissioned artillery officer. 3. Archaic A soldier in the artillery.

chevalier (shĕv′ə-lîr)

n. 1. A member of certain male orders of knighthood or merit, such as the Legion of Honor in France. 2. a. A French nobleman of the lowest rank. b. Used as a title for such a nobleman. 3. A knight. 4. A chivalrous man.

aldermancy (ôldər-mən)

n. 1. A member of the municipal legislative body in a town or city in many jurisdictions. 2. A member of the higher branch of the municipal or borough council in England and Ireland before 1974. 3. a. A noble of high rank or authority in Anglo-Saxon England. b. The chief officer of a shire in Anglo-Saxon England.

marcasite (märkə-sīt′, -zīt′)

n. 1. A mineral with the same composition as pyrite, FeS2, but differing in crystal structure. Also called white iron pyrites. 2. An ornament of pyrite, polished steel, or white metal.

spear-carrier * (spîrkăr′ē-ər)

n. 1. A minor member of an operatic or dramatic cast, usually having no speaking part. 2. One whose presence or performance has little effect on an occurrence, group, or organization.

altazimuth (ăl-tăzə-məth)

n. 1. A mounting for astronomical telescopes that permits pointing adjustments in both altitude and azimuth. 2. A telescope having such a mounting.

dulcimer * (dŭlsə-mər)

n. 1. A narrow, often hourglass-shaped stringed instrument having three or four strings and a fretted fingerboard, typically held flat across the knees while sitting and played by plucking or strumming. Also called Appalachian dulcimer, mountain dulcimer. 2. The hammered dulcimer.

suzerain * (szər-ən, -zə-rān′)

n. 1. A nation that controls another nation in international affairs but allows it domestic sovereignty. 2. A feudal lord to whom fealty was due.

Moabite (mōə-bīt′)

n. 1. A native or inhabitant of Moab. 2. The Semitic language of Moab.

early warning system

n. 1. A network of sensing devices, such as satellites or radar, for detecting an enemy attack in time to take defensive or counteroffensive measures. 2. A system or procedure designed to warn of a potential or an impending problem.

brannigan (brănĭ-gən)

n. 1. A noisy or confused quarrel. 2. A drinking spree; a binge.

solecism (sŏlĭ-sĭz′əm, sōlĭ-)

n. 1. A nonstandard usage or grammatical construction. 2. A violation of etiquette. 3. An impropriety, mistake, or incongruity.

tempera (tĕmpər-ə)

n. 1. A painting medium in which pigment is mixed with water-soluble glutinous materials such as size or egg yolk. Also called poster color, poster paint. 2. Painting done in this medium.

paladin (pălə-dĭn)

n. 1. A paragon of chivalry; a heroic champion. 2. A strong supporter or defender of a cause: "the paladin of plain speaking" (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.) 3. Any of the 12 peers of Charlemagne's court.

tattersall, Tattersall (tătər-sôl′, -səl)

n. 1. A pattern of dark lines forming squares on a light background. 2. Cloth woven or printed with this pattern. adj. Having a pattern of dark lines forming squares on a light background.

template, templet * (tĕmplĭt)

n. 1. A pattern or gauge, such as a thin metal plate with a cut pattern, used as a guide in making something accurately, as in woodworking or the carving of architectural profiles. 2. Computers a. A document or file having a preset format, used as a starting point for a particular application so that the format does not have to be recreated each time it is used: a loan amortization template for a spreadsheet program. b. An overlay that fits over all or part of a keyboard and has labels describing the functions of each key within a particular application. 3. A horizontal piece of stone or timber used to distribute weight or pressure, as over a door frame. 4. Biochemistry A molecule of a nucleic acid, such as DNA, that serves as a pattern for the synthesis of a macromolecule, as of RNA.

snifter (snĭftər)

n. 1. A pear-shaped goblet with a narrow top, used especially in serving brandy. 2. Slang A small portion of liquor.

postulant (pŏschə-lənt)

n. 1. A person submitting a request or application; a petitioner. 2. A candidate for admission into a religious order.

acolyte * (ăkə-līt′)

n. 1. A person who assists the celebrant in the performance of liturgical rites. 2. A devoted follower or attendant.

banquette (băng-kĕt)

n. 1. A platform lining a trench or parapet wall on which soldiers may stand when firing. 2. also ban·kit (băngkĭt) Southern Louisiana & East Texas A raised sidewalk. See Note at beignet. 3. A long upholstered bench placed against or built into a wall.

Pooh-bah, pooh-bah (pbä′)

n. 1. A pompous ostentatious official, especially one who, holding many offices, fulfills none of them. 2. A person who holds high office.

watchword * (wŏchwûrd′)

n. 1. A prearranged reply to a challenge, as from a guard or sentry; a password. 2. A rallying cry: Let our watchword be freedom.

Jacobinical (jăkə-bĭn)

n. 1. A radical or extreme leftist. 2. A radical republican during the French Revolution. 3. A Dominican friar.

stricture (strĭkchər)

n. 1. A restraint, limit, or restriction: strictures placed on free assembly; strictures against food in the library; the strictures of traditional gender roles. 2. An abnormal narrowing of a bodily duct or passage. 3. An adverse remark or criticism: "my writing ... which he praises sufficiently to give his strictures a good deal of force" (Virginia Woolf).

brain wave (brānwāv′)

n. 1. A rhythmic fluctuation of electric potential between parts of the brain, as seen on an electroencephalogram. 2. Informal A sudden inspiration.

paduasoy * (păj-ə-soi′)

n. 1. A rich heavy silk fabric with a corded effect. 2. A hanging or garment made of this fabric.

divertissement (də-vûrtĭs-mənt, dē-vĕr-tēs-mäɴ)

n. 1. A short performance, typically a ballet, that is presented as an interlude in an opera, play, or other entertainment. 2. Music See divertimento. 3. A diversion; an amusement.

acclamation (ăk′lə-māshən)

n. 1. A shout or salute of enthusiastic approval. 2. An oral vote, especially an enthusiastic vote of approval taken without formal ballot: a motion passed by acclamation.

monorail (mŏnə-rāl′)

n. 1. A single rail serving as a track for wheeled vehicles traveling on it or suspended from it. 2. A railway system using a single rail.

demitasse * (dĕmē-tăs′, -täs′)

n. 1. A small cup of strong black coffee or espresso. 2. The small cup used to serve this drink.

territorialism * (tĕr′ĭ-tôrē-ə-lĭz′əm)

n. 1. A social system that gives authority and influence in a state to the landowners. 2. A system of church government based on primacy of civil power.

mukluks * (mŭklŭk′)

n. 1. A soft boot made of reindeer skin or sealskin and worn by indigenous peoples of Arctic North America. 2. A slipper with a soft sole resembling this boot.

machismo (mä-chēzmō)

n. 1. A strong or exaggerated sense of traditional masculinity placing great value on physical courage, virility, domination of women, and aggressiveness. 2. An exaggerated interest or devotion to something, often accompanied by a sense of superiority: "People prefer raw-milk cheese for its subtlety and depth of flavor, not out of some kind of foodie machismo" (Corby Kummer).

compunction (kəm-pŭngkshən)

n. 1. A strong uneasiness caused by a sense of guilt: stole the money without compunction. See Synonyms at penitence. 2. A sting of conscience or a pang of doubt aroused by wrongdoing or the prospect of wrongdoing: "commercial speculators and hired politicians who had no compunction about pillaging their country for personal gain" (Leo Damrosch).

debacle * (dĭ-bäkəl, -băkəl, dĕbə-kəl)

n. 1. A sudden, disastrous collapse, downfall, or defeat; a rout. 2. A total, often ludicrous failure. 3. The breaking up of ice in a river. 4. A violent flood.

muscatel (mŭs′kə-tĕl)

n. 1. A sweet fortified wine made chiefly from muscat grapes. 2. A muscat grape or raisin.

elixir (ĭ-lĭksər)

n. 1. A sweetened aromatic solution of alcohol and water, serving as a vehicle for medicine. 2. a. See philosophers' stone. b. A substance believed to maintain life indefinitely. Also called elixir of life. c. A substance or medicine believed to have the power to cure all ills. 3. An underlying principle.

yerba buena (yârbə bwānə, yûrbə)

n. 1. A trailing perennial plant (Clinopodium douglasii) in the mint family, having fragrant leaves and white or purplish flowers, used in herbal medicine and to make a tealike beverage. 2. Any of several other fragrant plants in the mint family.

cortege, cortège (kôr-tĕzh)

n. 1. A train of attendants, as of a distinguished person; a retinue. 2. a. A ceremonial procession. b. A funeral procession.

espalier (ĭ-spălyər, -yā′)

n. 1. A tree or shrub that is trained to grow in a flat plane against a wall or trellis, often in a symmetrical pattern. 2. A trellis or other framework on which an espalier is grown. tr.v. es·pal·iered, es·pal·ier·ing, es·pal·iers 1. To train as or on an espalier. 2. To provide with an espalier.

terrapin (tĕrə-pĭn)

n. 1. A turtle (Malaclemys terrapin) of salt marshes and estuaries of the eastern and southern United States, having edible flesh and a carapace with diamond-shaped ridged or knobbed markings. 2. Chiefly British A turtle that lives in fresh or brackish water.

crucible (krsə-bəl)

n. 1. A vessel made of a refractory substance such as graphite or porcelain, used for melting and calcining materials at high temperatures. 2. a. An extremely difficult experience or situation; a severe test or trial: "the emotional crucible of a wartime deployment" (Kristin Henderson). See Synonyms at trial. b. A place, time, or situation in which different social forces or intellectual influences come together and cause new developments: "Macroeconomics ... was cast in the crucible of the Depression" (Peter Passell).

vestige (vĕstĭj)

n. 1. A visible trace, evidence, or sign of something that once existed but exists or appears no more: a building that is the area's last vestige of its colonial era. 2. Biology A rudimentary or degenerate, usually nonfunctioning, structure that is the remnant of an organ or part that was fully developed or functioning in a preceding generation or an earlier stage of development.

myopia * (mī-ōpē-ə)

n. 1. A visual defect in which distant objects appear blurred because their images are focused in front of the retina rather than on it. Also called nearsightedness, short sight. 2. Lack of discernment or long-range perspective in thinking or planning: "For Lorca, New York is a symbol of spiritual myopia" (Edwin Honig).

ablutionary (ə-blshən, ă-bl-)

n. 1. A washing or cleansing of the body, especially as part of a religious rite. 2. The liquid so used.

maillot (mä-yō)

n. 1. A woman's one-piece swimsuit usually cut high on the leg. 2. A pair of tights or a leotard made from a stretchable jersey fabric, worn for ballet or gymnastics.

anagram (ănə-grăm′)

n. 1. A word or phrase formed by reordering the letters of another word or phrase, such as satin to stain. 2. anagrams (used with a sing. verb) A game in which players form words from a group of randomly picked letters.

shibboleth (shĭbə-lĭth, -lĕth′)

n. 1. A word or pronunciation that distinguishes people of one group or class from those of another. 2. a. A word or phrase identified with a particular group or cause; a catchword. b. A commonplace saying or idea. 3. A custom or practice that betrays one as an outsider.

brave new world *

n. 1. A world or realm of radically transformed existence, especially one in which technological progress has both positive and negative results. 2. A field, endeavor, or aspect of life that seems new and often intimidating because one is experiencing it for the first time: "You're on your own. Welcome to the brave new world of do-it-yourself travel" (Susan Stellin).

avoirdupois * (ăv′ər-də-poiz)

n. 1. Abbr. av. or avdp. Avoirdupois weight. 2. Informal Weight or heaviness, especially of a person.

lebensraum (lābəns-roum′)

n. 1. Additional territory deemed necessary to a nation, especially Nazi Germany, for its continued existence or economic well-being. 2. Adequate space in which to live, develop, or function.

wiretap (wīrtăp′)

n. 1. An act of secretly listening to or recording a person's telephone or internet conversations, often as part of a police investigation. 2. A device that is connected to a communications circuit in a concealed fashion in order to enable a wiretap. tr.v. wire·tapped, wire·tap·ping, wire·taps 1. To listen to or record in secret (a conversation carried on over a telephone line or other communications channel), often as part of a police investigation. 2. To wiretap the conversations on (a telephone line or other communications channel), often as part of a police investigation. 3. To wiretap the conversations of (a person) or the communications devices in (a place). 4. To connect a concealed listening or recording device to (a telephone line).

replevin (rĭ-plĕvĭn)

n. 1. An action to recover personal property said or claimed to be unlawfully taken. 2. The writ or procedure of such an action. tr.v. re·plev·ined, re·plev·in·ing, re·plev·ines To replevy.

star anise

n. 1. An aromatic evergreen tree (Illicium verum) cultivated in China and Vietnam, having star-shaped anise-scented fruits that yield an essential oil used as a flavoring and in the manufacture of certain drugs. 2. The dried fruit of this plant, used ground or whole in Asian cooking.

chamomile, camomile (kămə-mīl′, -mēl′)

n. 1. An aromatic perennial herb (Chamaemelum nobile) in the composite family, native to Europe and the Mediterranean region, having feathery foliage and flower heads with white rays and yellow centers. 2. A similar, related Eurasian annual plant (Matricaria recutita). 3. The dried flower heads of either one of these plants, used to make an herbal tea and yielding an oil used in commercial flavorings and perfumery.

syndicate (sĭndĭ-kĭt)

n. 1. An association of people or firms formed to promote a common interest or carry out a business enterprise. 2. A loose affiliation of gangsters in control of organized criminal activities. 3. An agency that sells articles, features, or photographs for publication in a number of newspapers or periodicals simultaneously. 4. A company consisting of a number of separate newspapers; a newspaper chain. 5. The office, position, or jurisdiction of a syndic or body of syndics. v. (-kāt′) syn·di·cat·ed, syn·di·cat·ing, syn·di·cates v.tr. 1. a. To organize into or manage as a syndicate. b. To sell (a horse) to a syndicate. 2. To sell (a comic strip or column, for example) through a syndicate for simultaneous publication in newspapers or periodicals. 3. To sell (a television series, for example) directly to independent stations. 4. a. To create a feed for (a website), allowing users to include content from the website in other websites or to view the content. b. To include (the contents of a website) on another website by using a feed. v.intr. To join together in a syndicate.

protestation (prŏt′ĭ-stāshən, prō′tĭ-, -tĕ-)

n. 1. An emphatic declaration. 2. A strong or formal expression of dissent.

misnomer (mĭs-nōmər)

n. 1. An error in naming a person or place. 2. a. Application of a wrong name. b. A name wrongly or unsuitably applied to a person or object.

Gordian knot (gôrdē-ən)

n. 1. An exceedingly complicated problem or deadlock. 2. An intricate knot tied by King Gordius of Phrygia and cut by Alexander the Great with his sword after hearing an oracle promise that whoever could undo it would be the next ruler of Asia.

chronicled * (krŏnĭ-kəl)

n. 1. An extended account in prose or verse of historical events, sometimes including legendary material, presented in chronological order and without authorial interpretation or comment. 2. A detailed narrative record or report. 3. Chronicles (used with a sing. verb) See Table at Bible. tr.v. chron·i·cled, chron·i·cling, chron·i·cles To record in or in the form of a historical record.

prelude prāld′, -lyd′; prĕld′, -yd′; prēld′, -lyd′)

n. 1. An introductory performance, event, or action preceding a more important one; a preliminary or preface. 2. Music a. A piece or movement that serves as an introduction to another section or composition and establishes the key, such as one that precedes a fugue, opens a suite, or precedes a church service. b. A similar but independent composition for the piano. c. The overture to an oratorio, opera, or act of an opera. d. A short composition of the 1400s and early 1500s written in a free style, usually for keyboard. v. prel·ud·ed, prel·ud·ing, prel·udes v. tr. 1. To serve as a prelude to. 2. To introduce with or as if with a prelude. v. intr. To serve as a prelude or introduction.

brilliantine (brĭlyən-tēn′)

n. 1. An oily, perfumed hairdressing. 2. A glossy fabric made from cotton and worsted or cotton and mohair.

mofette, moffette (mō-fĕt)

n. 1. An opening in the earth from which carbon dioxide and other gases escape, usually marking the last stage of volcanic activity. 2. The gases escaping from such an opening.

networking (nĕtwûrk′)

n. 1. An openwork fabric or structure in which cords, threads, or wires cross at regular intervals. 2. Something resembling an openwork fabric or structure in form or concept, especially: a. A system of lines or channels that cross or interconnect: a network of railroads. b. A complex, interconnected group or system: an espionage network. c. An extended group of people with similar interests or concerns who interact and remain in informal contact for mutual assistance or support. 3. a. A chain of radio or television broadcasting stations linked by wire or microwave relay. b. A company that produces the programs for these stations. 4. a. A group or system of electric components and connecting circuitry designed to function in a specific manner. b. Computers A system of computers interconnected by telephone wires or other means in order to share information. Also called net1. v. net·worked, net·work·ing, net·works v.tr. 1. To cover with an openwork fabric or structure. 2. To broadcast over a radio or television network. 3. a. To interconnect as components in a group or system. b. Computers To connect (computers) into a network. v.intr. To interact or engage in informal communication with others for mutual assistance or support.

pavilion (pə-vĭlyən)

n. 1. An ornate tent. 2. a. A light, sometimes ornamental roofed structure, used for amusement or shelter, as at parks or fairs: a picnic pavilion. b. A usually temporary structure erected at a fair or show for use by an exhibitor: the French pavilion at the World's Fair. c. A large structure housing sports or entertainment facilities; an arena. 3. A structure or another building connected to a larger building; an annex. 4. One of a group of related buildings forming a complex, as of a hospital. 5. The lower surface of a brilliant-cut gem, slanting outward from the culet to the girdle. tr.v.pa·vil·ioned, pa·vil·ion·ing, pa·vil·ions 1. To cover or furnish with or as if with a pavilion. 2. To put in or as if in a pavilion.

panorama (păn′ə-rămə, -rämə)

n. 1. An unbroken view of an entire surrounding area. 2. A comprehensive presentation; a survey: a panorama of American literature. 3. A picture or series of pictures representing a continuous scene, often exhibited a part at a time by being unrolled and passed before the spectator. 4. A mental vision of a series of events.

run-through (rŭnthr′)

n. 1. An uninterrupted rehearsal: did a run-through of act one. 2. A brief outline or summary.

boondoggle * (bndô′gəl, -dŏg′əl) Informal

n. 1. An unnecessary or wasteful project or activity. 2. a. A braided leather cord worn as a decoration especially by Boy Scouts. b. A cord of braided leather, fabric, or plastic strips made by a child as a project to keep busy. intr.v. boon·dog·gled, boon·dog·gling, boon·dog·gles To waste time or money on a boondoggle.

parfleche (pärflĕsh′)

n. 1. An untanned animal hide soaked in lye and water to remove the hair and then dried on a stretcher. 2. An article, such as a shield or bag, made of this hide.

flavonoid * (flāvə-noid′)

n. 1. Any of a large group of water-soluble antioxidant compounds, including the anthocyanins, flavonols, flavones, and isoflavonoids, often occurring as glycosides in plants and consisting of two aromatic rings linked by a carbon bridge that often forms a heterocyclic ring. Flavonoids are found in tea, red wine, and a variety of vegetables and fruits. 2. Any of various compounds that are a subset of this group, including the flavones, flavanols, and flavonols, as distinguished from the isoflavonoids. In both senses also called bioflavonoid.

japonica (jə-pŏnĭ-kə)

n. 1. Any of several East Asian shrubs of the genus Chaenomeles of the rose family, especially C. japonica, C. speciosa, and various hybrids and cultivars grown as ornamentals, having spiny branches and showy red or pink flowers 2. The common cultivated camellia (Camellia japonica).

cormorant (kôrmər-ənt, -mə-rănt′)

n. 1. Any of several large, widely distributed marine diving birds of the genus Phalacrocorax, having dark plumage, webbed feet, and a slender hooked bill. 2. A greedy, rapacious person. adj. Greedy; rapacious.

hedgehog (hĕjhôg′, -hŏg′)

n. 1. Any of several small insectivorous mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae, native to Eurasia and Africa and naturalized in New Zealand, having dense erectile spines covering the back and sides and characteristically rolling into a ball for protection. 2. Any of several spiny animals, such as the porcupine, that are similar to the hedgehog. 3. A well fortified military position. 4. An antisubmarine weapon consisting of several rows of mortar-like dischargers positioned to fire in a circular pattern ahead of a ship. 5. An obstacle used against tanks and landing craft, consisting of three crossed iron bars welded or bolted together.

xylene (zī-lēn, zīlēn′)

n. 1. Any of three colorless flammable isomeric benzene derivatives, C8H10, obtained from wood and coal tar. 2. A mixture of xylene isomers used as a solvent in making lacquers and rubber cement and as an aviation fuel.

Philipine mahogany

n. 1. Any of various Southeast Asian hardwood trees of the genus Shorea and related genera, having light to dark reddish-brown wood. 2. The wood of any of these trees.

chancellor (chănsə-lər, -slər)

n. 1. Any of various officials of high rank, especially: a. A secretary to a monarch or noble. b. Chiefly British The chief secretary of an embassy. c. The chief minister of state in some European countries. 2. a. The president of certain American universities. b. Chiefly British The honorary or titular head of a university. 3. Law The presiding judge of a court of chancery or equity in some states of the United States and in Great Britain.

nasturtium * (nə-stûrshəm, nă-)

n. 1. Any of various plants of the genus Tropaeolum, native to South and Central America, that have round leaves and pungent edible yellow, orange, or red spurred flowers and are often grown as ornamentals. 2. A brilliant orange yellow.

gerbil (jûrbəl)

n. 1. Any of various small, mouselike rodents of the genus Gerbillus and other genera of the subfamily Gerbillinae, having long hind legs and a long tail and inhabiting arid regions of Africa and Asia. 2. A Mongolian jird (Meriones unguiculatus) of the subfamily Gerbillinae, commonly domesticated and kept as a pet.

salamander (sălə-măn′dər)

n. 1. Any of various small, tailed amphibians of the order Caudata, having porous scaleless skin and usually two pairs of limbs of equal size, found chiefly in northern temperate regions. 2. a. A mythical creature, generally resembling a lizard, believed capable of living in or withstanding fire. b. In the occult philosophy of Paracelsus, a being having fire as its element. 3. An object, such as a poker, used in fire or capable of withstanding heat. 4. Metallurgy A mass of solidified material, largely metallic, left in a blast-furnace hearth. 5. A portable stove used to heat or dry buildings under construction.

mucilage (mysə-lĭj)

n. 1. Any of various viscous, water-soluble polysaccharides produced by certain plants, algae, and microorganisms. 2. A sticky substance used as an adhesive.

nadir (nādər, -dîr′)

n. 1. Astronomy A point on the celestial sphere directly below the observer, diametrically opposite the zenith. 2. The lowest point: the nadir of their fortunes.

feminism (fĕmə-nĭz′əm)

n. 1. Belief in or advocacy of women's social, political, and economic rights, especially with regard to equality of the sexes. 2. The movement organized around this belief.

ethnocentrism * (ĕth′nō-sĕntrĭz′əm)

n. 1. Belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group. 2. Overriding concern with ethnicity.

dimorphism * (dī-môrfĭz′əm)

n. 1. Biology The existence among animals of the same species of two distinct forms that differ in one or more characteristics, such as coloration, size, or shape. 2. Botany The occurrence of two distinct forms of the same parts in one plant, as in the juvenile and adult leaves of ivy. 3. Chemistry & Physics Dimorphic crystallization.

concrescence * (kən-krĕsəns)

n. 1. Biology The growing together of related parts, tissues, or cells. 2. The amassing of physical particles.

sedition (sĭ-dĭshən)

n. 1. Conduct or language inciting rebellion against the authority of a state. 2. Archaic Insurrection; rebellion.

bioassay * (bī′ō-ăsā′, -ă-sā)

n. 1. Determination of the strength or biological activity of a substance, such as a drug, by comparing its effects with those of a standard preparation on a test organism. 2. A test used to determine such strength or activity. tr.v. bi·o·as·sayed, bi·o·as·say·ing, bi·o·as·says To cause to undergo a bioassay.

faience, faïence (fī-äns, -äɴs, fā-)

n. 1. Earthenware decorated with colorful opaque glazes. 2. A moderate to strong greenish blue.

hydrophobia (hī′drə-fōbē-ə)

n. 1. Fear of water. 2. Rabies.

folderol * (fŏldə-rŏl′) also fal·de·ral (făldə-răl′)

n. 1. Foolishness; nonsense. 2. A trifle; a gewgaw.

tribulation (trĭb′yə-lāshən)

n. 1. Great affliction, trial, or distress; suffering: a time of great tribulation. 2. An experience that tests one's endurance, patience, or faith.

