Vocabulary

Spiffy

smart in appearance. "a spiffy new outfit"

Timbre

the character or quality of a musical sound or voice as distinct from its pitch and intensity. "trumpet mutes with different timbres"

Torrid

very hot and dry. "the torrid heat of the afternoon"

Cryptic

having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure. "he found his boss's utterances too cryptic" OR zoology (of coloration or markings) serving to camouflage an animal in its natural environment.

Discord

lack of agreement or harmony

Salient

most noticeable or important. "it succinctly covered all the salient points of the case"

Adjacent

near, next to, adjoining OR GEOMETRY: (of angles) having a common vertex and a common side

Acme

noun the point at which someone or something is best, perfect, or most successful. "physics is the acme of scientific knowledge"

Grandiloquent

pompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner, especially in a way that is intended to impress. "a grandiloquent celebration of Spanish glory"

Stymied

prevent or hinder the progress of

Lucrative

producing a great deal of profit

Semantic

relating to meaning in language or logic.

Seminal

Adjective (of a work, event, moment, or figure) strongly influencing later developments. "his seminal work on chaos theory" OR BOTANY relating to or derived from the seed of a plant.

Perfunctory

Adjective (of an action or gesture) carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection. "he gave a perfunctory nod"

Sessile

Adjective BIOLOGY (of an organism, e.g. a barnacle) fixed in one place; immobile. OR BOTANY•ZOOLOGY (of a plant or animal structure) attached directly by its base without a stalk or peduncle. "sporangia may be stalked or sessile"

Aggrieved

(adj.) distressed, wronged, injured (The foreman mercilessly overworked his aggrieved employees.)

Moribund

(of a person) at the point of death. OR (of a thing) in terminal decline; lacking vitality or vigor. "the moribund commercial property market"

Stolid

(of a person) calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation. "a stolid bourgeois gent"

Hoarse

Adjective (of a person's voice) sounding rough and harsh, typically as the result of a sore throat or of shouting. "a hoarse whisper"

Mellifluous

Adjective (of a voice or words) sweet or musical; pleasant to hear. "the voice was mellifluous and smooth"

Faineant

Adjective idle or ineffective.

Lugubrious

Adjective looking or sounding sad and dismal. "his face looked even more lugubrious than usual"

Strident

Adjective loud and harsh; grating. "his voice had become increasingly sharp, almost strident" OR presenting a point of view, especially a controversial one, in an excessively and unpleasantly forceful way. "public pronouncements on the crisis became less strident" OR PHONETICS another term for sibilant.

Opulent

Adjective ostentatiously rich and luxurious or lavish. "the opulent comfort of a limousine" OR wealthy. "his more opulent tenants"

Empyrean

Adjective relating to heaven or the sky. "the empyrean domain where human will and God's will became as one" OR Noun heaven, in particular the highest part of heaven.

Tremulous

Adjective shaking or quivering slightly. "Barbara's voice was tremulous" OR timid; nervous. "he gave a tremulous smile"

Inimitable

Adjective so good or unusual as to be impossible to copy; unique. "the inimitable ambience of Hawaii"

Fly-by-night

Adjective unreliable or untrustworthy, especially in business or financial matters. "cheap suits made by fly-by-night operators" OR Noun an unreliable or untrustworthy person.

Inordinate

Adjective unusually or disproportionately large; excessive. "a case that had taken up an inordinate amount of time"

High-handed

Adjective using power or authority without considering the feelings of others. "they oppose this cruel and high-handed takeover"

Fastidious

Adjective very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail. "he chooses his words with fastidious care" OR very concerned about matters of cleanliness. "the child seemed fastidious about getting her fingers sticky or dirty"

Courtly

Adjective very polite or refined, as befitting a royal court. "he gave a courtly bow"

Tenuous

Adjective very weak or slight. "the tenuous link between interest rates and investment" OR very slender or fine; insubstantial. "a tenuous cloud"

Knotty

Adjective (of a problem or matter) extremely difficult or intricate.

Unexampled

Adjective•FORMAL having no precedent or parallel. "a regime that brought such unexampled disaster on its people"

Ludic

Adjective•FORMAL showing spontaneous and undirected playfulness.

Albeit

Conjunction although. "he was making progress, albeit rather slowly"

Edification

FORMAL Noun the instruction or improvement of a person morally or intellectually. "the idea that art's main purpose is to supply moral uplift and edification"

Castigate

FORMAL Verb reprimand (someone) severely. "he was castigated for not setting a good example"

Jongleur

HISTORICAL Noun an itinerant minstrel.

Missive

HUMOROUS Noun a letter, especially a long or official one. "he hastily banged out electronic missives"

Knockoff

INFORMAL Noun a copy or imitation, especially of an expensive or designer product. "knockoff merchandise"

Dust-up

INFORMAL Noun a fight or quarrel. "you and Larry had a dust-up over Val?"

Runaround

INFORMAL Noun difficult or awkward treatment, especially in which someone is evasive or avoids a question. "the times he got the runaround looking for work"

Forbearance

Noun LAW the action of refraining from exercising a legal right, especially enforcing the payment of a debt. 1 definition omitted.

Syncope

Noun MEDICINE temporary loss of consciousness caused by a fall in blood pressure. OR GRAMMAR the omission of sounds or letters from within a word, for example when library is pronounced /ˈlʌɪbri/.

Fulguration

Noun MEDICINE the destruction of small growths or areas of tissue using diathermy.

Brindle

Noun a brownish or tawny color of animal fur, with streaks of other color. "coat colors included red, brindle, and yellowish cream" OR an animal with a brindled coat. "he is hoping the speedy brindle can retain the cup" OR Adjective (especially of domestic animals) brownish or tawny with streaks of other color. "a brindle pup"

Gossamer

Noun a fine, filmy substance consisting of cobwebs spun by small spiders, seen especially in autumn. OR used to refer to something very light, thin, and insubstantial or delicate. "in the light from the table lamp, his hair was blond gossamer"

Byline

Noun a line in a newspaper naming the writer of an article.

Dissertation

Noun a long essay on a particular subject, especially one written as a requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. "Joe wrote his doctoral dissertation on Thucydides"

Billow

Noun a large undulating mass of something, typically cloud, smoke, or steam OR Verb (of fabric) fill with air and swell outward. "her dress billowed out around her"

Encyclical

Noun a papal letter sent to all bishops of the Roman Catholic Church.

Pedant

Noun a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning. "the royal palace (some pedants would say the ex-royal palace)"

Anglophile

Noun a person who is fond of or greatly admires England or Britain. OR Adjective fond or admiring of England or Britain. "the Anglophile General Marshall"

Chiasmus

Noun a rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form; e.g. 'Poetry is the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds.'.

Brocade

Noun a rich fabric woven with a raised pattern, typically with gold or silver thread. "the quilt was of white silk brocade"

Repose

Noun a state of rest, sleep, or tranquility. "in repose her face looked relaxed" OR ART harmonious arrangement of colors and forms, providing a restful visual effect. OR composure. "he had lost none of his grace or his repose" OR Verb be lying, situated, or kept in a particular place. "the diamond now reposes in the Louvre" OR lie down in rest. "how sweetly he would repose in the four-poster bed"

Axiom

Noun a statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true. "the axiom that supply equals demand" OR MATHEMATICS a statement or proposition on which an abstractly defined structure is based.

Thesis

Noun a statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved. "his central thesis is that psychological life is not part of the material world" OR a long essay or dissertation involving personal research, written by a candidate for a college degree. "a doctoral thesis" OR PROSODY an unstressed syllable or part of a metrical foot in Greek or Latin verse. 1 definition omitted.

Archetype

Noun a very typical example of a certain person or thing. "the book is a perfect archetype of the genre" OR an original that has been imitated. "the archetype of faith is Abraham" OR a recurrent symbol or motif in literature, art, or mythology. "mythological archetypes of good and evil"

Exhortation

Noun an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something. "no amount of exhortation had any effect"

Epithet

Noun an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned. "old men are often unfairly awarded the epithet "dirty."" OR an epithet as a term of abuse. "people jeered and hurled racial epithets"

Inquietude

Noun physical or mental restlessness or disturbance.

Prognathism

Noun prognathism is an extension or bulging out (protrusion) of the lower jaw (mandible). It occurs when the teeth are not properly aligned due to the shape of the face bones.

Scoria

Noun slag separated from molten metal during smelting.

Anathema

Noun something or someone that one vehemently dislikes. "racial hatred was anathema to her" OR a formal curse by a pope or a council of the Church, excommunicating a person or denouncing a doctrine.

Expiation

Noun the act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing; atonement. "an act of public expiation"

Sign-off

Noun the conclusion of a letter, broadcast, or other message. "that was their daily sign-off on the TV show"

Eve

Noun the day or period of time immediately before an event or occasion. "on the eve of her departure he gave her a little parcel" OR the evening or day before a religious festival. "the service for Passover eve"

Worldliness

Noun the quality of being experienced and sophisticated. "both display wisdom and worldliness of much older men" OR concern with material values or ordinary life rather than a spiritual existence. "Chaucer drew attention to clerical avarice and worldliness"

Candor

Noun the quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness. "a man of refreshing candor"

Limey

Noun INFORMAL•DEROGATORY a British person.

Nebbish

Noun INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN a person, especially a man, who is regarded as pitifully ineffectual, timid, or submissive. "He's a nebbish. No money, no prestige, no future"

Hoosegow

Noun INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN a prison.

Perquisite

Noun•FORMAL a thing regarded as a special right or privilege enjoyed as a result of one's position.

Smitten

Verb be strongly attracted to someone or something. "she was so smitten with the boy" OR strike with a firm blow. "he smites the water with his sword"

Spindle

Verb impale (a piece of paper) on a metal spindle for temporary filing purposes. "do not fold, spindle, or mutilate"

Saunter

Verb walk in a slow, relaxed manner, without hurry or effort OR Noun a leisurely stroll. "a quiet saunter down the road"

Swagger

Verb walk or behave in a very confident and typically arrogant or aggressive way. "he swaggered along the corridor" Noun a very confident and typically arrogant or aggressive gait or manner. "they strolled around the camp with an exaggerated swagger"

Laud

Verb•FORMAL praise (a person or their achievements) highly, especially in a public context. "the obituary lauded him as a great statesman and soldier"

Adjure

Verb•FORMAL urge or request (someone) solemnly or earnestly to do something. "I adjure you to tell me the truth"

Stymie

Verb•INFORMAL prevent or hinder the progress of. "the changes must not be allowed to stymie new medical treatments"

Souvenir

Verb•INFORMAL take as a memento. "many parts of the aircraft have been souvenired"

Vindictive

having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge. "the criticism was both vindictive and personalized"

Small-minded

having or showing rigid opinions or a narrow outlook; petty. "my family are small-minded provincials"

Credulous

having or showing too great a readiness to believe things. "a ceremony staged for credulous tourists"

Levity

humor or frivolity, especially the treatment of a serious matter with humor or in a manner lacking due respect. "as an attempt to introduce a note of levity, the words were a disastrous flop"

Esoteric

intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest. "esoteric philosophical debates"

Brisk

quick and energetic

Deferential

showing deference; respectful. "people were always deferential to him"

Reticence

the quality of being reticent; reserve. "the traditional emotional reticence of the British"

Perspicacity

the quality of having a ready insight into things; shrewdness. "the perspicacity of her remarks"

Baleful

threatening harm; menacing.

Stigmatize

to brand or mark as in some way discreditable, disgraceful, or ignominious

Wistful

vaguely longing, sadly thoughtful

Incontinent

Adjective having no or insufficient voluntary control over urination or defecation. OR lacking self-restraint; uncontrolled. "the incontinent hysteria of the fans"

Licentious

Adjective promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters. "the ruler's tyrannical and licentious behavior"

Disemboguement

Noun RARE the emergence or discharge of a river or stream into the sea or a larger river. "the disemboguement of the Rio Grande into the Sea of California"

Parlor

Noun a room in a public building for receiving guests. "the mayor's parlor" a shop or business providing specified goods or services. "a funeral parlor"

Refectory

Noun a room used for communal meals in an educational or religious institution.

Colonnade

Noun a row of trees or other tall objects. 1 definition omitted. Can be found in quizlet Architectural Terms.

Barque

Noun a sailing ship, typically with three masts, in which the foremast and mainmast are square-rigged and the mizzenmast is rigged fore-and-aft.

Amour

Noun a secret or illicit love affair or lover. "he is enraged at this revelation of his past amours"

Fastness

Noun a secure refuge, especially a place well protected by natural features. "a remote Himalayan mountain fastness" OR the ability of a material or dye to maintain its color without fading or washing away. "the dyes differ in their fastness to light"

Melodrama

Noun a sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions. OR the genre of melodrama. OR language, behavior, or events that resemble melodrama. "what little is known of his early life is cloaked in melodrama" OR HISTORICAL a play interspersed with songs and orchestral music accompanying the action.

Carbuncle

Noun a severe abscess or multiple boil in the skin, typically infected with staphylococcus bacteria. OR a bright red gem, in particular a garnet cut en cabochon.

Niche

Noun a shallow recess, especially one in a wall to display a statue or other ornament. OR Verb place or position (something) in a niche.

Loogie

Noun INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN a lump of phlegm or spittle. "he sounds like he's trying to hawk up a loogie"

Apparel

Noun•FORMAL•US clothing. "they were dressed in bright apparel" OR embroidered ornamentation on ecclesiastical vestments.

Tabulate

Verb arrange (data) in tabular form. "the system is designed to enable users to extract, analyze, and tabulate data"

Stalwart

Adjective loyal, reliable, and hardworking. "he remained a stalwart supporter of the cause" OR DATED strongly built and sturdy. "he was of stalwart build" OR Noun a loyal, reliable, and hardworking supporter or participant in an organization or team. "the stalwarts of the Ladies' Auxiliary"

Faux

Adjective made in imitation; artificial. "a string of faux pearls" OR not genuine; fake or false. "their faux concern for the well-being of the voters didn't fool many"

Clarion

Noun•HISTORICAL a shrill narrow-tubed war trumpet. OR an organ stop with a quality resembling that of a clarion.

Vis-à-vis

Preposition in relation to; with regard to. "many agencies now have a unit to deal with women's needs vis-à-vis employment" OR Noun a person or group occupying a corresponding position to that of another person or group in a different area or domain; a counterpart. "his admiration for the US armed services extends to their vis-à-vis, the Russian military" OR a face-to-face meeting. "the dreaded vis-à-vis with his boss"

Litigious

unreasonably prone to go to law to settle disputes. "our increasingly litigious society" OR concerned with lawsuits or litigation. OR suitable to become the subject of a lawsuit.

Supplement

something that completes or enhances something else when added to it. "the handout is a supplement to the official manual" OR GEOMETRY the amount by which an angle is less than 180°. OR add an extra element or amount to. "I looked for a part-time job to supplement my income" OR a substance taken to remedy the deficiencies in a person's diet. "multivitamin supplements"

Conspicuous

standing out so as to be clearly visible. "he was very thin, with a conspicuous Adam's apple" OR attracting notice or attention. "he showed conspicuous bravery"

Precocious

(of a child) having developed certain abilities or proclivities at an earlier age than usual. "he was a precocious, solitary boy" OR (of behavior or ability) indicative of early development. "a precocious talent for computing" OR (of a plant) flowering or fruiting earlier than usual.

Phlegmatic

(of a person) having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition.

Congenial

(of a person) pleasant because of a personality, qualities, or interests that are similar to one's own. "his need for some congenial company" OR (of a thing) pleasant or agreeable because suited to one's taste or inclination. "he went back to a climate more congenial to his cold stony soul"

Lanky

(of a person) ungracefully thin and tall. "Jim was a lanky bastard"

Inundate

(v.) to flood, overflow; to overwhelm by numbers or size

Listless

Adjective (of a person or their manner) lacking energy or enthusiasm. "bouts of listless depression"

Pallid

Adjective (of a person's face) pale, typically because of poor health. OR feeble or insipid. "an utterly pallid and charmless character"

Corpulent

Adjective (of a person) fat. "a short, somewhat corpulent man"

Indelible

Adjective (of ink or a pen) making marks that cannot be removed. OR not able to be forgotten or removed. "his story made an indelible impression on me"

Opprobious

Adjective (of language) expressing scorn or criticism.

Clipped

Adjective (of speech) having short, sharp vowel sounds and clear pronunciation. "his cold clipped tones"

Diametrical

Adjective Used to emphasize how completely different two or more things are. "He's the diametrical opposite of Gabriel" OR Of or along a diameter.

Buoyant

Adjective able or apt to stay afloat or rise to the top of a liquid or gas. "a buoyant substance" OR cheerful and optimistic. "the conference ended with the party in a buoyant mood"

Countable

Adjective able to be counted. OR GRAMMAR (of a noun) that can form a plural or be used with the indefinite article. "'carton' and 'refrigerator' are countable nouns"

Winsome

Adjective attractive or appealing in appearance or character. "a winsome smile"

Brummagem

Adjective cheap, showy, or counterfeit. "a vile Brummagem substitute for the genuine article"

Mendacious

Adjective not telling the truth; lying. "mendacious propaganda"

Sportive

Adjective playful; lighthearted. OR relating to, interested in, or good at sport. "Britain's architectural and sportive heritage"

Whimsical

Adjective playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way. "a whimsical sense of humor"

Masterful

Adjective powerful and able to control others. "behind the lace and ruffles was a masterful woman" OR performed or performing very skillfully. "a masterful assessment of the difficulties"

Livid

Adjective furiously angry. "he was livid at being left out" OR dark bluish gray in color. "livid bruises"

Magnanimous

Adjective generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person. "she should be magnanimous in victory"

Parti-colored

Adjective having or consisting of two or more different colors. "their wonderful parti-colored light effects"

Prurient

Adjective having or encouraging an excessive interest in sexual matters. "she'd been the subject of much prurient curiosity"

Erudite

Adjective having or showing great knowledge or learning. "Ken could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion"

Decisive

Adjective settling an issue; producing a definite result. "the Supreme Court voided the statute by a decisive 7-2 vote" OR (of a person) having or showing the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.

Multifactorial

Adjective involving or dependent on a number of factors or causes.

Cacophonous

Adjective involving or producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds. "the cacophonous sound of slot machines"

Exorbitant

Adjective (of a price or amount charged) unreasonably high. "the exorbitant price of tickets"

Plight

Noun a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation. "we must direct our efforts toward relieving the plight of children living in poverty"

Ingratitude

Noun a discreditable lack of gratitude. "she returned her daughter's care with ingratitude and unkindness"

Impropriety

Noun a failure to observe standards or show due honesty or modesty; improper language, behavior, or character. "she was scandalized at the impropriety of the question"

Millenary

Noun a period of a thousand years. OR a thousandth anniversary. Adjective consisting of a thousand people, years, etc. "he mustered millenary forces"

Vigil

Noun a period of keeping awake during the time usually spent asleep, especially to keep watch or pray. "my birdwatching vigils lasted for hours" OR a stationary, peaceful demonstration in support of a particular cause, typically without speeches. OR (in the Christian Church) the eve of a festival or holy day as an occasion of religious observance. OR nocturnal devotions.

Contiguous

Adjective sharing a common border; touching. "the 48 contiguous states" OR next or together in sequence. "five hundred contiguous dictionary entries"

Conterminous

Adjective sharing a common boundary. "the forty-eight conterminous United States" OR having the same area, context, or meaning. "a genealogy conterminous with the history of the USA"

Overweening

Adjective showing excessive confidence or pride. "overweening ambition"

Assiduous

Adjective showing great care and perseverance. "she was assiduous in pointing out every feature"

Antipathetic

Adjective showing or feeling a strong aversion. "it is human nature to be antipathetic to change"

Prodigal

Adjective spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant. "prodigal habits die hard" OR having or giving something on a lavish scale. "the dessert was crunchy with brown sugar and prodigal with whipped cream" OR Noun a person who spends money in a recklessly extravagant way. OR a person who leaves home and behaves recklessly, but later makes a repentant return.

Extemporaneous

Adjective spoken or done without preparation. "an extemporaneous speech"

Dusty

Adjective staid and uninteresting "a dusty old bore"

Asthenia

MEDICINE Noun abnormal physical weakness or lack of energy. "the asthenia of chronic respiratory disease"

Lavage

MEDICINE Noun washing out of a body cavity, such as the colon or stomach, with water or a medicated solution.

Circumspect

Adjective wary and unwilling to take risks. "the officials were very circumspect in their statements"

Oppressive

Adjective weighing heavily on the mind or spirits; causing depression or discomfort. "a profound loneliness, an oppressive emptiness" OR (of weather) excessively hot and humid. 1 definition omitted.

Prevalent

Adjective widespread in a particular area or at a particular time. "the social ills prevalent in society today"

Narcosis

Medicine a state of stupor, drowsiness, or unconsciousness produced by drugs. "the patient was treated in prone position without narcosis"

Diametrically

Adverb (with reference to opposition) completely; directly. "two diametrically opposed viewpoints"

Aback

Adverb SAILING with the sail pressed backward against the mast by a headwind.

Smartly

Adverb in an attractively neat and stylish manner. "he was dressed smartly in his suit" OR in a fashionable and upmarket style. "the restaurant is smartly decorated" OR in a quick or brisk manner. "we marched smartly to the main assembly hall"

Amidships

Adverb in the middle of a ship, either longitudinally or laterally. "the destroyer rammed her amidships" OR Adjective situated in the middle of a ship, either longitudinally or laterally. "an amidships engine room"

Efficacious

FORMAL Adjective (of something inanimate or abstract) successful in producing a desired or intended result; effective. "the vaccine has proved both efficacious and safe"

Heretofore

FORMAL Adverb before now. "diseases that heretofore were usually confined to rural areas"

Promissory

LAW Adjective conveying or implying a promise. "statements that are promissory in nature"

Expostulation

Noun The act of reasoning earnestly in order to dissuade or remonstrate. OR A comment of earnest reasoning meant to dissuade or remonstrate.

Bassinet

Noun a baby's wicker cradle, usually with a hood.

Libertine

Noun a person, especially a man, who behaves without moral principles or a sense of responsibility, especially in sexual matters. OR a person who rejects accepted opinions in matters of religion; a freethinker. OR Adjective characterized by a disregard of morality, especially in sexual matters. "his more libertine impulses" OR freethinking in matters of religion.

Datum

Noun a piece of information. "the fact is a datum worth taking into account" OR an assumption or premise from which inferences may be drawn. "this is not a permanent and unchangeable datum" OR a fixed starting point of a scale or operation. "an accurate datum is formed by which other machining operations can be carried out"

Predilection

Noun a preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something. "my predilection for Asian food"

Benefice

Noun a permanent Church appointment, typically that of a rector or vicar, for which property and income are provided in respect of pastoral duties.

Byword

Noun a person or thing cited as a notorious and outstanding example or embodiment of something. "his name became a byword for luxury" OR a word or expression summarizing a thing's characteristics or a person's principles. ""Small is beautiful" may be the byword for most couturiers"

Enigma

Noun a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand. "Madeleine was still an enigma to him"

Onus

Noun used to refer to something that is one's duty or responsibility. "the onus is on you to show that you have suffered loss"

Pandemonium

Noun wild and noisy disorder or confusion; uproar. "pandemonium broke out"

Sacrilege

Noun violation or misuse of what is regarded as sacred. "putting ecclesiastical vestments to secular use was considered sacrilege"

Water-closet

Noun DATED a flush toilet. OR a room containing a flush toilet.

Charnel House

Noun•HISTORICAL a building or vault in which corpses or bones are piled. OR a place associated with violent death. "Europe in the immediate postwar period had become a charnel house"

Canorous

RARE Adjective (of song or speech) melodious or resonant.

Histogram

STATISTICS Noun a diagram consisting of rectangles whose area is proportional to the frequency of a variable and whose width is equal to the class interval.

