2017 Spelling UIL
686. influence peddling
the practice of using one's influence with persons in authority to obtain favors or preferential treatment for another, usually in return for payment
222. carotenemia
the presence of excess carotene in the blood, often resulting in yellowing of the skin
425. drachma *
the primary unit of currency in Greece before the adoption of the euro. 2. one of several modern units of weight, especially the dram
147. bauxite
the principal ore of aluminum, composed mainly of hydrous aluminum oxides and aluminum hydroxides
503. executive privilege
the principle that members of the executive branch of the government cannot legally be forced to disclose their confidential communications when such disclosure would adversely affect the operations or procedures of the executive brach
aggiornamento
the process of bringing an institution or organization up to date; modernization
295. congelation
the process of congealing or the state of being congealed
338. crop-dusting
the process of spraying crops with powdered insecticides or fungicides from an airplane
760. Laurasia
the protocontinent of the Northern Hemisphere, a hypothetical landmass that according to the theory of plate tectonics broke up into North America, Europe, and Asia
370. definitude
the quality of being definite or exact; precision
737. kenosis
the relinquishment of the form of God by Jesus in becoming a man and suffering death
640. horology
the science of measuring time. 2. the art of making timepieces
530. fiber optics
the science or technology of light transmission through very fine, flexible glass or plastic fibers. 2. a bundle of optical fibers
773. limnology *
the scientific study of life and phenomena of fresh water, especially lakes and ponds
821. materia medica
the scientific study of medical drugs and their sources, preparation, and use
445. effervescence
to emit small bubbles of gas as a carbonated or fermenting liquid. 2. to escape from a liquid as bubbles; bubble up. 3. to show high spirits of animation
793. machinate
to engage in plotting
336. criticizer
to find fault with. 2. to judge the merits and faults of; analyze and evaluate, to act as a critic
464. encompass
to form a circle or ring around; surround. 2. to enclose; envelop 3. to achieve; accomplish
578. gleaner
to gather grain left behind by the reapers. 2. to collect bit by bit
320. coruscation
to give forth flashes of light; sparkle and glitter. 2. to exhibit sparkling virtuosity
511. extradite *
to give up or deliver to the legal jurisdiction of another government or authority. 2. to obtain the extradition of.
269. coalescent
to grow together; fuse. 2. to come together so as to form one whole; unite
470. enthrallment
to hold spellbound; captivate. 2. to enslave, to put in bondage
aggrandize
to increase the scope of; extend
1336. tam-o'-shanter
A Scottish cap with a snug headband and a loose crown, sometimes having a pompom, tassel, or feather in the center.
1483. yataghan, yatagan
A Turkish sword or scimitar having a double-curved blade and an eared pommel, but lacking a handle guard
1221. sei whale
A baleen whale (Balaenoptera borealis) having a grayish body with a whitish underside, a curved dorsal fin, and grooves on the throat.
1105. quenelle *
A ball or dumpling of finely chopped meat or seafood bound with eggs and poached in stock or water.
1470. windjammer *
A large square-rigged cargo ship. 2. A large, usually schooner-rigged sailing vessel that takes passengers for cruises.
1280. sporran
A leather or fur pouch worn at the front of the kilt in the traditional dress of men of the Scottish Highlands.
1334. talkathon
A lengthy session of discussions, speeches, or debate.
1467. whortleberry
Any of various deciduous shrubs of the genus Vaccinium of the heath family having edible blue, black, or red berries, especially the bilberry. 2. The fruit of any of these plants.
1287. stereopticon *
A magic lantern, especially one with two projectors arranged so as to produce dissolving views.
1361. thoroughfare
A main road or public highway. 2. A place of passage from one location to another. b. Right to such passage. 3. A heavily traveled passage, such as a waterway, strait, or channel.
1020. petrel
Any of various black, gray, or white pelagic seabirds of the order Procellariiformes, found mostly in the Southern Hemisphere
986. parsimoniousness *
Excessively sparing or frugal. 2. Accounting for observed data with a relatively simple explanation
1112. raglan
Having or being a sleeve that extends in one piece to the neckline of the garment, with slanted seams from the armhole to the neck.
953. osmatic *
Having or characterized by a well-developed sense of smell.
1132. redolent *
Having or emitting an odor or fragrance; aromatic
1267. sonorous
Having or producing sound. 2. Having or producing a full, deep, or rich sound. 3. Impressive in style of speech
863. monocular
Having or relating to one eye 2. Of, relating to, or intended for use by only one eye
1116. rapacious *
Having or showing a strong or excessive desire to acquire money or possess things; greedy. 2. Living by killing prey, especially in large number. 3. Taking things by force; plundering
1093. purblind
Having poor vision; nearly or partly blind. 2. Slow in understanding or discernment; dull
1053. poriferous
Having pores.
1055. postgraduate
Of, relating to, or pursuing advanced study after graduation from high school or college.
1409. ungual
Of, resembling, or bearing a hoof, nail, or claw. 2. Of or relating to fingernails or toenails.
1077. promotable
To raise to a more important or responsible job or rank. b. To advance (a student) to the next higher grade.
1405. underreact
To react with insufficient enthusiasm, force, or emphasis.
1449. vitiate *
To reduce the value or quality of; impair or spoil 2. To corrupt morally; debase 3. To make ineffective (a contract or legal stipulation, for example); invalidate.
1147. repudiate
To reject the validity or authority of. 2.To reject emphatically as unfounded, untrue, or unjust. 3. To refuse to recognize or pay
aardwolf
a mammal native to southern and eastern Africa that resembles the hyena, has gray fur with black stripes, and feeds mainly on termites and insect larvae.
177. boulevardier
a man about town
642. hotelier
a manager or owner of a hotel. also called hotelkeeper
196. cachet
a mark or quality, as of distinction, individuality, or authenticity
195. byssus
a mass of strong, silky filaments by which certain bivalve mollusks, such as textured linen of ancient times used by the Egyptians for wrapping mummies
307. contraption *
a mechanical device; a gadget
159. bestiary
a medieval collection of stories providing physical and allegorical descriptions of real or imaginary animals along with an interpretation of the moral significance each animal was thought to embody. a number of common misconceptions relating to natural history were preserved in these popular accounts
419. Doberman pinscher *
a medium sized to large dog of a breed originating in Germany, having short hair and a smooth usually dark brown or black coat.
807. Mameluke
a member of a former military caste, originally composed of slaves from Turkey, that held the Egyptian throne from about 1250 until 1517 and remained powerful until 1811
606. Hamite
a member of a group of peoples of northern and northeast Africa, including the Berbers, Tuaregs, and the ancient Egyptians and their descendants
833. Mennonite
a member of an Anabaptist church characterized particularly by simplicity of life, pacifism, and nonresistance
alderman *
a member of the municipal legislative body in a town or city in many jurisdictions
212. candelilla
a shrubby spurge native to southwest Texas and Mexico, having densely clustered , erect, essentially leafless stems that yield a multipurpose wax
472. entremets *
a side dish, such as a relish or dessert, served in addition to the principal course
524. feme sole *
a single woman, whether divorced, widowed, or never married
116. attelet
a slender skewer, usually ornamented at the top, used decoratively, especially in serving garnishes
692. inkling *
a slight hint or indication, a slight understanding or vague idea of a notion
832. meningioma
a slow growing tumor of the meninges, occurring most often in adults
583. grapnel
a small anchor with three or more flukes, especially one used for anchoring a small vessel. also called grapple, grappling
198. cacomistle
a small carnivorous raccoonlike mammal of Central America having a black banded tail
582. goatee
a small chin beard trimmed into a point
136. banana republic
a small country that is economically dependent on a single export commodity, such as bananas, and is typically governed by a dictator or the armed forces
589. grunion
a small fish of coastal waters of California and Mexico that spawns at night along beaches during the high tides of spring and summer
537. flageolet
a small flute like instrument with a cylindrical mouthpiece, four finger holes, and two thumb holes
809. mandolin
a small lutelike instrument with a typically pear shaped body and a straight fretted neck having usually four sets of paired strings tuned in unison or octaves
607. hanuman
a small monkey of southern Asia, having bristly hairs on the crown and the sides of the face.
313. coracle
a small rounded boat made of waterproof material stretched over a wicker or wooden frame
84. appanage, apanage
a source of revenue, such as land, given by the sovereign for the maintenance of a member of the ruling family
acoustician
a specialist in acoustics
491. ethicist
a specialist in ethics
146. bathysphere
a spherical deep-diving chamber in which persons are lowered by a cable to study the oceans and the deep-sea life
334. criosphinx
a sphinx with the head of a ram
61. andouille
a spicy smoked sausage made with pork and garlic, used especially in Cajun cooking
288. concierge
a staff member of a hotel or apartment complex who assists guests or residents, as by handling the storage of luggage, taking and delivering messages, and making reservations for tours. 2. a person, especially in France, who lives in an apartment house, attends the entrance, and serves as a janitor
335. criterion
a standard, rule, or test on which a judgment or decision can be based
392. desuetude
a state of disuse or inactivity
786. luminism, Luminism
a style of the 19th century american painting concerned especially with the precise, realistic rendering of atmospheric light and the perceived effects of that light on depicted objects
accessory
a subordinate or supplementary item; an adjunct. Something nonessential but desirable that contributes to an effect or a result
352. cytotoxin *
a substance having a specific toxic effect on certain cells
224. caryatidean *
a supporting column sculptured in the form of a draped female figure
765. lekvar
a sweet spread or pastry filling made of prunes or apricots
451. einsteinium
a synthetic transuranic element first produced by neutron irradiation of uranium in a thermonuclear explosion and now usually produced in the laboratory by irradiating plutonium and other elements. its longest lived isotope is Es 254 with a half life of 276 days.
635. homeopathy
a system for treating disease based on the administration of minute doses of a drug that in massive amounts produces symptoms in healthy individuals similar to those of the disease itself
251. chifforobe *
a tall piece of furniture typically having drawers on one side and space for hanging clothes on the other.
632. hollyhock
a tall plant native to the Middle East and widely cultivated for its showy clusters of very large, variously colored flowers. also called althea
613. heldentenor, Heldentenor
a tenor voice with a striking dramatic or brilliant quality that is well suited for heroic roles, such as those in Wagnerian opera, a person with such a voice
50. amniotic *
a thin, tough, membranous sac that encloses the embryo or fetus of a mammal, bird, or reptile. it is filled with a serous fluid in which the embryo is suspended
560. garnishee
a third party who has been notified that money or property in his or her hands but belonging to a defendant has been seized by legal writ
237. Cerberus
a three headed dog guarding the entrance to Hades
267. clochard
a tramp; a vagrant
808. manchineel
a tropical american tree having poisonous fruit and a milky sap that causes skin blisters on contact
173. bookmobile
a truck, trailer, or van equipped to serve as a mobile lending library
53. amphora *
a two-handled jar with a narrow neck used by the ancient Greeks and Romans to carry wine or oil
279. commedia dell'arte
a type of comedy developed in Italy in the 16th and 17th centuries and characterized by improvisation from a standard plot outline and the use of stock characters often in traditional masks and costumes
485. escadrille *
a unit of an European air command, as in France during World War I, typically containing ten or more aircraft
741. kilowatt-hour
a unit of electrical energy equal to the work done by one kilowatt acting for one hour
446. effluvium
a usually invisible emanation or exhalation as of vapor or gas. 2. a byproduct or residue; waste, fumes given off by waste. 3. an impalpable emanation; an aura
134. ballade
a verse form usually consisting of three stanzas of 8 or 10 lines each, along with a brief envoy, with all 3 stanzas and the envoy ending in the same one-line refrain
239. Chablis
a very dry white Burgundy wine originally from east-central France. 2. a blended white table wine of California
172. bolero
a very short jacket worn open in the front
244. character assassination
a vicious personal verbal attack especially one intended to destroy or damage a public figure's reputation
292. concussive
a violent jarring; a shock. 2. an injury to an organ, especially the brain, produced by a violent blow and followed by a temporary or prolonged loss of function
226. cataclysmic
a violent upheaval that causes great destruction or brings about a fundamental change
399. dialysis *
the separation of smaller molecules from larger molecules or of dissolved substances from colloidal particles in a solution through selective diffusion through a semipermeable membrane
575. glabella
the smooth area between the eyebrows just above the nose
764. legalese *
the specialized vocabulary of the legal profession, especially when considered to be overly complex or abstruse
adjacency
the state of being adjacent; contiguity
409. dishabille
the state of being partially or very casually dressed. 2. an intentional careless manner
217. captivity
the state or period of being imprisoned, confined, or enslaved
156. beneficence
the state or quality of being kind, charitable, or beneficial
agrostology
the study of grasses
465. endocrinology
the study of the glands and hormones of the body and their related disorders
441. ecophysiology
the study of the interrelationship between an organism's physical functioning and its environment
839. metalinguistics *
the study of the interrelationship between language and other cultural behavior
92. archaeology, archeology
the systematic study of past human life and culture by the recovery and examination of remaining material evidence, such as graves, buildings, tools, and pottery
486. escapism *
the tendency to escape from daily reality or routine by indulging in daydreaming, fantasy, or entertainment
349. cybernetics *
the theoretical study of communication and control processes in biological, mechanical, and electronic systems, especially the comparison of these processes in biological and artificial systems
302. constraint
the threat or use of force to prevent, restrict, or dictate the action or thought of others. 2. the state of being restricted or confined within prescribed bounds. 3. embarrassed reserve or reticence; awkwardness
390. desertification
the transformation of arable or habitable land to desert, as by a change in climate or destructive land use
256. chrysotherapy
the treatment of certain diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis, with gold compounds
265. clerestory, clearstory
the upper part of the nave, transepts, and choir of a church, containing windows. 2. an upper portion of a wall containing windows for supplying natural light to a building
98. aromatherapy
the use of selected fragrant substances in lotions and inhalants in an effort to affect mood and promote health
354. dactylology
the use of the fingers and hands to communicate and convey ideas, as in the manual alphabet used by hearing impaired and speech impaired people
733. Kaiserin
the wife of a Kaiser, used as a title for such a woman
815. marchioness
the wife or widow of a marquis. 2. a noblewoman ranking above a countess and below a duchess, used as a title for this noblewoman
434. dyed-in-the-wool
thoroughgoing out-and-out. 2. dyed before being woven into cloth
542. foliicolous
thriving on or parasitic to leaves
287. concede
to acknowledge, often reluctantly, as being true, just or proper; admit. 2. to yield or grant a privilege or right, to make a concession
559. gangrenous
to affect or become affected with gangrene. 2. death and decay of body tissue, often occurring in a limb, caused by insufficient blood supply and usually following an injury or disease
151. behoove
to be necessary or proper for
553. fustigate
to beat with a club; cudgel. 2. to criticize harshly
214. canoeing
to carry or send by canoe. to travel in a canoe
396. devitrification
to cause a glassy material to become crystalline and brittle
492. etiolate
to cause a plant to develop without chlorophyll by preventing exposure to sunlight. 2. to make weak by stunting the growth or development of. 3. to cause to appear pale and sickly; whitened
309. convoke *
to cause to assemble in a meeting; convene
155. bemusement
to cause to be bewildered; confused. to cause to be engrossed in thought
308. convenable
to cause to come together formally; convoke. 2. to summon to appear, as before a tribunal
168. blandisher
to coax by flattery or wheedling; cajole
662. imbricate
having regularly arranged, overlapping edges, as roof tiles or fish scales
637. homophonic
having the same sound. 2. having or characterized by a single melodic line with accompaniment
665. immure
to confine within or as if within walls; imprison. 2. to build into a wall, to entomb in a wall
242. chamfer
to cut off the edge or corner of; bevel. 2. to cut a groove in; flute. 3. a flat surface made by cutting off the edge or corner off a block of a wood or other material
341. cryptanalyze *
to decipher or decode
569. geometricize
to design or form in geometric patterns or figures
319. corrodible
to destroy a metal or alloy gradually, especially by oxidation or chemical action. 2. to impair steadily, to deteriorate
296. congeniality
having the same tastes, habits, or temperament; sympathetic. 2. of a pleasant disposition; friendly and sociable. 3. suited to one's needs or nature; agreeable
535. fissiped
having the toes separated from one another as in the feet of certain carnivorous animals, such as a bear, dog, or cat
166. bioenvironmental
having to do with the relationship between the environment and living organisms
405. diphyodont
having two successive sets of teeth, deciduous and permanent
314. cordiform *
heart shaped
364. decimate
to destroy or kill a large part of a group. 2. to reduce markedly in amount. 3. to select by lot and kill one in every ten of.
624. herstory
history considered from a feminist viewpoint or emphasizing the actions of women. 2. a narrative or a chronology of events in a woman's life
489. esurient
hungry; greedy
763. leatherette *
imitation leather
121. avarice
immoderate desire for wealth; cupidity
663. immobile
immovable; fixed, not moving; motionless
711. invulnerable
immune to attack; impregnable. 2. impossible to damage, injure, or wound
435. dysgraphia
impairment of the ability to write, usually caused by brain dysfunction or disease
248. cheekiness
impertinent boldness
685. inexpressible
impossible to express
696. insuperable
impossible to overcome; insurmountable
667. impermeable *
impossible to permeate
668. implacable
impossible to placate or appease
380. demyelinate *
to destroy or remove the myelin sheath of a nerve fiber as through disease
377. Delphian
of or relating to Delphi or to the oracle of Apollo at Delphi. 2. obscurely prophetic; oracular
602. Haitian
of or relating to Haiti or it's people or it's culture. 2.a native or inhabitant of Haiti, Haitian Creole
102. Arthurian
of or relating to King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table
259. circularity
of or relating to a circle. 2. shaped like a circle. 3. Circuitous; roundabout. 4. using a premise to prove a conclusion that in turn is used to prove the premise. 5. defining one word in terms of another that is itself defined in terms of the first word. 6. addressed or distributed to a large number of persons. 7. a printed advertisement, directive, or notice intended for mass distribution
85. appellant *
of or relating to a court appeal; appellate. One who appeals a court decision
801. maim
to disable or disfigure, usually by depriving the use of a limb or other part of the body
413. dissemblance
to disguise or conceal one's real nature, motives, or feelings behind a false appearance. 2. to be different
704. intersperse
to distribute among other things at intervals
387. derangement *
to disturb the order or arrangement, to upset the normal condition. 2. to disturb mentally; make insane
389. desacralize
to divest of sacred or religious significance
133. Balkanize, balkanize
to divide (a region or territory) into small, often hostile units
165. bifurcate
to divide into two parts or branches
509. extemporize
to do or perform something without prior preparation or practice, to perform an act or utter something in an impromptu manner; improvise
375. delineate *
to draw or trace the outline of; sketch out. 2. to represent pictorially. 3. to depict in words or gestures
174. Boolean
of or relating to a logical combinatorial system treating variables, such as propositions and computer logic elements, through the operators AND, OR, NOT, and XOR
799. magistral
of or relating to a magistrate. 2. prepared as specified by a physician prescription. 3. principal; main
630. histrionical
of or relating to actors and acting. 2. excessively dramatic and emotional; affected
262. clairvoyant *
of or relating to clairvoyance. 2. having the supposed power to see objects or events that cannot be perceived by the senses
656. ideological
of or relating to ideology, of or concerned with ideas
818. marital
of or relating to marriage, of or relating to a husband
584. gravimetric
of or relating to measurement by weight. 2. of or relating to measurement of variations in a gravitational field
55. anabatic
of or relating to rising wind currents
555. Gaelic
of or relating to the Gaels or their culture or languages. 2. Goidelic, or any Goidelic languages
837. Mesolithic
of or relating to the cultural period of the Stone Age between the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods marked by the appearance of microlithic tools and weapons by changes in the nature of settlements
Abbevillian
of or relating to the earliest Paleolithic archaeological sites in Europe, characterized by bifacial stone hand axes
221. cardiothoracic
of or relating to the heart and the chest
348. custodial
of or relating to the work of guarding or maintaining. 2. having custody, especially of a child. 3. marked by care and supervision rather than efforts to cure
831. menial *
of or relating to work or a job regarded as servile, appropriate for a servant. 2. a servant, or a person with low nature
135. balsamic *
of or relating to, or resembling balsam
785. lumbricoid
of or resembling an earthworm
alliaceous *
of or resembling onion, garlic, or similar plants of the genus Allium particularly in taste and smell
407. disciplinary
of relating to or used for discipline. 2. of or relating to a specific field of academic study
580. glutinous *
of the nature of or resembling glue; sticky
462. empyreal
of the sky; celestial, elevated, sublime. 2.empyrean
758. lasagna, lasagne
pasta in flat, very wide strips. 2. a dish made by baking such pasta with layers of sauce and filling such as cheese, vegetables, or meat.