Chimera, Chimaera (kī-mîrə, kĭ-)

n. 1. Greek Mythology A fire-breathing female monster usually represented as a composite of a lion, goat, and serpent. 2. An imaginary monster made up of grotesquely disparate parts.

extortioner (ĭk-stôrshən)

n. 1. Illegal use of one's official position or powers to obtain property, funds, or patronage. 2. The act or an instance of extorting something, as by psychological pressure. 3. An excessive or exorbitant charge.

amrita, amreeta (ŭm-rētə)

n. 1. In Hinduism, the drink that is consumed by the gods and bestows immortality. 2. The immortality achieved by drinking amrita.

Tophet * (tōfĕt′, -fĭt)

n. 1. In the Bible, a place outside Jerusalem where the Canaanites offered children as sacrifices to Moloch. 2. The place where wicked souls are punished after death; Hell.

myelitis * (mī′ə-lītĭs)

n. 1. Inflammation of the spinal column. 2. Osteomyelitis.

schmaltzy (shmälts)

n. 1. Informal a. Excessively sentimental art or music. b. Maudlin sentimentality. 2. Liquid fat, especially chicken fat.

public domain

n. 1. Land owned and controlled by the state or federal government. 2. The condition of not being protected by a patent or copyright and therefore being available to the public for use without charge.

codicillary (kŏdə-sĭl)

n. 1. Law A supplement or appendix to a will. 2. A supplement or appendix.

corpus delicti (dĭ-lĭktī′)

n. 1. Law The corroborating evidence that shows that a crime has been committed, other than a confession or an alleged accomplice's statement. 2. A corpse.

doublespeak (dŭbəl-spēk′)

n. 1. Meaningless speech that consists of nonsense syllables mixed with intelligible words; gibberish. 2. Deliberately ambiguous or evasive language.

syncopation (sĭng′kə-pāshən, sĭn′-)

n. 1. Music A shift of accent in a passage or composition that occurs when a normally weak beat is stressed. 2. Something, such as rhythm, that is syncopated. 3. Grammar Syncope.

Jacob's ladder (jākəbz)

n. 1. Nautical A rope or chain ladder with rigid rungs. 2. Any of various plants of the genus Polemonium, especially P. caeruleum, having bell-shaped usually blue flowers and alternate, pinnately compound leaves with numerous leaflets.

flimflam (flĭmflăm′)

n. 1. Nonsense; humbug. 2. A deception; a swindle. tr.v. flim·flammed, flim·flam·ming, flim·flams To swindle; cheat.

abhorrence * (ăb-hôrəns, -hŏr-)

n. 1. One that is disgusting, loathsome, or repellent. 2. A feeling of repugnance or loathing.

mediator * (mēdē-ā′tər)

n. 1. One that mediates, especially one that reconciles differences between disputants. 2. Physiology A substance or structure that mediates a specific response in a bodily tissue. 3. Physics A subatomic particle that effects or conveys a force between subatomic particles.

revenant * (rĕvə-nənt)

n. 1. One that returns after a lengthy absence. 2. One who returns after death.

representative * (rĕp′rĭ-zĕntə-tĭv)

n. 1. One that serves as an example or type for others of the same classification. 2. One that serves as a delegate or agent for another. 3. a. A member of a governmental body, usually legislative, chosen by popular vote. b. A member of the US House of Representatives or of the lower house of a state legislature. adj. 1. Representing, depicting, or portraying or able to do so. 2. Authorized to act as an official delegate or agent. 3. Of or characteristic of government by representation. 4. Like or typical of others of the same class.

aesthetician, esthetician * (ĕs′thĭ-tĭshən)

n. 1. One versed in the theory of beauty and artistic expression. 2. One skilled in giving facials, manicures, pedicures, and other beauty treatments.

iconoclast * (ī-kŏnə-klăst′)

n. 1. One who attacks and seeks to overthrow traditional or popular ideas or institutions. 2. One who destroys sacred religious images.

meteorologist (mē′tē-ə-rŏlə-jĭst)

n. 1. One who studies meteorology. 2. One who reports and forecasts weather conditions.

flagellant (flăjə-lənt, flə-jĕlənt)

n. 1. One who whips, especially one who scourges oneself for religious discipline or public penance. 2. One who seeks sexual gratification in beating or being beaten by another person.

heartsease, heart's-ease (härtsēz′)

n. 1. Peace of mind. 2. A small European plant (Viola tricolor) having spurred flowers marked with purple, yellow, and white. It was used to develop hybrid varieties of cultivated pansies. Also called wild pansy.

phosphoresce (fŏs′fə-rĕsəns)

n. 1. Persistent emission of light following exposure to and removal of incident radiation. 2. Emission of light without appreciable heat, as from chemiluminescence of phosphorus or bioluminescence of living organisms.

illusionist * (ĭ-lzhə-nĭst)

n. 1. Philosophy An adherent of the doctrine of illusionism. 2. An artist whose work is marked by illusionism. 3. A magician or ventriloquist.

instauration (ĭn′stô-rāshən)

n. 1. Renovation; restoration. 2. The institution or establishment of something.

Jesuit, jesuit (jĕzh-ĭt, jĕz-, -y-)

n. 1. Roman Catholic Church A member of the Society of Jesus. 2. often jesuit One given to subtle casuistry.

despotism (dĕspə-tĭz′əm)

n. 1. Rule by or as if by a despot; absolute power or authority. 2. The actions of a despot; tyranny. 3. a. A government or political system in which the ruler exercises absolute power. b. A state so ruled.

collegiality * (kə-lē′jē-ălĭ-tē)

n. 1. Shared power and authority vested among colleagues. 2. Roman Catholic Church The doctrine that bishops collectively share collegiate power.

wampum * (wŏmpəm, wôm-)

n. 1. Small cylindrical beads made from polished shells and fashioned into strings or belts, formerly used by certain Native American peoples as currency and jewelry or for ceremonial exchanges between groups. Also called peag. 2. Informal Money.

quietus (kwī-ētəs)

n. 1. Something that serves to suppress, check, or eliminate: "He was blindsided by a conflict in Korea that put the quietus on his China venture" (Robert L. Beisner). 2. Release from life; death. 3. A final discharge, as of a duty or debt.

development * (dĭ-vĕləp-mənt)

n. 1. The act of developing or the state of being developed, as: a. The application of techniques or technology to the production of new goods or services. b. The business of constructing buildings or otherwise altering land for new uses. 2. A significant event, occurrence, or change: a news story covering the latest developments in the scandal. 3. A group of dwellings built by the same contractor: bought a condo in a new development built by the river. 4. The organized activity of soliciting donations or grants; fundraising. 5. Music a. Elaboration of a theme with rhythmic and harmonic variations. b. The central section of a movement in sonata form, in which the theme is elaborated and explored.

emendation (ĭ-mĕn′dāshən, ē′mĕn-)

n. 1. The act of emending. 2. An alteration intended to improve: the editor's textual emendations.

detonation (dĕt′n-āshən)

n. 1. The act of exploding. 2. An explosion.

humilitaion (hy-mĭl′ē-āshən)

n. 1. The act of humiliating; degradation. 2. The state of being humiliated or disgraced; shame. 3. A humiliating condition or circumstance.

habitation (hăb′ĭ-tāshən)

n. 1. The act of inhabiting or the state of being inhabited. 2. a. A natural environment or locality. b. A residence.

persistence (pər-sĭstəns)

n. 1. The act of persisting. 2. The state or quality of being persistent; persistency. 3. Continuance of an effect after the cause is removed: persistence of vision.

reapportionment (rē′ə-pôrshən-mənt)

n. 1. The act of reapportioning or the state of being reapportioned. 2. Redistribution of representation in a legislative body, especially the periodic reallotment of US congressional seats according to changes in the census figures as required by the Constitution.

retention * (rĭ-tĕnshən)

n. 1. The act of retaining or the condition of being retained: the retention of nutrients in the soil; the retention of jobs in the city. 2. The practice of requiring a student to repeat a class or a year of school because of insufficient educational progress to advance. 3. The ability to recall or recognize what has been learned or experienced; memory. 4. The inability of a person or animal to eliminate a bodily waste.

subaudition (sŭb′ô-dĭshən)

n. 1. The act of understanding and mentally supplying a word or thought that has been implied but not expressed. 2. A word or thought supplied by subaudition.

embarrassment * (ĕm-bărəs-mənt)

n. 1. The act or an instance of embarrassing: His embarrassment of the guests ended the party. 2. The state of being embarrassed: My face turned red with embarrassment. 3. A source or cause of being embarrassed: Your display of rudeness was an embarrassment to me. 4. An overabundance: an embarrassment of choices at a buffet dinner; an embarrassment of riches. 5. Financial difficulty: fell into financial embarrassment.

effluence (ĕfl-əns)

n. 1. The act or an instance of flowing out. 2. Something that flows out or forth; an emanation.

augmentation (ôg′mĕn-tāshən)

n. 1. The act or process of augmenting. 2. The condition of being augmented. 3. Something that augments. 4. Music The presentation of a theme in notes of usually double time value.

connotation * (kŏn′ə-tāshən)

n. 1. The act or process of connoting. 2. a. An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing: Hollywood holds connotations of romance and glittering success. b. The set of associations implied by a word in addition to its literal meaning. 3. Logic The set of attributes constituting the meaning of a term; intension.

remediation (rĭ-mē′dē-āshən)

n. 1. The act or process of remedying something that is undesirable or deficient: remediation of the pollution from the factories. 2. The act or process of providing remedial education: remediation of poor writing skills in college students.

repentance (rĭ-pĕntəns)

n. 1. The act or process of repenting. 2. Remorse or contrition for past conduct or sin.

sequestration (sē′kwĭ-strāshən, sĕk′wĭ-)

n. 1. The act or process of sequestering: the sequestration of the jury. 2. Law a. The sequestering of property. b. The writ authorizing such sequestering. c. The legal process by which such sequestering is accomplished. 3. Chemistry The inhibition or prevention of normal ion behavior by combination with added materials, especially the formation of coordination compounds or chelates of metallic ions. 4. The process of removing a chemical from the environment and sequestering it in an organic or physical structure.

simulation * (sĭm′yə-lāshən)

n. 1. The act or process of simulating. 2. An imitation; a sham. 3. Assumption of a false appearance. 4. a. Imitation or representation, as of a potential situation or in experimental testing. b. Representation of the operation or features of one process or system through the use of another: computer simulation of an in-flight emergency.

dialectic (dī′ə-lĕktĭk)

n. 1. The art or practice of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments. 2. The process especially associated with Hegel of arriving at the truth by stating a thesis, developing a contradictory antithesis, and combining and resolving them into a coherent synthesis. 3. often dialectics (used with a sing. or pl. verb) The Marxian process of change through the conflict of opposing forces, whereby a given contradiction is characterized by a primary and a secondary aspect, the secondary succumbing to the primary, which is then transformed into an aspect of a new contradiction. 4. dialectics (used with a sing. verb) A method of argument or exposition that systematically weighs contradictory facts or ideas with a view to the resolution of their real or apparent contradictions. 5. The contradiction between two conflicting forces viewed as the determining factor in their continuing interaction.

rarefaction (râr′ə-făkshən)

n. 1. The condition of being rarefied. 2. a. A decrease in density and pressure in a medium, such as air, caused by the passage of a sound wave. b. The region in which this occurs.

nonexistent * (nŏn′ĭg-zĭstənt)

n. 1. The condition of not existing. 2. Something that does not exist.

Third World, third world

n. 1. The developing nations of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. 2. During the Cold War, the nations not aligned with the First World or the Second World.

agnosticism (ăg-nŏstĭ-sĭz′əm)

n. 1. The doctrine that certainty about first principles or absolute truth is unattainable and that only perceptual phenomena are objects of exact knowledge. 2. The belief that the existence or nonexistence of a deity or deities cannot be known with certainty.

primogenitor (prī′mō-jĕnĭ-tər)

n. 1. The earliest ancestor. 2. An ancestor or forebear.

imperialism * (ĭm-pîrē-ə-lĭz′əm)

n. 1. The extension of a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political dominance over other nations. 2. A political doctrine or system promoting such extension of authority.

vanguard * (văngärd)

n. 1. The foremost position in an army or fleet advancing into battle. 2. a. The foremost or leading position in a trend or movement. b. Those occupying a foremost position.

pasturage (păschər-ĭj)

n. 1. The grass or other vegetation eaten by grazing animals. 2. Land covered with grass or vegetation suitable for grazing animals. 3. The practice of pasturing grazing animals.

mustache, moustache (mŭstăsh′, mə-stăsh)

n. 1. The hair growing on the human upper lip, especially when cultivated and groomed. 2. Something similar to the cultivated, groomed hair on the human upper lip, as: a. A group of bristles or hairs about the mouth of an animal. b. Distinctive coloring or feathers near the beak of a bird. c. Food or drink sticking conspicuously to the upper lip: wiped the milk mustache from my face.

pocket vetoes

n. 1. The indirect veto of a bill received by the president within ten days of the adjournment of Congress, effected by retaining the bill unsigned until Congress adjourns. 2. A similar action exercised by a state governor or other chief executive.

acculturation * (ə-kŭl′chə-rāshən)

n. 1. The modification of the culture of a group or individual as a result of contact with a different culture. 2. The process by which the culture of a particular society is instilled in a human from infancy onward.

consumerism (kən-smə-rĭz′əm)

n. 1. The movement seeking to protect and inform consumers by requiring such practices as honest packaging and advertising, product guarantees, and improved safety standards. 2. The theory that a progressively greater consumption of goods is economically beneficial. 3. Attachment to materialistic values or possessions: deplored the rampant consumerism of contemporary society.

Ramadan (răm′ə-dän, rămə-dän′)

n. 1. The ninth month of the year in the Islamic calendar. 2. A fast, held from sunrise to sunset, that is carried out during this period.

epidermis * (ĕp′ĭ-dûrmĭs)

n. 1. The outer, protective, nonvascular layer of the skin of vertebrates, covering the dermis. 2. An integument or outer layer of various invertebrates. 3. The outermost layer of cells covering the leaves and young parts of a plant.

trilateralism (trī-lătər-ə-lĭz′əm)

n. 1. The practice of engaging in three-party relations, agreements, or negotiations. 2. The political and economic policy of encouraging friendly relations among three nations or regions, especially the United States, Western Europe, and Japan, or North America, Europe, and the Pacific Rim.

McCarthyism (mə-kärthē-ĭz′əm)

n. 1. The practice of publicizing accusations of political disloyalty or subversion with insufficient regard to evidence. 2. The use of unfair investigatory or accusatory methods in order to suppress opposition.

mononucleosis (mŏn′ō-n′klē-ōsĭs, -ny-)

n. 1. The presence of an abnormally large number of white blood cells with single nuclei in the bloodstream. 2. Infectious mononucleosis.

argumentation * (är′gyə-mĕn-tāshən)

n. 1. The presentation and elaboration of an argument or arguments. 2. Deductive reasoning in debate. 3. A debate.

decalcomania (dē-kăl′kə-mānē-ə, -mānyə)

n. 1. The process of transferring pictures or designs printed on specially prepared paper to materials such as glass or metal. 2. A decal.

discretion (dĭ-skrĕshən)

n. 1. The quality of being discreet; circumspection: "the almost unknown young man who lived in the upper room ... coming and going with discretion" (Doris Lessing). 2. Freedom to act or judge on one's own: All the decisions were left to our discretion. 3. Archaic The ability or power to discern what is responsible or socially appropriate: "She had even condescended to advise him to marry as soon as he could, provided he chose with discretion" (Jane Austen).

ineptitude (ĭn-ĕptĭ-td′, -tyd′)

n. 1. The quality of being inept; ineptness. 2. An inept act or remark.

religiosity (rĭ-lĭj′ē-ŏsĭ-tē)

n. 1. The quality of being religious. 2. Excessive or affected piety.

third rail

n. 1. The rail that supplies the high voltage to power a train on an electric railway. 2. A subject that tends to be avoided because of its offensive or controversial nature: "Social Security, the 'third rail' of American politics" (Charles Stein).

speleologist (spē′lē-ŏlə-jē)

n. 1. The scientific study of caves. 2. Exploration of caves.

ethnomusicology (ĕth′nō-my′zĭ-kŏlə-jē)

n. 1. The scientific study of music, especially traditional or non-Western music, as an aspect of culture. 2. The comparative study of music of different cultures.

antistrophe (ăn-tĭstrə-fē)

n. 1. The second stanza, and those like it, in a poem consisting of alternating stanzas in contrasting metrical form. 2. The second division of the triad of a Pindaric ode, having the same stanza form as the strophe. 3. a. The choral movement in classical Greek drama in the opposite direction from that of the strophe. b. The part of a choral ode sung while this movement is executed.

martingale (märtn-gāl′) also mar·tin·gal (-găl′)

n. 1. The strap of a horse's harness that connects the girth to the noseband and is designed to prevent the horse from throwing back its head. 2. Nautical Any of several parts of standing rigging strengthening the bowsprit and jib boom against the force of the head stays. 3. Games A method of gambling in which one doubles the stakes after each loss. 4. A loose half belt or strap placed on the back of a garment, such as a coat or jacket.

Grecism (grēsĭz′əm)

n. 1. The style or spirit of Greek culture, art, or thought. 2. The imitation of aspects of Greek culture, art, or thought. 3. An idiom of the Greek language.

Manichaeism (măn′ĭ-kēĭz′əm) also Man·i·chae·an·ism (-kēə-nĭz′əm)

n. 1. The syncretic, dualistic religious philosophy taught by the Persian prophet Mani, combining elements of Zoroastrian, Christian, and Gnostic thought and opposed by the imperial Roman government, Neoplatonist philosophers, and orthodox Christians. 2. A dualistic philosophy dividing the world between good and evil principles or regarding matter as intrinsically evil and mind as intrinsically good

mercantilism (mûrkən-tē-lĭz′əm, -tĭ-)

n. 1. The theory and system of political economy prevailing in Europe after the decline of feudalism, based on national policies of accumulating bullion, establishing colonies and a merchant marine, and developing industry and mining to attain a favorable balance of trade. 2. The practice, methods, or spirit of merchants; commercialism.

dyad * (dīăd′, -əd)

n. 1. Two individuals or units regarded as a pair: the mother-daughter dyad. 2. Biology One pair of homologous chromosomes resulting from the division of a tetrad during meiosis. 3. Mathematics a. A function that draws a correspondence from any vector u to the vector (v·u)w and is denoted vw, where v and w are a fixed pair of vectors and v·u is the scalar product of v and u. For example, if v = (2,3,1), w = (0,-1,4), and u = (a,b,c), then the dyad vw draws a correspondence from u to (2a + 3b + c)w. b. A tensor formed from a vector in a vector space and a linear functional on that vector space. adj. Made up of two units.

verismo (və-rĭzmō)

n. 1. Verism. 2. An artistic movement of the late 1800s, originating in Italy and influential especially in grand opera, marked by the use of rural characters and common, everyday themes often treated in a melodramatic manner.

coulee (klē)

n. 1. Western US A deep gulch or ravine with sloping sides, often dry in summer. 2. Louisiana & Southern Mississippi a. A streambed, often dry according to the season. b. A small stream, bayou, or canal. 3. Upper Midwest A valley with hills on either side. 4. a. A stream of molten lava. b. A sheet of solidified lava.

parnomasia (păr′ə-nō-māzhə)

n. 1. Word play; punning. 2. A pun.

evangelism (ĭ-vănjə-lĭz′əm)

n. 1. Zealous preaching and dissemination of the gospel, as through missionary work. 2. Fervent advocacy of a cause.

tentacles (tĕntə-kəl)

n. 1. Zoology a. An elongated flexible unsegmented extension, as one of those surrounding the mouth of a sea anemone, used for feeling, grasping, or locomotion. b. One of these structures in a cephalopod, typically being retractile and having a clublike end usually with suckers or hooks, in contrast to an arm, which is nonretractile and typically has suckers along the underside. 2. Botany One of the sensitive hairs on the leaves of certain insectivorous plants, such as a sundew. 3. A similar part or extension, especially with respect to the ability to grasp or stretch: an espionage network with far-reaching tentacles.

Messiah, messiah (mĭ-sīə)

n. 1. also Mes·si·as (mĭ-sīəs) The anticipated savior of the Jews. Used with the. 2. also Messias Christianity Jesus. Used with the. 3. messiah One who is anticipated as, regarded as, or professes to be a savior or liberator.

romanticism, Romanticism (rō-măntĭ-sĭz′əm)

n. 1. often Romanticism An artistic and intellectual movement originating in Europe in the late 1700s and characterized by a heightened interest in nature, emphasis on the individual's expression of emotion and imagination, departure from the attitudes and forms of classicism, and rebellion against established social rules and conventions. 2. Romantic quality or spirit in thought, expression, or action.

obento * (ō-bĕntō)

n. A Japanese box lunch, traditionally packed in a partitioned lacquered box and sometimes artfully arranged to resemble familiar characters, animals, or objects.

sukiyaki (s′kē-yäkē)

n. A Japanese dish of sliced meat, tofu, and vegetables, usually cooked at the table in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, and mirin and sometimes dipped in raw, beaten egg before being eaten.

missa cantata (mĭsə)

n. A Mass in which the liturgical parts are sung as in the High Mass, but which is ceremonially less elaborate.

quaking aspen (kwākĭng)

n. A North American deciduous tree (Populus tremuloides) having broadly ovate, finely toothed leaves with flattened petioles, which quiver in a light breeze.

hyoid bone

n. A U-shaped bone at the base of the tongue that supports the muscles of the tongue

Yankeeism (yăngkē-ĭz′əm)

n. A Yankee custom, characteristic, usage, or pronunciation.

patisserie (pə-tĭsə-rē, pä-tēs-rē)

n. A bakery specializing in French pastry.

variolite (vârē-ə-līt′, văr-)

n. A basic rock whose pockmarked appearance is caused by the presence of numerous white, rounded, embedded spherules.

albuterol (ăl-bytə-rôl′)

n. A beta-adrenergic drug, C13H21NO3, used in the form of its sulfate as a bronchodilator primarily to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Also called salbutamol.

viper's bugloss (vīpərz)

n. A biennial Eurasian plant (Echium vulgare) naturalized as a weed in eastern North America, having blue to purple flowers and hairy stems and foliage. Also called blueweed.

jalousie (jălə-sē)

n. A blind or shutter having adjustable horizontal slats for regulating the passage of air and light.

chassepot (shăspō′)

n. A breechloading rifle introduced into the French army in 1866.

rhesus monkey *

n. A brown to grayish monkey (Macaca mulatta) found from Pakistan to eastern China and used extensively in biological and medical research.

coaxial cable

n. A cable consisting of a conducting outer metal tube enclosing and insulated from a central conducting core, used primarily for the transmission of high-frequency signals. Also called coaxial line.

petroglyph * (pĕtrə-glĭf′)

n. A carving or incised drawing on rock, especially one made by prehistoric people.

akaryocyte (ā-kărē-ō-sīt′)

n. A cell having no nucleus.

periapt * (pĕrē-ăpt′)

n. A charm worn as protection against mischief and disease; an amulet.

agrochemical * (ăg′rə-kĕmĭ-kəl) also ag·ri·chem·i·cal (ăg′rĭ-)

n. A chemical, such as a fertilizer, hormone, fungicide, insecticide, or soil treatment, that improves the production of crops.

osteoarthritis (ŏs′tē-ō-är-thrītĭs)

n. A chronic disease characterized by progressive degeneration of the cartilage of the joints, occurring mainly in older persons. Also called degenerative joint disease.

diabetes insipidus (ĭn-sĭpĭ-dəs)

n. A chronic disorder marked by excessive urination and usually intense thirst and dehydration, caused either by insufficient production or release of the pituitary hormone vasopressin or by inability of the kidneys to respond effectively to vasopressin.

yurt * (yûrt)

n. A circular, domed, portable tent used by nomadic peoples of central Asia.

double indemnity

n. A clause in an insurance policy that provides for payment of double the face value of the contract in case of accidental death.

hydrazine (hīdrə-zēn′, -zĭn)

n. A colorless, fuming, corrosive hygroscopic liquid, H2NNH2, used in jet and rocket fuels.

methanol (mĕthə-nôl′, -nōl′, -nŏl′)

n. A colorless, toxic, flammable liquid, CH3OH, used as an antifreeze, a general solvent, a fuel, and a denaturant for ethyl alcohol. Also called carbinol, methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, wood spirits.

opéra bouffe * (ŏpər-ə bf, ŏprə, ô-pā-rä bf)

n. A comic, often farcical opera.

folie à deux (fô-lē′ ä dœ, fŏl′ē)

n. A condition in which two individuals who share a close relationship experience the same delusions or hallucinations as the result of a mental disorder such as schizophrenia affecting one or both of them. Also called shared psychotic disorder.

videoconference (vĭdē-ō-kŏn′fər-əns, -frəns)

n. A conference occurring in two or more locations in which the participants communicate by using video equipment, with the content often transmitted by a computer network or over the internet.

microdot (mīkrə-dŏt′)

n. A copy or photograph that has been reduced to an extremely small size for ease of transport and purposes of security.

jai alai (hī lī′, hī ə-lī′, hī′ ə-lī)

n. A court game in which players use a long hand-shaped basket strapped to the wrist to propel a ball against a wall.

counterpane (kountər-pān′)

n. A cover for a bed; a bedspread.

prairie schooner

n. A covered wagon, drawn by horses or oxen, that was used by pioneers in crossing the North American prairies and plains.

sucrose (skrōs′)

n. A crystalline disaccharide of fructose and glucose, C12H22O11, extracted chiefly from sugarcane and sugar beets and commonly known as table sugar. Also called saccharose.

scimitar (sĭmĭ-tər, -tär′)

n. A curved Asian sword with the edge on the convex side.

