Words Everyone Should Know

clout (klowt), noun

"Clout" has two common meanings. It either means someone who has a lot of influence, or it means to strike someone. I was afraid we wouldn't get into the exclusive club, but Reggie's business connections give him a lot of CLOUT. We got in with no problem.

utopia (yoo-TOE-pee-uh), noun

A (theoretical) perfect society or paradise. Utopia was coined by using Greek forms to produce a word meaning "nowhere." Any notion that granting eighteen-year-olds the right to vote would turn the country into a pastoral, strife-free UTOPIA was quickly disproven.

latke (LOT-kuh), noun

A Jewish potato pancake, often eaten during Hanukkah. Mrs. Bloom always made her famous LATKES for the children during the holiday season.

covenant (KUH-vuh-nent), noun

A binding agreement entered into by two or more. According to the Bible, a covenant was made between the ancient Israelites and Jehovah. To James the arrangement was an informal understanding, but to Michael it was a holy COVENANT.

wok (wok), noun

A bowl-shaped skillet used in Oriental cooking. Jeb, who could work wonders in the kitchen with his WOK, treated us to an excellent stir-fried vegetable and chicken dish.

bough (bow), noun

A branch of a tree. (See, for comparison, the entry for bow.) The BOUGHS of the apple tree hung heavy with fruit.

plague (playg), noun

A broad-based affliction. A plague is a widespread calamity usually associated with a severe and sudden incidence of disease in a population. (Plague can refer to divine intervention or, figuratively, to any sudden and widespread reversal of fortune affecting a group: "a plague of bank closures.") Fortunately, humans have not encountered a severe outbreak of the bubonic PLAGUE for centuries.

torte (tort), noun

A cake made with eggs and very little flour. A torte has nothing to do with a tort (See within.) Mrs. Carrigan's Linzer TORTES are the best I have ever tasted.

gauntlet (GONT-let), noun

A challenge. To "throw down the gauntlet" in medieval times, was to issue a challenge to a duel. This deadline is not simply a goal for this department; it is a GAUNTLET that has been thrown before us.

catacomb (KAT-uh-kome), noun

A chamber below the ground with openings for graves. During times of religious persecution, early Christians often had to worship alongside the dead in the CATACOMBS.

transition (tran-ZISH-un), noun

A change; a passage from one state or form to another. Mark made the TRANSITION from actor to director with relative ease.

adrenaline (uh-DREN-uh-lin), noun

A chemical produced in the body that gives one added strength and energy; epinephrine. Having run up and down the basketball court for nearly an hour, Bob hoped for a burst of ADRENALINE to carry him through to the end of the game.

capital (KAP-ih-tul), noun

A city designated as a seat of government. Also: economic resources. Also: excellent. (See, for comparison, the entry for capitol.) In Washington D.C., our nation's CAPITAL, the three branches of government make their formal headquarters.

precipice (PRESS-ih-pis), noun

A cliff. To be "on the precipice" can also be to be on the verge of a dangerous course of action. Though the view is spectacular here, I don't advise walking near the PRECIPICE.

sangria (sang-GREE-uh), noun

A cocktail of Mexican origin consisting of wine and fruit juices. The cool cantina, with its seemingly endless supply of enchiladas and SANGRIA, was just what we needed after a long day of sightseeing in the hot Acapulco sun.

tint (tint), noun and verb

A color or a degree of a color; a slight variation in shade. As a verb: to add or alter color, generally in a subtle way. My mother was aghast when my sister Cassandra came back from her first semester at college with her golden-blonde-hair TINTED a pale orange.

chord (kord), noun

A combination of musical tones. (See, for comparison, the entry for cord.) The major CHORDS in the key of C are the easiest for the beginning piano student to learn.

harlequin (HAR-luh-kwin), noun

A comic character from the Italian commedia tradition, usually masked and wearing a tight-fitting costume. Instead of the standard joker, the ornamental deck of playing cards featured a HARLEQUIN in colorful attire.

principle (PRIN-sih-pul), noun

A common truth or law; a standard of behavior. (See, for comparison, the entry for principal). Melanie's assertion that our former Congressman is an overweight graft artist without a single moral PRINCIPLE was out of line; he's lost a good deal of weight in recent months.

stereotype (STAIR-ee-o-type), noun and verb

A commonly accepted notion that presents an oversimplified or inaccurate viewpoint (of a racial group's behavior, for instance). As a verb, to stereotype someone is to assign him characteristics in keeping with a popular image of the group he belongs to, whether or not he possesses those characteristics. Most salespeople resent the STEREOTYPE of their profession as serpentine and ruthless.

burqa (BURR-kuh), noun

A completely enveloping outer garment worn by women in some Islamic traditions. Even though she is becoming thoroughly Americanized, Ameena continues faithfully to wear her BURQA.

epilepsy (EP-ih-lep-see), noun

A condition characterized by seizures and tremblings resulting from abnormal rhythmic impulses in the brain. Researchers believe that many of the "demonic possessions" recounted in the Bible were actually instances of EPILEPSY.

autism (AW-tiz-um), noun

A condition in which the sufferer has difficulty with or indifference to social contact, residing almost exclusively in his or her own world. Often subjected to abuse and inhumane treatment two or three decades ago, those suffering from AUTISM are now more likely to receive a meaningful therapeutic regimen.

ally (AL-lie), noun

A confederate or fellow associate in a cause. Also, as a verb: to join with another in a common pursuit. With Jones as my ALLY, I knew the project was more likely to be approved.

than (than or then), conjunctive

A conjunction used to introduce the second element of an unequal comparison. (See, for comparison, the entry for then.) Bert is shorter THAN Velma is.

bout (BOWT), noun

A contest or fight. Also, something that lasts a short time. I quickly got over that BOUT of fever I picked up during my cruise.

replica (REP-lih-kuh), noun

A copy, imitation, or facsimile of an original. While Steve was in Paris he bought a REPLICA of the Mona Lisa for his mother.

mentor (MEN-tor), noun

A counselor or teacher. In contemporary use, mentor usually refers to a senior figure (in business or politics, for instance) who aids the progress of a junior figure's career. Bart respected and revered his MENTOR, but he knew the time had come to move on to another company.

croissant (kruh-SONT or kwa-SON), noun

A crescent-shaped roll or pastry, sometimes prepared with a sweet or savory filling. For Ellen, the CROISSANTS and fresh-squeezed orange juice were about the only things that made the company's breakfast meetings bearable.

depreciation (dih-pree-shee-AY-shun), noun

A decrease in value, quality, or power, particularly due to wear or age. Thanks to five years of DEPRECIATION, I couldn't get more than $2,000 for that car if I took it back to the dealer now.

chasm (KAZ-um), noun

A deep gorge; a deep hole in the earth's surface. Dawn stood peering across the seemingly bottomless CHASM, meditating on the mysteries of nature.

abacus (AB-uh-kuss), noun

A device used to figure arithmetic equations by moving beads along rods. Mrs. Danvers thought that the ABACUS, with its brightly colored beads, would entertain the first graders while illustrating the basic principles of addition and subtraction.

counsel (KOWN-sul), noun

A discussion of ideas or opinions. Katrina's advisor was always available to COUNSEL her about work-related issues.

pigment (PIG-munt), noun

A dry coloring substance meant to be mixed with fluid; any matter that produces color. The use of PIGMENTS developed only in the late nineteenth century is proof positive that this painting is not one of Vermeer's.

flue (floo), noun

A duct or tube used for the passage of smoke. David vowed to spend Christmas Eve staring up the FLUE so he could alert the family the moment Santa arrived, but he fell asleep after only a short time at his post.

grimace (GRIM-uss), noun

A facial expression showing disgust or discomfort. A grimace is a sharp facial contortion indicating pain, dissatisfaction, or disgust. Billy made a GRIMACE at the thought of eating his vegetables.

zealot (ZEL-ut), noun

A fervent or fanatical partisan (in favor of a certain cause). A zealot is a person who shows great zeal. Although he did not mind overlooking an occasional error in procedure, Mr. Fallow was a ZEALOT when it came to posting correct numbers for an accounting period.

aura (OR-uh), noun

A field of energy that some believe emanates from human beings. I'm sure Paul will be a successful politician because he exudes an AURA of trust and dependability.

pilaf (PEEL-af), noun

A flavored rice dish served alone or with meat, poultry, or vegetables. The restaurant is certainly trying to cater to the needs of the health-conscious, offering more chicken, fish, and vegetable entrées than before, and allowing diners a choice of rice PILAF or fries.

tam-o'-shanter (TAM-o-shan-ter), noun

A floppy Scottish hat with a tight headband. Angus MacGregor, a man fiercely proud of his heritage, usually took the opportunity of a company picnic to don a kilt and TAM- O'-SHANTER and play his bagpipe.

accord (ub-CORD), noun

A formal reaching of agreement. An accord is reached when a settlement or compromise of conflicting views occurs. After a prolonged strike, when the issue of healthcare benefits was resolved, the representatives finally reached an ACCORD acceptable to both labor and management.

retraction (rih-TRAK-shun), noun

A formal renunciation of statements considered or determined to be false or injurious to reputation. After erroneously linking Mr. Vining to organized crime figures, the paper was forced to issue a front-page RETRACTION explaining and acknowledging its mistake.

dirge (durj), noun

A funeral song; a song of mourning. The DIRGE from Cymbeline, according to Professor Alpert, is the only worthwhile passage to be found in that seldom-produced Shakespeare play.

furrow (FUR-oh), noun or verb

A furrow is a narrow groove in the ground, such as one formed by a plow. Thus, one furrows when one creates grooves or wrinkles in something. I could tell mom didn't believe my story as she began to FURROW her brow.

forum (FOR-um), noun

A gathering, meeting, or program held for the purpose of discussing matters of public or common concern. "Although I am sure your neighbor's constantly barking dog is irritating, Mrs. Wakefield," the chairman intoned, "the purpose of this FORUM is to discuss the proposed waste site."

apparition (ap-uh-RISH-un), noun

A ghostly figure; something appearing to be a ghost. The APPARITION waved its spectral hands and emitted a horrible moan.

exodus (EX-uh-duss), noun

A going out; a departure, particularly of a large group of people. After the film reel jammed for the third time, there was a mass EXODUS of angry patrons.

caricature (KARE-ihk-uh-choor), noun

A grotesquely or absurdly exaggerated representation. Political cartoons are the most common examples of caricature, but many modes of expression make use of the form's distortion and contrast. The paintings of Toulouse-Lautrec are often rooted in CARICATURE, but they are more than mere cartoons.

entourage (ON-too-rahj), noun

A group of associates; people who commonly surround, protect, and attend to someone of importance. Melanie had hoped to score a front-page story by interviewing the reclusive movie star, but she never made it past his ENTOURAGE.

ensemble (on-SOMB-ul), noun

A group of individuals performing together as, for example, a cast of actors or musicians; also, an outfit composed of complementary clothing and accessories. Mort's time with the jazz ENSEMBLE was humbling after his long career as a solo star, but it was the best musical experience he' d ever had.

counterculture (KOUNT-er-kuhl-chuhr), noun

A group of people—typically young people—whose actions and values oppose those of the larger society. Whether the nation is at war or at peace, it always spawns a COUNTERCULTURE.

bloc (BLOK), noun

A group of persons or nations with various political beliefs united for a common cause. Former Eastern BLOC countries include Poland and Hungary.

faction (FAK-shun), noun

A group of persons united within an organization for a common purpose. The meetings of the board of directors were marked by perpetual squabbling between its two bitterly antagonistic FACTIONS.

cavalry (CAV-ul-ree), noun

A group of soldiers on horseback. Cavalry is frequently confused with calvary (see calvary within), but their meanings are entirely different. After three days of delay, the CAVALRY finally came to the rescue.

medley (MED-lee), noun

A group of varying elements; a mixture; in music, a series of songs or melodies connected as one. Dinner at the club that night was especially tasty: chicken piccata, wild rice, and a MEDLEY of winter vegetables.

menagerie (muh-NAZH-uh-ree), noun

A group of wild animals collected for exhibition; any exotic grouping of people or elements. Wilma thought of her eccentric staff not so much as a group of artists, but as a strange MENAGERIE of very creative people who had to be approached with deference.

callus (KAL-us), noun

A hardened patch of skin. (See, for comparison, the entry for callous.) George had developed a CALLUS on his forefinger from his constant guitar playing.

dissonance (DISS-uh-nunce), noun

A harsh or inharmonious combination, especially of sounds. Elements of a logical argument that are in conflict can also be said to be in dissonance. I could have no peace; the city's DISSONANCE poured unceasingly into my apartment.

satire (SA-tire), noun

A humorous work employing sarcasm or irony in order to ridicule, expose, or make light of a person, institution, or practice. I wonder how many of the young children now streaming to theaters to watch this cartoon are accompanied by adults who can appreciate its subtle SATIRE of consumer culture.

cistern (SIS-tern), noun

A large container or tank used for holding water, particularly rainwater. Mary watered her garden with rainwater collected in a CISTERN behind the garage.

chateau (sha-TOE), noun

A large country house; a French manor house or castle. Eva liked to spend her summers at the family's CHATEAU, strolling through the gardens and riding horseback over the expansive grounds.

throng (throng), noun

A large crowd. As the desperate editor stood on the tenth-floor ledge, a THRONG of spectators gathered on the street below.

horde (hord), noun

A large crowd; a swarm of people. Outside the department store, HORDES of angry shoppers, having been told that the doors would swing open at eight o'clock sharp, began to press against the huge window.

hacienda (ha-see-EN-duh), noun

A large estate or plantation. After spending his junior year living on a HACIENDA while he studied Spanish in Madrid, Oscar had a tough time readjusting to his tiny dorm room.

manatee (MAN-uh-tee), noun

A large mammal reminiscent of a seal found in shallow waters off the coast of Florida. Unfortunately, the MANATEE has joined the ever-growing list of animals in danger of extinction.

furlough (FUR-low), noun

A leave of absence, especially for a member of the armed forces; the act of granting this leave. During his FURLOUGH Dan concentrated on finding a job in the private sector, as he was scheduled to be discharged from the Navy in three months.

ogre (O-gur), verb

A legendary man-eating monster; a brute or wicked person. As a child, Vern believed that a huge OGRE lived in his bedroom closet.

itinerary (eye-TIN-uh-rare-ee), noun

A list of things to be done and seen while on a trip; a summary of the arrivals, departures, and other particulars of one's projected travels. I had hoped this vacation would give me a chance to relax, but after glancing at the ITINERARY, I feel I'm likely to come back more exhausted than before I left.

chameleon (kuh-MEE-lee-un), noun

A lizard (chameleontidae and similar animals) with the ability to change the color of its skin for the purpose of camouflage; also, a person who shifts outlooks, opinions, or identities frequently or easily. I'm afraid we haven't been able to get Ian to give us his final opinion on the merger plans; he's been something of a CHAMELEON on the issue.

odyssey (ODD-uh-see), noun

A long journey that entails danger or adventure. Odyssey derives from Homer's poem The Odyssey, which describes such a journey undertaken by the character Odysseus. The film Easy Rider recounts the ODYSSEY of two counterculture motorcyclists in search of America.

spiel (shpeel), noun

A long, extravagant argument or speech designed to persuade. I let the salesman recite his SPIEL just to be polite, but the guy impressed me so much I ended up buying a vacuum cleaner.

lope (lope), noun and verb

A long, galloping stride. As a verb: to move using such a stride. My horse was LOPING along at an easy pace until a car backfired suddenly, causing him to break into a terrified gallop.

clangor (KLAYN-gurr), noun

A loud, repeating noise that can be unnerving. The CLANGOR of the parade actually frightened my daughter, rather than exciting her.

falsetto (fal-SET-oh), noun

A male singing voice higher than the normal range for that voice. Also: a person who sings falsetto. Our soprano is home with the flu, so poor old Mike is going to have to sing FALSETTO.

accolade (AK-uh-lade), noun

A mark of acknowledgment or expression of praise. Originally, an accolade was the ceremonial bestowal of knighthood upon a person, with a sword tapped on each shoulder. That which confers praise or honor is an accolade. The firm's president had hung on his office wall many plaques, citations, and ACCOLADES.

demerit (dih-MARE-it), noun

A mark resulting in a loss of privilege for an offender. Max received five DEMERITS from Mrs. Collins for his constant tardiness.

bazaar (buh-ZAR), noun

A marketplace, especially one in the open air. (See, for comparison, the entry for bizarre.) As Ned and I ambled through the BAZAARS of Casablanca, we kept an eye out for enemy agents.

conduit (KAHN-dew-it), noun

A means by which something is transmitted. A traveler from Malaysia turned out to be the CONDUIT for the deadly epidemic.

placebo (pluh-SEE-bo), noun

A medicine having no fixed medical purpose or healing property given either to pacify a patient or, as a control method, to test the effectiveness of another drug. A placebo is administered as though it were a medication or drug, yet is neutral from a medical standpoint. Scientists are still uncertain as to exactly what causes the PLACEBO effect, in which some patients taking a " fake" drug actually improve.

symposium (sim-POSE-ee-um), noun

A meeting for discussion; especially, a gathering of experts before an audience whose members may pose questions. The SYMPOSIUM was a disaster; both professors arrived an hour late, after most of the audience had given up and left.

rendezvous (RON-day-voo), noun

A meeting; especially, a secret meeting between lovers. Claire knew that if her mother found out about her RENDEZVOUS with Elton, she would be grounded for at least a week.

lead (led), noun

A metal. Also, as a verb (pronounced leed), to take charge or guide. (See, for comparison, the entry for led.) Most service stations have stopped selling gasoline containing LEAD.

semaphore (SEM-uh-fore), noun

A method of (usually seafaring) communication or signaling based on the positionings of the arms of a standing person or the similar positioning of flags (with one held in each hand). Mark's attempt to render the complete works of Goethe in SEMAPHORE makes for a dedicated, if not exactly enthralling, piece of long-term performance art.

trooper (TROO-pur), noun

A military or police officer. (See, for comparison, the entry for trouper.) I tried to talk my way out of the speeding ticket, but the TROOPER wouldn't hear any of it.

iota (eye-O-tuh), noun

A minute quantity; an extremely small amount. The fact that the prisoner's reprieve omits his middle initial doesn't matter one IOTA, Warden Holloway.

qualm (kwalm), noun

A misgiving or pang of conscience (at one's course of action). To have qualms about a particular action is to wonder whether or not it is right. He had no QUALMS about leaving his job; he had given the company three very good years.

modicum (MOD-ih-kuhm), noun

A moderate or token amount. Paul always complains about actors who have transformed a MODICUM of talent into successful careers.