512. extrusive
tending to push or thrust out, to protrude or project. 2. derived from magma poured out or ejected at the earths surface, used of igneous rocks
750. laconism *
terseness or succinctness of style or expression
303. consumable
that can be consumed. 2. that may be depleted or worn out by use
798. Madison Avenue
the American advertising industry, of and relating to or working in this industry
743. kirigami *
the Japanese art of cutting and folding paper into ornamental objects or designs
423. dosimetry
the accurate measurement of doses, especially of radiation
529. fianchetto
the development in chess of a bishop from its original position to the second square of the adjacent knights file
347. curtilage *
the enclosed area immediately surrounding a house or dwelling
946. orangewood
the fine grained wood of the orange tree, used in fine woodwork
albedo
the fraction of incident electromagnetic radiation reflected by a surface, especially of a celestial body.
770. lexeme
the fundamental unit of the lexicon of a language
252. cholecyst
the gallbladder
191. bruxism
the habitual, involuntary grinding or clenching of the teeth usually during sleep as from anger, tension, fear, or frustration
284. complaisance
the inclination to comply willingly with the wishes of others; amiability
829. medulla *
the inner core of certain organs or body structures such as the marrow of bone.
617. hemoglobin
the iron containing respiratory pigment in red blood cells of vertebrates, consisting of about 6 percent heme and 94 percent globin
119. Australasia
the islands of the southern Pacific Ocean, including Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea
actinouranium
the isotope of uranium with mass number 235, fissionable with slow neutrons
627. hinterland *
the land directly adjacent to and inland from a coast. 2. a region remote from other urban areas, beyond the metropolitan centers of culture
Achilles tendon
the large tendon connecting the heel bone to the calf muscle of the leg
94. architrave
the lowermost part of an entablature in classical architecture that rests directly on top of a column. also called epistyle
alcalde
the mayor or chief judicial official of a Spanish town
562. gastrology
the medical study of the stomach and its diseases
225. catachresis
the misapplication of a word or phrase as the use of blatant to mean "flagrant"
712. iota
the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet. 2. a very small amount
406. directorate
the office or position of a director, a board of directors
112. asyndeton *
the omission of conjunctions from constructions in which they would normally be used
429. dromedary *
the one humped domesticated camel, widely used as beast of burden in northern Africa and western Asia. also called Arabian camel.
474. epicenter
the point of the earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake, a focal point
60. ancien régime
the political and social system that existed in France before the Revolution of 1789
281. commonality
the possession along with another or others, of a certain attribute or set of attributes. a shared feature or attribute
1079. propensity
An innate inclination; a tendency.
1080. prophecy
An inspired utterance of a prophet, viewed as a revelation of divine will. b. A prediction of the future, made under divine inspiration. c. Such an inspired message or prediction transmitted orally or in writing. 2. The vocation or condition of a prophet. 3. A prediction.
957. otoscope
An instrument for examining the interior of the ear, especially the eardrum, consisting essentially of a magnifying lens and a light.
1045. pneumatometer *
An instrument for measuring the force or volume of inspiration or expiration in the lungs.
1190. salinometer *
An instrument that uses electrical conductivity to measure the concentration of salt in a solution.
1076. prologue, prolog (introduction)
An introduction or preface, especially a poem recited to introduce a play. 2. An introduction or introductory chapter, as to a novel. 3. An introductory act, event, or period.
1156. revelatory *
Of, relating to, or containing a revelation
1162. rhythmic
Of, relating to, or having rhythm; recurring with measured regularity.
1219. seditious *
Of, relating to, or having the nature of sedition
875. multiethnic
Of, relating to, or including several ethnic groups.
213. cannoli
a fried pastry roll with a sweet creamy filling
660. ilex, Ilex
any of various trees or shrubs of the genus Ilex, holly
611. hebetude
dullness of mind; mental lethargy
677. inclemency
stormy. 2. showing no clemency; unmerciful
64. animadversion
strong criticism
1096. putsch, Putsch
sudden attempt by a group to overthrow a government.
199. cadaverous *
suggestive of death; corpse-like
104. ascendancy, ascendency
superiority or decisive advantage; domination
101. arthrotomy *
surgical incision into a joint
273. colectomy
surgical removal of part or all of the colon
86. appendectomy *
surgical removal of the vermiform appendix
47. ambient
surrounding; encircling
748. lachrymator, lacrimator
tear gas
499. evocative
tending or having the power to evoke
502. excusatory
tending or serving to excuse
99. arraign *
(Law) to call an accused person before court to answer the charge made against him or her by indictment, information, or complaint
1204. saunter
1. A leisurely pace. 2. A leisurely walk or stroll.
1328. syringe
1. A medical instrument used to inject fluids into the body or draw them from it. 2. A hypodermic syringe.
1377. tramontane
1. A person who lives beyond the mountains. 2. A foreigner; a stranger. 3. A cold north wind in Italy.
1281. squint-eyed
1. Affected with strabismus. 2. Looking with narrowed or squinting eyes. 3. Looking askance, as in envy.
1448. vis-à-vis
1. One that is face to face with or opposite to another. 2. A date or an escort, as at a party. 3. One that has the same functions and characteristics as another; a counterpart.
1372. Torah, torah
1. The first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures. See Table at Bible. 2. A scroll of parchment containing the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures, used in a synagogue during services. 3. The entire body of religious law and learning including both sacred literature and oral tradition.
900. neutralizer *
1. To make neutral. 2. To counterbalance or counteract the effect of; render ineffective. 3. To declare neutral and therefore inviolable during a war. 4. Chemistry a. To make (a solution) neutral. b. To cause (an acid or base) to undergo neutralization. 5. Medicine To counteract the effect of (a drug or toxin). 6. Slang To remove as a threat, especially by killing.
122. axiomatic
1.A self-evident or universally recognized truth; a maxim. 2.An established rule, principle, or law. 3.A self-evident principle or one that is accepted as true without proof as the basis for an argument; a postulate
1349. tercentenary *
A 300th anniversary or its celebration.
867. moo goo gai pan
A Cantonese dish of chicken, mushrooms, vegetables, and spices sautéed together.
1201. sashimi
A Japanese dish consisting of very thin bite-size slices of fresh raw fish, traditionally served with soy sauce and wasabi.
1494. zodiac
A band of the celestial sphere extending about 8° to either side of the ecliptic that represents the path of the principal planets, the moon, and the sun. b. In astrology, this band divided into 12 equal parts called signs, each 30° wide, bearing the name of a constellation for which it was originally named but with which it no longer coincides owing to the precession of the equinoxes. c. A diagram or figure representing the zodiac. 2. A complete circuit; a circle.
1024. pharmacopoeia, pharmacopeia *
A book containing an official list of medicinal drugs together with articles on their preparation and use. 2. A collection or stock of drugs.
1037. piragua
A canoe made by hollowing out a tree trunk; a dugout. 2. A flat-bottom sailing boat with two masts. Also called periauger.
1496. zorille, zoril
A carnivorous mustelid mammal (Ictonyx striatus) of Africa, resembling a skunk in appearance and in its method of defense.
892. necropolis *
A cemetery, especially a large and elaborate one belonging to an ancient city.
1362. thurible *
A censer used in certain ecclesiastical ceremonies or liturgies.
1403. umlaut
A change in a vowel sound caused by partial assimilation especially to a vowel or semivowel occurring in the following syllable. b. A vowel sound changed in this manner. Also called vowel mutation. 2. The diacritic mark (¨) placed over a vowel to indicate
1322. symbiosis *
A close, prolonged association between two or more different organisms of different species that may, but does not necessarily, benefit each member. 2. A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.
936. oleograph *
A chromolithograph printed with oil paint on canvas in imitation of an oil painting.
1243. sickle cell anemia
A chronic, severe, and sometimes fatal anemia marked by crescent-shaped red blood cells and characterized by fever, leg ulcers, jaundice, and episodic pain in the joints. The disease occurs in people who are homozygous for a gene that produces an abnormal form of hemoglobin, and it is found chiefly in people of African descent and in some Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Central and South American, and South Asian populations. Also called sickle cell disease.
1165. Rijeka
A city of western Croatia on the Adriatic Sea west-southwest of Zagreb. Held at various times by Austria, Croatia, France, and Hungary, it was seized by Italian irregulars in 1919. The Treaty of Rapallo between Italy and Yugoslavia (1920) guaranteed its status as an independent city, although it was formally annexed by Italy four years later.
1086. proviso
A clause in a document imposing a qualification, condition, or restriction.
1444. vinaigrette
A cold sauce or dressing made of vinegar or lemon juice and oil, often flavored with finely chopped onions, herbs, and other seasonings. 2. A small decorative bottle or container with a perforated top, used for holding an aromatic preparation such as smelling salts.
1133. redshirt
A college athlete who is allowed to practice with the varsity team but is kept out of competition for one year in order to extend the athlete's period of eligibility.
1330. table d'hôte
A communal table for all the guests at a hotel or restaurant. 2. A full-course meal offering a limited number of choices and served at a fixed price in a restaurant or hotel. Also called prix fixe.
861. monasterial *
A community of persons, especially monks, bound by vows to a religious life and often living in partial or complete seclusion. 2. The dwelling place of such a community.
1383. triad
A group of three. 2. Music A chord of three tones, especially one built on a given root tone plus a major or minor third and a perfect fifth. 3. A section of a Pindaric ode consisting of the strophe, antistrophe, and epode.
1342. teleconference
A conference held among people in different locations by means of a telecommunications network.
1253. situs inversus
A congenital condition in which internal organs are transposed through the sagittal plane so that the heart, for example, is on the right side of the body.
1277. spina bifida
A congenital defect in which the spinal column is imperfectly closed so that part of the meninges or spinal cord protrudes, often resulting in hydrocephalus and other neurological disorders.
1354. tetralogy of Fallot *
A congenital malformation of the heart characterized by a defect in the ventricular septum, misplacement of the origin of the aorta, narrowing of the pulmonary artery, and enlargement of the right ventricle.
916. nouvelle cuisine
A contemporary school of French cooking that seeks to bring out the natural flavors of foods and substitutes light, low-calorie sauces and stocks for the traditional heavy butter-based and cream-based preparations.
1048. polemic
A controversial argument, especially one refuting or attacking a specific opinion or doctrine. 2. A person engaged in or inclined to controversy, argument, or refutation.
1385. triclinium
A couch facing three sides of a rectangular table, used by the ancient Greeks, Etruscans, and Romans for reclining at meals. 2. A room containing such a couch or couches; a dining room.
1485. Yemeni
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.
1396. Turkmenistan
A country of west-central Asia east of the Caspian Sea. Once part of ancient Persia and later ruled by Arabs (8th century), Turks (11th century), Mongols (13th-14th century), and Uzbeks (late 15th century), it was annexed by Russia in 1881 and became a constituent state of the USSR, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, in 1925. Turkmenistan declared its independence in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Ashgabat is the capital and the largest city.
1068. presbytery
A court composed of Presbyterian Church ministers and representative elders of a particular locality. b. The district represented by this court. 2. Presbyters considered as a group. 3. Government of a church by presbyters. 4. The section of a church reserved for the clergy. 5. Roman Catholic Church The residence of a priest.
1474. Wounded Knee
A creek of southwest South Dakota. Some 300 Lakota were massacred here by US troops on December 29, 1890. In 1973 a standoff between Indian activists and US law officers resulted in deaths on both sides.
868. morion *
A crested metal helmet with a curved peak in front and back, worn by European soldiers in the 1500s and 1600s.
1487. yogurt, yoghurt, yoghourt
A custard like food with a tart flavor, prepared from milk curdled by bacteria, especially Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, and often sweetened or flavored.
1364. timbale
A custardlike dish of cheese, chicken, fish, or vegetables baked in a drum-shaped pastry mold. 2. The pastry mold in which this food is baked.
1174. rostrum
A dais, pulpit, or other elevated platform for public speaking. 2. The curved, beak like prow of an ancient Roman ship, especially a war galley. b. The speaker's platform in an ancient Roman forum, which was decorated with the prows of captured enemy ships. 3. Biology A beak like projection, especially: a. An anterior projection of an insect's or an arachnid's mouth-parts, of the upper jaw of a cetacean, or of the cephalothorax of a crustacean. b. A beak-like projection of a plant part, as the fruit of a geranium.
942. oolong
A dark Chinese tea that has been partially oxidized before drying.
1290. stockade *
A defensive barrier made of strong posts or timbers driven upright side by side into the ground. 2. A fenced or enclosed area, especially one used for protection. b. A jail on a military base.
983. parfait
A dessert made of cream, eggs, sugar, and flavoring frozen together and served in a tall glass. 2. A sweet dish usually made of ice cream, yogurt, or other creamy food layered with fruit, granola, nuts, or other ingredients, often served in a tall glass.
1400. udometer
A device for measuring rainfall. Also called pluviometer and rain gauge
961. oximeter
A device for measuring the oxygen saturation of arterial blood
1466. whirlybird *
A helicopter.
1002. pellagrous
A disease caused by a deficiency of niacin and protein in the diet and characterized by skin eruptions, digestive and nervous system disturbances, and eventual mental deterioration.
888. narcolepsy *
A disorder characterized by sudden and uncontrollable, though often brief, attacks of deep sleep, sometimes accompanied by paralysis and hallucinations.
1464. Weimaraner
A dog of a medium-sized breed developed in Germany for hunting, having a smooth gray coat.
1308. supercollider
A high-energy particle accelerator.
1009. Percheron *
A draft horse of a breed developed in France, having a gray or black coat and noted for its strength.
991. pastiche
A dramatic, artistic, literary, or musical piece openly imitating the previous works of other artists, often with satirical intent. 2. A pasticcio of incongruous parts; a hodgepodge
1246. silhouette
A drawing consisting of the outline of something, especially a human profile, filled in with a solid color. 2. An outline that appears dark against a light background
1343. telefacsimile
A fax machine.
1433. veneration
A feeling of profound respect or reverence
963. paddock *
A fenced area, usually near a stable, used chiefly for grazing horses. 2. An enclosure at a racetrack where the horses are assembled, saddled, and paraded before each race. b. An area of an automobile racetrack where cars are prepared before a race. 3. Australian A piece of fenced-in land.
989. passado
A fencing maneuver in which the foil is thrust forward and one foot advanced at the same time.
1240. shindig
A festive party, often with dancing. Also called shindy.
908. nom de guerre (singular)
A fictitious name; a pseudonym.
1384. triceratops, Triceratops
A large ceratopsian dinosaur of the genus Triceratops of the Cretaceous Period, having a large bony frill at the back of the skull, a pair of horns above the eyes, and a single horn on the nose.
1199. sarcenet
A fine soft silk cloth.
980. paramatta, parramatta
A fine, lightweight silk and wool or cotton and wool dress fabric.
1255. skyrocket *
A firework that ascends high into the air where it explodes in a brilliant cascade of flares and star-like sparks.
922. obeah
A form of religious belief of African origin, involving sorcery and practiced in Jamaica, some other parts of the West Indies, and nearby tropical America. 2. An object, charm, or fetish used in the practice of this belief.
926. obsequy *
A funeral rite or ceremony.
1164. rictus
A gaping grimace. 2. The expanse of an open mouth or a bird's beak. b. The corner of the mouth or the fleshy area where the upper and lower mandibles of a bird meet
1046. pneumatophore
A gas-filled sac serving as a float in some colonial marine hydrozoans, such as the Portuguese man-of-war. 2. Botany A specialized respiratory root in certain aquatic plants, such as the bald cypress, that grows upward and protrudes above the water or mud into the air.
1179. ruche
A gathered ruffle or pleat of fabric used for trimming or decorating garments.
1001. pekoe *
A grade of black tea consisting of the leaves around the buds.
1054. portcullis *
A grating of iron or wooden bars or slats, suspended in the gateway of a fortified place and lowered to block passage.
1345. tempeh
A high-protein food made from partially cooked, fermented soybeans.
1019. pertussis
A highly contagious disease of the respiratory system, usually affecting children, that is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis and is characterized in its advanced stage by spasms of coughing interspersed with deep, noisy inspirations
992. pastrami *
A highly seasoned smoked cut of beef, usually taken from the shoulder.
1426. vaquero
A hired man, especially in the western United States, who tends cattle and performs many of his duties on horseback. Also called cowman; also called regionally buckaroo 2. An adventurous hero. 3. A reckless person, such as a driver, pilot, or manager, who ignores potential risks.
978. Paraguay
A landlocked country of south-central South America. Inhabited principally by the Guarani, the region was first explored by Europeans in 1516 and grew around the colony of Asunción (founded in the 1530s). Paraguay achieved de facto independence from Spain in 1811 and was ruled by a series of dictators in the 1800s. Paraguay was involved in costly wars with Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay (1865-1870) and Bolivia (1932-1935). Asunción is the capital and the largest city.
1418. Uto-Aztecan
A language phylum of North and Central America that includes Ute, Hopi, Nahuatl, and Shoshone. 2. A member of a people speaking a Uto-Aztecan language.
905. nilgai
A large brown or bluish-gray antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus) native to India, Nepal, and Pakistan, the male of which has short, sturdy horns and strands of long hair hanging down from the throat.
1402. umiak, oomiak
A large open boat used by Yupik and Inuit people, made of skins stretched on a wooden frame, usually propelled by paddles.
943. operculum
A lid like structure covering an opening, especially: a. A bony plate that covers and protects the gills of most bony fishes. Also called gill cover. b. A horny or calcareous plate attached to the foot of most larval and many adult gastropods, used to close the aperture when the animal retracts into its shell. c. A covering at the top of the spore capsule of most mosses, falling off when mature spores are released.
1270. soufflé
A light, fluffy baked dish made with egg yolks and beaten egg whites combined with various other ingredients and served as a main dish or sweetened as a dessert.
1382. transversal
A line that intersects a system of other lines; transverse
1315. surrealism *
A literary and artistic movement of the 1900s that attempts to express the workings of the subconscious and is characterized by fantastic imagery and incongruous juxtaposition of subject matter. 2. Literature or art produced in this style.
1338. tarantella *
A lively, whirling southern Italian dance in 6/8 time, once thought to be a remedy for tarantism. 2. The music for this dance.
1257. sledgehammer
A long heavy hammer, often wielded with both hands, used for driving wedges and posts and for other heavy work.
1025. phenobarbital
A long-acting barbiturate, C12H12N2O3, used medicinally as a sedative, hypnotic, and anticonvulsant, sometimes in the form of its sodium salt.
1346. tenaculum *
A long-handled, slender, hooked instrument for lifting and holding parts, such as blood vessels, during surgery.
1120. ratiné
A loosely woven fabric with a rough nubby texture.
1380. transfiguration, Transfiguration
A marked change in form or appearance; a metamorphosis. b. A change that glorifies or exalts. 2. The sudden emanation of radiance from the person of Jesus that occurred on a mountain. b. The Christian feast commemorating this event, observed on August 6 in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox churches and on the Sunday before Lent in most Protestant churches.
937. oligopoly *
A market condition in which sellers are so few that the actions of any one of them will materially affect price and have a measurable impact on competitors.
865. monopsony
A market situation in which the product or service of several sellers is sought by only one buyer.
1148. requiem, Requiem
A mass for a deceased person. b. A musical composition for such a mass. 2. A hymn, composition, or service for the dead.
1182. Runnymede
A meadow in southeast England on the Thames River west of London. King John accepted the Magna Carta here or on a nearby island in 1215.
869. morpheme
A meaningful linguistic unit that cannot be divided into smaller meaningful parts. The word man and the suffix -ed (as in walked)
902. nexus
A means of connection; a link or tie 2. A connected series or group. 3. The core or center
1309. superfecta
A method of betting in which the bettor, in order to win, must pick the first four finishers of a race in the correct sequence.
915. nostrum *
A medicine whose effectiveness is unproved and whose ingredients are usually secret; a quack remedy. 2. A favorite but usually ineffective remedy for problems or evils.