Rotogravure

Noun a printing system using a rotary press with intaglio cylinders, typically running at high speed and used for long print runs of magazines and stamps. "we would love to find a sheet suitable for rotogravure that is not exorbitantly priced" OR NORTH AMERICAN a sheet or magazine printed by rotogravure, especially the color magazine of a Sunday newspaper. "you could go to the races in it and get your picture in the rotogravure"

Desert

Noun a situation or area considered dull and uninteresting. "a cultural desert" OR Adjective uninhabited and desolate. "desert wastes"

Covey

Noun a small party or flock of birds, especially partridge. OR a small group of people or things. "coveys of actors rushed through the rooms"

Lament

Noun a song, piece of music, or poem expressing sorrow.

Vulgarian

Noun an unrefined person, especially one with newly acquired power or wealth. "he is a jumped-up vulgarian"

Affectation

Noun behavior, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress. "the affectation of a man who measures every word for effect" OR a studied display of real or pretended feeling. "an affectation of calm"

Doggerel

Noun comic verse composed in irregular rhythm. OR verse or words that are badly written or expressed. "the last stanza deteriorates into doggerel"

Subterfuge

Noun deceit used in order to achieve one's goal. "he had to use subterfuge and bluff on many occasions"

Verdure

Noun lush green vegetation.

Militate

Verb (of a fact or circumstance) be a powerful or conclusive factor in preventing. "these fundamental differences will militate against the two communities coming together"

Curvet

Verb (of a horse) perform a series of jumps on the hind legs. OR leap gracefully or energetically. OR Noun a graceful or energetic leap. "he sprang from the ice in a swift, frisky curvet"

Reverberate

Verb (of a loud noise) be repeated several times as an echo. "her deep booming laugh reverberated around the room" OR (of a place) appear to vibrate or be disturbed because of a loud noise. "the hall reverberated with gaiety and laughter" OR have continuing and serious effects. "the statements by the professor reverberated through the capitol"

Ford

Verb (of a person or vehicle) cross (a river or stream) at a shallow place.

Excoriate

Verb FORMAL censure or criticize severely. "the papers that had been excoriating him were now lauding him" OR MEDICINE damage or remove part of the surface of (the skin).

Edify

Verb FORMAL instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually. "Rachel had edified their childhood with frequent readings from Belloc"

Evince

Verb FORMAL reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling). "his letters evince the excitement he felt at undertaking this journey" OR be evidence of; indicate. "man's inhumanity to man as evinced in the use of torture"

Actuate

Verb cause (a machine or device) to operate. "the pendulum actuates an electrical switch" OR cause (someone) to act in a particular way; motivate. "the defendants were actuated by malice"

Stipulate

Verb demand or specify (a requirement), typically as part of a bargain or agreement. "he stipulated certain conditions before their marriage"

Decamp

Verb depart suddenly or secretly, especially to relocate one's business or household in another area. "now he has decamped to Hollywood"

Begrime

Verb blacken with ingrained dirt. "paint flaking from begrimed walls"

Vaunt

Verb boast about or praise (something), especially excessively. "he was initially vaunted by the West for his leadership of the country"

Evoke

Verb bring or recall to the conscious mind. "the sight of American asters evokes pleasant memories of childhood" OR elicit (a response). "the awkward kid who evoked giggles from his sisters" OR invoke (a spirit or deity). "Akasha is evoked in India when a house is being built to ensure its completion"

Bleak

depressing, discouraging, harsh, cold, barren, raw

Dismal

depressing; dreary.

Bereft

deprived of or lacking something

Vatic

describing or predicting what will happen in the future. "vatic utterances"

Ignominious

deserving or causing public disgrace or shame

Alight

Verb descend from a train, bus, or other form of transport. "he was the only passenger to alight from the train" OR (of a bird) descend from the air and settle. "a lovely blue swallow alighted on a branch" OR Adjective on fire; burning. "the house was alight when the firemen arrived" OR shining brightly. "a single lamp was alight"

Impugn

Verb dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of (a statement or motive); call into question. "the father does not impugn her capacity as a good mother"

Deign

Verb do something that one considers to be beneath one's dignity. "she did not deign to answer the maid's question"

Cackle

Verb make a harsh, raucous sound when laughing. "she cackled with laughter"

Reconnoiter

Verb make a military observation of (a region). "they reconnoitered the beach some weeks before the landing" OR Noun an act of reconnoitering. "a nocturnal reconnoiter of the camp"

Caterwaul

Verb make a shrill howling or wailing noise like that of a cat. "he seems to think that singing soulfully is to whine and caterwaul tunelessly" OR Noun a shrill howling or wailing noise. "the song ended in a caterwaul of feedback"

Mitigate

Verb make less severe, serious, or painful. "he wanted to mitigate misery in the world" OR lessen the gravity of (an offense or mistake). "there had been a provocation that mitigated the offense to a degree"

Tinkle

Verb make or cause to make a light, clear ringing sound. "cool water tinkled in the stone fountains"

Scandalized

Verb shock or horrify (someone) by a real or imagined violation of propriety or morality. "their lack of manners scandalized their hosts"

Abridge

Verb shorten (a piece of writing) without losing the sense. "the introduction is abridged from the author's afterword to the novel" OR LAW curtail (a right or privilege). "even the right to free speech can be abridged"

Anecdote

a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person

Excerpt

a short extract from a film, broadcast, or piece of music or writing

Penitent

adjective feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentant. "a penitent expression" OR noun a person who repents their sins or wrongdoings and (in the Christian Church) seeks forgiveness from God.

Zany

amusingly unconventional and idiosyncratic. "zany humor"

Pastiche

an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period. "the operetta is a pastiche of 18th century styles" OR an artistic work consisting of a medley of pieces taken from various sources. OR imitate the style of (an artist or work). "Gauguin took himself to a Pacific island and pastiched the primitive art he found there"

Gaol

an early English term for a jail

Myriad

a very large number

Archaic

antiquated, old, out of use

Proficient

competent or skilled in doing or using something. "I was proficient at my job" OR RARE a person who is proficient. "he became a proficient in Latin and Greek"

Dutiful

conscientiously or obediently fulfilling one's duty. "a dutiful daughter" OR motivated by duty rather than desire or enthusiasm. "dutiful applause"

Antiquarian

relating to or dealing in antiques or rare books. OR a person who studies or collects antiques or antiquities.

Taut

stretched or pulled tight; not slack. "the fabric stays taut without adhesive" OR (especially of muscles or nerves) tense; not relaxed. "my voice was taut with anger" OR (of writing, music, etc.) concise and controlled. "a taut text of only a hundred and twenty pages" OR (of a ship) having a disciplined and efficient crew. "his language was salty and he ran a taut ship"

Venue

the place where something happens, especially an organized event such as a concert, conference, or sports event

Cogitate

think deeply about something; meditate or reflect. "he stroked his beard and retired to cogitate"

Degrade

treat or regard (someone) with contempt or disrespect. "she thought that many supposedly erotic pictures degraded women" OR lower the character or quality of. "repeaters clean up and amplify the degraded signal" OR break down or deteriorate chemically. "the bacteria will degrade hydrocarbons" OR Physics reduce (energy) to a less readily convertible form.

Pensive

engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought.

Ardent

enthusiastic or passionate. "an ardent baseball fan"

Introspection

examination of one's own thoughts and feelings

E.g.

exempli gratia (for example), for instance, such as

Intravenous

existing or taking place within, or administered into, a vein or veins. "an intravenous drip"

Harried

feeling strained as a result of having demands persistently made on one; harassed. "harried reporters are frequently forced to invent what they cannot find out"

Exuberant

filled with or characterized by a lively energy and excitement. "giddily exuberant crowds"

Vivacious

lively, sprightly, full of energy

Exacerbate

make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse. "the exorbitant cost of land in urban areas only exacerbated the problem"

Facilitate

make (an action or process) easy or easier. "schools were located on the same campus to facilitate the sharing of resources"

Disingenuous

not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does. "this journalist was being somewhat disingenuous as well as cynical"

Inconspicuous

not clearly visible or attracting attention; not conspicuous. "an inconspicuous red-brick building"

Inhospitable

not welcoming; hostile

Tacit

understood or implied without being stated

Rectitude

FORMAL Noun morally correct behavior or thinking; righteousness. "Maddie is a model of rectitude"

Sheepfold

Noun a sheep pen.

Ire

Noun anger. the plans provoked the ire of conservationists"

Preponderance

Noun the quality or fact of being greater in number, quantity, or importance. "the preponderance of women among older people"

Cartage

Noun the transporting of something in a cart or other vehicle.

Nodose

TECHNICAL Adjective having or characterized by hard or tight lumps; knotty.

Pant

Verb long for, or long to do, something. "it makes you pant for more"

Bore

Verb make one's way through (a crowd).

Rapture

a feeling of intense pleasure or joy. "Leonora listened with rapture"

Stasis

a period or state of inactivity or equilibrium

Penultimate

just before the final; next to last

Morose

sullen and ill-tempered

Momentous

Adjective (of a decision, event, or change) of great importance or significance, especially in its bearing on the future. "a period of momentous changes in East-West relations"

Enervation

Noun a feeling of being drained of energy or vitality; fatigue. "a sense of enervation"

Respite

Verb RARE postpone (a sentence, obligation, etc.). "the execution was only respited a few months"

Flit

Verb SCOTTISH•NORTHERN ENGLISH leave one's home or move, typically secretly so as to escape creditors or obligations.

Regard

Verb gaze at steadily in a specified fashion. "Professor Ryker regarded him with a faint smile" OR Noun a gaze; a steady or significant look. "he shifted uneasily before their clear regard"

Assuage

Verb make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense. "the letter assuaged the fears of most members" OR satisfy (an appetite or desire). "an opportunity occurred to assuage her desire for knowledge"

Comorbidity

the simultaneous presence of two chronic diseases or conditions in a patient. "the comorbidity of anxiety and depression in Parkinson's disease"

Inconstant

Adjective frequently changing; variable or irregular. "their exact dimensions aren't easily measured since they are inconstant" OR (of a person or their behavior) not faithful and dependable.

August

Adjective respected and impressive. "she was in august company"

Indolent

Adjective wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy. "they were indolent and addicted to a life of pleasure" OR MEDICINE (of a disease or condition) causing little or no pain.

Coronach

Noun (in Scotland or Ireland) a funeral song.

Bedeck

Verb decorate. "he led us into a room bedecked with tinsel"

Translucent

(of a substance) allowing light, but not detailed shapes, to pass through; semitransparent. "fry until the onions become translucent"

Bankable

Adjective (especially in the entertainment industry) certain to bring profit and success. "he needed some bankable names to star in the film" OR reliable. "a bankable assurance"

Profuse

Adjective (especially of something offered or discharged) exuberantly plentiful; abundant. "I offered my profuse apologies"

Piebald

Adjective (of a horse) having irregular patches of two colors, typically black and white. OR Noun a piebald horse or other animal.

Sickly

Adjective (of a person's complexion or expression) indicative of poor health. "his usual sickly pallor" OR (of a flavor, smell, color, or light) so unpleasant as to induce discomfort or nausea. "the walls were painted a sickly green" OR excessively sentimental or mawkish. "a sickly fable of delicate young lovers" 1 definition omitted.

Misty

Adjective (of a person's eyes) full of tears so as to blur the vision. "it was their last night and Ruth turned her misty eyes to Fernando" OR indistinct or dim in outline. "a misty out-of-focus silhouette" OR (of a color) not bright; soft. "a misty pink" 1 definition omitted.

Sonorous

Adjective (of a person's voice or other sound) imposingly deep and full. capable of producing a deep or ringing sound. "the alloy is sonorous and useful in making bells" OR (of a speech or style) using imposing language. "they had expected the lawyers to deliver sonorous lamentations"

Fresh

Adjective (of a person) attractively youthful and inexperienced. "a fresh young girl" OR (of a color or a person's complexion) bright or healthy in appearance. "her dark hair set off her fresh complexion to perfection" OR (of the wind) cool and fairly strong. "a fresh northerly wind was speeding the ship southwards" OR INFORMAL presumptuous toward someone, especially in a sexual way. "one truck driver decided to get fresh with me" OR (of a cow) yielding a renewed or increased supply of milk following the birth of a calf.

Stout

Adjective (of a person) somewhat fat or of heavy build. "stout middle-aged men" OR (of an object) strong and thick. "Billy had armed himself with a stout stick" OR (of an act, quality, or person) brave and determined. "he put up a stout defense in court" OR Noun a kind of strong, dark beer brewed with roasted malt or barley.

Voluble

Adjective (of a person) talking fluently, readily, or incessantly. "a voluble game-show host" OR (of speech) characterized by fluency and readiness of utterance. "an excited and voluble discussion"

Rangy

Adjective (of a person) tall and slim with long, slender limbs. "a pale, rangy boy in his late teens" OR NORTH AMERICAN (of a place) having room for ranging; expansive or spacious. "rangy pasture filled with horses and cattle"

Etiolated

Adjective (of a plant) pale and drawn out due to a lack of light. "etiolated mung bean seedlings" OR having lost vigor or substance; feeble. "a tone of etiolated nostalgia"

Platitudinous

Adjective (of a remark or statement) used too often to be interesting or thoughtful; hackneyed. "this may sound platitudinous"

Low

Adjective (of latitude) near the equator. OR PHONETICS (of a vowel) pronounced with the tongue held low in the mouth; open. OR (of art or culture) considered to be inferior in quality and refinement. "the dual traditions of high and low art" OR depressed or lacking in energy. "I was feeling low" OR Noun an area of low atmospheric pressure; a depression. OR a sound made by cattle; a moo. OR Adverb in or into a low position or state. "she pressed on, bent low to protect her face" OR Verb (of a cow) make a characteristic deep sound. "the lowing of cattle"

Draconian

Adjective (of laws or their application) excessively harsh and severe. "the Nazis destroyed the independence of the press by a series of draconian laws"

Brilliant

Adjective (of light or color) very bright and radiant. OR outstanding; impressive. "his brilliant career at Harvard" OR INFORMAL•BRITISH very good, excellent, or marvelous. "we had a brilliant time" OR Noun a diamond of brilliant cut.

Platonic

Adjective (of love or friendship) intimate and affectionate but not sexual. "their relationship is purely platonic" OR of or associated with the Greek philosopher Plato or his ideas. "readers of the Platonic dialogues" OR confined to words, theories, or ideals, and not leading to practical action. "a Platonic gesture"

Louche

Adjective disreputable or sordid in a rakish or appealing way. "the louche world of the theater"

Selfsame

Adjective exactly the same. "he was standing in the selfsame spot you're filling now"

Capricious

Adjective given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior. "it's terrible to feel our livelihood hinges on a capricious boss"

Clinquant

Adjective glittering with gold and silver; tinseled. OR Noun imitation gold leaf.

Hoary

Adjective grayish white. "hoary cobwebs" OR (of a person) having gray or white hair; aged. "a hoary old fellow with a face of white stubble" OR old and trite. "that hoary American notion that bigger is better" OR used in names of animals and plants covered with whitish fur or short hairs, e.g. hoary bat, hoary cress.

Sardonic

Adjective grimly mocking or cynical

Iniquitous

Adjective grossly unfair and morally wrong. "an iniquitous tax"

Ingrown

Adjective growing or having grown within a thing; innate. "as Greek instinct or ingrown habit would have dictated" OR preoccupied with oneself; inward-looking. "direct mail is a clubby, ingrown world in which everybody knows everybody"

Intractable

Adjective hard to control or deal with. "intractable economic problems" OR (of a person) difficult or stubborn.

Towheaded

Adjective having very light blond or untidy hair.

Surreptitious

Adjective kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of. "they carried on a surreptitious affair"

Haphazard

Adjective lacking any obvious principle of organization. "the kitchen drawers contained a haphazard collection of silver souvenir spoons"

Gauche

Adjective lacking ease or grace; unsophisticated and socially awkward. "a shy and gauche teenager"

Lackadaisical

Adjective lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy. "a lackadaisical defense left the Spurs adrift in the second half"

Insipid

Adjective lacking flavor. "mugs of insipid coffee" OR lacking vigor or interest. "many artists continued to churn out insipid, shallow works"

Insensate

Adjective lacking physical sensation. "a patient who was permanently unconscious and insensate" OR lacking sympathy or compassion; unfeeling. "a positively insensate hatred" OR completely lacking sense or reason. "insensate jabbering"

Dissolute

Adjective lax in morals; licentious. "a dissolute, drunken, disreputable rogue"

Unequivocal

Adjective leaving no doubt; unambiguous. "an unequivocal answer"

Oblique

Adjective neither parallel nor at a right angle to a specified or implied line; slanting. "we sat on the settee oblique to the fireplace" OR not explicit or direct in addressing a point. "he issued an oblique attack on the president"

Irretrievable

Adjective not able to be retrieved or put right. "the irretrievable breakdown of their marriage"

Spurious

Adjective not being what it purports to be; false or fake. "separating authentic and spurious claims" OR (of a line of reasoning) apparently but not actually valid. "this spurious reasoning results in nonsense"

Self-effacing

Adjective not claiming attention for oneself; retiring and modest. "his demeanor was self-effacing, gracious, and polite"

Erratic

Adjective not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable. "her breathing was erratic"

Impassive

Adjective not feeling or showing emotion. "impassive passersby ignore the performers"

Unhallowed

Adjective not formally consecrated. "unhallowed ground" OR unholy; wicked. "unhallowed retribution"

Ignoble

Adjective not honorable in character or purpose. "ignoble feelings of intense jealousy" OR of humble origin or social status.

Unassuming

Adjective not pretentious or arrogant; modest. "he was an unassuming and kindly man"

Reticent

Adjective not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily. "she was extremely reticent about her personal affairs"

Ribald

Adjective referring to sexual matters in an amusingly coarse or irreverent way. "a ribald comment"

Insistent

Adjective regular and repeated, and demanding attention. "a telephone started ringing, loud and insistent"

Autocratic

Adjective relating to a ruler who has absolute power. "the constitutional reforms threatened his autocratic power" OR taking no account of other people's wishes or opinions; domineering. "an autocratic management style"

Sepulchral

Adjective relating to a tomb or interment. "sepulchral monuments" OR gloomy; dismal. "a speech delivered in sepulchral tones"

Auditory

Adjective relating to the sense of hearing

Brassy

Adjective resembling brass in color. OR sounding like a brass musical instrument; harsh and loud. OR (typically of a woman) tastelessly showy or loud in appearance or manner. "her brassy, audacious exterior"

Gauzy

Adjective resembling gauze; thin and translucent. "a gauzy dress"

Earthy

Adjective resembling or suggestive of earth or soil. "an earthy smell" OR (of a person or their language) direct and uninhibited, especially about sexual subjects or bodily functions. "their good-natured vulgarity and earthy humor"

Steely

Adjective resembling steel in color, brightness, or strength. "a steely blue" OR coldly determined; hard. "there was a steely edge to his questions"

Waxy

Adjective resembling wax in consistency or appearance. "waxy potatoes" OR adjective•INFORMAL•DATED angry; bad-tempered.

Wiry

Adjective resembling wire in form and texture. "his wiry black hair" OR (of a person) lean, tough, and sinewy. "Bernadette was a small, wiry woman"

Churlish

Adjective rude in a mean-spirited and surly way. "it seems churlish to complain"

Privy

Adjective sharing in the knowledge of (something secret or private). "he was no longer privy to her innermost thoughts" OR Noun a toilet located in a small shed outside a house or other building; an outhouse. OR LAW a person having a part or interest in any action, matter, or thing.

Blithe

Adjective showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper. "a blithe disregard for the rules of the road"

Obdurate

Adjective stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action. "I argued this point with him, but he was obdurate"

Risible

Adjective such as to provoke laughter. "a risible scene of lovemaking in a tent" OR RARE (of a person) having the faculty or power of laughing; inclined to laugh.

Somniferous

Adjective tending to induce sleep; soporific. "lifeless actors made the experience even more somniferous for the audiences"

Indiscrete

Adjective RARE not divided into distinct parts.

Buccal

Adjective TECHNICAL relating to the cheek. "the buccal side of the molars" OR relating to the mouth. "the buccal cavity"

Easterly

Adjective·Adverb in an eastward position or direction. "the captain ordered an easterly course" OR (of a wind) blowing from the east. "the light easterly breeze" OR Noun a wind blowing from the east.

Betimes

Adverb NORTH AMERICAN sometimes; on occasion.

Deleterious

FORMAL Adjective causing harm or damage. "divorce is assumed to have deleterious effects on children"

Avocation

FORMAL Noun a hobby or minor occupation. "they are basically doctors, and negotiators by avocation"

Pluvial

GEOLOGY Adjective relating to or characterized by rainfall. "the alternation of pluvial and arid periods in the Quaternary" OR Noun a period marked by increased rainfall.

Tintype

HISTORICAL Noun a photograph taken as a positive on a thin tin plate.

Manumit

HISTORICAL Verb release from slavery; set free. "old Angus had never manumitted a single slave"

Pooh-pooh

INFORMAL Verb dismiss (an idea or suggestion) as being foolish or impractical. "until recently, this idea was pooh-poohed by the scientific community"

Avast

NAUTICAL Exclamation stop; cease. "you, young man, avast there!"

Pinto

NORTH AMERICAN Adjective piebald. OR Noun a piebald horse.

Deportment

NORTH AMERICAN Noun a person's behavior or manners. "there are team rules governing deportment on and off the field"

Donnybrook

NORTH AMERICAN•AUSTRALIAN Noun a scene of uproar and disorder; a heated argument. "raucous ideological donnybrooks"

Commissariat

Noun MILITARY a department for the supply of food and equipment. OR a government department of the Soviet Union before 1946.

Coda

Noun MUSIC the concluding passage of a piece or movement, typically forming an addition to the basic structure. "the first movement ends with a fortissimo coda" OR the concluding section of a dance, especially of a pas de deux or the finale of a ballet in which the dancers parade before the audience. OR a concluding event, remark, or section. "his new novel is a kind of coda to his previous books"

Embouchure

Noun MUSIC the way in which a player applies the mouth to the mouthpiece of a brass or wind instrument.

Fete

Noun NORTH AMERICAN a celebration or festival. OR BRITISH a public function, typically held outdoors and organized to raise funds for a charity, including entertainment and the sale of goods and refreshments. OR Verb honor or entertain (someone) lavishly. "she was an instant celebrity, feted by the media"

Wen

Noun a boil or other swelling or growth on the skin, especially a sebaceous cyst.

Fiat

Noun a formal authorization or proposition; a decree. "adopting a legislative review program, rather than trying to regulate by fiat" OR an arbitrary order. "the appraisal dropped the value from $75,000 to $15,000, rendering it worthless by bureaucratic fiat"

Cavalcade

Noun a formal procession of people walking, on horseback, or riding in vehicles. "the royal cavalcade proceeded through the city"

Ruche

Noun a frill or pleat of fabric as decoration on a garment or home furnishing.

Furbelow

Noun a gathered strip or pleated border of a skirt or petticoat. OR showy ornaments or trimmings. "frills and furbelows just made her look stupid"

Precept

Noun a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought. "the legal precept of being innocent until proven guilty" OR a writ or warrant. "the Commissioner issued precepts requiring the companies to provide information"

Solecism

Noun a grammatical mistake in speech or writing. "everyday speech is full of solecisms" OR a breach of good manners; a piece of incorrect behavior.

Retinue

Noun a group of advisers, assistants, or others accompanying an important person. "the rock star's retinue of security guards and personal cooks"

Concourse

Noun a large open area inside or in front of a public building, as in an airport or train station. "the domestic arrivals concourse" OR FORMAL a crowd or assembly of people. "a vast concourse of learned men" OR the action of coming together or meeting. "the attracted concourse of the beauty and wealth of modern civilization"

Portmanteau

Noun a large trunk or suitcase, typically made of stiff leather and opening into two equal parts. OR consisting of or combining two or more aspects or qualities. OR "a portmanteau movie composed of excerpts from his most famous films"

Divan

Noun a long low sofa without a back or arms, typically placed against a wall. OR HISTORICAL a legislative body, council chamber, or court of justice in the Ottoman Empire or elsewhere in the Middle East.