DNA (dee enn ay), noun

A molecule that carries genetic information in all life forms. The workings of DNA are central concerns of biology and genetics. The fantasy film E.T. led us to believe that space aliens, like humans, possess DNA, but it is safe to say that scientists are fairly skeptical about the whole subject.

exurb (ECK-surb), noun

A mostly self-contained community that lies well beyond a city's suburbs and which is often inhabited by the wealthy or upper- middle class. I could track my family's fortunes by our addresses. The lean years were spent in the city's urban core. Then came a move to the suburbs. Finally, we hit the big time and relocated to an EXURB.

fissure (FISH-er), noun or verb

A narrow opening produced by a crack or other form of accidental or purposeful separation. As a verb, "fissure" describes the act of splitting. The explosion was traced to a small FISSURE that had developed on the bottom of the fuel tank.

affinity (uh-FIN-i-tee), noun

A natural liking or affection for something or someone. The king had an AFFINITY for those on his council who always said he was right.

downside (DOWN-side), noun

A negative aspect attending a proposal or option; particularly, the potential hazard accompanying a business proposition. The advantage of accepting your proposal, of course, is that it allows us to get the planes back in the air; the DOWNSIDE is that we must accept the decision of the arbitrator as final even if it goes against the interests of our stockholders.

menorah (muh-NORE-uh), noun

A nine-branched candelabrum used during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. In our office we display both a Christmas tree and a brass MENORAH during the holiday season.

placard (PLACK-urd), noun

A notice or sign set out on stiff paper or board. The umpire asked us to remove our PLACARD from the bleacher wall, claiming that it obstructed the view of the hitters.

singularity (sing-you-LAIR-ih-tee), noun

A peculiarity or unique quality. Fiona's SINGULARITY in fashion makes her—for good or ill—the talk of most parties she attends.

melodrama (MELL-uh-drah-muh), noun

A performance or script that exaggerates dramatic situations, making such situations laughable and unbelievable. The adjective form, which you may see, is "melodramatic." Unless you want to endure constant MELODRAMA, Dave, don't get involved with Shirley.

millenium (muh-LEN-ee-um), noun

A period of one thousand years. In Christian theology, the millenium is a thousand-year span during which Christ is to rule human affairs. The members of the small church prayed for the early arrival of the MILLENIUM.

trimester (try-MESS-tur), noun

A period spanning three months. For Beth, as for most women, the last few weeks of the final TRIMESTER of pregnancy was a challenging time.

scapegoat (SKAPE-goat), noun

A person considered responsible for a fiasco or mishap who was not in fact totally responsible for it. Scapegoat derives from an ancient practice of selecting a goat to accept the sins of a community. I will not act as SCAPEGOAT in this affair; you all had a vote in the matter, and you all voted yes, just as I did.

underdog (UN-dur-dog), noun

A person or entity expected to fail or to fare poorly. San Diego, a decided UNDERDOG, somehow managed to pull out a win against the division-leading Miami team.

prodigy (PRAW-dih-gee), noun

A person possessing extraordinary skill or talent. A prodigy can also be a wonder or marvelous example. The young Mozart, a famous child PRODIGY, played the piano with the skill of a master.

inequity (in-ECK-wih-tee), noun

A person who, or situation that, is unfair, biased, or demonstrates favoritism. The INEQUITY of your proposal borders on being insulting.

site (site), noun

A place or spot. (See, for comparison, the entry for cite.) We will build the new library and treasure hall on this SITE.

matrix (MAY-trix), noun

A place, situation, or object that acts as the point of origin or development for something else; a mold. The art department was the MATRIX of all of the company's great creative works.

stucco (STUCK-oh), noun

A plaster or cement wall finish. The real estate agent explained that STUCCO homes were very popular in this area of southern California.

altar (ALL-tur), noun

A platform in a church or synagogue. (See, for comparison, the entry for alter.) Father Miller stood and addressed us from the ALTAR.

amenity (uh-MEN-ih-tee), noun

A pleasant manner or custom. Also: a component or feature that gives pleasure or satisfaction. While the primary meaning of amenity has to do with the customs of social interaction, its use in advertising and sales settings to mean "a convenient and desirable extra" has gained ground in recent years. Chris's home, which was once spare, now featured all the AMENITIES: a sauna, a plasma TV, and even a new swimming pool in the back.

cusp (kusp), noun

A point formed by the intersection of two curves. Just above the CUSP of the arch was a hook meant to hold a hanging plant.

juncture (JUNK-chur), noun

A point in time, especially an important one. "Thank you for your optimism," said Senator Byron, "but I feel that celebrating my victory at this JUNCTURE would be premature."

nirvana (nir-VAW-nuh), noun

A point or state of spiritual perfection. Nirvana has a number of theological definitions, but is usually understood to mean "a transcendent state beyond the concerns of existence." Some of the monks had meditated and maintained complete silence for years in an attempt to achieve NIRVANA.

assertion (uh-SUR-shun), noun

A positive statement or claim. An assertion is something claimed straightforwardly, without support of evidence or logical justification. Your ASSERTION that my car was at the scene of the crime has no basis in fact.

heirloom (AIR-loom), noun

A possession of commercial or sentimental value handed down from generation to generation. As the oldest child, I was given the most precious family HEIRLOOM, our old grandfather clock, when my mother passed away.

espresso (es-PRESS-oh), noun

A potent, dark coffee brewed by means of forced steam. The ESPRESSO machine had to be one of the most useless birthday presents I' d ever received, given my caffeine intolerance.

potentate (POT-n-tate), noun

A powerful person. An influential political or business figure could be considered a potentate. The First Lady was thoroughly at ease with foreign POTENTATES and diplomats from the administration's first day.

tryst (trist), noun

A prearranged meeting, especially one between lovers. Tryst derives from an old verb meaning "to make an arrangement with." We've decided to celebrate our second honeymoon with a weekend TRYST at the Ambassador Hotel.

precedent (PRESS-i-dent), noun

A previous parallel incident justifying a present action. A precedent is an example from the past that is either identical to a current situation or similar enough to it to use as a guide. There is no PRECEDENT for the action the defense is requesting, Your Honor.

insurrection (in-sur-REK-shun), noun

A rebellion against a government or ruling power. Before the president could get the treaty through Congress, however, he would have to attend to an INSURRECTION of sorts that had arisen in the left flank of his own party.

vestige (VESS-ti), noun

A remaining sample of something no longer common. That which represents something now lost is a vestige. The last VESTIGE of truly nomadic Indian life was wiped out at Wounded Knee; from that point on, Native Americans would be forced either to assimilate with the settlers or to live on the reservation.

relapse (RE-laps), noun

A return or slip back into an old condition, state, or mindset. Mom warned me that I' d have a RELAPSE of the flu if I stood out in the cold watching the football game for three hours, and she was right.

prerogative (puh-ROGG-uh-tive), noun

A right or privilege limited to a particular person in a particular situation. The manager exercised his PREROGATIVE to stop the bickering during the staff meeting.

parody (PARE-uh-dee), noun

A satirically humorous imitation or mocking interpretation of a well-known work, person, or institution. "Life in Hell" is an irreverent PARODY of parents, school, and the working world.

reconnaissance (ri-KON-uh-sunce), noun

A search (of an area) made for the purpose of gaining information likely to yield military advantage. Reconnaissance is borrowed from the French. The pilot knew that a RECONNAISSANCE mission such as this one would be difficult and dangerous.

anomaly (uh-NOM-a-lee), noun

A seemingly abnormal example; a deviation from established form. When something differs markedly from the expected order of things, it is an anomaly. Bill, who was raised in a family of avid golfers, is something of an ANOMALY: he thinks the sport is boring.

paradox (PAIR-uh-doks), noun

A seemingly self-contradictory statement that expresses a valid idea or potentially true statement. Paradox can also mean "a conclusion that, while reached by conventional logical methods, nevertheless cancels itself out." Before announcing the test grades, Mrs. Miller reminded her students of the PARADOX that a teacher often must be cruel in order to be kind.

vertigo (VUR-tih-go), noun

A sensation of dizziness and disorientation. Vertigo is a feeling of tilting or spinning. Jane was overcome with a sudden bout of VERTIGO as the ship left port.

consternation (kahn-ster-NAY-shun), noun

A sense of alarm, confusion, or amazement. The repeated arguments with my wife over the same issues filled me with CONSTERNATION.

aplomb (uh-PLOM), noun

A sense of self-possession and calm amidst chaos. The police chief showed remarkable APLOMB amid the noise and confusion of the riot.

memoir (MEM-wahr), noun

A series of written reminiscences about people, places, and events composed by and from the point of view of someone with intimate knowledge of the details. The pretense extended even to the former president's MEMOIRS, in which he repeated his assertion that he had no knowledge of how or why the crucial minutes were erased from the tape.

anecdote (AN-ik-doht), noun

A short, interesting story, often amusing and biographical. The speaker filled his talk with funny ANECDOTES of his time in the U.S. Navy.

spinster (SPIN-ster), noun

A single woman, especially a middle-aged one. Spinster usually carries negative connotations of unattractiveness and being past one's prime; there is no parallel expression that carries the same sense about an unmarried man. Although Charles had expected a gathering of SPINSTERS at the club meeting, be was greeted at the door by none other than the starting quarterback for the local college football team.

yarmulke (YAR-mul-kuh), noun

A skullcap-like headpiece worn by Jewish men (especially those following Orthodox or Conservative traditions). The yarmulke is worn during religious services or prayer. Winston was unsure whether he was supposed to wear a YARMULKE at the wedding; after all, he was a Gentile.

catheter (KATH-uh-tur), noun

A slim, flexible tube inserted in a bodily channel to maintain an opening to another internal opening. The endless months in my hospital room took their toll on my spirits; one morning I contemplated tearing the CATHETER from my arm, grabbing a bathrobe, and simply stalking out of the place.

vial (VIE-ul), noun

A small container (usually glass) used to hold liquids, medicines, and the like. The doctor gave me a small VIAL of the drug for use over the weekend, and a written prescription so I could get more from the pharmacy on Monday.

chalet (sha-LAY), noun

A small country house, named after a type of Swiss cottage with overhanging eaves. We rented a CHALET on the edge of the mountain, and had immediate access to the ski slopes.

eddy (EDD-ee), noun

A small current of air or water that flows against the main current; a small whirlpool or whirlwind. Because it had a strong undertow and a multitude of unpredictable EDDIES, the sound was considered dangerous for even the strongest and most experienced swimmers.

diorama (di-uh-RA-mah), noun

A small model of a scene featuring painted figures and backgrounds. Using a cardboard box, paint, and plaster of Paris, Frank helped his son construct a working DIORAMA of a corner store for a school art project.

gazebo (guh-ZEE-boe), noun

A small outdoor structure, roofed but open on the sides, usually placed in a backyard or a park. The GAZEBO in the church courtyard was freshened up with a new coat of white paint every spring in preparation for outdoor weddings.

kiosk (KEE-osk), noun

A small vending booth. Once out of the subway station, I picked up a copy of the New York Times at a newspaper KIOSK.

fajita (fuh-HEE-tuh), noun

A soft flat tortilla shell filled with chicken or beef (or both) and assorted vegetables; Spanish in origin. This restaurant is famous for its FAJITAS, but I prefer the chimichangas myself.

tutorial (too-TORE-ee-ul), noun

A software program offering step-by-step instruction and demonstration in the use of another program; a component of a software program that offers instruction in the main program's use. Also: of or pertaining to tutors. The manual that came with the software was woefully inadequate, but, fortunately, the program featured an excellent TUTORIAL.

butte (byoot), noun

A solitary hill on a large plain. The mission was situated atop a lonely-looking BUTTE outside of town.

knell (nell), noun

A sound emanating from a bell; the toll of a bell, particularly a bell rung as part of a funeral ceremony. Though she couldn't bring herself to attend her uncle's funeral, Brenda stood on the hill above the graveyard and listened to the KNELL of the church bells.

memento (muh-MEN-toe), noun

A souvenir. I took home a variety of sea shells as MEMENTOS of my beach vacation.

doldrums (DOLE-drums), noun

A spell of low feeling; an instance of sadness or stagnation. Also: a specific belt of calms and light winds in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, difficult to navigate by sail. Kyle is in the DOLDRUMS because he doesn't have enough money to go to the concert with his buddies.

benchmark (BENCH-mark), noun

A standard by which to measure; the exemplary performance or criterion. Anne's stunning oration on human rights was recognized in our debating society as the BENCHMARK for years afterward.

concord (KAHN-cord), noun

A state of agreement and harmony. While most siblings fight, the CONCORD among the Lewis triplets is nothing short of phenomenal.

trepidation (trep-ih-DAY-shun), noun

A state of fear or agitation. To have an apprehension is to have a trepidation. At first, I approached the task of writing this book with some TREPIDATION.

euphoria (yoo-FOR-ee-uh), noun

A state of happiness and well-being that could be perceived by others as manic. The adjective form is "euphoric." As the home team sank the three-pointer in the final seconds and won the game, EUPHORIA erupted in the bar.

frenzy (FREN-zee), noun

A state of wild excitement; extreme emotional or mental agitation. What with studying for the bar exam and planning her wedding, Sara had been in an almost constant FRENZY for nearly two months.

double-entendre (DUH-bul on-TON-druh), noun

A statement in which one or many of the words may be interpreted in several ways, resulting in ambiguity; an expression that can be taken two ways, one of which often has sexual or threatening undertones. Although Japanese adult comic books must abide by some very stringent codes forbidding profanity and the overt depiction of sexual activity, they often feature a barrage of steamy DOUBLE-ENTENDRES.

crag (kragg), noun

A steep rock formation rising higher than its surrounding rocks. Because this was my first rock-climbing experience, I regarded the huge CRAG we were approaching with some nervousness.

goulash (GOO-losh), noun

A stew made with beef, vegetables, and paprika. The chef 's famous GOULASH was an old family recipe that had been handed down from his Hungarian ancestors for generations.

alibi (AL-uh-bye), noun

A story or circumstance that proves one is innocent of a crime or misdeed; a credible excuse or explanation of innocence. Mike promised Craig he' d provide him with an ALIBI for the night of the bank robbery, but when the police questioned the men they found that the details of their stories didn't match.

bastion (BASS-chun), noun

A stronghold or bulwark for protection. Because he is so shy, Peter uses his genius-level intellect as a BASTION to keep others at arm's length.

citadel (SIT-uh-del), noun

A stronghold; literally, a strategically positioned fortress in control of a town or city. Something that is forfeited against attack or adversity may be referred to metaphorically as a citadel. Gentlemen, this business is our CITADEL, and we must be prepared to defend it as such.

nuance (NOO-ahnts), noun

A subtle difference in expression, meaning, tone, etc. The NUANCES of Brenda's expression alert me to her mood.

squall (skwall), noun

A sudden, violent burst of wind often accompanied by snow or rain. Although it wasn't snowing all that hard, we had to delay our trip because the SQUALLS made visibility too poor for safe driving on the hill's narrow roads.

upheaval (up-HEE-vul), noun

A sudden, violent change. Given the sense of UPHEAVAL in the department after the director's resignation, it's not too surprising that productivity has fallen.

synopsis (sih-NOP-sis), noun

A summary. A synopsis is a brief recounting of the principal points of something. A full SYNOPSIS of the play's plot would give away a delightful surprise ending, so I will not attempt one here.

reprieve (ri-PREEV), noun

A suspension or delay from imminent proceedings. A reprieve is a respite. The inmate won a last-minute REPRIEVE from the governor.

hierarchy (HIE-uh-rar-kee), noun

A system (of people, concepts, groups, etc.) in which there is a ranking of entities one above another. A hierarchy often refers to a formal chain of command. The famous psychologist Abraham Maslow has established a HIERARCHY of human needs.

cord (kord), noun

A thin piece of rope, plastic, etc. (See, for comparison, the entry for chord.) Today's rock artists are used to performing with microphones that do not require CORDS.

veneer (vuh-NEER), noun

A thin surface layer; a coating; a superficial surface or deceptive appearance. Though it was not readily apparent to those who hadn't seen the supervisor in action, his VENEER of calm and approachability masked the temper and tolerance of a three-year-old.

effect (ih-FECT), noun

A thing taking place as the result of a cause. Also, as a verb (often pronounced ee-FEKT), to cause or influence (a change); to bring about a hoped-for outcome. (See, for comparison, the entry for affect.) The entrepreneur's entry into the race had the EFFECT of splitting the Republican vote.

hologram (HOLL-uh-gram), noun

A three-dimensional image created electronically and without a lens. The HOLOGRAM was such a convincing illusion that the dog actually barked at the image of its owner, apparently expecting to be fed.

gratuity (gruh-TOO-ih-tee), noun

A tip; extra money given for service beyond the amount required by the bill. I make it a point never to leave a GRATUITY if the service has been truly horrible.

auger (AW-gur), noun

A tool for drilling holes. (See, for comparison, the entry for augur.) I couldn't use my father's drill because the AUGER was missing.

metamorphosis (met-uh-MORE-fuh-siss), noun

A transformation, as by magic or other supernatural influence. Someone or something undergoing a change in form can be said to undergo a metamorphosis. Darryl's friends viewed his entry into reactionary politics with some concern; because of his past history, they feared his METAMORPHOSIS into a militant.

antecedent (AN-tih-see-dent), noun

A trend, idea, fashion, historical event, etc., that came before. Also: an earlier word to which a pronoun refers. (In the sentence "The car was painted blue, though it had a huge red rust mark," car is the antecedent of it.) Remember, writers: the ANTECEDENT always goes first in the sentence.

rapport (rah-PORE), noun

A trusting and peaceful mutual relationship. Although the Wilsons found their neighbors odd at first, the four soon developed a strong RAPPORT.

adobe (uh-DOE-bee), noun

A type of brick made of clay and straw; the clay used to form such bricks. Our anthropology professor informed us that ADOBE huts are viable only in climates with very little rainfall.

nougat (NOO-gut), noun

A type of candy containing nuts and honey. The new candy bar contained an appealing mixture of NOUGAT, caramel, and milk chocolate.

canvas (KAN-vus), noun

A type of coarse cloth. (See, for comparison, the entry for canvass.) Many of Van Gogh's works were destroyed and sold as scrap CANVAS.

eon (EE-on), noun

A very long, indefinite period of time; seemingly forever; a span of time beyond comprehension. (In the disciplines of geometry and astronomy, however, eons have specific durations.) After what felt like several EONS, the tow truck finally arrived and we were able to haul our car back to the campground.

transgression (trans-GRESH-un), noun

A violation of a rule. To break a law or guideline is to commit a transgression. David was perhaps a little too eager to cross over into Mr. Peterson's yard to play ball, but this was a minor TRANSGRESSION.

infraction (in-FRACK-shun), noun

A violation or breach, as of rules. One citizen stood up and demanded to ask questions of the city council, a direct INFRACTION of protocol.

cannon (KAH-nun), noun

A weapon used to fire large metal projectiles. (See, for comparison, the entry for canon.) The thunderous sound of CANNONS being fired resonated across the valley.

vortex (VOR-tex), noun

A whirlpool or whirlwind; a spinning mass of liquid or flame capable of drawing objects into it; something regarded as capable of drawing other entities into its current with great strength. Even as the two nations slipped inexorably toward the VORTEX of war, the mainstream press focused on trivialities.