1185. sackbut
A medieval instrument resembling the trombone.
1225. Seminole
A member of a Native American people made up of various primarily Creek groups who moved into northern Florida during the 1700s and 1800s, later inhabiting the Everglades region as well, with present-day populations in Oklahoma and southern Florida. The Seminole Wars ended in the removal of the majority of the Seminoles to Indian Territory. 2. Either of the Muskogean languages of the Seminole.
1198. Saracen
A member of a pre-Islamic nomadic people of the Syrian and Arabian Deserts. 2. A Muslim, especially of the time of the Crusades.
1194. Salvationist, salvationist (noun)
A member of the Salvation Army. 2. One who preaches salvation; an evangelist.
1195. samovar
A metal urn with a spigot, used to boil water for tea and traditionally having a chimney and heated by coals.
1097. pyrrhic *
A metrical foot having two short or unaccented syllables.
1212. schwa
A mid-central neutral vowel, typically occurring in unstressed syllables, as the final vowel of English sofa. 2. The symbol (ə) used to represent an unstressed neutral vowel and, in some systems of phonetic transcription, a stressed mid-central vowel, as in but.
1169. Riviera
A narrow coastal region between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea extending from southeast France to northwest Italy. The Riviera, known as the Côte d'Azur in France, is a popular resort area noted for its flowers grown for use in perfumery.
1004. pencel, pensil
A narrow flag, streamer, or pennon, especially one carried at the top of a lance or spear.
1368. tokonoma *
A niche or an alcove in a Japanese home for displaying a flower arrangement, kakemono, or other piece of art.
844. miasmic *
A noxious atmosphere or influence. 2.A foul-smelling vapor arising from rotting organic matter, formerly thought to cause disease, A thick vaporous atmosphere or emanation
981. parasail
A parachute that is designed with openings or extensions to allow airflow and is towed behind an automobile or motorboat to lift a rider attached by a harness into the air.
984. parotid
A parotid gland.
1230. sequela
A pathological condition resulting from a disease. 2. A secondary consequence or result.
1125. rebec, rebeck
A pear-shaped, two-stringed or three-stringed medieval instrument, played with a bow.
1003. Peloponnesian
A peninsula forming the southern part of Greece south of the Gulf of Corinth. It was dominated by Sparta until the fourth century BC.
1335. tambourine
A percussion instrument consisting of a small drumhead with jingling disks fitted into the rim, usually played by shaking and striking with the hand. 2. A similar instrument without a drumhead.
958. outlander
A person from a foreign country; a foreigner. 2. A stranger.
1049. polymath
A person of great or varied learning.
1341. tatterdemalion
A person wearing ragged or tattered clothing; a ragamuffin.
873. mugwumpery
A person who acts independently or remains neutral, especially in politics. 2. A Republican who bolted the party in 1884, refusing to support presidential candidate James G. Blaine.
979. paralegal
A person who assists a lawyer in the performance of various legal tasks and activities associated with the representation of clients.
107. assayer
A person who creates a qualitative or quantitative analysis of a metal or ore to determine its components
988. parvenu
A person who has suddenly risen to a higher social and economic class and has not yet gained social acceptance by others in that class.
1172. rookery
A place where large numbers of rooks or certain seabirds or marine animals, such as penguins or seals, nest or breed. b. A colony of such animals. 2. A crowded and dilapidated tenement or area.
1039. pizzeria
A place where pizzas are made and sold.
1239. shenanigan
A playful or mischievous act; a prank. 2. An underhanded act or deceitful remark
907. nolo contendere *
A plea made by the defendant in a criminal action that is substantially but not technically an admission of guilt and subjects the defendant to punishment but permits denial of the alleged facts in other proceedings
1288. stigmata
A plural of stigma.
1387. triolet *
A poem or stanza of eight lines with a rhyme scheme abaaabab, in which the fourth and seventh lines are the same as the first, and the eighth line is the same as the second.
935. oleander *
A poisonous Eurasian evergreen shrub (Nerium oleander) with narrow leathery leaves, widely cultivated for its showy fragrant white, rose, or purple flowers. Also called rose bay.
1163. ricin
A poisonous protein extracted from the castor bean and used as a biochemical reagent.
1477. xanthan gum
A polysaccharide of high molecular weight produced by bacterial fermentation of glucose and used as a stabilizer and thickener in foods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and various industrial processes.
1300. subcomponent
A portion of a component, especially an electronic component; a subassembly.
1109. quintain
A post or an object mounted on a post, used as a target in jousting exercises.
1454. vorlage
A posture assumed in skiing in which the skier leans forward from the ankles, usually without lifting the heels.
1075. prolegomenon
A preliminary discussion, especially a formal essay introducing a work of considerable length or complexity.
1191. salmonberry
A prickly shrub (Rubus spectabilis) of western North America, having trifoliolate leaves and fragrant pinkish or purple flowers. 2. The edible salmon-colored raspberry like fruit of this plant.
1468. widow's walk
A railed platform or cupola, typically on a coastal house. Also called widow's watch.
903. niblick
An iron-headed golf club with the face slanted at a greater angle than any other iron except a wedge; a nine iron
1389. tritium *
A rare radioactive isotope of hydrogen, H-3, having one proton and two neutrons in the nucleus and a half-life of 12.3 years, prepared artificially for use as a tracer and as a constituent of hydrogen bombs.
1142. reliquary
A receptacle, such as a coffer or shrine, for keeping or displaying sacred relics.
1036. pilaster
A rectangular column with a capital and base, projecting only slightly from a wall as an ornamental motif.
962. ozonosphere
A region of the atmosphere lying mostly in the stratosphere, between about 15 and 30 kilometers (10 and 20 miles) in altitude, containing a relatively high concentration of ozone that absorbs solar ultraviolet radiation in a wavelength range not screened by other atmospheric components
1041. planisphere
A representation of a sphere or part of a sphere on a plane surface. 2. Astronomy A polar projection of half or more of the celestial sphere on a chart equipped with an adjustable overlay to show the stars visible at a particular time and place.
1393. tu quoque
A retort accusing an accuser of a similar offense or similar behavior.
1453. volte-face *
A reversal, as in policy; an about-face
893. neoclassicism, Neoclassicism
A revival of classical aesthetics and forms, especially: a. A revival in literature in the late 1600s and 1700s, characterized by a regard for the classical ideals of reason, form, and restraint. b. A revival in the 1700s and 1800s in architecture and art, especially in the decorative arts, characterized by order, symmetry, and simplicity of style. c. A movement in music lasting roughly from 1915 to 1940 that sought to avoid subjective emotionalism and to return to the style of the pre-Romantic composers. 2. Any of various intellectual movements that embrace a set of traditional principles regarded as fundamental or authoritative.
1106. quiche
A rich unsweetened custard pie, often containing ingredients such as vegetables, cheese, or seafood.
1181. runnel *
A rivulet; a brook. 2. A narrow channel or course, as for water.
934. okapi
A ruminant mammal (Okapia johnstoni) of the central African rainforest, having a reddish-brown body, whitish-gray cheeks, horizontal whitish stripes on the legs and hindquarters, and short horns in the male
858. Mohs scale
A scale for classifying minerals based on relative hardness, determined by the ability of harder minerals to scratch softer ones. The scale includes the following minerals, in order from softest to hardest: 1. talc; 2. gypsum; 3. calcite; 4. fluorite; 5. apatite; 6. orthoclase; 7. quartz; 8. topaz; 9. corundum; 10. diamond.
1294. stratagem
A scheme or maneuver designed to achieve an objective, as in surprising an enemy or deceiving someone
1356. thalidomide
A sedative and hypnotic drug, C13H10N2O4, withdrawn from general use after it was found to cause severe birth defects when taken during pregnancy. It is currently used to treat leprosy.
884. nacelle
A separate streamlined enclosure on an aircraft or spacecraft for sheltering the crew or cargo or for housing an engine and usually its related components. 2. A similar enclosure on a wind turbine that houses the energy-generating components, including the shaft, generator, and gearing, and to which the rotor and blades of the turbine are attached.
1015. peristyle
A series of columns surrounding a building or enclosing a court. 2. A court enclosed by columns.
1021. petri dish *
A shallow circular dish with a loose-fitting cover, used to culture bacteria or other microorganisms.
874. muleta
A short red cape suspended from a hollow staff, used by a matador to maneuver a bull during the final passes before a kill.
1424. Vandyke beard
A short, pointed beard, especially one worn with the cheeks shaven and a mustache.
931. ocotillo *
A shrub (Fouquieria splendens) of Mexico and the southwest United States, having long spiny stems and clusters of scarlet tubular flowers.
1488. yttrium
A silvery, malleable metallic element that is found in the same ores as other rare-earth elements and is used in various metallurgical applications, notably to increase the strength of magnesium and aluminum alloys. Its oxide and other compounds are useful as phosphors, microwave filters, laser dopants, and superconducting materials. Atomic number 39; atomic weight 88.906; melting point 1,522°C; boiling point 3,345°C; specific gravity 4.469 (at 25°C); valence 3. See Periodic Table.
1367. T-maze
A simple maze with one branch point, used for experimental studies of mice or other small animals. One arm of the maze leads to a reward, while the other is without an exit. Also called Y-maze.
1493. zero-sum game
A situation in which a gain by one person or side must be matched by a loss by another person or side
1321. sylph
A slim, graceful woman or girl. 2. In the occult philosophy of Paracelsus, a being that has air as its element.
977. papilloma
A small benign epithelial tumor, such as a wart, consisting of an overgrowth of cells on a core of smooth connective tissue.
1430. vehicular
Of, relating to, or intended for vehicles, especially motor vehicles 2. Serving as a vehicle
906. nodular
A small knot-like protuberance. 2. Medicine A small, abnormal but usually benign mass of tissue, as on the thyroid gland, in the lung, or under the skin. 3. Botany A small knob like outgrowth, especially one on the roots of a leguminous plant that contains bacteria that fix nitrogen. 4. Mineralogy A small rounded lump of a mineral or mixture of minerals, usually harder than the surrounding rock or sediment.
1057. pouncet box
A small perfume box with a perforated top.
1259. sloops of war
A small warship carrying guns on one deck only.
945. opuscule *
A small, minor work.
845. microcosm
A small, representative system having analogies to a larger system in constitution, configuration, or development
1463. wedeln
A snow skiing style in which the skier executes a series of short quick parallel turns by moving the backs of the skis from side to side at a constant speed.
1261. sodality *
A society or an association, especially a devotional or charitable society for the laity in the Roman Catholic Church. 2. Fellowship.
857. moccasin
A soft leather slipper traditionally worn by certain Native American peoples. 2. Footwear resembling such a slipper. 3. A water moccasin.
997. peau de soie *
A soft silk fabric of satin weave having a dull finish.
897. Neufchâtel *
A soft white cheese made from cow's milk.
1244. sienna *
A special clay containing iron and manganese oxides, used as a pigment for oil and watercolor painting.
1273. specialty
A special pursuit, occupation, aptitude, or skill. b. A branch of medicine or surgery, such as cardiology or neurosurgery, in which a physician specializes; the field or practice of a specialist. c. An item or product of a distinctive kind or of particular superiority. 2. Law A contract or agreement that creates a greater obligation than an ordinary contract or agreement because it is executed under seal.
1069. pretension
A specious allegation; a pretext. 2. A claim to something, such as a skill or profession. 3. deserving of merit, or behavior indicative of such an assumption; pretentiousness
1266. somnolence
A state of drowsiness; sleepiness.
1265. solleret *
A steel shoe made of overlapping plates, forming a part of a medieval suit of armor.
1434. venetian blue
A strong blue to greenish blue.
944. optic chiasma
A structure in the brain formed by the partial intersection or crossing of the optic nerve fibers on the underside of the hypothalamus.
1224. seminarist
A student at a seminary.
1472. wonk
A student who studies excessively; a grind. 2. One who studies an issue or topic thoroughly or excessively
1245. silesia, Silesia
A sturdy twilled cotton fabric used for linings and pockets.
1333. taiga *
A subarctic area of northern Eurasia and North America located just south of the tundra and covered largely with coniferous forests dominated by firs and spruces.
1301. subgenre *
A subcategory within a particular genre
985. paroxysm
A sudden outburst of emotion or action 2. A sudden attack, recurrence, or intensification of a disease. b. A spasm or fit; a convulsion.
972. Pangaea, Pangea
A super continent that included all the world's landmasses in the late Paleozoic and, according to the theory of plate tectonics, subsequently broke apart into Laurasia and Gondwana.
1331. tachymeter *
A surveying instrument used for the rapid determination of distances, elevations, and bearings.
1119. ratafia
A sweet cordial flavored with fruit kernels or almonds.
1394. tumescence *
A swelling or enlarging. b. A swollen condition. 2. A swollen part or organ.
1391. trudgen, trudgeon
A swimming stroke in which alternating overarm movements are combined with a scissors kick.
1107. quinella
A system of betting in which the bettor, in order to win, must pick the first two finishers of a race, but not necessarily in the correct sequence.
1034. phylum *
A taxonomic category of organisms ranking below a kingdom and above a class. In the classification of plants, division often replaces phylum. 2. Linguistics A large division of possibly genetically related families of languages or linguistic stocks.
964. paillasse, palliasse *
A thin mattress filled with straw or sawdust.
850. miniseries
A television series that tells a self-contained story in a limited number of episodes. 2. A comic book series that tells a self-contained story in a limited number of issues, usually between two and eight. 3. A short series of performances or athletic contests.
1348. teocalli
A temple of ancient Mexico, usually built on a pyramidal mound. 2. The mound on which such a temple was built.
1317. suspended animation
A temporary state of interrupted breathing and loss of consciousness resembling death, caused especially by asphyxia.
1374. tostada *
A tortilla or tortilla chip deep-fried until crisp. 2. A dish made by topping a tostada with various ingredients, such as refried beans, cheese, lettuce, meat, guacamole, salsa, or sour cream.
1098. Q-Tip, Q-tip (trademark)
A trademark for a cotton-tipped swab.
917. Novocain (trademark)
A trademark for an anesthetic preparation of the drug procaine.
1439. vibrato
A tremulous or pulsating effect produced in an instrumental or vocal tone by minute and rapid variations in pitch.
1042. platitudinous *
A trite or banal remark or statement, especially one expressed as if it were original or significant. 2. Lack of originality; triteness
1252. siphon, syphon
A tube that carries a liquid from a higher level up and over a barrier and then down to a lower level, with the flow maintained by gravity and atmospheric pressure as long as the tube remains filled. 2. Zoology A tubular organ, especially of aquatic invertebrates such as squids or clams, by which water is taken in or expelled.
1476. writer's block
A usually temporary psychological inability to begin or continue work on a piece of writing.
864. monometer
A verse consisting of a single metrical foot or one dipody.
973. pantoum
A verse form composed of quatrains in which the second and fourth lines are repeated as the first and third lines of the following quatrain.
885. nannofossil, nanofossil
A very small fossil organism, especially one of the nannoplankton.
1357. theodicy
A vindication of God's goodness and justice in the face of the existence of evil.
1223. semaphore
A visual signaling apparatus with flags, lights, or mechanically moving arms, as one used on a railroad. 2. A visual system for sending information by means of two flags that are held one in each hand, using an alphabetic code based on the position of the signaler's arms.
1113. ragout
A well-seasoned meat or fish stew, usually with vegetables. 2. A mixture of diverse elements
1072. procaine
A white crystalline powder, C13H20N2O2, used chiefly in its hydro-chloride form as a local anesthetic in medicine and dentistry.
1431. velouté *
A white sauce made of chicken, veal, or fish stock thickened with a roux of flour and butter.
1397. turmeric
A widely cultivated tropical plant (Curcuma longa) of India, having yellow flowers and an aromatic, somewhat fleshy rhizome. 2. The powdered rhizome of this plant, used as a spice and a yellow dye. 3. Any of several other plants having similar rhizomes.
1084. protégée (female)
A woman or girl whose welfare, training, or career is promoted by an influential person.
1350. termagant
A woman regarded as quarrelsome or scolding; a shrew.
1220. seeress
A woman who acts as a prophet or clairvoyant.
938. ombudswoman
A woman who investigates complaints and mediates fair settlements, especially between aggrieved parties such as consumers or students and an institution or organization.
1438. vestrywoman
A woman who is a member of a vestry.
1475. wristlock
A wrestling hold in which an opponent's wrist is gripped and twisted to immobilize the opponent.
998. pecorino
An Italian cheese, especially Romano, made from sheep's milk.
930. ochlophobia *
An abnormal fear of crowds.
1422. valediction
An act of bidding farewell; a leave-taking. 2. A speech or statement made as a farewell. 3. A word or phrase of farewell used to end a letter or message.
1399. typhoid fever
An acute, highly infectious disease of humans caused by a bacterium (Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi) spread chiefly by contaminated food or water and characterized by high fever, headache, coughing, reddish spots on the skin, and sometimes intestinal hemorrhage.
1427. variola
An acute, highly infectious, often fatal disease caused by a poxvirus and characterized by high fever and aches with subsequent widespread eruption of pimples that blister, produce pus, and form pockmarks. Smallpox was eradicated worldwide by 1979 as a result of numerous vaccination campaigns and exists only as a laboratory specimen. Also called smallpox
1228. sententia
An adage or aphorism.
982. parasiticide
An agent or preparation used to destroy parasites.
886. napalm
An aluminum soap of various fatty acids that when mixed with gasoline makes a firm jelly used in some bombs and in flamethrowers b. This jelly. 2. An incendiary mixture of gasoline or other petroleum fuel and a thickener or gel-forming agent
1207. scavenger
An animal, such as a vulture or housefly, that feeds on dead or decaying matter. 2. One that scavenges, as a person who searches through refuse for useful items. 3. Chemistry A substance added to a mixture to remove or inactivate impurities.
1320. sweet alyssum *
An annual or perennial herb (Lobularia maritima) in the mustard family, native to the Mediterranean region and widely cultivated for its small, fragrant, typically white or lavender flowers.
1260. sluiced
An artificial channel for conducting water, with a valve or gate to regulate the flow. 2. A body of water impounded behind a floodgate. 3. A sluiceway. 4. A long inclined trough, as for carrying logs or separating gold ore.
1088. Prudhoe Bay
An inlet of the Arctic Ocean on the northern coast of Alaska east of the Colville River delta. Extensive oil reserves were discovered here in 1968.
1428. varlet
An attendant or servant. 2. A knight's page. 3. A rascal; a knave.
1026. Philistinism, philistinism
An attitude of smug ignorance and conventionalism, especially toward artistic and cultural values.
1347. tentacular
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
1175. roulade
An embellishment consisting of a rapid run of several notes sung to one syllable. 2. A slice of meat rolled around a filling and cooked. b. Any of various other dishes in which a flexible base layer is rolled up together with a soft filling.
1248. sine qua non
An essential element or condition
1283. stalactite *
An icicle-shaped mineral deposit, usually calcite or aragonite, hanging from the roof of a cavern, formed from the dripping of mineral-rich water.
1214. Scotticism
An idiom or other expression characteristic of Scottish English.
1229. sepoy
An indigenous soldier serving in the army of a foreign conqueror, especially an Indian soldier serving under British command in India.
923. objet d'art (singular) *
An object of artistic merit.
918. nudnik, nudnick *
An obtuse, boring, or bothersome person; a pest.
1231. sergeant at arms
An officer appointed to keep order within an organization, such as a legislative, judicial, or social body.
954. ossifrage *
An osprey
1061. precipice *
An overhanging or extremely steep mass of rock, such as a crag or the face of a cliff. 2. The brink of a dangerous or disastrous situation
1352. terra incognita
An unknown land; an unexplored region. 2. A new or unexplored field of knowledge.
879. muskmelon
Any of several varieties of the melon Cucumis melo, such as the cantaloupe, having fruit characterized by a netted rind and edible flesh with a musky aroma. 2. The fruit of any of these plants.
1104. quelea, Quelea
Any of several African weaver birds of the genus Quelea, especially Q. quelea, a small red-billed bird that is destructive to grain crops.
847. mignonette *
Any of several Mediterranean plants of the genus Reseda, especially R. odorata, widely cultivated for its dense racemes of small fragrant greenish flowers. 2. A sauce of vinegar, pepper, and minced shallots, usually served with oysters.