Screed

Noun a long speech or piece of writing, typically one regarded as tedious. "her criticism appeared in the form of screeds in a local film magazine" OR a leveled layer of material (e.g., cement) applied to a floor or other surface OR a strip of plaster or other material placed on a surface as a guide to thickness. OR Verb level (a floor or layer of concrete) with a straight edge using a back and forth motion while moving across the surface.

Esplanade

Noun a long, open, level area, typically beside the sea, along which people may walk for pleasure. OR an open, level space separating a fortress from a town.

Bungalow

Noun a low house, with a broad front porch, having either no upper floor or upper rooms set in the roof, typically with dormer windows.

Malediction

Noun a magical word or phrase uttered with the intention of bringing about evil or destruction; a curse. "he muttered maledictions to himself as he trod the stone passages"

Misapprehension

Noun a mistaken belief about or interpretation of something. "she must have been laboring under the misapprehension that you are nice"

Amalgam

Noun a mixture or blend. "a curious amalgam of the traditional and the modern" OR CHEMISTRY an alloy of mercury with another metal, especially one used for dental fillings.

Admixture

Noun a mixture. "he felt that his work was an admixture of aggression and creativity" OR something mixed with something else, typically as a minor ingredient. "green with an admixture of black" OR the action of adding an ingredient to something else.

Mock Up

Noun a model or replica of a machine or structure, used for instructional or experimental purposes. OR an arrangement of text and pictures to be printed. "a mock-up of the following day's front page"

Marl

Noun a mottled yarn of differently colored threads, or fabric made from this yarn. "blue marl leggings" OR Verb apply marl to. "small fields were being assiduously marled to produce corn crops"

Fracas

Noun a noisy disturbance or quarrel. "the fracas was broken up by stewards"

Palpitation

Noun a noticeably rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat due to agitation, exertion, or illness. "the stimulants gave me palpitations"

Bifocal

Noun a pair of eyeglasses having lenses with two parts with different focal lengths.

Rebate

Noun a partial refund to someone who has paid too much money for tax, rent, or a utility. "the scheme eases the move to the council tax by giving rebates in the first year" OR a deduction or discount on a sum of money due. "you will be entitled to a 20 percent rebate off each standard fare" OR a step-shaped recess cut along the edge or in the face of a piece of wood, typically forming a match to the edge or tongue of another piece; a rabbet. "a rebate joint" OR Verb pay back (such a sum of money). OR make a rabbet in (a piece of wood). "you can use it for rebating" OR join or fix (a piece of wood) to another with a rabbet. "the oak boarding was rebated in"

Matinee

Noun a performance in a theater or a showing of a movie that takes place in the daytime.

Millennium

Noun a period of a thousand years, especially when calculated from the traditional date of the birth of Christ. OR a utopian period of good government, great happiness, and prosperity. OR an anniversary of a thousand years. "the millennium of the Russian Orthodox Church" OR the point at which one period of a thousand years ends and another begins.

Interregnum

Noun a period when normal government is suspended, especially between successive reigns or regimes. OR an interval or pause between two periods of office or other things. "the interregnum between the discovery of radioactivity and its detailed understanding"

Philistine

Noun a person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them. "I am a complete philistine when it comes to paintings" OR Adjective hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts. "a philistine government" OR Noun a member of a non-Semitic people of ancient southern Palestine, who came into conflict with the Israelites during the 12th and 11th centuries BC.

Prude

Noun a person who is or claims to be easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity. "the sex was so ambiguous and romantic that none but a prude could find it objectionable"

Leading light

Noun a person who is prominent or influential in a particular field or organization. "Glass is one of the leading lights in modern music"

Typist

Noun a person who is skilled in using a typewriter or computer keyboard, especially one who is employed for this purpose.

Dissident

Noun a person who opposes official policy, especially that of an authoritarian state. "a dissident who had been jailed by a military regime" OR Adjective in opposition to official policy. "there is only one explicitly dissident voice to be heard"

Purveyor

Noun a person who sells or deals in particular goods. "a purveyor of large luxury vehicles" OR a person or group that spreads or promotes an idea, view, etc. "a purveyor of traditional Christian values"

Arbiter

Noun a person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter. "the military acted as arbiter of conflicts between political groups" OR a person whose views or actions have great influence over trends in social behavior. "an arbiter of taste"

Casuist

Noun a person who uses clever but unsound reasoning, especially in relation to moral questions; a sophist. OR a person who resolves moral problems by the application of theoretical rules to particular instances.

Mettle

Noun a person's ability to cope well with difficulties or to face a demanding situation in a spirited and resilient way. "the team showed their true mettle in the second half"

Countenance

Noun a person's face or facial expression. "his impenetrable eyes and inscrutable countenance give little away" OR support. "she was giving her specific countenance to the occasion" OR Verb admit as acceptable or possible. "he was reluctant to countenance the use of force"

Physiognomy

Noun a person's facial features or expression, especially when regarded as indicative of character or ethnic origin. OR the supposed art of judging character from facial characteristics. OR the general form or appearance of something. "the physiognomy of the landscape"

Brow

Noun a person's forehead. "he wiped his brow" OR the summit of a hill or pass. "the cottages were built on the brow of a hill" OR a hinged part of a ferry or landing craft forming a landing platform or ramp.

Mien

Noun a person's look or manner, especially one of a particular kind indicating their character or mood. "he has a cautious, academic mien"

Milieu

Noun a person's social environment. "he grew up in a military milieu"

Deserts

Noun a person's worthiness or entitlement to reward or punishment. "the penal system fails to punish offenders in accordance with their deserts"

Manifold

Noun a pipe or chamber branching into several openings. "the pipeline manifold" OR (in an internal combustion engine) the part conveying air and fuel from the carburetor to the cylinders or that leading from the cylinders to the exhaust pipe. "the exhaust manifold" OR MATHEMATICS a collection of points forming a certain kind of set, such as those of a topologically closed surface or an analog of this in three or more dimensions. OR (in Kantian philosophy) the sum of the particulars furnished by sense before they have been unified by the synthesis of the understanding.

Epigram

Noun a pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way. "a Wildean epigram" OR a short poem, especially a satirical one, having a witty or ingenious ending.

Facility

Noun a place, amenity, or piece of equipment provided for a particular purpose. "cooking facilities" OR an option or service that gives the opportunity to do or benefit from something. "the program includes a help facility and interactive windows" OR an ability to do or learn something well and easily; a natural aptitude. "he had a facility for languages" OR absence of difficulty or effort. "the pianist played with great facility"

Billet

Noun a place, usually a civilian's house or other nonmilitary facility, where soldiers are lodged temporarily. OR a thick piece of wood. OR a small bar of metal for further processing. OR ARCHITECTURE each of a series of short cylindrical pieces inserted at intervals in decorative hollow moldings. OR HERALDRY a rectangle placed vertically as a charge. OR Verb lodge (soldiers) in a particular place, especially a civilian's house or other nonmilitary facility. "he didn't belong to the regiment billeted at the hotel"

Stratagem

Noun a plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent or achieve an end. "a series of devious stratagems"

Itinerary

Noun a planned route or journey. "his itinerary included an official visit to Canada" OR a travel document recording a route or journey. "we will send you an itinerary"

Blight

Noun a plant disease, typically one caused by fungi such as mildews, rusts, and smuts. "the vines suffered blight and disease" OR a thing that spoils or damages something. "the vacant properties are a blight on the neighborhood" OR an ugly, neglected, or rundown condition of an urban area. "the depressing urban blight that lies to the south of the city" OR Verb have a severely detrimental effect on. "the scandal blighted the careers of several leading politicians" OR infect (plants) with blight. "a peach tree blighted by leaf curl"

Petrichor

Noun a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather. "other than the petrichor emanating from the rapidly drying grass, there was not a trace of evidence that it had rained at all"

Rejoinder

Noun a reply, especially a sharp or witty one. "she would have made some cutting rejoinder but none came to mind" OR DATED•LAW a defendant's answer to the plaintiff's reply or replication.

Gazebo

Noun a roofed structure that offers an open view of the surrounding area, typically used for relaxation or entertainment.

Peplum

Noun a short flared, gathered, or pleated strip of fabric attached at the waist of a woman's jacket, dress, or blouse to create a hanging frill or flounce. OR (in ancient Greece) a woman's loose outer tunic or shawl.

Envoi

Noun a short stanza concluding a ballade.

Inglenook

Noun a space on either side of a large fireplace. "an inglenook fireplace"

Equilibrium

Noun a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced. "the maintenance of social equilibrium" OR a state of physical balance. "I stumbled over a rock and recovered my equilibrium" OR a calm state of mind. "his intensity could unsettle his equilibrium"

Privation

Noun a state in which things that are essential for human well-being such as food and warmth are scarce or lacking. "years of rationing and privation" OR FORMAL the loss or absence of a quality or attribute that is normally present. "cold is the privation of heat"

Ado

Noun a state of agitation or fuss, especially about something unimportant. "this is much ado about almost nothing" OR DATED trouble or difficulty. "she had much ado to keep up with him"

Frisson

Noun a sudden strong feeling of excitement or fear; a thrill. "a frisson of excitement"

Tare

Noun an allowance made for the weight of the packaging in order to determine the net weight of goods. OR the weight of a motor vehicle, railroad car, or aircraft without its fuel or load. OR a vetch, especially the common vetch.

Bureaucrat

Noun an official in a government department, in particular one perceived as being concerned with procedural correctness at the expense of people's needs. "the unemployed will be dealt with not by faceless bureaucrats but by individuals"

Purfle

Noun an ornamental border, typically one inlaid on the back or belly of a violin. OR Verb decorate (something) with an ornamental border.

Sangfroid

Noun composure or coolness, sometimes excessive, as shown in danger or under trying circumstances.

Brevity

Noun concise and exact use of words in writing or speech. OR shortness of time. "the brevity of human life"

Drudgery

Noun hard menial or dull work. "domestic drudgery"

Materiel

Noun military materials and equipment. "the shipping of materiel south into the battle zone"

Umbrage

Noun offense or annoyance. "she took umbrage at his remarks"

Stowage

Noun the action or manner of stowing something. OR space for stowing something in. "there is plenty of stowage beneath the berth"

Bilge

Noun the area on the outer surface of a ship's hull where the bottom curves to meet the vertical sides. OR INFORMAL nonsense; rubbish. "romantic bilge dreamed up by journalists"

Ethos

Noun the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations. "a challenge to the ethos of the 1960s"

Dissolution

Noun the closing down or dismissal of an assembly, partnership, or official body. "the dissolution of their marriage" OR debauched living; dissipation. "an advanced state of dissolution" OR TECHNICAL the action or process of dissolving or being dissolved. "minerals susceptible to dissolution" OR disintegration; decomposition. "the dissolution of the flesh"

Midship

Noun the middle part of a ship or boat. "its powerful midship section"

Impermanence

Noun the state or fact of lasting for only a limited period of time. "she describes the impermanence of human existence"

Sociology

Noun the study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society. OR the study of social problems.

Zero Hour

Noun the time at which a planned operation, typically a military one, is set to begin.

Bole

Noun the trunk of a tree.

Dilly

Noun INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN an excellent example of a particular type of person or thing. "that's a dilly of a breakfast recipe"

Espouse

Verb adopt or support (a cause, belief, or way of life). "he turned his back on the modernism he had espoused in his youth"

Engorge

Verb cause to swell with blood, water, or another fluid. "the river was engorged by a day-long deluge"

Delineate

Verb describe or portray (something) precisely. "the law should delineate and prohibit behavior that is socially abhorrent" OR indicate the exact position of (a border or boundary).

Cloy

Verb disgust or sicken (someone) with an excess of sweetness, richness, or sentiment. "a romantic, rather cloying story"

Flash-freeze

Verb freeze (food or other material) rapidly so as to prevent the formation of ice crystals. "the steaks were flash-frozen"

Distress

Verb give (furniture, leather, or clothing) simulated marks of age and wear. "the manner in which leather jackets are industrially distressed"

Tattle

Verb gossip idly. OR Noun gossip; idle talk.

Skulk

Verb keep out of sight, typically with a sinister or cowardly motive. "don't skulk outside the door like a spy!" OR move stealthily or furtively. "he spent most of his time skulking about the corridors" OR shirk one's duties or responsibilities. "we were accused of skulking" OR Noun a group of foxes. "the skulk howls away into the night"

Abscond

Verb leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection of or arrest for an unlawful action such as theft. "she absconded with the remaining thousand dollars" OR (of a person on bail) fail to surrender oneself for custody at the appointed time. "charges of absconding while on bail" OR (of a person kept in detention or under supervision) escape. "176 detainees absconded" OR (of a colony of honeybees, especially Africanized ones) entirely abandon a hive or nest.

Abash

Verb make (someone) feel embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed. "she was not abashed at being caught"

Recompense

Verb make amends to (someone) for loss or harm suffered; compensate. "offenders should recompense their victims" OR pay or reward (someone) for effort or work. "he was handsomely recompensed" OR make amends to or reward someone for (loss, harm, or effort). "he thought his loyalty had been inadequately recompensed" OR Noun compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered or effort made. "substantial damages were paid in recompense"

Reworked

Verb make changes to the original version of (something). "he reworked the orchestral score for two pianos"

Retch

Verb make the sound and movement of vomiting. "the sour taste in her mouth made her retch" OR vomit. "he retched up a thin stream of vomit" OR Noun a movement or sound of vomiting. "with a sudden retch he vomited all over the floor"

Knead

Verb massage or squeeze with the hands. "she kneaded his back"

Quell

Verb put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force. "extra police were called to quell the disturbance" OR subdue or silence someone. "Connor quelled him with a look" OR suppress (a feeling, especially an unpleasant one). "he spoke up again to quell any panic among the assembled youngsters"

Propound

Verb put forward (an idea, theory, or point of view) for consideration by others. "he began to propound the idea of a "social monarchy" as an alternative to Franco"

Slake

Verb quench or satisfy (one's thirst). "slake your thirst with some lemonade" OR satisfy (desires). "restaurants worked to slake the Italian obsession with food" OR combine (quicklime) with water to produce calcium hydroxide.

Demur

Verb raise doubts or objections or show reluctance. "normally she would have accepted the challenge, but she demurred" OR DATED•LAW put forward a demurrer. OR Noun the action or process of objecting to or hesitating over something. "they accepted this ruling without demur"

Debase

Verb reduce (something) in quality or value; degrade. "the love episodes debase the dignity of the drama" OR lower the moral character of (someone). "war debases people" OR HISTORICAL lower the value of (coinage) by reducing the content of precious metal.

Appertain

Verb relate to; concern. "the answers generally appertain to improvements in standards of service" OR be appropriate or applicable. "the institutional arrangements that appertain under the system"

Repeal

Verb revoke or annul (a law or congressional act). "the legislation was repealed five months later"

Extirpate

Verb root out and destroy completely. "the use of every legal measure to extirpate this horrible evil from the land"

Abrade

Verb scrape or wear away by friction or erosion. "a landscape slowly abraded by a fine, stinging dust"

Propel

Verb spur or drive into a particular situation. "fear propelled her out of her stillness" 1 definition omitted.

Waylay

Verb stop or interrupt (someone) and detain them in conversation or trouble them in some other way. "he waylaid me on the stairs"

Exhort

Verb strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something. ""Come on, you guys," exhorted Linda"

Jilt

Verb suddenly reject or abandon (a lover). "he was jilted at the altar by his bride-to-be"

Glut

Verb supply or fill to excess. "the factories for recycling paper are glutted"

Prate

Verb talk foolishly or at tedious length about something. "I heard him prate on for at least an hour and a half"

Prognosis

a forecast of the probable course and outcome of a disease or situation

Epoch

a period of time in history or a person's life, typically one marked by notable events or particular characteristics. "the Victorian epoch" OR the beginning of a distinctive period in the history of someone or something. "welfare reform was an epoch in the history of U.S. social policy" OR ASTRONOMY an arbitrarily fixed date relative to which planetary or stellar measurements are expressed.

Epidemic

a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time. "a flu epidemic" OR of the nature of an epidemic. "shoplifting has reached epidemic proportions"

Noun

a word (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things ( common noun ), or to name a particular one of these ( proper noun ).

Sagacious

having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; shrewd. "they were sagacious enough to avoid any outright confrontation"

Vacuity

lack of thought or intelligence; empty-headedness. "full of excitement, I listened to my first student sermon - only to be taken aback by its vacuity" OR empty space; emptiness.

Mundane

lacking interest or excitement; dull. "seeking a way out of his mundane, humdrum existence" OR of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one. "the boundaries of the mundane world" OR relating to or denoting the branch of astrology that deals with political, social, economic, and geophysical events and processes

Generalize

make a general or broad statement by inferring from specific cases. "it is not easy to generalize about the poor" OR make or become more widely or generally applicable. "most of what we have observed in this field can be generalized to other fields" OR MEDICINE (of a disease) affecting much or all of the body; not localized. "a generalized rash and fever" OR make (something) more widespread or common. "attempts to generalize an elite education"

Perpetual

never ending or changing. "deep caves in perpetual darkness" OR occurring repeatedly; so frequent as to seem endless and uninterrupted. "their perpetual money worries"

Incessant

never stopping, going on all the time

Despotic

of or typical of a despot; tyrannical. "a despotic regime"

Reverential

of the nature of, due to, or characterized by reverence. "their names are always mentioned in reverential tones"

Imperative

of vital importance; crucial

Vapid

offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging

Aniquated

old, out of date

Bovine

relating to or affecting cattle. "bovine tuberculosis" OR (of a person) slow-moving and dull-witted. "amiable bovine faces" OR an animal of the cattle group, which also includes buffaloes and bisons.

Galvanize

shock or excite (someone) into taking action. "the urgency of his voice galvanized them into action" OR coat (iron or steel) with a protective layer of zinc. "an old galvanized bucket"

Condescend

show feelings of superiority; be patronizing. "take care not to condescend to your reader" OR do something in a haughty way, as though it is below one's dignity or level of importance. "we'll be waiting for twenty minutes before she condescends to appear"

Punctilious

showing great attention to detail or correct behavior. "he was punctilious in providing every amenity for his guests"

Prevaricate

speak or act in an evasive way. "he seemed to prevaricate when journalists asked pointed questions"

Contingent

subject to chance. "the contingent nature of the job" OR occurring or existing only if (certain circumstances) are the case; dependent on. "resolution of the conflict was contingent on the signing of a ceasefire agreement" OR a group of people united by some common feature, forming part of a larger group. "a contingent of Japanese businessmen attending a conference"

Allude

suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at. "she had a way of alluding to Jean but never saying her name" OR mention without discussing at length. "we will allude briefly to the main points" OR (of an artist or a work of art) recall (an earlier work or style) in such a way as to suggest a relationship with it. "the photographs allude to Italian Baroque painting"

Demographics

the distribution of human population groups OR a particular sector of a population. "the drink is popular with a young demographic"

Detente

the easing of hostility or strained relations, especially between countries. "a serious effort at detente with the eastern bloc"

Denouement

the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved. OR the climax of a chain of events, usually when something is decided or made clear. "I waited by the eighteenth green to see the denouement"

Secularism

the principle of separation of the state from religious institutions. "he believes that secularism means no discrimination against anybody in the name of religion"

Discombobulate

to confuse

Insufferable

too extreme to bear; intolerable. "the heat would be insufferable by July" OR having or showing unbearable arrogance or conceit. "an insufferable bully"

Immutable

unchanging over time or unable to be changed. "an immutable fact"

Voracious

wanting or devouring great quantities of food. "he had a voracious appetite" OR having a very eager approach to an activity. "his voracious reading of literature"

Sans

without

Acerbic

Adjective (especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright. "his acerbic wit"

Recumbent

Adjective (especially of a person or human figure) lying down. "recumbent statues" OR (of a bicycle) designed to be ridden lying almost flat on one's back or sitting up with the legs stretched out in front. OR Noun a recumbent bicycle.

Vociferous

Adjective (especially of a person or speech) vehement or clamorous. "he was a vociferous opponent of the takeover"

Slovenly

Adjective (especially of a person or their appearance) messy and dirty. "he was upbraided for his slovenly appearance" OR (especially of a person or action) careless; excessively casual. "slovenly speech"

Immaculate

Adjective (especially of a person or their clothes) perfectly clean, neat, or tidy. "an immaculate white suit" OR free from flaws or mistakes; perfect. "an immaculate safety record" OR THEOLOGY (in the Roman Catholic Church) free from sin. OR BOTANY•ZOOLOGY uniformly colored without spots or other marks.

Peremptory

Adjective (especially of a person's manner or actions) insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusquely imperious way. ""Just do it!" came the peremptory reply" OR LAW not open to appeal or challenge; final. "there has been no disobedience of a peremptory order of the court"

Hapless

Adjective (especially of a person) unfortunate. "if you're one of the many hapless car buyers who've been shafted"

Nascent

Adjective (especially of a process or organization) just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential. "the nascent space industry" OR CHEMISTRY (chiefly of hydrogen) freshly generated in a reactive form.

Laborious

Adjective (especially of a task, process, or journey) requiring considerable effort and time. "years of laborious training" OR (of speech or writing style) showing obvious signs of effort and lacking in fluency. "his slow, laborious style"

Facile

Adjective (especially of a theory or argument) appearing neat and comprehensive only by ignoring the true complexities of an issue; superficial. OR (of a person) having a superficial or simplistic knowledge or approach. "a man of facile and shallow intellect" OR (especially of success in sports) easily achieved; effortless. "a facile victory"

Pervasive

Adjective (especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people. "ageism is pervasive and entrenched in our society"

Diaphanous

Adjective (especially of fabric) light, delicate, and translucent. "a diaphanous dress of pale gold"

Stringy

Adjective (especially of hair) resembling string; long, thin, and lusterless. "her hair was stringy and uncombed" OR (of a person) tall, wiry, and thin. "he had the thin, stringy look of a rider" OR (of food) containing tough fibers and so hard to eat. "the meat was a bit stringy but delicious" OR (of a liquid) viscous; forming strings.

Pastoral

Adjective (especially of land or a farm) used for or related to the keeping or grazing of sheep or cattle. "scattered pastoral farms" OR associated with country life. "the view was pastoral, with rolling fields and grazing sheep" OR (of a work of art) portraying or evoking country life, typically in a romanticized or idealized form. OR (in the Christian Church) concerning or appropriate to the giving of spiritual guidance. "pastoral and doctrinal issues" OR Noun a work of literature portraying an idealized version of country life. "the story, though a pastoral, has an actual connection with the life of agricultural labor"

Rubicund

Adjective (especially of someone's face) having a ruddy complexion; high-colored. "he was more than a little rubicund"

Mellow

Adjective (especially of sound, taste, and color) pleasantly smooth or soft; free from harshness. "she was hypnotized by the mellow tone of his voice" OR (of wine) well-matured and smooth. "delicious, mellow, ripe, fruity wines" OR (of a person's character) softened or matured by age or experience. "a more mellow personality" OR relaxed and good-humored. "Jean was feeling mellow" OR Verb make or become mellow. "fuller-flavored whiskeys mellow with wood maturation" OR INFORMAL relax and enjoy oneself. "I need to mellow out, I need to calm down"

Proximate

Adjective (especially of the cause of something) closest in relationship; immediate. "that storm was the proximate cause of damage to it" OR closest in space or time. "the failure of the proximate military power to lend assistance" OR nearly accurate; approximate. "he would try to change her speech into proximate ladylikeness"

Gross

Adjective (especially of wrongdoing) very obvious and unacceptable; blatant. "gross human rights abuses"

Salutary

Adjective (especially with reference to something unwelcome or unpleasant) producing good effects; beneficial. "a salutary reminder of where we came from"

Foursquare

Adjective (of a building or structure) having a square shape and solid appearance. OR (of a person or quality) firm and resolute. "a four-square and formidable hero" OR Adverb squarely and solidly. "a castle standing four-square and isolated on a peninsula" OR firmly and resolutely in support of someone or something. "they stand four-square behind integration"

Wanton

Adjective (of a cruel or violent action) deliberate and unprovoked. "sheer wanton vandalism" OR DATED sexually unrestrained or having many casual sexual relationships (typically used of a woman).