matriarch (MAY-tree-ark), noun

A woman who presides over a family or group. A woman who holds the dominant position in an organization or family can be said to be the group's matriarch. Millicent Bryant, MATRIARCH of the large Bryant family, made her customary speech at the reunion.

acronym (AK-ruh-nim), noun

A word formed by combining the first letters of several other words. (Example: NOW is an acronym for the National Organization for Women.) Cindy believed that the secret to getting good grades on tests was to use ACRONYMS as memory aids.

antonym (AN-tuh-nim), noun

A word having an opposite meaning to that of another word. "Rapid" and "slow" are ANTONYMS.

euphemism (YOU-fuh-miz-um), noun

A word or expression used as a substitute for one that may be considered offensive or distasteful. My Aunt Polly's quaint EUPHEMISM for "toilet" was " freshening-up room."

homonym (HOM-uh-nim), noun

A word that sounds the same as another word. "To" and "two" are homonyms. I think in this sentence you have confused the word "real" with its HOMONYM "reel."

synonym (SIN-uh-nim), noun

A word with a meaning similar or identical to that of another word in a language. "Masculine" and "male" are SYNONYMS.

idol (EYE-dul), noun

A worshiped image; a figure of a god. Also, any personage who is the object of devotion. (See, for comparison, the entry for idle.) That flamenco dancer she went to see last week is my sister Cassandra's latest IDOL.

debutante (DEB-yoo-tont), noun

A young woman making her debut into society; any unmarried young woman perceived to move in high social circles. Amanda and her friends scanned the newspaper's society column for a review of their DEBUTANTE ball.

credence (KREE-dence), noun

Acceptance as factual; legitimacy. Credence is belief or plausibility. His pacifist arguments lost CREDENCE when he admitted that he had worked for a defense contractor for some years.

elitism (ih-LEE-tiz-um), noun

Adherence to the belief that leadership is best managed by an elite (a group considered to be the highest or best class). Elitism often carries negative overtones of snobbery. We have not worked so long for democracy to see it exchanged halfheartedly for ELITISM.

dexterity (dek-STARE-ih-tee), noun

Adroitness; the quality of being skilled in using one's hands and body. I couldn't hit a jump-shot to save my life, but my speed, DEXTERITY, and passing ability made me a valuable member of the varsity basketball team.

unanimity (yoo-nuh-NIM-ih-tee), noun

Agreement without dissent. I was genuinely surprised at the UNANIMITY with which my proposal was accepted by the board.

mullah (MYOO-luh), noun

An Islamic title of respect for one who teaches or is learned in sacred law. The MULLAH came to my son's school and discussed the fundamentals of the Islamic faith.

calzone (kal-ZONE), noun

An Italian food roll resembling a turnover made by wrapping meat, cheese, or vegetables in dough. We asked Aunt Joan if she would bring her famous steak and cheese CALZONE to the party.

gnocchi (NYAW-kee), noun

An Italian pasta dish; small round balls of pasta. Dawn ordered GNOCCHI for Ellen, her five-year-old, but the little girl seemed to enjoy playing with the little things more than eating them.

kung fu (kung FOO), noun

An Oriental art of self-defense, the strategy of which is to strike quick, successive blows to an opponent's weak spots using fluid hand and leg moves. The mugging shook Adam up so badly that he began taking KUNG FU lessons the next day, hoping to protect himself in the future.

delusion (de-LOO-zhun), noun

An accepted (but undetected) falsehood. To delude is to deceive or mislead; a delusion is an instance of that act. His DELUSIONS increased to such a point that rational discussion was impossible.

trouper (TROO-pur), noun

An actor, especially a veteran performer who is able to come through no matter what; also, any person who is remarkably dependable. (See, for comparison, the entry for trooper.) Nancy drove through a snowstorm to man the desk on Saturday—what a TROUPER!

emissary (EM-ih-sare-ee), noun

An agent acting in the interests of another party. An emissary is one sent to undertake a mission or task as a representative. The president's EMISSARY left on a special plane from Washington; his time of return was unknown.

pact (pakt), noun

An agreement or promise. When they were each ten years old, Louise and Barbara made a solemn PACT to grow up together, attend the same college, work for the same company, and live in the same house.

liqueur (li-KER), noun

An alcoholic beverage flavored with fruit, nuts, seeds, spices, herbs, or a combination of these ingredients. After diner, the hostess gave us a choice of several exotic LIQUEURS; I chose Frangelico because I love the taste of hazelnuts.

canapé (KAN-uh-pay), noun

An appetizer made by spreading meat, fish, or cheese on a small piece of toasted bread. While the guests waited for the bridal party, waiters strolled through the reception area with trays of champagne and CANAPÉS.

domain (do-MANE), noun

An area over which one rules; a field within which one has power, influence or authority; a sphere of influence. The local hockey rink was truly Jon's DOMAIN; when he steeped onto the ice, every other player stopped for a moment to watch him with mingled fear and respect.

First Amendment (first uh-MEND-munt), noun

An article of the United States Constitution guaranteeing citizens the right to freedom of speech and the free exercise of religion. A court order suppressing this story would be a blatant violation of our newspaper's FIRST AMENDMENT rights.

prosthesis (pross-THEE-sis), noun

An artificially constructed member meant to replace a damaged or missing part of the human body. Several months after the accident, Greg was fitted for a PROSTHESIS for his lower left leg that would allow him to walk again.

council (KOWN-sul), noun

An assembly gathered together for deliberation or consultation. The neighborhood COUNCIL meets every Tuesday night to discuss issues of interest to our community.

concourse (KON-korse), noun

An assembly of a large number of people. A concourse can also be a large open area meant to accommodate public gatherings. He looked all around the CONCOURSE, but could not see Robin.

aide (aid), noun

An assistant or trusted helper. She served as the senator's most important AIDE during his term in office.

cohort (KO-hort), noun

An associate or companion with whom one is united through common experience. Cohort originally referred to one of the ten divisions of a Roman legion, consisting of men who had developed strong ties of comradeship. Because Mark and his COHORTS had grown up together in the town, leaving for different colleges was quite difficult.

garret (GARE-ut), noun

An attic room; also, a secluded, generally unfinished area near the top of a structure used as an observation post or as a place for privacy and refuge. Although he had a computer and printer set up in his downstairs study, Christopher found that he did his best writing sitting up in the GARRET with a pad of paper and a pencil.

teleprompter (TEL-uh-promp-tur), noun

An automated means of displaying lines to be read by actors. The teleprompter is a device used in place of cue cards. The show's most amusing moment—the failure of the TELEPROMPTER that forced actors to improvise—had had nothing to do with its script.

repercussion (ree-per-KUSH-un), noun

An echo; reverberation; also, the result of an action, often negative. The REPERCUSSIONS of Ben's cheating were more severe than he had expected: a failing grade for the class and a two-week suspension.

pundit (PUN-dit), noun

An educated or authoritative person whose opinion is generally respected. The political PUNDITS had all decreed that Truman would be defeated in a head-to-head contest with Governor Dewey, but the voters had other ideas.

mandolin (man-duh-LINN), noun

An eight-stringed fretted instrument similar to a lute. Patrick called the MANDOLIN player over to serenade the table while he asked Jeannie for her hand in marriage.

superdelegate (SOO-per-del-uh-get), noun

An elected party official or a party leader chosen to a national political convention as an uncommitted delegate. The SUPERDELEGATE had to decide the winner of the hotly-contested primary.

pixie (PIK-see), noun

An elf or fairy. The villages believed the mysterious theft to be the work of mischievous PIXIES and trolls.

abyss (uh-BISS), noun

An endless black void; an emptiness; a huge hole with no bottom. After nine days of working on my term paper with no conclusion in sight, I felt more and more as if I were facing an ABYSS.

threshold (THRESH-old), noun

An entranceway; a piece of stone or wood positioned under a doorway; also, the beginning or initiation of anything. Those who were present for the final meeting agreed afterward that the countries had reached a new THRESHOLD in trade relations.

facsimile (fak-SIM-uh-lee), noun

An exact copy, imitation, or reproduction. The centerpiece of Victor's library was a FACSIMILE of the First Folio of the collected plays of Shakespeare.

expletive (EK-splih-tive), noun

An exclamation, interjection, or profane oath. An expletive is also a "filler" word that holds a grammatical position but has no independent meaning, such as the word "it" in "It is imperative that you read this." A shower of EXPLETIVES descended on the umpire from the stands.

tirade (TIE-raid), noun

An extended outburst of harsh talk. Someone who delivers a tirade gives a lengthy, overblown speech. I did not come here to listen to a TIRADE about how inconsiderate my son is in class.

talkathon (TALK-uh-thon), noun

An extended speech or discourse, especially one featuring excessive posturing. I was told that this meeting was meant to explore the pros and cons of locating the waste site near our town, but I see we've moved toward a TALKATHON on the long-term benefits of the nuclear power industry.

panorama (pan-uh-RAM-uh), noun

An extensive, unobstructed view of a wide area. Despite my lifelong aversion to flying, I couldn't help admiring the breathtaking PANORAMA of San Francisco below me.

quirk (kwurk), noun

An idiosyncrasy; an odd behavioral or personality characteristic. I hope you can overlook Mr. Johnson's QUIRK of using rough language with outside salespeople.

malady (MAL-uh-dee), noun

An illness or unwholesome condition. A malady is a disorder or disease causing discomfort. Jason's MALADY, if it had gone undiagnosed, could have taken his life.

deadlock (DED-lok), noun

An impasse resulting from two opposing and resistant forces. With one member absent due to illness, the council found itself facing a four-to-four DEADLOCK after nearly two days of debate on the measure.

watershed (WAH-ter-shed), noun

An important event that serves to distinguish two separate phases. Literally, a watershed is a ridge that diverts water in a new direction. The new arms agreement is being touted as a WATERSHED in East-West relations.

etching (ETCH-ing), noun

An impression on metal or glass made by means of corrosive acid; a picture or design produced by using this process to impart a design on a plate with acid. The ornate images on our paper currency are the result of intricate ETCHINGS meant to foil counterfeiters.

perquisite (PURK-wuh-zit), noun

An incidental privilege other than payment that accompanies a position of responsibility; also, an extra payment beyond what is owed. Often shortened to "perk." Among the president's PERQUISITES were two front-row seats to all the Celtics' regular-season home games.

guru (GOO-roo), noun

An inspiring spiritual or intellectual leader; a revered teacher. Though I found the self-help seminar to be helpful enough, I wasn't as awed as some others in the course, who made the instructor out to be some kind of GURU.

skepticism (SKEP-tih-siz-um), noun

An instance of doubt or uncertainty. Your SKEPTICISM that we will be able to finish the work on time is understandable, given our history of delivering material late.

pretense (PREE-tence), noun

An instance of pretending. To make a pretense of surprise, for instance, is to falsely act or claim to be surprised. We will prove here that the lease was signed under false PRETENSES.

rebuff (re-BUFF), noun

An instance of rejection or expressed disapproval. To receive a rebuff is to be sharply and summarily turned down. Tim suffered his employer's REBUFF shortly after proposing the new project.

biopsy (BIE-op-see), noun

An instance of taking samples of tissue, cells, or fluids from a living body and analyzing these samples. Dr. Smith thought the lump was probably a benign cyst, not a tumor, but he scheduled a BIOPSY just to be sure.

surveillance (sur-VAY-lunce), noun

An instance of watching something closely, usually in a scrutinizing fashion. The police set up SURVEILLANCE in the house across the street from the escaped con's girlfriend, as they were sure he would try to visit her.

rampage (RAM-page), noun

An instance reminiscent of frenzied violence; a destructive period of self-indulgent behavior. "The tiniest mistake sends my boss on a RAMPAGE," the senior staffer moaned.

barometer (buh-ROM-uh-ter), noun

An instrument that measures air pressure and aids in weather prediction. After a lesson on meteorology, Mr. Cantelli put a BAROMETER up on the classroom's outer wall so that his students could practice predicting the weather.

decree (dih-KREE), noun

An official order or announcement, especially from the government or another recognized authority, that settles a matter with finality; also, to issue such an order. The DECREE mandating integration of public schools set off one of the most bitterly divisive conflicts in the town's history.

nemesis (NEM-i-sis), noun

An opponent motivated by revenge. A person's nemesis is one who will stop at nothing to "settle a score." Things looked bleak: Harold's NEMESIS, Mike, was in charge of all hiring decisions.

brooch (broach or brooch), noun

An ornamental pin, usually large. Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without Aunt Gertrude in her green-flowered dress and ruby BROOCH.

adjunct (AD-junkt), noun

An unessential addition; an appendage or complement. Fast cars and designer clothes are only ADJUNCTS to a comfortable lifestyle, Lyle argued, while health insurance is something a family simply can't do without.

antiquity (an TI-kwi-tee), noun

Ancient times, often used in reference to Greek and Roman civilizations. The civilizations of ANTIQUITY have much to teach us today.

taboo (tuh-BOO), noun

Anything deemed absolutely unacceptable or immoral by a social order. Also: forbidden or off-limits. Anthropologists have found that incest is a universal TABOO in human culture.

contingent (kuhn-TIN-jent), adjective or noun

As a noun, "contingent" refers to people who are considered representative of a larger group. As an adjective, something contingent is either accidental or dependent upon something else in order to occur. Getting to the concert on time is CONTINGENT on you getting to my house by 7:30.

incumbent (in-KUHM-bent), adjective or noun

As a noun, "incumbent" means the holder of an office. As an adjective, the word suggests responsibility, such as the responsibility with which an officeholder is entrusted. I've got to stop procrastinating, Stewart thought. It's INCUMBENT upon me to finish this proposal by Friday!

quibble (KWIB-uhl), verb or noun

As a noun, "quibble" means either an instance of using evasive language to avoid the subject at hand OR an example of petty criticism. The verb is the act of using evasive language or the act of offering petty criticism. "Do you love me?" Janice asked. Paul QUIBBLED for some time, pointing out how much she meant to him and how happy he was to be with her. Janice knew the answer to her question was "no."

intermediary (in-ter-MEE-dee-air-ee), noun or adjective

As a noun, an intermediary is a go-between, a middleman. As an adjective, the word describes someone who is a middleman or go- between. My brother acted as an INTERMEDIARY in the dispute between our mom and me.

cow (cow), verb

As a verb, "cow" means to intimidate, to frighten with a show of strength. Even after the Blitz's repeated bombings, England was not COWED by Hitler's Nazis.

din (din), noun or verb

As a verb, "din" means to instill by constant repetition. As a noun, "din" is a noisy disturbance. I could barely hear the waiter above the DIN in the popular restaurant.

then (then), adverb

At that time. (See, for comparison, the entry for than.) You should have known me back THEN!

mandate (MAN-date), noun

Authoritative command, endorsement, or instruction. A mandate is also an order issued by one court of law to another, lower court. Having received only 40 percent of the vote nationwide, President Lincoln could hardly claim a national MANDATE for his policies.

auxiliary (auk-ZIL-yuh-ree), noun

Backup, reserve, extra. "Don't panic," Mr. Forrest told his anxious staff after the office went black, "the AUXILIARY power will come on any minute now, and we' ll be back in business."

already (awl-RED-ee), adverb

Before or at some previously specified time. My mother was ALREADY sitting in her place in church when I walked down the aisle.

its (its), pronoun

Belonging to it. (For comparison, see the entry for it's.) This job of mine has ITS ups and downs.

their (thare), pronoun

Belonging to that group. (See, for comparison, the entries for there and they're.) Many celebrities zealously guard THEIR privacy.

whose (hooze), possessive pronoun

Belonging to whom. (See, for comparison, the entry for who's.) WHOSE idea was it to go to the fair tonight?

your (yore), possessive pronoun

Belonging to you. (See, for comparison, the entry for you're.) Where is YOUR jacket, David?

bequeath (bee-QUEETH), verb

Bestow by means of a will. Bequeath is often used metaphorically to describe something handed down to a group of people from those of a past era. More than anything else, it is the language we speak, BEQUEATHED to us by Byron and Shakespeare and Milton and a legion of others, that binds us to the English and them to us.

born (born), verb

Carried to term in childbirth; given birth. (See, for comparison, the entry for borne.) My son David was BORN at about four in the afternoon.

pandemonium (pan-duh-MOAN-ee-um), noun

Chaos. Pandemonium refers to wild, uproarious, and noisy tumult. PANDEMONIUM broke out in the streets of the city after the local team won the pennant.

wunderkind (VOON-dur-kind), noun

Child prodigy. Although he died young, Mozart, a WUNDERKIND whose career in music began at the age of six, had a career that spanned two and a half decades.

sobriety (so-BREYE-uh-tee), noun

Clear-headedness. Sobriety is generally used to signify freedom from the influence of alcoholic drink. My guess is that W.C. Fields had as few moments of SOBRIETY in real life as he had in the movies.

proximity (prok-SIM-ih-tee), noun

Close or near in time, location, or relation. The PROXIMITY of my desk to Irma's meant that I would be subject to her endless, tedious stories about her crocheting classes.

apparel (uh-PAIR-ul), noun

Clothing; something worn. After sweating through class after class in the heavy wool uniform, I wanted to march to the principal's office and demand to know why shorts were considered inappropriate APPAREL for school.

consensus (kun-SEN-sus), noun

Collective agreement. There was a strong consensus around town that Mayor Bergeron was doing a poor job—a CONSENSUS that extended to both of his children, his uncles, and his barber.

barrage (buh-ROZH), noun

Concentrated outpouring or volley. A barrage is an overwhelming torrent of something, usually words, blows, or projectiles. The word was originally used only in a military sense. The defense attorney subjected the witness to a BARRAGE of questions about the events of that night.

propriety (pruh-PRY-uh-tee), noun

Conformity to standards appropriate to a given situation. My typically foul-mouthed boyfriend was a model of PROPRIETY the first time he met my folks.

solace (SOL-uss), noun

Consolation. To give solace is to sympathize with and console. The fact that he had thrown three touchdowns was little SOLACE to Jim: all he could think about was losing the game.

guile (gile), noun

Cunning; treacherous deceit. Someone who exercises guile is insidious and misleading. In laying the groundwork for embezzlement on such a large scale, Donald showed considerable GUILE and no small amount of daring.

despondency (di-SPON-dun-see), noun

Dejection; depression. Despondency is marked by a feeling that all hope is in vain. It took Cloris several weeks to emerge from the DESPONDENCY that accompanied her breakup.

flashpoint (FLASH-point), noun

Denotes either the site at which significant—typically violent—action has occurred or a place or situation that is likely to erupt in violence. The murder of the prime minister was a flashpoint for global warfare.

piety (PIE-uh-tee), noun

Devotion; religious reverence. Someone who shows a marked inclination to worship God is said to show piety. Joseph Smith—a man not noted for his PIETY—suddenly started attending religious services.