1238. shekel
Any of several ancient units of weight, especially a Hebrew unit equal to about a half ounce. b. A gold or silver coin equal in weight to one of these units, especially the chief silver coin of the ancient Hebrews. c. Variant of sheqel.
1497. zoysia, Zoysia
Any of several creeping grasses of the genus Zoysia, native to Southeast Asia and Australasia and widely cultivated for lawns.
887. naphtha
Any of several highly volatile, flammable liquid mixtures of hydrocarbons distilled from petroleum, coal tar, and natural gas and used as fuel, as solvents, and in making various chemicals. Also called benzine, ligroin, petroleum ether, white gasoline. 2. Obsolete Petroleum.
1458. wallaroo
Any of several large macropods of the genus Macropus, smaller than a kangaroo and larger than a wallaby, especially M. robustus, found throughout much of Australia. Also called euro
1371. toque
Any of several styles of small, close-fitting hats having no brim or a very short brim, especially: a. A usually black, velvet cap with a narrow, rolled brim and often an ornamental plume, worn especially in France in the 16th century. 2. A hat, usually white, having a tall pleated crown and no brim and traditionally worn by chefs.
1200. sarsaparilla *
Any of several tropical American plants of the genus Smilax, having fragrant roots used as a flavoring. b. The dried roots of any of these plants. c. A carbonated soft drink flavored with extracts of certain plant roots or with artificial flavorings having a similar flavor. 2. Either of two North American plants (Aralia hispida or A. nudicaulis) having umbels of small white flowers and bipinnately compound leaves.
969. palmetto
Any of several tropical and subtropical palms of the Americas having fan-shaped leaves, especially one of the genus Sabal, such as the cabbage palm. 2. Leaf strips of any of these plants, used in weaving.
1171. rogueries
Behavior characteristic of a rogue. 2. A mischievous act.
1154. retinopathic
Any of various disorders affecting the retina of the eye, marked by damage to retinal blood vessels, swelling of the retina, or abnormal growth of new blood vessels, and resulting in blurred vision, vision loss, or blindness. 2. Such a disorder occurring as a complication of untreated or improperly controlled diabetes mellitus. Also called diabetic retinopathy.
1489. yucca, Yucca
Any of various evergreen plants of the genera Yucca and Hesperoyucca of the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America, having stiff sword-shaped leaves, clusters of white flowers, and sometimes a thick treelike stem.
1209. schefflera, Schefflera
Any of various evergreen shrubs or small trees of the genus Schefflera, having palmately compound leaves. Several species are cultivated as houseplants. Also called umbrella tree.
1089. ptarmigan
Any of various grouse of the genus Lagopus, inhabiting arctic, subarctic, and alpine regions of the Northern Hemisphere and having feathered legs and feet and plumage that is brown or gray in summer and white in winter.
859. molluscum *
Any of various skin diseases in which soft spherical tumors form on the face or the body.
872. mud dauber
Any of various solitary predatory wasps, especially of the families Sphecidae and Crabronidae, that build nests of mud and provision them with paralyzed prey.
1337. tanager
Any of various songbirds of the family Thraupidae of the Americas, often having brightly colored plumage in the male. 2. Any of various similar birds of the family Cardinalidae, such as the scarlet tanager.
846. mid-ocean ridge
Any of various underwater mountain ranges forming a chain that extends almost continuously for about 66,000 kilometers (41,000 miles) through the North and South Atlantic Oceans, the Indian Ocean, and the South Pacific Ocean at the boundaries between divergent tectonic plates. Magma escapes from rifts along the tops of these ranges, adding new material to the earth's crust. 2. The system of these mountain ranges considered as a single geologic feature.
All Fools' Day
April 1, celebrated in various countries, including the United States and Great Britain, and marked by the playing of practical jokes
1087. prudential
Arising from or characterized by prudence. 2. Exercising prudence, good judgment, or common sense.
947. ordinarily
As a general rule; usually
1311. suppliant
Asking humbly and earnestly; beseeching.
1031. photogenic
Attractive as a subject for photography. 2. Biology Producing or emitting light; phosphorescent
1249. singularly
Being only one; individual; lone. 2. Being the only one of a kind; unique. 3. Being beyond what is ordinary, especially in being exceptionally good; remarkable. 4. Grammar a. Of, relating to, or being a noun, pronoun, or adjective denoting a single person or thing or several entities considered as a single unit. b. Of, relating to, or being a verb expressing the action or state of a single subject. 5. Logic Of or relating to the specific as distinguished from the general; individual.
1406. unelectable
Being such that election, as to high office, is difficult or impossible
1435. veritable
Being truly so called; real or genuine
1071. primeval *
Belonging to the first or earliest age or ages; original or ancient
1481. xerothermic
Both dry and hot 2. Adapted to or flourishing in an environment that is both dry and hot
1184. rutilant
Bright red.
1369. Tolkien
British philologist and author of the fantasies The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954-1955).
1167. rissolé
Browned by frying.
1008. per diem
By the day; per day.
1007. per annum
By the year; annually
1450. viva voce *
By word of mouth
1291. stoichiometry
Calculation of the quantities of reactants and products in a chemical reaction. 2. The quantitative relationship between reactants and products in a chemical reaction.
1413. unperturbed
Calm and serene; unruffled.
1011. perfectibility
Capable of becoming perfect or being made perfect
1094. purchasable
Capable of being bought. 2. Capable of being bribed; venal
1118. ratables *
Capable of being rated, estimated, or appraised. 2. Proportional, Liable to assessment; taxable. 3. property or building, especially one used for commercial purposes, that provides tax income for local government
1140. releasable
Capable of being released. 2. intended or configured to release
1193. salvable
Capable of being salvaged or saved
939. omnidirectional
Capable of transmitting or receiving signals in all directions, as an antenna.
1127. recipience *
Capacity to receive; receptivity.
1310. supernal
Celestial; heavenly. 2. Of, coming from, or being in the sky or high above.
238. cerement *
Cerecloth. 2. a burial garment
1282. staid *
Characterized by sedateness and often a strait-laced sense of propriety; serious and conventional. 2. Fixed; permanent
1111. raffish
Cheaply or showily vulgar in appearance or nature; tawdry. 2. Characterized by a carefree or fun-loving unconventionality; rakish.
1091. pugnacity *
Combative in nature.
1186. sacrilegious
Committing sacrilege or characterized by sacrilege.
1099. quadripartite
Consisting of or divided into four parts. 2. Involving four participants.
904. nickelic
Containing nickel, especially of valence 3.
1101. quartziferous *
Containing quartz.
1437. verrucose
Covered with warts or wartlike projections.
1180. runaround
Deception, usually in the form of evasive excuses. 2. Printing Type set in a column narrower than the body of the text, as on either side of a picture.
1423. valueless
Having no value; worthless.
1236. sgraffito
Decoration produced (on pottery or ceramic, for example) by scratching through a surface layer to reveal a different color underneath. 2. Something, such as pottery, decorated in this manner.
1232. serodiagnosis
Diagnosis of disease based on antigen-antibody reactions in the blood serum
1414. unruliest
Difficult or impossible to discipline, control, or rule 2. Difficult to keep in place or in order
1461. watered-down
Diminished in force or effect
1242. shuttle diplomacy
Diplomatic negotiations conducted by an official intermediary who travels frequently between the nations involved.
1376. tractable
Easily managed or controlled; governable. 2. Easily handled or worked; malleable.
1103. quebracho
Either of two South American trees, Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco whose bark is used in medicine, or Schinopsis lorentzii whose wood is an important source of tannin. 2. The bark or wood of either of these trees.
1340. tarpon
Either of two large marine game fishes, Megalops cyprinoides of the Pacific and Indian Oceans or M. atlanticus of Atlantic coastal waters, having a bluish-green back and silvery sides.
1188. saddlery
Equipment, such as saddles and harnesses, for horses. 2. A shop that sells tack. 3. The craft or business of one that makes or sells tack.
1160. rhinoscopy
Examination of the nasal passages by means of a speculum or similar instrument.
967. pallor
Extreme or unnatural paleness.
1010. perdurability
Extremely durable; permanent.
1161. rhizophagous
Feeding on roots.
1480. xerophilous
Flourishing in a very dry environment.
1056. posttraumatic
Following injury or resulting from it:
1241. shrapnel *
Fragments from an exploded artillery shell, mine, or bomb. 2. A 19th-century artillery shell containing metal balls, designed to explode in the air above enemy troops. b. The metal balls in such a weapon.
327. Cousteau
French underwater explorer, film producer, and author who helped to produce the Aqua-Lung (1943) and later developed underwater laboratories
1157. revengeful
Full of or given to revenge.
862. monocracy
Government or rule by a single person; autocracy.
1168. ritardando
Gradually slowing in tempo; retarding. Used chiefly as a direction.
1226. senescent
Growing old; aging. 2. No longer dividing. Used of a cell.
1062. precocial
Hatched or born with the eyes open, a covering of down or hair, and the ability to search for food. Used of birds and mammals.
854. misoneism
Hatred or fear of change or innovation.
851. misanthropy *
Hatred or mistrust of humankind.
996. pearlescent
Having a pearly luster or gloss.
1344. telegenic
Having a physical appearance and exhibiting personal qualities that are deemed highly appealing to television viewers
974. pantropic
Having an affinity for or indiscriminately affecting many kinds of tissue
1499. zygomorphic
Having bilateral symmetry, as the flowers of a pea plant.
1005. pentadactyl *
Having five digits on each extremity.
1392. truncated
Having the apex cut off and replaced by a plane, especially one parallel to the base. Used of a cone or pyramid. 2. Lacking one or more syllables, especially in the final foot; catalectic. 3. Shortened or reduced
1299. suasive
Having the power to persuade or convince; persuasive.
1276. spherical
Having the shape of a sphere; globular. b. Having a shape approximating that of a sphere. 2. Of or relating to a sphere. 3. Of or relating to celestial bodies.
960. outward-bound
Headed out, as toward the open sea
1447. virtually
In fact or to all purposes; practically 2. Almost but not quite; nearly
955. osteitis
Inflammation of bone or bony tissue.
1051. polyneuritis
Inflammation of several nerves at one time, marked by paralysis, pain, and muscle wasting
1279. spondylitis
Inflammation of the vertebrae.
766. Leonardo da Vinci
Italian painter, engineer, musician, and scientist. The most versatile genius of the Renaissance, Leonardo filled notebooks with engineering and scientific observations that were in some cases centuries ahead of their time
925. oblivious
Lacking conscious awareness; unmindful
1419. vacuous *
Lacking intelligence; stupid or empty-headed. b. Devoid of substance or meaning; vapid or inane Devoid of expression; vacant 2. Lacking serious purpose or occupation; idle
1425. vapid *
Lacking liveliness, animation, or interest; dull 2. Lacking taste, zest, or flavor; flat
1459. wantonness
Lascivious or promiscuous. Used especially of women. b. Exciting or expressing sexual desire 2. Marked by unprovoked, gratuitous maliciousness; capricious and unjust 3. Unrestrainedly excessive 5. Frolicsome; playful 6. To behave in a wanton manner; act lasciviously. 7. To move idly or playfully.
1017. persiflage
Light good-natured talk; banter. 2. Frivolity or mockery in discussing a subject.
1027. philology
Literary study or classical scholarship.
1197. sanguicolous *
Living in the blood, as certain parasites
994. patriarchal
Of, relating to, or characteristic of a patriarch. 2. Of or relating to a patriarchy
921. oakum
Loose hemp or jute fiber, sometimes treated with tar, creosote, or asphalt, used chiefly for caulking seams in wooden ships and packing pipe joints.
1073. procumbent
Lying face down; prone. 2. Botany Trailing along the ground but not rooting
1411. unleavened
Made without yeast or any other leavening agent
1339. tarpaulin *
Material, such as waterproofed canvas, used to cover and protect things from moisture. 2. A sheet of this material.
1441. viciousness
Mean-spirited or deliberately hurtful; malicious Extremely violent or injurious; cruel b. Marked by an aggressive disposition. Used chiefly of animals. c. Disposed to violent or destructive behavior 3. Severe, powerful, or intense; fierce 4.Having the nature of vice; evil, immoral, or depraved 5. Faulty or defectives
948. ordnance
Military materiel, such as weapons, ammunition, combat vehicles, and equipment. 2. The branch of an armed force that procures, maintains, and issues weapons, ammunition, and combat vehicles. 3. Cannon; artillery
1022. petrodollars
Money in any number of currencies that is paid to oil-producing countries, which then deposit it into Western banks.
1131. rectilinear
Moving in, consisting of, bounded by, or characterized by a straight line or lines
1355. thalassocracy
Naval or commercial supremacy on the seas.
891. necessitous
Needy; indigent. 2. Compelling; urgent.
841. metaplasia *
Normal transformation of tissue from one type to another, as in the ossification of cartilage to form bone 2. Transformation of cells from a normal to an abnormal state.
1478. xenobiotic
Not a natural component of a particular organism or biological system. Used of chemical compounds.
1420. vagueness
Not clear in meaning or expression; inexplicit 2. Not thinking or expressing oneself clearly 3. Lacking definite shape, form, or character; indistinct 4. Indistinctly felt, perceived, understood, or recalled; hazy
1407. unfeigned
Not feigned; genuine.
1408. ungrammatical
Not in accord with the rules of grammar.
1415. unscathed
Not injured or harmed
1412. unmeant
Not intentional.
1416. unsolicited
Not looked for or requested; unsought
1386. triennial
Occurring every third year. 2. Lasting three years.
1158. reversionary
Of or connected with the reversion of an estate.
895. Neotropical
Of or designating the bio-geographic region that includes southern Mexico, Central and South America, and the West Indies.
1050. Polynesian
Of or relating to Polynesia or its peoples, languages, or cultures.
1206. Scandinavian
Of or relating to Scandinavia or to its peoples, languages, or cultures.
1332. Tahitian
Of or relating to Tahiti or its people, language, or culture.
871. most-favored-nation
Of or relating to a commercial treaty in which the signatories agree to accord each other the same favorable terms that are offered in agreements with any other nation.
843. metronomic
Of or relating to a metronome. 2. Mechanically or unvarying regular in rhythm: a metronomic rendition of the piece.
920. numinous
Of or relating to a numen; supernatural. 2. Filled with or characterized by a sense of a supernatural presence 3. Spiritually elevated; sublime.
1401. ultramontane, Ultramontane *
Of or relating to peoples or regions lying beyond the mountains, especially the Alps. 2. Supporting the authority of the papal court over national or diocesan authority. b. Relating to or supporting the doctrine of papal supremacy.
966. Paleo-Indian
Of or relating to prehistoric human culture in the Western Hemisphere from the earliest habitation to around 5,000 BC.
866. Montessorian
Of or relating to the Montessori method.
928. occipital
Of or relating to the occiput or to the occipital bone.
1110. radioactive
Of, exhibiting, or caused by radioactivity. 2. Informal Extremely sensitive or controversial
876. multilingual
Of, including, or expressed in several languages. 2. Using or having the ability to use several languages
1417. uppercase *
Of, printed, or formatted in capital letters
987. participial
Of, relating to, consisting of, or formed with a participle.
1192. saltatory
Of, relating to, or adapted for leaping or dancing. 2. Proceeding by leaps rather than by smooth gradual transitions.
1092. pulmonary
Of, relating to, or affecting the lungs. 2.Having lungs or lung-like organs.
1059. precancerous
Of, relating to, or being a condition that typically precedes or develops into a cancer
1177. Rube Goldberg
Of, relating to, or being a contrivance that brings about by complicated means what apparently could have been accomplished simply.
1013. perinatal
Of, relating to, or being the period around childbirth, especially the five months before and one month after birth
912. nonproliferation
Of, relating to, or calling for an end to the acquisition of nuclear weapons by additional nations
1436. verminous
Of, relating to, or caused by vermin. 2. Infested with vermin 3. Loathsome or repulsive.
Wagnerian *
Of, relating to, or characteristic of Richard Wagner, his music dramas, or his theories.
853. misfeasor *
One guilty of misfeasance.
1390. troubadour
One of a class of 12th-century and 13th-century lyric poets in southern France, northern Italy, and northern Spain, who composed songs in langue d'oc often about courtly love. 2. A strolling minstrel.
1388. triplicate
One of a set of three identical objects or copies.
933. odontoblast
One of the cells forming the outer surface of dental pulp that produces the dentin of a tooth.
1366. Tisiphone
One of the three Furies.
975. paper tiger
One that is seemingly dangerous and powerful but is in fact timid and weak.
848. milliner
One that makes, trims, designs, or sells hats.
1316. surrogate
One that takes the place of another; a substitute. 2. A person or animal that functions as a substitute for another, as in a social or family role. b. A surrogate mother. 3. In Freudian psychology, a figure of authority who takes the place of the father or mother in a person's unconscious or emotional life. 4. Law A judge in New York and some other states having jurisdiction over the probate of wills and the settlement of estates.
1313. supremacist
One who believes that a certain group is or should be supreme.
1286. steeplejack
One who builds or maintains very high structures, such as steeples.
1275. spelunker *
One who explores caves chiefly as a hobby; a caver.
1473. workaholic
One who has a compulsive and unrelenting need to work.
1484. yea-sayer
One who has a confidently positive attitude. 2. One who tends to agree uncritically with others.
849. milquetoast *
One who has a meek, timid, unassertive nature.
1469. wildcatter
One who is engaged in speculative mining or well drilling in areas not known to be productive. 2. A promoter of speculative or fraudulent business enterprises. 3. A worker who participates in a wildcat strike.
1187. sacristan
One who is in charge of a sacristy. 2. A sexton.
1358. theologian
One who is learned in theology.
1365. timpanist, tympanist
One who plays the kettledrums and other percussion instruments in an orchestra.
1090. publicist
One who publicizes, especially a press or publicity agent.
1153. respondent *
One who responds. 2. Law The defending party in certain legal proceedings, as in a case brought by petition.
840. metaphysician *
One who specializes or is skilled in metaphysics.
1421. Vaishnava
One who worships Vishnu.
1271. spaceborne
Operating in or involving equipment operating in outer space. 2. Moving or drifting in outer space
1495. zoogenic
Originating in or produced by animals.
990. passementerie
Ornamental trimming for a garment, as braid, lace, or metallic beads.
968. palmatifid
Palmately divided or cleft:
995. payola
Payment of a party, especially a disc jockey or radio station, for the promotion of a product or service, such as a commercial musical recording, without making the legally required disclosure of sponsorship. 2. The money used to make such payment.
1268. sophistry
Plausible but fallacious argumentation. 2. A plausible but misleading or fallacious argument.
1222. selenosis
Poisoning, especially of livestock, caused by ingesting selenium found in some plants, in the soil, or in some microorganisms.
1144. reparable
Possible to repair
1202. satiable
Possible to satisfy or sate
1274. specifiable
Possible to specify
1304. sufferable *
Possible to suffer, endure, or permit; tolerable
1058. praxis *
Practical application or exercise of a branch of learning. 2. Habitual or established practice; custom.
1028. philoprogenitive
Producing many offspring; prolific. 2. Loving one's offspring or children in general. 3. Of or relating to love of children.
1314. surculose
Producing suckers
881. myelofibrosis *
Proliferation of fibroblastic cells in bone marrow, causing anemia and sometimes enlargement of the spleen and liver.
1115. random-access memory
RAM
1123. read-only memory
ROM.
1170. roentgenology
Radiology employing x-rays.
1233. serviceable
Ready for service; usable. 2. Able to give long service; durable
1137. reincarnation *
Rebirth of the soul in another human or nonhuman body. 2. A reappearance or revitalization in another form; a new embodiment
1146. repleviable
Recoverable by replevin
1491. zebrine
Related to, resembling, or characteristic of a zebra.
1121. ratite
Relating to or being any of a group of flightless birds having a flat breastbone without the keellike prominence characteristic of most flying birds.
1443. Viennese
Relating to or characteristic of Vienna, Austria.
1284. stapes *
The innermost of the three small bones of the middle ear, shaped somewhat like a stirrup. Also called stirrup.
1227. senility
Relating to or having diminished cognitive function, as when memory is impaired, because of old age. b. Being a disease or condition whose cause is primarily advanced age
878. musculoskeletal *
Relating to or involving the muscles and the skeleton.