Congenital

Adjective (of a disease or physical abnormality) present from birth. "a congenital malformation of the heart" OR (of a person) having a particular trait from birth or by firmly established habit. "a congenital liar"

Cooperative

Adjective (of a farm, business, etc.) owned and run jointly by its members, with profits or benefits shared among them. OR Noun a farm, business, or other organization which is owned and run jointly by its members, who share the profits or benefits. "we run the agency as a workers' cooperative" OR 2 definitions omitted.

Palpable

Adjective (of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as to seem almost tangible. "a palpable sense of loss" OR plain to see or comprehend. "to talk of dawn raids in the circumstances is palpable nonsense" OR able to be touched or felt. "the palpable bump at the bridge of the nose"

Fancy

Adjective (of a flower) of two or more colors. "all pelargoniums, from scented-leaf species to fancy hybrids, thrive in hot sunshine" OR (of an animal) bred to develop particular points of appearance. "fancy goldfish" OR NORTH AMERICAN (especially of foodstuffs) of high quality. "fancy molasses" OR INFORMAL•BRITISH have an unduly high opinion of oneself, or of one's ability in a particular area. "two lads behind the counter who fancy themselves" OR imagine; think. "he fancied he could smell the perfume of roses" OR the faculty of imagination. "my research assistant is prone to flights of fancy" OR a thing that one supposes or imagines, typically an unfounded or tentative belief or idea; notion or whim. "scientific fads and fancies" OR (in 16th and 17th century music) a composition for keyboard or strings in free or variation form.

Pert

Adjective (of a girl or young woman) attractively lively or cheeky. "a pert Belgian actress" OR (of a bodily feature or garment) attractive because neat and jaunty. "she had a pert nose and deep blue eyes" OR (of a young person or their speech or behavior) impudent. "no need to be pert, miss"

Clerical

Adjective (of a job or person) concerned with or relating to work in an office, especially routine documentation and administrative tasks. "temps are always needed for clerical work" OR relating to the clergy. "he was still attired in his clerical outfit"

Superscript

Adjective (of a letter, figure, or symbol) written or printed above the line. OR Noun a superscript letter, figure, or symbol.

Subscript

Adjective (of a letter, figure, or symbol) written or printed below the line. Noun a subscript letter, figure, or symbol. OR COMPUTING a symbol (notionally written as a subscript but in practice usually not) used in a program, alone or with others, to specify one of the elements of an array.

Turbid

Adjective (of a liquid) cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter. "the turbid estuary" OR confused or obscure in meaning or effect. "a turbid piece of cinéma vérité"

Limpid

Adjective (of a liquid) free of anything that darkens; completely clear. OR (especially of writing or music) clear and accessible or melodious. "the limpid notes of a recorder" OR (of a person's eyes) unclouded; clear.

Labyrinthine

Adjective (of a network) like a labyrinth; irregular and twisting. "labyrinthine streets and alleys" OR (of a system) intricate and confusing. "labyrinthine plots and counterplots"

Creditable

Adjective (of a performance, effort, or action) deserving public acknowledgment and praise but not necessarily outstanding or successful. "a very creditable 2-4 defeat"

Placid

Adjective (of a person or animal) not easily upset or excited. "this horse has a placid nature" OR (especially of a place or stretch of water) calm and peaceful, with little movement or activity. "the placid waters of a small lake"

Spindly

Adjective (of a person or limb) long or tall and thin. "spindly arms and legs" OR (of a thing) thin and weak or insubstantial in construction. "spindly chairs"

Angular

Adjective (of a person or part of their body) lean and having a prominent bone structure. "her angular face" OR (of a person's way of moving) not flowing smoothly; awkward or jerky. "his movements were stiff and angular" OR PHYSICS denoting physical properties or quantities measured with reference to or by means of an angle, especially those associated with rotation. "angular acceleration" OR ASTROLOGY located in or relating to one of the houses that begin at the four cardinal points.

Uncouth

Adjective (of a person or their appearance or behavior) lacking good manners, refinement, or grace. "he is unwashed, uncouth, and drunk most of the time" OR (especially of art or language) lacking sophistication or delicacy. "uncouth sketches of peasants"

Indefatigable

Adjective (of a person or their efforts) persisting tirelessly. "an indefatigable defender of human rights"

Pinched

Adjective (of a person or their face) tense and pale from cold, worry, or hunger. OR hurt by financial hardship. "consumers feel pinched by rising costs in repairs and housing"

Incorrigible

Adjective (of a person or their tendencies) not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed. "she's an incorrigible flirt" OR Noun an incorrigible person. "all repeat offenders, but none of them real hard-case incorrigibles"

Dissipated

Adjective (of a person or way of life) overindulging in sensual pleasures. "dissipated behavior"

Tractable

Adjective (of a person) easy to control or influence. "tractable dogs that have had some obedience training" OR (of a situation or problem) easy to deal with. "trying to make the mathematics tractable"

Unctuous

Adjective (of a person) excessively or ingratiatingly flattering; oily. "he seemed anxious to please but not in an unctuous way" OR (chiefly of minerals) having a greasy or soapy feel.

Eminent

Adjective (of a person) famous and respected within a particular sphere or profession. "one of the world's most eminent statisticians" OR used to emphasize the presence of a positive quality. "the guitar's eminent suitability for recording studio work"

Gregarious

Adjective (of a person) fond of company; sociable. "he was a popular and gregarious man" OR (of animals) living in flocks or loosely organized communities. "gregarious species forage in flocks from colonies or roosts" OR (of plants) growing in open clusters or in pure associations.

Temperamental

Adjective (of a person) liable to unreasonable changes of mood. "a temperamental engine that had a way of conking out when put in gear" OR relating to a person's temperament. "they were firm friends in spite of temperamental differences"

Equable

Adjective (of a person) not easily disturbed or angered; calm and even-tempered. OR not varying or fluctuating greatly. "an equable climate"

Undemonstrative

Adjective (of a person) not tending to express feelings, especially of affection, openly. "John is silent and undemonstrative, like Dad"

Amenable

Adjective (of a person) open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled. "parents who have had easy babies and amenable children" OR (of a thing) capable of being acted upon in a particular way; susceptible to. "the patients had cardiac failure not amenable to medical treatment"

Exact

Adjective (of a person) tending to be accurate and careful about minor details. "she was an exact, clever manager" OR (of a subject of study) permitting precise or absolute measurements as a basis for rigorously testable theories. "psychomedicine isn't an exact science yet" OR Verb demand and obtain (something, especially a payment) from someone. "tributes exacted from the Slavic peoples" OR inflict (revenge) on someone. "he exacts a cruel revenge against the winning candidate" 2 definitions omitted.

Sedentary

Adjective (of a person) tending to spend much time seated; somewhat inactive. "we all walk a certain amount every day even if we are sedentary" OR (of work or a way of life) characterized by much sitting and little physical exercise. "a sedentary lifestyle spells bad news for hips and thighs" OR (of a position) sitting; seated. "he spoke from a sedentary position" OR ZOOLOGY•ANTHROPOLOGY inhabiting the same locality throughout life; not migratory or nomadic. "a tribe of sedentary agriculturists" OR ZOOLOGY (of an animal) sessile.

Urbane

Adjective (of a person, especially a man) suave, courteous, and refined in manner.

Languid

Adjective (of a person, manner, or gesture) displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed. "they turned with languid movements from back to front so as to tan evenly" OR (of an occasion or period of time) pleasantly lazy and peaceful. "the terrace was perfect for languid days in the Italian sun" OR weak or faint from illness or fatigue. "she was pale, languid, and weak, as if she had delivered a child"

Desolate

Adjective (of a place) deserted of people and in a state of bleak and dismal emptiness. "a desolate moor" OR feeling or showing misery, unhappiness, or loneliness. "I suddenly felt desolate and bereft" OR Verb make (a place) bleakly and depressingly empty or bare. "the droughts that desolated the dry plains" OR make (someone) feel utterly wretched and unhappy. "he was desolated by the deaths of his treasured friends"

Dynamic

Adjective (of a process or system) characterized by constant change, activity, or progress. "a dynamic economy" OR (of a person) positive in attitude and full of energy and new ideas. "she's dynamic and determined" OR denoting or relating to web pages that update frequently or are generated according to an individual's search terms. "the dynamic content of these sites keeps their audience informed and up to date" OR relating to the volume of sound produced by an instrument, voice, or recording. "an astounding dynamic range" OR Noun a force that stimulates change or progress within a system or process. "evaluation is part of the basic dynamic of the project"

Ersatz

Adjective (of a product) made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for something else. "ersatz coffee" OR not real or genuine. "ersatz emotion"

Knee-jerk

Adjective (of a response) automatic and unthinking. "a knee-jerk reaction" OR (of a person) responding in an automatic and unthinking way. "knee-jerk radicals" OR Noun a sudden involuntary reflex kick caused by a blow on the tendon just below the knee.

Choppy

Adjective (of a sea or river) having many small waves. "sea conditions are often very choppy" OR having a disjointed or jerky quality. "the choppy, electronic beat of hip hop" OR denoting or relating to a hairstyle in which layers and sections of hair are cut at different lengths. "a choppy bob"

Hermetic

Adjective (of a seal or closure) complete and airtight. "a hermetic seal that ensures perfect waterproofing" OR relating to an ancient occult tradition encompassing alchemy, astrology, and theosophy. OR insulated or protected from outside influences. "a hermetic society" OR esoteric; cryptic. "obscure and hermetic poems"

Keen

Adjective (of a sense) highly developed. "I have keen eyesight" OR having or showing great perception or insight. "her keen intellect" OR (of the edge or point of a blade) sharp. OR (of the air or wind) extremely cold; biting. OR having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm. "keen believers in the monetary system" OR interested in or attracted by (someone or something). "Bob makes it obvious he's keen on her" OR DATED•INFORMAL excellent. "I would soon fly to distant stars—how keen!" OR BRITISH (of prices) very low; competitive. OR Verb wail in grief for a dead person; sing a keen. "the body of Johnny was taken by his own people who keened over him" OR make an eerie wailing sound. "the wind blew and wild birds keened in the sky" OR Noun an Irish funeral song accompanied by wailing in lamentation for the dead.

Fraught

Adjective (of a situation or course of action) filled with or likely to result in (something undesirable). "marketing any new product is fraught with danger" OR causing or affected by anxiety or stress. "there was a fraught silence"

Ovoid

Adjective (of a solid or a three-dimensional surface) egg-shaped. OR (of a plane figure) oval, especially with one end more pointed than the other. OR Noun an ovoid body or surface.

Blustering

Adjective (of a storm, wind, or rain) blowing or beating fiercely and noisily. "a strong, blustering gale" OR talking in a loud, aggressive, or indignant way with little effect. "a blustering bully"

Hygroscopic

Adjective (of a substance) tending to absorb moisture from the air. OR relating to humidity or its measurement.

Byzantine

Adjective (of a system or situation) excessively complicated, and typically involving a great deal of administrative detail. "Byzantine insurance regulations" OR characterized by deviousness or underhanded procedure. "he has the most Byzantine mind in politics" OR of an ornate artistic and architectural style that developed in the Byzantine Empire and spread especially to Italy and Russia. The art is generally rich and stylized (as in religious icons) and the architecture typified by many-domed, highly decorated churches.

Corrupt

Adjective (of a text or a computer database or program) made unreliable by errors or alterations. OR Verb change or debase by making errors or unintentional alterations. "Epicurus's teachings have since been much corrupted" OR cause errors to appear in (a computer program or database). "a program that has somehow corrupted your system files"

Hollow

Adjective (of a thing) having a depression in its surface; concave. "hollow cheeks" OR (of a sound) echoing, as though made in or on an empty container. "a hollow cough" OR Noun a hole or depression in something. "a hollow at the base of a large tree" OR a small valley. "the house fell behind as they climbed out of the hollow" OR make a depression in.

Invidious

Adjective (of an action or situation) likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger in others. "she'd put herself in an invidious position" OR (of a comparison or distinction) unfairly discriminating; unjust. "it seems invidious to make special mention of one aspect of his work"

Expedient

Adjective (of an action) convenient and practical although possibly improper or immoral. "either side could break the agreement if it were expedient to do so" OR (of an action) suitable or appropriate. "holding a public inquiry into the scheme was not expedient" OR Noun a means of attaining an end, especially one that is convenient but considered improper or immoral. "the current policy is a political expedient"

Skewbald

Adjective (of an animal) with irregular patches of white and another color (properly not black). OR Noun a skewbald animal, especially a horse.

Wooded

Adjective (of an area of land) covered with woods or many trees. "a wooded valley"

Cogent

Adjective (of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing. "they put forward cogent arguments for British membership"

Carious

Adjective (of bones or teeth) decayed.

Voluminous

Adjective (of clothing or drapery) loose and ample. OR (of writing) very lengthy and full.

Verdant

Adjective (of countryside) green with grass or other rich vegetation. OR of the bright green color of lush grass. "a deep, verdant green"

Fallow

Adjective (of farmland) plowed and harrowed but left unsown for a period in order to restore its fertility as part of a crop rotation or to avoid surplus production. "incentives for farmers to let the land lie fallow in order to reduce grain surpluses" OR inactive. "long fallow periods when nothing seems to happen" OR Noun a piece of fallow or uncultivated land. OR Verb leave (land) fallow.

Pithy

Adjective (of language or style) concise and forcefully expressive. OR (of a fruit or plant) containing much pith.

Colloquial

Adjective (of language) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary. "colloquial and everyday language"

Gamy

Adjective (of meat) having the strong flavor or smell of game, especially when it is slightly tainted. OR NORTH AMERICAN racy; disreputable. "gamy language"

Abject

Adjective (of something bad) experienced or present to the maximum degree. "his letter plunged her into abject misery" OR (of a person or their behavior) completely without pride or dignity; self-abasing. "an abject apology"

Euphonious

Adjective (of sound, especially speech) pleasing to the ear. "this successful candidate delivers a stream of fine, euphonious phrases"

Bloodless

Adjective (of the skin or a part of the body) drained of color. "his bloodless lips" OR (of a person) cold or unemotional. "a shrewd and bloodless Hollywood mogul" OR lacking in vitality; feeble. "their occasionally bloodless chamber jazz"

Orotund

Adjective (of the voice or phrasing) full, round, and imposing. OR (of writing, style, or expression) pompous or pretentious.

Asynchronous

Adjective (of two or more objects or events) not existing or happening at the same time. OR COMPUTING•TELECOMMUNICATIONS of or requiring a form of computer control timing protocol in which a specific operation begins upon receipt of an indication (signal) that the preceding operation has been completed. OR (of a machine or motor) not working in time with the alternations of current. OR ASTRONOMY (of a satellite) revolving around the parent planet at a different rate from that at which the planet rotates. OR (of an orbit) such that a satellite in it is asynchronous.

Blustery

Adjective (of weather or a period of time) characterized by strong winds. OR "a gusty, blustery day" (of a wind) blowing in strong gusts.

Squally

Adjective (of weather) characterized by squalls. "squally showers"

Clement

Adjective (of weather) mild. "it is a very clement day" OR (of a person or a person's actions) merciful.

Blond

Adjective (of wood or another substance) light in color. "a New York office full of blond wood"

Fractious

Adjective (typically of children) irritable and quarrelsome. "they fight and squabble like fractious children" OR (of a group or organization) difficult to control; unruly. "the notoriously fractious resistance groups are declaring alliances to bolster their collective power"

Acrimonious

Adjective (typically of speech or a debate) angry and bitter. "an acrimonious dispute about wages"

Mesial

Adjective ANATOMY relating to or directed toward the middle line of a body.

Distal

Adjective ANATOMY situated away from the center of the body or from the point of attachment. "the distal end of the tibia"

Proximal

Adjective ANATOMY situated nearer to the center of the body or the point of attachment. "the proximal end of the forearm"

Vascular

Adjective ANATOMY•ZOOLOGY relating to, affecting, or consisting of a vessel or vessels, especially those which carry blood. "vascular disease" OR BOTANY relating to or denoting the plant tissues (xylem and phloem) which conduct water, sap, and nutrients in flowering plants, ferns, and their relatives.

Resolute

Adjective Admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering. "she was resolute and unswerving"

Transgenic

Adjective BIOLOGY relating to or denoting an organism that contains genetic material into which DNA from an unrelated organism has been artificially introduced. "male transgenic mice"

Twee

Adjective BRITISH Excessively or affectedly quaint, pretty, or sentimental. "although the film's a bit twee, it's watchable"

Po-faced

Adjective BRITISH humorless and disapproving. "don't be so po-faced about everything"

Bespoke

Adjective BRITISH made for a particular customer or user. "a bespoke suit" OR making or selling bespoke goods, especially clothing. "bespoke tailors"

Chintzy

Adjective BRITISH of, like, or decorated with chintz. "brighten the room with fresh paint and chintzy fabrics" OR brightly colorful but gaudy and tasteless. OR INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN cheap and of poor quality. OR miserly. "a chintzy salary increase"

Calumnious

Adjective FORMAL (of a statement) false and defamatory; slanderous. "all of these charges are false and calumnious"

Irenic

Adjective FORMAL aiming or aimed at peace. OR Noun a part of Christian theology concerned with reconciling different denominations and sects.

Involute

Adjective FORMAL involved or intricate. "the art novel has grown increasingly involute" OR TECHNICAL curled spirally. OR ZOOLOGY (of a shell) having the whorls wound closely around the axis. OR BOTANY (of a leaf or the cap of a fungus) rolled inward at the edges. OR Noun•GEOMETRY the locus of a point considered as the end of a taut string being unwound from a given curve in the plane of that curve. OR Verb become involute; curl up.

Redoubtable

Adjective HUMOROUS (of a person) formidable, especially as an opponent. "he was a redoubtable debater"

Loaded

Adjective INFORMAL having a lot of money; wealthy. "she doesn't really have to work—they're loaded" OR INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN having had too much alcohol; drunk. "man, did I get loaded after I left his house" OR (of a word, statement, or question) charged with an underlying meaning or implication. "avoid politically loaded terms like "nation""

Sad

Adjective INFORMAL pathetically inadequate or unfashionable. "the show is tongue-in-cheek—anyone who takes it seriously is a bit sad" OR (of dough) heavy through having failed to rise.

Fearful

Adjective INFORMAL very great. "he could cause a fearful commotion"

Damfool

Adjective INFORMAL•DATED thoroughly foolish. "what a damfool question" OR Noun a stupid or foolish person.

Ambulant

Adjective MEDICINE (of a patient) able to walk around; not confined to bed. "it is registered to cater for 28 ambulant confused elderly residents"

Avascular

Adjective MEDICINE characterized by or associated with a lack of blood vessels. "avascular necrosis"

Staccato

Adjective MUSIC performed with each note sharply detached or separated from the others. "a staccato rhythm" OR Adverb MUSIC with each note sharply detached or separated from the others. "I find arpeggio playing is easily done staccato" OR Noun MUSIC a piece or passage marked to be performed staccato. OR a series of short, sharply separated sounds or words. "her heels made a rapid staccato on the polished boards"

Reportorial

Adjective NORTH AMERICAN of or characteristic of newspaper reporters. "reportorial ambition and curiosity"

Portentous

Adjective Of or like a portent. "the envelope and its portentous contents" OR done in a pompously or overly solemn manner so as to impress. "the author's portentous moralizings"

Connate

Adjective PHILOSOPHY (especially of ideas or principles) existing in a person or thing from birth; innate. "are our ethical values connate?" OR BIOLOGY (of parts) united so as to form a single part. OR

Jovian

Adjective ROMAN MYTHOLOGY (in Roman mythology) of or like the god Jove (or Jupiter). OR relating to the planet Jupiter or the class of giant planets to which Jupiter belongs. "clouds in the Jovian atmosphere" OR Noun a hypothetical or fictional inhabitant of the planet Jupiter.

Certifiable

Adjective able or needing to be certified. "encephalitis was a certifiable condition" OR officially recognized as needing treatment for mental disorder. "it is possible that he will have to return to the hospital, but at the moment he is not certifiable" OR INFORMAL mad; crazy. "the world of fashion is almost entirely insane, the people who work in it mainly certifiable"

Caustic

Adjective able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action. "a caustic cleaner" OR sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way. "the players were making caustic comments about the refereeing"

Sentient

Adjective able to perceive or feel things. "she had been instructed from birth in the equality of all sentient life forms"

Brusque

Adjective abrupt or offhand in speech or manner. "she could be brusque and impatient"

Bilious

Adjective affected by or associated with nausea or vomiting. "I had eaten something that didn't agree with me and I was a little bilious" OR (of a color) lurid or sickly. "a bilious olive hue" OR spiteful; bad-tempered. "outbursts of bilious misogyny" OR PHYSIOLOGY relating to bile.

Meretricious

Adjective apparently attractive but having in reality no value or integrity. "meretricious souvenirs for the tourist trade" 1 definition omitted. This definition can be found in the study set "Literary and Archaic Terms and Phrases".

Periodic

Adjective appearing or occurring at intervals. "the periodic visits she made to her father" OR relating to a rhetorical period.

Apt

Adjective appropriate or suitable in the circumstances. "an apt description of her nature" OR having a tendency to do something. "she was apt to confuse the past with the present" OR quick to learn. "he proved an apt scholar"

Apposite

Adjective apt in the circumstances or in relation to something. "an apposite quotation"

Factitious

Adjective artificially created or developed. "a largely factitious national identity"

Awry

Adjective away from the appropriate, planned, or expected course; amiss. "I got the impression that something was awry" OR out of the normal or correct position; askew. "he was hatless, his silver hair awry"

Choleric

Adjective bad-tempered or irritable. OR influenced by or predominating in the humor called choler. "a choleric disposition"

Splenetic

Adjective bad-tempered; spiteful. "a splenetic outburst"

Jerry-built

Adjective badly or hastily built with materials of poor quality. "the old jerry-built building"

Arbitrary

Adjective based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system. "his mealtimes were entirely arbitrary" OR (of power or a ruling body) unrestrained and autocratic in the use of authority. "arbitrary rule by King and bishops has been made impossible"

Erubescent

Adjective becoming red or reddish; blushing.

Mannered

Adjective behaving in a specified way. "pleasant-mannered" OR (of a writer, artist, or artistic style) marked by idiosyncratic mannerisms; artificial, stilted, and overelaborate in delivery. "inane dialogue and mannered acting"

Supercilious

Adjective behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others. "a supercilious lady's maid"

Connatural

Adjective belonging naturally; innate. "connatural qualities of the human character"

Appurtenant

Adjective belonging; pertinent. "secondary buildings that are appurtenant to the main building"

Irreproachable

Adjective beyond criticism; faultless. "his private life was irreproachable"

Vituperative

Adjective bitter and abusive. "the criticism soon turned into a vituperative attack"

Brazen

Adjective bold and without shame. "he went about his illegal business with a brazen assurance" OR harsh in sound. "the music's brazen chords" OR Verb endure an embarrassing or difficult situation by behaving with apparent confidence and lack of shame.

Self-possessed

Adjective calm, confident, and in control of one's feelings; composed.

Sedate

Adjective calm, dignified, and unhurried. "in the old days, business was carried on at a rather more sedate pace" OR quiet and rather dull. "sedate suburban domesticity" 1 definition omitted.