Laffer curve, Laffer Curve (lăfər)

n. A curved graph that illustrates the theory that, if tax rates rise beyond a certain level, they discourage economic growth, thereby reducing government revenues.

Beau Brummell (bō brŭməl)

n. A dandy; a fop.

lamprophyre (lămprə-fīr′)

n. A dark igneous rock, having porphyritic texture, in which both the phenocrysts and the matrix consist of hornblende, pyroxene, and biotite.

Alzheimer's disease (ältshī-mərz, ălts-, ôlts-, ôlz-)

n. A degenerative disease of the brain, occurring chiefly in elderly people and characterized by disorientation, memory failure, speech disturbances, and the progressive loss of mental capacity. It is associated with the formation of beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the cerebral cortex and loss of neurons.

Minamata disease (mĭn′ə-mätə)

n. A degenerative neurological disorder caused by poisoning with a mercury compound found in seafood obtained from waters contaminated with mercury-containing industrial waste.

deportee * (dē′pôr-tē)

n. A deported person.

micromanipulator (mī′krō-mə-nĭpyə-lā′tər)

n. A device for manipulating minute instruments and needles under a microscope in order to perform delicate procedures, such as microsurgery.

incapacitant (ĭn′kə-păsĭ-tənt)

n. A device or substance, such as tear gas, used to incapacitate individuals temporarily, as in riot control.

silicosis (sĭl′ĭ-kōsĭs)

n. A disease of the lungs caused by continued inhalation of the dust of siliceous minerals and characterized by progressive fibrosis and a chronic shortness of breath.

galantine (gălən-tēn′)

n. A dish of boned, stuffed meat or fish that is poached and served cold coated with aspic.

nuclear family

n. A family unit consisting of a child or children living with two parents who are married to each other, especially when all live under the same roof.

leopardess (lĕpər-dĭs)

n. A female leopard.

pseudonymous (sdn-ĭm′)

n. A fictitious name, especially a pen name.

algorithm (ălgə-rĭth′əm)

n. A finite set of unambiguous instructions that, given some set of initial conditions, can be performed in a prescribed sequence to achieve a certain goal and that has a recognizable set of end conditions.

G-suit (jēst′)

n. A flight garment worn by astronauts and jet pilots that presses on the lower body to maintain the blood supply to the brain during rapid vertical acceleration.

paraph * (părəf, pə-ră)

n. A flourish made after or below a signature, originally to prevent forgery.

atherosclerosis (ăth′ə-rō-sklə-rōsĭs)

n. A form of arteriosclerosis characterized by the presence of lesions (called plaques) on the innermost layer of the walls of large and medium-sized arteries. The plaques contain lipids, collagen, inflammatory cells, and other substances and can impede blood flow or rupture, leading to serious problems such as heart attack or stroke.

deuteranopia (d′tər-ə-nōpē-ə, dy′-)

n. A form of colorblindness characterized by insensitivity to green.

leonine rhyme *

n. A form of internal rhyme in which the word preceding the caesura rhymes with the final word in the line, as in: "For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams" (Edgar Allan Poe).

rockabilly (rŏkə-bĭl′ē)

n. A form of popular music combining features of rock music and bluegrass.

macrofossil * (măkrō-fŏs′əl)

n. A fossil large enough to be examined without a microscope.

penuche, penuchi (pə-nchē) or pa·no·cha (-nōchə) or pa·no·che (-chē)

n. A fudgelike confection of brown sugar, butter, cream or milk, and often chopped nuts.

racquetball (răkĭt-bôl′)

n. A game played on a four-walled court by two or four players who alternately hit a small rubber ball against the front wall with short-handled rackets, with play stopping if the ball bounces twice on the floor or does not reach the front wall.

andesite (ăndĭ-zīt′)

n. A gray, fine-grained volcanic rock consisting chiefly of plagioclase feldspar and one or more mafic minerals.

bois de rose (bwä′ də rōz)

n. A grayish red.

ennead * (ĕnē-ăd′)

n. A group or set of nine.

vegetable ivory

n. A hard ivorylike material obtained from the ivory nut and used in making small objects such as buttons.

whetstone * (wĕtstōn′, hwĕt-)

n. A hard, fine-grained stone for honing tools. Also called snakestone.

portière, portiere * (pôr-tyâr)

n. A heavy curtain hung across a doorway.

brocatelle (brŏk′ə-tĕl)

n. A heavy fabric with highly raised designs.

ampoule, ampule, ampul (ampl, -pyl)

n. A hermetically sealed vial made of glass or plastic that contains a sterile medicinal solution or a powder that is usually made into a solution for subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intravenous injection.

poliomyelitis * (pō′lē-ō-mī′ə-lītĭs)

n. A highly infectious viral disease that chiefly affects children and, in its acute forms, causes inflammation of motor neurons of the spinal cord and brainstem, leading to paralysis, muscular atrophy, and often deformity. Through vaccination, the disease is preventable. Also called infantile paralysis, polio.

rhizome (rīzōm′)

n. A horizontal, usually underground stem that often sends out roots and shoots from its nodes.

coconspirator (kō′kən-spîrə-tər)

n. A joint conspirator.

entrechat (ŏn′trə-shä)

n. A jump in ballet during which the dancer crosses the legs a number of times, alternately back and forth.

jeté * (zhə-tā)

n. A jump in dance from one foot to the other.

Lutz, lutz * (lŭts)

n. A jump in figure skating in which the skater takes off from the back outer edge of one skate and makes one full rotation before landing on the back outer edge of the other skate.

mercury vapor lamp

n. A lamp in which ultraviolet and yellowish-green to blue visible light is produced by an electric discharge through mercury vapor. The color spectrum may be corrected by the addition of a phosphor coating, and ultraviolet blocking is required to prevent injury.

gemsbok (gĕmzbŏk′)

n. A large antelope (Oryx gazella) of arid regions of southern Africa, having long spearlike horns and distinctive black and white markings on the head.

sousaphone (szə-fōn′, -sə-)

n. A large brass instrument, similar in range to the tuba, having a flaring bell and a shape adapted to being carried in marching bands.

caldera (kăl-dârə, -dîrə, käl-)

n. A large crater formed by volcanic explosion or by collapse of a volcanic cone.

Gila monster (helə)

n. A large stocky venomous lizard (Heloderma suspectum) of the southwest United States and western Mexico, having black and orange, pink, or yellowish beadlike scales.

lammergeier, lammergeyer (lămər-gī′ər)

n. A large vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) found in mountainous regions of southern Europe, Asia, and Africa, having stiff feathers that extend below the beak to form a beard and, unlike other vultures, a feathered head. Also called bearded vulture, ossifrage.

kouprey (kprā′)

n. A large wild ox (Bos sauveli) of Cambodia, having a gray or blackish coat and, in the male, a large dewlap and long, spreading horns.

substantia nigra (nīgrə, nĭgrə)

n. A layer of large pigmented nerve cells in the midbrain that produce dopamine and whose destruction is associated with Parkinson's disease.

manticore (măntĭ-kôr′)

n. A legendary monster having the head of a man, the body of a lion, and the tail of a dragon or scorpion.

isallobar (ī-sălə-bär′)

n. A line on a weather map connecting places having equal changes in atmospheric pressure within a given period of time.

kameez (kə-mēz)

n. A long loose tunic, typically of three-quarter length, usually worn with a salwar.

liripipe * (lîrə-pīp′)

n. A long scarf or cord attached to and hanging from a hood.

kanzu (kănz)

n. A long, usually white garment worn by men in Africa.

linguaphile (lĭnggwə-fīl′)

n. A lover of languages and words.

chamaephytes (kămə-fīt′)

n. A low-growing perennial plant whose dormant overwintering buds are borne at or just above the surface of the ground.

dolce vita * (vētə, -tä)

n. A luxurious, self-indulgent way of life.

hectograph (hĕktə-grăf′)

n. A machine employing a glycerin-coated layer of gelatin in order to make copies of typed or written material. tr.v. hec·to·graphed, hec·to·graph·ing, hec·to·graphs To copy by means of a hectograph.

Brailler, brailler (brālər)

n. A machine similar to a typewriter, used for printing in Braille. Also called Braillewriter.

tachograph (tăkə-grăf′)

n. A machine that records the measurements of a tachometer, especially one in a vehicle recording its speed and the times at which it was driven.

roebuck (rōbŭk′)

n. A male roe deer.

coiffeur (kwä-fûr)

n. A man who is a hairdresser.

analgesic * (ăn′əl-jēzĭk, -sĭk)

n. A medication that reduces or eliminates pain. adj. Of or causing analgesia.

thanatopsis (thăn′ə-tŏpsĭs)

n. A meditation upon death.

saiga, Saiga (sīgə)

n. A medium-sized antelope (Saiga tatarica) of the steppes of Eurasia, having a large fleshy snout and, in the male, ridged yellowish horns.

Cistercian * (sĭ-stûrshən)

n. A member of a contemplative monastic order founded by reformist Benedictines in France in 1098.

kibbutznik (kĭ-btsnĭk, -bts-)

n. A member of a kibbutz.

minor-leaguer (mī′nər-lēgər)

n. A member of a minor-league team, especially a minor-league baseball player.

parishioner * (pə-rĭshə-nər)

n. A member of a parish.

Adventist (ădvĕn′tĭst, ăd-vĕn-)

n. A member of any of several Christian denominations that believe Jesus's Second Coming and the end of the world are near.

tribrach (trībrăk′)

n. A metrical foot having three short or unstressed syllables.

Nesselrode * (nĕsəl-rōd′)

n. A mixture of chopped and boiled chestnuts, maraschino cherries, candied fruits, and liqueur or rum, used as a sauce or in puddings, ice cream, or pies.

rototiller * (rōtə-tĭl′ər)

n. A motorized rotary cultivator.

salchow (sălkou′)

n. A move in figure skating in which the skater, while skating backwards, jumps from the back inside edge of one skate, completes a full rotation, and lands on the back outside edge of the other skate.

Zapata mustache *

n. A mustache that curves downward on each side.

playa (plīə)

n. A nearly level area at the bottom of an undrained desert basin, sometimes temporarily covered with water.

anion (ănī′ən)

n. A negatively charged ion, especially the ion that migrates to an anode in electrolysis.

psoriasis * (sə-rīə-sĭs)

n. A noncontagious inflammatory skin disease characterized by recurring reddish patches covered with silvery scales.

Klein bottle

n. A one-sided topological surface having no inside or outside. It is depicted in ordinary space by inserting the small open end of a tapered tube through the side of the tube and making it contiguous with the larger open end, although a true Klein bottle would not intersect itself.

rhomboid (rŏmboid′)

n. A parallelogram with unequal adjacent sides, especially one having oblique angles. adj. also rhom·boi·dal (-boidl) Shaped like a rhombus or rhomboid.

panada (pə-nädə)

n. A paste or gruel of bread crumbs, toast, or flour combined with milk, stock, or water and used for making soups, binding forcemeats, or thickening sauces.

chersonese (kûrsə-nēz′, -nēs′)

n. A peninsula.

xenophile (zĕnə-fīl′, zēnə-)

n. A person attracted to that which is foreign, especially to foreign peoples, manners, or cultures.

Francophobe * (frăngkə-fōb′)

n. A person who dislikes or fears France, its people, or its culture.

quinquagenarian (kwĭng′kwə-jə-nârē-ən)

n. A person who is 50 years old or between the ages of 50 and 60. adj. 1. Being 50 years old or between the ages of 50 and 60. 2. Of or relating to a quinquagenarian.

decagon * (dĕkə-gŏn′)

n. A polygon with ten sides and ten angles.

glycogen (glīkə-jən)

n. A polysaccharide, (C6H10O5)n, that is the main form of carbohydrate storage in animals and is found primarily in the liver and muscle tissue. It is readily converted to glucose as needed by the body to satisfy its energy needs. Also called animal starch.

requiescat (rĕk′wē-ĕskăt′, -kät′)

n. A prayer for the repose of the souls of the dead.

orison (ôrĭ-sən, -zən, ŏr-)

n. A prayer.

menhir * (mĕnhîr′)

n. A prehistoric monument of a class found chiefly in the British Isles and northern France, consisting of a single tall, upright megalith.

Medicaid, medicaid (mĕdĭ-kād′)

n. A program in the United States, jointly funded by the states and the federal government, that reimburses hospitals and physicians for providing care to qualifying people who cannot finance their own medical expenses.

Parkinson's disease (pärkĭn-sənz) also Par·kin·son disease (-sən)

n. A progressive disease of the central nervous system, associated with the destruction of brain cells that produce dopamine and characterized by muscle tremors, muscle rigidity or stiffness, abnormally slow movement, and impaired balance and coordination. It usually affects people over the age of 50. Also called paralysis agitans.

formaldehyde (fôr-măldə-hīd′)

n. A pungent colorless flammable gaseous compound, CH2O, the simplest and most reactive aldehyde, used for manufacturing melamine and phenolic resins, fertilizers, dyes, and embalming fluids and in aqueous solution as a preservative and disinfectant.

rhetorical questionn.

n. A question to which no answer is expected, often used for rhetorical effect.

transponder (trăn-spŏndər)

n. A radio or radar transmitter-receiver activated for transmission by reception of a predetermined signal.

chance-medley (chănsmĕdlē)

n. A random, haphazard action or occurrence.

tachycardia * (tăk′ĭ-kärdē-ə)

n. A rapid heart rate, especially one above 100 beats per minute in an adult.

saccade (să-käd, sə-)

n. A rapid intermittent eye movement, as that which occurs when the eyes fix on one point after another in the visual field.

keloid, cheloid (kēloid′)

n. A red, raised formation of fibrous scar tissue caused by excessive tissue repair in response to trauma or surgical incision.

rejuvenescence (rĭ-j′və-nĕsəns)

n. A renewal of youthful appearance or character.

propolis (prŏpə-lĭs)

n. A resinous substance collected from the buds of certain trees by bees and used as a cement or sealant in the construction of their hives.

hollandaise sauce (hŏlən-dāz′)

n. A rich creamy sauce made of butter, egg yolks, and lemon juice or vinegar.

polystyrene (pŏl′ē-stīrēn)

n. A rigid clear thermoplastic polymer of styrene that can be molded into objects or made into a foam that is used as thermal insulation.

harm's way (härmz)

n. A risky position; danger: a place for the children that is out of harm's way; ships that sail into harm's way.

xenolith (zĕnə-lĭth′, zēnə-)

n. A rock fragment foreign to the igneous mass in which it occurs.

roseola (rō-zēə-lə, rō′zē-ōlə)

n. A rose-colored skin rash, sometimes occurring with diseases such as measles, syphilis, or scarlet fever.

Ockham's Razor, Occam's Razor (ŏkəmz)

n. A rule in science and philosophy stating that the simplest of two or more competing theories is preferable; for example, an explanation of a new phenomenon should first be attempted in terms of what is already known, without adding further entities or principles.

paella (pä-ĕlə, pä-ālyä, -āyä)

n. A saffron-flavored Spanish rice dish made with varying combinations of vegetables, meat, chicken, and seafood.

eau de cologne (ō′ də kə-lōn)

n. A scented liquid made of alcohol and various fragrant oils.

scapegrace (skāpgrās′)

n. A scoundrel; a rascal.

epigone (ĕpĭ-gōn′)

n. A second-rate imitator or follower, especially of an artist or a philosopher.

Shelta (shĕltə)

n. A secret jargon used by traditionally itinerant people in Great Britain and Ireland, based on systematic inversion or alteration of the initial consonants of Gaelic words. Also called Cant, Gammon.

periodic sentence

n. A sentence in which the main clause or its predicate is withheld until the end; for example, Despite heavy winds and nearly impenetrable ground fog, the plane landed safely.

scullion (skŭlyən)

n. A servant employed to do menial tasks in a kitchen.

marquisette (mär′kĭ-zĕt, -kwĭ-)

n. A sheer fabric of cotton, rayon, silk, or nylon, used for clothing, curtains, and mosquito nets.

valetudinarian (văl′ĭ-td′n-ârē-ən, -tyd′-)

n. A sickly or weak person, especially one who is constantly and morbidly concerned with one's own personal health and well-being. adj. 1. Chronically ailing; sickly. 2. Constantly and morbidly concerned with one's health.

sesterce * (sĕstûrs′)

n. A silver or bronze coin of ancient Rome equivalent to one fourth of a denarius.

balladeer * (băl′ə-dîr)

n. A singer of ballads.

Lorelei (lôrə-lī′)

n. A siren of Germanic legend whose singing lures sailors to shipwreck.

lotus position *

n. A sitting position used in yoga and certain forms of Buddhist meditation, in which the legs are crossed, with each foot resting on the opposite thigh.

yarmulke, yarmelke (yärməl-kə, yäməl-) Shar

n. A skullcap worn by Jewish men and boys, especially those adhering to Orthodox or Conservative Judaism. Also called kippah.

medaka (mĭ-däkə)

n. A small Japanese fish (Oryzias latipes) that is commonly found in rice paddies and is often used in biological research or in stocking aquariums.

croquette (krō-kĕt)

n. A small cake of minced food, such as poultry, vegetables, or fish, that is usually coated with bread crumbs and fried in deep fat.

focus group *

n. A small group selected from a wider population and sampled, as by open discussion, for its members' opinions about or emotional response to a particular subject or area, used especially in market research or political analysis.

nosh (nŏsh)

n. A snack or light meal. intr.v. noshed, nosh·ing, nosh·es To eat a snack or light meal: noshed on a bagel between classes.

fedora (fĭ-dôrə)

n. A soft felt hat with a fairly low crown creased lengthwise and a brim that can be turned up or down.

brioche (brē-ôsh, -ōsh)

n. A soft, light-textured bread made from eggs, butter, flour, and yeast and formed into a roll or a bun.

susurration (s′sə-rāshən) also su·sur·rus (s-sûrəs, -sŭr-)

n. A soft, whispering or rustling sound; a murmur.

meteoroid (mētē-ə-roid′)

n. A solid body, moving in space, that is smaller than an asteroid and at least as large as a speck of dust.

Petrarchan sonnet

n. A sonnet containing an octave with the rhyme scheme abbaabba and a sestet following any of various patterns such as cdecde or cdcdcd. Also called Italian sonnet.

salimeter * (sə-lĭmĭ-tər) or sa·lom·e·ter (-lŏm-)

n. A specially graduated hydrometer that directly indicates the concentration of salt in a solution.

sambal (sämbäl)

n. A spicy condiment used especially in Indonesia and Malaysia, made with chili peppers and other ingredients, such as sugar or coconut.

kielbasa * (kĭl-bäsə, kēl-)

n. A spicy smoked Polish sausage.

rampike (rămpīk′)

n. A standing dead tree or tree stump, especially one killed by fire.

ottava rima * (rēmə)

n. A stanza of verse consisting of eight lines in iambic pentameter rhyming abababcc.

paleolith (pālē-ə-lĭth′)

n. A stone implement of the Paleolithic Period.

view halloo * (vy′ hə-l)

n. A strident call given during a fox hunt to indicate that the fox has been seen breaking cover.

massé * (mă-sā)

n. A stroke in billiards made by striking the cue ball off center with the cue held at a sharper angle than is usual, so that the cue ball moves in a curve before hitting its target ball.

art nouveau, Art Nouveau (är′ n-vō, ärt′)

n. A style of decoration and architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized particularly by the depiction of leaves and flowers in flowing, sinuous lines.

flame-retardant *

n. A substance that is applied to fabric, wood, or other material in order to make it resistant to catching fire. Also called fire retardant.

anticoagulant (ăn′tē-kō-ăgyə-lənt, ăn′tī-)

n. A substance that slows or prevents the clotting of blood. adj. Acting as an anticoagulant.

peripeteia, peripetia (pĕr′ə-pə-tēə, -tīə)

n. A sudden change of events or reversal of circumstances, especially in a literary work.

posthypnotic suggestion (pōst′hĭp-nŏtĭk)

n. A suggestion made to a hypnotized person that specifies an action to be performed after awakening, often in response to a cue.

blitzkrieg (blĭtskrēg′)

n. A swift, sudden military offensive, usually by combined air and mobile land forces.

lidocaine (līdə-kān′)

n. A synthetic amide, C14H22N2O, used chiefly in the form of its hydrochloride as a local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic agent.

caconym * (kăkə-nĭm)

n. A taxonomic name that is unacceptable for linguistic reasons.

apothegm, apophthegm (ăpə-thĕm′)

n. A terse, witty, instructive saying; a maxim.

mayonnaise (mā′ə-nāz, māə-nāz′)

n. A thick dressing made of beaten raw egg yolk, oil, lemon juice or vinegar, and seasonings.

hammertoe * (hămər-tō′)

n. A toe, usually the second, that is permanently flexed downward, resulting in a clawlike shape.

spoonerism (spnə-rĭz′əm)

n. A transposition of sounds of two or more words, especially a ludicrous one, such as Let me sew you to your sheet for Let me show you to your seat.

laryngoscope (lə-rĭnggə-skōp′, -rĭnjə-)

n. A tubular endoscope that is inserted into the larynx through the mouth and used for observing the interior of the larynx.

durum (drəm, dyr-, dûr-)

n. A type of wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum syn. T. durum) having hard grains with high protein and gluten content, thought to have been developed in the Middle East in the Neolithic period and now used chiefly in making pasta.

catholicon (kə-thŏlĭ-kŏn′)

n. A universal remedy; a panacea.

realpolitik (rā-älpō′lĭ-tēk′)

n. A usually expansionist national policy having as its sole principle advancement of the national interest.

stopcock * (stŏpkŏk′)

n. A valve that regulates the flow of fluid through a pipe; a faucet.

minivan (mĭnē-văn′)

n. A van designed primarily for carrying passengers, typically having rear seats that can be removed for loading cargo.

broomcorn (brmkôrn′, brm-)

n. A variety of sorghum having a stiff, erect, much-branched flower cluster, the stalks of which are used to make brooms.

mangel-wurzel (mănggəl-wûr′zəl)

n. A variety of the common beet having a large yellowish root, used chiefly as cattle feed.

potiche (pô-tēsh)

n. A vase or jar with a round or polygonal body tapering at the neck and having a removable cover.

yashmak, yashmac (yäsh-mäk, yăshmăk)

n. A veil worn by Muslim women to cover the face in public.

scoundrelly (skoundrəl)

n. A villain; a rogue.

toccata (tə-kätə)

n. A virtuoso composition, usually for the organ or another keyboard instrument, in free style with brilliant passagework.

masseuse (mă-sœz)

n. A woman who gives massages professionally.

anchoress (ăngkər-ĭs)

n. A woman who has retired into seclusion for religious reasons.

thole pin *

n. A wooden peg set in pairs in the gunwales of a boat to serve as an oarlock.

saxophone (săksə-fōn′)

n. A woodwind instrument with a single-reed mouthpiece and a usually curved conical metal tube, including soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone sizes.

logogriph (lôgə-grĭf′, lŏgə-)

n. A word puzzle, such as an anagram or one in which clues are given in a set of verses.

poulard, poularde, (p-lärd)

n. A young hen that has been spayed for fattening.

thermesthesia (thûrm′ĭs-thēzhə)

n. Ability to feel hot or cold; sensitivity to variations in temperature.

scoliosis * (skō′lē-ōsĭs, skŏl′ē-)

n. Abnormal lateral curvature of the spine.

hypopnea (hī-pŏpnē-ə, hī′pō-nēə)

n. Abnormally slow, shallow breathing.

fluorosis (fl-rōsĭs, flô-, flō-)

n. An abnormal condition caused by excessive intake of fluorine, as from fluoridated drinking water, characterized chiefly by mottling of the teeth.

microcyte (mīkrə-sīt′)

n. An abnormally small red blood cell, characteristic of certain forms of anemia and often associated with iron deficiency.

erysipeloid (ĕr′ĭ-sĭpə-loid′, îr′ə-)

n. An acute infectious disease of humans caused by the bacterium Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae,usually contracted from contact with contaminated meat, fish, or shellfish and characterized by pain, swelling, and redness of the skin near the initial site of infection and sometimes by fever and joint pain.