1378. transalpine *
Relating to, living on, or coming from the other side of the Alps, especially as viewed from Italy.
1117. rapport
Relationship, especially one of mutual trust or emotional affinity.
1295. strenuously
Requiring great effort, energy, or exertion. 2. Vigorously active; energetic or zealous
1095. purgatory *
Roman Catholic Church A state in which the souls of those who have died in grace must expiate their sins. 2. A place or condition of suffering, expiation, or remorse
956. ostiary
Roman Catholic Church One who is ordained in the lowest of the former minor orders. 2. A church doorkeeper.
1178. rubiginous *
Rust-colored; reddish-brown.
1047. point-device
Scrupulously correct or neat; precise or meticulous.
1263. soi-disant
Self-styled; so-called.
970. panchromatic *
Sensitive to all colors
1410. unitive
Serving to unite; tending to promote unity.
1256. sleaziness
Shabby, dirty, and vulgar; tawdry. 2. Made of low-quality materials; cheap or shoddy. 3. Thin and loosely woven; flimsy
1234. setiform
Shaped like a seta or bristle.
1272. spatulate *
Shaped like a spatula.
913. Norgay
Sherpa mountaineer who with Sir Edmund Hillary made the first ascent of Mount Everest (1953).
1306. sullenness
Showing a brooding ill humor or silent resentment; morose or sulky. 2. Gloomy or somber in tone, color, or portent 3. Sluggish; slow
1210. schizoaffective
Showing symptoms of both schizophrenia and mood disorder.
1108. Quinquagesima
Shrove Sunday.
1012. periaqueductal
Situated around the aqueduct of the brain
1381. transpontine *
Situated on the other side of a bridge. 2. Similar to or characteristic of melodramas once performed in London theaters located south of the Thames River.
1303. subterranean *
Situated or operating beneath the earth's surface; underground. 2. Hidden; secret
1205. scaloppine, scaloppini
Small, thinly sliced pieces of meat, especially veal, dredged in flour, sautéed, and served in a sauce.
1297. stupendously
So great in scope, degree, or importance as to amaze; Extremely large in amount, extent, or size; enormous. 2. Remarkable; outstanding
1462. water-soluble
Soluble in water.
1398. tutorial
Something that provides special, often individual instruction, especially: a. A book or class that provides instruction in a particular area. b. Computers A program that provides instruction for the use of a system or of software.
1044. plummeting
Something that weighs down or oppresses; a burden.
1269. sortation
Sorting, especially when mechanized or automated
993. pathognomonic *
Specific to a certain disease or condition, as a symptom or finding on physical examination.
1363. Tiffany glass
Stained or iridescent glass of a kind popular in the early 1900s for vases and lampshades.
1359. theomachy
Strife or battle among gods, as in the Homeric poems.
1166. risqué *
Suggestive of or bordering on indelicacy or impropriety.
1064. preeminent, pre-eminent
Superior to or notable above all others; outstanding.
1370. tonsillotomy
Surgical incision of a tonsil.
1360. thoracotomy
Surgical incision of the chest wall.
898. neurectomy
Surgical removal of a nerve or part of a nerve.
1456. vulnerability
Susceptible to physical harm or damage b. Susceptible to emotional injury, especially in being easily hurt c. Susceptible to attack d. Open to censure or criticism; assailable 2. In a position to receive greater penalties or bonuses in a hand of bridge. In a rubber, used of the pair of players who score 100 points toward game.
1492. Zend-Avesta
The Avesta.
1351. Terpsichore, terpsichore
The Muse of dancing and choral singing. 2. The art of dancing.
1065. preferment
The act of advancing to a higher position or office; promotion. 2. A position, appointment, or rank giving advancement, as of profit or prestige. 3. The act of preferring or the state of being preferred.
1213. scission *
The act of cutting or severing; division or fission.
1278. spoliation
The act of despoiling or plundering. 2. Law Unauthorized alteration or destruction of a legal document, such as a contract or will.
951. osculation *
The act of kissing. 2. Mathematics A contact, as between two curves or surfaces, at three or more common points.
1452. volition
The act of making a conscious choice or decision 2. The power or faculty of choosing; the will
514. facilitation
The act of making easy or easier. 2. the process of lowering the threshold for propagation of the action potential of a neuron, especially by the repeated use of a neural pathway or the summation of two or more sub threshold impulses
924. oblation, Oblation
The act of offering something, such as worship or thanks, to a deity 2. The act of offering the bread and wine of the Eucharist, Something offered, especially the bread and wine of the Eucharist. 3. A charitable offering or gift.
1130. recrimination
The act of recriminating. 2. A counter-charge. 3. Law A defense in an action for divorce in which the party against whom the divorce is sought accuses the party seeking the divorce of equivalent misconduct, potentially depriving the party seeking the divorce of the right to maintain the action.
1135. refutation
The act of refuting. 2. Something, such as an argument, that refutes someone or something.
1151. rescission *
The act of rescinding. 2. Law The termination of a contract by mutual agreement or as a result of fraud or some legal defect.
1293. strangulation
The act of strangling or strangulating. b. The state of being strangled or strangulated. 2. Medicine Constriction of a body part so as to cut off the flow of blood or another fluid
882. mystification
The act or an instance of mystifying. 2. The fact or condition of being mystified. 3. Something intended to mystify.
856. misspelling
The act or an instance of spelling incorrectly. 2. A word spelled incorrectly.
1296. stupefaction *
The act or an instance of stupefying. b. The state of being stupefied. 2. Great astonishment or consternation.
1128. recollection
The act or power of recollecting
1145. repetition
The act or process or an instance of repeating or being repeated. 2. A recitation or recital, especially of prepared or memorized material.
890. natation *
The act or skill of swimming.
1152. respiration
The action or process of inhaling and exhaling; breathing. Also called ventilation. b. An act of inhaling and exhaling; a breath. 2. The action or process by which an organism without lungs, such as a fish or plant, exchanges gases with its environment. 3. The oxidative process occurring within living cells by which the chemical energy of organic molecules is converted in a series of metabolic steps into usable energy in the form of ATP, involving the consumption of oxygen and the production of carbon dioxide and water as byproducts. b. Any of various analogous metabolic processes by which certain organisms, such as anaerobic bacteria and some fungi, obtain energy from organic molecules without consuming oxygen.
952. Osiris
The ancient Egyptian god whose annual death and resurrection personified the self-renewing vitality and fertility of nature.
1203. saturnalia, Saturnalia
The ancient Roman seven-day festival of Saturn, which began on December 17. 2. (used with a sing. verb) A celebration marked by unrestrained revelry and often licentiousness; an orgy.
1237. shamanism
The animistic religion of certain peoples of northern Asia in which mediation between the visible and spirit worlds is effected by shamans. 2. A similar religion or set of beliefs, especially among certain Native American peoples.
1208. scenography *
The art of representing objects in perspective, especially as applied in the design and painting of theatrical scenery. 2. Visual design for theatrical productions, including such elements as sets, costumes, and lighting.
950. orthographist
The art or study of correct spelling according to established usage. 2. The aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words.
1471. wizardry *
The art, skill, or practice of a wizard; sorcery. 2. A power or effect that appears magical by its capacity to transform
883. mythography
The artistic representation of mythical subjects. 2. A collection of myths, often with critical commentary.
1235. sfumato
The blurring or softening of sharp outlines in painting by subtle and gradual blending of one tone into another.
1040. planetology
The branch of astronomy that deals with the composition and structure of the planets of the solar system and with the relationships, similarities, and differences between them.
870. morphology
The branch of biology that deals with the form and structure of organisms without consideration of function. The form and structure of an organism or one of its parts: the morphology of a cell; the morphology of vertebrates. 2. Linguistics The study of the structure and form of words in language or a language, including inflection, derivation, and the formation of compounds.
896. nephology
The branch of meteorology that deals with clouds.
1247. simony
The buying or selling of ecclesiastical offices or of indulgences or other spiritual things.
152. Belgrade
The capital and the largest city of Serbia, the the north-central part at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. founded in 3rd century B.C. it became the capital of the kingdom of Serbia in 1802 and the capital of Yugoslavia after World War I
1063. predation *
The capturing of prey for food. 2. The act of robbing, victimizing, or exploiting others.
910. nonillion
The cardinal number equal to 1030. 2. Chiefly British The cardinal number equal to 1054.
800. Magna Carta, Magna Charta
The charter of English political and civil liberties granted by King John of runnymede in June 1215. 2. a document or piece of legislation that serves as a guarantee of basic rights
1455. vulgate, Vulgate
The common speech of a people; the vernacular. 2. A widely accepted text or version of a work. 3. The Latin edition or translation of the Bible made by Saint Jerome at the end of the fourth century AD, now used in a revised form as the Roman Catholic authorized version.
1432. venality
The condition of being susceptible to bribery or corruption. 2. The use of a position of trust for dishonest gain.
1404. unanimity
The condition of being unanimous.
1445. viniculture
The cultivation of grapes; viticulture
1023. petrography
The description and classification of rocks.
1060. precedence
The fact, state, or right of coming before in time, order, or position:
1038. pis aller
The final recourse or expedient; the last resort.
1006. Pentateuchal
The first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures; the Torah.
1486. Yggdrasil, Ygdrasil *
The great ash tree that holds together earth, heaven, and hell by its roots and branches.
880. myelin sheath
The insulating envelope of myelin that surrounds the core of a nerve fiber or axon and facilitates the transmission of nerve impulses. In the peripheral nervous system, the sheath is formed from the membranes of Schwann cells, and in the central nervous system it is formed from oligodendrocytes. Also called medullary sheath.
929. Oceania *
The islands of the southern, western, and central Pacific Ocean, including Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The term is sometimes extended to encompass Australia, New Zealand, and the Malay Archipelago.
1324. synapse *
The junction across which a nerve impulse passes from an axon terminal to a neuron, muscle cell, or gland cell.
1189. Saigon *
The largest city of Vietnam, in the southern part of the country near the South China Sea. An ancient Khmer settlement, it was known as Saigon throughout most of its history, serving as the administrative center of French Indochina and, after 1954, as the capital of South Vietnam. The city was renamed after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.
1070. prima ballerina
The leading woman dancer in a ballet company.
protagonist *
The main character in a work of fiction, as a play, film, or novel. 2. In ancient Greek drama, the first actor to engage in dialogue with the chorus, in later dramas playing the main character and some minor characters as well. 3. A leading or principal figure, The leader of a cause; a champion.
1498. Zugunruhe
The migratory drive in animals, especially birds.
1318. suttee, sati
The now illegal act or practice of a Hindu widow's cremating herself on her husband's funeral pyre in order to fulfill her true role as wife.
1066. prelacy
The office or station of a prelate. b. Prelates considered as a group. Also called prelature. 2. Church government administrated by prelates.
1460. wardenry
The office, duties, or jurisdiction of a warden.
1307. sultanate
The office, power, or reign of a sultan. 2. A country ruled by a sultan.
999. pedantry *
The ostentatious display of academic knowledge, or undue attention paid to minor details or formal rules
1217. secessionist
The policy of those advocating secession or supporting the right of secession.
894. neocolonialism
The policy or practice of a wealthy or powerful nation in extending its influence into a less developed one, especially in exploiting that nation's resources.
1329. tabernacle, Tabernacle
The portable sanctuary in which the Jews housed the Ark of the Covenant during their years in the desert. 2. A case or box on a church altar containing the consecrated host and wine of the Eucharist. 3. A place of worship. 4. A niche for a statue or relic. 5. A boxlike support in which the heel of a mast is stepped.
940. oneiromancy
The practice of predicting the future through interpretation of dreams.
1490. zazen
The primary form of meditation in Zen Buddhism, practiced while sitting cross-legged.
1149. res judicata
The principle that a decision by a competent court in a case fully and fairly litigated is final and conclusive as to the claims and issues of the parties and cannot be re-litigated. 2. A claim or issue that has been decided under this principle.
1033. photosynthesis
The process in green plants and certain other organisms by which carbohydrates are synthesized from carbon dioxide and a source of hydrogen (usually water), using light as an energy source. Most forms of photosynthesis release oxygen as a byproduct.
1319. suture
The process of joining two surfaces or edges together along a line by sewing. 2. The fine thread or other material used surgically to close a wound or join tissues. 3. Anatomy The line of junction or an immovable joint between two bones, especially of the skull. 4. Biology A seamlike joint or line of articulation, such as the line of dehiscence in a dry fruit or the spiral seam marking the junction of whorls of a gastropod shell.
949. orogeny *
The process of mountain formation, especially by a folding and faulting of the earth's crust.
1043. pleochroism *
The property possessed by some crystals of exhibiting different colors, especially three different colors, when viewed along different axes.
1251. sinuosity
The quality or condition of being sinuous. 2. A bending or curving shape or movement.
1451. vivacity
The quality or condition of being vivacious; liveliness
1074. progressivity
The quality or degree of being progressive
1014. periodicity
The quality or state of being periodic; recurrence at regular intervals. 2. The repetition of similar properties in chemical elements, as indicated by their positioning in the periodic table.
1067. preoccupation
The state of being preoccupied; absorption of the attention or intellect. 2. Something that preoccupies or engrosses the mind:
855. missilery, missilry
The science and technology of making and using guided or ballistic missiles. 2. Missiles considered as a group.
1035. phytopathology
The science of plant diseases.
1500. zymology
The scientific study of fermentation.
1326. syncope *
The shortening of a word by omission of a sound, letter, or syllable from the middle of the word; for example, bos'n for boatswain. 2. Medicine A brief loss of consciousness caused by inadequate blood flow to the brain.
1446. virescence
The state or process of becoming green, especially the abnormal development of green coloration in plant parts, such as flowers, that are normally not green.
932. odium
The state or quality of being odious. 2. Strong dislike, contempt, or aversion. 3. A state of disgrace resulting from hateful or detestable conduct.
1250. Sinology *
The study of Chinese language, literature, or civilization.
1030. phonology *
The study of speech sounds in language or a language with reference to their distribution and patterning and to tacit rules governing pronunciation. 2. The sound system of a language
899. neurogenetics
The study of the genetic factors that contribute to the development of neurological disorders.
965. paleobiogeography
The study of the geographic distribution of fossil organisms.
919. numerologist
The study of the occult meanings of numbers and their supposed influence on human life.
941. onomastics *
The study of the origins and forms of proper names. b. The study of the origins and forms of terms used in specialized fields. 2. The system that underlies the formation and use of proper names or terms used in specialized fields.
1298. stylistics *
The study of the use of elements of language style, such as metaphor, in particular contexts.
1323. symbology
The study or interpretation of symbols or symbolism. 2. The use of symbols.
909. nomology
The theoretical study of metaphysical, logical, divine, or human laws.
1029. phlebosclerosis
The thickening or hardening of the walls of veins.
1262. soffit *
The underside of a structural component, such as a beam, arch, staircase, or cornice.
1292. straiten
To put or bring into difficulties or distress, especially financial hardship. 2. To make narrow. b. To enclose in a limited area; confine. c. To restrict in latitude or scope.
901. névé
The upper part of a glacier where the snow turns into ice. 2. A snow field at the head of a glacier. b. The granular snow typically found in such a field.
1216. scuba diver
The use of scuba gear when swimming underwater, as for recreation or research.
1440. vicereine
The wife of a viceroy. 2. A woman who is the governor of a country, province, or colony, ruling as the representative of a sovereign.
1159. revitalize *
To impart new life or vigor to
1379. transdermal
Through or by way of the skin
1124. reaffirmation
To affirm or assert again.
852. misappropriate
To appropriate wrongly 2. To appropriate dishonestly for one's own use; embezzle.
860. mollycoddle
To be overprotective and indulgent toward.
1016. perpetrator *
To be responsible for; commit
1302. subsidence
To become less intense, active, or severe; abate. b. To become smaller or less prominent, as swelling. 2. To move or sink to a lower or normal level
1138. reinstatement
To bring back into use or existence. 2. To restore to a previous condition or position.
1078. propagate
To cause (an organism) to multiply or breed. 2. To breed (offspring). 3. To transmit (characteristics) from one generation to another. 4. To cause to extend to a broader area or larger number; spread 6. Physics To cause (a wave, for example) to move in some direction or through a medium; transmit.
1018. persuadable
To cause (someone) to accept a point of view or to undertake a course of action by means of argument, reasoning, or entreaty
1325. synchronize *
To cause to occur or operate with exact coincidence in time or rate. b. To cause to occur or operate at the same time as something else. 2. To represent (events) as occurring at the same time or in the same time period. 3. To arrange (a video or soundtrack, for example) to play or operate in synchronization with something else. 4. To transfer data between (two devices) to ensure that the same data is stored on both. b. To execute such a transfer to cause the content of (two or more files or other sets of data) to be identical.
1327. synthesize
To combine so as to form a new, complex product. 2. To form or produce by chemical synthesis. 3. To produce (sound or music) by means of a synthesizer.
1141. relegate
To consign to an inferior or obscure place, rank, category, or condition. 2. To refer or assign (a matter or task, for example) for decision or action
1122. ravener *
To consume greedily; devour. 2. To seek or seize as prey or plunder.
1000. pedestrianize
To convert (a street) into a mall or pedestrian walkway.
1100. quantifiable
To determine or express the quantity of. 2. Logic To limit the variables of (a proposition) by prefixing an operator such as all or some.
1082. prorogue *
To discontinue a session of (a parliament, for example). 2. To postpone; defer.
1085. protractive *
To draw out or lengthen in time 2. Mathematics To draw to scale by means of a scale and protractor; plot. 3. Anatomy To extend or protrude (a body part).
1176. routinize *
To establish a routine for. 2. To reduce to a routine
1215. scrutinizing
To examine or observe with great care; inspect critically.
1258. sloganize
To express as or in slogans or a slogan.
1353. terrifying
To fill with terror; make deeply afraid. 2. To drive or force by arousing fear
1312. suppurate *
To form or discharge pus.
1081. propitiate
To gain or regain the goodwill or favor of; appease
1139. reinvigorate
To give new life or energy to.
927. obviate
To keep from happening or render unnecessary
1305. suffocation
To kill or destroy by preventing access of air or oxygen. 2. To impair the breathing of or cause discomfort to by cutting off the supply of fresh air. 3. To suppress the development, imagination, or creativity of; stifle
1254. skedaddle
To leave hastily; flee.
1183. Russianize
To make Russian.
1211. schuss *
To make a fast straight downhill run on skis or a snowboard. 2. Informal To ski, especially at a fast pace.
1129. reconnoiter
To make a preliminary examination of (an area or a group, for example), usually by moving around and observing, in order to gather information, especially for military purposes
889. nasalize
To make nasal or produce nasal sounds.
1143. renegotiate
To negotiate anew. 2. To revise the terms of (a contract) so as to limit or regain excess profits gained by the contractor.
877. municipalize *
To place under municipal ownership. 2. To make into a municipality.
1136. regale
To provide with great enjoyment; entertain. 2. To entertain sumptuously with food and drink; provide a feast for.
911. nonplus
To put at a loss as to what to think, say, or do; bewilder. 2. Usage Problem To cause to feel indifferent or bored. A state of bewilderment or perplexity.
593. gunite
a concrete mixture that is sprayed from a special gun over steel reinforcements in light construction
1134. reduplicate
To repeat over and again; redouble. 2. Linguistics a. To double (the initial syllable or all of a root word) to produce an inflectional or derivational form. b. To form (a new word) by doubling all or part of a word.
1150. reschedule
To schedule again or anew
250. chidingly
To scold mildly so as to correct or improve; reprimand. To express disapproval.
1196. sanctified *
To set apart for sacred use; consecrate. 2. To make holy; purify. 3. To give religious sanction to, as with an oath or vow. 4. To give social or moral sanction to
1465. whet
To sharpen (a knife, for example); hone. 2. To make more keen; stimulate
1102. quasi
To some degree; in some manner
1429. vaunted
To speak or write about (something) in a strongly positive way; praise or boast about.
1289. stipulate (verb)
To specify or agree to as a condition in an agreement. 2. To agree to (a fact) in order to reduce the scope of the dispute to be resolved by a court. Used of litigants.
1218. securitize
To transfer (a group of loans, receivables, or other illiquid assets) to a separate company and issue tradable securities based on those assets.
959. outpoll
To win more votes than
1482. x-radiation
Treatment with or exposure to x-rays. 2. Radiation composed of x-rays.