Discreet

Adjective careful and circumspect in one's speech or actions, especially in order to avoid causing offense or to gain an advantage. "we made some discreet inquiries" OR intentionally unobtrusive. "a discreet cough"

Astringent

Adjective causing the contraction of skin cells and other body tissues. "an astringent skin lotion" OR (of taste or smell) slightly acidic or bitter. "fresh blackcurrants have a rather astringent flavor" OR sharp or severe in manner or style. "his subversive and astringent humor" OR Noun an astringent lotion applied to the skin to reduce bleeding from minor abrasions or as a cosmetic to make the skin less oily.

Chary

Adjective cautiously or suspiciously reluctant to do something. "most people are chary of allowing themselves to be photographed"

Freewheeling

Adjective characterized by a disregard for rules or conventions; unconstrained or uninhibited. "he exemplifies the freewheeling spirit of a certain sector of the digital economy"

Ostentatious

Adjective characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice. "books that people buy and display ostentatiously but never actually finish"

Ebullient

Adjective cheerful and full of energy. "she sounded ebullient and happy"

Jocund

Adjective cheerful and lighthearted. "a jocund wedding party"

Puerile

Adjective childishly silly and trivial. "you're making puerile excuses"

Heavy handed

Adjective clumsy or insensitive. "this heavy-handed prose is merely tiresome" OR overly forceful or oppressive. "the government's most heavy-handed efforts to muzzle social protest"

Querulous

Adjective complaining in a petulant or whining manner. "she became querulous and demanding"

Rapt

Adjective completely fascinated by what one is seeing or hearing. "Andrew looked at her, rapt" OR indicating or characterized by a state of fascination. "they listened with rapt attention" OR filled with an intense and pleasurable emotion; enraptured. "she shut her eyes and seemed rapt with desire"

Fulsome

Adjective complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree. "they are almost embarrassingly fulsome in their appreciation" OR of large size or quantity; generous or abundant. "a fulsome harvest"

Auspicious

Adjective conducive to success; favorable. "it was not the most auspicious moment to hold an election" OR giving or being a sign of future success. "they said it was an auspicious moon—it was rising"

Seemly

Adjective conforming to accepted notions of propriety or good taste; decorous. "I felt it was not seemly to observe too closely"

Craven

Adjective contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly. "a craven abdication of his moral duty"

Commensurate

Adjective corresponding in size or degree; in proportion. "salary will be commensurate with experience"

Gilded

Adjective covered thinly with gold leaf or gold paint. "an elegant gilded birdcage" OR wealthy and privileged. "he saw plain, decent boys transformed to gilded, roistering youths"

Bellicose

Adjective demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight. "a group of bellicose patriots"

Scattershot

Adjective denoting something that is broad but random and haphazard in its range. "a scattershot collection of stories"

Prototypical

Adjective denoting the first, original, or typical form of something. "the prototypical vehicle"

Aureate

Adjective denoting, made of, or having the color of gold. "the aureate dollar" OR (of language) highly ornamented or elaborate. "the aureate diction frequently conceals the tritest sentiments"

Bereaved

Adjective deprived of a close relation or friend through their death. "bereaved families" Verb be deprived of a loved one through a profound absence, especially due to the loved one's death. "those who counsel the bereaved"

Abstruse

Adjective difficult to understand; obscure. "an abstruse philosophical inquiry"

Bluff

Adjective direct in speech or behavior but in a good-natured way. "a big, bluff, hearty man" OR (of a cliff or a ship's bow) having a vertical or steep broad front. OR Noun a steep cliff, bank, or promontory. OR CANADIAN a grove or clump of trees.

Discordant

Adjective disagreeing or incongruous. "the principle of meritocracy is discordant with claims of inherited worth" OR characterized by quarreling and conflict. "a study of children in discordant homes" OR (of sounds) harsh and jarring because of a lack of harmony. "bombs, guns, and engines mingled in discordant sound" OR BIOLOGY (of a matched pair of subjects, especially twins) not having the same trait or disease. "studies with data from discordant twins will be useful to confirm our findings"

Impromptu

Adjective done without being planned, organized, or rehearsed. "an impromptu press conference" OR Adverb without being planned, organized, or rehearsed. "he spoke impromptu" OR Noun a short piece of instrumental music, especially a solo, that is reminiscent of an improvisation.

Bimonthly

Adjective done, produced, or occurring twice a month or every two months. "a bimonthly newsletter" OR Adverb twice a month or every two months. "the magazine appears bimonthly" OR Noun a periodical produced twice a month or every two months.

Stodgy

Adjective dull and uninspired. "some of the material is rather stodgy and top-heavy with facts" OR BRITISH (of food) heavy, filling, and high in carbohydrates.

Dreary

Adjective dull, bleak, and lifeless; depressing. "the dreary routine of working, eating, and trying to sleep"

Pugnacious

Adjective eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight. "his public statements became increasingly pugnacious"

Friable

Adjective easily crumbled. "the soil was friable between her fingers"

Chic

Adjective elegantly and stylishly fashionable. OR Noun stylishness and elegance, typically of a specified kind. "French chic"

Heuristic

Adjective enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves. "a "hands-on" or interactive heuristic approach to learning" OR COMPUTING proceeding to a solution by trial and error or by rules that are only loosely defined. OR Noun a heuristic process or method. OR the study and use of heuristic techniques.

Interminable

Adjective endless (often used hyperbolically). "we got bogged down in interminable discussions"

Malign

Adjective evil in nature or effect; malevolent. "she had a strong and malign influence" OR Verb speak about (someone) in a spitefully critical manner. "don't you dare malign her in my presence"

Exhaustive

Adjective examining, including, or considering all elements or aspects; fully comprehensive. "she has undergone exhaustive tests since becoming ill"

Singular

Adjective exceptionally good or great; remarkable. "the singular beauty of the desert" OR strange or eccentric in some respect. "no explanation accompanied this rather singular statement" OR single; unique. "she always thought of herself as singular, as his only daughter"

Garrulous

Adjective excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters. "Polonius is portrayed as a foolish, garrulous old man"

Stagy

Adjective excessively theatrical; exaggerated. "a stagy melodramatic voice"

Variegated

Adjective exhibiting different colors, especially as irregular patches or streaks. "variegated yellow bricks" OR BOTANY (of a plant or foliage) having or consisting of leaves that are edged or patterned in a second color, especially white as well as green. OR marked by variety. "his variegated and amusing observations"

Abstract

Adjective existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence. "abstract concepts such as love or beauty" OR relating to abstract art. "abstract pictures that look like commercial color charts" OR dealing with ideas rather than events. "the novel was too abstract and esoteric to sustain much attention OR not based on a particular instance; theoretical. "we have been discussing the problem in a very abstract manner" OR (of a word, especially a noun) denoting an idea, quality, or state rather than a concrete object. "abstract words like truth or equality" OR Verb consider (something) theoretically or separately from something else. "to abstract science and religion from their historical context can lead to anachronism" OR extract or remove (something). "applications to abstract more water from streams" OR used euphemistically to say that someone has stolen something. "his pockets contained all he had been able to abstract from the apartment" OR withdraw. "as our relationship deepened you seemed to abstract yourself" OR make a written summary of (an article or book). "staff who index and abstract material for an online database" OR Noun a summary of the contents of a book, article, or formal speech. "an abstract of his inaugural address" OR an abstract work of art. "a big unframed abstract" OR that which is abstract; the theoretical consideration of something. "the abstract must be made concrete by examples"

Actual

Adjective existing now; current. "using actual income to measure expected income"

Superficial

Adjective existing or occurring at or on the surface. "the building suffered only superficial damage" OR situated or occurring on the skin or immediately beneath it. "the superficial muscle groups" OR appearing to be true or real only until examined more closely. "the resemblance between the breeds is superficial" OR not thorough, deep, or complete; cursory. "he had only the most superficial knowledge of foreign countries" OR not having or showing any depth of character or understanding. "perhaps I was a superficial person"

Immanent

Adjective existing or operating within; inherent. "the protection of liberties is immanent in constitutional arrangements"

Concurrent

Adjective existing, happening, or done at the same time. "there are three concurrent art fairs around the city" OR (of two or more prison sentences) to be served at the same time.

Abortive

Adjective failing to produce the intended result. "an abortive attempt to overthrow the government" OR MEDICINE (of a virus infection) failing to produce symptoms. OR DATED (of an organ or organism) rudimentary; arrested in development. "abortive medusae" OR RARE causing or resulting in abortion. "abortive techniques"

Intrepid

Adjective fearless; adventurous (often used for rhetorical or humorous effect). "our intrepid reporter"

Irate

Adjective feeling or characterized by great anger. "a barrage of irate letters"

Contrite

Adjective feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt. "a broken and a contrite heart"

Replete

Adjective filled or well-supplied with something. "sensational popular fiction, replete with adultery and sudden death" OR very full of or sated by food. "I went out into the sun-drenched streets again, replete and relaxed"

Jocular

Adjective fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful.

Dry

Adjective for use without liquid. "the conversion of dry latrines into flush toilets" OR thirsty or thirst-making. "working in the hot sun is making me dry" OR (of bread or toast) without butter or other spreads. "only dry bread and water" OR bare or lacking adornment. "the dry facts" OR unexciting; dull. "by current tastes the text is dry" OR unemotional, undemonstrative, or impassive. "Ralph gave me a dry, silent wave" OR (of a joke or sense of humor) subtle, expressed in a matter-of-fact way, and having the appearance of being unconscious or unintentional. "he delighted his friends with a dry, covert sense of humor" OR prohibiting the sale or consumption of alcoholic drink. "Indiana stayed dry after the end of prohibition" OR (of a person) no longer addicted to or drinking alcohol. "I heard much talk about how sobriety was more than staying straight or dry" OR (of an alcoholic drink) not sweet. "a dry, medium-bodied red wine" OR Verb preserve by allowing or encouraging evaporation of moisture from. "I use several methods to dry the flowers and foliage I use in my arrangements." OR THEATRICAL SLANG forget one's lines. "a colleague of mine once dried in the middle of a scene"

Verboten

Adjective forbidden, especially by an authority. "bank fishing is verboten on Strathbeg"

Clamant

Adjective forcing itself urgently on the attention. "the proper use of biotechnology has become a clamant question"

Monolithic

Adjective formed of a single large block of stone. OR (of a building) very large and characterless. OR (of an organization or system) large, powerful, and intractably indivisible and uniform. "rejecting any move toward a monolithic European superstate" OR ELECTRONICS (of a solid-state circuit) composed of active and passive components formed in a single chip.

Operative

Adjective functioning or having effect. "the transmitter is operative" OR (of a word) having the most relevance or significance in a phrase or sentence. "a young man, and the operative word is young, should go into the armed services at around seventeen" OR relating to surgery. "they had wounds needing operative treatment" OR Noun a worker, especially a skilled one in a manufacturing industry. 1 definition omitted.

Finicky

Adjective fussy about one's needs or requirements. "a finicky eater" OR showing or requiring great attention to detail. "a finicky, almost fetishistic collector"

Putative

Adjective generally considered or reputed to be. "the putative author of the book"

Benign

Adjective gentle and kindly. "his benign but firm manner" OR not harmful to the environment. "an ozone-benign refrigerant" OR (of a climate or environment) mild and favorable. "the climate becomes more benign as we move nearer to the Black Sea" 2 definitions omitted.

Unstinting

Adjective given or giving without restraint; unsparing. "he was unstinting in his praise"

Sententious

Adjective given to moralizing in a pompous or affected manner. "he tried to encourage his men with sententious rhetoric"

Fortuitous

Adjective happening by accident or chance rather than design. "the similarity between the paintings may not be simply fortuitous" OR happening by a lucky chance; fortunate. "from a cash standpoint, the company's timing is fortuitous"

Punctual

Adjective happening or doing something at the agreed or proper time; on time. "he's the sort of man who's always punctual" OR GRAMMAR denoting or relating to an action that takes place at a particular point in time.

Noxious

Adjective harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant. "they were overcome by the noxious fumes"

Cursory

Adjective hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed. "a cursory glance at the figures"

Hoity-Toity

Adjective haughty or snobbish. "the moneyed, hoity-toity inhabitants of the island"

Rawboned

Adjective having a bony or gaunt physique. "rawboned farmhands"

Poised

Adjective having a composed and self-assured manner. "not every day you saw that poised, competent kid distressed"

Hangdog

Adjective having a dejected or guilty appearance; shamefaced. "the boys wore hangdog looks as the police marched them down the steps"

Stately

Adjective having a dignified, unhurried, and grand manner; majestic in manner and appearance. "a stately procession"

Pernicious

Adjective having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way. "the pernicious influences of the mass media"

Inveterate

Adjective having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change. "he was an inveterate gambler"

Florid

Adjective having a red or flushed complexion. "a stout man with a florid face" OR elaborately or excessively intricate or complicated. "florid operatic-style music was out"

Measured

Adjective having a slow, regular rhythm. "he walks with confident, measured steps" OR (of speech or writing) carefully considered; deliberate and restrained. "his measured prose"

Waxen

Adjective having a smooth, pale, translucent surface or appearance like that of wax. "a canopy of waxen, creamy blooms"

Numinous

Adjective having a strong religious or spiritual quality; indicating or suggesting the presence of a divinity. "the strange, numinous beauty of this ancient landmark"

Charged

Adjective having an electric charge. OR filled with excitement, tension, or emotion. "the highly charged atmosphere created by the boycott"

Acrid

Adjective having an irritatingly strong and unpleasant taste or smell. "acrid fumes" OR angry and bitter. "an acrid farewell"

Recalcitrant

Adjective having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline. "a class of recalcitrant fifteen-year-olds" OR a person with an obstinately uncooperative attitude.

Even

Adjective having little variation in quality; regular. "they traveled at an even and leisurely pace" OR (of a person's temper or disposition) equable; calm. "a man of good humor and even temper" OR exactly equal to a round number; not having any fractions. "the Dow Jones ended at an even 10,000" OR Verb make or become even. "she cut the hair again to even up the ends"

Jaunty

Adjective having or expressing a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner. "there was no mistaking that jaunty walk"

Intemperate

Adjective having or showing a lack of self-control; immoderate. "intemperate outbursts concerning global conspiracies" OR given to or characterized by excessive indulgence, especially in alcohol. "an intemperate social occasion"

Magisterial

Adjective having or showing great authority. "a magisterial pronouncement" OR relating to or conducted by a magistrate. OR domineering; dictatorial. "he dropped his somewhat magisterial style of questioning" OR (of a person) holding the office of a magistrate.

Prescient

Adjective having or showing knowledge of events before they take place. "a prescient warning"

Dogged

Adjective having or showing tenacity and grim persistence. "success required dogged determination"

Febrile

Adjective having or showing the symptoms of a fever. "a febrile illness" OR having or showing a great deal of nervous excitement or energy. "a febrile imagination"

Feverish

Adjective having or showing the symptoms of a fever. "he suffered from feverish colds" OR displaying a frenetic excitement or energy. "the next couple of weeks were spent in a whirl of feverish activity"

Funereal

Adjective having the mournful, somber character appropriate to a funeral. "Lincoln's funereal gloominess was legendary"

Prosaic

Adjective having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty. "prosaic language can't convey the experience" OR commonplace; unromantic. "the masses were too preoccupied by prosaic day-to-day concerns"

Indiscreet

Adjective having, showing, or proceeding from too great a readiness to reveal things that should remain secret or private. "they have been embarrassed by indiscreet friends"

Salubrious

Adjective health-giving; healthy. "salubrious weather" OR (of a place) pleasant; not run-down.

Dubious

Adjective hesitating or doubting. "Alex looked dubious, but complied" OR not to be relied upon; suspect. "extremely dubious assumptions" OR morally suspect. "time-sharing has been brought into disrepute by dubious sales methods" OR of questionable value. "she earned the dubious distinction of being the lowest-paid teacher in the nation"

Insular

Adjective ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one's own experience. "a stubbornly insular farming people" OR lacking contact with other people. "people living restricted and sometimes insular existences" OR relating to or from an island. "the movement of goods of insular origin" OR relating to the art and craftwork of Britain and Ireland in the early Middle Ages, especially a form of Latin handwriting. "insular illumination of the 6th century" OR (of climate) equable because of the influence of the sea. OR ANATOMY relating to the insula of the brain.

Implicit

Adjective implied though not plainly expressed. "comments seen as implicit criticism of the policies" OR essentially or very closely connected with; always to be found in. "the values implicit in the school ethos" OR with no qualification or question; absolute. "an implicit faith in God" OR MATHEMATICS (of a function) not expressed directly in terms of independent variables.

Inexorable

Adjective impossible to stop or prevent. "the seemingly inexorable march of new technology" OR (of a person) impossible to persuade by request or entreaty. "the doctors were inexorable, and there was nothing to be done"

Inscrutable

Adjective impossible to understand or interpret. "Guy looked blankly inscrutable"

Sorry

Adjective in a poor or pitiful state or condition. "he looks a sorry sight with his broken jaw" OR unpleasant and regrettable, especially on account of incompetence or misbehavior. "we feel so ashamed that we keep quiet about the whole sorry business"

Deep

Adjective in a specified number of ranks one behind another. "they were standing three-deep at the bar" OR (of a person) unpredictable and secretive. "that Thomas is a deep one"

Overwrought

Adjective in a state of nervous excitement or anxiety. "she was too overwrought to listen to reason" OR (of a piece of writing or a work of art) too elaborate or complicated in design or construction.

Benighted

Adjective in a state of pitiful or contemptible intellectual or moral ignorance, typically owing to a lack of opportunity. "they saw themselves as bringers of culture to poor benighted peoples" OR overtaken by darkness. "a storm developed and we were forced to wait benighted near the summit"

Quiescent

Adjective in a state or period of inactivity or dormancy. "strikes were headed by groups of workers who had previously been quiescent"

Incipient

Adjective in an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop. "he could feel incipient anger building up" OR (of a person) developing into a specified type or role. "we seemed more like friends than incipient lovers"

Decorous

Adjective in keeping with good taste and propriety; polite and restrained. "dancing with decorous space between partners"

Cosmopolitan

Adjective including or containing people from many different countries. "immigration transformed the city into a cosmopolitan metropolis" OR (of a plant or animal) found all over the world. OR familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures. "his knowledge of French, Italian, and Spanish made him genuinely cosmopolitan" OR having an exciting and glamorous character associated with travel and a mixture of cultures. "their designs became a byword for cosmopolitan chic" OR Noun a cosmopolitan person. OR a plant or animal found all over the world. OR a cocktail typically made with vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime juice.

Cumulative

Adjective increasing or increased in quantity, degree, or force by successive additions. "the cumulative effect of two years of drought"

Conciliatory

Adjective intended or likely to placate or pacify. "a conciliatory approach"

Didactic

Adjective intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive. "a didactic novel that set out to expose social injustice" OR in the manner of a teacher, particularly so as to treat someone in a patronizing way. "slow-paced, didactic lecturing"

Finesse

Adjective intricate and refined delicacy. "orchestral playing of great finesse" OR artful subtlety, typically that needed for tactful handling of a difficulty. "clients want advice and action that calls for considerable finesse" OR Verb do (something) in a subtle and delicate manner. "his third shot, which he attempted to finesse, failed by a fraction" OR NORTH AMERICAN slyly attempt to avoid blame or censure when dealing with (a situation or action). "the administration's attempts to finesse its mishaps"

Sordid

Adjective involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt. "the story paints a sordid picture of bribes and scams" OR dirty or squalid. "the overcrowded housing conditions were sordid and degrading"

Thoroughgoing

Adjective involving or attending to every detail or aspect of something. "a thoroughgoing reform of the whole economy" OR exemplifying a specified characteristic fully; absolute. "a thoroughgoing chocoholic"

Confederate

Adjective joined by an agreement or treaty. "some local groups united to form confederate councils" OR Noun a person one works with, especially in something secret or illegal; an accomplice. "where was his confederate, the girl who had stolen Richard's wallet?" OR Verb bring (states or groups of people) into an alliance. "the treaty confederated the fourteen tribes"

Concerted

Adjective jointly arranged, planned, or carried out; coordinated. "determined to begin a concerted action against them" OR (of music) arranged in several parts of equal importance. "concerted secular music for voices" OR strenuously carried out; done with great effort. "it would take a concerted effort for a burglar to break into my home"

Desultory

Adjective lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm. "a few people were left, dancing in a desultory fashion" OR (of conversation or speech) going constantly from one subject to another in a halfhearted way; unfocused. "the desultory conversation faded" OR occurring randomly or occasionally. "desultory passengers were appearing"

Rudderless

Adjective lacking a rudder. OR lacking a clear sense of one's aims or principles. "today's leadership is rudderless"

Ephemeral

Adjective lasting for a very short time. "fashions are ephemeral" OR (chiefly of plants) having a very short life cycle. OR Noun an ephemeral plant.

Transient

Adjective lasting only for a short time; impermanent. "a transient cold spell" OR Noun a person who is staying or working in a place for only a short time. OR a momentary variation in current, voltage, or frequency.

Lickerish

Adjective lecherous. "a barrage of lickerish grins and dirty jokes"

Requisite

Adjective made necessary by particular circumstances or regulations. "the application will not be processed until the requisite fee is paid" OR noun a thing that is necessary for the achievement of a specified end. "she believed privacy to be a requisite for a peaceful life"

Exacting

Adjective making great demands on one's skill, attention, or other resources. "living up to such exacting standards"

Sibilant

Adjective making or characterized by a hissing sound. "his sibilant whisper" OR PHONETICS (of a speech sound) sounded with a hissing effect, for example s, sh. OR Noun•PHONETICS a sibilant speech sound.

Scurrilous

Adjective making or spreading scandalous claims about someone with the intention of damaging their reputation. "a scurrilous attack on his integrity" OR humorously insulting. "a very funny collection of bawdy and scurrilous writings"

Multifarious

Adjective many and of various types. "multifarious activities" OR having many varied parts or aspects. "a vast multifarious organization"

Bodily

Adjective material or actual as opposed to spiritual or incorporeal. "the idea of angels taking human bodily form when they come to earth" OR Adverb by moving a person's or one's own body with force. "he hauled her bodily from the van" OR in one mass; as a whole. "he built ships on the Atlantic shore, transporting them bodily over the hills and sailing them off into the Pacific"

Jejune

Adjective naive, simplistic, and superficial. "their entirely predictable and usually jejune opinions" OR (of ideas or writings) dry and uninteresting. "the poem seems to me rather jejune"

Incongruous

Adjective not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something. "the duffel coat looked incongruous with the black dress she wore underneath"

Indecorous

Adjective not in keeping with good taste and propriety; improper.

Redundant

Adjective not or no longer needed or useful; superfluous. "many of the old skills had become redundant" OR BRITISH (of a person) no longer employed because there is no more work available. "eight permanent staff were made redundant" OR (of words or data) able to be omitted without loss of meaning or function. "our peculiar affection for redundant phrases" OR ENGINEERING (of a component) not strictly necessary to functioning but included in case of failure in another component.

Unprepossessing

Adjective not particularly attractive or appealing to the eye. "despite his unprepossessing appearance he had an animal magnetism"

Transitory

Adjective not permanent. "transitory periods of medieval greatness"

Infirm

Adjective not physically or mentally strong, especially through age or illness.

Ineffectual

Adjective not producing any or the desired effect. "an ineffectual campaign" OR (of a person) lacking the ability or qualities to cope with a role or situation. "she was neglectful and ineffectual as a parent"

Precarious

Adjective not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse. "a precarious ladder" OR dependent on chance; uncertain. "he made a precarious living as a painter"

Abstemious

Adjective not self-indulgent, especially when eating and drinking. ""We only had a bottle." "Very abstemious of you.""