providence (PROV-ih-dnce), noun

Divine care. To trust in providence is to hold an assurance that God will provide for needs or guide one's actions. (Providence can also mean "thrift.") Despite Mother's assurance that PROVIDENCE will see to our needs, I feel I should try to find a job.

deference (DEF-er-ence), noun

Due respect or submission to the ideas and/or judgment of another. Deference is the courtesy of yielding to a (presumably higher, senior, or more authoritative) entity. In DEFERENCE to my family's wishes, I am not discussing this issue with the media.

alacrity (uh-LACK-rih-tee), noun

Eager, cheerful rapidity or promptness. Someone who is willing to extend themselves politely and quickly for another is said to show alacrity. Jane made a special effort to show ALACRITY her first day on the job.

betrothed (bih-TROTHED), verb

Engaged to be married. Also, as a noun: the person to whom one is engaged. Marcia is BETROTHED to that handsome young captain she met in Miami.

imperative (im-PAIR-uh-tiv), adjective and noun

Essential, obligatory, or mandatory. As a noun, an imperative is a command or an essential objective. Imperative also has a grammatical sense referring to verbs that command or exhort. (For instance, in the sentence "Sit, Rex!" the word sit is in the imperative.) It is IMPERATIVE that the soldiers evacuate as soon as possible.

usury (YOO-sur-ee), noun

Excessive interest on a loan. Someone who demands extravagant payment in exchange for money lent out practices usury. The rates you are charging for this loan you consider " fair," sir, border on USURY.

virtually (VUR-choo-uh-lee), adverb

Existing in effect, although not in actual fact or form. Paul had been worried about his first day at work for weeks, so it came as a surprise to him when he passed his first day in the office with VIRTUALLY no nervousness.

hyperbole (hie-PUR-buh-lee), noun

Extravagant overstatement. To exaggerate something for the purpose of effect is to use hyperbole. I think you can safely regard his promise to eat his hat if proven wrong as HYPERBOLE.

jubilation (joo-bih-LAY-shun), noun

Extreme joy; a mood of high celebration. Fifteen years in the maternity ward had not dulled the feeling of JUBILATION Doctor Meade experienced every time she helped bring new life into the world.

adulation (ad-yoo-LAY-shun), noun

Extreme praise, admiration, or flattery, especially of a servile nature. Adulation is generally taken to describe acclaim and admiration that is out of scope with its object. Despite great hardship, upheaval, and death resulting from the violent tactics of the secret police, ADULATION of Stalin continued as though the country was paradise itself.

fidelity (fih-DEL-ih-tee), noun

Faithfulness to duties; observance of responsibilities. One maintains fidelity in marriage by honoring a vow of sexual faithfulness. The published book's FIDELITY to the author's original text is suspect.

notoriety (noe-tuh-RIE-uh-tee), noun

Fame; wide publicity (particularly for sensational reasons); also, having an unfavorable reputation. The musical gained NOTORIETY as word spread that it featured bawdy songs and plenty of nudity.

protocol (PRO-tuh-call), noun

Formal etiquette, especially as practiced in diplomatic circles. Protocol can also refer to established rankings followed in a social gathering. Her inability to adhere to official PROTOCOL led to her dismissal from the embassy staff.

infrastructure (IN-fruh-struk-chur), noun

Foundation; underlying base. An infrastructure is the collection of essential primary components or a system, organization, or structure. The architect guessed that the INFRASTRUCTURE had probably begun to erode at the turn of the century; the building was now beyond repair.

maverick (MAV-er-ik), noun

Free and independent of outside association or contact. A maverick is an independent-minded person who resists the influence of a group. (The word referred originally to a horse or steer that escapes from a herd and runs alone.) Although Ryan portrayed himself as a MAVERICK, he owed favors to the same special interest groups his opponent did.

amnesty (AM-nuh-stee), noun

Freedom from imprisonment for large numbers of people, initiated by a government. The prisoners of war waited years for AMNESTY.

falafel (fuh-LOFF-ul), noun

Fried food balls or patties consisting of spicy ground vegetables, such as fava beans or chick peas, originating in the Middle East. Moody's in Central Square offers a delicious Middle Eastern dinner special featuring FALAFEL and lentil soup, for under $5.00.

clique (klick), noun

From the French meaning "latch," a clique is a small, exclusive group, one that often looks down on those who do not belong to it. Shelly was pleased to find that her sorority was not riddled with in-fighting CLIQUES.

chic (sheek), adjective or noun

From the French meaning "skill," "chic" means stylishness and elegance in dress or manner. Without spending very much, Lydia always seems able to look incredibly CHIC.

posterity (pah-STAIR-ih-tee), noun

Future generations, considered collectively. The president believes POSTERITY will judge his administration a successful one.

philanthropy (fih-LAN-thruh-pee), noun

Generosity or benevolence toward mankind. Someone who acts out of philanthropy is someone who commits resources to the betterment of his fellow man. (A philanthropist is one who bestows wealth on public institutions or people in need.) Toward the end of his life, Andrew Carnegie was a model of PHILANTHROPY.

largess (lar-ZHESS), noun

Generously bestowed gifts. Largess (sometimes spelled largesse; can also refer to a generous nature. Her father's LARGESS was the only thing standing between Barbara and bankruptcy.

meteor (MEE-tee-or), noun

Glowing matter from space, typically stone or metal, that passes through and lights up the sky; a shooting star. Apparently, the vast majority of reported UFOs turn out to be METEORS.

monarchy (MON-ark-ee), noun

Government by a single ruler claiming a hereditary right to sovereignty; an example or instance of perceived royal lineage. King George III's troubled reign, highlighting the disadvantages of MONARCHY as a form of government, was characterized by civil unrest in the colonies, mental incapacity in the sovereign, and the usual pack of useless hangers-on at court.

zest (zest), noun

Gusto; vigor; spice; enjoyment. Annabel's ZEST for life led her enthusiastically into modern dance, mountain climbing, and untold hours of volunteer work.

foyer (FOY-ur), noun

Hall; vestibule; entryway; a lobby (as in a theater or hotel). "If the FOYER is any indication of what I' ll find on the upper floors," I thought to myself, "my new office is going to be a real dump."

bombast (BOM-bast), noun

Haughty, overblown, or pompous talk or writing. Someone who engages in bombast indulges a taste for an exaggerated rhetorical style. We expected a compelling argument from our attorney, but he came to court offering little more than BOMBAST.

degenerate (di-JEN-er-it), adjective and noun

Having regressed or descended to a lower state. As a noun, degenerate means a person who has declined to a point of immorality or low refinement. What began as an intellectually rigorous debate concluded as a DEGENERATE shouting match.

derring-do (DARE-ing-DOO), noun

Heroic deeds; acts of bravery. Luke Skywalker's challenges and feats of DERRING-DO are perhaps the most memorable elements of the Star Wars trilogy.

retrospect (RET-ruh-spekt), noun

Hindsight. Retrospect derives from the Latin roots for "backward" and "vision." In RETROSPECT, the decision to launch the attack at night now seems like a catastrophic error.

kudos (KOO-dos), noun

Honor or accolades. The word kudos, occasionally used with a singular verb, is more commonly construed as a plural noun. The KUDOS he received for his first novel were nothing compared to the glowing reviews that greeted his second.

laureate (LORE-ee-ut), adjective and noun

Honored as a result of achievements. As a noun, laureate refers to a person who has been singled out for a particular high honor or award. The group included a remarkable cross-section of accomplished scientists, some of whom were Nobel LAUREATES.

uncalled-for (un-KALD-for), adjectival phrase

Improper or unjustified; also, superfluous. That reference to my father's bankruptcy was UNCALLED-FOR, Senator.

karma (KAR-muh), noun

In Hinduism and Buddhism, the law or force dictating that current circumstances result from one's past actions, decisions, or lifestyle; consequences of one's past. Also: the general principle of cause and effect underlying the operations of the universe. Greg put his car trouble down to the "bad automotive KARMA" that he felt had accompanied him since he overcharged for the used Volkswagen he sold in 1968.

bereaved (bih-REEVD), adjective or noun

In a state of mourning; deeply sorrowful because of the loss of a loved one. As a noun, bereaved refers to the person in mourning (and is usually preceded by the). The most difficult part of Father Maurice's job was providing solace for the BEREAVED in his parish.

bull (bull), noun and verb

In addition to the animal, this word has a number of meanings. As a noun, a "bull" is someone who buys stocks expecting a price rise. It also denotes a formal proclamation by the Pope. As an adjective, "bull" means to act with force or to engage in idle, boastful talk. The bouncer BULLED his way through the crowd to remove the man who was causing a disturbance.

stalemate (STALE-mate), noun

In chess, a condition in which neither side is in checkmate and the game cannot proceed because no legal move can be made; also, any situation in which progress, movement, or negotiation has becomes impossible. I thought I had beaten Joreth when I captured the knight he had left undefended, but he was such a strong player that he was able to maneuver a STALEMATE.

soliloquy (suh-LIL-uh-kwee), noun

In drama, a speech given by a character when no one else is present on stage. A soliloquy can also be any discourse a person gives to himself, or an account of a person's interior thoughts. Hamlet's third act SOLILOQUY was delivered in a strange, choppy manner that I found most unsettling.

inquiry (IN-kwuh-ree), noun

In general, an inquiry is a question, but the word suggests an investigation that seeks the answer to profound or perplexing questions. The detective's INQUIRY netted significant evidence, which led to the crime's perpetrators.

assimilate (uh-SIM-uh-late), verb

In general, to assimilate is to absorb knowledge, food, etc., but you may hear it in regard to immigrants. In that sense, "assimilate" refers to the act of becoming similar to those already living in one's new environment. You're giving me so much new information that I'm having trouble ASSIMILATING all of it.

bogey (BOE-gie), verb and noun

In golf, to post a score of one stroke over par on a hole; an instance of such a score. Jeff BOGEYED on the fourteenth hole.

advocate (ADD-voe-kait), verb

In its noun form, "advocate" is pronounced differently (ADD-vuh-kitt) and means "one who supports or defends the cause of another." As a verb, "advocate" is the act of pleading in favor of another. If you need a recommendation, I' d be happy to ADVOCATE for you.

encumber (in-KUHM-ber), verb

In legal terms, encumber means to place a lien on something. Generally, encumber means to load something—or someone—down with burdens. No wonder you can't lift your backpack. It's ENCUMBERED with all sorts of stuff you don't need!

median (MEE-dee-un), noun

In mathematics, a middle number in a series of numbers. (See, for comparison, the entry for mean.) The MEDIAN of the series (0, 3, 6, 7, 9) is six.

mean (meen), noun

In mathematics, an intermediate value or average of a series of figures. (See, for comparison, the entry for median.) The MEAN of the series (0, 3, 6, 7, 9) is five.

riff (riff), noun

In music, especially jazz and rock, a short melodic phrase repeated as background or used as a main theme. Once the bass player started playing the insistent opening RIFF to "My Girl," people poured out onto the dance floor.

there (thare), adverb

In that place. (See, for comparison, the entries for their and they're.) Although I've always wanted to visit Barcelona, I've never found the time or money I needed to vacation THERE.

discrepancy (dis-KREP-un-see), noun

Inconsistency; an instance of disagreement or difference. John was the only one to notice the DISCREPANCY between the cash register receipts and the amount of money in the drawer.

animosity (an-ih-MOSS-ih-tee), noun

Intense hostility toward a person or thing, usually taking the form of action. Animosity is a bitter dislike directed at something or someone. Clyde's first few months on the job were fine, but after he was transferred to a new department he came to harbor real ANIMOSITY toward his supervisor.

it's (its), contraction

It is. (For comparison, see the entry for its.) IT'S certainly a lovely morning!

paralysis (puh-RAL-ih-siss), noun

Loss or damage of movement ability; the loss of feeling in a part of the body due to disease or injury. Paralysis is used figuratively to refer to the inability of a person or institution to take action in a given situation. Lacking firm direction from its founder, the company soon reached a state of PARALYSIS.

allegiance (uh-LEE-junce), noun

Loyalty, particularly to a government. Alex had promised his ALLEGIANCE to the family firm time and time again, but the new offer from their overseas competitor, he decided, was too good to turn down.

prostrate (PROSS-trait), adjective or verb

Lying face down on the ground due to being weary, overthrown, or helpless; or the act of putting someone in such a prone position. The quarterback lay PROSTRATE for several minutes after he was sacked.

greenhouse effect (GREEN-HOUSE-uh-fect), noun

Many believe the greenhouse effect is the cause of global warming. A greenhouse traps heat because the short waves of solar radiation easily go through glass. Once the sun's light passes through the glass and hits something, it is converted to longer-waved heat radiation, which cannot pass back out of the greenhouse. On Earth, the burning of fossil fuels has created something akin to the panes of glass on a greenhouse. The sun's rays can pass into the planet's atmosphere, but then, once converted to heat radiation, they are trapped inside our atmosphere. Al Gore's film, An Inconvenient Truth, brought attention to the perils of the GREENHOUSE EFFECT.

prattle (PRAT-ul), noun

Meaningless babble; idle chatter. I had stopped at the diner to have breakfast and read the morning paper, but the endless PRATTLE of the waitress made it impossible for me to get beyond the front page.

sustenance (SUS-tuh-nunce), noun

Means of supporting life. After the bombing, the city's hungry occupants wandered through nearby wooded areas in search of SUSTENANCE.

enmity (EN-mi-tee), noun

Mutual antagonism or hatred. To show enmity toward a person is to harbor animosity or bitterness toward him. The ENMITY between the feuding families only increased with the passage of time.

increment (IN-kruh-munt), noun

One in a series of additions; an increase in size or number. The letter informed Nina that she would receive checks from the estate in $50,000 INCREMENTS over the course of twenty years.

surrogate (SUR-uh-gut), noun

One who acts in the place of another. Surrogate is derived from a Latin verb meaning "to nominate in one's place." Although he was not related to Eric, Dean found himself acting as a SURROGATE brother to him.

apprentice (uh-PREN-tiss), noun

One who is learning a trade or art form by assisting a veteran practitioner or professional. Uncle Jake offered to let me work as an APPRENTICE in his plumbing business for the summer, but I had no interest in water pipes.

novice (NOV-iss), noun

One who is new to a profession, trade, or sport; a beginner. You shouldn't take too much pride in having checkmated me in twelve moves, Steve; I'm a NOVICE and you're a nationally rated player.

emigrant (EM-ih-grunt), noun

One who leaves a country or region for the purpose of settling in another. The Irish potato famine of the 1840s turned many relatively prosperous citizens into penniless EMIGRANTS bound for the United States.

censor (SEN-sur), noun

One who reviews for offensive or objectionable material, deleting that which is found to fall into such categories. (See, for comparison, the entry for censer.) W.C. Fields was constantly at odds with Hays Commission CENSORS, who found fault with many of his references to alcohol and women.

nomad (NO-mad), noun

One who roams from place to place, having no real roots or home. Ever since Grandma and Grandpa retired and sold their home, they've lived like NOMADS, traveling the country in a reconditioned Winnebago.

ultimatum (ul-tih-MAY-tum), noun

One's last set of demands. To issue an ultimatum is to outline a set of terms that cannot be compromised. Either pay the rent by midnight on the thirty-first, or be thrown out in the street: that was Simon's ULTIMATUM.

kin (kin), noun

One's relatives. Eric was not used to spending such a long period of time away from his KIN in Ohio.

candor (KAN-duhr), noun

Openness or honesty. Someone who speaks directly or openly, without equivocation or doubletalk, can be said to speak with candor. Let me say with all CANDOR that I did not look forward to coming here today.

serenity (suh-REN-ih-tee), noun

Peacefulness in outlook; a lack of agitation. Although she had always been a whirlwind of activity while we were growing up, my sister Alice seems to be enjoying the SERENITY of convent life.

tranquility (tran-KWIL-ih-tee), noun

Peacefulness; the state of being undisturbed. After all the insanity of the deadline week, I was looking forward to the TRANQUILITY of my annual vacation in Vienna.

biopic (BI-opp-ick OR BI-oh-pick), noun

People disagree how this word, short for "biographical motion picture," should be pronounced. No matter how you say the word, a "biopic" is a film based on the lives of real, rather than fictional, people. I was really impressed with the latest BIOPIC until I found out that much of the film's storyline was factually inaccurate.

initiative (ih-NISH-uh-tiv), noun

Personal enterprise and responsibility. If you were to show a little more INITIATIVE, you would not keep being passed over for a promotion.

material (muh-TEER-ee-ul), noun

Physical substance; essence; something from which things are or can be constituted. (See, for comparison, the entry for materiel.) With the right MATERIALS, Dave, we could build a treehouse out back.

juxtapose (juk-stuh-poz), verb

Place side by side for purposes of comparison and contrast. The commander in chief JUXTAPOSED the two courses of action for his generals.

sovereignty (sov-rin-tee), noun

Power or legitimacy as a nation. A nation's sovereignty refers to its self-determination and right to exist as a separate, independent entity. The border incursion should be accepted for what it is: an affront against the SOVEREIGNTY of our country.

plight (plite), noun

Predicament, especially one arising from a solemn obligation. A plight is an unfortunate or desperate situation. Out of sympathy for the public television station's PLIGHT, Glenn made a large donation.

vindicate (VIN-dih-kate), verb

Proven correct or innocent despite previous indications to the contrary. To be vindicated is to have one's name cleared after being falsely suspected of something. The test results VINDICATED the athlete: there was no trace of any illicit substance in his bloodstream.

retribution (ret-ruh-BYOO-shun), noun

Punishment (as from God) for past wrongdoing. Retribution can also refer to divine reward for the just, but the negative sense is more common. Some saw the Mafia don's debilitating illness as a form of divine RETRIBUTION for a life of crime.

upthrust (UP-thrust), noun

Quick, strong upward movement in the national economy or in the stock market. This financial writer feels that the current UPTHRUST in the market cannot be sustained.

fluency (FLOO-un-see), noun

Ready and unhindered expression. Alice's FLUENCY in Spanish proved a real advantage during our trip to Mexico.

resurgence (ri-SUR-jents), noun

Reappearance or revival. Something that has a resurgence returns to a position of prominence or visibility. A RESURGENCE of popularity for bell-bottom slacks is not expected this season, but the experts have been wrong before.

rescind (ri-SIND), verb

Reverse (for instance, an order, command, or edict). To rescind an instruction is to overrule it. The order of detention is hereby RESCINDED; you may return to your native country at your earliest convenience, Mr. Dawson.

insurgence (in-SUR-junce), noun

Revolt or uprising. An insurgence is a revolt against the government or existing authority. The INSURGENCE against the dictator's regime was welcomed enthusiastically by the country's farmers.

derision (de-RIZH-un), noun

Ridicule. Derision is formed from the verb "deride," meaning "to belittle or make light of something or someone." War seems imminent; our suggestions on finding a peaceful solution to this crisis have been met with DERISION from the other side.

introspection (in-tro-SPEK-shun), noun

Self-examination; interior meditation. To think closely on one's feelings, thoughts, and inclinations is to spend time in introspection. The weekend at the cabin provided Clive with an opportunity for some much-needed INTROSPECTION.