Russophile (rŭsə-fīl′)

n. An admirer of Russia or its people, language, or culture.

bireme (bīrēm′)

n. An ancient galley equipped with two tiers of oars on each side.

melatonin (mĕl′ə-tōnĭn)

n. An animal hormone, C13H16N2O2, derived from serotonin and produced by the pineal gland. It stimulates color change in the skin of amphibians and reptiles and plays a role in regulating circadian rhythms and reproductive cycles in mammals. It is also found in plants and fungi.

olfactometer * (ŏl′făk-tŏmĭ-tər, ōl′-)

n. An apparatus for measuring the acuity of the sense of smell.

polynya * (pŏl′ən-yä, pə-lĭnyə)

n. An area of open water surrounded by sea ice.

flextime (flĕkstīm′)

n. An arrangement by which employees may set their own work schedules, especially their starting and finishing hours. Also called flexitime.

camporee (kăm′pə-rē)

n. An assembly or gathering of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts on a local or district level.

maquiladora * (mä-kē′lä-dōrä)

n. An assembly plant in Mexico, especially one along the border between the United States and Mexico, to which foreign materials and parts are shipped and from which the finished product is returned to the original market.

echinoid (ĭ-kīnoid′)

n. An echinoderm of the class Echinoidea, which includes the sand dollars and sea urchins.

nucleophile * (nklē-ə-fīl′, ny-)

n. An electron-rich chemical compound or group that is attracted to nuclei and tends to donate or share electrons. Also called Lewis base.

K ration *

n. An emergency field ration for US armed forces in World War II, consisting of a single packaged meal.

lysozyme * (līsə-zīm′)

n. An enzyme occurring naturally in egg white, human tears, saliva, and other body fluids, capable of destroying the cell walls of certain bacteria and thereby acting as a mild antiseptic.

televangelist (tĕl′ĭ-vănjə-lĭst)

n. An evangelist who conducts religious telecasts.

anticyclone (ăn′tē-sīklōn′, ăn′tī-)

n. An extensive system of winds spiraling outward from a high-pressure center, circling clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Peking man

n. An extinct hominin known from fossil remains of the Pleistocene Epoch found in China, originally called Sinanthropus but now classified as Homo erectus.

Latinism (lătn-ĭz′əm)

n. An idiom, structure, or word derived from or suggestive of Latin.

curmudgeon (kər-mŭjən)

n. An ill-tempered person, especially one who is habitually stubborn or grouchy.

leptospirosis (lĕp′tō-spī-rōsĭs)

n. An infectious disease of domestic animals, humans, and other mammals, characterized by fever and jaundice and caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira, which are transmitted to humans by contact with the urine of infected animals.

actinomycosis (ăk-tĭn′ō-mī-kōsĭs, ăk′tə-nō-)

n. An inflammatory disease of cattle, hogs, humans, and other mammals, caused by actinomyces and characterized by lumpy tumors of the mouth, neck, chest, and abdomen. Also called lumpy jaw.

thalassemia (thăl′ə-sēmē-ə)

n. An inherited form of anemia occurring chiefly among people of Mediterranean descent, caused by faulty synthesis of part of the hemoglobin molecule. Also called Mediterranean anemia.

ohmmeter * (ōmmē′tər)

n. An instrument for measuring directly the resistances of conductors in ohms.

anemometry (ăn′ə-mŏmĭ-tər)

n. An instrument for measuring wind speed.

Geiger counter (gīgər)

n. An instrument that detects and measures the intensity of radiation, such as particles from radioactive material, consisting of a Geiger tube and associated electronic equipment. Also called Geiger-Müller counter.

pedometer * (pĭ-dŏmĭ-tər)

n. An instrument that gauges the approximate distance traveled on foot by registering the number of steps taken.

magnetometer (măg′nĭ-tŏmĭ-tər)

n. An instrument used for measuring the magnitude and direction of a magnetic field.

yersiniosis (yər-sĭn′ē-ōsĭs)

n. An intestinal disease with symptoms resembling those of appendicitis, occurring chiefly in children and young adults and caused by a species of yersinia (Yersinia enterocolitica) that infects humans and animals.

pancake landing *

n. An irregular or emergency landing in which an aircraft drops flat to the ground from a low altitude.

theodolite (thē-ŏdl-īt′)

n. An optical instrument consisting of a small mounted telescope rotatable in horizontal and vertical planes, used to measure angles in surveying.

riboflavin (rībō-flā′vĭn, -bə-)

n. An orange-yellow crystalline compound, C17H20N4O6, that is part of the vitamin B complex and is essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, occurring naturally in milk, meat, egg yolks, and leafy green vegetables. Also called lactoflavin, vitamin B2.

symbiont * (sĭmbē-ŏnt′, -bī-)

n. An organism in a symbiotic relationship. Also called symbiote.

anteroom (ăntē-rm′, -rm′)

n. An outer room that opens into another room, often used as a waiting room.

aquifer * (ăkwə-fər, äkwə-)

n. An underground layer of permeable rock, sediment, or soil that yields water. Aquifers can range from a few square kilometers to thousands of square kilometers in size.

ossature (ŏsə-chr′, -chər)

n. An underlying framework or skeleton.

scansion (skănshən)

n. Analysis of verse into metrical patterns.

anaphylactic shock *

n. Anaphylaxis in which systemic vasodilation results in shock.

interleukin-1 (ĭntər-l′kĭn-wŭn)

n. Any of a family of cytokines that are released by macrophages and other cells and stimulate the inflammatory response.

granulocyte (grănyə-lō-sīt′)

n. Any of a group of white blood cells having granules in the cytoplasm. Neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils are granulocytes.

saccharide (săkə-rīd′)

n. Any of a series of sweet-tasting carbohydrates, especially a simple sugar or an oligomer or polymer of simple sugars.

enzymes (ĕnzīm)

n. Any of numerous compounds that are produced by living organisms and function as biochemical catalysts. Some enzymes are simple proteins, and others consist of a protein linked to one or more nonprotein groups.

oxalis, Oxalis (ŏksə-lĭs, ŏk-sălĭs)

n. Any of numerous plants of the genus Oxalis, having cloverlike compound leaves usually with three leaflets and five-petaled, variously colored flowers. Also called sorrel, wood sorrel.

hexapod * (hĕksə-pŏd′)

n. Any of numerous six-legged arthropods of the subphylum Hexapoda, which includes the insects and several groups formerly classified as insects, such as the springtails. adj. 1. Of or belonging to the subphylum Hexapoda. 2. Having six legs or feet.

viscacha, vizcacha (vĭ-skächə)

n. Any of several South American rodents of the genera Lagostomus and Lagidium, having large ears and a bushy tail, some species of which live in elaborate systems of burrows.

mariposa lily * (măr′ə-pōzə, -sə)

n. Any of several bulbous plants of the genus Calochortus of western North America, having variously colored, tuliplike flowers. Also called mariposa tulip.

avocet * (ăvə-sĕt′)

n. Any of several long-legged shorebirds of the genus Recurvirostra, characterized by a long, slender, upturned beak.

circumflex (sûrkəm-flĕks′)

n. Any of several marks, especially ( ^ ), used over a vowel in certain languages or in phonetic keys to indicate quality of pronunciation. adj. 1. Having this mark. 2. Curving around: a circumflex blood vessel.

wait-a-bit * (wātə-bĭt′)

n. Any of several plants having sharp, often hooked thorns that can become caught in clothing, such as a thorny African acacia or a catbrier. Also called wait-a-minute.

freesia, Freesia (frēzhə, -zhē-ə, -zē-ə)

n. Any of several plants of the genus Freesia, native to southern Africa, having clusters of fragrant, variously colored flowers borne on one side of the stem.

lorikeet * (lôrĭ-kēt′, lŏr-)

n. Any of several small, often brilliantly colored Australasian parrots that feed primarily on soft fruits and on nectar and pollen.

dracaena, Dracaena (drə-sēnə)

n. Any of several tropical plants of the genera Dracaena and Cordyline cultivated as house plants for their sword-shaped sometimes variegated leaves.

baleen whale *

n. Any of several usually large cetaceans of the suborder Mysticeti, having two blowholes and whalebone plates instead of teeth, and including the humpback whale and the right whales. Also called mysticete, whalebone whale.

shrike (shrīk)

n. Any of various carnivorous songbirds of the family Laniidae, having a screeching call and a strong hooked bill and often impaling its prey on sharp-pointed thorns or barbs of wire fencing.

tilapia, Tilapia (tə-läpē-ə, -lā-)

n. Any of various cichlid fishes of the genera Tilapia, Oreochromis, and Sarotherodon, native to Africa and the Middle East and raised for food in many parts of the world.

opioid * (ōpē-oid′)

n. Any of various compounds that bind to specific receptors in the central nervous system and have analgesic and narcotic effects, including naturally occurring substances such as morphine; synthetic and semisynthetic drugs such as methadone and oxycodone; and certain peptides produced by the body, such as endorphins. Also called opiate.

saurischian (sô-rĭskē-ən)

n. Any of various dinosaurs of the order Saurischia, having a pubic bone that points down and forward like that of modern reptiles, and including the sauropods, such as apatosaurus, and the theropods, such as T. rex.

saber-toothed tiger *

n. Any of various extinct saber-toothed cats of the genus Smilodon, having very long upper canines and widespread in Europe and the Americas during the late Pleistocene Epoch.

nicotiana, Nicotiana (nĭ-kō′shē-ănə, -änə, -ānə)

n. Any of various flowering plants of the genus Nicotiana of the nightshade family, native chiefly to the Americas and including tobacco plants and ornamental species with fragrant flowers.

ornithischian (ôr′nə-thĭskē-ən)

n. Any of various herbivorous dinosaurs of the order Ornithischia, having a pubic bone that points down and backward like that of modern birds, usually a horny beak or bill, and including the hadrosaurs and stegosaurs.

abalone * (ăb′ə-lōnē, ăbə-lō′-)

n. Any of various large edible marine gastropods of the genus Haliotis, having an ear-shaped shell with a row of holes along the outer edge. The colorful pearly interior of the shell is often used for making jewelry or other ornaments. Also called ear shell.

sturgeon (stûrjən)

n. Any of various large freshwater and marine fishes of the family Acipenseridae of the Northern Hemisphere, having ganoid scales and edible flesh and valued for their roe, which is used for caviar, and their swim bladders, which are used to make isinglass.

whelk * (wĕlk, hwĕlk)

n. Any of various large marine carnivorous snails chiefly of the family Buccinidae, having a pointed spiral shell, especially the edible species Buccinum undatum of the North Atlantic Ocean. n. An inflamed swelling, such as a pimple or pustule.

sphagnum, Sphagnum (sfăgnəm)

n. Any of various mosses of the genus Sphagnum of wet acidic areas, having long fibrous leafy stems, the decomposed remains of which form a type of peat.

cyclamen, Cyclamen (sīklə-mən, sĭklə-)

n. Any of various plants of the genus Cyclamen, especially a Mediterranean species (C. persicum) widely cultivated as a houseplant, having decorative leaves and showy, variously colored flowers with reflexed petals.

myosotis, Myosotis (mī′ə-sōtĭs)

n. Any of various plants of the genus Myosotis, which includes the forget-me-nots.

quaestor (kwĕstər, kwēstər)

n. Any of various public officials in ancient Rome responsible for finance and administration in various areas of government and the military.

storm-petrel, storm petrel (stôrmpĕtrəl)

n. Any of various small seabirds of the family Hydrobatidae, found in most of the world's oceans and generally having dark plumage. Also called stormy petrel.

echeveria, Echeveria (ĕch′ə-və-rēə)

n. Any of various tropical American plants of the genus Echeveria, having thick, succulent leaves usually clustered in dense rosettes.

hawthorn (shrub) (hôthôrn′)

n. Any of various usually thorny trees or shrubs of the genus Crataegus of the rose family, having clusters of white or pinkish flowers and reddish fruits containing a few one-seeded nutlets.

auteurism (ō-tûrĭz′əm)

n. Belief in the primary creative importance of the director in filmmaking, often combined with a critical advocacy of the works of certain strong, distinctive directors whose films have a consistent theme or style.

henotheism (hĕnə-thē-ĭz′əm)

n. Belief in the supremacy of one god without denying the existence of others.

insouciance (ĭn-ssē-əns, ăɴ′s-syäɴs)

n. Blithe lack of concern; nonchalance.

paraplegia (păr′ə-plējə, -jē-ə)

n. Complete paralysis of the lower half of the body including both legs, usually caused by damage to the spinal cord.

maquillage (mä′kē-äzh)

n. Cosmetic or theatrical makeup.

consuetude * (kŏnswĭ-td′, -tyd′)

n. Custom; usage.

disbursal (dĭs-bûrsəl)

n. Disbursement.

empressement (äɴ′prĕs-mäɴ)

n. Effusive cordiality.

rose of Jericho

n. Either of two desert plants, Anastatica hierochuntica of the mustard family, native to northern Africa and southwest Asia, or Selaginella lepidophylla, a spore-bearing vascular plant of the southwest United States and Mexico. Each plant forms a tight ball when dry and unfolds under moist conditions.

aileron (ālə-rŏn′)

n. Either of two movable flaps on the wings of an airplane that can be used to control the plane's rolling and banking movements.

sternocleidomastoid * (stûr′nō-klī′də-măstoid)

n. Either of two muscles of the neck that serve to flex the neck and rotate the head.

hemophobia (hē′mə-fōbē-ə)

n. Excessive fear of blood.

self-indulgence (sĕlf′ĭn-dŭljəns)

n. Excessive indulgence of one's own appetites and desires.

noncompliance (nŏn′kəm-plīəns)

n. Failure or refusal to comply.

nonfeasance (nŏn-fēzəns)

n. Failure to perform an act that is an official, contractual, or professional duty.

cronyism (krōnē-ĭz′əm)

n. Favoritism shown to old friends without regard for their qualifications, as in political appointments to office.

monophobia (mŏn′ō-fōbē-ə)

n. Fear of being alone.

triskaidekaphobia * (trĭs′kī-dĕk′ə-fōbē-ə, trĭs′kĭ-)

n. Fear of the number 13.

acarophobia * (ăk′ə-rə-fōbē-ə)

n. Fear that one's skin is infested with mites or other parasites.

silage * (sīlĭj)

n. Fodder prepared by compressing and fermenting green forage crops under anaerobic conditions, usually in a silo.

morphogenesis (môr′fō-jĕnĭ-sĭs)

n. Formation of the structure of an organism or part; differentiation and growth of tissues and organs during development.

ozostomia (ō′zə-stōmē-ə)

n. Foul-smelling breath; halitosis.

merriment (mĕrĭ-mənt)

n. High-spirited fun and enjoyment; hilarity.

presbyopia (prĕz′bē-ōpē-ə, prĕs′-)

n. Inability of the eye to focus sharply on nearby objects, resulting from loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens with advancing age.

phlebitis (flĭ-bītĭs)

n. Inflammation of a vein.

otitis media *

n. Inflammation of the middle ear, occurring commonly in children as a result of infection and often causing pain and temporary hearing loss.

improbity (ĭm-prōbĭ-tē)

n. Lack of probity; dishonesty.

officialese (ə-fĭsh′ə-lēz, -lēs)

n. Language characteristic of official documents or statements, especially when obscure, pretentiously wordy, or excessively formal.

pleuston * (plstən, -stŏn′)

n. Macroscopic organisms that float or swim on the surface of a body of water.

sarcoptic mange (sär-kŏptĭk)

n. Mange caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei.

Victoriana * (vĭk-tôr′ē-ănə, -änə)

n. Material or a collection of materials from or relating to the Victorian era.

venture capital

n. Money available for investment in startup companies and small businesses with a high potential for growth. Also called risk capital.

space sickness

n. Motion sickness caused by sustained weightlessness during space flight, usually accompanied by disturbance of the inner ear.

vaporware (vāpər-wâr′)

n. New software that has been announced or marketed but has not been produced.

verbigeration (vər-bĭj′ə-rāshən)

n. Obsessive repetition of words and phrases, especially as a symptom of mental illness.

coreligionist (kō′rĭ-lĭjə-nĭst)

n. One having the same religion as another.

scholiast (skōlē-ăst′)

n. One of the ancient commentators who annotated the classical authors.

isotope (īsə-tōp′)

n. One of two or more atoms having the same atomic number but different mass numbers.

languet * (lănggwĭt, lăng-gwĕt)

n. One that functions or is shaped like a tongue.

Anglophile (ăngglə-fīl′) also An·glo·phil (-fĭl)

n. One who admires England, its people, and its culture.

aspirant (ăspər-ənt, ə-spīr-)

n. One who aspires, as to advancement, honors, or a high position. adj. Seeking recognition, distinction, or advancement.

junketeer (jŭng′kĭ-tēr)

n. One who goes on a junket or junkets.

apostate (ə-pŏstāt′, -tĭt)

n. One who has abandoned one's religious faith, a political party, one's principles, or a cause.

misogynist * (mĭ-sŏjə-nĭst)

n. One who hates or mistrusts women.

matriculant (mə-trĭkyə-lənt)

n. One who matriculates or is a candidate for matriculation.

geneticist * (jə-nĕtĭ-sĭst)

n. One who specializes in genetics.

scandalmonger (skăndl-mŭng′gər, -mŏng′-)

n. One who spreads malicious gossip.

antiquarian (ăn′tĭ-kwârē-ən)

n. One who studies, collects, or deals in antiquities. adj. 1. Of or relating to antiquarians or to the study or collecting of antiquities. 2. Dealing in or having to do with old or rare books.

opportunist (ŏp′ər-tnĭst, -ty-)

n. One who takes advantage of any opportunity to achieve an end, often with no regard for principles or consequences.

vaudevillian (vôd-vĭlyən, vōd-, vô′də-)

n. One, especially a performer, who works in vaudeville.

chiromancy (kīrə-măn′sē)

n. Palmistry.

linguine, linguini (lĭng-gwēnē)

n. Pasta in long, flat, thin strands.

kitsch (kĭch)

n. Pieces of art or other objects that appeal to popular or uncultivated taste, as in being garish or overly sentimental.

puissant * (pwĭsəns, pyĭ-səns, py-ĭsəns)

n. Power; might.

legerity (lə-jĕrĭ-tē)

n. Quickness or agility of mind or body.

mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (mouthtə-mouth)

n. Rescue breathing in which one uses one's mouth to cover the victim's mouth and deliver air. Also called mouth-to-mouth ventilation.

visual acuity

n. Sharpness of vision, especially as tested with a Snellen chart. Normal visual acuity based on the Snellen chart is 20/20.

latosol (lătə-sôl′, -sŏl′)

n. Soil that is rich in iron, alumina, or silica and formed in tropical woodlands with great humidity and high temperatures.

bisector (bisĕk′tər, bi-sĕk-)

n. Something that bisects, especially a ray that bisects an angle.

royalism * (roiə-lĭz′əm)

n. Support of monarchy or of a particular monarch.

lamedh (lämĭd, -mĕd′)

n. The 12th letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

quattrocento * (kwŏt′rō-chĕntō)

n. The 15th-century period of Italian art and literature.

Shabbat (shə-bät, shäbəs)

n. The Jewish Sabbath, observed from sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturday.

Federal Reserve System

n. The US central bank, a system of 12 Federal Reserve banks, each serving member commercial banks in its own district. This system, supervised by the Federal Reserve Board, has broad regulatory powers over the money supply and the credit structure.

escalade (ĕskə-lād′, -läd′)

n. The act of scaling a fortified wall or rampart.

inoculation * (ĭ-nŏk′yə-lāshən)

n. The act or an instance of inoculating, especially the introduction of an antigenic substance or vaccine into the body to produce immunity to a specific disease.

groupthink (grpthĭngk′)

n. The act or practice of reasoning or decision-making by a group, especially when characterized by uncritical acceptance or conformity to prevailing points of view.

ventriloquism (vĕn-trĭlə-kwĭz′əm)

n. The art of projecting one's voice so that it seems to come from another source, as from a wooden figure.

selenology (sĕl′ə-nŏlə-jē)

n. The astronomical study of the moon.

zoogeography (zō′ə-jē-ŏgrə-fē)

n. The biological study of the geographic distribution of animals, especially the causes and effects of such distribution.

x-ray astronomy

n. The branch of astronomy that uses observations of emissions in the x-ray part of electromagnetic spectrum to study extraterrestrial sources such as stars, galaxies, and interstellar gas clouds.

gastroenterology (găs′trō-ĕn′tə-rŏlə-jē)

n. The branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the digestive system.

telemarketer (tĕlə-mär′kĭ-tĭng)

n. The business or practice of marketing goods or services by telephone.

deltiology (dĕl′tē-ŏlə-jē)

n. The collection and study of postcards.

emmetropia * (ĕm′ĭ-trōpē-ə)

n. The condition of the normal eye when parallel rays of light are focused exactly on the retina and vision is perfect.

passivity (pă-sĭvĭ-tē)

n. The condition or quality of being passive; inactivity, quiescence, or submissiveness.

earth art

n. The creation of artistic forms, often on a large scale, using local natural materials such as earth, sand, or rock.

word-processing (prŏsĕs′ĭng, prōsĕs′-)

n. The creation, input, editing, and production of documents and texts by means of computer systems.

stichometry * (stĭ-kŏmĭ-trē)

n. The division of a prose piece into lines of fixed length or into lines whose lengths correspond to the natural divisions of sense, as in manuscripts written before the adoption of punctuation.

zootechny (zōə-tĕk′nē)

n. The domestication, breeding, and improvement of animals; the technology of animal husbandry.

geophagy (jē-ŏfə-jē)

n. The eating of earthy substances, such as clay or chalk, practiced among various peoples as a custom or for dietary or subsistence reasons.

diplomatic immunity

n. The exemption enjoyed by diplomatic agents, their families, and members of their mission staffs from many ordinary criminal and civil laws of their host country, as determined under terms established by treaty and international law.

annular ligament *

n. The fibrous band of tissue that surrounds the ankle joint or the wrist joint.

uraeus (y-rēəs)

n. The figure of the sacred serpent, an emblem of sovereignty depicted on the headdress of ancient Egyptian rulers and deities.

ketogenesis (kē′tō-jĕnĭ-sĭs)

n. The formation of ketone bodies, as occurs in diabetes mellitus.

provost marshal (prōvō)

n. The head of a unit of military police.