Impertinent

Adjective not showing proper respect; rude. "an impertinent question"

Impious

Adjective not showing respect or reverence, especially for a god. "the emperor's impious attacks on the Church" OR (of a person or act) wicked. "impious villains"

Obsequious

Adjective obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree. "they were served by obsequious waiters"

Serendipitous

Adjective occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way. "a serendipitous encounter"

Spasmodic

Adjective occurring or done in brief, irregular bursts. "spasmodic fighting continued" OR caused by, subject to, or in the nature of a spasm or spasms. "a spasmodic cough"

Flaxen

Adjective of flax.

Serpentine

Adjective of or like a serpent or snake. "serpentine coils" OR winding and twisting like a snake. "serpentine country lanes" OR complex, cunning, or treacherous. "his charm was too subtle and serpentine for me" OR Noun a dark green mineral consisting of hydrated magnesium silicate, sometimes mottled or spotted like a snake's skin. OR HISTORICAL a kind of cannon, used especially in the 15th and 16th centuries. OR Verb move or lie in a winding path or line. "fresh tire tracks serpentined back toward the hopper"

Sidereal

Adjective of or with respect to the distant stars (i.e. the constellations or fixed stars, not the sun or planets).

Superlative

Adjective of the highest quality or degree. "a superlative piece of skill" OR GRAMMAR (of an adjective or adverb) expressing the highest or a very high degree of a quality (e.g. bravest, most fiercely ). OR Noun GRAMMAR a superlative adjective or adverb. OR GRAMMAR the highest degree of comparison. OR an exaggerated or hyperbolical expression of praise. "the critics ran out of superlatives to describe him OR something or someone embodying excellence. "chili has become the superlative among spices"

Sundry

Adjective of various kinds; several. "lemon rind and sundry herbs" OR Noun various items not important enough to be mentioned individually. "a drugstore selling magazines, newspapers, and sundries"

Lordly

Adjective of, characteristic of, or suitable for a lord. "lordly titles"

Interstitial

Adjective of, forming, or occupying interstices. "the interstitial space" OR ECOLOGY (of minute animals) living in the spaces between individual sand grains in the soil or aquatic sediments. "the interstitial fauna of marine sands"

Equivocal

Adjective open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous. "the equivocal nature of her remarks" OR uncertain or questionable in nature. "the results of the investigation were equivocal"

Sanguine

Adjective optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation. "he is sanguine about prospects for the global economy" OR (in medieval science and medicine) of or having the constitution associated with the predominance of blood among the bodily humors, supposedly marked by a ruddy complexion and an optimistic disposition. OR Noun a blood-red color. OR HERALDRY a blood-red stain used in blazoning.

Indigenous

Adjective originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native. "the indigenous peoples of Siberia"

Masterly

Adjective performed or performing in a very skillful and accomplished way. "his masterly account of rural France"

Importunate

Adjective persistent, especially to the point of annoyance or intrusion. "importunate creditors"

Left-handed

Adjective perverse. "we take a left-handed pleasure in our errors" OR (especially of a compliment) ambiguous.

Puritanical

Adjective practicing or affecting strict religious or moral behavior. "his puritanical parents saw any kind of pleasure as the road to damnation"

Supernumary

Adjective present in excess of the normal or requisite number. OR (of a person) not belonging to a regular staff but engaged for extra work. OR not wanted or needed; redundant. "books were obviously supernumerary, and he began jettisoning them" OR (of an actor) appearing on stage but not speaking. OR BOTANY•ZOOLOGY denoting a structure or organ occurring in addition to the normal ones. "a pair of supernumerary teats" OR Noun a supernumerary person or thing.

Ubiquitous

Adjective present, appearing, or found everywhere. "his ubiquitous influence was felt by all the family"

Insidious

Adjective proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects. "sexually transmitted diseases can be insidious and sometimes without symptoms" OR treacherous; crafty. "tangible proof of an insidious alliance"

Remedial

Adjective provided or intended for students who are experiencing learning difficulties. "remedial education" 1 definition omitted.

Cathartic

Adjective providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions; causing catharsis. "crying is a cathartic release" OR MEDICINE (chiefly of a drug) purgative. OR Noun MEDICINE a purgative drug.

Bemused

Adjective puzzled, confused, or bewildered. "Lucy looked a little bemused"

Jaspé

Adjective randomly mottled or variegated, like jasper. "dark green was a common color for jaspé linoleum"

Front rank

Adjective ranking among the best. OR of the first quality or importance.

Waspish

Adjective readily expressing anger or irritation. "he had a waspish tongue"

Profligate

Adjective recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources. "profligate consumers of energy" OR licentious; dissolute. "he succumbed to drink and a profligate lifestyle" OR Noun a licentious, dissolute person.

Modal

Adjective relating to mode or form as opposed to substance. OR GRAMMAR of or denoting the mood of a verb. OR GRAMMAR relating to a modal verb. OR STATISTICS relating to a mode; occurring most frequently in a sample or population. OR MUSIC of or denoting music using melodies or harmonies based on modes other than the ordinary major and minor scales. OR LOGIC (of a proposition) in which the predicate is affirmed of the subject with some qualification, or which involves the affirmation of possibility, impossibility, necessity, or contingency. OR Noun GRAMMAR a modal word or construction. OR a type of rayon fiber or fabric that has high strength when wet, made mainly from beechwood pulp. "modal is shrink-resistant and unlikely to fade"

Geriatric

Adjective relating to old people, especially with regard to their healthcare. "a geriatric hospital" OR Noun an old person, especially one receiving special care. "a rest home for geriatrics"

Elegiac

Adjective relating to or characteristic of an elegy. "haunting and elegiac poems" OR wistfully mournful. OR Noun verses in an elegiac meter.

Edenic

Adjective relating to or characteristic of the garden of Eden. "the story of the Edenic fall" OR unspoiled and idyllic. "an Edenic world of economic prosperity"

Asiatic

Adjective relating to or deriving from Asia. "Asiatic coastal regions"

Ergonomic

Adjective relating to or designed for efficiency and comfort in the working environment. "ergonomic keyboard design"

Specular

Adjective relating to or having the properties of a mirror.

Shavian

Adjective relating to or in the manner of G. B. Shaw, his writings, or ideas. "their ceaseless flow of Shavian chatter OR Noun an admirer of Shaw or his work.

Pathological

Adjective relating to pathology. "the interpretation of pathological studies" OR involving, caused by, or of the nature of a physical or mental disease. "pathological changes associated with senile dementia" OR INFORMAL compulsive; obsessive. "a pathological gambler"

Delphic

Adjective relating to the ancient Greek oracle at Delphi. OR (typically of a pronouncement) deliberately obscure or ambiguous.

Pectoral

Adjective relating to the breast or chest. "pectoral development" OR worn on the chest. "a pectoral shield" OR Noun a pectoral muscle. OR a pectoral fin. OR an ornamental breastplate, especially one worn by a Jewish high priest.

Occidental

Adjective relating to the countries of the West. "an Asian challenge to occidental dominance" OR Noun a native or inhabitant of the West.

Aural

Adjective relating to the ear or the sense of hearing. "information held in written, aural, or database form"

Temporal

Adjective relating to worldly as opposed to spiritual affairs; secular. "the Church did not imitate the secular rulers who thought only of temporal gain" OR relating to time. "the spatial and temporal dimensions of human interference in complex ecosystems" OR ANATOMY of or situated in the temples of the head. "arterial biopsy usually confirms the diagnosis of temporal arteritis" OR GRAMMAR relating to or denoting time or tense.

Binary

Adjective relating to, composed of, or involving two things. "testing the so-called binary, or dual-chemical, weapons" OR relating to, using, or expressed in a system of numerical notation that has 2 rather than 10 as a base. OR the binary system: binary notation. "the device is counting in binary" OR something having two parts. OR a binary star.

Dour

Adjective relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance. "a hard, dour, humorless fanatic"

Pertinent

Adjective relevant or applicable to a particular matter; apposite. "she asked me a lot of very pertinent questions"

Germane

Adjective relevant to a subject under consideration. "that is not germane to our theme"

Prodigious

Adjective remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree. "the stove consumed a prodigious amount of fuel"

Ecumenical

Adjective representing a number of different Christian Churches. "he was a member of ecumenical committees" OR promoting or relating to unity among the world's Christian Churches. "ecumenical dialogue"

Bullish

Adjective resembling a bull. "a sketch of his round, bullish head" OR STOCK MARKET characterized by rising share prices. "the market was bullish" OR stupid or oafish; bullheaded. "it's impossible to reason with such a bullish man" OR assertively masculine; macho. "his infamous bullish machismo" OR BRITISH aggressively confident and self-assertive. "the team is at its most bullish" OR (of a dealer) inclined to buy because of an anticipated rise in prices. OR confident or optimistic about something. "those who are bullish on the nation's economic prospects"

Cadaverous

Adjective resembling a corpse in being very pale, thin, or bony. "he had a cadaverous appearance"

Palatial

Adjective resembling a palace in being spacious and splendid. "her palatial apartment in Chicago"

Curt

Adjective rudely brief. "his reply was curt"

Woebegone

Adjective sad or miserable in appearance. "don't look so woebegone, Joanna"

Backstair

Adjective secret and sly or sordid

Staid

Adjective sedate, respectable, and unadventurous. "staid law firms"

Stricken

Adjective seriously affected by an undesirable condition or unpleasant feeling. "the pilot landed the stricken aircraft" OR (of a person's face or appearance) showing great distress. "she looked at Anne's stricken face, contorted with worry"

Tutelary

Adjective serving as a protector, guardian, or patron. "the tutelary spirits of these regions" OR relating to protection or a guardian. "the state maintained a tutelary relation with the security police"

Formative

Adjective serving to form something, especially having a profound and lasting influence on a person's development. "his formative years" OR relating to a person's development. "a formative assessment" OR LINGUISTICS denoting or relating to any of the smallest meaningful units that are used to form words in a language, typically combining forms and inflections. OR Noun LINGUISTICS a formative element.

Stark

Adjective severe or bare in appearance or outline. "the ridge formed a stark silhouette against the sky" OR unpleasantly or sharply clear; impossible to avoid. "his position on civil rights is in stark contrast to that of his liberal opponent" OR complete; sheer. "he came running back in stark terror" OR RARE completely naked.

Austere

Adjective severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance. "an austere man, with a rigidly puritanical outlook" OR (of living conditions or a way of life) having no comforts or luxuries; harsh or ascetic. "conditions in the prison could hardly be more austere" OR having an extremely plain and simple style or appearance; unadorned. "the cathedral is impressive in its austere simplicity" OR (of an economic policy or measure) designed to reduce a budget deficit, especially by cutting public expenditure.

Insouciant

Adjective showing a casual lack of concern; indifferent. "an insouciant shrug"

Libidinous

Adjective showing excessive sexual drive; lustful. "libidinous teenagers"

Irresolute

Adjective showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain. "she stood irresolute outside his door"

Venal

Adjective showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery. "their generosity had been at least partly venal"

Timorous

Adjective showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or a lack of confidence. "a timorous voice"

Tawdry

Adjective showy but cheap and of poor quality. "tawdry jewelry" OR sordid or unpleasant. "the tawdry business of politics"

Fatuous

Adjective silly and pointless. "a fatuous comment"

Pat

Adjective simple and somewhat glib or unconvincing. "instead of enlightened minds I found prejudice and pat answers" OR Adverb at exactly the right moment or in the right way; conveniently or opportunely. "the happy ending came rather pat"

Latter

Adjective situated or occurring nearer to the end of something than to the beginning. "the latter half of 1989" OR recent. "the project had low cash flows in its latter years" OR denoting the second or second mentioned of two people or things. "the Russians could advance into either Germany or Austria—they chose the latter option"

Fore

Adjective situated or placed in front. "the fore and hind pairs of wings" OR Noun the front part of something, especially a ship. OR Preposition nonstandard form of before. "we'll be harvesting corn 'fore the end of the month"

Somnolent

Adjective sleepy; drowsy. OR causing or suggestive of drowsiness. "a somnolent summer day" OR MEDICINE abnormally drowsy.

Ponderous

Adjective slow and clumsy because of great weight. "her footsteps were heavy and ponderous" OR dull, laborious, or excessively solemn. "Liz could hardly restrain herself from finishing all his ponderous sentences"

Plaintive

Adjective sounding sad and mournful. "a plaintive cry"

Scintillating

Adjective sparkling or shining brightly. "the scintillating sun" OR brilliantly and excitingly clever or skillful. "the audience loved his scintillating wit"

Extempore

Adjective spoken or done without preparation. "an extempore speech" OR Adverb without preparation. "he recited the poem extempore"

Besotted

Adjective strongly infatuated. "he became besotted with his best friend's sister"

Purgative

Adjective strongly laxative in effect. OR having the effect of ridding someone of unwanted feelings or memories. "the purgative action of language" OR Noun a laxative.

Redolent

Adjective strongly reminiscent or suggestive of (something). "names redolent of history and tradition"

Obstinate

Adjective stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so. OR (of an unwelcome phenomenon or situation) very difficult to change or overcome. "the obstinate problem of unemployment"

Moot

Adjective subject to debate, dispute, or uncertainty. "whether they had been successful or not was a moot point" OR having little or no practical relevance, typically because the subject is too uncertain to allow a decision. "the whole matter is becoming increasingly moot" OR Verb raise (a question or topic) for discussion; suggest (an idea or possibility). "Sylvia needed a vacation, and a trip to Ireland had been mooted" OR Noun HISTORICAL an assembly held for debate, especially in Anglo-Saxon and medieval times. OR LAW a mock trial set up to examine a hypothetical case as an academic exercise. "the object of a moot is to provide practice in developing an argument"

Specious

Adjective superficially plausible, but actually wrong. "a specious argument" OR misleading in appearance, especially misleadingly attractive. "the music trade gives Golden Oldies a specious appearance of novelty"

Preeminent

Adjective surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way. "the world's preeminent expert on asbestos"

Backswept

Adjective swept, slanted, or sloped backward. "his backswept hair"

Turgid

Adjective swollen and distended or congested. "a turgid and fast-moving river" OR (of language or style) tediously pompous or bombastic. "some turgid verses on the death of Prince Albert"

Lachrymose

Adjective tearful or given to weeping. "she was pink-eyed and lachrymose" OR inducing tears; sad. "a lachrymose children's classic"

Protean

Adjective tending or able to change frequently or easily. "it is difficult to comprehend the whole of this protean subject" OR able to do many different things; versatile. "Shostakovich was a remarkably protean composer, one at home in a wide range of styles"

Discreditable

Adjective tending to bring harm to a reputation. "allegations of discreditable conduct"

Soporific

Adjective tending to induce drowsiness or sleep. "the motion of the train had a somewhat soporific effect" OR sleepy or drowsy. "some medicine made her soporific" OR tediously boring or monotonous. "a libel trial is in large parts intensely soporific" OR Noun a drug or other agent that induces sleep.

Inimical

Adjective tending to obstruct or harm. "actions inimical to our interests" OR unfriendly; hostile. "an inimical alien power"

Loquacious

Adjective tending to talk a great deal; talkative. "never loquacious, Sarah was now totally lost for words"

Jaded

Adjective tired, bored, or lacking enthusiasm, typically after having had too much of something. "meals to tempt the most jaded appetites"

Unflagging

Adjective tireless; persistent. "his apparently unflagging enthusiasm impressed her"

Persnickety

Adjective too fussy or picky

Ineffable

Adjective too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words. "the ineffable natural beauty of the Everglades" OR not to be uttered. "the ineffable Hebrew name that gentiles write as Jehovah"

Itinerant

Adjective traveling from place to place. "itinerant traders" OR Noun a person who travels from place to place.

Itinerate

Adjective traveling from place to place. "itinerant traders" OR Noun a person who travels from place to place.

Facetious

Adjective treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant. "a facetious remark"

Candid

Adjective truthful and straightforward; frank. "his responses were remarkably candid"

Twofold

Adjective twice as great or as numerous. "a twofold increase in the risk" OR having two parts or elements. "the twofold demands of the business and motherhood" OR Adverb so as to double; to twice the number or amount. "use increased more than twofold from 1979 to 1989"

Immaterial

Adjective unimportant under the circumstances; irrelevant. "so long as the band kept the beat, what they played was immaterial" OR PHILOSOPHY spiritual, rather than physical. "we have immaterial souls"

Blase

Adjective unimpressed or indifferent to something because one has experienced or seen it so often before. "she was becoming quite blasé about the dangers"

Parsimonious

Adjective unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy or frugal. "parsimonious New Hampshire voters, who have a phobia about taxes"

Instructive

Adjective useful and informative. "it is instructive to compare the two projects"

Magniloquent

Adjective using high-flown or bombastic language.

Verbose

Adjective using or expressed in more words than are needed. "much academic language is obscure and verbose"

Wry

Adjective using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humor. "a wry smile" OR (of a person's face or features) twisted into an expression of disgust, disappointment, or annoyance

Trenchant

Adjective vigorous or incisive in expression or style. "she heard angry voices, not loud, yet certainly trenchant"

Felicitous

Adjective well chosen or suited to the circumstances. "a felicitous phrase" OR pleasing and fortunate. "the view was the room's only felicitous feature"

Receptive

Adjective willing to consider or accept new suggestions and ideas. "a receptive audience" OR able or willing to receive something, especially signals or stimuli. OR (of a female animal) ready to mate.

Complaisant

Adjective willing to please others; obliging; agreeable. "when unharnessed, Northern dogs are peaceful and complaisant"

Disconsolate

Adjective without consolation or comfort; unhappy. "he'd met the man's disconsolate widow" OR (of a place or thing) causing or showing a complete lack of comfort; cheerless. "solitary, disconsolate clumps of cattails"

Insensible

Adjective without one's mental faculties, typically a result of violence or intoxication; unconscious. "they knocked each other insensible with their fists" OR (especially of a body or bodily extremity) numb; without feeling. "the horny and insensible tip of the beak" OR unaware of or indifferent to. "they slept on, insensible to the headlight beams" OR too small or gradual to be perceived; inappreciable. "varying by insensible degrees"

Unqualified

Adjective without reservation or limitation; total. "the experiment was not an unqualified success" 2 definitions omitted.

Sulky

Adjective morose, bad-tempered, and resentful; refusing to be cooperative or cheerful. "disappointment was making her sulky" OR expressing or suggesting gloom and bad temper. "she had a sultry, sulky mouth" OR Noun a light two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle for one person, used chiefly in harness racing.

Falciform

Adjective ANATOMY•ZOOLOGY curved like a sickle; hooked. "the falciform ligament"

Falcate

Adjective BOTANY•ZOOLOGY curved like a sickle; hooked. "the mandibles are falcate"

Mimetic

Adjective FORMAL•TECHNICAL relating to, constituting, or habitually practicing mimesis. "mimetic patterns in butterflies"

Fiduciary

Adjective • LAW involving trust, especially with regard to the relationship between a trustee and a beneficiary. "the company has a fiduciary duty to shareholders" OR FINANCE (of a paper currency) depending for its value on securities (as opposed to gold) or the reputation of the issuer. OR Noun a trustee.

Concupiscent

Adjective•FORMAL filled with sexual desire; lustful. "concupiscent dreams"

Exigent

Adjective•FORMAL pressing; demanding. "the exigent demands of the music took a toll on her voice"

Veridical

Adjective•FORMAL truthful. OR coinciding with reality. "such memories are not necessarily veridical"

Shifty

Adjective•INFORMAL (of a person or their manner) appearing deceitful or evasive. "a shifty, fast-talking lawyer"

Ritzy

Adjective•INFORMAL expensively stylish. "the ritzy Plaza Hotel"

Cagey

Adjective•INFORMAL reluctant to give information owing to caution or suspicion. "manufacturers are cagey about the recipes they use to create a wine"

Rambunctious

Adjective•INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN uncontrollably exuberant; boisterous. "a rambunctious tyke"

Inasmuch

Adverb to the extent that; insofar as. "these provisions apply only inasmuch as trade between Member States is affected" OR considering that; since (used to specify the respect in which a statement is true). "it was not really a still life inasmuch as all the objects were in motion"

Readily

Adverb without hesitation or reluctance; willingly. "he readily admits that the new car surpasses its predecessors" OR without delay or difficulty; easily. "illegal fireworks are readily available"

Amiss

Adverb wrongly or inappropriately. "how terrible was the danger of her loving amiss"

Perforce

Adverb•FORMAL used to express necessity or inevitability. "amateurs, perforce, have to settle for less expensive solutions"

Exculpate

FORMAL Verb show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing. "the article exculpated the mayor"

Abjure

FORMAL Verb solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim). "his refusal to abjure the Catholic faith"

Hype

INFORMAL Noun extravagant or intensive publicity or promotion. "she relied on hype and headlines to stoke up interest in her music" OR a deception carried out for the sake of publicity. OR Verb promote or publicize (a product or idea) intensively, often exaggerating its importance or benefits. "an industry quick to hype its products"

Knock off

INFORMAL Verb stop work. "they usually knock off at 5pm" OR produce a piece of work quickly and easily, especially to order. "I could knock the article off in half an hour" OR deduct an amount from a total. "when the bill came, they knocked off $600 because of a little scratch" OR BRITISH steal something. "he got done for knocking off cars" OR NORTH AMERICAN rob a shop or similar establishment. "an unidentified robber knocked off the bank" OR make an illegal copy of a product. "they were knocking off fake watches for years before others got into that game" OR kill someone. "he's on a mission to knock off a drug baron"

Squiffy

INFORMAL•BRITISH Adjective slightly drunk. "he's squiffy from the rum"

Afters

INFORMAL•BRITISH Noun dessert. "there was apple pie for afters"

Nous

INFORMAL•BRITISH common sense; practical intelligence. "if he had any nous at all, he'd sell the movie rights" OR PHILOSOPHY the mind or intellect.

Flub

INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN Verb botch or bungle (something). "she glanced at her notes and flubbed her lines" OR Noun a thing badly or clumsily done; a blunder. "the textbooks are littered with flubs"

Tee off

INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN make someone angry or annoyed. "their attitude really teed me off" OR INFORMAL make a start on something. "in November, the Society teed off with their inaugural meeting" OR INFORMAL•US sharply attack someone or something. "later in the show, he teed off on their indecision"

Mano a mano

INFORMAL•US Adverb with two parties confronting each other directly. "they want to settle this mano a mano" OR Adjective involving two parties confronting each other directly. "the exhilaration of the mano-a-mano battle" OR Noun an intense confrontation, contest, or fight between two adversaries. "a real courtroom mano-a-mano"

Afterpiece

Noun a brief usually comic dramatic piece presented after a play.

Requiem

Noun (especially in the Roman Catholic Church) a Mass for the repose of the souls of the dead. OR a musical composition setting parts of a requiem Mass, or of a similar character. OR an act or token of remembrance. "he designed the epic as a requiem for his wife"

Choler

Noun (in medieval science and medicine) one of the four bodily humors, identified with bile and believed to be associated with a peevish or irascible temperament.

Beatification

Noun (in the Roman Catholic Church) declaration by the Pope that a dead person is in a state of bliss, constituting a first step toward canonization and permitting public veneration. "a ceremony of beatification in St. Peter's Square"

Paternoster

Noun (in the Roman Catholic Church) the Lord's Prayer, especially in Latin. OR any of a number of special beads occurring at regular intervals in a rosary, indicating that the Lord's Prayer is to be recited. OR an elevator consisting of a series of linked doorless compartments moving continuously on an endless belt.

Canonization

Noun (in the Roman Catholic Church) the official admission of a dead person into sainthood. "many parishioners wanted to attend church specifically to honor the canonization of Mother Teresa" OR the treatment of someone or something as being above reproach or of great significance. "no sooner had he resigned than the process of his canonization began" OR admission into a canon of literary or artistic works. "Joyce saw all that was wrong with literary canonization long before it happened to him"

Declension

Noun (in the grammar of Latin, Greek, and other languages) the variation of the form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective, by which its grammatical case, number, and gender are identified.