rebuke (rih-BYOOK), noun or verb

Sharp, stern disapproval or, as a verb, its expression. Al's drunken behavior earned a sharp REBUKE from his wife.

protege (PRO-tuh-zhay), noun

Someone aided by another influential person. A protege is a person who is protected, encouraged, or helped (for instance, in career matters) by another of superior status or rank. Everyone expected Dean to name Bill (his PROTEGE) to the new post.

expatriate (ecks-PAY-tree-it), noun

Someone who chooses to leave his or her home country and to resettle in another. The word gained currency in the early twentieth century, when many American writers, musicians, and artists chose to leave America and settle in Europe. Even though she had lived in France for many years, Trudy never considered herself a true EXPATRIATE because her love for America remained so strong.

teetotaler (tee-TOE-tuh-ler), noun

Someone who does not drink alcohol under any circumstances. Teetotaler was formed from the verb teetotal, coined during the Temperance movement of the nineteenth century. No wine for me, thanks; I've been a TEETOTALER since high school.

pagan (PAY-gun), adjective or noun

Someone who is not aligned with the world's major religions or a description of someone who does not belong to these major religions. Often, the word suggests someone who is hedonistic or irreligious. Jean is forever telling her friends that being a PAGAN does not mean that she worships Satan.

environmentalist (in-VI-run-men-tull-ist), noun

Someone who places a high value on the environment and works to protect or conserve it. My daughter became an amateur ENVIRONMENTALIST after her first nature hike.

gallantry (GAL-un-tree), noun

Something displaying dashing bravery or chivalry. Gallantry pertains to an air of courage and nobility. His GALANTRY Although we expected to confront to solve this problem; what is needed is cold cash.

compensate (KOM-pun-sate), verb

Something given in return for or to make up for services performed, or for something lost; something given in exchange. Although management COMPENSATED George for crossing the picket line during the strike by giving him a promotion and a big raise, he had lost several friends as a result of his decision and regretted it bitterly.

predecessor (PRED-uh-sess-er), noun

Something or someone succeeded or replaced by another. Jane knew it would be difficult to live up to the standards set by her PREDECESSOR.

collateral (kuh-LAT-uh-rul), noun

Something pledged as security or insurance for the fulfillment of an obligation or payment. (Also, as an adjective: secondary or accompanying.) Sheila offered her house as COLLATERAL in order to obtain the loan she needed to start her business.

verification (veh-rih-fih-KAY-shun), noun

Something that confirms. I could find no VERIFICATION of the author's claim that he had met with Hemingway in the early twenties.

entity (EN-tuh-tee), noun

Something that exists separately. Entity can also refer more broadly to existence or being. The accounting department operated as a separate ENTITY.

embryo (EMM-bree-oh), noun

Something that is undeveloped or that is just beginning. Walt's home-based business was the EMBRYO that launched his industrial empire.

deterrent (dih-TURR-ent), noun

Something that prevents something from happening. My mom and dad's presence at the condo acted as a DETERRENT to any hanky panky between me and my new girlfriend.

narcotic (nahr-KAH-tick), noun

Something that produces a soothing—especially a mind-numbing—effect. Her incessant bragging acted on me like a NARCOTIC.

addendum (uh-DEN-duhm), noun

Something to be added; an addition. The treaty included an ADDENDUM setting out the terms of troop withdrawal.

linchpin (LYNCH-pin), noun

Specifically, a linchpin is a pin pushed through an axle to keep a wheel in place. In general, "linchpin" denotes someone or something essential to holding together a complicated situation, business, organization, etc. Once Mr. Crane, the LINCHPIN of the organization, retired, the business fell apart due to squabbling and infighting.

conjecture (kun-JEK-shur), noun

Speculation based on inconclusive data or on evidence that is not complete. A conjecture can be considered a "best guess" unsupported by fact or observation. The item that appeared in your column of December 16th is based totally on CONJECTURE, and is extremely misleading.

eulogy (YOO-luh-gee), noun

Speech or writing in praise of a person, typically used for a person who has recently died. Keep in mind that an ELEGY denotes a mournful poem, one not necessarily written for a particular person. Diane delivered a EULOGY for her uncle that managed to be simultaneously sad and heartwarming.

poise (poyze), noun

Stability of outlook or emotional state, especially when facing trying circumstances. Also, as a verb: to set on a potentially hazardous surface, such as a narrow edge. Ruth-Anne's POISE during the rigorous interview impressed us all.

jingoism (JING-go-iz-um), noun

Staunch, extreme patriotism or chauvinism; calculatedly overblown patriotic rhetoric used for political advantage. This kind of JINGOISM has no place in national political discourse, sir!

affliction (uh-FLICK-shun), noun

Suffering; a state of pain. An affliction is a state of misery or disabling disease. Carl's arthritis was at times quite painful, but he found the most remarkable ways to work around his AFFLICTION.

eminence (EM-ih-nunce), noun

Superiority or outstanding notability. An eminent person is one of great achievements or high rank. Eminence may be used as part of a formal form of address. His EMINENCE Cardinal Powers has asked me to respond to your letter.

clairvoyance (klare-VOY-uhnce), noun

Supernatural perceptive skills. Clairvoyance (from the French for "clear sight") refers to the ability to perceive things normally out of the range of human intuition. Michael claimed to have CLAIRVOYANCE, and even held a few playful "seances," but no one took his claims seriously.

borne (born), verb

Supported; carried; brought forth or produced. (See, for comparison, the entry for born.) "BORNE" is the past participle of the verb "to bear" in all senses that do not involve childbirth.

encore (ON-kore), noun

Sustained applause, cheers and the like meant to encourage a performer or performers to appear again after the formal conclusion of a performance. It didn't seem possible that the maestro could ignore the our emphatic demands for an ENCORE, but when the houselights went up we all began to file slowly out of the auditorium.

fruition (froo-ISH-un), noun

That which has arisen from development, possession, use, or effort. The achievement of something desired or labored for is the fruition of that deed. The novel was, in a sense, the FRUITION of a lifetime of work for Melville.

futility (fyoo-TILL-ih-tee), noun

That which is characterized by uselessness. Something that is impractical or vainly undertaken shows futility. The FUTILITY of attempting to reason with Paula could no longer be denied; Michael gave up trying.

antagonist (an-TAG-uh-nist), noun

The "bad guy" in a story, novel, film, etc. The character who opposes a story's main character. As an ANTAGONIST, you can't get any better than John Milton's version of Satan in Paradise Lost.

origami (or-ih-GAH-mee), noun

The Japanese art of cutting and folding paper. After studying ORIGAMI in her craft class, Aunt Janice decided to decorate her entire Christmas tree with miniature paper figures.

discretion (dis-KRESH-un), noun

The ability or right to make decisions independently; also, the ability to be tactful and act with decorum. Tim's use of profanity at the dinner party showed a startling lack of DISCRETION.

resilience (ri-ZIL-yunce), noun

The ability to rebound. That which bounces back shows resilience. Joanne's RESILIENCE was remarkable; she recovered from the operation in record time.

inauguration (in-og-yuh-RAY-shun), noun

The act of ushering into office with a formal ceremony; an instance of marking or acknowledging the beginning of something in a ceremonious fashion. President Clinton's INAUGURATION featured a poem composed for the occasion by Maya Angelou and read by the poet.

denunciation (de-nun-see-AY-shun), noun

The act or example of denouncing. Denunciation is the act of accusing another (usually in a public forum) of some misdeed. Paul's angry DENUNCIATION of his former company shocked even his friends.

divergence (di-VER-gence), noun

The act or process of departing from a given course or pattern. That which extends in separate directions from a single point experiences a divergence. The DIVERGENCE in our opinions begins with the question of whether there can ever be a just war.

precedence (PRESS-uh-dunce), noun

The act or right of preceding; an instance or claim of coming first in order or priority. To his credit, the president of the toy company agreed that the safety of children took PRECEDENCE over profits and promptly recalled the defective item from the stores.

periphery (puh-RIFF-uh-ree), noun

The area at the extreme of a given boundary. The outskirts of a town, for instance, are on the periphery of the town. There among the homeless, at the furthest PERIPHERY of society, Maria found her calling.

dialect (DIE-uh-lekt), noun

The aspects of a language (grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary, for instance) particular to a geographic region. Armed with four years of high school Spanish, I set out confidently on my vacation to Madrid—only to find myself adrift in a sea of incomprehensible DIALECTS on my arrival.

capitol (KAP-ih-tul), noun

The building in which a legislature meets. (See, for comparison, the entry for capital.) One of the highlights of our trip to Washington was our visit to the CAPITOL building.

girth (girth), noun

The circumference of something. "Girth" often is used as a nice way to say "fat." My mind was boggled as I tried to conceive of the GIRTH of the planet Jupiter.

concurrence (kun-KER-runce), noun

The condition of being in agreement. To concur is to agree, so a concurrence is in effect when two or more people have "signed on" to a given idea, plan, or judgment. I will proceed with the acquisition; as president, I do not require anyone else's CONCURRENCE.

disparity (diss-PARE-ih-tee), noun

The condition of being inequivalent or unequal. Disparity is inequality in age, measure, or extent. The DISPARITY between the two horses was obvious: one was a swaybacked old nag, the other a stunning thoroughbred.

absolution (ab-suh-LOO-shun), noun

The condition of having been forgiven or freed of guilt. To Myron's dismay, the judge did not consider his having paid for the damage to the other party's car sufficient ABSOLUTION for the crime of driving while intoxicated.

diplomacy (dih-PLO-muh-see), noun

The conduct of relations among nations. Diplomacy can also refer to a tact among individuals that calls to mind the great discretion and sensitivity required of diplomats. When DIPLOMACY fails, it is too often the young who pay the price of death on the battlefield.

pantomime (PAN-tuh-mime), verb

The conveyance of ideas, words, emotions, or stories without the use of words. My attempt to describe the accident in PANTOMIME to the villagers I encountered was pathetic; I bitterly regretted my decision not to study French before our trip.

trajectory (truh-JEK-tuh-ree), noun

The curving path followed by a projectile in flight. The bullet's TRAJECTORY from the warehouse window would be completely consistent with the injury suffered by the victim, Your Honor.

baccalaureate (bak-uh-LOR-ee-it), noun

The degree awarded upon completion of an undergraduate course of study. A baccalaureate, also called a bachelor's degree, is the degree given to a college graduate. A baccalaureate is also a farewell address to a graduating class. I received my BACCALAUREATE in 2003 from Brandeis University.

malice (MAL-iss), noun

The desire to commit harmful or unfair acts. Someone who intends to commit an act known to be immoral, unlawful, or likely to cause harm shows malice. The defendant clearly showed MALICE in stating that he intended to kill Mrs. Powers.

chagrin (shuh-GRIN), noun

The emotion of humiliation or embarrassment arising from disheartening experience. To show chagrin is to give evidence of disappointment and disquiet with oneself. Much to my CHAGRIN, my application was rejected instantly.

finis (fih-NEE), noun

The end or conclusion; also, as an adjective: finished. Many people considered Mr. Clinton's presidential campaign FINIS in the weeks before the New Hampshire primary.

imam (ih-MAHM), noun

The governing priest at a mosque. I was wary of attending the mosque, but I quickly found the IMAM welcoming and pleasant.

attrition (uh-TRISH-un), noun

The gradual wearing down of something or the gradual reduction of a group. Often, you'll hear this word used in connection with a company that is trying to reduce its workforce. The struggling company used a combination of early-retirement incentives and ATTRITION to reduce its workforce enough to continue to meet its payroll.

zenith (ZEE-nith), noun

The highest point attained. A zenith is the apex of something. Koufax's career reached its ZENITH in 1963, when he won 25 games and was awarded the Cy Young Award unanimously.

apex (AY-pex), noun

The highest point. The APEX of Dawn's career came when her novel was made into a miniseries starring Elizabeth Taylor as the heroine.

acme (AK-me), noun

The highest point; summit. Although his many fans might consider winning the Pulitzer the ACME of Marvin's writing career, in his mind nothing would ever match the thrill of seeing his first novel in print.

tenure (TEN-yur), noun

The holding of a post or property, especially with regard to status as a permanent employee. Tenure can also refer to the period such a post is held. After sixteen years in the department, Professor Milligan was finally granted TENURE.

premise (PREM-iss), noun

The idea or statement that stands as the base of a theory or argument; also, the conceit underlying the action of a work of fiction or drama. The story's PREMISE—that all of us can win the lottery if we only play it enough times—is so farfetched as to be laughable, but the piece is not, alas, intended as a comedy.

embodiment (em-BOD-ee-ment), noun

The incarnation (of a given thing or idea); the condition of being embodied. To be the embodiment of something is to be so imbued with it as to be its physical representation. Jane was usually the EMBODIMENT of tact; her slip at the party was most uncharacteristic.

ecosystem (EE-ko-sis-tuhm), noun

The interaction of all living organisms within a particular environment. Carl has created an interesting new ECOSYSTEM in his room, since his domain includes everything from uneaten slices of pizza to filthy sweatsocks.

gist (jist), noun

The main point; the essential meaning, the core or heart of a message. The GIST of the letter from the grievance committee is that the workers are tired of being unappreciated and underpaid.

munitions (myoo-NISH-unz), noun

The materials of war; weapons or ammunition. Neil felt his training with the army's MUNITIONS unit put him in good standing for a position with the police department's bomb squad.

subsistence (sub-SIST-unce), noun

The means required to support one's existence. Mr. Best, I've gone five years without a raise, and inflation has turned what was once a reasonable wage into a SUBSISTENCE- level compensation.

interim (IN-ter-im), noun

The meantime. An interim is the period of time between one event and another. The INTERIM—which lasted over a month—was filled with work and planning in preparation for the second series of meetings.

vernacular (ver-NAK-yoo-lur), noun and adjective

The mode of expression in language accepted in a given circle. As an adjective, vernacular describes the quality of being common to a particular group's or region's speech. I saw that Clement was once again intoxicated—or "blasted," to use the VERNACULAR he seems to prefer.

vanguard (VAN-gard), noun

The most advanced groups (of a military force or social movement, for instance). That which is at the forefront is in the vanguard. Dali was the first to admit that he took full financial advantage of his position at the VANGUARD of the Surrealist movement.

antithesis (an-TITH-i-sis), noun

The opposite or highest possible contrast. Antithesis refers to the exact opposite of a given thing. Antithesis is also the name of a form in rhetoric in which two ideas are contrasted dramatically: "We will live as heroes or die in the attempt." Mr. Brown—haggard, unkempt, and exhausted—looked like the very ANTITHESIS of the charismatic achiever we' d heard about.

prototype (PRO-tuh-type), noun

The original model of something. A prototype is the experimental or trial version of a system or invention. The PROTOTYPE underwent several modifications before Ben felt comfortable showing it to potential investors.

facade (fuh-SOD), noun

The ornamental front of a building; also, a false or misleading appearance; a contrived surface meant to deceive. Not many took the time to look beyond the FACADE of the burly, rough-hewn pig farmer to see the kind-hearted, gentle soul that resided deep inside Big Jim.

perimeter (puh-RIM-ih-tur), noun

The outer edge of an enclosed shape or area. Perimeter can also refer to the distance described by this edge. In the early morning hour, Jake would take a walk along the PERIMETER of the yard.

led (led), verb

The past tense of the verb "to lead." (See, for comparison, the entry for lead.) To our great relief, Vernon LED us out of the forest without a compass.

bedlam (BED-lum), noun

The popular name for London's Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem was "Bedlam." Since the hospital catered to the insane, "bedlam" has come to denote any place or scene of uproar and confusion. I always do my best to stay focused on my work and to avoid the BEDLAM around the water cooler.

upside (UP-side), noun

The positive aspect of a situation; particularly, the potential profit in a business proposal. The UPSIDE of investing in the Russian company was considerable, but there were considerable risks as well.

monogamy (muh-NOG-uh-mee), noun

The practice of being faithful to a single married partner. The opposite of monogamy is polygamy. The priest reminded the couple that they should not get married without thoroughly examining their feelings toward maintaining a life of MONOGAMY.

nepotism (NEP-uh-tiz-um), noun

The practice of favoring relatives. The company practiced shameless NEPOTISM, regularly passing up qualified applicants and hiring the underqualified sons, daughters, and cousins of board members.

brunt (brunt), noun

The primary impact of a blow. The brunt of an attack is the point of its main force. If there is a war, rest assured that it is our country that will be asked to bear the BRUNT of it.

exhume (egg-ZYOOM), verb

The primary meaning of "exhume" is to dig something up, such as a body or buried treasure. In addition, one can exhume anything by rescuing it from obscurity. The film's soundtrack managed to EXHUME the career of the songwriter, who hadn't had a hit in more than three decades.

convalescence (kon-vuh-LESS-unce), noun

The process of regaining one's health after an illness. Convalescence is derived from the Latin for "to grow stronger." Her CONVALESCENCE was impeded by the primitive medical facilities on the island.

breath (breth), noun

The process or act of breathing; an inhalation or exhalation. (See, for comparison, the entry for breadth.) Take a deep BREATH; I'm about to give you some bad news.

grandeur (GRAN-jur), noun

The quality of being grand; extravagance in scale or appearance. Grandeur refers to magnificence. The Emerald City's GRANDEUR exceeded anything Dorothy had ever seen.

relevance (REL-uh-vence), noun

The quality of being pertinent. That which has a connection or apt association has relevance. These sales figures have no RELEVANCE for our purposes; they are at least six years old.

nonchalance (NON-shu-lonce), noun

The quality of being unconcerned with worldly cares. A cool, carefree person can be said to be nonchalant. Astaire's NONCHALANCE was appealing to the audience of the time, which was on the whole weighed down with the many cares of the Depression.

serendipity (sare-un-DIP-ih-tee), noun

The quality of coming upon important insights or discoveries by accident. To experience serendipity is to encounter fortunate coincidence. It was pure SERENDIPITY that, nearly fainting with hunger, I came upon the stock of supplies that night.

symmetry (SIM-ih-tree), noun

The quality of showing complementary forms or aesthetically pleasing proportions. Symmetry is structural balance. The sculpture's lack of SYMMETRY is unnerving to the casual observer, and that is exactly what the artist has in mind.

incantation (in-kan-TAY-shun), noun

The repeated chanting of words or phrases believed to have magical powers. I believe Tom's dismissal of the rosary as a primitive set of INCANTATIONS shows how small a role religious faith plays in his life.

suffrage (SUFF-rudge), noun

The right to vote. Today's apathetic voters (or, more precisely, nonvoters) seem to have little appreciation of how hard previous generations had to fight for the principle of universal SUFFRAGE.

baritone (BARE-uh-tone), noun

The second-deepest voice range on the scale, higher than bass and deeper than treble. Given his diminutive stature and shy demeanor, few suspected that Craig's powerful BARITONE would dominate the choir.