Sanhedrin (săn-hĕdrĭn, -hēdrĭn, sän-)

n. The highest judicial and ecclesiastical council of the ancient Jewish nation, composed of from 70 to 72 members.

jus gentium (ys gĕntē-əm, jŭs jĕnshē-əm)

n. The law of nations; international law.

troposphere * (trōpə-sfîr′, trŏpə-)

n. The lowest region of the atmosphere between the earth's surface and the tropopause, characterized by decreasing temperature with increasing altitude.

restaurateur * (rĕs′tər-ə-tûr) also res·tau·ran·teur (-tə-rän-tûr)

n. The manager or owner of a restaurant.

monasticism * (mə-năstĭ-sĭz′əm)

n. The monastic life or system, especially as practiced in a monastery.

heliotaxis (hē′lē-ō-tăksĭs)

n. The movement of an organism in response to the light of the sun.

necrobiosis (nĕk′rō-bī-ōsĭs)

n. The natural death of cells or tissues through aging, as distinguished from necrosis or pathological death.

mesenchyme (mĕzən-kīm′, mĕs-)

n. The part of the embryonic mesoderm, consisting of loosely packed, unspecialized cells set in a gelatinous ground substance, from which connective tissue, bone, cartilage, and the circulatory and lymphatic systems develop.

preadolescence (prē′ăd-l-ĕsəns)

n. The period of childhood just before the onset of puberty, often designated as between the ages of 10 and 12 in girls and 11 and 13 in boys.

contrapposto (kōn′trə-pōstō)

n. The position of a standing human figure whose weight is unequally distributed between the two legs, resulting in a slight curvature of the torso and a tilting of the pelvis and shoulders in opposite directions.

façadism, facadism (fə-sädĭz′əm)

n. The practice of preserving the fronts of old buildings while demolishing the backs, often constructing modern interiors behind the old façades.

palmistry (pämĭ-strē)

n. The practice or art of telling fortunes from the lines, marks, and patterns on the palms of the hands.

bacteremia (băk′tə-rēmē-ə)

n. The presence of bacteria in the blood.

fair market value

n. The price, as of a commodity or service, at which both buyers and sellers agree to do business.

exiguity (ĕk′sĭ-gyĭ-tē)

n. The quality or condition of being scanty or meager.

heterogeneity (hĕt′ə-rō′jə-nēĭ-tē)

n. The quality or state of being heterogeneous.

iridescence (ĭr′ĭ-dĕsəns)

n. The quality or state of being iridescent.

poetic justice

n. The rewarding of virtue and the punishment of vice, often in an especially appropriate or ironic manner.

caviar, caviare (kăvē-är′, kävē-)

n. The roe of a large fish, especially sturgeon, that is salted, seasoned, and eaten as a delicacy or relish.

poinciana (poin′sē-ănə, -änə)

n. The royal poinciana.

zero hour

n. The scheduled time for the start of an operation or action, especially a combat operation of great size. Also called H-hour.

heliculture (hĕlĭ-kŭl′chər, hēlĭ-)

n. The science and occupation of growing snails for food.

criminology (krĭm′ə-nŏlə-jē)

n. The scientific study of crime, criminals, criminal behavior, and corrections.

glaciology * (glā′shē-ŏlə-jē, -sē-)

n. The scientific study of glaciers and their effects on the landscape.

screenplay (skrēnplā′)

n. The script for a movie, including descriptions of scenes and some camera directions.

unbundling (ŭn-bŭndlĭng)

n. The separate pricing of goods and services.

faena (fä-ānä)

n. The series of final passes performed by a matador preparatory to killing a bull in a bullfight.

pneuma (nmə, ny-)

n. The soul or vital spirit.

titubation (tĭch′ə-bāshən)

n. The staggering or stumbling gait characteristic of certain nervous disorders.

amorphism (ə-môrfĭz′əm)

n. The state or quality of being amorphous.

exactitude (ĭg-zăktĭ-td, -tyd′)

n. The state or quality of being exact.

incredulity (ĭn′krĭ-dlĭ-tē, -dy-)

n. The state or quality of being incredulous; disbelief.

amperage * (ămpər-ĭj, ămpîr′-)

n. The strength of an electric current expressed in amperes.

pteridology (tĕr′ĭ-dŏlə-jē)

n. The study of ferns and other pteridophytes.

papyrology * (păp′ə-rŏlə-jē)

n. The study of papyrus manuscripts.

radioecology (rā′dē-ō-ĭ-kŏlə-jē)

n. The study of the effects of radiation and radioisotopes on the environment.

toxicology * (tŏk′sĭ-kŏlə-jē)

n. The study of the nature, effects, and detection of poisons and the treatment of poisoning.

extradition (ĕk′strə-dĭshən)

n. The surrender of an individual by one nation or state to another nation or state where that individual is sought for trial or punishment for the commission of a crime.

simplism * (sĭmplĭz′əm)

n. The tendency to oversimplify an issue or a problem by ignoring complexities or complications.

urban forest

n. The trees and associated organisms existing within a city.

joint venture

n. The undertaking of a specific commercial project by two or more companies or persons.

czarina, tsarina * (zä-rēnə, tsä-) also tsa·ri·na (tsä-, zä-)

n. The wife of a Russian czar.

pastina (pă-stēnə)

n. Tiny pieces of pasta, often cooked in soups or used as baby food.

spindrift (spĭndrĭft′)

n. Windblown sea spray. Also called spoondrift.

colonnade (kŏl′ə-nād)

n. Architecture 1. A series of columns placed at regular intervals. 2. A structure composed of columns placed at regular intervals.

canaille (kə-nī, -nāl)

n. Derogatory The common people; the masses.

purificator (pyrə-fĭ-kā′tər)

n. Ecclesiastical A cloth used to clean the chalice during or after the celebration of the Eucharist.

biretta, beretta (bə-rĕtə)

n. Ecclesiastical A stiff square cap with three or four ridges across the crown. Birettas are worn especially by Roman Catholic clergy and are black for priests, purple for bishops, and red for cardinals.

Laertes (lā-ûrtēz, -âr-)

n. Greek Mythology The father of Odysseus.

Creüsa * (krē-zə)

n. Greek Mythology The wife of Aeneas who was lost while fleeing from Troy but came back as a ghost to warn Aeneas of his future.

John Hancock (signature)

n. Informal A person's signature.

jillionaire * (jĭlyən)

n. Informal An indefinitely large number.

Talmud (tälmd, tălməd)

n. Judaism The collection of ancient Rabbinic writings consisting of the Mishnah and the Gemara, constituting the basis of religious authority in Orthodox Judaism.

Kiddush (kĭdəsh, kē-dsh)

n. Judaism The traditional blessing and prayer recited over wine on the eve of the Sabbath or a festival.

feoffment (fĕfmənt, fēf-)

n. Law The transfer of a fee.

petitio principii (pə-tĭshē-ō′ prĭn-sĭpē-ē′, -ē-ī′)

n. Logic The fallacy of assuming in the premise of an argument that which one wishes to prove in the conclusion; a begging of the question.

Nibelung (nēbə-lng′)

n. Mythology 1. Any of a race of subterranean dwarfs whose hoard of riches and magic ring were taken from them by Siegfried. 2. A follower of Siegfried.

hippogriff, hippogryph (hĭpə-grĭf′)

n. Mythology A monster having the wings, claws, and head of a griffin and the body and hindquarters of a horse.

phenomenalism (fĭ-nŏmə-nə-lĭz′əm)

n. Philosophy The doctrine, set forth by David Hume and his successors, that percepts and concepts constitute the sole objects of knowledge, with the objects of perception and the nature of the mind itself remaining unknowable.

subjective idealism *

n. Philosophy The theory that nature has no objective existence independent of the minds that perceive it.

shtick, schtick, shtik (shtĭk)

n. Slang 1. A characteristic attribute, talent, or trait that is helpful in securing recognition or attention: waiters in tropical attire are part of the restaurant's shtick. 2. An entertainment routine or gimmick.

tchotchke, chachka * (chŏchkə) also tsats·ke (tsätskə)

n. Slang A cheap showy trinket.

rubbernecker (rŭbər-nĕk′ər)

n. Slang A gawking onlooker.

Bronx cheer

n. Slang A loud sound expressing disapproval; a raspberry.

navel-gazing (nāvəl-gā′zĭng)

n. Slang Excessive introspection, self-absorption, or concentration on a single issue.

acequia (ə-sākē-ə)

n. Southwestern US An irrigation canal.

congeries * (kən-jîrēz′, kŏnjə-rēz′)

n. (used with a sing. verb) A collection; an aggregation: "Our city, it should be explained, is two cities, or more—an urban mass or congeries divided by the river" (John Updike).

homiletics * (hŏm′ə-lĕtĭks)

n. (used with a sing. verb) The art of preaching.

quadratics * (kwŏ-drătĭks)

n. (used with a sing. verb) The branch of algebra that deals with quadratic equations.

metaethics * (mĕtə-ĕth′ĭks)

n. (used with a sing. verb) The study of the meaning and nature of ethical terms, judgments, and arguments.

macroeconomics * (măk′rō-ĕk′ə-nŏmĭks, -ē′kə-)

n. (used with a sing. verb) The study of the overall aspects and workings of a national economy, such as income, output, and the interrelationship among diverse economic sectors.

lieutenant governor

n. Abbr. Lt. Gov. 1. An elected official ranking just below the governor of a state in the United States. 2. The nonelective chief of government of a Canadian province.

peninsular (pə-nĭnsyə-lə, -sə-lə)

n. Abbr. Pen. A piece of land that juts out from a larger land mass and is mostly surrounded by water.

Universal Product Code

n. Abbr. UPC A number and barcode that identify an individual consumer product, often used for tracking inventory.

value-added tax *

n. Abbr. VAT A tax on the estimated market value added to a product or material at each stage of its manufacture or distribution, ultimately passed on to the consumer.

charm quark *

n. Abbr. c The flavor of quark that has a charge of + 2/3 , has a mass about 2,450 times that of an electron, and belongs to the second generation of elementary fermions. Also called charmed quark.

decaliter, dekaliter (dĕkə-lē′tər)

n. Abbr. dal or dkl A metric unit of volume equal to 10 liters.

kiloton (kĭlə-tŭn′)

n. Abbr. kt 1. A unit of weight or capacity equal to 1,000 metric tons. 2. An explosive energy equivalent to that of 1,000 metric tons of TNT.

hydrogenous (hīdrə-jən)

n. Symbol H A colorless, highly flammable element, that occurs as a diatomic molecule, H2, the lightest of all gases and the most abundant element in the universe, used in the production of synthetic ammonia and methanol, in petroleum refining, in the hydrogenation of organic materials, as a reducing atmosphere, in oxyhydrogen torches, in cryogenic research, and in rocket fuels. Atomic number 1; atomic weight 1.00794; melting point -259.1°C; boiling point -252.8°C; density at 0°C 0.08988 gram per liter; valence 1.

manganese (mănggə-nēz′, -nēs′)

n. Symbol Mn A gray-white brittle metallic element, occurring in several allotropic forms, found worldwide, especially in the ores pyrolusite and rhodochrosite and in nodules on the ocean floor. It is alloyed with steel to increase strength, hardness, wear resistance, and other properties and with other metals to form highly ferromagnetic materials. Atomic number 25; atomic weight 54.938; melting point 1,246°C; boiling point 2,061°C; specific gravity 7.21 to 7.44; valence 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

crampons * (krămpŏn′, -pən)

n. often crampons 1. A hinged pair of curved iron bars for raising heavy objects, such as stones or timber. 2. A framework of metal spikes strapped or clipped to the sole of a boot or shoe to prevent slipping when walking or climbing on ice and snow. Also called climbing iron.

fajita (fə-hētə)

n. often fajitas A dish consisting of strips of marinated meat or vegetables that are grilled over an open fire and served in a tortilla, usually with spicy condiments.

Caddo (kădō)

n. pl. Caddo or Cad·dos 1. A member of a Native American confederacy composed of numerous small tribes formerly inhabiting the Red River area of Louisiana, Arkansas, and eastern Texas and now located in central Oklahoma. 2. The Caddoan language of the Caddo.

Filipino (fĭl′ə-pēnō)

n. pl. Fil·i·pi·nos 1. a. A native or inhabitant of the Philippines. b. A person of Filipino ancestry. 2. The Austronesian language that is based on Tagalog, draws its lexicon from other Philippine languages, and is the official language of the Philippines. adj. Of or relating to the Philippines or its peoples, languages, or cultures.

Klamath (klăməth)

n. pl. Klamath or Klam·aths 1. A member of a Native American people inhabiting an area of the Cascade Range in south-central Oregon and northern California, with close cultural ties to the Modoc. 2. The Penutian language of the Klamath.

Mbundu (əm-bnd)

n. pl. Mbundu or Mbun·dus 1. A member of a Bantu people inhabiting southern and central Angola. Also called Ovimbundu. 2. The Bantu language of this people. Also called Umbundu. 3. A member of a Bantu people inhabiting northern Angola. Also called Ndongo. 4. The Bantu language of this people. Also called Kimbundu.

Midrash * (mĭdräsh′)

n. pl. Mid·rash·im (mĭd-rôshĭm, mĭd′rä-shēm) Any of a group of Jewish commentaries on the Hebrew Scriptures compiled between AD 200 and 1200 and based on exegesis, parable, and haggadic legend.

Nahuatl (näwät′l)

n. pl. Nahuatl or Na·hua·tls 1. A member of any of various Indian peoples of central Mexico, including the Aztecs. 2. The Uto-Aztecan language of the Nahuatl.

Punchinello (pŭn′chə-nĕlō)

n. pl. Pun·chi·nel·los or Pun·chi·nel·loes 1. The short fat buffoon or clown in an Italian puppet show. 2. One who resembles a short fat clown.

Santa Gertrudis (săn′tə gər-trdĭs)

n. pl. Santa Gertrudis Any of a breed of large beef cattle that are highly resistant to heat and insects, developed in the United States by crossing Brahmans and shorthorns.

Tuareg (twärĕg′)

n. pl. Tuareg or Tua·regs A member of a traditionally Muslim, Berber-speaking people inhabiting the western and central Sahara and western Sahel of northwest Africa.

Uyghur, Uighur (wēgr)

n. pl. Uyghuror Uy·ghurs , also Uighur , or Ui·ghurs 1. A member of a mainly agricultural Turkic people inhabiting the Xinjiang region in China. 2. The Turkic language of the Uyghurs.

Wahhabism (wä-häbē)

n. pl. Wah·ha·bis or Wa·ha·bis A member of a Muslim sect founded by Abdul Wahhab (1703-1792), known for its strict observance of the Koran and flourishing mainly in Arabia.

Yamasee (yämə-sē′)

n. pl. Yamasee or Ya·ma·sees A member of a Native American people formerly inhabiting parts of coastal Georgia and South Carolina. The Yamasee dispersed to other Native American groups after conflict with English colonists in the early 1700s.

acclivity (ə-klĭvĭ-tē)

n. pl. ac·cliv·i·ties An upward slope, as of a hill.

admiralty, Admiralty (ădmər-əl-tē)

n. pl. ad·mi·ral·ties 1. a. A court exercising jurisdiction over all maritime cases. b. Maritime law. 2. Admiralty The department of the British government that once had control over all naval affairs.

alpaca (ăl-păkə)

n. pl. alpaca or al·pac·as 1. A domesticated South American ruminant mammal (Vicugna pacos or Lama pacos), related to the llama and having fine, long wool. 2. a. The silky wool of this mammal. b. Cloth made from alpaca. 3. A fabric that imitates alpaca, made from various natural or synthetic fibers. [American Spanish, from Aymara and Quechua allpaqa.]

antiphony * (ăn-tĭfə-nē)

n. pl. an·tiph·o·nies 1. Responsive or antiphonal singing or chanting. 2. A composition that is sung responsively; an antiphon. 3. A responsive or reciprocal interchange, as of ideas or opinions: "Sheridan's play shows both sides of the coin. He establishes an antiphony of cynicism and sentimentality" (Jonathan Miller).

argali (ärgə-lē)

n. pl. argali or ar·ga·lis A large wild sheep (Ovis ammon) of mountainous regions of central and northern Asia, the male of which has massive curved horns.

arroyos (ə-roiō)

n. pl. ar·roy·os 1. A deep gully cut by an intermittent stream; a dry gulch. 2. A brook; a creek.

auspice (ôspĭs)

n. pl. aus·pi·ces (ôspĭ-sĭz, -sēz′) 1. also auspices Protection or support; patronage. 2. A sign indicative of future prospects; an omen: Auspices for the venture seemed favorable. 3. Observation of and divination from the actions of birds.

anathema (ə-năthə-mə)

n. pl. a·nath·e·mas 1. A formal ecclesiastical ban, curse, or excommunication. 2. A vehement denunciation; a curse: "the sound of a witch's anathemas in some unknown tongue" (Nathaniel Hawthorne). 3. One that is cursed or damned. 4. One that is greatly reviled, loathed, or shunned: "Essentialism—a belief in natural, immutable sex differences—is anathema to postmodernists, for whom sexuality itself, along with gender, is a 'social construct'" (Wendy Kaminer).

arioso (ä′rē-ōsō, -zō)

n. pl. a·ri·o·sos 1. a. A style used in opera and oratorio, similar to but more melodic than recitative. b. A passage rendered in this style. 2. A short vocal solo having the melodic style but not the form of an aria. adv. & adj. In a melodic style like that of an aria. Used chiefly as a direction.

aviatrix * (ā′vē-ātrĭks, ăv′ē-)

n. pl. a·vi·a·trix·es or a·vi·a·tri·ces (-trīsēz′) A woman aviator. Used especially during the first half of the twentieth century.

banjoist (bănjō)

n. pl. ban·jos or ban·joes the player of a usually fretted stringed instrument having a narrow neck and a hollow circular body with a covering of plastic or stretched skin on which the bridge rests. The modern American banjo typically has four strings and often a short fifth string plucked with the thumb.

bel esprit (bĕl′ ĕ-sprē)

n. pl. beaux es·prits (bō′zĕ-sprē) A cultivated, highly intelligent person.

beau geste (bō zhĕst)

n. pl. beaux gestes or beau gestes (bō zhĕst) 1. A gracious gesture. 2. A gesture noble in form but meaningless in substance.

benignancy *(bĭ-nĭgnən-sē)

n. pl. be·nig·nan·cies Benignity.

billet-doux (bĭl′ā-d)

n. pl. bil·lets-doux (bĭl′ā-dz) A love letter.

bouquet garni (gär-nē)

n. pl. bou·quets gar·nis (bō-kāz′ gär-nē, b-) A bunch of herbs tied together, wrapped in cheesecloth or enclosed in a small cloth sack, and immersed during cooking, as in a soup or stew.

caryatid (kăr′ē-ătĭd)

n. pl. car·y·at·ids or car·y·at·i·des (-ĭ-dēz′) Architecture A supporting column sculptured in the form of a draped female figure.

caucus (kôkəs)

n. pl. cau·cus·es or cau·cus·ses 1. a. A meeting of the local members of a political party especially to select delegates to a convention or register preferences for candidates running for office. b. A closed meeting of party members within a legislative body to decide on questions of policy or leadership. c. A group within a legislative or decision-making body seeking to represent a specific interest or influence a particular area of policy: a minority caucus. 2. Chiefly British A committee within a political party charged with determining policy. v. cau·cused, cau·cus·ing, cau·cus·es or cau·cussed or cau·cus·sing or cau·cus·ses v.intr. To assemble in or hold a caucus. v.tr. To assemble or canvass (members of a caucus).

cabaletta (kăb′ə-lĕtə, kä′bə-)

n. pl. ca·ba·let·tas or ca·ba·let·te (-lĕtē) 1. A short aria that has a repetitive rhythm and a simple style. 2. The final section of an aria or duet marked by a quick uniform rhythm.

catalytic (kə-tălĭ-sĭs)

n. pl. ca·tal·y·ses (-sēz′) The action of a catalyst, especially an increase in the rate of a chemical reaction.

catalogue raisonné (kătl-ôg′ rā′zə-nā, -ŏg′, kä-tä-lôg rĕ-zô-nā)

n. pl. ca·ta·logues rai·son·nés (kătl-ôgz′ rā′zə-nā, -ŏgz′, kä-tä-lôg rĕ-zô-nā) A publication listing titles of articles or literary works, especially the contents of an exhibition, along with related descriptive or critical material.

cathexis (kə-thĕksĭs)

n. pl. ca·thex·es (-thĕksēz) Concentration of emotional energy on an object or idea.

cembalo (chĕmbə-lō′)

n. pl. cem·ba·los A harpsichord.

chef-d'oeurve (shā-dœvrə, -dûrv)

n. pl. chefs-d'oeu·vre (shā-) A masterpiece, especially in literature or art.

chelicera (kĭ-lĭsər-ə)

n. pl. che·lic·er·ae (-ə-rē′) Either of the first pair of fanglike appendages near the mouth of an arachnid or a horseshoe crab, often modified for grasping and piercing.

chorizo (chə-rēzō, -sō)

n. pl. cho·ri·zos A spicy pork sausage seasoned especially with garlic.

chrestomathy * (krĕ-stŏmə-thē)

n. pl. chres·tom·a·thies 1. A selection of literary passages, usually by one author. 2. An anthology used in studying a language.

chrysalis (krĭsə-lĭs)

n. pl. chrys·a·lis·es or chry·sal·i·des (krĭ-sălĭ-dēz′) 1. a. A pupa, especially of a butterfly. b. The hardened case of a pupa. 2. A protected stage of development.

cinerarium (sĭn′ə-rârē-əm)

n. pl. cin·e·rar·i·a (-ē-ə) A place for keeping the ashes of a cremated body.

clepsydra (klĕpsĭ-drə)

n. pl. clep·sy·dras or clep·sy·drae (-drē′) An ancient device that measured time by marking the regulated flow of water through a small opening. Also called water glass.

collegium (kə-lējē-əm)

n. pl. col·le·gi·a (-jē-ə) or col·le·gi·ums 1. An executive council or committee of equally empowered members, especially one supervising an industry, commissariat, or other organization in the Soviet Union. 2. A group whose members pursue shared goals while working within a framework of mutual trust and respect: "This standing firm ... enables the college to be a community, a collegium of students and faculty working at common problems and possibilities" (Robert A. Spivey).

commodities (kə-mŏdĭ-tē)

n. pl. com·mod·i·ties 1. Something useful that can be turned to commercial or other advantage: "Left-handed, power-hitting third basemen are a rare commodity in the big leagues" (Steve Guiremand). 2. A product or service that is indistinguishable from ones manufactured or provided by competing companies and that therefore sells primarily on the basis of price rather than quality or style. 3. Archaic Advantage; benefit.