Enjambment

Noun (in verse) the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza. "he uses enjambment less than many poets"

Convulse

Noun (of an emotion, laughter, or physical stimulus) cause (someone) to make sudden, violent, uncontrollable movements. "she rocked backward and forward, convulsed with helpless mirth" OR throw (a country) into violent social or political upheaval. "a wave of mass strikes convulsed the Ruhr, Berlin, and central Germany"

Ream

Noun 500 (formerly 480) sheets of paper. OR a large quantity of something, typically paper or writing on paper. "reams of paper have been used to debate these questions" OR Verb widen (a bore or hole) with a special tool. OR widen a bore or hole in (a gun or other metal object) with a special tool. OR NORTH AMERICAN clear out or remove (material) from something. OR INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN rebuke someone fiercely. "the agent was reaming him out for walking away from the deal" OR SCOTTISH•NORTHERN IRISH froth or overflow. "a full pot reaming with froth"

Revue

Noun A light theatrical entertainment consisting of a series of short sketches, songs, and dances, typically dealing satirically with topical issues.

Alias

Noun A name that is not one's true name

Antipode

Noun Australia and New Zealand (used by inhabitants of the northern hemisphere). "there were plants from the Antipodes, including eucalyptuses and acacias" OR the direct opposite of something. "voting and violence are antipodes"

Arabesque

Noun BALLET a posture in which the body is supported on one leg, with the other leg extended horizontally backward. OR an ornamental design consisting of intertwined flowing lines, originally found in Arabic or Moorish decoration. "arabesque scrolls" OR MUSIC a passage or composition with fanciful ornamentation of the melody.

Soma

Noun BIOLOGY the parts of an organism other than the reproductive cells. OR (in Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World ) a narcotic drug which produces euphoria and hallucination, distributed by the state in order to promote content and social harmony.

Telltale

Noun BRITISH a person, especially a child, who reports others' wrongdoings or reveals their secrets. OR a device or object that automatically gives a visual indication of the state or presence of something. OR (on a sailboat) a piece of string or fabric that shows the direction and force of the wind.

Prefect

Noun BRITISH in some schools, a senior student authorized to enforce discipline. OR a chief officer, magistrate, or regional governor in certain countries. "the prefect of police" OR a senior magistrate or governor in the ancient Roman world. "Avitus was prefect of Gaul from AD 439"

Ether

Noun CHEMISTRY a pleasant-smelling colorless volatile liquid that is highly flammable. It is used as an anesthetic and as a solvent or intermediate in industrial processes. OR INFORMAL air regarded as a medium for radio. "choral evensong still wafts across the ether"

Beef

Noun FARMING a cow, bull, or ox fattened for its meat. OR INFORMAL flesh or muscle, typically when well developed. "he needs a little more beef on his bones" OR INFORMAL a complaint or grievance. "he has a beef with American education: it doesn't teach the basics of investing" OR INFORMAL•US a criminal charge. "a drunk-driving beef" OR Verb•INFORMAL complain. "he was beefing about how the recession was killing the business"

Essay

Noun FORMAL an attempt or effort. "a misjudged essay" OR FORMAL a trial design of a postage stamp yet to be accepted. OR Verb•FORMAL attempt or try. "essay a smile" 1 definition omitted.

Prelate

Noun FORMAL•HISTORICAL a bishop or other high ecclesiastical dignitary.

Wont

Noun FORMAL•HUMOROUS one's customary behavior in a particular situation. "Constance, as was her wont, had paid her little attention"

Scourge

Noun HISTORICAL a whip used as an instrument of punishment. OR a person or thing that causes great trouble or suffering. "the scourge of mass unemployment" OR Verb HISTORICAL whip (someone) as a punishment. OR cause great suffering to. "political methods used to scourge and oppress workers"

Humor

Noun HISTORICAL each of the four chief fluids of the body (blood, phlegm, yellow bile (choler), and black bile (melancholy)) that were thought to determine a person's physical and mental qualities by the relative proportions in which they were present.

Lifer

Noun INFORMAL a person serving a life sentence in prison. OR NORTH AMERICAN a person who spends their life in a particular career, especially in one of the armed forces.

Dive

Noun INFORMAL a shabby or sleazy bar or similar establishment. "he got into a fight in some dive"

Zero

Noun INFORMAL a worthless or contemptibly undistinguished person. "her husband is an absolute zero" OR Verb adjust (an instrument) to zero. "zero the counter when the tape has rewound" OR set the sights of (a gun) for firing.

Advert

Noun INFORMAL•BRITISH an advertisement. OR Verb FORMAL refer to in speaking or writing. "he had failed to advert to the consequences that his conduct was having"

Operand

Noun MATHEMATICS the quantity on which an operation is to be done.

Exsanguination

Noun MEDICINE the action of draining a person, animal, or organ of blood. "regional anesthesia with exsanguination of the limb" OR severe loss of blood. "no patient died from immediate exsanguination"

Commissary

Noun NORTH AMERICAN a restaurant in a movie studio, military base, prison, or other institution. OR a deputy or delegate.

Esquire

Noun NORTH AMERICAN a title appended to a lawyer's surname. OR BRITISH a polite title appended to a man's name when no other title is used, typically in the address of a letter or other documents. "Robert A. Pearson Esquire" OR HISTORICAL a young nobleman who, in training for knighthood, acted as an attendant to a knight. OR an officer in the service of a king or nobleman. OR a landed proprietor or country squire.

Calico

Noun NORTH AMERICAN printed cotton fabric. "a calico dress" OR BRITISH a type of cotton cloth, typically plain white or unbleached. OR Adjective•NORTH AMERICAN (of an animal, typically a cat) multicolored or mottled.

Perlocution

Noun PHILOSOPHY•LINGUISTICS an act of speaking or writing which has an action as its aim but which in itself does not effect or constitute the action, for example persuading or convincing.

Illocution

Noun PHILOSOPHY•LINGUISTICS an act of speaking or writing which in itself effects or constitutes the intended action, e.g. ordering, warning, or promising.

White Noise

Noun PHYSICS noise containing many frequencies with equal intensities.

Amplitude

Noun PHYSICS the maximum extent of a vibration or oscillation, measured from the position of equilibrium. OR the maximum difference of an alternating electrical current or potential from the average value. OR ASTRONOMY the angular distance of a celestial object from the true east or west point of the horizon at rising or setting. OR breadth, range, or magnitude. "the amplitude of the crime of manslaughter lies beneath murder" OR MATHEMATICS the angle between the real axis of an Argand diagram and a vector representing a complex number.

Metacognition

Noun PSYCHOLOGY Awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes.

Logos

Noun THEOLOGY the Word of God, or principle of divine reason and creative order, identified in the Gospel of John with the second person of the Trinity incarnate in Jesus Christ. OR (in Jungian psychology) the principle of reason and judgment, associated with the animus.

Gallery

Noun a balcony, especially a platform or upper floor, projecting from the back or sidewall inside a church or hall, providing space for an audience or musicians. "in the minstrels' gallery, a string orchestra plays themes from film soundtracks" OR a long room or passage, typically one that is partly open at the side to form a portico or colonnade. OR a horizontal underground passage, especially in a mine. "long underground galleries of 3 km or more made it possible to mine under the sea"

Clearing house

Noun a bankers' establishment where checks and bills from member banks are exchanged, so that only the balances need be paid in cash. OR an agency or organization which collects and distributes something, especially information. "the Center will act as a clearinghouse for information on local school programs"

Copybook

Noun a book containing models of handwriting for learners to imitate. OR Adjective exactly in accordance with established criteria; perfect. "it wasn't exactly a copybook landing" OR tritely conventional. "out come the copybook maxims"

Manuscript

Noun a book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed. "an illuminated manuscript OR an author's text that has not yet been published. "her autobiography remained in manuscript"

Bow

Noun a bowman. OR a long, partially curved rod with horsehair stretched along its length, used for playing the violin and other stringed instruments. OR a single passage of a bow over the strings of a violin or other stringed instrument. OR a curved stroke forming part of a letter (e.g. b, p ). OR a metal ring forming the handle of a key or pair of scissors. OR NORTH AMERICAN a side piece or lens frame of a pair of glasses. OR The front end of a ship. "water sprayed high over her bows" Verb play (a stringed instrument or music) using a bow. "the techniques by which the pieces were bowed" OR express (thanks, agreement, or other sentiments) by bending one's head respectfully. "he looked at Hector before bowing grave thanks" OR bend the body in order to see or concentrate. "my mother sat bowed over a library book" OR bend with age or under pressure. "the vines were bowed down with flowers" OR submit to pressure or to someone's demands. "the mayor bowed to public opinion" OR NORTH AMERICAN (of a movie or product) be premiered or launched. "the trailer bowed in theaters nationwide on December 23"

Soapbox

Noun a box or crate used as a makeshift stand by a public speaker. "a soapbox orator" OR a thing that provides an opportunity for someone to air their views publicly. "fanzines are soapboxes for critical sports fans"

Vignette

Noun a brief evocative description, account, or episode. "a classic vignette of embassy life" OR a small illustration or portrait photograph which fades into its background without a definite border.

Mausoleum

Noun a building, especially a large and stately one, housing a tomb or tombs. "the cathedral was built in 1517 as a royal mausoleum"

Encumbrance

Noun a burden or impediment. "the horse raised its hind leg as if to rid itself of an encumbrance" OR LAW a mortgage or other charge on property or assets. "details of encumbrances on property"

Fetter

Noun a chain or manacle used to restrain a prisoner, typically placed around the ankles. "he lay bound with fetters of iron" OR a restraint or check on someone's freedom to do something, typically one considered unfair or overly restrictive. "the fetters of discipline and caution" OR Verb restrain with chains or manacles, typically around the ankles. "the Supervisor tossed a key to the old slave to unlock the chain that fettered the prisoners together" OR restrict or restrain (someone) in an unfair or undesirable fashion. "he was not fettered by tradition"

Vicissitude

Noun a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant. "her husband's sharp vicissitudes of fortune"

Lilt

Noun a characteristic rising and falling of the voice when speaking; a pleasant gentle accent. "he spoke with a faint but recognizable Irish lilt" OR a pleasant, gently swinging rhythm in a song or tune. "the lilt of the Hawaiian music" OR Verb speak, sing, or sound with a lilt. "a lilting Welsh accent"

Parsonage

Noun a church house provided for a member of the clergy.

Magistrate

Noun a civil officer or lay judge who administers the law, especially one who conducts a court that deals with minor offenses and holds preliminary hearings for more serious ones.

Typology

Noun a classification according to general type, especially in archaeology, psychology, or the social sciences. "a typology of Saxon cremation vessels" OR study or analysis using typology. OR the study and interpretation of types and symbols, originally especially in the Bible.

Dossier

Noun a collection of documents about a particular person, event, or subject. "we have a dossier on him"

Digraph

Noun a combination of two letters representing one sound, as in ph and ey. PRINTING a character consisting of two joined letters; a ligature.

Apothegm

Noun a concise saying or maxim; an aphorism. "the apothegm "tomorrow is another day""

Proviso

Noun a condition attached to an agreement. "he left his unborn grandchild a trust fund with the proviso that he be named after the old man"

Melee

Noun a confused fight, skirmish, or scuffle. "several people were hurt in the melee" OR a confused mass of people. "the melee of people that was always thronging the streets"

Scrimmage

Noun a confused struggle or fight. "there was a considerable scrimmage, with people anxious to obtain cabs" 3 definitions omitted.

Cognoscente

Noun a connoisseur; a discerning expert. "the art historian as professional, expert, cognoscente, and aficionado"

Ramification

Noun a consequence of an action or event, especially when complex or unwelcome. "any change is bound to have legal ramifications" OR a subdivision of a complex structure or process perceived as comparable to a tree's branches. "an extended family with its ramifications of neighboring in-laws" OR FORMAL•TECHNICAL the action or state of ramifying or being ramified.

Hopper

Noun a container for a bulk material such as grain, rock, or trash, typically one that tapers downward and is able to discharge its contents at the bottom. OR a person or thing that hops.

Ruminant

Noun a contemplative person; a person given to meditation. "he was destined to become a ruminant, a haunter of libraries" OR an even-toed ungulate mammal that chews the cud regurgitated from its rumen. The ruminants comprise the cattle, sheep, antelopes, deer, giraffes, and their relatives. OR Adjective of or belonging to ruminants. "a ruminant animal"

Logjam

Noun a crowded mass of logs blocking a river. OR a situation that seems irresolvable. OR a backlog. "keeping a diary may ease the logjam of work considerably"

Ploy

Noun a cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage. "the president has dismissed the referendum as a ploy to buy time"

Chine

Noun a cut of meat containing all or part of the backbone. OR the angle where the bottom of a boat or ship meets the side. OR Verb cut (meat) across or along the backbone. "he learned how to chine a whole sheep"

Curfew

Noun a daily signal indicating the start of curfew.

Curlicue

Noun a decorative curl or twist in calligraphy or in the design of an object. "the wide bridge was decorated with gilded wrought-iron curlicues"

Bulwark

Noun a defensive wall. OR an extension of a ship's sides above the level of the deck.

Intaglio

Noun a design incised or engraved into a material. "the dies bore a design in intaglio" OR any printing process in which the type or design is etched or engraved, such as photogravure or dry point. OR Verb engrave or represent by an engraving. "a carved box with little intaglioed pineapples on it"

Free-for-all

Noun a disorganized or unrestricted situation or event in which everyone may take part, especially a fight, discussion, or trading market. "a free-for-all on the topic "Woman and Writing""

Discontinuity

Noun a distinct break in physical continuity or sequence in time. "there is no significant discontinuity between modern and primitive societies" OR a sharp difference of characteristics between parts of something. "changes in government have resulted in discontinuities in policy"

Prefecture

Noun a district under the government of a prefect. OR a prefect's office or tenure. OR the official residence or headquarters of a prefect. "enraged fans besieged the Prefecture of Police"

Pleat

Noun a double or multiple fold in a garment or other item made of cloth, held by stitching the top or side. OR Verb fold into pleats. "she was absently pleating her skirt between her fingers"

Dramaturge

Noun a dramatist. OR a literary editor on the staff of a theater who consults with authors and edits texts.

Counterpoise

Noun a factor, force, or influence that balances or neutralizes another. "they see the power of Brussels as a counterpoise to that of London" OR a counterbalancing weight. OR a state of equilibrium. OR Verb have an opposing and balancing effect on. "excess on one hand is counterpoised by fundamental lack on the other" OR bring into contrast. "the stories counterpoise a young recruit with an old-timer"

Travesty

Noun a false, absurd, or distorted representation of something. "the absurdly lenient sentence is a travesty of justice" OR Verb represent in a false or distorted way. "Michael has betrayed the family by travestying them in his plays"

Conceit

Noun a fanciful expression in writing or speech; an elaborate metaphor. "the idea of the wind's singing is a prime romantic conceit" OR an artistic effect or device. "the director's brilliant conceit was to film this tale in black and white" OR a fanciful notion. "he is alarmed by the widespread conceit that he spent most of the 1980s drunk"

Couturier

Noun a fashion designer who manufactures and sells clothes that have been tailored to a client's specific requirements and measurements. "clothes of luxurious fabrics, cut by top couturiers to fit them to perfection"

Angst

Noun a feeling of deep anxiety or dread, typically an unfocused one about the human condition or the state of the world in general. "adolescent angst" OR INFORMAL a feeling of persistent worry about something trivial. "my hair causes me angst"

Misgivings

Noun a feeling of doubt or apprehension about the outcome or consequences of something. "we have misgivings about the way the campaign is being run"

Trepidation

Noun a feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen. "the men set off in fear and trepidation"

Pique

Noun a feeling of irritation or resentment resulting from a slight, especially to one's pride. "he left in a fit of pique" OR stiff fabric, typically cotton, woven in a strongly ribbed or raised pattern. "a white cotton piqué shirt" OR Verb stimulate (interest or curiosity). "you have piqued my curiosity about the man" OR feel irritated or resentful. "she was piqued by his curtness"

Melancholy

Noun a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause. "an air of melancholy surrounded him" OR Adjective having a feeling of melancholy; sad and pensive. "she felt a little melancholy" OR causing or expressing sadness; depressing. "the study makes melancholy if instructive reading"

Discomfiture

Noun a feeling of unease or embarrassment; awkwardness. "many MPs are secretly enjoying his discomfiture"

Synecdoche

Noun a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa, as in Cleveland won by six runs (meaning "Cleveland's baseball team").

Oxymoron

Noun a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (e.g. faith unfaithful kept him falsely true ).

Simile

Noun a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (e.g., as brave as a lion, crazy like a fox ). OR the use of a simile. "his audacious deployment of simile and metaphor"

Myrmidon

Noun a follower or subordinate of a powerful person, typically one who is unscrupulous or carries out orders unquestioningly. "one of Hitler's myrmidons"

Tinsel

Noun a form of decoration consisting of thin strips of shiny metal foil. OR showy or superficial attractiveness or glamour. "his taste for the tinsel of the art world"

Induction

Noun a formal introduction to a new job or position. "an induction course" OR US enlistment into military service. OR the process or action of bringing about or giving rise to something. "isolation, starvation, and other forms of stress induction" OR MEDICINE the process of bringing on childbirth or abortion by artificial means, typically by the use of drugs. OR LOGIC the inference of a general law from particular instances. OR LOGIC the production of facts to prove a general statement. OR the stage of the working cycle of an internal combustion engine in which the fuel mixture is drawn into the cylinders.

Dictum

Noun a formal pronouncement from an authoritative source. "the First Amendment dictum that "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech" OR a short statement that expresses a general truth or principle. "the old dictum "might makes right.""

Bezel

Noun a grooved ring holding the glass or plastic cover of a watch face or other instrument in position. OR a groove holding the crystal of a watch or the stone of a gem in its setting.

Ensemble

Noun a group of musicians, actors, or dancers who perform together. "a Bulgarian folk ensemble" OR a group of items viewed as a whole rather than individually. "the buildings in the square present a charming provincial ensemble" OR a scene or passage written for performance by a whole cast, choir, or group of instruments. OR the coordination between performers executing an ensemble passage. "a high level of tuning and ensemble is guaranteed" OR a set of clothes chosen to harmonize when worn together. OR PHYSICS a group of similar systems, or different states of the same system, often considered statistically.

Idiom

Noun a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words (e.g., rain cats and dogs, see the light ). OR a form of expression natural to a language, person, or group of people. "he had a feeling for phrase and idiom" OR the dialect of a people or part of a country. OR a characteristic mode of expression in music or art. "they were both working in a neo-impressionist idiom"

Brand

Noun a habit, trait, or quality that causes someone public shame or disgrace. "the brand of Paula's alcoholism" OR a piece of burning or smoldering wood. "he took two burning brands from the fire" OR Verb mark indelibly. "an ointment that branded her with unsightly violet-colored splotches" OR assign a brand name to. OR promote (a particular product or company) by means of advertising and distinctive design. "we'll have the ability to market and brand our own product"

Sot

Noun a habitual drunkard. 1 definition omitted. Can be found in the quizlet set Literary and Archaic Terms and Phrases

Cacophony

Noun a harsh discordant mixture of sounds. "a cacophony of deafening alarm bells"

Subheading

Noun a heading given to a subsection of a piece of writing. "the page is broken up into short paragraphs with subheadings"

Nettle

Noun a herbaceous plant which has jagged leaves covered with stinging hairs. Verb irritate or annoy (someone). "I was nettled by Alene's tone of superiority"

Surname

Noun a hereditary name common to all members of a family, as distinct from a given name. OR Verb give a surname to. "Eddie Penham, so aptly surnamed, had produced a hand-painted sign for us"

Waif

Noun a homeless, neglected, or abandoned person, especially a child. "she is foster mother to various waifs and strays" OR a young person who is thin and looks unhealthy or uncared for.

Tenement

Noun a house divided into and rented out as separate residences, especially one that is run-down and overcrowded. OR a piece of land held by an owner. OR LAW any kind of permanent property, e.g. lands or rents, held from a superior.

Limerick

Noun a humorous, frequently bawdy, verse of three long and two short lines rhyming aabba, popularized by Edward Lear.

Diadem

Noun a jeweled crown or headband worn as a symbol of sovereignty.

Threnody

Noun a lament. "a brooding threnody to urban desolation"

Bevy

Noun a large group of people or things of a particular kind. "a bevy of big-name cameos will keep the adults entertained" OR a group of birds, especially quail, particularly when closely gathered on the ground.

Ewer

Noun a large jug with a wide mouth, formerly used for carrying water for someone to wash in.

Proliferation

Noun a large number of something. "stress levels are high, forcing upon them a proliferation of ailments" 2 definitions omitted.

Throng

Noun a large, densely packed crowd of people or animals. "he pushed his way through the throng" OR Verb (of a crowd) fill or be present in (a place or area). "a crowd thronged the station" OR flock or be present in great numbers. "tourists thronged to the picturesque village"

Stratum

Noun a layer or a series of layers of rock in the ground. "a stratum of flint" OR a level or class to which people are assigned according to their social status, education, or income. "members of other social strata" OR a thin layer within any structure. "thin strata of air" OR STATISTICS a group into which members of a population are divided in stratified sampling. "allocation of sample units to strata"

Bequest

Noun a legacy. "her $135,000 was the largest bequest the library ever has received" OR the action of bequeathing something. "a painting acquired by bequest"

Epigone

Noun a less distinguished follower or imitator of someone, especially an artist or philosopher. "the epigone's habit of exaggerating his master's voice"

Landing

Noun a level area at the top of a staircase or between one flight of stairs and another. OR a place where people and goods can be landed from a boat or ship. "the ferry landing"

Contour Line

Noun a line on a map joining points of equal height above or below sea level. "every valley bottom below a certain contour line must have been soggy and at times impassable"

Mantle

Noun a loose sleeveless cloak or shawl, worn especially by women. OR a covering of a specified sort. "the houses were covered with a thick mantle of snow" OR ORNITHOLOGY a bird's back, scapulars, and wing coverts, especially when of a distinctive color. OR ZOOLOGY an outer or enclosing layer of tissue, especially (in mollusks, cirripedes, and brachiopods) a fold of skin enclosing the viscera and secreting the substance that produces the shell. OR a fragile mesh cover fixed around a gas jet, kerosene wick, etc., to give an incandescent light when heated. OR Verb (of a bird of prey on the ground or on a perch) spread the wings and tail so as to cover captured prey.

Peal

Noun a loud ringing of a bell or bells. OR a loud repeated or reverberating sound of thunder or laughter. "Ross burst into peals of laughter" OR BELL-RINGING a series of unique changes (strictly, at least five thousand) rung on a set of bells. OR a set of bells. OR Verb (of a bell or bells) ring loudly or in a peal. "all the bells of the city began to peal" OR (of laughter or thunder) sound in a peal. "Aunt Edie's laughter pealed around the parlor" OR convey or give out by the ringing of bells. "the carillon pealed out the news to the waiting city"

Luthier

Noun a maker of stringed instruments such as violins or guitars.

Squire

Noun a man of high social standing who owns and lives on an estate in a rural area, especially the chief landowner in such an area. "the squire of Radbourne Hall" OR INFORMAL•BRITISH used by a man as a friendly or humorous form of address to another man. OR HISTORICAL a young nobleman acting as an attendant to a knight before becoming a knight himself. OR Verb (of a man) accompany or escort (a woman). "she was squired around Rome by a reporter" OR DATED (of a man) have a romantic relationship with (a woman).

Philanderer

Noun a man who readily or frequently enters into casual sexual relationships with women; a womanizer. "he was known as a philanderer"

Vortex

Noun a mass of whirling fluid or air, especially a whirlpool or whirlwind. "we were caught in a vortex of water"

Remedy

Noun a means of legal reparation. "the doctrine took away their only remedy against merchants who refused to honor their contracts" OR the margin within which coins as minted may differ from the standard fineness and weight. 3 definitions omitted.