breadth (bredth), noun

The side-to-side extent of something; width; expanse. (See, for comparison, the entry for breath.) The alley was so narrow that my car had a clearance of perhaps two inches beyond its BREADTH on either side.

jargon (JAR-gun), noun

The specialized language or vocabulary of a particular profession, trade, or hobby. Throughout, the book asks the reader to make sense of some rather sophisticated JARGON likely to be comprehensible only to those familiar with accounting procedures.

tempo (TEM-po), noun

The speed or pace of something (particularly, of music). Our aerobics instructor will only play music with a fast TEMPO and a strong beat, although there are times, generally after a hard day at work, when I feel like introducing her to the wonders of Mantovani.

oblivion (uh-BLIV-ee-un), noun

The state of being beyond memory and utterly forgotten. To say something is in oblivion is to say it is lost to human recollection. To Tim, the fact that his book was being allowed to go out of print meant that he as an author had been consigned to OBLIVION.

apathy (APP-uh-thee), noun

The state of not caring, or seeming not to care, one way or the other how a situation resolves itself. Because the characters weren't very convincing, their peril made me feel little more than APATHY.

equity (ECK-wuh-tee), noun

The state of not showing bias or favoritism. Mr. Harris always manages to exhibit EQUITY toward all of his students.

ecology (ee-KAHL-uh-jee), noun

The study of how organisms interact with each other and with their environment. You might also hear the adjective form of this word, which is "ecological." The study of ECOLOGY led scientists to discover global warming.

demographics (dih-muh-GRAF-icks), noun

The study of people's lifestyles, habits, spending, etc., typically for the purpose of targeting products for—or culling votes from— these different sub-groups. The DEMOGRAPHICS suggested that the new flavor of juice would be a hit with young mothers.

ballistics (buh-LISS-tiks), noun

The study of projectiles and impacts. Each of the scientists working on the missile project had extensive experience in BALLISTICS.

phonics (FON-iks), noun

The study of the sounds and acoustics of language. David's teacher's insistence that studying PHONICS was not necessary to develop good reading skills struck us as odd.

viscosity (vis-KOSS-ih-tee), noun

The thickness of a liquid. The mechanic working on my car recommended I switch to a brand of motor oil with a higher VISCOSITY.

pinnacle (PIN-uh-kul), noun

The topmost point. To reach the apex or highest point of something is to reach its pinnacle. Fred reached the PINNACLE of his profession when he was named chairman of the history department.

soprano (suh-PRAN-oh), noun

The uppermost singing voice in boys and women. Every woman in the a capella group had a good voice, but to me the tall SOPRANO in the blue sweater stood out as an exceptional musical talent.

sacrilege (SACK-ruh-lij), noun

The violation of anything sacred or anything someone may consider sacred. The bar patrons found Dan's negative words about the Yankees a SACRILEGE.

idolatry (eye-DOLL-uh-tree), noun

The worship of a physical object as though it were a god or idol; to display an unusual and worshipful attachment to an object. Buddy's IDOLATRY of his shiny new Corvette led a couple of his friends to remark that he would take it to bed with him if he could.

they're (thare), pronoun contraction

They are. (See, for comparison, the entries for their and there.) Mom and Dad just told me that THEY'RE planning to renovate the dining room.

connoisseur (KAHN-uh-sue-er), noun

This French word refers to someone who is an expert in a field, especially in one of the fine arts. Jake is a CONNOISSEUR of rare blues 78s.

Kwanzaa (KWAHN-zuh), noun

This Swahili word denotes a harvest festival celebrated, from December 26 to January 1, by some African Americans. Reggie's family began to celebrate KWANZAA last year.

nosh (nahsh), verb

This Yiddish word for "nibble or gnaw" has come to mean just that: the process of nibbling or snacking on something. Before we go to the movie, let's NOSH on some of these chips.

patronize (PAY-truh-nize), verb

This word CAN mean simply to give a business your patronage, but "patronize" usually has a negative meaning, suggesting that one is being condescending toward another. Just because I didn't graduate from college doesn't mean you can PATRONIZE me whenever we try to have an intellectual discussion!

renounce (re-NOWNCE), verb

To abandon or deny any connection with. Someone who renounces something severs all ties to it. Only by RENOUNCING all desire for possessions, the monks believed, could one attain enlightenment.

forsake (for-SAKE), verb

To abandon. Emily has FORSAKEN California for an island in the Indian Ocean.

teem (team), verb

To abound or swarm. I was nauseated by the sight of ants TEEMING all over a discarded hot dog bun.

capitulate (kuh-PIT-yoo-late), verb

To accede to a demand for surrender. Someone who yields a point under dispute can be said to capitulate to the other party. The ambassador had been instructed to show flexibility on cultural exchanges, but not to CAPITULATE when it came to trade issues.

adopt (uh-DOPT), verb

To accept or take as one's own. (See, for comparison, the entry for adapt.) After last year's car troubles, I've ADOPTED the philosophy that a good mechanic is worth every penny you pay him.

complement (KOM-pluh-munt), verb and noun

To accompany in a pleasing or harmonious style. Also, as a noun: something that completes or brings to perfection. (See, for comparison, the entry for compliment.) That scarf you're wearing certainly COMPLEMENTS your blouse.

allege (uh-LEDGE), verb

To accuse someone of something—usually wrongdoing—without proof. Unless you can prove you didn't eat the last cookie, I will have to ALLEGE that you're the thief!

adapt (uh-DAPT), verb

To adjust; to make something or oneself fit in to particular circumstances; to conform. (See, for comparison, the entry for adopt.) Jim and Daisy worried that the cross-country move would upset their teenage daughter, but as it turned out Melanie ADAPTED to their new home more easily than her parents.

assent (uh-SENT), noun

To agree that an opinion, view, or proposal is correct; to concur, corroborate, or acquiesce. You forget, Mr. Jameson, that it is only with the ASSENT of the stockholders that the CEO can be ousted.

concur (kun-KUR), verb

To agree; to share the same opinion. The prosecutor felt that Jim's crime deserved the maximum penalty, but the judge did not CONCUR.

estrange (ih-STRANGE), verb

To alienate or remove from a position or relationship. A family member who is estranged by others in the family is no longer regarded as part of the group. Her estranged brother made many attempts to visit, but Michelle would have no part of any such plan.

mollify (MOL-uh-fy), verb

To allay (a person's) anger. Mollify can also mean "to lessen the impact of." The umpire's attempts to MOLLIFY the two screaming managers with some risque humor were to no avail.

garner (GAR-nur), verb

To amass, gather, or accumulate. To garner something is to acquire it over a period. William GARNERED much praise for his writing but little cash.

titillate (TIT-ih-late), verb

To arouse or excite in a pleasing way. Something that titillates tickles one's fancy. These stories about the sex lives of past presidents may be TITILLATING, but they wouldn't have passed for hard news in my day.

collate (KOE-late), verb

To arrange (usually paper) in proper or logical order. Chef LeBlanc's assistant was responsible for writing down the recipes and COLLATING them for inclusion in the restaurant's internal cookbook.

extrapolate (ik-STRAP-uh-late), verb

To arrive at an estimate by examining unknown values. To extrapolate is to make a supposition or model based on shifting or tenuous information. While there were no eyewitnesses, we can EXTRAPOLATE the victim's movements that night based on his past activities.

relegate (REL-uh-gate), verb

To assign or place in a position, often one of low prestige or power; to set out of sight; banish. Although the press release described Lou's new position as a promotion, he and everyone else in the organization knew he was being RELEGATED to a less prominent spot in the hierarchy after the fiasco of the Darwin project.

ascribe (uh-SKRYBE), verb

To attribute or assign causal responsibility to a person or thing. Ascribing something to someone is acknowledging their responsibility or creation of it. This work has been ASCRIBED to Rousseau, but his authorship now seems uncertain.

haggle (HAG-ul), verb

To bargain with; to dicker or negotiate on price or terms. I think Tom enjoyed the process of HAGGLING at the flea market more than the items he bought.

avail (uh-VAYL), verb

To be of benefit or use. Someone whose actions are to no avail acts in vain. In November, we decided to AVAIL ourselves of the opportunity for a vacation.

compose (kum-POZE), verb

To be the constituent components of; to make up. (See, for comparison, the entry for comprise.) Teamwork COMPOSES the essence of success in business.

bludgeon (BLUD-jun), verb and noun

To beat. As a noun, a bludgeon is a short, heavy stick. To bludgeon someone is to beat or strike him with a similar instrument. The detectives concluded that the victim had been BLUDGEONED repeatedly with a metal pipe.

dwindle (DWIN-dul), verb

To become smaller; to shrink or waste away; to decrease. I had planned to run away forever, but my DWINDLING supply of cookies and pennies forced me to return home by nightfall.

bow (bow), verb

To bend low; to yield. (See, for comparison, the entry for bough.) The Japanese ambassador BOWED in the direction of the prime minister.

seethe (seethe), verb

To boil. In addition, someone who internalizes agitation or anger can be said to seethe. Still SEETHING from his defeat at the hands of the Dodgers on Tuesday, Gibson took the mound with a look of unwavering determination last night.

faze (faze), verb

To bother; to disturb or annoy. We thought Seth would be angry when he found out Phillip was dating his old girlfriend, but the news didn't seem to FAZE him a bit.

flout (flowt), verb

To brazenly or openly break a law, regulation, or tradition. Flout is often confused with flaunt (see flaunt above), but the words have completely different meanings. To begin the baseball game without singing the national anthem would be to FLOUT a tradition of more than a century.

resurrect (rez-uh-REKT), verb

To bring back from the dead. Figuratively, to resurrect something (a fashion, for instance) is to reintroduce it after it has been dismissed as no longer relevant or appropriate. It astounds me that you have gone to the trouble to RESURRECT these completely discredited ideas.

elicit (ih-LISS-it), verb

To bring out. To elicit is to evoke or stimulate so as to yield a response. Elicit is occasionally confused with illicit, which means "improper or illegal." Of the many responses our broadcast ELICITED, I like Mrs. Miller's the best.

jostle (JOS-l), verb

To bump or disrupt by means of incidental contact. To make one's way by elbowing or pushing (as through a crowd) is to jostle. Mark JOSTLED through the crowd, but could not find Sharon.

sear (sear), verb

To burn or scorch, or to cause to dry up and wither. While I was on vacation, the heat SEARED my plants, leaving them nothing but lifeless brown stalks.

evoke (ee-VOKE), verb

To call forth or summon. To evoke is also to bring back to life through appeal to memory. The sight of the old mansion EVOKED many bittersweet memories for Charles.

allay (uh-LAY), verb

To calm or help put aside fear or uneasiness. My report will help ALLAY suspicions that our profits have been falling.

waft (waft), verb

To carry lightly, as if caught in a breeze. The scent of bread WAFTED from the corner bakery.

jilt (jilt), verb

To cast (a lover) aside, to discard or dismiss unfeelingly. After being JILTED so abruptly by Michael, Jane found it hard to trust men enough to enter another relationship.

jettison (JET-ih-sun), verb

To cast off or overboard. When a captain jettisons items from a boat, he is sacrificing their value for the advantage of decreased weight on the ship. Similarly, to jettison can be to abandon something once thought valuable that has become a burden. The project seemed promising initially, but now, with the looming possibility they could be accused of conflict of interest, Ted and Jan decided to JETTISON their plans.

ferment (furr-MENT), verb

To cause agitation or excitement, typically in order to incite drastic change. High oil prices began to FERMENT efforts to find alternative fuel sources.

rankle (RANG-kul), verb

To cause irritation or festering resentment. Someone who is peeved by a perceived slight or oversight is said to be rankled. The criticism he received for his plan RANKLED Paul for some time.

synchronize (SINK-ruh-nize), verb

To cause something to take place at the exact same time (as another event); to cause to occur in unison. As this is an operation requiring the utmost accuracy from all team members, I suggest we SYNCHRONIZE watches now before beginning our assignments.

diminish (dih-MIN-ish), verb

To cause to be smaller; to decrease in size or importance. In pointing out these problems, I don't mean for a moment to DIMINISH the achievements of your department this year.

citify (SIT-uh-fie), verb

To cause to become city-like. I'm afraid it will take more than a week in Chicago to CITIFY old Uncle Parker.

disgruntle (diss-GRUN-tull), verb

To cause to become cross or discontented. To disgruntle is also to cause to feel cheated. After years of mistreatment, the striking employees felt DISGRUNTLED.

alter (ALL-tur), verb

To cause to change. (See, for comparison, the entry for altar.) I could tell that the documents had been ALTERED; they featured two different sets of handwriting in two shades of ink.

disperse (dis-PURSE), verb

To cause to scatter or to break up. With a few angry words, the candidate DISPERSED the meeting and stormed off.

traumatize (TRAW-muh-tize), verb

To cause to undergo mental or physical distress. Many of the patients in the ward had been TRAUMATIZED over the years by abusive staff.

enshrine (en-SHRINE), verb

To cherish as though sacred; to preserve as if held within a shrine. To enshrine something is to memorialize it with the special reverence associated with religious ceremonies. There is a movement to ENSHRINE Shoeless Joe Jackson in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but I do not think him a suitable candidate.

mince (mince), verb

To chop into small pieces; figuratively, to use evasive or indirect language. Also: to walk affectedly, taking short steps. "Don't MINCE words with me, Henry," my boss growled; " if you aren't going to meet the deadline, tell me so."

exonerate (ig-ZON-uh-rate), verb

To clear or free from blame or guilt; to restore (one's reputation). After the charges were thrown out and Brian was completely EXONERATED, he was free to continue his work in the securities industry.

culminate (KUL-mih-nate), verb

To climax or reach a high point. Something that culminates concludes or reaches its fulfillment. The seemingly endless series of Union victories CULMINATE in Lee's surrender at Appomatox.

ascend (uh-SEND), verb

To climb or mount, especially a mountain. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first to ASCEND Mt. Everest.

shear (sheer), verb

To clip or cut. (See, for comparison, the entry for sheer.) I'm afraid I'm not much good at SHEARING sheep; I can't cut the fleece evenly.

cajole (kuh-JOLE), verb

To coax; to persuade by using flattery; to wheedle. My brother's efforts to CAJOLE me out of my allowance, by reminding me that I would be a rich superstar in big-league baseball someday, were in vain.

concoct (kun-KOKT), verb

To combine in the process of preparation. How on earth did Myra manage to CONCOCT a story like that for her mother on such short notice?

flummox (FLUHM-ucks), verb

To completely bewilder or confuse. No matter how much I study, mathematics continues to FLUMMOX me.

engross (in-GROSS), verb

To completely consume one's attention. I was so ENGROSSED in the novel that I didn't hear Melinda calling my name at first.

deign (dane), verb

To condescend; to lower oneself to a position or role considered unsuitable. Since Walter won that writing prize, he hasn't DEIGNED to return any of my phone calls.

bestow (bih-STOW), verb

To confer or give. One bestows an award, honor, or degree. The verb is usually followed by on or upon. Though he lacked formal education, several universities had BESTOWED honorary degrees on Mr. Goldfarb.

discombobulate (diss-kum-BOB-yoo-late), verb

To confuse or throw into an awkward predicament. To say that someone is discombobulated is to say that he is utterly disconcerted. The frenzied pace of eight hours on the trading floor had left me utterly DISCOMBOBULATED.

brake (brake), verb

To control or stop. (See, for comparison, the entry for break.) The car's BRAKING ability was truly remarkable; it felt as though I could stop on a dime.

proselytize (PROSS-ih-li-tize), verb

To convert (a person) from one religion to another. Thus it was that our main goal of PROSELYTIZING the natives was temporarily abandoned in favor of the more pressing and immediate object of surviving their raids on our settlement.

douse (dowce), verb

To cover with a liquid thoroughly; to drench or soak. (See, for comparison, the entry for dowse.) Even after DOUSING the charcoal with lighter fluid, Uncle Al couldn't seem to get the grill fired up.

denounce (dih-NOWNTS), verb

To criticize or speak out against someone or something. Joan DENOUNCED Walter for his sexist opinions.

wane (wane), verb

To decrease in size, power, or intensity; to diminish; to decline. Stanley took up French, dancing, backgammon—he even learned the basics of horticulture—anything to rekindle his girlfriend's WANING interest in their relationship.

vanquish (VAN-kwish), verb

To defeat, as in combat. Having VANQUISHED the enemy, the general returned victorious to his native land.

defer (dih-FUR), verb

To delay or put off until another time; also, to yield with respect. With regard to the scheduling of our announcement, I DEFER to my friend the chairman.

detain (dih-TANE), verb

To delay; to keep from going on; to confine. The border police DETAINED the pair for two hours while they searched every inch of their vehicle for narcotics.

vamoose (vah-MOOSE), verb

To depart in haste; to leave hurriedly. We've got a full day of travel ahead of us; let's VAMOOSE.

confiscate (KON-fiss-kate), verb

To deprive of (one's property), especially as part of an official or governmental body. The news that his boat had been CONFISCATED by the IRS to satisfy his back tax debt hit Michael like a body blow.

deescalate (dee-ES-kuh-late), verb

To diminish in size, intensity, or extent. Deescalate is the opposite of escalate. The president's decision to DEESCALATE the war won him considerable support on the nation's college campuses.

incapacitate (in-kuh-PASS-ih-tate), verb

To disable; to deprive of strength, ability, or skill. Uncle Jimmy missed an entire month of work due to a bout of pneumonia that left him completely INCAPACITATED.

dissipate (DISS-ih-pate), verb

To dispel by means of dispersal. To dissipate is also to vanish or cease. The rain DISSIPATED and the flood waters receded.

dispel (dis-PELL), verb

To disperse; to drive away. After the rioters had been DISPELLED and the fires put out, an eerie quiet fell over the smoldering city streets.

flaunt (flont), verb

To display (oneself or a possession) in an ostentatious way. Flaunt is often confused with flout (see flout below), but the words have completely different meanings. Mr. Miller's habit of wearing many jewelled rings is one of the many ways he has found to FLAUNT his wealth.

upstage (up-STAYJ), verb

To distract attention from (a person undertaking an act supposedly of primary interest). To upstage, in the theatrical sense, is to stand behind the main action of a scene and distract the audience. I am not accustomed to being UPSTAGED during a presentation, Peter.

allocate (AL-uh-kait), verb

To distribute something for a specific purpose or to a specific person or group. When mom ALLOCATES tasks, I'm always the one who has to take out the garbage.

apportion (uh-POOR-shun), verb

To divide and distribute something in an equitable manner. I don't think we' ll have any trouble APPORTIONING the blame for this problem. There's plenty of blame to go around!

eradicate (ee-RAD-ih-cate), verb

To do away with utterly. To eradicate something is to wipe it out and leave no sign of it. "Until we have ERADICATED poverty," the priest vowed, "our struggle will continue."

capitalize (KAH-pih-tuh-lize), verb

To draw an advantage from. Also, in business terms, "capitalize" can mean funding a business or converting a business's value to personal income. By CAPITALIZING on the candidate's mistake, her opponent managed to win the election.