1155. retroussé
Turned up at the end. Used of the nose.
1126. recherché *
Uncommon; rare. 2. Exquisite; choice. 3. Overrefined; forced. 4. Pretentious; overblown.
1264. solidarity
Unity of purpose, interest, or sympathy
1375. touché *
Used to acknowledge a hit in fencing or a successful criticism or an effective point in argument.
842. me-tooism
Using principles, practices, or designs copied from and closely similar to those of a rival.
1395. tumultuous
Very loud; noisy 2. Characterized by disorderly commotion 3. Characterized by mental or emotional agitation
976. paper-thin
Very thin or shallow
1032. photopia
Vision in bright light, mediated by cone cells of the retina; daylight vision.
971. pandemic
Widespread; general. 2. Medicine Epidemic over a wide geographic area and affecting a large proportion of the population
1285. stationery *
Writing paper and envelopes. 2. Writing materials and office supplies.
208. Camelopardalis
a constellation in the Northern Hemisphere in the space between Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, and Perseus
738. Kenya
a country of east central Africa bordering on the Indian Ocean. the site of many early hominid fossils, Kenya was inhabited during historic times by various Cushitic, Nilotic, and Bantu peoples.
523. feijoada
a Brazilian dish consisting of an assortment of sliced meats, such as tongue and sausage, and side dishes, including rice, beans, collard greens, oranges and hot pepper sauce
645. huevos rancheros
a Mexican dish consisting of fried or poached eggs covered with a spicy sauce of red or green tomatoes and usually served on a tortilla
713. Iroquois
a Native American confederacy inhabiting New York State and originally composed of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca peoples known as the five Nations. After 1722 the confederacy was joined by the Tuscaroras to form the Six Nations. also called Iroquois league.
643. Hualapai, Walapai
a Native American people inhabiting northwest Arizona south of the Grand Canyon. 2. the Yuman language of the Hualapai
187. bromide
a binary compound of bromine with another element such as silver.
453. electorate *
a body of qualified voters. 2. the dignity or territory of an elector of the Holy Roman Empire
148. bayou *
a body of water, such as a creek or small river, that is a tributary of a larger body of water
822. matzo, matzoh
a brittle, flat piece of unleavened bread eaten especially during the Passover
746. Kodiak bear
a brown bear inhabiting islands and coastal areas of Alaska and sometimes considered a separate species
158. besom
a bundle of twigs attached to a handle and used as a broom
610. hawser
a cable or rope used in mooring or towing a ship
563. gâteau, gateau (singular) *
a cake or pastry, especially a light one filled with custard, fruit, or nuts
324. countercharge
a charge in opposition to another charge
acromegaly
a chronic disease of adults marked by an enlargement of the bones of the extremities, face, and jaw that is caused by overactivity of the pituitary gland
767. leprosy
a chronic, mildly contagious granulomatous disease of tropical and subtropical region, caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae, characterized by ulcers of the skin, bone, and viscera, and leading to loss of sensation, paralysis, gangrene, and deformation. also called Hansen's disease
734. kala-azar
a chronic, often fatal disease occurring chiefly in Asia caused by the protozoan parasite and characterized by irregular fever, enlargement of the spleen and liver, and emaciation
597. gyre *
a circular or spiral form; vortex. 2. a circular or spiral motion, especially a circular ocean current
192. burgher
a citizen of a town or borough
249. Chickamauga
a city of extreme northwest Georgia south of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Confederate troops led by Braxton Bragg defeated Union forces here on September 19-20, 1863.
628. Hiroshima
a city of southwest Honshu, Japan on the Inland Sea west of Osaka. Founded in the 16th century it was destroyed in WWII by the first atomic bomb used in warfare.
814. mao-tai
a clear very strong Chinese liquor distilled from sorghum
189. brougham
a closed four wheel carriage with an open driver's seat in front
787. lummox *
a clumsy or stupid person
778. littoral *
a coastal region, a shore. 2. the region or zone between the limits of high and low tides
813. mantra
a commonly repeated word or phrase. 2. a sacred verbal formula repeated in prayer, meditation, or incantation such as the invocation of a god, a magic spell, or a portion of scripture containing mystical potentialities
161. biathlon *
a competition that combines events in cross-country skiing and rifle shooting
277. Colombia
a country of northwest South America with coastlines on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Previously inhabited by the Chibchas, it was settled by the Spanish in 1530s and formed the nucleus of the vice royalty of New Granada after 1740. The area gained it's independence from Spain in 1821 under the leadership of Simon Bolivar but the modern state did not emerge until after Venezuela and Ecuador and later Panama had become separate nations
421. Dominican Republic
a country of the West Indies on the eastern part of the island of Hispaniola. Originally inhabited by Arawaks, it was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492 and remained a Spanish colony until 1795 when it was ceded to France. Ruled by Haiti after 1821, the country became independent in 1844 but has had a turbulent history, including many years of dictatorship under Rafael Trujillo Molina. Santo Domingo is the capital and the largest city.
211. canapé
a cracker or a small, thin piece of bread or toast spread with cheese, meat, or relish and served as an appetizer
631. hoatzin
a crested brownish bird of tropical South America whose young have claws on the first and second digits of the wings
69. ansate cross
a cross shaped like a T with a loop at the top, especially as used in ancient Egypt as a symbol of life. Also known as ankh
203. caliche
a crude sodium nitrate occurring naturally in Chile, Peru, and the southwest United States. used as a fertilizer
51. amoretto
a cupid
163. bibliopole
a dealer in rare books
330. crape myrtle, crepe myrtle
a deciduous shrub native to China and widely cultivated in warm regions for its showy clusters of variously colored flowers with crinkled petals
74. antiballistic missile
a defensive missile designed to intercept and destroy a ballistic missile in flight. ABM
436. dystrophy
a degenerative disorder caused by inadequate or defective nutrition. 2.muscles weaken and atrophy
280. commissariat
a department of an army in charge of providing food and other supplies for the troops. 2. a food supply. 3. a major government department in the Soviet Union until 1946
200. caitiff *
a despicable coward; a wretch
358. data processor
a device such as a calculator or computer that performs operations on data, a person who processes data
394. detonator
a device such as a fuse or percussion cap used to set off an explosive charge, an explosive
796. macron
a diacritical mark placed above a vowel to indicate a long sound or phonetic value in pronunciation
Addison's disease
a disease caused by partial or total failure of adrenocortical function, which is characterized by a bronze like pigmentation of the skin and mucous membranes, anemia, weakness, and low blood pressure
528. fettuccine Alfredo
a dish consisting of fettuccine in a rich cream sauce with Parmesan cheese
418. divorcée (female)
a divorced woman
142. basenji
a dog of a breed originally from Africa, having a short, smooth, reddish-brown coat and characterized by the absence of a bark
556. galatea (fabric) *
a durable, often stripped cotton fabric used in making clothing
272. cognomen
a family name; a surname. 2. the third and usually last name of a citizen of ancient Rome. 3. a name, especially a descriptive nickname or epithet acquired through usage over a period of time
620. hendiadys
a figure of speech in which two words connected by a conjunction are used to express a single notion that would normally be expressed by an adjective and a substantive
697. intaglio *
a figure or design carved into or beneath the surface of hard metal or stone, the art or process of carving a design in this manner
357. Darjeeling (tea) *
a fine variety of black tea grown especially in the northern part of India
561. Garrison finish
a finish in a contest or race in which the winner comes from behind at the last moment
595. guyot
a flat topped submarine mountain
167. blancmange
a flavored and sweetened milk pudding thickened with corn starch
310. convolution *
a form or part that is folded or coiled. 2. one of the convex folds of the surface of the brain
412. disquisition
a formal discourse on a subject, often in writing
235. cellos
a four stringed musical instrument of the violin family, pitched lower than the viola but higher than the double bass. 2. cellophane
247. chateau, château
a french castle. a french manor house. 2. an estate where wine is produced and often bottled especially in the Bordeaux region of France. 3. a large country house
587. grisette
a french working class girl or young woman
751. lacrosse
a game played on a rectangular field by two teams of ten players each, in which participants use a long handled stick that has a webbed pouch on one end to maneuver a ball into the opposing teams goal
aerosol
a gaseous suspension of fine solid or liquid particles
565. gazetteer
a geographic dictionary or index. 2. a writer for a gazette; a journalist
367. decrescendo *
a gradual decrease in force or loudness, used chiefly as direction.
299. conservatory *
a greenhouse, especially one in which plants are arranged aesthetically for display, as at a botanical garden. 2. a school of music or dramatic art
626. Hindustani
a group of indic dialects including the spoken form of Hindi-Urdu that function as a lingua franca throughout much of northern and central India. 2. of or relating to Hindustan, it's people, or the Hindustani language
616. hemistich
a half line of verse, especially when separated rhythmically from the rest of the line by a caesura. 2. an incomplete or imperfect line of verse
160. bezoar
a hard indigestible mass of material, such as hair, vegetable fibers, or fruits, found in the stomachs or intestines of animals, especially ruminants, and humans. It was formerly considered to be an antidote to poisons and to possess magical properties
639. hoplite
a heavily armed foot soldier of Ancient Greece
186. brogue
a heavy shoe of untanned leather formerly worn in Scotland and Ireland. 2.a strong dialectal accent especially a strong Irish or Scottish accent when speaking English
768. Levant morocco *
a heavy, coarse grained morocco leather often used in bookbinding. also called Levant
altiplano *
a high plateau, as in the Andean regions of Bolivia, Peru and Argentina
125. Azerbaijan
a historical region in present day northwest Iran and Azerbaijan. It was settled by the Medes before the 8th century B.C. and later became a province of the Persian Empire. It became a separate kingdom after the death of Alexander the Great, but the region was much disputed and eventually conquered by Arabs (7th century), Turks (10th century), and Mongols (13th century). Persia controlled the region after 1603
816. mare's nest
a hoax or fraud. 2. an extremely complicated situation
315. cornice
a horizontal molded projection that crowns or completes a building or wall. the uppermost part of an entablature. 2. an ornamental horizontal molding or frame used to conceal rods, picture hooks, or other devices
266. clerihew
a humorous verse, usually consisting of two unmatched rhyming couplets, about a person whose name generally serves as one of the rhymes.
301. consort *
a husband or wife, especially the spouse of a monarch. 2. a companion or partner. 3. a ship accompanying another in travel. 4. an instrumental ensemble, an ensemble using instruments of the same family
150. beefalo *
a hybrid that results from a cross between the American buffalo, or bison, and beef cattle and is typically 3/8 buffalo and 5/8 bovine. Beefalo yields leaner beef than conventional breeds of cattle. also called cattalo
812. mantelletta *
a knee length sleeveless vestment worn by Roman Catholic prelates
206. calpac, calpack, kalpac
a large black cap, usually of sheepskin or felt, worn in Turkey, the Caucasus, Iran, and neighboring regions
351. cyclorama
a large composite picture placed on the interior walls of a cylindrical room so as to appear in natural perspective to a spectator standing in the center of the room. 2. a large curtain or wall usually concave, hung or placed at the rear of a stage
557. gallinipper
a large mosquito or other insect capable of inflicting a painful bite
291. concourse
a large open space for the gathering or passage of crowds, as in an airport. 2. a broad thoroughfare. 3. a great crowd; a throng. 4. the act of coming, moving, or flowing together
132. bain-marie
a large pan containing hot water in which smaller plans may be set to cook food slowly or to keep food warm
719. jabiru, Jabiru
a large tropical American stork, having white plumage with a pink band at the neck and a naked head
779. llanos
a large, grassy, almost treeless plain, especially one in Latin America
1442. Vidalia onion
a large, white, sweet, delicately flavored onion, having a thin yellowish outer skin and poor storage qualities
240. chador *
a loose, usually black robe worn by Muslim women that covers the body from head to toe
774. lingonberry
a low creeping evergreen shrub, native to northern parts of North America and Eurasia and having drooping clusters of small white or pinkish flowers, the red berry of this plant is used sauces, jams, and preserves. also called cowberry
144. bassoon
a low-pitched woodwind instrument with a double reed, having a long wooden body attached to a U-shaped lateral tube that leads to the mouthpiece. the range of this instrument is typically two octaves lower than that of the oboe
72. anthelion
a luminous, white, halolike area occasionally seen in the sky opposite the sun on parhelic circle
479. epithalamion *
a lyric ode in honor of a bride and bridegroom
781. longeron
a major structural member of an aircraft fuselage, running from front to rear
adenocarcinoma *
a malignant tumor originating in glandular tissue
784. lucidity
easily understood; intelligible. 2. mentally sound, sane, or rational. 3. translucent or transparent
326. courier
a messenger, especially one on official diplomatic business. 2. a spy carrying secret information. 3. a personal attendant hired to make arrangements for a journey. 4. an employee for a travel agency serving as a guide for tourists
286. compurgation *
a method of trial in which an accused person could summon a specified number of people, usually 12, to swear their belief in his or her innocence
194. bush leaguer
a minor leaguer
340. croustade
a molded or hollowed bowl like crust, as of pastry, rice, or bread, used as a serving container for another food
752. lamasery
a monastery of lamas
254. Christogram
a monogram and symbol for Christ, consisting of the superimposed Greek letters chi and rho often embroidered on altar cloths and clerical vestments. Also called Chi-Rho.
510. extensor
a muscle that extends or straightens a limb or body part
204. calliope (instrument)
a musical instrument fitted with steam whistles, played from a keyboard
717. isolationism *
a national policy of abstaining from political or economic relations with other countries
532. Fijian *
a native or inhabitant of Fiji. 2. the Austronesian language of Fiji. 3. of or relating to Fiji or it's people, culture, or language
138. bargello
a needlepoint stitch that produces zigzag lines
805. malihini
a newcomer to Hawaii
164. bidarka
a one or two hole kayak used by the Aleut and various Alaskan Eskimo groups
261. citrine *
a pale yellow variety of crystalline quartz resembling topaz. 2. a light to moderate olive
759. latke
a pancake, especially one made of grated potato
268. cloture
a parliamentary procedure by which debate is ended and an immediate vote is taken on the matter under discussion. also called closure.
600. haboob
a penetrating sandstorm or dust storm with violent winds, occurring chiefly in Arabia, North Africa, and India
363. decennium *
a period of ten years; a decade
117. audiophile
a person having an ardent interest in stereo or high-fidelity sound reproduction
756. landlubber *
a person unfamiliar with the sea or seamanship
234. celebrant *
a person who participates in a religious ceremony or rite. a person who officiates at a religious or civil ceremony or rite, especially at a wedding. in some Christian churches, the cleric officiating at the celebration of the Eucharist
329. coxswain *
a person who usually steers a ship's boat and has charge of its crew. 2. a person in a racing shell who usually directs the rest of the crew.
729. John Barleycorn
a personification of alcoholic liquor
450. eidolons
a phantom; an apparition. 2. an image of an ideal
506. existentialist *
a philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for their actions
788. lunarscape *
a picture or other representation of the moon's surface. 2. a landscape reminiscent of the moon's surface
490. étagère, etagere
a piece of furniture with open shelves for small ornaments
603. haj, hajj, hadj
a pilgrimage to Mecca during Dhu'l Hijja, made as an objective of the religious life of a Muslim.
89. aqueduct
a pipe or channel designed to transport water from a remote source, usually by gravity. a bridgelike structure supporting supporting a conduit or canal passing over a river or low ground
827. mecca, Mecca
a place that is regarded as the center of an activity or interest, a place visited by many people. 2. a city of western Saudi Arabia near the coast of the Red Sea. The birthplace of Muhammad it is the holiest city of Islam and a pilgrimage site for all devout believers of the faith
473. entrepôt
a place where goods are stored or deposited and from which they are distributed. 2. a trading or market center
648. hydrophyte *
a plant adapted to grow in water
477. epiphyte
a plant, such as a tropical orchid or a stag-horn fern, that grows on another plant upon which it depends for mechanical support but not for nutrients.
361. Deccan
a plateau of south central India between the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats. the name is also used for the entire Indian peninsula south of the Narmada River
87. appendices *
a plural of appendix
619. henbane
a poisonous Eurasian plant having an unpleasant odor, sticky leaves, and funnel shaped greenish yellow flowers. Source of the drug hyoscamine
810. manifest destiny, Manifest Destiny
a policy of imperialistic expansion defined as necessary or benevolent. 2. the 19th century doctrine that the United States had the right and the duty to expand throughout the North American continent
337. cromlech
a prehistoric monument consisting of monoliths encircling a mound. 2. a dolmen
145. bastille
a prison; a jail
516. famulus
a private secretary or other close attendant
49. amniocentesis
a procedure in which a small sample of amniotic fluid is drawn out of the uterus through a needle inserted in the abdomen . the fluid is then analyzed to detect genetic abnormalities in the fetus or to determine the sex of the fetus
527. fetlock *
a projection on the lower part of the leg of a horse or related animal, above and behind the hoof, a tuft on hair on such a projection
143. basilica
a public building of Ancient Rome having a central nave with an apse at one or both ends and two side aisles formed by rows of columns, which was used as a courtroom or assembly hall. A christian church building of similar design, having a nave with a semicircular apse, two or four side aisles, a narthex, and a clerestory
316. coroner
a public officer whose primary function is to investigate by inquest any death thought to be of other than natural causes
356. dais
a raised platform, as in a lecture hall, for speakers or honored guests
270. coaming
a raised rim or border around an opening, as in a ship's deck, designed to keep out water
721. jadeite
a rare, usually emerald to light green but sometimes white, auburn, buff, or violet mineral, used as a gem and for ornamental carvings. tougher and more highly valued form of jade
140. barograph
a recording barometer
590. guanaco
a reddish brown South American ruminant mammal related to and resembling the domesticated llama
193. burnt sienna
a reddish brown pigment prepared by calcining raw sienna
97. Armenia (country)
a region and former kingdom of Asia Minor that included present-day Armenia and part of northeast Turkey and northwest Iran. established in the 8th century B.C., it was probably the first state to accept Christianity as a national religion
231. Caucasus
a region between the Black and Caspian seas that includes southwest Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, and that forms part of the traditional boundary between Europe and Asia. Inhabited before 2000 B.C. it was the scene of countless invasions over the millennia. conquered by Russia during the 18th and 19th centuries, the region has vast oil resources, which were a major German objective in World War II.
598. habdalah, Habdalah
a religious ceremony observed at the close of the Sabbath or a holy day
408. disclaimer *
a repudiation or denial of responsibility or connection. 2. a renunciation of one's right or claim
739. Keogh plan
a retirement plan for the self employed and their employees
aioli
a rich sauce of crushed garlic, egg yolks, lemon juice, and olive oil
819. martinet
a rigid military disciplinarian. 2. one who demands absolute adherence to forms and rules
830. Mekong *
a river of Southeast Asia flowing about 2,600 miles from southeast China to the South China Sea through a vast delta in southern Vietnam. Was a scene of heavy fighting during the Vietnam war
914. North Saskatchewan
a river of south central Canada flowing about 760 miles generally eastward from the Rocky Mountains in western Alberta to central Saskatchewan where it joins the south Saskatchewan river to form the Saskatchewan river
333. crenation
a rounded projection, as on the margin of a shell. 2. the condition or state of being crenate. 3. a process resulting from osmosis in which red blood cells, in a hypertonic solution, undergo shrinkage and acquire a notched or scalloped surface
594. gutta-percha
a rubbery substance derived from the latex of any several tropical trees of the genera Palaquium and Payena, used as an electrical insulator, as a waterproofing compound, and in golf balls
552. furbelow
a ruffle or flounce on a garment, a piece of showy ornamentation
350. cyclamate
a salt of cyclamic acid formerly used as an artificial sweetener, especially Sodium cyclamate and Calcium cyclamate
246. charmeuse *
a satin finished silk fabric
360. de Stijl
a school of art originating in the Netherlands in 1917 and characterized by the use of rectangular shapes and primary colors
276. collusion *
a secret agreement between 2 or more parties for a fraudulent, illegal, or deceitful purpose
707. intriguingly
a secret or underhanded scheme; a plot, the practice of such things. 2. a clandestine love affair. 3. to arouse by interest or curiosity of
207. camcorder
a self-contained unit of communications equipment made up of a lightweight hand held television camera and videocassette recorder
54. ampicillin
a semisynthetic penicillin having a broader antibacterial spectrum of action then that of penicillin G. it is effective against gram negative and gram positive bacteria and used to treat gonorrhea and infections of the intestinal, urinary, and respiratory tracts
570. georgette
a sheer, strong silk or silk like clothing fabric with a dull, creped surface
321. coryza
a viral infection characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the upper respiratory passages and usually accompanied by malaise, fever, chills, coughing, and sneezing. also called common cold.