condominium (kŏn′də-mĭnē-əm)

n. pl. con·do·min·i·ums also con·do·min·i·a (-mĭnē-ə) 1. a. A building or complex in which units of property, such as apartments, are owned by individuals and common parts of the property, such as the grounds and building structure, are owned jointly by the unit owners. b. A unit in such a complex. 2. a. Joint sovereignty, especially joint rule of territory by two or more nations, or a plan to achieve it: "The allies would fear that they were pawns in a superpower condominium" (New Republic). b. A politically dependent territory.

congruency (kŏnggr-ən-sē, kən-gr-)

n. pl. con·gru·en·cies Congruence.

constituency * (kən-stĭch-ən-sē)

n. pl. con·stit·u·en·cies 1. a. The body of voters or the residents of a district represented by an elected legislator or official. b. The district so represented. 2. a. A group of supporters or patrons. b. A group served by an organization or institution; a clientele: The magazine changed its format to appeal to a broader constituency.

contrariety (kŏn′trə-rīĭ-tē)

n. pl. con·tra·ri·e·ties 1. The quality or condition of being contrary. 2. Something that is contrary.

contumely (kŏnt-mə-lē, -ty-, -təm-lē)

n. pl. con·tu·me·lies 1. Rudeness or contempt arising from arrogance; insolence. 2. An insolent or arrogant remark or act.

coup de main (k′ də mă)

n. pl. coups de main(k′) A sudden action, especially a surprise attack, against an enemy.

cognoscente (kŏn′yə-shĕntē, kŏg′nə-)

n. pl. co·gno·scen·ti (-tē) A person with superior, usually specialized knowledge or highly refined taste; a connoisseur.

crematorium (krē′mə-tôrē-əm)

n. pl. cre·ma·to·ri·ums or cre·ma·to·ri·a (-tôrē-ə) A furnace or establishment for the incineration of corpses.

curriculum vitae * (vītē, vētī, wētī′)

n. pl. curricula vitae Abbr. CV A summary of one's education, professional history, and job qualifications, as for a prospective employer.

daiquiri (dăkə-rē, dīkə-)

n. pl. daiq·ui·ris An iced cocktail of rum, lime or lemon juice, and sugar.

darnel (därnəl)

n. pl. dar·nels Any of several ryegrasses, especially Lolium temulentum.

deontology (dē′ŏn-tŏlə-jē)

n. pl. de·on·tol·o·gies 1. Ethical or moral theory concerned with duties and rights. 2. The doctrine that ethical status of an action lies in its adherence to a set of rules.

discographer (dĭ-skŏgrə-fē)

n. pl. dis·cog·ra·phies 1. The study and cataloging of phonograph records. 2. A comprehensive list of the recordings made by a particular performer or of a particular composer's works.

disparity (dĭ-spărĭ-tē)

n. pl. dis·par·i·ties 1. The condition or fact of being unequal, as in age, rank, or degree; difference: "narrow the economic disparities among regions and industries" (Courtenay Slater). 2. Unlikeness; incongruity.

diagnoses (dī′əg-nōsĭs)

n. pl. di·ag·no·ses (-sēz) 1. Medicine a. The act or process of identifying or determining the nature and cause of a disease or injury through evaluation of patient history, examination, and review of laboratory data. b. The opinion derived from such an evaluation. 2. a. A critical analysis of the nature of something. b. The conclusion reached by such analysis. 3. Biology A brief description of the distinguishing characteristics of an organism, as for taxonomic classification.

doxology (dŏk-sŏlə-jē)

n. pl. dox·ol·o·gies An expression of praise to God, especially a short hymn sung as part of a Christian worship service.

dubiety * (d-bīĭ-tē, dy-)

n. pl. du·bi·e·ties 1. The condition of being doubtful or uncertain. See Synonyms at uncertainty. 2. A feeling or matter of doubt: "His feeling partook less of intuitional conviction than of strong suspicion clogged by strange dubieties" (Herman Melville).

dybbuk (dĭbk, dē-bk)

n. pl. dyb·buksor dyb·buk·im (dĭ-bkĭm, dē′b-kēm) In Jewish folklore, the wandering soul of a dead person that enters the body of a living person and controls the living person's behavior.

eisteddfod (ā-stĕthvŏd, ī-stĕth-)

n. pl. eis·tedd·fods or eis·tedd·fod·au (ā′stĕth-vŏdī, ī′stĕth-) An annual competitive festival of Welsh poets and musicians.

eland * (ēlənd)

n. pl. eland also e·lands Either of two large African antelopes (Taurotragus oryx or T. derbianus) having a light brown or grayish coat, spirally twisted horns, and in the male a large dewlap.

ellipsis (ĭ-lĭpsĭs)

n. pl. el·lip·ses (-sēz) 1. a. The omission of a word or phrase necessary for a complete syntactical construction but not necessary for understanding. b. An example of such omission. 2. A mark or series of marks ( ... or * * * , for example) used in writing or printing to indicate an omission, especially of letters or words.

enarthrosis (ĕn′är-thrōsĭs)

n. pl. en·ar·thro·ses (-sēz) Anatomy n. 1. A synovial joint, such as the shoulder or hip joint, in which a spherical knob or knoblike part of one bone fits into a cavity or socket of another, so that some degree of rotary motion is possible in every direction.

encephaloma * (ĕn-sĕf′ə-lōmə)

n. pl. en·ceph·a·lo·mas or en·ceph·a·lo·ma·ta (-mə-tə) A tumor of the brain.

enchiridion (ĕn′kī-rĭdē-ən)

n. pl. en·chi·rid·i·ons or en·chi·rid·i·a (-ē-ə) A handbook; a manual.

enfant terrible (singular) * (äɴ-fäɴ′ tĕ-rēblə)

n. pl. en·fants ter·ri·bles (äɴ-fäɴ′ tĕ-rēblə) One whose startlingly unconventional behavior, work, or thought embarrasses or disturbs others: The radical painter was the enfant terrible of the art establishment.

epistaxis (ĕp′ĭ-stăksĭs)

n. pl. ep·i·stax·es (-stăksēz′) A nosebleed.

equerry * (ĕkwə-rē)

n. pl. eq·uer·ries 1. A personal attendant to the British royal household. 2. An officer charged with supervision of the horses belonging to a royal or noble household.

executrix (ĭg-zĕkyə-trĭks′)

n. pl. ex·ec·u·trix·es or ex·ec·u·tri·ces (-trīsēz′) Law A woman appointed by a testator to execute the testator's will.

episcopacy (ĭ-pĭskə-pə-sē)

n. pl. e·pis·co·pa·cies 1. Bishops considered as a group. 2. A system of church government in which bishops are the chief clerics.

esophagus, oesophagus (ĭ-sŏfə-gəs)

n. pl. e·soph·a·gi (-jī′, -gī′) also oe·soph·a·gi The muscular tube by which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach; the gullet.

faux pas (fō pä)

n. pl. faux pas (fō päz) A social blunder.

fervency (fûrvən-sē)

n. pl. fer·ven·cies The condition or quality of being fervent.

fluoroscopy (fl-rŏskə-pē, flô-, flō-)

n. pl. fluo·ros·co·pies Examination by means of a fluoroscope.

fremitus * (frĕmĭ-təs)

n. pl. fremitus A palpable vibration, as felt by the hand placed on the chest during coughing or speaking.

friary (frīə-rē)

n. pl. fri·ar·ies A monastery of friars.

furriery (fûrē-ə-rē)

n. pl. fur·ri·er·ies 1. Fur garments and trimmings considered as a group. 2. The business of a furrier.

gambado (găm-bādō)

n. pl. gam·ba·does or gam·ba·dos 1. A low leap of a horse in which all four feet leave the ground. 2. A leaping or gamboling movement.

genealogist * (jē′nē-ŏlə-jē, -ăl-, jĕn′ē-)

n. pl. ge·ne·al·o·gies 1. A record or table of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor or ancestors; a family tree. 2. Direct descent from an ancestor; lineage or pedigree. 3. The study or investigation of ancestry and family histories.

glissando * (glĭ-sändō)

n. pl. glis·san·di (-dē) or glis·san·dos Music A rapid slide through a series of consecutive tones in a scalelike passage.

gravamen * (grə-vāmən)

n. pl. gra·va·mens or gra·vam·i·na (-vămə-nə) Law The main claim or most important aspect of a complaint against a defendant.

gynecocracy (gī′nĭ-kŏkrə-sē, jĭn′ĭ-) or gy·noc·ra·cy (gī-nŏkrə-sē, jĭ-)

n. pl. gy·ne·coc·ra·cies or gy·noc·ra·cies 1. Government by women. 2. A society ruled by women.

hagiography (hăg′ē-ŏgrə-fē, hā′jē-)

n. pl. hag·i·og·ra·phies 1. a. The writing of the lives of saints. b. A biography of a saint. 2. a. The writing of an admiring or idealized biography. b. An admiring or idealized biography.

hapax legomenon (hāpăks′ lĭ-gŏmə-nŏn′)

n. pl. ha·pax le·go·me·na (-nə) A word or form that occurs only once in the recorded corpus of a given language.

heathenish (hēthən)

n. pl. hea·thens or heathen 1. Offensive a. An adherent of a religion that does not worship the God of Judaism, Christianity, or Islam. b. Such persons considered as a group. 2. Heathen An adherent of a Neopagan religion that seeks to revive the religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Germanic peoples. 3. Informal a. One who is regarded as irreligious, uncivilized, or unenlightened. b. Such persons considered as a group.

hennery * (hĕnə-rē)

n. pl. hen·ner·ies 1. A poultry farm. 2. A coop or cage for poultry; a chicken coop.

hemodialysis (hē′mō-dī-ălĭ-sĭs)

n. pl. he·mo·di·al·y·ses (-sēz′) A dialysis technique in which blood is removed from the body, filtered through a dialyzer that removes waste products and excess fluid, and then returned to the body.

honorarium (ŏn′ə-rârē-əm)

n. pl. hon·o·rar·i·ums or hon·o·rar·i·a (-ē-ə) A payment given to a professional person for services for which fees are not legally or traditionally required.

hydrography (hī-drŏgrə-fē)

n. pl. hy·drog·ra·phies 1. The scientific description and analysis of the physical conditions, boundaries, flow, and related characteristics of the earth's surface waters. 2. The mapping of bodies of water.

ichnography (ĭk-nŏgrə-fē)

n. pl. ich·nog·ra·phies A ground plan of a building.

impropriety (ĭm′prə-prīĭ-tē)

n. pl. im·pro·pri·e·ties 1. The quality or condition of being improper. 2. An improper act. 3. An improper or unacceptable usage in speech or writing.

impunity (ĭm-pynĭ-tē)

n. pl. im·pu·ni·ties Exemption from punishment, penalty, or harm.

incumbency (ĭn-kŭmbən-sē)

n. pl. in·cum·ben·cies 1. The quality or condition of being incumbent. 2. Something incumbent; an obligation. 3. a. The holding of an office or ecclesiastical benefice. b. The term of an office or benefice.

internuncio (ĭn′tər-nŭnsē-ō′, -nn-)

n. pl. in·ter·nun·ci·os A Vatican diplomatic envoy or representative ranking just beneath a nuncio. No longer in use.

idolatry (ī-dŏlə-trē)

n. pl. i·dol·a·tries 1. Worship of idols. 2. Blind or excessive devotion to something.

jeepney (jēpnē)

n. pl. jeep·neys A jitney bus used in the Philippines for public transportation.

juvenility (j′və-nĭlĭ-tē)

n. pl. ju·ve·nil·i·ties 1. The quality or condition of being juvenile; youthfulness. 2. a. Foolishly juvenile behavior or character; immaturity. b. An instance of juvenile behavior.

laminectomy (lăm′ə-nĕktə-mē)

n. pl. lam·i·nec·to·mies Surgical removal of the posterior arch of a vertebra.

lanugo * (lə-ngō, -ny-)

n. pl. la·nu·gos A covering of fine, soft hair, especially that found on the fetus or newborn of a human or other mammal.

lese majesty, lesè majesté (lēz măjĭ-stē)

n. pl. lese maj·es·ties or lèse ma·jes·tés A crime injuring or causing harm to the dignity of a reigning sovereign or a state.

lignum vitae (lĭg′nəm vītē)

n. pl. lignum vitaes 1. Any of several tropical American trees of the genus Guaiacum, especially G. officinale or G. sanctum, having evergreen leaves and very heavy, durable, resinous wood. 2. The wood of any of these trees, the hardest of commercial woods.

lithotomy (lĭ-thŏtə-mē)

n. pl. li·thot·o·mies Surgical removal of a stone or stones from the urinary tract.

logomachy * (lə-gŏmə-kē)

n. pl. lo·gom·a·chies 1. A dispute about words. 2. A dispute carried on in words only; a battle of words.

lunacy (lnə-sē)

n. pl. lu·na·cies 1. a. Mental derangement; craziness: "The Indians thought his obsession with giant bones a sign of harmless lunacy" (David Rains Wallace). b. Archaic Intermittent mental derangement attributed to the changing phases of the moon. 2. a. Great or wild foolishness: a policy that proved to be a piece of economic lunacy. b. A wildly foolish or irrational act.

magnifico (măg-nĭfĭ-kō′)

n. pl. mag·nif·i·coes 1. A person of distinguished rank, importance, or appearance. 2. A nobleman of the Venetian Republic.

mahi-mahi, mahi mahi (mähē-mähē)

n. pl. ma·hi-ma·his 1. 1. A large marine food and game fish (Coryphaena hippurus) found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters, having an iridescent blue back, yellow sides, a steep blunt forehead, and a long continuous dorsal fin. 2. The flesh of a dolphinfish when used for food.

makimono (mä′kĭ-mōnō)

n. pl. ma·ki·mo·nos A horizontal Japanese decorative scroll featuring pictures or calligraphy.

meiosis * (mī-ōsĭs)

n. pl. mei·o·ses (-sēz′) 1. Genetics The process of cell division in sexually reproducing organisms that reduces the number of chromosomes from diploid to haploid, as in the production of gametes. 2. Rhetorical understatement.

memento mori (môrē)

n. pl. memento mori 1. A reminder of death or mortality, especially a death's-head. 2. A reminder of human failures or errors.

methodology * (mĕth′ə-dŏlə-jē)

n. pl. meth·od·ol·o·gies 1. a. A body of practices, procedures, and rules used by those who work in a discipline or engage in an inquiry; a set of working methods: the methodology of genetic studies; a poll marred by faulty methodology. b. The study or theoretical analysis of such working methods. 2. The branch of logic that deals with the general principles of the formation of knowledge.

mediocrity * (mē′dē-ŏkrĭ-tē)

n. pl. me·di·oc·ri·ties 1. The state or quality of being mediocre. 2. Mediocre ability, achievement, or performance. 3. One that displays mediocre qualities.

meniscus * (mə-nĭskəs)

n. pl. me·nis·ci(-nĭsī, -kī, -kē) or me·nis·cus·es 1. A crescent-shaped body. 2. A concavo-convex lens. 3. The curved upper surface of a nonturbulent liquid in a container that is concave if the liquid adheres to the container walls and convex if it does not. 4. A cartilage disk that acts as a cushion between the ends of bones that meet in a joint.

mimicry (mĭmĭ-krē)

n. pl. mim·ic·ries 1. a. The act, practice, or art of mimicking. b. An instance of mimicking. 2. Biology The resemblance of one organism to another or to an object in its surroundings for concealment and protection from predators.

mitzvah (mĭtsvə)

n. pl. mitz·voth (-vōt′, -vōs′) or mitz·vahs 1. a. A commandment of the Jewish law. b. The fulfillment of such a commandment. 2. A worthy deed.

moiety (moiĭ-tē)

n. pl. moi·e·ties 1. A half. 2. A part, portion, or share. 3. Anthropology Either of two kinship groups based on unilateral descent that together make up a tribe or society. 4. Chemistry A well-defined part of a larger molecule.

neuroblastoma (nr′ō-blă-stōmə, nyr′-)

n. pl. neu·ro·blas·to·mas or neu·ro·blas·to·ma·ta (-mə-tə) A malignant tumor composed of neuroblasts, originating in the autonomic nervous system or the adrenal medulla and occurring chiefly in infants and young children.

neutrino * (n-trēnō, ny-)

n. pl. neu·tri·nos Any of three electrically neutral leptons (the electron neutrino, muon neutrino, and tau neutrino—one in each of the three generations of elementary fermions) that have very small masses.

nephrectomy * (nə-frĕktə-mē)

n. pl. ne·phrec·to·mies Surgical removal of a kidney.

obloquy (ŏblə-kwē)

n. pl. ob·lo·quies 1. Abusively detractive language or utterance; calumny: "I have had enough obloquy for one lifetime" (Anthony Eden). 2. The condition of disgrace suffered as a result of abuse or vilification; ill repute.

octodecimo * (ŏk′tə-dĕsə-mō′)

n. pl. oc·to·dec·i·mos 1. The page size, 4 by 6.5 inches, of a book composed of printer's sheets folded into 18 leaves or 36 pages. 2. A book composed of octodecimo pages. In both senses also called eighteenmo.

omphalos * (ŏmfə-lŏs′, -ləs)

n. pl. om·pha·li (-lī) 1. The navel. 2. A central part; a focal point. 3. Any of various stones revered as sacred in ancient Greek civilization, representing the center of the world.

osso buco * (ō′sō bkō, ŏssō)

n. pl. osso bu·cos An Italian dish consisting of braised veal shanks in white wine.

oxycephaly (ŏk′sē-sĕfə-lē)

n. pl. ox·y·ceph·a·lies A congenital abnormality of the skull in which the top of the head assumes a conical or pointed shape. Also called acrocephaly.

palominos (păl′ə-mēnō)

n. pl. pal·o·mi·nos A horse with a golden or tan coat and a white or cream-colored mane and tail.

pancreatectomy (păng′krē-ə-tĕktə-mē, păn′-)

n. pl. pan·cre·a·tec·to·mies Surgical removal of all or part of the pancreas.

parvovirus (pärvō-vī′rəs)

n. pl. par·vo·vi·rus·es 1. Any of a family of very small DNA viruses that cause various diseases in animals, including feline panleukopenia, canine parvovirus, and fifth disease in humans. 2. a. A highly contagious infectious disease of dogs, especially puppies, characterized by lethargy, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is spread through feces from infected animals. b. The parvovirus that is the causative agent of this disease. In both subsenses also called canine parvovirus, parvo.

patrimony (pătrə-mō′nē)

n. pl. pat·ri·mo·nies 1. a. An inheritance from a father or paternal ancestor. b. An inheritance or legacy; heritage. 2. An endowment or estate belonging to an institution, especially a church.

papacy, Papacy (pāpə-sē)

n. pl. pa·pa·cies 1. The office and jurisdiction of a pope. 2. The period of time during which a pope is in office. 3. A succession or line of popes: the Medici papacy. 4. Papacy Roman Catholic Church The system of church government headed by the pope.

paseo (pä-sāō)

n. pl. pa·se·os 1. a. A slow, easy stroll or walk outdoors. b. The street, series of streets, or walkway along which such a walk is taken. 2. In bullfighting, the formal procession into the ring of the players, including the matadors, banderilleros, and horses, that occurs just before the first bull is fought.

paso doble, pasodoble (päsō-dōblā, -vlĕ)

n. pl. pa·so do·bles (-blāz, -vlĕs) also pa·so·do·bles 1. A moderately fast Spanish dance in duple meter. 2. The music for this dance, often played at bullfights.

persona non grata (pər-sōnə nŏn grätə, grătə)

n. pl. per·so·nae non gra·tae (-nē; -tē) A person who is unacceptable or unwelcome, especially to a foreign government: The leaked memo made the ambassador a persona non grata. The foreign minister declared the envoy to be persona non grata.

petechia (pə-tēkē-ə)

n. pl. pe·te·chi·ae (-kē-ī′) A small purplish spot on a body surface, such as the skin or a mucous membrane, caused by a minute hemorrhage and often seen in typhus.

phylactery * (fĭ-lăktə-rē)

n. pl. phy·lac·ter·ies Judaism Either of two small leather boxes, each containing strips of parchment inscribed with quotations from the Hebrew Scriptures, traditionally worn strapped to the forehead and the left arm by Jewish men during morning worship, except on the Sabbath and holidays.

piosity (pī-ŏsĭ-tē)

n. pl. pi·os·i·ties An exaggerated display of piety.

plaice (plās)

n. pl. plaice or plaic·es 1. A large edible marine flatfish (Pleuronectes platessa) of European coastal waters. 2. Any of various other flatfishes, such as Hippoglossoides platessoides of northern Atlantic coastal waters.

placebo * (plə-sēbō)

n. pl. pla·ce·bos or pla·ce·boes 1. a. A substance that has positive effects as a result of a patient's perception that it is beneficial rather than as a result of a causative ingredient. b. An inactive substance or preparation used as a control in an experiment or test to determine the effectiveness of a medicinal drug. 2. Something of no intrinsic remedial value that is used to appease or reassure another. 3. (plä-chābō) Roman Catholic Church The service or office of vespers for the dead.

pompano (pŏmpə-nō′)

n. pl. pompano or pom·pa·nos 1. Any of several marine carangid food fishes chiefly of the genus Trachinotus, especially T. carolinus of western Atlantic waters, having a silvery oblong body with a bluish back. 2. A butterfish (Peprilus simillimus) of Pacific coastal waters of North America.

prix fixe (prē fēks)

n. pl. prix fixes (prē fēks) 1. A complete meal of several courses, sometimes with choices permitted, offered by a restaurant at a fixed price. 2. A fixed price charged for such a meal. 3. A full-course meal offering a limited number of choices and served at a fixed price in a restaurant or hotel.

primipara (prī-mĭpər-ə)

n. pl. pri·mip·a·ras or pri·mip·a·rae (-ə-rē′) 1. A woman who is pregnant for the first time. 2. A woman who has given birth to only one child.

prosthesis (prŏs-thēsĭs)

n. pl. pros·the·ses (-sēz) 1. An artificial device used to replace a missing body part, such as a limb, tooth, eye, or heart valve. 2. Replacement of a missing body part with such a device. 3. Linguistics Prothesis.

propriety (prə-prīĭ-tē)

n. pl. pro·pri·e·ties 1. a. Conformity to conventional standards of behavior or morality. b. proprieties Socially correct usages or behaviors. 2. The quality of being proper; appropriateness.

proventriculus (prō′vĕn-trĭkyə-ləs)

n. pl. pro·ven·tric·u·li (-lī′) 1. The division of the stomach in birds that secretes digestive enzymes and passes food from the crop to the gizzard. 2. A similar digestive chamber in certain insects and worms.

psychokinesis (sī′kō-kə-nēsĭs, -kī-)

n. pl. psy·cho·ki·ne·ses (-sēz) Abbr. PK The production or control of motion, especially in inanimate and remote objects, purportedly by the exercise of psychic powers.

punctilio * (pŭngk-tĭlē-ō′)

n. pl. punc·til·i·os 1. A fine point of etiquette. 2. Precise observance of formalities.

pyrography (pī-rŏgrə-fē)

n. pl. py·rog·ra·phies 1. The process or art of producing designs on wood, leather, or other materials by using heated tools or a fine flame. 2. A design made by this process.

quandaries (kwŏndə-rē, -drē)

n. pl. quan·da·ries A state of uncertainty or perplexity.

quale (kwälē)

n. pl. qua·li·a (-lē-ə) A property, such as whiteness, considered independently from things having the property.

rascality (răs-kălĭ-tē)

n. pl. ras·cal·i·ties 1. Behavior or character typical of a rascal. 2. A base or mischievous act.

radicchio (rə-dēkē-ō, rä-)

n. pl. ra·dic·chi·os Any of several varieties of chicory, having red or red-spotted leaves that form rounded or elongated heads.