ferret (FARE-ut), verb

To drive or force out; to discover by forcing out. Colonel Gonzalez declared that he would take any measure necessary to FERRET the rebels out of the hillsides.

assuage (uh-SWAJE), verb

To ease; to make less severe; to mitigate. Gary tried to ASSUAGE his grief at the loss of his lover by taking a long trip to Europe.

reverberate (rih-VUR-buh-rate), verb

To echo back and forth, rebound, or recoil. The sound of the gunshot REVERBERATED throughout the canyon.

ennoble (in-OH-bull), verb

To elevate or confer dignity upon someone or something. Historians ENNOBLED that rotting shack on the edge of town after they determined that the home was once an important stop on the Underground Railroad.

polarize (PO-luh-rize), verb

To encourage elements or components to occupy opposite ends of a spectrum. Something that divides or sows discord is said to polarize. The scandal left the two wings of the party completely POLARIZED.

abet (uh-BET), verb

To encourage or assist a plan or activity. To abet is to entice or help, usually in a misdeed. An accomplice to a robbery abets the crime. Though Michael did not participate in the actual kidnapping, he left himself open to charges of ABETTING the perpetrators by hiding them from the police.

reconnoiter (rek-uh-NOY-ter), verb

To engage in reconnaissance. (See above.) Reconnoiter is from an old French verb meaning "to explore." Your mission is to RECONNOITER the area and meet back here at 0800 hours.

relish (REL-ish), verb

To enjoy heartily; also, an instance of great enjoyment. (Also: a sweet pickle dish composed of various vegetables.) On particularly difficult days, Barbara RELISHED a private fantasy of kicking Mr. Wilkins in the shins.

regale (rih-GALE), verb

To entertain; to give delight. Also, to provide pleasure, particularly by means of food, spectacle, or the like. In this film, although the millionaire REGALES the innocent country girl with beautiful gifts and a lavish week on the town, money isn't enough to win her heart in the end.

beseech (bih-SEECH), verb

To entreat, implore, or request earnestly. Beseech is a formal verb used to request something. In contemporary use, it reflects either great (or even fawning) politeness or urgency of the highest order. We BESEECH you, Mr. Prime Minister: think twice before committing the lives of so many of our countrymen to this cause.

appraise (uh-PRAZE), verb

To estimate (an item's) value. (See, for comparison, the entry for apprise.) This desk has been in our family for over a hundred years and I wouldn't dream of selling it—so there's really no use in getting it APPRAISED, is there?

except (ek-SEPT), verb

To exclude; also, to express opposition or disagreement to by means of argument. (See, for comparison, the listing for accept.) I want everyone we know to come to the dinner party, my old boyfriend EXCEPTED.

exert (ig-ZURT), verb

To expend effort. "Please don't EXERT yourself," Alice sneered sarcastically to her husband Fred as he lay on the couch while she vacuumed.

reproach (ri-PROACH), verb and noun

To express stern disapproval of. As a noun, reproach means scornfully stated disdain. Your many efforts to get on Harvey's good side have succeeded only in winning his REPROACH.

underwhelm (un-dur-HWELM), verb

To fail to impress or excite. (Informal.) After all the hype money could buy, the play opened to a wave of reviews written by unanimously UNDERWHELMED critics.

decipher (dih-CIE-fur), verb

To figure out or make sense of; to get the meaning of (particularly with relation to ancient or difficult writing). "If we can DECIPHER the symbols on these scrolls," said the archaeologist, "I believe we' ll know exactly where to look for the tomb."

ascertain (ass-sur-TANE), verb

To find out something by experimenting or by making inquiries. Arriving to find the house locked and shuttered, I ASCERTAINED from the neighbors that my fiance had loaded up a moving van and fled the day before.

levitate (LEV-ih-tayt), verb

To float, hover, or rise in the air, particularly as a result of supernatural or magical powers. The audience watched breathlessly as the magician seemed to make his assistant LEVITATE high above the stage.

fixate (FICK-sate), verb

To focus one's attention on, often to an alarming degree. Roy is getting too old to FIXATE on partying and casual relationships.

embroil (im-BROIL), verb

To force someone into a situation or to cause someone to become involved in a situation. Even though I was apathetic about the argument at first, I soon found myself EMBROILED in it.

abdicate (AB-di-kate), verb

To formally give up a position or responsibility. To abdicate means to step down from a high government office or other powerful position. Originally, the word referred primarily to royalty. The King, as we all know, ABDICATED rather than give up the woman he loved.

absolve (ah-ZOLV), verb

To formally pronounce guiltless or blameless. To absolve is to relieve of any responsibility for an actual or alleged misdeed. In the legal sense, absolution carries with it implication that the authorities no longer hold that the individual committed the misdeed. The judge ABSOLVED the accused of any wrongdoing.

purge (purj), verb

To free (someone or something) of all that is perceived as bad; to take steps to cleanse or purify. I tried to PURGE my system of the flu virus by drinking endless glasses of fruit juice, but I still ended up missing a week of work.

convene (kun-VEEN), verb

To gather or assemble. The legislature will not CONVENE this year until February 1.

compile (kum-PILE), verb

To gather or put together in one place or form. The disc jockey asked Janet and Peter to COMPILE a list of the songs they would most like to hear at their wedding.

obtain (ub-TANE), verb

To get or acquire. With his green card set to expire in a few months, Olaf searched for an American woman who could marry him so that he could OBTAIN citizenship.

misconstrue (mis-kun-STROO), verb

To get the wrong idea; to misunderstand or misinterpret. Tom MISCONSTRUED Linda's friendliness as flirting—until he met her boyfriend.

recompense (REK-um-pense), verb and noun

To give compensation (for suffering or injury, for instance). As a noun, recompense means "that which is given in compensation." There is no RECOMPENSE for the loss you have suffered, Mrs. Williams.

reciprocate (rih-SIP-ro-kate), verb

To give or act in turn following the lead of another. Someone who reciprocates reproduces the courtesy, gift, or example of another. Mr. Powers has shown evidence that he wants to end the feud; the least you can do is RECIPROCATE.

relinquish (ri-LING-kwish), verb

To give up. Someone who surrenders or forswears a thing relinquishes it. The King RELINQUISHED his throne to marry the woman he loved.

conform (kun-FORM), verb

To go along with what is popular; to follow the actions of others. Also: not to be in violation of (a rule, principle, ideal, or edict). As though eager to prove she had no intention of CONFORMING to her parents' idea of the perfect daughter, Bridget left home at eighteen to become a truck driver.

accost (uh-KOST), verb

To greet or approach, usually in a confrontational way; to approach in order to confront. I was having a wonderful time at Sara's wedding until Uncle George ACCOSTED me at the bar and demanded to know when I planned to get a real job.

harry (HAR-ee), verb

To harass and annoy to an excessive degree. The bill collectors HARRIED Susan until she felt forced to declare bankruptcy.

loathe (loathe), verb

To hate or detest. (See, for comparison, the entry for loath) My wife has always LOATHED the Three Stooges, a cultural lapse on her part that I am perfectly willing to forgive.

gravitate (GRAV-ih-tate), verb

To have a natural inclination toward or to be strongly attracted to something (or someone). As soon as we entered the electronics store, my kids GRAVITATED toward the video games.

facilitate (fuh-SILL-uh-tate), verb

To help, to ease the way. My knowledge of Moroccan customs FACILITATED our team's negotiations in that country.

aid (aid), verb

To help. (See, for comparison, the entry for aide.) Please help our organization's efforts to AID these refugees.

balk (bock), verb

To hesitate and refuse to go forward; to prevent from accomplishing an aim; to stop oneself in order to consider whether or not to go on. In baseball: to perform an illegal maneuver in the delivery of a throw from the pitching mound; an instance of such an illegal delivery. At first Mona BALKED at the suggestion that she apply for the position in management; she did not like the idea of working late hours.

falter (FALL-tur), verb

To hesitate, stumble, or waver; to move uncertainly. Stan had FALTERED so many times in his attempts to ask Julie for a date that his friends began to wonder whether he had ever contemplated simply giving up and becoming a monk.

adhere (ad-HERE), verb

To hold fast to, usually with a sense of honor or allegiance. Even after his career in advertising forced him to move to New York City, Mason continued to ADHERE to the values of his strict Mormon upbringing.

enthrall (en-THRALL), verb

To hold spellbound. To enthrall is to captivate or mesmerize. Garbo's performance was simply ENTHRALLING.

mortify (MORE-tih-fy), verb

To humiliate. To mortify is also to discipline (one's body) through austerity or self-denial. Mrs. Jones's mother was MORTIFIED at the thought of her daughter attending the dance unescorted.

catapult (KAT-uh-pult), verb and noun

To hurl or shoot (as from a sling); to provide or exhibit sudden upward movement. As a noun: an ancient military weapon designed to hurl arrows, stones, and other missiles. When he heard the approaching sirens, Michael CATAPULTED out of bed.

exemplify (egg-ZEMP-lih-fie), verb

To illustrate with an example or to serve as an example of something. Beethoven's music EXEMPLIFIES both the heights of joy and the depths of despair.

mimic (MIM-ik), verb

To imitate (mannerisms or speech), usually in a playful or mocking way. Jerome, who could MIMIC Mr. Harris's squeaky voice with great precision, never missed an opportunity to display his talents to the class when the instructor left the room.

ape (AYP), verb

To imitate someone else's characteristics, mannerisms, voice, etc. Joey got suspended after he APED the teacher's pronounced limp.

wallow (WALL-lo), verb

To immerse oneself in utterly. Literally, to wallow in something is to roll around in it. Joan's reviews were certainly unflattering, but in my opinion, she WALLOWED in self-pity after opening night and did the cast and crew of the show a disservice.

designate (DEZ-ig-nate), verb

To indicate; to point out or specify. The Walker sisters DESIGNATED the last Thursday of each month as their evening to leave their husbands at home and go out to dinner together.

deduce (di-DOOSE), verb

To infer; to derive from evidence or assumption. Deduce can also mean to trace down, but the logical sense is much more widespread. Holmes looked around the garden and somehow DEDUCED that the killer was a man of middle age with thinning brown hair, approximately six feet tall.

affect (uh-FEKT), verb

To influence; to stir the emotions of; to produce an effect (in something). (See, for comparison, the entry for effect.) The memory of my parents' hideous and protracted breakup AFFECTED my life profoundly, and made me vow to work harder at making my own marriage succeed.

induct (in-DUCT), verb

To install as a member with formal ceremony; to install in office. Many baseball fans feel it's a shame that Pete Rose will probably never be INDUCTED into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

accentuate (ak-SEN-choo-ate), verb

To intensify or accent. To accentuate something is to emphasize or stress it. To strengthen or heighten the effect of something is to accentuate it. Brian's new glasses ACCENTUATE his nose unflatteringly.

flashback (FLASH-back), noun

To interject a scene containing events from the past into a chronological series of present-day events; an instance of such a scene. Casablanca's FLASHBACK scenes of the two lovers during their time in Paris give us a sense of the love they shared—and the magnitude of Rick's loss.

construe (kun-STROO), verb

To interpret or guess the meaning of. Ann's constant tardiness was CONSTRUED by her supervisor as an inability to balance the demands of her job and her family.

innovate (IN-uh-vate), verb

To introduce something new or to make significant changes to something, such as an invention, that already exists. The familiar adjective form is "innovative." The inventors spent their day, tinkering and INNOVATING, until they came up with the perfect mousetrap. The world quickly beat a path to their door.

enmesh (en-MESH), verb

To involve, entangle, or implicate. Literally, enmesh means to catch with a mesh net; the word has acquired a broader metaphorical sense as well. The judge suddenly found himself ENMESHED in the ins and outs of local politics.

vex (vex), verb

To irritate or bother. Although his school friends constantly teased him about his ballet lessons, Ken never allowed their comments to VEX him.

emanate (EM-uh-nate), verb

To issue forth as from a source. To emanate is to flow from a point. The sounds EMANATING from the room next door were not comforting.

incarcerate (in-KAHR-suh-rate), verb

To jail or imprison. I never thought I' d be INCARCERATED just for failing to pay over one hundred parking tickets!

conjugate (KAHN-juh-gut OR KAHN-juh-gate), verb

To join together, especially in a pair or in pairs. As soon as the music started, men and women began to CONJUGATE on the dance floor.

deem (deem), verb

To judge; to regard or assess. For reasons the writer could not fathom, his boardroom scene, which contained no nudity or violence and only the mildest language, was DEEMED unsuitable for network broadcast.

shun (shun), verb

To keep away from or avoid. Wade's parents thought he would be glad they had agreed to chaperone the school dance, and seemed surprised when he SHUNNED them for the entire evening.

delete (duh-LEET), verb

To leave out or omit. After a brief discussion with the principal, the members of the booster club decided to DELETE the section of their cheer that questioned the ancestry of the coach of the Brentwater football team.

emancipate (ee-MAN-si-pate), verb

To liberate. That which emancipates frees from restraint or oppression. Lincoln's decision to EMANCIPATE the slaves is considered by many to be the most significant event of the period.

grovel (GROV-ul), verb

To lie prostrate, especially when done as a sign of humility. Another meaning of grovel is to give oneself over completely to subservience. To see his sister reduced to GROVELING for approval in this way was almost too much for Ryan to take.

cohabitate (koh-HAB-ih-tait), verb

To live together as man and wife, or to live together as though one were man and wife. I don't know why Jim and Liza don't go ahead and get married. They've been COHABITATING for six years now!

abominate (uh-BOM-ih-nate), verb

To loathe or hate; to view with extreme hostility. Miss Green ABOMINATED the notion of children working twelve-hour days, and sought legislation forbidding companies from hiring minor workers.

careen (kuh-REEN), verb

To lurch while moving; to swerve. Suddenly we hit a patch of oil, and our car CAREENED into the guardrail.

domesticate (do-MESS-ti-kate), verb

To make accustomed to home life. To domesticate often carries the sense of refining another's "uncivilized" instincts. Though she had done her best to DOMESTICATE Charles, Prudence had to admit that he was still a difficult marriage partner.

augment (og-MENT), verb

To make bigger; increase; enhance. The evening's program—a series of soliloquies from Shakespeare—was AUGMENTED by a short reading from Bradley's Notes on Hamlet.

perpetuate (purr-PETCH-oo-ate), verb

To make everlasting; to prolong memory or use (of a thing). To perpetuate someone's memory is to cause that person's life to be recalled after his death. The rumor that I am resigning has been PERPETUATED by a number of sources, all completely unreliable.

adulterate (a-DUL-ter-ate), verb

To make impure or tainted. To adulterate is to reduce the quality of something— for instance, by substituting inferior ingredients. An unadulterated product is one that retains its original high quality and has not been tampered with in any way. At the turn of the century, the sale of ADULTERATED dairy products in the U.S. caused a major scandal.

exhilarated (ig-ZILL-uh-rate-ud), verb

To make lively; to excite or energize. Those evening runs in the cool air of the spring were always EXHILARATING, especially after a day spent cooped up in a stuffy office.

stupefy (STOO-puh-fie), verb

To make numb with amazement; to stun into helplessness. The prospect of working until the morning hours left me STUPEFIED, but there was no alternative.

allude (uh-LOOD), verb

To make passing reference to. A person who gives a few details but does not describe an event openly and completely could be said to allude to that event. Similarly, someone who makes a brief reference to an incident in a certain novel is considered to have made an allusion to the work. I am aware of the incident you are ALLUDING to, Mr. Mayor, but I am afraid you have been misinformed about the events of that night.

divulge (dih-VULJ), verb

To make public something that once was secret. Most information about John F. Kennedy's extramarital inclinations was not DIVULGED until after the president's death.

burnish (BURR-nish), verb

To make shiny or lustrous due to rubbing or polishing. Every day, Sam lovingly BURNISHES his Lexus's custom purple paint job.

dilute (die-LOOT), verb

To make the strength of something, such as a mixture, weaker by adding additional objects, ingredients, compounds, etc. to it. Frederica never DILUTES her words. She' ll tell you exactly how she feels.

temper (TEM-per), verb

To moderate or lessen the impact or harshness of something. Tom TEMPERED his harsh words with a warm smile.

mitigate (MIH-tih-gate), verb

To moderate. To mitigate is to lessen in impact or degree, or to cause to become less intense or severe. The international situation had seemed tense until a number of MITIGATING factors—notably the overthrow of General Sanchez— came into play.

amend (uh-MEND), verb

To modify or update. (See, for comparison, the entry on emend.) In light of the testimony we've heard tonight, Madame President, I' d like to AMEND my earlier remarks.

flounce (flownts), verb

To move about with exaggerated motion or in a spasmodic manner. The actress flounced about as she entered the premiere with her entourage.

recede (rih-SEED), verb

To move back or away. My brother is so sensitive about his RECEDING hairline that he's started wearing a hat whenever he goes out in public.

proliferate (pro-LIF-uh-rate), verb

To multiply or come into being rapidly. To proliferate can also mean to spread or become more common at an accelerated pace. After the film's success, a number of cheap imitations PROLIFERATED for a time.

tousle (TAU-zul), verb

To muss up or dishevel. Lynne admired the model's TOUSLED hair, but she knew that what looked sexy on a long, elegant face like that would look like an accident with a blender on her.

apprise (uh-PRIZE), verb

To notify; to cause to be aware of. (See, for comparison, the entry for appraise.) Have you been APPRISED of the most recent news from home?

impede (im-PEED), verb

To obstruct progress; to block. The fire regulations are quite clear on the question of storage in this hallway; nothing is allowed to IMPEDE access to the main exit.

intercede (in-tur-SEED), verb

To offer aid or action on another's behalf; to interrupt (a conflict or altercation) to help another. Much to my amazement, my big brother, whose main goal in life had always seemed to be to torment me, INTERCEDED when the school bully tried to attack me.

embellish (em-BELL-ish), verb

To ornament and beautify. To embellish is to improve in appearance by adornment; an embellishment, then, can be a fanciful addition (or, by extension, even a convenient exaggeration of the facts). Marie's gown was EMBELLISHED with tiny pearls.

elapse (ee-LAPS), verb

To pass or go by (said of time). Two hours ELAPSED at the dentist's office before my name was finally called.

percolate (PUR-kuh-layt), verb

To pass or make pass through a porous body. I was dying for a cup of fresh brewed coffee, but as I didn't have time to wait for it to PERCOLATE, I had to settle for instant.

foist (foist), verb

To pawn off (something undesirable). To foist something on someone is to assign it or pass it along to him despite his wishes. This project was FOISTED on us because everyone believed it was impossible, and because we were considered the worst department in the organization.

heed (heed), verb

To pay attention to; to take into consideration; as a noun, an instance of notice or attention. Don't HEED my brother George; he always tries to make me look bad in front of my dates.

disburse (dis-BURSE), verb

To pay out; to expend. After meeting with the president, our comptroller was finally authorized to DISBURSE the funds.