1052. Popocatépetl
a volcano 17,887 ft high in central Mexico west of Puebla. it became active again in January 1994 after being dormant for decades
634. holy war, Holy War
a war declared or fought for a religious or high moral purpose, as to extend or defend a religion
115. atrophy *
a wasting or decrease in size of a body organ, tissue, or part owing to disease, injury, or lack of use
558. galoshes
a waterproof overshoe. 2. a sturdy heavy soled boot or shoe
ambergris
a waxy grayish substance formed in the intestines of sperm whales and found floating at sea or washed ashore. it is added to perfumes to slow down the rate of evaporation
646. humoresque *
a whimsical or fanciful composition
355. daikon
a white radish of Japan, having a long root that is eaten raw, pickled, or cooked. also called Chinese radish, Japanese radish, or Oriental radish
149. béchamel sauce
a white sauce of butter, flour, and milk or cream
218. caracal
a wildcat of Africa and southern Asia having short fawn colored fur and long tufted ears
755. landgravine
a woman holding the title to a landgraviate. 2. the wife or widow of a landgrave
312. coquettish *
a woman who makes teasing sexual or romantic overtures; a flirt
482. equestrienne
a woman who rides a horse or performs on horseback
127. babushka
a women's head scarf, folded triangularly and worn tied under the chin. (Russian grandmother)
605. hamadryad
a wood nymph who lives only as long as the tree of which she is the spirit lives. 2. a large venomous snake of southeast Asia and the Philippines that can grow to a length of 5.5 meters, also called king cobra.
241. chalet
a wooden dwelling with a sloping roof and widely overhanging eaves, common in Switzerland and other Alpine regions. a cottage or lodge built in this style. 2. the hut of a herder in the Swiss Alps
612. heckelphone
a woodwind instrument of the oboe family, with a pitch between that of an English horn and a bassoon
424. double-entendre
a word or phrase having a double meaning especially when the second meaning is risque
113. atonic
a word, syllable, or sound that is unaccented
615. helminth
a worm, especially a parasitic round-worm or tapeworm
659. idyllist
a writer of idylls
754. lampoon
a written attack ridiculing a person, group, or institution. 2. a light good humored satire
68. annus mirabilis
a year notable for disasters or wonders; a fateful year
379. demoiselle
a young woman
795. macrocephaly *
abnormal largeness of the head. also called megacephaly and megalocephaly
300. consonance
agreement; harmony; accord. 2. close correspondence of sounds. the repetition of consonants or of a consonant pattern, especially at the ends of words. 3. a simultaneous combination of sounds not requiring resolution to another combination of sounds for finality of effect and conventionally regarded as harmonious or pleasing
828. medevac
air transport of persons to a place where they can recieve medical or surgical care; medical evacuation
825. mbira
an African musical instrument consisting of a hollow gourd or wooden resonator and a number of usually metal strips that vibrate when plucked
171. bobolink
an American migratory songbird, the male of which has black, white, and yellowish plumage. also called the reedbird, maybird, and ricebird
727. Jicarilla *
an Apache tribe formerly inhabiting southeast Colorado and northern New Mexico and ranging eastward to the Great Plains. with present day population in northern New Mexico.
202. calcinosis
an abnormal condition in which calcium salts are deposited in a part or tissue of the body
782. lordosis *
an abnormal forward curvature of the spine in the lumbar region
137. barbarism
an act, trait, or custom characterized by ignorance or crudity
393. detinue
an action to recover possession or the value of property wrongfully detained, the writ authorizing such action. 2. the act of unlawfully detaining personal property
253. cholera
an acute infectious disease of the small intestine, caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae and characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, muscle cramps, severe dehydration, and depletion of electrolytes. also called Asiatic cholera. 2. any of various diseases of domesticated animals, such as chickens, turkeys, or hogs, marked by severe gastroenteritis.
571. Gestaltist
an adherent or practitioner of the principles of Gestalt psychology
629. Hispanophile *
an admirer of Spain or of Spanish speaking countries or peoples
520. fascist, Fascist
an advocate or adherent of fascism. 2. a reactionary or dictatorial person. 3. of or relating to the regime of the Fascisti
lipophilic
having an affinity for, tending to combine with, or capable of dissolving in liquids
618. hemostat *
an agent such as a chemical that stops bleeding. 2. a clamp like instrument used to compress a blood vessel in order to reduce or arrest the flow of blood during surgery
460. emetic
an agent that causes vomiting
311. coolant
an agent that produces cooling, especially a fluid that draws off heat by circulating through an engine or by bathing a mechanical part
109. assumpsit
an agreement or promise made orally or in writing not under seal; a contract
794. Machmeter *
an aircraft instrument that indicates speed in Mach numbers
178. boustrophedon
an ancient method of writing in which the lines are inscribed alternately from right to left and from left to right
518. fandango
an animated Spanish or Spanish-American dance in triple time, a piece of music for this dance. 2. nonsense, tomfoolery
157. Beowulf
an anonymous Old English epic poem believed to have been composed in the early 8th century, principally concerning the exploits of the warrior Beowulf and containing historical and legendary tales about the Geats, Danes, and other older Germanic peoples
alembic
an apparatus consisting of two vessels connected by a tube, formerly used for distilling liquids
205. calorimeter
an apparatus for measuring the heat generated by a chemical reaction, change of state, or formation of a solution
183. breeches buoy *
an apparatus used for rescues and transfers at sea, consisting of sturdy canvas breeches attached at the waist to a ring buoy that is suspended from a pulley running along a rope from ship to shore or from ship to ship
255. chrysoprase
an apple-green chalcedony used as a gemstone
742. kinkajou
an arboreal mammal of Central and South America, having brownish fur and a long prehensile tail. also called honey bear.
339. croupier *
an attendant at a gaming table who collects and pays bets. 2. one who rides behind another on a horse
118. aurora australis *
an aurora that occurs in southern regions of the earth. also called southern lights
alastor, Alastor
an avenging deity or spirit, the masculine personification of Nemesis, frequently evoked in Greek tragedy
243. champignon
an edible mushroom, especially the much cultivated species Agaricus bisporus
aftereffect
an effect following its cause after some delay, especially a delayed or prolonged physiological or psychological response to a stimulus
769. levee (embankment)
an embankment raised to prevent a river from overflowing, a small ridge or raised area bordering an irrigated field. 2. a landing place on the river
153. belle époque *
an era of artistic and cultural refinement in a society, especially in France at the beginning of the 20th century
417. distillery *
an establishment for distilling especially for distilling alcoholic liquors
591. guesstimate
an estimate based on conjecture
162. Biblicist
an expert on the Bible; one who interprets the Bible literally
126. Babinski reflex
an extension of the great toe, sometimes with fanning of the other toes, in response to the stroking of the sole of the foot. it is a normal reflex in infants, but it is usually associated with a disturbance of the pyramidal tract in children and adults. Also called Babinski sign
430. dryopithecine *
an extinct ape of the genus Dryopithecus known from the old world fossil remains of the Miocene and Pliocene epochs and believed to be an ancestor of the anthropoid apes and humans.
636. Homo erectus
an extinct species of humans, regarded as an ancestor of Homo sapiens
693. innuendoes
an indirect or subtle, usually derogatory implication in expression; an insinuation.
442. ectomorph *
an individual having a lean, slightly muscular body build in which tissues derived from the embryonic ectoderm predominate
439. echocardiograph
an instrument that in a painless and noninvasive manner employs the differential transmission and reflection of ultrasonic waves to image structural and functional abnormalities of the heart
220. carcinoma
an invasive malignant tumor derived from the epithelial tissue that tends to metastasize to other areas of the body
548. frittata
an open faced omelet with other ingredients, such as cheese or vegetables, mixed into the eggs rather than used as a filling
740. keynote address
an opening address, as at a political convention, that outlines the issues to be considered. also called keynote speech.
459. embrasure *
an opening in a thick wall for a door or window, especially one with sides angled so that the opening is larger on the inside of the wall than on the outside. 2. a flared opening for a gun in a wall or parapet
757. laparoscopy *
an operation in which a laparoscope is used as in examination of the liver or the surgical treatment of endometriosis
306. contraposition
an opposite position; antithesis
93. archetype
an original model or type after which other similar things are patterned; a prototype
57. anaglyph *
an ornament carved in low relief
544. fourragère *
an ornamental braided cord usually looped around the left shoulder of a uniform, sometimes awarded to an entire military unit
688. infrastructure *
an underlying base or foundation, especially for a organization or system. the basic facilities, services, and installations needed for the functioning of a community or society, such as transportation and communication systems
216. capriole *
an upward leap made by a trained horse without going forward and with a backward kick of the hind legs at the height of the leap
682. indignation
anger aroused by something unjust, mean, or unworthy
621. Herefords *
any of a breed of beef cattle developed in England and having a reddish coat with a white face, chest, belly and lower legs
604. halogen
any of a group of five chemically related nonmetallic elements including fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and astatine
732. kachina
any of numerous deified ancestral spirits of the Pueblo peoples, believed to reside in the pueblo for part of each year. 2. a masked dancer believed to embody a particular spirit during a religious ceremony. 3. a carved doll in the costume of a particular spirit, presented as a gift to a child
780. lobelia, Lobelia
any of numerous plants of the genus Lobelia, having terminal racemes of variously colored flowers with a bilabiate corolla
531. ficus, Ficus
any of numerous tropical trees, shrubs, or climbers of the genus Ficus, having pear like multiple fruits
141. barramunda
any of several Australian food fishes, such as the lungfish.
789. lupus erythematosus
any of several connective tissue disorders, especially systemic lupus erythematosus, that primarily affect women of childbearing age, have a variety of clinical forms, and are characterized by red scaly skin lesions
776. liquidambar, Liquidambar
any of several deciduous trees of the genus Liquidambar such as the sweet gum
792. mache, mâche
any of several plants of the genus Valerianella especially a Eurasian annual having small white to bluish flowers and edible young leaves used in salads or as a potherb. also called lamb's lettuce, and corn salad
123. axolotl
any of several salamanders (genus Ambystoma) native to Mexico and the western United States that, unlike most amphibians, often retain their external gills and become sexually mature without undergoing metamorphosis
838. mesquite (tree)
any of several small spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Prosopis in the pea family, native to hot, dry regions of the New World and important as plants for bees and forage for cattle, especially. Native to southwest United States and Northern Mexico
728. joe-pye weed
any of several tall North American plants of the genus Eupatorium, having whorled leaves and terminal clusters small pinkish or purplish flower heads
257. cinchona, Cinchona
any of several trees and shrubs of the genus Cinchona, native chiefly to the Andes and cultivated for bark that yields the medicinal alkaloids quinine and quinidine, which are used to treat malaria. 2. the dried bark of any of these plants. also called Jesuit's bark and Peruvian bark
720. jacaranda, Jacaranda
any of several tropical American trees or shrubs of the genus Jacaranda, having pinnately compound opposite leaves and panicles of pale purple flowers with funnel shaped corollas
91. arbutus, Arbutus
any of various broad-leaved evergreen trees or shrubs of the genus Arbutus, including the madrona and strawberry tree, that are native chiefly to warm regions in the Americas and Europe
654. ichthyosaur *
any of various extinct fish-like marine reptiles of the order Icthyosauria of the Triassic Period to the Cretaceous Period, having a porpoise-like head and an elongated toothed snout
331. crayfish
any of various freshwater crustaceans of the genera Cambarus and Astacus, resembling a lobster but considerably smaller. also called mudbug, also called regional crawdad.
278. comfrey
any of various hairy perennial Eurasian herbs of the genus Symphytum, having variously colored flowers in coiled cymes and long used in herbal medicine
543. forget-me-not
any of various herbaceous plants of the genus Myosotis having clusters of small blue flowers. also called scorpion grass.
103. artiodactyl
any of various hoofed mammals of the order Artiodactyla, which includes cattle, deer, camels, hippopotamuses, sheep, and goats, that have an even number of toes, usually two or sometimes four, on each foot
437. Easter lily
any of various lilies especially lilium longiflorum eximium, having large white trumpet shaped flowers that bloom in the spring and are displayed during the Easter season.
343. cucurbit *
any of various mostly climbing or trailing plants of the family Cucurbitaceae, which includes the squash, pumpkin, cucumber, gourd, watermelon, and cantaloupe. 2. a gourd shaped flask forming the body of an alembic, formerly used in distillation
271. coelacanth
any of various mostly extinct fishes of the order Coelacanthiformes, known only in fossil form until a single living species, latimeria chalumnae of African marine waters, was identified in 1938
664. immortelle
any of various plants such as species of the genera Helichrysum, Xeranthemum, and Erythrina, having flowers that retain their shape and color when dried
124. azalea
any of various shrubs of the genus Rhododendron having showy, variously colored flowers
725. jerboa
any of various small nocturnal leaping rodents of the family Dipodidae of Asia and northern Africa, having long hind legs and a long tufted tail
564. gazelle
any of various small, swift antelopes of the genus Gazelle and related genera of Africa and Asia, characteristically having a slender neck and annulate horns
443. edentulous *
having no teeth; toothless
494. euonymus, Euonymus
any of various trees, shrubs, or woody vines of the genus Euonymus, many species of which are cultivated for their decorative foliage and brightly colored arillate seeds. also called spindle tree
359. davit
any of various types of small cranes that project over the side of a ship and are used to hoist boats, anchors, and cargo
481. epoxy
any of various usually thermosetting resins capable of forming tight cross-linked polymer structures characterized by toughness, strong adhesion, and low shrinkage, used especially in surface coatings and adhesives
67. annelid
any of various worms or wormlike animals of the phylum Annelida, characterized by and elongated, cylindrical, segmented body and including the earth worm and leech
77. antipodean
any two places or regions that are on diametrically opposite sides of the earth
114. atrocity
appalling or atrocious condition, quality, or behavior; monstrousness
403. didymous
arranged or occurring in pairs
383. depauperate *
arrested in growth or development; stunted. 2. severely diminished; impoverished
463. enamelware
articles coated or decorated with enamel
673. in extenso *
at full length, (an article reprinted in extenso in a later collection)
650. hypnopedia *
attempted instruction in a subject, such as foreign language, during sleep, usually by means of recording. also called sleep-learning
297. conjectural
based on or involving conjecture. 2. tending to conjecture
701. intergalactic
being or occurring between galaxies
817. marinara
being or served with a sauce of tomatoes, garlic, onions, and spices
81. apocalypticism *
belief in apocalyptic prophecies, especially regarding the imminent destruction of the world and the foundation of a new world order as a result of the triumph of good over evil
70. antebellum *
belonging to the period before a war, especially the American Civil War
699. inter nos *
between ourselves
acrimony
bitter, sharp animosity, especially as exhibited in speech or behavior
adsorbent
capable of adsorption. An adsorptive material, such as activated charcoal
496. eurybathic *
capable of living in a wide range of water depths, used of an aquatic organism.
614. heliborne *
carried or transported by helicopter
588. gruesomeness
causing horror and repugnance; frightful and shocking
691. injurious
causing or tending to cause injury; harmful. Slanderous; libelous
agilely
characterized by quickness, lightness, and ease of movement; nimble
190. brummagem
cheap and showy; meretricious
170. blithesome
cheerful; merry
694. insomnia
chronic inability to fall asleep or remain asleep for an adequate length of time
275. colloquialism *
colloquial style or quality. 2. a colloquial expression
342. ctenoid
comb like. 2. having marginal projections that resemble the teeth of a comb.
579. globuliferous *
composed of or producing globules
731. julienne
consomme or broth garnished with long thin strips of vegetables
596. gypsiferous
containing gypsum
676. incessantly
continuing without interruption
540. floriated, floreated
decorated with floral designs
366. décor, decor
decoration, a decorative style or scheme as of a room. 2. a stage setting, scenery
374. delectation
delight, enjoyment, pleasure
aleatory *
dependent on chance, luck, or an uncertain outcome
507. exogenous *
derived or developed from outside the body; originating externally. 2. characterized by the the addition of layers of woody tissue. 3. having a cause external to the body, used of diseases
344. culpable
deserving of blame or censure as being wrong, evil, improper, or injurious
75. antifungal
destroying or inhibiting the growth of fungi
90. arbitrary
determined by chance, whim, or impulse, and not by necessity, reason, or principle
687. infrangible
difficult or impossible to break or separate into parts; inviolable
678. incoercible
difficult or impossible to coerce or control forcibly
715. irrepressible *
difficult or impossible to control or restrain
716. irretrievable
difficult or impossible to retrieve or recover
669. implausible *
difficult to believe, not plausible
515. fact-finding
discovery or determination of facts or accurate information
647. hydromancy
divination by the observation of water
264. clavicle
either of two slender bones in humans that extend from the manubrim of the sternum to the acrominion of the scapula. also called the collarbone. 2. one of the bones of the pectoral girdle in many vertebrates
aeroembolism
embolism that occurs as a result of the entrance of air bubbles into a blood vessel after surgical procedures or trauma
480. epopee
epic poetry, especially as a literary genre.
483. equipoise *
equality in distribution as of weight relationship or emotional forces; equilibrium. 2. a counterbalance
790. lymphangiography *
examination of the lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels following the injection of a radiopaque substance. also called lymphography
501. excessively
exceeding a normal, usual, reasonable, or proper limit
426. draconian *
exceedingly harsh, very severe
346. cupidity *
excessive desire, especially for wealth; covetousness or avarice
517. fanaticism
excessive, irrational zeal
706. intrapsychic *
existing or taking place within the mind or psyche
285. complimentary
expressing, using, or resembling a compliment. 2. given free to repay a favor or as an act of courtesy
649. hyperinflation
extremely high monetary inflation
71. antediluvian
extremely old and antiquated
376. delinquency
failure to do what law or duty requires. 2. an offense or misdemeanor; misdeed. 3. a debt or other financial obligation on which payment is overdue
malocclusion *
faulty contact between the upper and lower teeth when the jaw is closed
550. frugivorous
feeding on fruit; fruit-eating
471. entomophagous *
feeding on insects, insectivorous
382. denticulate
finely toothed or notched. 2. having dentils
710. inveterate
firmly and long established; deep-rooted. 2. persisting an ingrained habit; habitual
753. lambent
flickering lightly over or on a surface; effortlessly light or brilliant
431. dubiously
fraught with uncertainty or doubt; undecided 2. of questionable character
684. inerrancy
freedom from error or untruths; infallibility
373. Delacroix *
french romantic painter known for his vast, dramatic canvases and exuberant use of color, as in The Massacre of Chios and Liberty Leading the People
824. Maupassant
french writer whose works mainly realistic short stories such as "The Necklace" examine hypocrisy, madness, Parisian society, and peasant life in Normandy
353. da capo
from the beginning, used as a direction to repeat a passage
ab extra *
from without
835. mercifulness
full of mercy; compassionate
513. exuberant
full of unrestrained enthusiasm or joy. 2. extreme in degree, size, or extent. 3. growing, producing, or produced abundantly; plentiful
554. gadgetry
gadgets considered as a group. 2. the design or construction of gadgets
362. deceitful
given to cheating or deceiving, deliberately misleading; deceptive
581. glycerin, glycerine
glycerol or a preparation of glycerol
601. hagiocracy
government by people considered to be holy, such as priests or saints. also called hagiarchy
400. diarchy, dyarchy
government by two joint rulers
440. éclat
great brilliance, as of performance or achievement. 2. conspicuous success. 3. great acclamation and applause. 4. scandal
690. iniquity *
gross immorality or injustice; wickedness
alpestrine
growing at high altitudes; alpine or subalpine
96. arenicolous *
growing, living, or burrowing in sand
466. enfilade
gunfire directed along the length of a target, a target vulnerable to sweeping gunfire. 2. (architecture) a linear arrangement of a series of interior doors, as to as suite of rooms, so as to provide a vista when the doors are open.