referendum (rĕf′ə-rĕndəm)

n. pl. ref·er·en·dums or ref·er·en·da (-də) 1. a. The submission of a proposed public measure or actual statute to a direct popular vote. b. Such a vote. 2. A note from a diplomat to the diplomat's government requesting instructions.

repertory (rĕpər-tôr′ē)

n. pl. rep·er·to·ries 1. A repertoire. 2. a. A theater in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation. b. A repertory company. 3. a. A place, such as a storehouse, where a stock of things is kept; a repository. b. Something stored in or as if in such a place; a stock or collection. adj. 1. Of or relating to a repertory company. 2. Of or relating to an independent movie theater that shows a selected program of films usually including revivals.

retinoscopy (rĕt′n-ŏskə-pē)

n. pl. ret·i·nos·co·pies Medical examination and analysis of the refractive properties of the eye.

retrovirus * (rĕt′rō-vīrəs, rĕtrə-vī′-)

n. pl. ret·ro·vi·rus·es Any of a family of viruses, many of which produce tumors, that contain RNA and reverse transcriptase, including HIV.

rime riche * (rēm rēsh)

n. pl. rimes riches (rēm rēsh) Rhyme using words or parts of words that are pronounced identically but have different meanings, for example, write-right or port-deport.

roman-fleuve (rō-mäɴ′flœv)

n. pl. ro·mans-fleuves (rō-mäɴ′flœv) A long novel, often in many volumes, chronicling the history of several generations of a family, community, or other group and often presenting an overall view of society during a particular epoch.

salmonella, Salmonella (săl′mə-nĕlə)

n. pl. sal·mo·nel·lae (-nĕlē) or sal·mo·nel·las or salmonella 1. Any of various rod-shaped bacteria of the genus Salmonella, especially S. enterica, which cause food poisoning, typhoid, and paratyphoid fever in humans and various infectious diseases in domestic animals. Salmonella bacteria are divided into numerous serotypes on the basis of certain antigens found in the cell wall and flagella. 2. Salmonellosis.

sanatorium (săn′ə-tôrē-əm)

n. pl. san·a·to·ri·ums or san·a·to·ri·a (-tôrē-ə) 1. An institution for the treatment of chronic diseases or for medically supervised recuperation. 2. A resort for improvement or maintenance of health, especially for convalescents. Also called sanitarium.

scampi (skămpē, skäm-)

n. pl. scampi 1. Large shrimp broiled or sautéed and served in a garlic and butter sauce. 2. A small edible lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) of the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, having slender claws. adj. Served in a garlic and butter sauce: lobster scampi.

scintilla (sĭn-tĭlə)

n. pl. scin·til·las 1. A minute amount; an iota or trace. 2. pl. also scin·til·lae (sĭn-tĭlē) A spark; a flash.

scrimshaw * (skrĭmshô′)

n. pl. scrimshaw or scrim·shaws 1. The art of carving or incising intricate designs on the teeth, bones, or baleen of whales. 2. A decorative article made by this art. v. scrim·shawed, scrim·shaw·ing, scrim·shaws tr. & intr.v. To decorate (whale ivory or whalebone) with intricate carvings or designs or make such designs.

scurrility (skə-rĭlĭ-tē)

n. pl. scur·ril·i·ties 1. The quality of being vulgar, coarse, or abusive. 2. A vulgar, coarse, or abusive remark or passage.

serology * (sĭ-rŏlə-jē)

n. pl. se·rol·o·gies 1. The science that deals with the properties and reactions of serums, especially blood serum. 2. The characteristics of a disease or organism shown by study of blood serums: the serology of acquired immune deficiency syndrome; the serology of mammals.

shaman (shämən, shā-)

n. pl. sha·mans A member of certain traditional societies, especially of northern Asia and of North and South America, who acts as a medium between the visible world and an invisible spirit world and who practices magic or sorcery for purposes of healing, divination, and control over natural events.

shiitake (shē-täkē, shē′ē-täkĕ)

n. pl. shiitake A mushroom (Lentinula edodes) native to East Asia, having an edible golden or dark brown cap.

solatium (sō-lāshē-əm)

n. pl. so·la·ti·a (-shē-ə) Law Compensation for injured feelings as distinct from financial loss or physical suffering.

spermaceti (spûr′mə-sētē, -sĕtē)

n. pl. sper·ma·ce·tis A white waxy substance obtained chiefly from the head of the sperm whale, consisting of various esters of fatty acids and formerly used for making candles, ointments, and cosmetics.

splenomegaly (splē′nō-mĕgə-lē, splĕn′ō-)

n. pl. sple·no·meg·a·lies Enlargement of the spleen.

staphylorrhaphy, staphyloraphy (stăf′ə-lôrə-fē)

n. pl. staph·y·lor·rha·phies also staph·y·lor·a·phies Repair of a cleft palate by plastic surgery.

stream of consciousness

n. pl. streams of consciousness 1. A literary technique that presents the thoughts and feelings of a character as they occur. 2. Psychology The conscious experience of an individual regarded as a continuous, flowing series of images and ideas running through the mind.

susceptibility (sə-sĕp′tə-bĭlĭ-tē)

n. pl. sus·cep·ti·bil·i·ties 1. The quality or condition of being susceptible. 2. The capacity to be affected by deep emotions or strong feelings; sensitivity. 3. susceptibilities Sensibilities; feelings.

synchronicity * (sĭng′krə-nĭsĭ-tē, sĭn′-)

n. pl. syn·chro·nic·i·ties 1. The state or fact of being synchronous or simultaneous; synchronism. 2. Coincidence of events that appear meaningfully related but do not seem to be causally connected, taken by Jungian psychoanalytic theory to be evidence of a connection between the mind and material objects.

tandoor (tän-dr)

n. pl. tan·doors or tan·door·i (-drē) A cylindrical oven made of clay, heated over charcoal or wood, and used in South Asia and Central Asia for baking bread and roasting meat.

talus * (tāləs)

n. pl. ta·li (-lī′) 1. The bone of the ankle that articulates with the tibia and fibula to form the ankle joint. Also called anklebone, astragalus. 2. The ankle. n. pl. ta·lus·es A sloping mass of rock debris at the base of a cliff.

teleology (tĕl′ē-ŏlə-jē, tē′lē-)

n. pl. tel·e·ol·o·gies 1. The philosophical interpretation of natural phenomena as exhibiting purpose or design. 2. The use of ultimate purpose or design as a means of explaining phenomena. 3. Belief in or the perception of purposeful development toward an end, as in history.

thaumatology (thô′mə-tŏlə-jē)

n. pl. thau·ma·tol·o·gies 1. The study of miracles. 2. A discourse on miracles.

thyroidectomy * (thī′roi-dĕktə-mē)

n. pl. thy·roid·ec·to·mies Surgical removal of the thyroid gland.

tondo * (tŏndō, tôn-)

n. pl. ton·di (-dē) also ton·dos A round painting, relief, or similar work of art.

tumulus (tmyə-ləs, ty-)

n. pl. tu·mu·li (-lī′) An ancient grave mound; a barrow.

uakari (wä-kärē)

n. pl. ua·ka·ris Either of two medium-sized fruit-eating arboreal monkeys (Cacajao calvus or C. melanocephalus) of Amazonia, having a nearly bare stomach with long hair on the shoulders and upper back and a short bushy nonprehensile tail.

vacuity (vă-kyĭ-tē, və-)

n. pl. vac·u·i·ties 1. Total absence of matter; emptiness. 2. An empty space; a vacuum. 3. Total lack of ideas; emptiness of mind. 4. Absence of meaningful occupation; idleness: "the crew, being patient people, much given to slumber and vacuity" (Washington Irving). 5. The quality or fact of being devoid of something specified: a vacuity of taste; a vacuity of emotions. 6. Something, especially a remark, that is pointless or inane: a conversation full of vacuities.

valvuloplasty (vălvyə-lə-plăs′tē)

n. pl. val·vu·lo·plas·ties Plastic surgery to repair a valve, especially a heart valve.

velleity (vĕ-lēĭ-tē, və-)

n. pl. vel·le·i·ties 1. Weak desire or volition. 2. A slight or weak wish or inclination: "He felt cast out ... divorced from the caprices and the velleities of childhood" (Anita Brookner).

virtuosity (vûr′ch-ŏsĭ-tē)

n. pl. vir·tu·os·i·ties 1. Great technical skill or captivating personal style, especially as exhibited in the arts. 2. An appreciation for or interest in fine objects of art.

viraginous * (və-rägō, -rā-, vîrə-gō′)

n. pl. vi·ra·goes or vi·ra·gos 1. A woman regarded as noisy, scolding, or domineering. 2. A large, strong, courageous woman.

virogenesis (vī′rō-jĕnĭ-sĭs, -rə-)

n. pl. vi·ro·gen·e·ses (-sēz′) Production or formation of a virus.

wanderoo (wŏn′də-r)

n. pl. wanderoo or wan·der·oos A monkey (Macaca silenus) of south-central Asia, having a glossy black coat and a ruff of gray hair around the face.

wapiti * (wŏpĭ-tē)

n. pl. wapiti or wap·i·tis A large reddish-brown or grayish deer (Cervus canadensis) of western North America, having long, branching antlers in the male. The elk is sometimes considered a subspecies of the closely related red deer.

wagon-lit (vä′gôɴ-lē)

n. pl. wa·gons-lits or wa·gon-lits (vä′gôɴ-lē) A sleeping car on a European railroad train.

xoloitzcuintli, xoloitzcuintle (shō′lō-ĭts-kwĭntlē, -ēts-)

n. pl. xo·lo·itz·cuint·lis also xo·lo·itz·cuint·les Any of several varieties of small to medium-sized dog of a breed developed by the Aztecs, having erect ears and a long tail. The hairless varieties have a dark-colored almost hairless body, and the "coated" varieties have a short, flat coat. Also called Mexican hairless.

zygapophysis (zĭg′ə-pŏfĭ-sĭs, zī′gə-)

n. pl. zyg·a·poph·y·ses (-sēz′) One of two usually paired processes of the neural arch of a vertebra that articulates with corresponding parts of adjacent vertebrae.

étouffée (singular) (ā′t-fā)

n. pl. é·touf·fées (-fā) A spicy Cajun stew of vegetables and seafood, especially crayfish or shrimp.

abscissa (ab-sisə)

n.pl. ab·scis·sas or ab·scis·sae Symbol xThe coordinate representing the position of a point along a line perpendicular to the y-axis in a plane Cartesian coordinate system.

exsiccate * (ĕksĭ-kāt′)

ntr. & tr.v. ex·sic·cat·ed, ex·sic·cat·ing, ex·sic·cates To dry up or cause to dry up.

somnambulated * (sŏm-nămbyə-lāt′)

ntr.v. som·nam·bu·lat·ed, som·nam·bu·lat·ing, som·nam·bu·lates To walk or perform another act while asleep or in a sleeplike condition.

illuminati, Illuminati (ĭ-l′mə-nätē)

pl.n. 1. People claiming to be unusually enlightened with regard to a subject. 2. Illuminati Any of various groups claiming special religious or philosophical enlightenment.

pseudepigrapha (s′dĭ-pĭgrə-fə)

pl.n. 1. Spurious writings, especially writings falsely attributed to biblical characters or times. 2. A body of texts written between 200 BC and AD 200 and spuriously ascribed to various prophets and kings of the Hebrew Scriptures.

letters of marque

pl.n. A document issued by a government in a time of war allowing private ships to attack the ships and seize the property and citizens of a hostile nation.

lederhosen * (lādər-hō′zən)

pl.n. Leather shorts, often with H-shaped suspenders, worn traditionally in Bavaria and the Tyrol by men and boys.

exuviae (ĭg-zvē-ē′)

pl.n. The cast-off skins or coverings of various organisms, such as the shells of crabs or the external coverings of the larvae and nymphs of insects.

Fascisti * (fä-shēstē)

pl.n. The members of an Italian political organization that controlled Italy under the fascist dictatorship of Benito Mussolini from 1922 to 1943.

flews (flz)

pl.n. The pendulous corners of the upper lip of certain dogs, such as the bloodhound.

orientalia, Orientalia (ôr′ē-ĕn-tālē-ə, -tālyə)

pl.n. Things, especially decorative objects, produced in or associated with eastern Asia.

Hesperides (hĕ-spĕrĭ-dēz′)

pl.n. Greek Mythology 1. The nymphs who together with a dragon watch over a garden in which golden apples grow. 2. (used with a sing. verb) A garden, situated at the western end of the earth, in which golden apples grow.

glitterati (glĭtə-rä′tē)

pl.n. Informal Highly fashionable celebrities: "private parties on Park Avenue and Central Park West, where the literati mingled with glitterati" (Skylines).

paraphernalia (păr′ə-fər-nālyə, -fə-nālyə)

pl.n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) 1. The articles used in a particular activity; equipment: a photographer's paraphernalia. See Synonyms at equipment. 2. Law Personal property used by a married woman that, although actually owned by her husband and subject to claims by his creditors, becomes her personal property after his death.

multimedia (mŭl′tē-mēdē-ə, -tī-)

pl.n. (used with a sing. verb) The combined use of media, such as movies, music, lighting, and the internet, as for education, entertainment, or advertising. adj. 1. Of or relating to the combined use of several media: a multimedia installation at the art gallery. 2. Computers Of or relating to an application that integrates different media, such as text, graphics, video, and sound.

prehensile (prē-hĕnsəl, -sīl′)

pre·hen·sile (prē-hĕnsəl, -sīl′) Share: adj. 1. Able to seize, grasp, or hold, especially by wrapping around an object: a monkey's prehensile tail. 2. Having a keen intellect or powerful memory: a prehensile mind.

adumbrate (ădəm-brāt′, ə-dŭm-)

r.v. ad·um·brat·ed, ad·um·brat·ing, ad·um·brates 1. To give a sketchy outline of. 2. To prefigure indistinctly; foreshadow. 3. To disclose partially or guardedly. 4. To overshadow; shadow or obscure

assuage (ə-swāj)

r.v. as·suaged, as·suag·ing, as·suag·es 1. To make (something burdensome or painful) less intense or severe: assuage her grief. See Synonyms at relieve. 2. To satisfy or appease (hunger or thirst, for example). 3. To appease or calm: assuaged his critics.

deforestation * (dē-fôrĭst, -fŏr-)

r.v. de·for·est·ed, de·for·est·ing, de·for·ests 1. To cut down and clear away the trees or forests from. 2. To destroy the trees or forests on: hillsides that were deforested by drought

emaciation * (ĭ-māshē-āt′)

tr. & intr.v. e·ma·ci·at·ed, e·ma·ci·at·ing, e·ma·ci·ates To make or become extremely thin, especially as a result of starvation.

miscalculate (mĭs-kălkyə-lāt′)

tr. & intr.v. mis·cal·cu·lat·ed, mis·cal·cu·lat·ing, mis·cal·cu·lates To count or estimate incorrectly.

adulator (ăjə-lāt′)

tr.v. ad·u·lat·ed, ad·u·lat·ing, ad·u·lates To praise or admire excessively; fawn on.

afforestation * (ə-fôrĭst, ə-fŏr-)

tr.v. af·for·est·ed, af·for·est·ing, af·for·ests To convert (open land) into a forest by planting trees or their seeds.

apprise (ə-prīz)

tr.v. ap·prised, ap·pris·ing, ap·pris·es To give notice to; inform: apprised us of our rights.

assigned * (ə-sīn)

tr.v. as·signed, as·sign·ing, as·signs 1. To select for a duty or office; appoint: firefighters assigned to the city's industrial park. See Synonyms at appoint. 2. To set apart for a particular purpose or place in a particular category; designate: assigned the new species to an existing genus. See Synonyms at allocate. 3. To give out as a task; allot: assigned homework to the class. 4. To ascribe; attribute: assigned blame for the loss to a lack of good defense. See Synonyms at attribute. 5. To match or pair with: assign a value to each of the variables. 6. Law To transfer (property, rights, or interests) from one to another. n. Law An assignee.

bafflement (băfəl)

tr.v. baf·fled, baf·fling, baf·fles 1. To confuse or perplex, especially so as to frustrate or prevent from taking action: a patient whose condition baffled the physicians. 2. To impede the force or movement of (a fluid). n. 1. A usually static device that regulates the flow of a fluid or light. 2. A partition that prevents interference between sound waves in a loudspeaker.

besiegement (bĭ-sēj)

tr.v. be·sieged, be·sieg·ing, be·sieg·es 1. To surround (a defended location such as a fort or a walled city) with hostile forces. 2. To crowd around; hem in: Fans besieged the star as she came out of the hotel. 3. To harass or overwhelm, as with requests: a shop owner besieged by job applications.

calibrator * (kălə-brāt′)

tr.v. cal·i·brat·ed, cal·i·brat·ing, cal·i·brates 1. To check, adjust, or determine by comparison with a standard (the graduations of a quantitative measuring instrument): calibrate a thermometer. 2. a. To make corrections in; adjust: calibrated the polling procedures to ensure objectivity. b. To adjust (a display setting) so that recorded images are accurately reproduced: calibrated the tint on the computer monitor. 3. To determine the caliber of (a tube).

catechize (kătĭ-kīz′)

tr.v. cat·e·chized, cat·e·chiz·ing, cat·e·chiz·es 1. To teach the principles of Christian dogma, discipline, and ethics by means of questions and answers. 2. To question or examine closely or methodically: "Boswell was eternally catechizing him on all kinds of subjects" (Thomas Macaulay).

catenate * (kătn-āt′)

tr.v. cat·e·nat·ed, cat·e·nat·ing, cat·e·nates To connect in a series of ties or links; form into a chain.

channelize (chănə-līz′)

tr.v. chan·nel·ized, chan·nel·iz·ing, chan·nel·iz·es 1. To make, form, or cut channels in. 2. To direct through a channel.

chastise (chăs-tīz, chăstīz′)

tr.v. chas·tised, chas·tis·ing, chas·tis·es 1. To punish, as for wrongdoing. See Synonyms at punish. 2. To criticize severely; reprimand or rebuke. 3. Archaic To purify.

commandeer (kŏm′ən-dîr)

tr.v. com·man·deered, com·man·deer·ing, com·man·deers 1. To seize for military or police use; confiscate. 2. To take arbitrarily or by force: "He was at Columbia when students commandeered buildings and the police sprayed the protesters with tear gas" (Gary Rivlin). See Synonyms at appropriate. 3. To force into military service.

desecrate (dĕsĭ-krāt′)

tr.v. des·e·crat·ed, des·e·crat·ing, des·e·crates To violate the sacredness of; profane.

dealcoholize (dē-ălkə-hô-līz′)

tr.v. de·al·co·hol·ized, de·al·co·hol·iz·ing, de·al·co·hol·izes To remove some or all of the alcohol from (beverages): dealcoholized the white wine.

declassification * (dē-klăsə-fī′)

tr.v. de·clas·si·fied, de·clas·si·fy·ing, de·clas·si·fies To remove official security classification from (a document).

decorticate * (dē-kôrtĭ-kāt′)

tr.v. de·cor·ti·cat·ed, de·cor·ti·cat·ing, de·cor·ti·cates 1. To remove the bark, husk, or outer layer from; peel. 2. To remove the surface layer, membrane, or fibrous cover of (an organ or structure).

decrypt (dē-krĭpt)

tr.v. de·crypt·ed, de·crypt·ing, de·crypts 1. To decipher. 2. To decode. n. (dēkrĭpt′) A deciphered or decoded message.

defenestrate (dē-fĕnĭ-strāt′)

tr.v. de·fen·es·trat·ed, de·fen·es·trat·ing, de·fen·es·trates To throw out of a window.

defilement (dĭ-fīl)

tr.v. de·filed, de·fil·ing, de·files 1. To make filthy or dirty; pollute: defile a river with sewage. 2. To debase the pureness or excellence of; corrupt: a country landscape that was defiled by urban sprawl. 3. To profane or sully (a reputation, for example). 4. To make unclean or unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate: defile a temple. 5. To have sexual intercourse with (a woman who is a virgin).

democratization (dĭ-mŏkrə-tīz′)

tr.v. de·moc·ra·tized, de·moc·ra·tiz·ing, de·moc·ra·tiz·es To make democratic.

deprecate (dĕprĭ-kāt′)

tr.v. de·pre·cat·ed, de·pre·cat·ing, de·pre·cates 1. To express disapproval of; deplore. 2. To belittle; depreciate. 3. Computers To mark (a component of a software standard) as obsolete to warn against its use in the future so that it may be phased out.

desiderate (dĭ-sĭdə-rāt′)

tr.v. de·sid·er·at·ed, de·sid·er·at·ing, de·sid·er·ates To wish to have or see happen.

destabilization (dē-stābə-līz′)

tr.v. de·sta·bi·lized, de·sta·bi·liz·ing, de·sta·bi·liz·es 1. To upset the stability or smooth functioning of: a policy that threatens to destabilize the economy; a new weapon that threatens to destabilize nuclear deterrence. 2. To undermine the power of (a government or leader) by subversive or terrorist acts.

deterge (dĭ-tûrj)

tr.v. de·terged, de·terg·ing, de·terg·es To wash or wipe off (a wound, for example); cleanse.

digitization (dĭjĭ-tīz′)

tr.v. dig·i·tized, dig·i·tiz·ing, dig·i·tiz·es To put (data, for example) into digital form.

disabuse (dĭs′ə-byz)

tr.v. dis·a·bused, dis·a·bus·ing, dis·a·bus·es To free from a falsehood or misconception: "It's up to you whether you want to disabuse your students of their fantasy that A's are guaranteed" (Rachel Kadish).

disinherit (dĭs′ĭn-hĕrĭt)

tr.v. dis·in·her·it·ed, dis·in·her·it·ing, dis·in·her·its 1. To exclude from inheritance or the right to inherit. 2. To deprive of a natural or established right or privilege.

dissuade (dĭ-swād)

tr.v. dis·suad·ed, dis·suad·ing, dis·suades To prevent (someone) from a purpose or course of action by persuasion: dissuaded my friend from pursuing such a rash scheme.

empoison (ĕm-poizən)

tr.v. em·poi·soned, em·poi·son·ing, em·poi·sons 1. To fill with venom; embitter. 2. Archaic To poison.

entanglement (ĕn-tănggəl)

tr.v. en·tan·gled, en·tan·gling, en·tan·gles 1. To cause to become twisted together or caught in a snarl or entwining mass: The fishing lines became entangled. His foot was entangled in the wiring. 2. To involve in a complicated situation or in circumstances from which it is difficult to disengage: The country found itself entangled in a series of regional conflicts. She wanted to avoid relationships that might entangle her emotions. See Synonyms at catch. 3. Physics To cause (the quantum states of two or more objects) to become correlated in such a way that they remain correlated, even though the objects are separated spatially.

envenomed (ĕn-vĕnəm)

tr.v. en·ven·omed, en·ven·om·ing, en·ven·oms 1. To make poisonous or noxious. 2. To embitter.

exacerbate (ĭg-zăsər-bāt′)

tr.v. ex·ac·er·bat·ed, ex·ac·er·bat·ing, ex·ac·er·bates To increase the severity, violence, or bitterness of; aggravate: a speech that exacerbated racial tensions; a heavy rainfall that exacerbated the flood problems.

excision (ĭk-sīz)

tr.v. ex·cised, ex·cis·ing, ex·cis·es To remove by or as if by cutting: excised the tumor; excised two scenes from the film.

expropriate (ĕk-sprōprē-āt′)

tr.v. ex·pro·pri·at·ed, ex·pro·pri·at·ing, ex·pro·pri·ates To take (a property) for public use.

expurgate (ĕkspər-gāt′)

tr.v. ex·pur·gat·ed, ex·pur·gat·ing, ex·pur·gates To remove erroneous, vulgar, obscene, or otherwise objectionable material from (a book, for example) before publication.