permeate (PURR-mee-ate), verb

To penetrate. Something that permeates spreads throughout. Joan's stories are PERMEATED with a sense of spiritual mystery.

impale (im-PALE), verb

To pierce with a sharp object; to pin or hold down. Carol, with her flair for the dramatic, urged her husband to fix the loose pickets on the fence before one of the neighborhood children was IMPALED.

appease (uh-PEEZE), verb

To placate; to soothe or satisfy. I only wore the dress to APPEASE my mother, who had made pointed comments all week about people who went to weddings dressed like slobs.

immerse (im-MURCE), verb

To plunge into or surround with liquid. Radios, electric shavers, and other electrical appliances can deliver lethal electric shocks if IMMERSED in water while plugged in.

stoke (stoke), verb

To poke or feed (a fire); to supply with fuel. My opponent's remarks are meant to STOKE the fires of intolerance, not help us learn to live with one another.

lionize (LIE-uh-nize), verb

To praise excessively; to idolize. For years young baseball fans LIONIZED Babe Ruth, whose many indiscretions were usually overlooked by the press.

compliment (KOM-pluh-munt), verb

To praise or flatter. (See, for comparison, the entry for complement.) The waiter COMPLIMENTED Harry on his choice of wine.

tout (towt), verb

To publicize in a boastful, extravagant manner. The studio TOUTED its latest picture as "the greatest story ever told."

chastise (TCHAH-stize), verb

To punish or scold severely in hopes that by so doing, new behavior will result. The teacher CHASTISED the student for being constantly disruptive.

jeopardize (JEP-ur-dize), verb

To put in danger of being harmed or adversely affected. Only after he had narrowly avoided being arrested did Marcus realize that his behavior could JEOPARDIZE his future as a lawyer.

rectify (REK-tih-fie), verb

To put right. Someone who rectifies a calculation corrects the mathematical errors it contains. Ellen RECTIFIED her previous mistakes and filed the report.

cite (site), verb

To quote or refer to. (See, for comparison, the entry for site.) I've CITED your brilliant paper several times in my upcoming book, Dr. Wilson.

excerpt (EK-surpt), noun

To quote or reproduce a portion of a book, play, poem, etc. Although it may not have been his intention, the rock singer was helping to educate his young audience by using EXCERPTS from the sonnets of Shakespeare in his lyrics.

grope (groap), verb

To reach about blindly. Grope can also be used figuratively to describe someone who acts in uncertainty of purpose. He GROPED for the right words, but could not manage to come up with an acceptable explanation.

reminisce (rem-uh-NISS), verb

To recall the past; to remember; to have memories. I used to like to sit on the porch swing with Grandma on those cool summer nights and listen to her REMINISCE about her childhood in Italy.

lie (lie), verb

To recline; to rest. Also: to tell an untruth. Also: a falsehood. (See, for comparison, the entry for lay.) "I'm just LYING here doing nothing," Rick LIED, pointing to the tiny microphone and motioning for Trudy to keep quiet.

abstain (ub-STANE), verb

To refrain from; to refuse to partake in; to go without voluntarily. Maria, who had ABSTAINED from eating meat while in high school, was persuaded to try a cheeseburger on her graduation night.

recoup (rih-KOOP), verb

To regain or recover the equivalent of something lost. John robotically placed coins in the slot machine, trying desperately to RECOUP his losses.

spurn (spurn), verb

To reject with disdain. Ginger had thought of trying to locate the child she had given up for adoption fifteen years before, but she was afraid he would SPURN her attempts to see him.

vent (vent), verb

To relieve pressure by giving expression to something, in the way a vent allows steam to escape. The boss made me so mad that I didn't feel back to normal until I was able to VENT to my wife about the situation.

debug (dee-BUG), verb

To remove errors from (a computer program). Although the initial programming work was complete, Aaron anticipated that the DEBUGGING process would be long and arduous.

exfoliate (ecks-FOAL-ee-ate), verb

To remove the surface of something—such as skin—in flakes or scales. Andrea's skin is always perfect because she EXFOLIATES twice a day.

refurbish (re-FUR-bish), verb

To renovate or repair. To refurbish is to restore to a state of attractive completion. The housing project's volunteers REFURBISHED the abandoned apartments in record time.

supplant (suh-PLANT), verb

To replace with something—or someone—else. After Linda moved in, Roy found many of his most-treasured pieces of unique—some might say ugly—artwork SUPPLANTED with tasteful, traditional watercolors.

paraphrase (PARE-uh-frase), verb

To restate in different words. Also, as a noun: an instance of such restating. To call this work a new translation of the original Greek texts is an overstatement; it is a capable, but by no means groundbreaking, PARAPHRASE of existing English editions.

regress (rih-GRESS), verb

To return to an earlier state of being. Every time Dan gets around Lydia he REGRESSES to some sort of infantile state.

transpose (trans-POZE), verb

To reverse or change the position of. To transpose A and B is to put A in B's place, and vice versa. The two frames of the film had been mysteriously TRANSPOSED, so that it now looked as though the man's head moved forward suddenly instead of backward.

invert (in-VURT), verb

To reverse; to change to an opposite orientation or course. After complaining of poor vision all morning, Kathy found out that her problem was an INVERTED left contact lens.

scrutinize (SKROOT-n-ize), verb

To review extremely closely. Someone who examines an object or document in minute detail scrutinizes it. It is your job to SCRUTINIZE these applications carefully for any inaccuracies or misleading statements.

resuscitate (rih-SUS-ih-tate), verb

To revive someone after he or she has passed out or died. The crowd cheered as the lifeguard RESUSCITATED the drowning victim.

transcend (tran-SEND), verb

To rise above common levels. The young violinist's performance at the recital TRANSCENDED all of his teacher's expectations.

chafe (chayf), verb

To rub or irritate. (See, for comparison, the entry for chaff.) The new shoes CHAFED my heels the first day and left me with two prize-winning blisters.

disseminate (diss-SEM-ih-nate), verb

To scatter across a broad spectrum; to spread far and wide. To disseminate is to promulgate (a message, for instance). In DISSEMINATING this information, Mr. Powers placed innumerable foreign operatives at grave risk.

forage (FOR-uj), verb

To search or hunt for food and provisions. I awoke just in time to find the dog FORAGING in our picnic basket.

salivate (SAL-ih-vate), verb

To secrete saliva. To salivate over something is to eagerly anticipate eating it; the word has seen some figurative use in this sense. We now know that dogs will SALIVATE upon hearing a bell they associate with food, even if the food is not present.

commemorate (kum-MEM-uh-rate), verb

To serve as a memorial for; to mark or celebrate as a significant event. Arthur, a Korean War veteran, would COMMEMORATE Memorial Day by visiting the cemetery and placing flags on the graves of friends who had fallen in battle.

lay (lay), verb

To set something down in a certain position; to place (an object) upon something. (See, for comparison, the entry for lie.) Unlike the verb "to lie," the verb "to LAY" must take a direct object, as in "That script really laid an egg."

clinch (klinch), verb

To settle a matter decisively or definitely. Also, as a noun: a passionate embrace. Even Coach Jones admitted that his team had slacked off after they CLINCHED first place in their division.

reconcile (REK-un-sile), verb

To settle or bring into agreement. One can reconcile conflicts, contradictory columns of figures, or even internal emotions that seem at odds with each other. How is the White House to RECONCILE these conflicting signals from the Kremlin?

whittle (HWIT-ul), verb

To shape a piece of wood and make it smooth by shaving or carving off pieces. I thought WHITTLING was a pretty useless activity until I saw the beautiful walking stick Uncle Zeke had whittled for Grandpa.

empathize (EM-puh-thize), verb

To share another's emotions. To empathize with someone is to understand and identify with his situation and feelings. Although I can EMPATHIZE with your plight, there is very little I can do to help.

atrophy (A-truh-phee), verb

To shrivel or shrink from lack of use. After sitting around on the couch all summer, my leg muscles had ATROPHIED so much that I had trouble walking to the mailbox!

avoid (uh-VOID), verb

To shun; to stay removed from. (See, for comparison, the entry for evade.) At all costs, AVOID the Chef 's Surprise at Trudy's Whistlestop Cafe.

evade (ee-VADE), verb

To sidestep or dodge; to flee from (a pursuer). (See, for comparison, the entry for avoid.) The fugitives EVADED the authorities for three months, but were finally apprehended near Scottsdale, Arizona.

daub (dawb), verb

To smear with a sticky substance; to paint a surface in a hurried fashion. I can see you've DAUBED a little black grease paint under your nose, Frank, but I'm afraid a good Groucho costume will require more than that.

canvass (KAN-vus), verb

To solicit (support, opinions, votes, etc.). (See, for comparison, the entry for canvas.) Virgil and I spent all Sunday walking around the city CANVASSING for our candidate.

gyrate (JIE-rate), verb

To spin; to wind or coil. "What you kids do today isn't dancing," said Grandma; "all you do is jump and GYRATE willy-nilly."

diffuse (diff-YOOZ), verb

To spread out and circulate through air, water, etc. As an adjective, the word is pronounced "diff-USE" and describes something that is scattered. Serious allergies and colds were traced to mold DIFFUSED by the faulty air conditioning system.

galvanize (GAL-vuh-nize), verb

To stimulate into action; to motivate (as if with an electric shock). After considerable national debate over the merits of entering into a "European war," the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor GALVANIZED American public opinion as nothing else could.

goad (goad), verb

To stimulate, urge, or prod, especially toward a given action. Originally, a goad was a pointed stick used to prod animals. Brian decided not to write his name on the wall, despite his friends' attempts to GOAD him into doing so.

bolster (BOWL-ster), verb

To strengthen, support, or prop up. Since Rhonda is a news junkie, she's always able to BOLSTER with facts her opinions about world events.

endeavor (in-DEV-ur), verb

To strive for or attempt; to try to reach. For the better part of a decade, Michael had ENDEAVORED to turn his novel into something that would touch the souls of everyone who read it.

emulate (EM-yoo-late), verb

To strive to match or better by means of imitation. Someone who emulates another uses that person's actions as a model for future success or mastery. David always felt that the key to his success was his decision to EMULATE his father in his professional and home life.

grapple (GRAP-ul), verb

To struggle (with an opponent or enemy); to attempt to pin down or throw to the ground. Alert Secret Service agents GRAPPLED with the armed intruder and wrestled him to the ground before any shots were fired.

flounder (FLOWN-dur), verb

To struggle clumsily. (See, for comparison, the entry for founder.) Also: a fish. My FLOUNDERING efforts to open the door while holding five packages were the object of some amusement to my roommate, but he did not offer to relieve me of any of them.

validate (VAL-ih-date), verb

To substantiate or confirm; to make valid. I won't VALIDATE your accusations with a response.

prevail (prih-VAIL), verb

To succeed and become dominant, or to be widespread. The challenger ultimately PREVAILED over the two-time heavyweight champion.

swelter (SWEL-tur), verb

To suffer from extreme heat. Jasmine and I found ourselves lost in the middle of the jungle, SWELTERING in the tropical heat.

conjure (KON-jur), verb

To summon or bring about (as if by supernatural means). Someone who conjures up an image of something brings it to mind in a vivid way. I cannot simply CONJURE up the figures you are looking for; the project will take some time.

eke (eek), verb

To supplement through adversity. Also: to survive or subsist by means of hard labor or strenuous effort. Eke (usually used with "out") is derived from the Greek for "augment." Roger managed to EKE out an existence by working two jobs.

waver (WAY-vur), verb

To sway; to quiver or flutter; also, to move back and forth on an issue before making a final decision. Although the administration did its utmost to secure legislative support for the controversial initiative, three WAVERING senators announced their opposition to it last night, thus guaranteeing that the bill will never make its way out of committee.

abduct (ub-DUCT)verb

To take a person away secretly and illegally, often by use of force; to kidnap. My sister Ellen used to take such long showers that Dad would jokingly ask if she' d been ABDUCTED by aliens.

wrest (rest), verb

To take away; to pull away forcefully. When it comes to dealing with friends who are drunk and want to drive home by themselves, Mr. Powell advocates tactful suggestions, shrewd negotiation, and, if all else fails, an outright attempt to WREST the keys away from the person.

accept (ak-SEPT), verb

To take into possession. (See, for comparison, the listing for except.) I'm happy to ACCEPT your invitation to dinner, Claude.

transpire (tran-SPIRE), verb

To take place. That which happens transpires. Mrs. Potter, please tell the court exactly what TRANSPIRED that night as you remember it.

bluster (BLUS-ter), verb

To threaten swaggeringly or issue extravagant threats. Bluster is related to the same old word from which blow (as in "the wind blows") is derived. He seems fierce at first, but you must remember that he depends largely on BLUSTERING to get his way.

disdain (diss-DANE), verb

To treat with contempt; to dismiss haughtily. To disdain is to reject due to unworthiness. Mark DISDAINS Janet's company; he cannot forgive her lapse at last September's party.

quaver (KWAY-vur), verb

To tremble, shake, or quiver. Eddie's hand QUAVERED as he extended the box containing the diamond ring across the table toward Helene.

plod (plod), verb

To trudge along slowly, as if weighed down. The tour guide noticed Nelson PLODDING along behind the rest of the group and guessed that he was not a big fan of Monet.

deviate (DEE-vee-ate), verb

To turn away from or go off course; change course or direction. As a noun (DEE-vee-ut), a person who departs from the standard or norm. My daughter's choice to wear cowboy boots with her wedding gown certainly DEVIATED from my standards of propriety, but there was no changing her mind.

writhe (rythe), verb

To twist (the body), especially in reaction to pain or strong sensation. To writhe is to twist the body or squirm. The injured dog WRITHED in agony, but soon calmed down when the vet administered a local anesthetic.

subvert (sub-VUHRT), verb

To undermine, corrupt, or overthrow. Sherry considers herself a rebel because she loves to SUBVERT society's traditions.

deplete (dih-PLEET), verb

To use up completely; to exhaust. Once the coal deposits in the valley had been DEPLETED, the town of Harlenville, which had thrived for thirty years, virtually ceased to exist.

modulate (MOJ-uh-late), verb

To vary. In music, to modulate is to change from one key to another. The radio announcer began MODULATING his voice in order to counter criticisms that be spoke in a monotone.

resonate (REZ-uh-nate), verb

To vibrate or sound in a way similar to something else. In addition, that which matches or complements an existing pattern can be said to resonate with that pattern. The sound of clicking footsteps RESONATED through the cavernous hallway.

transgress (trans-GRESS), verb

To violate a principle or moral law. After having TRANSGRESSED once, an agonized Henry knew he would never violate the club's rules again.

totter (TOT-tur), verb

To walk or move with unsteady steps; to sway at ground level. The sight of Mr. Bass TOTTERING home from another night at Mulvaney's Pub was enough to make a teetotaler out of anyone.

fluctuate (FLUK-choo-ate), verb

To waver between one thing and another; to change or shift back and forth constantly. The dietitian said we should not worry if our weight FLUCTUATED between two and five pounds in either direction of our goal as long as we were able to maintain a weight in that range.

abrade (uh-BRADE), verb

To wear away or rub off; to wear down in spirit. To abrade is to erode or break down. Sandpaper abrades the surface of wood. The campaign had hoped for a hard-hitting, informative television commercial, but the ad—widely perceived as negative and mean- spirited—served only to ABRADE voter support.

wean (ween), verb

To withdraw from a habit or form of enjoyment. The phrase "wean on" suggests accustoming someone to something at an early age. Sasha is a great pianist because she was practically WEANED on Beethoven.

dabble (DAB-uhl), verb

To work in something or concern oneself with something in an offhand manner. I always just thought I DABBLED in watercolors until the mayor saw one of my paintings and offered me a thousand dollars for it.

ingratiate (in-GRAY-she-ate), verb

To work very hard to gain someone's favor, most likely with an eye toward receiving something in return at a future date. Paul tried hard to INGRATIATE himself with his fiancee's stern parents.

ravage (RAV-ij), verb

To wreak havoc or inflict ruinous damage upon. My online Mongol hordes RAVAGED the simulated village.

postmortem (post-MORE-tuhm), noun

Traditionally, "postmortem" has referred to the examination of a body after death, but pundits have picked up on the word and use it to describe a political, cultural, social, etc. event, after the event's occurrence. Pundits spent weeks doing POSTMORTEMS of the lengthy primaries once the primaries finally ended.

bombarded (bom-BARD-ud), verb

Under attack; also, peppered with queries, problems, accusations, etc. During the final class before the midterm exam, Professor Strang was BOMBARDED with questions from her panicky students.

apprehension (ap-ri-HEN-sun), noun

Uneasiness about the future; suspicion of impending bad fortune. Also: the act of arresting or stopping. Another sense of apprehension is "idea or understanding." A vague feeling of APPREHENSION came over Gordon as he stepped into the old house.

solidarity (sol-uh-DARE-ih-tee), noun

Unity arising from a common purpose or situation. As the project's deadline got closer and closer, the assembled team showed an amount of SOLIDARITY that it earlier had lacked.

altruism (AL-troo-iz-uhm), noun

Unselfish devotion to the well being of others. Mother Theresa's life was marked by ALTRUISM toward the poor and suffering of the world.

dyslexia (dis-LEKS-ee-uh), noun

Unusual trouble with spelling or reading caused by a brain condition. Dyslexia is rooted in an impairment in interpreting spatial relationships. Judith's DYSLEXIA frequently caused her to transpose letters in words.

frivolity (frih-VOL-ih-tee), noun

Unworthy of serious note; insubstantial. To engage in frivolity is to behave in a lighthearted or even ludicrous way. We have no time for FRIVOLITY; tomorrow morning, the manager is coming.

finesse (fih-NESS), verb

Using subtle charm and style to resolve a problem; smooth, skillful maneuvering. David's legendary ability to FINESSE his way out of any situation was taxed to the extreme when his wife returned early from a business trip and found him in the hot tub with his secretary.

congeal (kuhn-JEEL), verb

When discussing inanimate objects, something congeals when it thickens or gels. When discussing people's attitudes, "congeal" means to become hard-headed and rigid. Over time, the delusions that caused my father-in-law to launch a multitude of harebrained schemes CONGEALED until it was impossible to talk sense to him.

buffalo (BUFF-uh-low), verb

When used as a verb, this familiar animal means to baffle thoroughly. I was completely BUFFALOED by Karen's angry response to my courteous greeting.

who's (hooze), contraction

Who is. (See, for comparison, the entry for whose.) WHO'S going to the fair with me tonight?

furor (FYOOR-ur), noun

Widespread excitement or anger; fury or uproar among persons or institutions. Governor White's indictment for embezzlement caused a FUROR in the state.

stationery (STAY-shun-air-ee), noun

Writing paper. (See, for comparison, the entry for stationary.) Following her wedding, Amy had STATIONERY embossed with her married name.

you're (yore), contraction

You are. (See, for comparison, the entry for your.) Are you sure YOU'RE going to go to the party tonight?