609. hauteur *
haughtiness in bearing and attitude, arrogance
539. flocculent
having a fluffy or woolly appearance. 2. made up of or containing woolly masses. 3. having a soft, waxy, and wool like covering, as certain insects
749. laciniate
having a fringe; fringed, shaped or formed like a fringe. 2. slashed into narrow pointed lobes
762. learning-disabled
having a learning disability
acatalectic *
having a metrically complete pattern, especially having the full number of syllables in the final foot
568. geniality *
having a pleasant or friendly disposition or manner. 2. conducive to life, growth, or comfort; mild. 3. relating to or marked by genius. 4. of or relating to marriage; nuptial
1373. torquate
having a ring like or collar like band or marking around the neck
181. brachycephalic
having a short, broad head with a cephalic index over 80
714. irreconcilable
impossible to reconcile. 2. a person, especially a member of a group, who will not compromise, adjust, or submit. 3. one of two or more conflicting ideas or beliefs that cannot be brought into harmony
803. malapert
impudently bold in speech or manner; saucy
420. doloroso *
in a mournful or plaintive manner, used chiefly as direction.
65. animato
in an animated or lively manner. used chiefly as a direction
674. in propria persona
in one's own person, especially without representation by an attorney
672. in camera
in secret; privately. 2. in private with a judge rather than in open court
469. entelechy
in the philosophy of Aristotle the condition of a thing whose essence is fully realized; actuality. 2. a vital force that directs and organism toward self-fulfillment
110. astasia
inability to stand because of motor incoordination
369. deficit
inadequacy or insufficiency, in mental or physical functioning. 2. an unfavorable position or condition; a disadvantage. 3. the amount by which a sum of money falls short of the required or expected amount, a business loss
735. kaput, kaputt
incapacitated or destroyed
411. disputatious
inclined to dispute
804. malassimilation
incomplete or imperfect assimilation of nutrients by the body
105. asphyxiant
inducing or tending to induce asphyxia
233. cavernicolous *
inhabiting caverns or caves
402. didactics
instruction; teaching; pedagogy
652. hypoxemia *
insufficient oxygenation of the blood
444. edification *
intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement; enlightenment
415. dissipated *
intemperate in the pursuit of pleasure; dissolute. 2. wasted or squandered, used of energy
487. esoteric
intended or understood only by a particular group, of that which is known by a restricted number of people. 2. not publicly disclosed; confidential
325. counterterrorism
intended to prevent or counteract terrorism
83. apotropaic *
intended to ward off evil
622. hermeneutic
interpretive; explanatory
708. intrusiveness
intruding or tending to intrude. 2. of or relating to igneous rock that is forced while molten into cracks or between other layers of rock
305. contradictory
involving, of the nature of, or being a contradiction. 2. either of two propositions related in such a way that it is impossible for both to be true or both to be false
545. fourth estate
journalists considered as a group, the public press
414. dissimilitude
lack of resemblance; dissimilarity
131. badinage
light, playful banter
227. catadromous *
living in fresh water but migrating to marine waters to breed. used of fish
52. amphibiotic
living in water during an early stage of development and on land during the adult stage
79. aphagia
loss of the ability to swallow
80. aphonia *
loss of the voice resulting from disease, injury to the vocal chords, or various psychological causes, such as hysteria
683. inegalitarian
marked by or accepting of social, economic, or political inequality
541. flummeries
meaningless or deceptive language; humbug. 2. any of several soft, sweet, bland foods, such as custard. 3. a sweet gelatinous pudding made by straining boiled oatmeal or flour. 3, a soft dessert of stewed, thickened fruit often mixed with a grain such as rice
56. anadromous
migrating up rivers from the sea to breed in fresh water. used of fish
388. derisive
mocking; jeering
58. analphabetic *
not alphabetical
abiological *
not associated with or derived from living organisms
586. greige
not bleached or dyed; unfinished. used of textiles
328. covertness *
not openly practiced, avowed, engaged in, accumulated, or shown. 2. covered or covered over, sheltered. 3. being married and therefore protected by one's husband.
666. immutable
not subject or susceptible to change
433. duteous
obedient or dutiful
448. egomaniacal
obsessive preoccupation with the self
675. incarnadine
of a fleshy pink color, blood red. 2. to make incarnadine, especially to redden
498. evidentiary *
of evidence; evidential. 2. for the presentation or determination of evidence
461. eminent
of high rank, station or quality; noteworthy. 2 outstanding as in character or performance; distinguished. 3. towering or standing above out above others; prominent
658. idolatrous *
of or having to do with idolatry. 2. given to blind or excessive devotion to something
59. Anatolian
of or relating to Anatolia or its people, language, or culture
219. Carboniferous, carboniferous
of, belonging to, or denoting a geologic division of the Paleozoic Era following the Devonian and preceding the Permian, including the Mississippian Period and the Pennsylvanian Period and characterized especially in the Pennsylvanian by swamp formation and deposition of plant remains later hardened into coal
526. ferruginous
of, containing, or similar to iron. 2. having the color of iron rust; reddish brown
283. competitiveness
of, involving, or determined by competition. 2. liking competition or inclined to compete. 3. Relating to the inhibition of enzyme activity that results from the reversible combination of an enzyme with an alternate compound and prevents normal substrate binding
533. filial
of, relating to, or befitting a son or daughter. 2. having or assuming the relationship of child or offspring to a parent. 3. of or relating to a generation or the sequence of generations following the parental generation
783. Louis Seize
of, relating to, or characteristic of the neoclassic style in architecture, furniture, and decoration of the reign of Louis XVI
130. Baconian
of, relating to, or characteristic of the works or thought of the philosopher Francis Bacon.
223. cartilaginous
of, relating to, or consisting of cartilage
695. instinctual
of, relating to, or derived from instinct
657. idiopathic
of, relating to, or designating a disease having no known cause
210. campestral
of, relating to, or growing in uncultivated land or open fields
422. donnish
of, relating to, or held to be characteristic of a university don; bookish or pedantic
718. isothermal
of, relating to, or indicating equal or constant temperatures. 2. of or designating changes of pressure and volume at constant temperature. 3. an isotherm
228. catastrophic
of, relating to, or involving a catastrophe. 2.involving or resulting in substantial, often ruinous medical expense
478. epistemic
of, relating to, or involving knowledge; cognitive
525. femoral
of, relating to, or located in the thigh or femur
449. eidetic *
of, relating to, or marked by extraordinarily detailed and vivid recall of visual images
179. bovine
of, relating to, or resembling a ruminant mammal of the genus Bos, such as an ox, cow, or buffalo
180. brachial
of, relating to, or resembling the arm or a similar or homologous part, such as the foreleg, wing, or other forelimb of the vertebrate
458. emblematic
of, relating to, or serving as an emblem; symbolic
538. fleeciness
of, resembling, or covered with fleece
671. imprimatur
official approval or license to print or publish, especially under conditions of censorship
88. apprenticeship
one bound by a legal agreement to work for another for a specific amount of time in return for instruction in a trade, art, or business
521. fashionmonger
one concerned with following, spreading, or setting the fashion
386. depositary
one entrusted with something for preservation or safekeeping
724. jayhawker, Jayhawker
one of the free soil guerrillas in Kansas and Missouri during the border disputes of 1854 to 1859. 2. a native of Kansas 3. a fictitious bird
274. collaborationist *
one that collaborates with an enemy occupation force
549. front-runner, frontrunner
one that is in a leading position in a race or other competition, a competitor who performs best when in the lead
467. enigma *
one that is puzzling, ambiguous, or inexplicable. 2. a perplexing speech or text, a riddle
188. broncobuster *
one who breaks wild horses to the saddle
698. intelligencer
one who conveys news or information. 2. a secret agent, informer, or spy
577. glaziery
one who cuts and fits glass, as for doors and windows
573. ghoul *
one who delights in the revolting, morbid, or loathsome. 2. a grave robber. 3. an evil spirit or demon in Muslim folklore believed to plunder graves and feed on corpses
63. Anglophobia
one who dislikes or fears England, its people, or its culture
229. catechumen
one who is being taught the principles of Christianity. 2.one who is being instructed in a subject at an elementary level
95. archivist
one who is in charge of archives
551. funambulist
one who performs on a tightrope or a slack rope
519. farrier
one who shoes horses, iron/blacksmith
546. frequent flier (noun)
one who travels often by air, especially on one airline
322. cosmetician
one whose occupation is manufacturing, selling, or applying cosmetics
1479. xerarch
originating in a dry habitat.
644. hubris *
overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance
633. hologynic *
passing to successive generations only in females
791. macaroni
pasta in any of various hollow shapes especially short curved tubes
655. iconographer
pictorial illustration of a subject, the collected representations illustrating a subject. 2. a set of specified or traditional symbolic forms associated with the subject or theme of a stylized work of art. 3. a treatise or book dealing with iconography
744. knotty pine
pine wood with a large number of knots used especially for paneling and furniture
432. dulcet *
pleasing to the ear; melodious, having a soothing, agreeable quality. 2. sweet to taste
139. Barmecidal
plentiful or abundant in appearance only; illusory
836. mercurialism
poisoning caused by mercury or a compound containing mercury
745. knowledgeable
possessing or showing knowledge or intelligence; perceptive and well informed
681. indigence
poverty; neediness
209. camera-ready
prepared in such a way as to be appropriate for photographing prior to being made into a printing plate
amandine *
prepared or garnished with almonds
78. antipruritic
preventing or relieving itching
522. febrific
producing fever, having a fever, being feverish
1173. Rorschach test
psychological test in which a subject's interpretations of a series of standard inkblots are analyzed as an indication of personality traits, preoccupations, and conflicts.
455. eligibility
qualified or entitled to be chosen, desirable and worthy of choice. 2. allowed under the rules to catch a forward pass
777. litheness *
readily bent; supple. 2. marked by effortless grace
670. impoverished
reduced to poverty; poverty-stricken. 2. deprived of natural riches or strength; limited or depleted
76. antiphlogistic *
reducing inflammation or fever; anti-inflammatory
395. detumescence
reduction or lessening of a swelling, especially in the restoration of a swollen organ or part to normal size
73. anthropocentric *
regarding humans as the central element of the universe
1114. ralliform
relating or resembling the rail, a marsh bird
567. generic *
relating to or descriptive of an entire group or class; general
705. interstitial
relating to, occurring in, or affecting interstices. 2. relating to or situated in the small, narrow spaces between tissues or parts of an organ
128. baccate
resembling a berry in texture or form; berrylike
476. epileptoid •
resembling epilepsy or any of its symptoms
260. circumterrestrial *
revolving around or surrounding the earth
245. charcuterie
sausages, ham, pates, and other cooked or processed meat foods. 2. a delicatessen specializing in such foods
236. cephalometry *
scientific measurement of the head
585. gregariously *
seeking and enjoying the company of others; sociable. 2. tending to move in or form a group with others of the same kind. 3. (plants) growing in groups that are close together but not densely clustered or matted
48. amendatory
serving or tending to amend; corrective
289. conclusiveness
serving to put an end to doubt , question, or uncertainty; decisive
acanthoid
shaped like a thorn or spine
304. contiguous
sharing an edge or boundary; touching. 2. neighboring; adjacent. 3. connected in time; uninterrupted
345. cultrate
sharp-edged and pointed; knifelike
232. cautiousness
showing or practicing caution; careful. 2. tentative or restrained; guarded
638. homotaxis
similarity of strati-graphic arrangement and fossils in non-contemporaneous or widely separated geologic deposits
184. bric-a-brac
small, usually ornamental objects valued for their antiquity, rarity, originality, or sentimental associations
736. karateist
someone who practices the Japanese form of self defense in which sharp blows and kicks are administered to pressure-sensitive points on the body of an opponent
175. botcher
someone who ruins something through clumsiness or bungling something up
722. Japonism *
something characteristically Japanese. 2. the influence of Japan on European art, especially in impressionism
332. crème de la crème
something superlative. 2. people of the highest social level.
410. disincentive
something that prevents or discourages action; a deterrent
108. assuasive *
soothing; calming
398. diablerie
sorcery; witchcraft. 2. representation of devils or demons as in paintings or fiction
625. heteroecious
spending different stages of a life cycle on different, usually unrelated hosts. used of parasites such as rust fungi and tapeworms
176. bouldering
sports basic or intermediate climbing carried out on relatively small rocks that can be traversed without great risk of bodily harm in case of a fall
actuaries
statisticians who computes insurance risks and premiums
accreditation
the act of accrediting or the state of being accredited, especially the granting of approval to an institution of learning by an official review board after the school has met specific requirements
affirmation
the act of affirming or the state of being affirmed ; assertion
294. confutation
the act of confuting. 2. something that confutes
abscission *
the act of cutting off
accumulation
the act of gathering or amassing, as into a heap or pile
679. indemnification *
the act of indemnifying, the condition of being indemnified. 2. something that indemnifies; a compensation for loss
661. illation *
the act of inferring or drawing conclusions. 2. a conclusion drawn; a deduction. also called illative
689. inhibition *
the act of inhibiting or the state of being inhibited. 2. something that restrains, blocks, or suppresses. 3. conscious or unconscious restraint of a behavioral process, desire, or impulse
730. joinder
the act of joining. 2. a joining of causes of action or defense in a suit, a joining of parties in a suit. 3. formal acceptance of an issue offered
admixture
the act of mingling or mixing. the state of being mingled or mixed
797. maculation *
the act of spotting or staining or the condition of being spotted or stained. 2. the spotted markings of a plant or an animal, such as the spots of the leopard
391. desolation
the act or an instance of desolating. 2. devastation; ruin. 3. the state of being abandoned or forsaken; loneliness. 4. wretchedness, misery
416. dissuasion
the act or an instance of dissuading
771. licensure
the act or an instance of granting a license usually to practice a profession
427. dramatization
the act or art of dramatizing. 2. a work adapted for dramatic presentation
680. indentation
the act or condition of being indented. 2. the blank space between a margin and the beginning of an indented line. 3. a notch or jagged cut in an edge. 4. a recess as in a border or coastline
820. massacred
the act or instance of killing a large number of humans indiscriminately and cruelly
318. corpus callosum *
the arched bridge of nervous tissue that connects the two cerebral hemispheres, allowing communication between the right and left sides of the brain
599. habitat *
the area or environment where an organism or ecological community normally lives or occurs. 2. a place where a person or thing is most likely to be found. 3. a structure that affords a controlled environment for living in extremely inhospitable locations
456. elocution
the art of public speaking in which gesture, vocal production, and delivery are emphasized. 2. a style or manner of speaking, especially in public
258. cinematography
the art or technique of movie photography, including both the shooting and the development of the film.
381. dendrology
the botanical study of trees and other woody plants
772. lichenology *
the branch of biology that deals with the study of lichens
120. autecology
the branch of ecology that deals with the biological relationship between an individual organism or an individual species and its environment
475. epidemiology
the branch of medicine that deals with the study of the causes, distribution, and control of disease in populations
62. angelology *
the branch of theology having to do with angels
802. malacology *
the branch of zoology that deals with mollusks
641. horripilation
the bristling of the body hair, as from fear or cold; goosebumps
747. Kuala Lumpur *
the capital and largest city of Malaysia, on the southwest Malay Peninsula northwest of Singapore. Founded by tin miners in 1857, it is the commercial and industrial hub of the country
608. Harare *
the capital and largest city of Zimbabwe, in the northeast part of the country. founded by the British in 1890, it is a manufacturing and tobacco-processing center. its name was changed from Salisbury in 1982 to honor a 19th century African leader
726. Jerusalem
the capital of Israel in the east central part of the country in the West Bank. of immense religious and historical importance, the city was occupied as far back as the fourth millennium B.C. and became the capital of King David 1000 B.C.
761. lavabo, Lavabo
the ceremonial washing of the hands and recitation from the Psalms by the celebrant before the Eucharist in the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches. 2. a washbowl that is attached to a wall and filled from a water tank fastened above
566. generalissimo
the commander in chief of all the armed forces in certain countries
534. finale
the concluding part, especially of a musical composition
484. errantry
the condition of traveling or roving about, especially in search of adventure
230. catholicity, Catholicity
the condition or quality of being catholic; breadth or inclusiveness. 2. Roman catholicism
82. aposematic coloration
the conspicuously recognizable markings of an animal, such as a skunk, that serves to run off potential predators. also known as warning coloration
algor mortis
the cooling of the body that follows death
703. interpolate
to insert or introduce between other elements or parts. 2. to change or falsify a text by introducing new or incorrect material. 3. to estimate a value of a function or series, between two known values
702. intermeddle
to interfere in the affairs of others, often officiously
438. eavesdropper
to listen secretly to the private conversation of others, one who eavesdrops
263. clarification
to make clear or easier to understand; elucidate. 2. to clear of confusion or uncertainty; clarify the mind. 3. to make clear by removing impurities or solid matter, as by heating gently or filtering
508. explicate
to make clear the meaning of; explain
572. gesticulatory *
to make gestures especially while speaking, as for emphasis
576. glamorization
to make glamorous. 2. to treat or portray in a romantic manner; idealize or glorify
488. estrangement
to make hostile, unsympathetic, or indifferent; alienate. 2. to remove from an accustomed place or set of associations
adulterate
to make impure by adding extraneous, improper, or inferior ingredients
457. emaciated *
to make or become extremely thin, especially as a result of starvation
452. elation
to make proud or joyful. 2. to bring out, exalt
129. backpedal
to move the pedals of a bicycle or similar vehicle backward, especially to apply a brake.
111. astrogate *
to navigate a spacecraft, as in celestial flight
454. elide
to omit or slur over in pronunciation. 2. to strike out something written. 3. to eliminate or leave out of consideration
323. cosset
to pamper. a pet, especially a pet lamb.
493. eulogistic *
to praise highly in speech or writing, especially in a formal eulogy
290. concoct *
to prepare by mixing ingredients, as in cooking. 2. to devise, using skill and intelligence; contrive
absolve
to pronounce clear of guilt or blame
digitize
to put (data) into digital form
365. decipherable
to read or interpret, ambiguous, obscure, or illegible matter. 2. to convert from a cipher or code to plain text; decode
368. decriminalize
to reduce or abolish criminal penalties for
505. exhumation
to remove from a grave; disinter 2. to bring to a light, especially after a period of obscurity
372. deionize *
to remove ions from a solution using an ion exchange process
378. demagnetize
to remove magnetic properties from
385. depoliticize
to remove the political aspect from; remove from political influence or control
384. depiction *
to represent in a picture or sculpture. 2. to represent in words; describe
623. hero-worship (verb)
to revere as an ideal; to adulate
293. confiscatory
to seize private property for the public treasury. 2. to seize by or as if by authority. 3. seized by government; appropriated. 4. having lost property through confiscation
282. compartmentalize
to separate into distinct parts, categories, or compartments
468. ensconce
to settle securely or comfortably, to place or conceal in a secure place
66. anneal *
to subject (glass or metal) to a process of heating and slow cooling in order to toughen and reduce brittleness
215. capitulate *
to surrender under specific conditions; come to terms
100. arrogate
to take or claim for oneself without right; appropriate
371. defraudation
to take something from by fraud; swindle
823. maunder *
to talk incoherently or aimlessly. 2. to move or act aimlessly; wander
723. jargonize *
to translate into jargon
834. mercerize
to treat with sodium hydroxide so as to shrink the fiber and increase its luster and affinity for dye
201. cajolery
to urge with gentle and repeated appeals, teasing, or flattery; wheedle
709. inveigle
to win over by coaxing, flattery, or artful talk.
826. measureless
too great to be measured; immeasurable
447. effusive
unrestrained or excessive in emotional expression; gushy. 2. profuse, overflowing
504. exeunt
used as a stage direction to indicate that two or more performers leave the stage
abbé *
used as a title for the superior of a monastery in a French speaking area
182. bravissimo *
used to express great approval, especially of a performance
495. eureka (interj.)
used to express triumph upon finding or discovering something
497. evanescent *
vanishing or likely to vanish like vapor
154. bellicose *
warlike or hostile in manner or temperament
197. cachexia *
weight loss, wasting of muscle, loss of appetite, and general debility that can occur during a chronic disease
185. broad-spectrum
widely applicable or effective
106. asquint *
with a sidelong glance
169. bleary-eyed
with eyes blurred or reddened, as from exhaustion or lack of sleep
500. ex cathedra *
with the authority derived from one's office or position
428. driftwood
wood floating in or washed up by a body of water