enumerate (ĭ-nmə-rāt′, -ny-)

tr.v. e·nu·mer·at·ed, e·nu·mer·at·ing, e·nu·mer·ates 1. To count off or name one by one; list: A spokesperson enumerated the strikers' demands. 2. To determine the number of; count.

flambéing (fläm-bā, fläɴ-)

tr.v. flam·béed, flam·bé·ing, flam·bés To drench with a liquor, such as brandy, and ignite: flambéed the steak at the table. adj. Served flaming in ignited liquor: steak flambé.

foreshadow (fôr-shădō)

tr.v. fore·shad·owed, fore·shad·ow·ing, fore·shad·ows To present an indication or a suggestion of beforehand; presage: hostilities that foreshadowed all-out war.

gutturalize (gŭtər-ə-līz′)

tr.v. gut·tur·al·ized, gut·tur·al·iz·ing, gut·tur·al·iz·es 1. To pronounce in a guttural manner. 2. Linguistics To velarize.

impede (ĭm-pēd)

tr.v. im·ped·ed, im·ped·ing, im·pedes To retard or obstruct the progress of.

imprecate * (ĭmprĭ-kāt′)

tr.v. im·pre·cat·ed, im·pre·cat·ing, im·pre·cates To invoke evil upon; curse.

intubate (ĭnt-bāt′, -ty-)

tr.v. in·tu·bat·ed, in·tu·bat·ing, in·tu·bates To insert a tube into (a hollow organ or body passage).

invigorate * (ĭn-vĭgə-rāt′)

tr.v. in·vig·or·at·ed, in·vig·or·at·ing, in·vig·or·ates To impart vigor, strength, or vitality to; animate: "A few whiffs of the raw, strong scent of phlox invigorated her" (D.H. Lawrence).

legitimize (lə-jĭtə-mīz′)

tr.v. le·git·i·mized, le·git·i·miz·ing, le·git·i·miz·es To make legitimate, as: a. To give legal force or status to; make lawful. b. To sanction formally or officially; authorize. c. To demonstrate or declare to be justified.

lixiviate (lĭk-sĭvē-āt′)

tr.v. lix·iv·i·at·ed, lix·iv·i·at·ing, lix·iv·i·ates To wash or percolate the soluble matter from (solid material).

lobotomize (lə-bŏtə-mīz′, lō-)

tr.v. lo·bot·o·mized, lo·bot·o·miz·ing, lo·bot·o·miz·es 1. Medicine To perform a lobotomy on (a patient). 2. Informal To reduce the intelligence, alertness, or sensitivity of.

machicolate * (mə-chĭkə-lāt′)

tr.v. ma·chic·o·lat·ed, ma·chic·o·lat·ing, ma·chic·o·lates To provide or furnish with machicolations.

miniaturization * (mĭnē-ə-chə-rīz′, mĭnə-)

tr.v. min·i·a·tur·ized, min·i·a·tur·iz·ing, min·i·a·tur·iz·es To plan or make on a greatly reduced scale.

misally (mĭs′ə-lī)

tr.v. mis·al·lied, mis·al·ly·ing, mis·al·lies To ally inappropriately.

mislabel (mĭs-lābəl)

tr.v. mis·la·beled, mis·la·bel·ing, mis·la·bels also mis·la·belled or mis·la·bel·ling To label inaccurately.

mitigating * (mĭtĭ-gāt′)

tr.v. mit·i·gat·ed, mit·i·gat·ing, mit·i·gates 1. To make less severe or intense; moderate or alleviate. See Synonyms at relieve. 2. To make alterations to (land) to make it less polluted or more hospitable to wildlife. Phrasal Verb: mitigate against Usage Problem 1. To take measures to moderate or alleviate (something). 2. To be a strong factor against (someone or something); hinder or prevent.

mongrelize (mŏnggrə-līz′, mŭng-)

tr.v. mon·grel·ized, mon·grel·iz·ing, mon·grel·iz·es To cause to be mongrel.

optimization (ŏptə-mīz′)

tr.v. op·ti·mized, op·ti·miz·ing, op·ti·miz·es 1. To make as perfect or effective as possible. 2. Computers To increase the computing speed and efficiency of (a program), as by rewriting instructions. 3. To make the most of.

obliterative (ə-blĭtə-rāt′, ō-blĭt-)

tr.v. o·blit·er·at·ed, o·blit·er·at·ing, o·blit·er·ates 1. To remove or destroy completely so as to leave no trace. See Synonyms at annihilate. 2. To render invisible or unreadable, as by erasing or marking over: "The name [on the door] had been crudely obliterated with thick, heavy strokes of black paint" (F. Paul Wilson). 3. Medicine To remove completely (a body organ or part), as by surgery, disease, or radiation.

overextend (ō′vər-ĭk-stĕnd)

tr.v. o·ver·ex·tend·ed, o·ver·ex·tend·ing, o·ver·ex·tends 1. To expand or disperse beyond a safe or reasonable limit: overextended their defenses. 2. To obligate (oneself) beyond a limit, especially a financial one.

palliate (pălē-āt′)

tr.v. pal·li·at·ed, pal·li·at·ing, pal·li·ates 1. a. To make less severe or intense; mitigate. See Synonyms at relieve. b. To alleviate the symptoms of (a disease or disorder). 2. To make (an offense or crime) seem less serious; extenuate.

pauperize (pôpə-rīz′)

tr.v. pau·per·ized, pau·per·iz·ing, pau·per·iz·es To make a pauper of; impoverish.

posit * (pŏzĭt)

tr.v. pos·it·ed, pos·it·ing, pos·its 1. To assume or put forward, as for consideration or the basis of argument: "If a book is hard going, it ought to be good. If it posits a complex moral situation, it ought to be even better" (Anthony Burgess). 2. To place firmly in position.

prefabricate * (prē-făbrĭ-kāt′)

tr.v. pre·fab·ri·cat·ed, pre·fab·ri·cat·ing, pre·fab·ri·cates 1. To manufacture (a building or section of a building, for example) in advance, especially in standard sections that can be easily shipped and assembled. 2. To make up, construct, or develop in an artificial, unoriginal, or stereotypic manner: "[The movie] bears all the tiresome hallmarks of a cult-film wannabe—i.e. movies that try to prefabricate the kind of midnight-movie popularity that usually has to come about organically" (Bob Chipman).

privatization (prīvə-tīz′)

tr.v. pri·va·tized, pri·va·tiz·ing, pri·va·tiz·es To change (an industry or business, for example) from governmental or public ownership or control to private enterprise: "Egypt has to some degree privatized agriculture, allowing farmers to sell directly to consumers instead of through the government" (Marq de Villiers).

rear-ended (rîrĕnd)

tr.v. rear-end·ed, rear-end·ing, rear-ends Slang To run into (another motor vehicle) from behind: My car was rear-ended by a truck.

reprehend (rĕp′rĭ-hĕnd)

tr.v. rep·re·hend·ed, rep·re·hend·ing, rep·re·hends To reprove; censure.

recalculate (rē-kălkyə-lāt′)

tr.v. re·cal·cu·lat·ed, re·cal·cu·lat·ing, re·cal·cu·lates To calculate again, especially in order to eliminate errors or to incorporate additional factors or data.

reimportation (rē′ĭm-pôrt, rē-ĭmpôrt′)

tr.v. re·im·port·ed, re·im·port·ing, re·im·ports To bring back into a country (goods made from its exported raw materials).

rejigger (rē-jĭgər)

tr.v. re·jig·gered, re·jig·ger·ing, re·jig·gers Informal To readjust or rearrange.

remilitarize * (rē-mĭlĭ-tə-rīz′)

tr.v. re·mil·i·ta·rized, re·mil·i·ta·riz·ing, re·mil·i·ta·riz·es To equip again for war.

rescindable (rĭ-sĭnd)

tr.v. re·scind·ed, re·scind·ing, re·scinds To make void; repeal or annul.

satirize (sătə-rīz′)

tr.v. sat·i·rized, sat·i·riz·ing, sat·i·riz·es To ridicule or attack by means of satire.

sauté (sō-tā, sô-)

tr.v. sau·téed, sau·té·ing, sau·tés To fry lightly in fat in a shallow open pan. n. A dish of food so prepared.

secularize (sĕkyə-lə-rīz′)

tr.v. sec·u·lar·ized, sec·u·lar·iz·ing, sec·u·lar·iz·es 1. To transfer from ecclesiastical or religious to civil or lay use or ownership: "The ... government ... had secularized the charitable institutions of the Church" (David I. Kertzer). 2. To draw away from religious orientation; make worldly: a society that has become secularized. 3. To lift the monastic restrictions from (a member of the clergy).

slathered (slăthər)

tr.v. slath·ered, slath·er·ing, slath·ers Informal a. To spread or smear in large amounts: slathered sunscreen on his arms. b. To cover with something spread or smeared in large amounts: slathered the bagels with cream cheese. n. often slathers Informal A great amount: slathers of money.

standardization (stăndər-dīz′)

tr.v. stan·dard·ized, stan·dard·iz·ing, stan·dard·iz·es 1. To cause to conform to a standard. 2. To evaluate by comparing with a standard.

stultify (stŭltə-fī′)

tr.v. stul·ti·fied, stul·ti·fy·ing, stul·ti·fies 1. To cause to lose interest or feel dull and not alert: The audience was stultified by the speaker's unchanging monotone. 2. To render useless or ineffectual: "[She believed] that the requirements of conventional academic life can stultify imagination, stifle enthusiasm and deaden prose style" (Robert K. Massie). 3. To cause to appear stupid, inconsistent, or ridiculous: "Should he now stultify himself in all those quarrels by admitting he had been cruel, unjust, and needlessly jealous?" (Anthony Trollope). 4. Law To claim incapacity as setting aside or preventing enforcement of (a deed or contract).

suborn * (sə-bôrn)

tr.v. sub·orned, sub·orn·ing, sub·orns 1. To induce (a person) to commit an unlawful or evil act. 2. Law a. To procure (perjured testimony): suborn perjury. b. To induce (a person) to commit perjury.

subsidize (sŭbsĭ-dīz′)

tr.v. sub·si·dized, sub·si·diz·ing, sub·si·diz·es 1. To assist or support with a subsidy. 2. To secure the assistance of by granting a subsidy.

weatherize (wĕthə-rīz′)

tr.v. weath·er·ized, weath·er·iz·ing, weath·er·iz·es To protect (a structure) against cold weather, as with insulation.

dehumidify (de′hy-midə-fi′)

tr.v.de·hu·mid·i·fied, de·hu·mid·i·fy·ing, de·hu·mid·i·fies To remove atmospheric moisture from.

Americanize * (ə-mĕrĭ-kə-nīz′)

v. A·mer·i·can·ized, A·mer·i·can·iz·ing, A·mer·i·can·iz·es v.tr. 1. To make American in form, style, or character. 2. To absorb or assimilate into American culture. 3. To bring under American influence or control. v.intr. To become American, as in spirit. A·mer′i·can·i·zation (-kə-nĭ-zāshən) n.

Judaize (jdē-īz′)

v. Ju·da·ized, Ju·da·iz·ing, Ju·da·iz·es v.tr. To bring into conformity with Judaism. v.intr. To adopt Jewish customs and beliefs.

abate (ə-bāt)

v. a·bat·ed, a·bat·ing, a·bates v.tr. 1. To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity; lessen: a program to abate air pollution. 2. Law a. To put an end to: The court ordered that the nuisance of the wrecked vehicle in the front yard be abated. b. To make void: The judge abated the lawsuit. c. To reduce for some period of time: The town abated the taxes on buildings of historical importance for three years. v.intr. 1. To fall off in degree or intensity; subside: waiting for the rain to abate. See Synonyms at decrease. 2. Law a. To become void. b. To become reduced for a period of time.

cajole (kə-jōl)

v. ca·joled, ca·jol·ing, ca·joles v.tr. 1. To persuade by flattery, gentle pleading, or insincere language: "He knew how she cajoled him into getting things for her and then would not even let him kiss her" (Theodore Dreiser). 2. To elicit or obtain by flattery, gentle pleading, or insincere language: The athlete cajoled a signing bonus out of the team's owner. v.intr. To use flattery, pleading, or insincere language in an attempt to persuade someone to do something: "She complained and he cajoled, bribing her with dollar bills for landing ten [figure skating] jumps in a row" (Joan Ryan).

conciliatory * (kən-sĭlē-āt′)

v. con·cil·i·at·ed, con·cil·i·at·ing, con·cil·i·ates v.tr. 1. To overcome the distrust or animosity of; appease. See Synonyms at pacify. 2. To regain or try to regain (friendship or goodwill) by pleasant behavior. 3. To make or attempt to make compatible; reconcile: tried to conciliate the conflicting theories. v.intr. To gain or try to gain someone's friendship or goodwill.

desiccate * (dĕsĭ-kāt′)

v. des·ic·cat·ed, des·ic·cat·ing, des·ic·cates v.tr. 1. To dry out thoroughly. 2. To preserve (foods) by removing the moisture. See Synonyms at dry. 3. To make dry, dull, or lifeless: "Stalinism desiccated the grassroots of urban government" (Timothy J. Colton). v.intr. To become dry; dry out. adj. (also -kĭt) Lacking spirit or animation; arid: "There was only the sun-bruised and desiccate feeling in his mind" (J.R. Salamanca).

differentiate (dĭf′ə-rĕnshē-āt′)

v. dif·fer·en·ti·at·ed, dif·fer·en·ti·at·ing, dif·fer·en·ti·ates v.tr. 1. To constitute the distinction between: subspecies that are differentiated by the markings on their wings. 2. To perceive or show the difference in or between; discriminate. 3. To make different by alteration or modification. 4. Mathematics To calculate the derivative or differential of (a function). v.intr. 1. To become distinct or specialized; acquire a different character. 2. To make distinctions; discriminate. 3. Biology To undergo differentiation.

dissever (dĭ-sĕvər)

v. dis·sev·ered, dis·sev·er·ing, dis·sev·ers v.tr. 1. To separate; sever. 2. To divide into parts; break up. v.intr. To become separated or disunited.

distinguishable (dĭ-stĭnggwĭsh)

v. dis·tin·guished, dis·tin·guish·ing, dis·tin·guish·es v.tr. 1. a. To perceive as being different or distinct: Can you distinguish a pattern in this behavior? b. To perceive distinctly; discern: The lookout distinguished the masts of ships on the horizon. 2. a. To demonstrate or describe as being different or distinct: a scientist who distinguished four species of the plant. b. To be an identifying characteristic of; make noticeable or different: These spices distinguish this style of Asian cooking. 3. To cause (oneself) to be respected or eminent: They have distinguished themselves as dedicated social workers. v.intr. To perceive or indicate differences; discriminate: Can the child distinguish between right and wrong?

euphemize * (yfə-mīz′)

v. eu·phe·mized, eu·phe·miz·ing, eu·phe·miz·es v.tr. To speak of or refer to by means of a euphemism. v.intr. To use euphemisms.

expectorate (ĭk-spĕktə-rāt′)

v. ex·pec·to·rat·ed, ex·pec·to·rat·ing, ex·pec·to·rates v.tr. 1. To eject from the mouth; spit. 2. To cough up and eject by spitting. v.intr. 1. To spit. 2. To clear out the chest and lungs by coughing up and spitting out matter.

economize (ĭ-kŏnə-mīz′)

v. e·con·o·mized, e·con·o·miz·ing, e·con·o·miz·es v.intr. 1. To practice economy, as by avoiding waste or reducing expenditures. 2. To make economical use of something: "The best that can be said for this method is that it economizes on thought" (Christopher Hitchens). v.tr. To use or manage with thrift: the need to economize scarce energy resources.

indurate (ĭndə-rāt′, -dyə-)

v. in·du·rat·ed, in·du·rat·ing, in·du·rates v.tr. 1. To make hard; harden: soil that had been indurated by extremes of climate. 2. To inure, as to hardship or ridicule. 3. To make callous or obdurate: "It is the curse of revolutionary calamities to indurate the heart" (Helen Maria Williams). v.intr. 1. To grow hard; harden. 2. To become firmly fixed or established. adj. (ĭnd-rĭt, -dyə-) Hardened; obstinate; unfeeling.

itemization (ītə-mīz′)

v. i·tem·ized, i·tem·iz·ing, i·tem·iz·es v.tr. 1. To place or include on a list of items: itemized her expenses on the proper form. 2. To list the items of: itemized the expense account. v.intr. To list deductions from taxable income on a tax return: This benefit is available only to taxpayers who itemize.

litigate (lĭtĭ-gāt′)

v. lit·i·gat·ed, lit·i·gat·ing, lit·i·gates v.tr. To prosecute or defend (a lawsuit or legal action); pursue (a legal case). v.intr. To bring a lawsuit or defend against a lawsuit in court.

meliorate (mēlyə-rāt′, mēlē-ə-)

v. mel·io·rat·ed, mel·io·rat·ing, mel·io·rates v.tr. To make better; improve. v.intr. To grow better.

misspoken * (mĭs-spēk)

v. mis·spoke (-spōk), mis·spo·ken (-spōkən), mis·speak·ing, mis·speaks v.tr. To speak or pronounce incorrectly: The actor misspoke his lines. v.intr. To speak mistakenly, inappropriately, or rashly.

occlude (ə-kld)

v. oc·clud·ed, oc·clud·ing, oc·cludes v.tr. 1. To cause to become closed; obstruct: occlude an artery. 2. To prevent the passage of: occlude light; occlude the flow of blood. 3. Chemistry To absorb or adsorb and retain (a substance). 4. To force (air) upward from the earth's surface, as when a cold front overtakes and undercuts a warm front. 5. To bring together (the upper and lower teeth) in proper alignment for chewing. v.intr. To close so that the cusps fit together. Used of the teeth of the upper and lower jaws.

pilferage (pĭlfər)

v. pil·fered, pil·fer·ing, pil·fers v.tr. To steal (a small amount or item). See Synonyms at steal. v.intr. To steal or filch.

politicization (pə-lĭtĭ-sīz′)

v. po·lit·i·cized, po·lit·i·ciz·ing, po·lit·i·ciz·es v.intr. To engage in or discuss politics. v.tr. To make political: an official who politicized the response to the hurricane.

predictor (prĭ-dĭkt)

v. pre·dict·ed, pre·dict·ing, pre·dicts v.tr. To state, tell about, or make known in advance, especially on the basis of special knowledge: predicted an active hurricane season because of warmer ocean-surface temperatures. v.intr. To foretell something.

prophesier * (prŏfĭ-sī′, -sē′)

v. proph·e·sied (-sīd′, -sēd′), proph·e·sy·ing (-sī′ĭng, -sē′ĭng), proph·e·sies (-sīz′, -sēz′) v.tr. 1. To reveal by divine inspiration. 2. To predict the future with certainty. See Synonyms at foretell. 3. To prefigure or foreshadow: "The wind was in the east, and the clouds prophesied rain" (Jacob Riis). v.intr. 1. To reveal the will or message of God; speak or write as a prophet. 2. To predict future events; make predictions.

resurrect (rĕz′ə-rĕkt)

v. res·ur·rect·ed, res·ur·rect·ing, res·ur·rects v.tr. 1. To bring back to life; raise from the dead. 2. a. To bring back into practice, notice, or use: resurrect an old style. b. To restore to vibrancy: resurrect a waterfront. v.intr. To rise from the dead; return to life.

recoup (rĭ-kp)

v. re·couped, re·coup·ing, re·coups v.tr. 1. a. To get back; recover or regain: recoup a loss; recoup one's dignity. b. To gain an amount equal to (an outlay or investment): expected to recoup the development costs in three years. c. To restore; replenish: "urged [her] to catch up on sleep and recoup her utterly spent resources" (Bernard Lown). 2. To reimburse (someone) for a loss or expenditure. 3. Law To reduce (the amount of a monetary claim made by a party in a legal action) because of a failure of that party to perform an obligation under the contract or law related to the claim. v.intr. To recover from loss or exhaustion; recuperate: needed to recoup after the strenuous campaign.

redeployment (rē′dĭ-ploi)

v. re·de·ployed, re·de·ploy·ing, re·de·ploys v.tr. 1. To deploy (personnel, especially military forces) to a different place or on a different assignment. 2. To put to a different use or action; deploy in a different way: redeploy the company's resources. v.intr. To be deployed to a different area or assignment.

rhapsodize (răpsə-dīz′)

v. rhap·so·dized, rhap·so·diz·ing, rhap·so·diz·es v.intr. To express oneself in an immoderately enthusiastic manner. v.tr. To recite (something) in the manner of a rhapsody.

second-guess (sĕk′ənd-gĕs)

v. sec·ond-guessed, sec·ond-guess·ing, sec·ond-guess·es v.tr. 1. To criticize or correct after an outcome is known: "One hesitates to second-guess the jury's judgment from a distance of more than sixty years" (Ira Stoll). 2. To criticize, contradict, or overrule (a decision or one who has made a decision): "When he wants to prescribe costly but powerful medicines, faraway HMO clerks second-guess his drug choices" (George Anders)."Sometimes [General Halleck] second-guessed Grant and aired his objections to instructions instead of immediately transmitting them" (Brooks D. Simpson). 3. a. To outguess. b. To predict or anticipate: "She can second-guess indictments" (Scott Turow). v.intr. To criticize a decision, especially after its outcome is known.

smatter * (smătər)

v. smat·tered, smat·ter·ing, smat·ters v.tr. 1. To speak (a language) without fluency: smatters Russian. 2. To study or approach superficially; dabble in. v.intr. To prattle: smattered on about her vacation. n. A smattering.

splutter (splŭtər)

v. splut·tered, splut·ter·ing, splut·ters v.intr. 1. To make repeated or sporadic spitting sounds. 2. To speak hastily and incoherently, as when confused or angry. v.tr. To utter or express hastily and incoherently. n. A spluttering noise.

supplicate * (sŭplĭ-kāt′)

v. sup·pli·cat·ed, sup·pli·cat·ing, sup·pli·cates v.tr. 1. To ask for humbly or earnestly, as by praying. 2. To make a humble entreaty to; beseech. v.intr. To make a humble, earnest petition; beg.

transferable, transferrable * (trăns-fûr, trănsfər)

v. trans·ferred, trans·fer·ring, trans·fers v.tr. 1. To convey or cause to pass from one place, person, or thing to another. 2. Law To make over the possession or legal title of (property, for example); convey. 3. To convey (a design, for example) from one surface to another, as by impression. v.intr. 1. To move oneself from one location or job to another. 2. To withdraw from one educational institution or course of study and enroll in another. 3. To change from one public conveyance to another: transferred to another bus. n. (trănsfər) 1. also trans·fer·al (trăns-fûrəl) The conveyance or removal of something from one place, person, or thing to another. 2. One who transfers or is transferred, as to a new school. 3. A design conveyed by contact from one surface to another. 4. a. A ticket entitling a passenger to change from one public conveyance to another as part of one trip. b. A place where such a change is made. 5. also transferal Law A conveyance of title or property from one person to another.

transgressor (trăns-grĕs, trănz-)

v. trans·gressed, trans·gress·ing, trans·gress·es v.tr. 1. To go beyond or over (a limit or boundary); exceed or overstep: "to make sure that her characters didn't transgress the parameters of ordinariness" (Ron Rosenbaum). 2. To act in violation of (the law, for example). v.intr. 1. To commit an offense by violating a law, principle, or duty. 2. To spread over land, especially over the land along a subsiding shoreline. Used of the sea.

verbalization (vûrbə-līz′)

v. ver·bal·ized, ver·bal·iz·ing, ver·bal·iz·es v.tr. 1. To express in words: verbalized his displeasure. 2. Grammar To convert to use as a verb: verbalized the noun contact. v.intr. 1. To express oneself in words. 2. To be verbose.

yowl (youl)

v. yowled, yowl·ing, yowls v.intr. To utter a long loud mournful cry; wail. v.tr. To say or utter with a yowl. n. A long loud mournful cry; a wail.