Escapement

Noun a mechanism in a clock or watch that alternately checks and releases the train by a fixed amount and transmits a periodic impulse from the spring or weight to the balance wheel or pendulum. OR a mechanism in a typewriter that shifts the carriage a small fixed amount to the left after a key is pressed and released. OR the part of the mechanism in a piano that enables the hammer to fall back as soon as it has struck the string.

Minstrel

Noun a medieval singer or musician, especially one who sang or recited lyric or heroic poetry to a musical accompaniment for the nobility. "they listened to the minstrels singing songs of knightly prowess" OR HISTORICAL a member of a band of entertainers with blackened faces who performed songs and music ostensibly of black American origin.

Sherpa

Noun a member of a Himalayan people living on the borders of Nepal and Tibet, renowned for their skill in mountaineering. OR INFORMAL a civil servant or diplomat who undertakes preparatory work prior to a summit conference.

Cimmerian

Noun a member of an ancient nomadic people who overran Asia Minor in the 7th century BC. OR GREEK MYTHOLOGY a member of a mythical people living in perpetual mist and darkness near the land of the dead.

Dragoon

Noun a member of any of several cavalry regiments in the British army. OR HISTORICAL a mounted infantryman armed with a short rifle or musket. Verb coerce (someone) into doing something. "she had been dragooned into helping with the housework"

Manacle

Noun a metal band, chain, or shackle for fastening someone's hands or ankles. "the practice of keeping prisoners in manacles" OR Verb fetter (a person or a part of the body) with manacles. "his hands were manacled behind his back"

Germ

Noun a microorganism, especially one which causes disease. OR a portion of an organism capable of developing into a new one or part of one. OR the embryo in a cereal grain or other plant seed. OR an initial stage from which something may develop. "the germ of a brilliant idea"

Aide-de-camp

Noun a military officer acting as a confidential assistant to a senior officer.

Cadence

Noun a modulation or inflection of the voice. "the measured cadences that he employed in the Senate" OR a sequence of notes or chords comprising the close of a musical phrase. "the final cadences of the Prelude" OR a modulation in reading aloud as implied by the structure and ordering of words and phrases in written text. "the dry cadences of the essay" OR a fall in pitch of the voice at the end of a phrase or sentence. OR rhythm. "the thumping cadence of the engines"

Bier

Noun a movable frame on which a coffin or a corpse is placed before burial or cremation or on which it is carried to the grave.

Overtones

Noun a musical tone which is a part of the harmonic series above a fundamental note, and may be heard with it. OR a subtle or subsidiary quality, implication, or connotation. "the decision may have political overtones"

Patronymic

Noun a name derived from the name of a father or ancestor, typically by the addition of a prefix or suffix, e.g., Johnson, O'Brien, Ivanovich. OR Adjective denoting or relating to a name derived from the name of a father or male ancestor. "the patronymic naming of children"

Bottleneck

Noun a narrow section of road or a junction that impedes traffic flow. "narrow streets and a lack of parking space combine to make the town a bottleneck" OR a situation that causes delay in a process or system. "lack of imports is making the bottlenecks in domestic output worse than usual"

Aptitude

Noun a natural ability to do something. "children with an aptitude for painting and drawing" OR a natural tendency. "the aptitude of this society to assimilate new elements"

Parlance

Noun a particular way of speaking or using words, especially a way common to those with a particular job or interest. "dated terms that were once in common parlance"

Watch

Noun a period of vigil during which a person is stationed to look out for danger or trouble, typically during the night. "Murray took the last watch before dawn" OR a fixed period of duty on a ship, usually lasting four hours. OR the officers and crew on duty during a watch. OR HISTORICAL a watchman or group of watchmen who patrolled and guarded the streets of a town before the introduction of the police force. OR a body of soldiers making up a guard.

Acolyte

Noun a person assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession. OR an assistant or follower. "she runs the department through a small group of acolytes"

Notary

Noun a person authorized to perform certain legal formalities, especially to draw up or certify contracts, deeds, and other documents for use in other jurisdictions.

Native

Noun a person born in a specified place or associated with a place by birth, whether subsequently resident there or not. "a native of Montreal" OR Adjective associated with the place or circumstances of a person's birth. "he's a native New Yorker" OR (of a plant or animal) of indigenous origin or growth. "these plants are native to North America" OR (of a quality) belonging to a person's character from birth rather than acquired; innate. "some last vestige of native wit prompted Guy to say nothing"

Monomaniac

Noun a person exhibiting an exaggerated or obsessive enthusiasm for or preoccupation with one thing. "self-obsessed monomaniacs" OR Adjective characterized by an exaggerated or obsessive enthusiasm for or preoccupation with one thing. "he rails against monomaniac passions"

Invalid

Noun a person made weak or disabled by illness or injury. "an invalid husband" OR Verb remove (someone) from active service in the armed forces because of injury or illness. "he was badly wounded and invalided out of the infantry" OR disable (someone) by injury or illness.

Suppliant

Noun a person making a humble plea to someone in power or authority. OR Adjective making or expressing a plea, especially to someone in power or authority. "their faces were suppliant"

Bete noire

Noun a person or thing that one particularly dislikes. "great-uncle Edward was my father's bête noire"

Nonentity

Noun a person or thing with no special or interesting qualities; an unimportant person or thing. "a political nonentity" OR nonexistence. "asserting the nonentity of evil"

Dilettante

Noun a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or knowledge. "a wealthy literary dilettante"

Svengali

Noun a person who exercises a controlling or mesmeric influence on another, especially for a sinister purpose.

Patron

Noun a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, cause, or activity. "a celebrated patron of the arts" OR a customer, especially a regular one, of a store, restaurant, or theater. "we surveyed the plushness of the hotel and its sleek, well-dressed patrons" OR ROMAN HISTORY (in ancient Rome) a patrician in relation to a client. (in ancient Rome) the former owner and (frequently) protector of a freed slave. OR HISTORICAL•BRITISH a person or institution with the right to grant a benefice to a member of the clergy.

Purist

Noun a person who insists on absolute adherence to traditional rules or structures, especially in language or style. "the production has yet to offend Gilbert and Sullivan purists" OR an adherent of Purism. "Purist painters"

Prodigy

Noun a person, especially a young one, endowed with exceptional qualities or abilities. "a Russian pianist who was a child prodigy in his day" OR an impressive or outstanding example of a particular quality. "Germany seemed a prodigy of industrial discipline" OR an amazing or unusual thing, especially one out of the ordinary course of nature. "omens and prodigies abound in Livy's work"

Sinew

Noun a piece of tough fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone or bone to bone; a tendon or ligament.

Repository

Noun a place, building, or receptacle where things are or may be stored. "a deep repository for nuclear waste" OR a place in which something, especially a natural resource, has accumulated or where it is found in significant quantities. "accessible repositories of water" OR COMPUTING a central location in which data is stored and managed. "the metadata will be aggregated in a repository" OR a person or thing regarded as a store of information or in which something abstract is held to exist or be found. "his mind was a rich repository of the past"

Promontory

Noun a point of high land that juts out into a large body of water; a headland. "a rocky promontory" OR ANATOMY a prominence or protuberance on an organ or other structure in the body.

Cusp

Noun a point of transition between two different states. "those on the cusp of adulthood" OR a pointed end where two curves meet. OR each of the pointed ends of the crescent moon.

Demagogue

Noun a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument. "a gifted demagogue with particular skill in manipulating the press" OR (in ancient Greece and Rome) a leader or orator who espoused the cause of the common people. "the Athenian demagogues had definite and valuable functions within the state" OR Verb•US rhetorically exploit (an issue) for political purposes in a way calculated to appeal to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people. "he seems more interested in demagoguing the issue in media interviews than in dialogue"

Eventuality

Noun a possible event or outcome. "you must be prepared for all eventualities"

Adage

Noun a proverb or short statement expressing a general truth. "the old adage "out of sight out of mind.""

Panegyric

Noun a public speech or published text in praise of someone or something. "Vera's panegyric on friendship"

Anthology

Noun a published collection of poems or other pieces of writing. "an anthology of European poetry" OR a published collection of songs or musical compositions issued in one album.

Pathos

Noun a quality that evokes pity or sadness. "the actor injects his customary humor and pathos into the role"

Gangway

Noun a raised platform or walkway providing a passage. OR BRITISH a passage between rows of seats, especially in a theater or aircraft. OR Exclamation make way!; get out of the way!

Scaffold

Noun a raised wooden platform used formerly for the public execution of criminals.

Curio

Noun a rare, unusual, or intriguing object. "they had such fun over the wonderful box of curios that Jack had sent from India"

Claret

Noun a red wine from Bordeaux, or wine of a similar character made elsewhere. "a passable bottle of claret" OR a deep purplish-red color.

Allowance

Noun a reduction in price, typically for the exchange of used goods. "he made the down payment with the trade-in allowance"

Stereotype

Noun a relief printing plate cast in a mold made from composed type or an original plate.

Platitude

Noun a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful. "she began uttering liberal platitudes"

Prerogative

Noun a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class. "owning an automobile was still the prerogative of the rich" OR the right of the sovereign, which in British law is theoretically subject to no restriction. noun: royal prerogative; plural noun: royal prerogatives OR a faculty or property distinguishing a person or class. "it's not a female prerogative to feel insecure" OR Adjective•BRITISH•LAW arising from the prerogative of the Crown (usually delegated to the government or the judiciary) and based in common law rather than statutory law. "the monarch retained the formal prerogative power to appoint the Prime Minister"

Thoroughfare

Noun a road or path forming a route between two places. "a scheme to stop the park being used as a thoroughfare" OR a main road in a town. "the teeming thoroughfares of central London"

Drawing Room

Noun a room in a large private house in which guests can be received and entertained. OR Adjective consciously refined, lighthearted, and elegant. "drawing-room small talk" OR (of a song or play) characterized by a polite observance of social proprieties. "a stock figure of Thirties drawing-room comedy"

Template

Noun a shaped piece of metal, wood, card, plastic, or other material used as a pattern for processes such as painting, cutting out, shaping, or drilling. OR a timber or plate used to distribute the weight in a wall or under a support. OR COMPUTING a preset format for a document or file, used so that the format does not have to be recreated each time it is used. "a memo template" OR something that serves as a model for others to copy. "the plant was to serve as the template for change throughout the company" 1 definition omitted.

Berth

Noun a ship's allotted place at a wharf or dock. OR a fixed bed or bunk on a ship, train, or other means of transport. OR Verb moor (a ship) in its allotted place. "these modern ships can almost berth themselves" OR (of a passenger ship) provide a sleeping place for (someone). OR (of a ship) dock. "the Dutch freighter berthed at the Brooklyn docks"

Excursion

Noun a short journey or trip, especially one engaged in as a leisure activity. "an excursion to Mount Etna" OR TECHNICAL an instance of the movement of something along a path or through an angle.

Riff

Noun a short repeated phrase in popular music and jazz, typically used as an introduction or refrain in a song. "a brilliant guitar riff" OR a monologue or spoken improvisation, especially a humorous one, on a particular subject. "subsequent riffs on the same themes fail to amuse" OR Verb play musical riffs. "the other horns would be riffing behind him" OR perform a monologue or spoken improvisation on a particular subject. "he also riffs on racism and the economy"

Portent

Noun a sign or warning that something, especially something momentous or calamitous, is likely to happen. "they believed that wild birds in the house were portents of death" OR future significance. "an omen of grave portent for the tribe"

Pulse

Noun a single vibration or short burst of sound, electric current, light, or other wave. "a pulse generator" OR a musical beat or other regular rhythm. OR the central point of energy and organization in an area or activity. "those close to the financial and economic pulse maintain that there have been fundamental changes" OR the edible seeds of various leguminous plants, for example chickpeas, lentils, and beans. "use pulses such as peas and lentils to eke out meat dishes" OR the plant or plants producing pulses. OR Verb throb rhythmically; pulsate. "a knot of muscles at the side of his jaw pulsed" OR modulate (a wave or beam) so that it becomes a series of pulses. OR apply a pulsed signal to (a device).

Slalom

Noun a ski race down a winding course marked by flags or poles. OR a sporting event on water with a winding course marked by obstacles, typically a canoe or sailing race. OR Verb move or race in a winding path, avoiding obstacles. "she drove with reckless speed, slaloming in and out of the stalled cars"

Taper

Noun a slender candle. OR a wick coated with wax, used for conveying a flame. OR a gradual narrowing. "the current industry standard taper of 5 degrees" OR a gradual or incremental reduction. "with the taper in training, athletes can feel less hungry"

Quibble

Noun a slight objection or criticism about a trivial matter. "the only quibble about this book is the price" OR Verb argue or raise objections about a trivial matter. "they are always quibbling about the amount they are prepared to pay"

Dinghy

Noun a small boat for recreation or racing, especially an open boat with a mast and sails. OR a small inflatable rubber boat.

Coterie

Noun a small group of people with shared interests or tastes, especially one that is exclusive of other people. "a coterie of friends and advisers"

Keepsake

Noun a small item kept in memory of the person who gave it or originally owned it. "she was wearing the medal he gave her as a keepsake"

Spigot

Noun a small peg or plug, especially for insertion into the vent of a cask. OR US a faucet. OR a device for controlling the flow of liquid in a faucet. OR the plain end of a section of a pipe fitting into the socket of the next one.

Sepulcher

Noun a small room or monument, cut in rock or built of stone, in which a dead person is laid or buried.

Recess

Noun a small space created by building part of a wall further back from the rest. "a table set into a recess" OR a hollow space inside something. "the concrete block has a recess in its base" OR a remote, secluded, or secret place. "the recesses of the silent pine forest" OR Verb attach (a fixture) by setting it back into the wall or surface to which it is fixed. "recessed ceiling lights"

Peccadillo

Noun a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin. "the sexual peccadilloes of celebrities aren't necessarily news"

Cortege

Noun a solemn procession, especially for a funeral. "a funeral cortège" OR a person's entourage or retinue. "his entourage became an ever-present cortège wherever he went"

Panacea

Noun a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases. "the panacea for all corporate ills"

Paean

Noun a song of praise or triumph. OR a thing that expresses enthusiastic praise. "his books are paeans to combat"

Diphthong

Noun a sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable, in which the sound begins as one vowel and moves toward another (as in coin, loud, and side ). a digraph representing the sound of a diphthong or single vowel (as in feat ). a compound vowel character; a ligature (such as æ ).

Suzerain

Noun a sovereign or state having some control over another state that is internally autonomous. OR HISTORICAL a feudal overlord.

Accent

Noun a special or particular emphasis. "the accent is on participation" OR Verb emphasize (a particular feature). "fabrics that accent the background colors in the room" OR MUSIC play (a note, a beat of the bar, etc.) with an accent. "the quick tempo means there is less scope for accenting offbeat notes"

Stalk

Noun a stalklike support for a sessile animal, or for an organ in an animal. OR a slender support or stem of an object. "drinking glasses with long stalks" OR a stiff, striding gait. OR Verb stride somewhere in a proud, stiff, or angry manner. "without another word she turned and stalked out"

Reverie

Noun a state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts; a daydream. "a knock on the door broke her reverie" OR MUSIC an instrumental piece suggesting a dreamy or musing state.

Desolation

Noun a state of complete emptiness or destruction. "the stony desolation of the desert" OR anguished misery or loneliness. "in choked desolation, she watched him leave"

Quandary

Noun a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation. "Kate is in a quandary" OR a difficult situation; a practical dilemma. "a legal quandary"

Torpor

Noun a state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy. "they veered between apathetic torpor and hysterical fanaticism"

Lassitude

Noun a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy. "she was overcome by lassitude and retired to bed"

Pallet

Noun a straw mattress. OR a crude or makeshift bed. OR a portable platform on which goods can be moved, stacked, and stored, especially with the aid of a forklift. OR a flat wooden blade with a handle, used to shape clay or plaster. OR a projection on a machine part, serving to change the mode of motion of a wheel. OR (in a clock or watch) a projection transmitting motion from an escapement to a pendulum or balance wheel. OR an artist's palette. OR HERALDRY the diminutive of the pale, a narrow vertical strip, usually borne in groups of two or three.

Wanderlust

Noun a strong desire to travel. "a man consumed by wanderlust"

Impulsion

Noun a strong urge to do something; an impulse. "the impulsion of the singers to govern the pace" OR the force or motive behind an action or process. "attitudes changed under the impulsion of humanitarian considerations"

Polemic

Noun a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something. "his polemic against the cultural relativism of the Sixties" OR the art or practice of engaging in controversial debate or dispute. "the history of science has become embroiled in religious polemics" OR Adjective another term for polemical.

Portcullis

Noun a strong, heavy grating that can be lowered down grooves on each side of a gateway to block it.

Port

Noun a strong, sweet, typically dark red fortified wine, originally from Portugal, typically drunk as a dessert wine. "they settled down to a final glass of port" OR the side of a ship or aircraft that is on the left when one is facing forward. "the ferry was listing to port" OR an opening in the side of a ship for boarding or loading. OR a porthole. OR an opening in the body of an aircraft or in a wall or armored vehicle through which a gun may be fired; a gun port. OR an opening for the passage of steam, liquid, or gas. "loss of fuel from the exhaust port" OR SCOTTISH a gate or gateway, especially into a walled city. OR MILITARY the position required by an order to port a rifle or other weapon. "Parker had his rifle at the port" OR COMPUTING a transfer of software from one system or machine to another. OR INFORMAL•AUSTRALIAN a suitcase or traveling bag. "she packed her ports and walked out" OR Verb turn (a ship or its helm) to port. OR COMPUTING transfer (software) from one system or machine to another. "the software can be ported to an IBM RS/6000" OR MILITARY carry (a rifle or other weapon) diagonally across and close to the body with the barrel or blade near the left shoulder. "Detail! For inspection—port arms!"

Honeycomb

Noun a structure of hexagonal cells of wax, made by bees to store honey and eggs. OR a structure of adjoining cavities or cells. "a honeycomb of caves" OR a mass of cavities produced by corrosion or dissolution. "honeycomb weathering" OR a raised hexagonal or cellular pattern on the face of a fabric. OR tripe from the second stomach of a ruminant. OR Verb fill with cavities or tunnels. "whole hillsides were honeycombed with mines" OR infiltrate and undermine. "their men honeycombed the army"

Mantelpiece

Noun a structure of wood, marble, or stone above and around a fireplace. -a mantelshelf.

Truant

Noun a student who stays away from school without leave or explanation. OR Adjective (of a student) being a truant. "truant children" OR wandering; straying. "her truant husband"

Emulsifier

Noun a substance that stabilizes an emulsion, in particular a food additive used to stabilize processed foods. OR an apparatus used for making an emulsion by stirring or shaking a substance.

Paroxysm

Noun a sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity. "a paroxysm of weeping" OR MEDICINE a sudden recurrence or attack of a disease; a sudden worsening of symptoms

Crack

Noun a sudden sharp or explosive noise. "a loud crack of thunder" OR a sharp blow, especially one that makes a noise. "she gave the thief a crack over the head with her rolling pin" OR a sudden harshness or change in pitch in a person's voice. "the boy's voice had an uncertain crack in it" OR INFORMAL a joke, typically a critical or unkind one. OR INFORMAL an attempt to gain or achieve something. "I thought I had a crack at winning" OR a chance to attack or compete with someone. "he wanted to have a crack at the enemy" OR Verb break or cause to break open or apart. "his face cracked into a smile" OR break (wheat or corn) into coarse pieces. OR knock against something, making a noise on impact. "she winced as her knees cracked against metal" OR (of a person's voice, especially that of an adolescent boy or a person under strain) suddenly change in pitch. ""I want to get away," she said, her voice cracking" OR Adjective very good, especially at a specified activity or in a specified role. "he is a crack shot"

Rush

Noun a sudden strong demand for a commodity. "there's been a rush on the Tribune because of the murder" OR a sudden intense feeling. "Mark felt a rush of anger" OR the first prints made of a movie after a period of shooting.

Precis

Noun a summary or abstract of a text or speech. OR Verb make a precis of (a text or speech).

Conspectus

Noun a summary or overview of a subject. "five of his works give a rich conspectus of his art"

Methodology

Noun a system of methods used in a particular area of study or activity. "a methodology for investigating the concept of focal points"

Knot

Noun a tangled mass in something such as hair. OR a particular method of tying a knot. "you need to master two knots, the clove hitch and the sheet bend" OR a tied or folded ribbon, worn as an ornament OR a knob, protuberance, or node in a stem, branch, or root. OR a small, relatively short-billed sandpiper, with a reddish-brown or blackish breast in the breeding season. OR Verb make (something, especially hair) tangled. "the shampoo knotted my hair terribly" OR cause (a muscle) to become tense and hard. OR (of the stomach) tighten as a result of nervousness or tension.

Bivouac

Noun a temporary camp without tents or cover, used especially by soldiers or mountaineers. OR Verb stay in a temporary camp without cover. "he'd bivouacked on the north side of the town"

Inertia

Noun a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged. "the bureaucratic inertia of government" OR PHYSICS a property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line, unless that state is changed by an external force. OR resistance to change in some other physical property. "the thermal inertia of the oceans will delay the full rise in temperature for a few decades"

Feeler

Noun a tentative proposal intended to ascertain someone's attitude or opinion. "he put out feelers about seeking the party nomination"

Palette

Noun a thin board or slab on which an artist lays and mixes colors. OR the range of colors used by a particular artist or in a particular picture. "I choose a palette of natural, earthy colors" OR the range or variety of tonal or instrumental color in a musical piece. "he commands the sort of tonal palette that this music needs"

Veneer

Noun a thin decorative covering of fine wood applied to a coarser wood or other material. OR a layer of wood used to make plywood. OR an attractive appearance that covers or disguises someone or something's true nature or feelings. "her veneer of composure cracked a little" OR verb cover (something) with a decorative layer of fine wood. "factories employed cabinetmakers to veneer looking glasses" OR cover or disguise (someone or something's true nature) with an attractive appearance.

Adjunct

Noun a thing added to something else as a supplementary rather than an essential part. "computer technology is an adjunct to learning" OR a person who is another's assistant or subordinate. "a talented adjunct desperately grabbing at officer status" OR Adjective connected or added to something, typically in an auxiliary way. "other alternative or adjunct therapies include immunotherapy" OR NORTH AMERICAN (of an academic post) attached to the staff of a college in a temporary or assistant capacity. "an adjunct professor of entomology"

Anachronism

Noun a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned. "everything was as it would have appeared in centuries past apart from one anachronism, a bright yellow construction crane" OR an act of attributing a custom, event, or object to a period to which it does not belong.

Stimulus

Noun a thing or event that evokes a specific functional reaction in an organ or tissue. "areas of the brain which respond to auditory stimuli" OR a thing that rouses activity or energy in someone or something; a spur or incentive. "if the tax were abolished, it would act as a stimulus to exports" OR an interesting and exciting quality. "she loved the stimulus of the job"

Archaism

Noun a thing that is very old or old-fashioned. OR an archaic word or style of language or art. OR the use or conscious imitation of very old or old-fashioned styles or features in language or art.

Ligature

Noun a thing used for tying or binding something tightly. "there was no sign of the ligature which strangled her" OR a cord or thread used in surgery, especially to tie up a bleeding artery. OR MUSIC a slur or tie. OR PRINTING a character consisting of two or more joined letters, e.g. æ, fl. OR a stroke that joins adjacent letters in writing or printing. OR Verb bind or connect with a ligature. "he ligatured the duodenum below the pylorus"

Prickle

Noun a tingling sensation on someone's skin, typically caused by strong emotion. "Kathleen felt a prickle of excitement" OR Verb (of a person's skin or a part of the body) experience a tingling sensation, especially as a result of strong emotion. "the sound made her skin prickle with horror" OR cause a tingling or mildly painful sensation in. "I hate the way the fibers prickle your skin" OR (of a person) react defensively or angrily to something. "she prickled at the implication that she had led a soft and protected life" 2 definitions omitted.

Pylon

Noun a tower used for carrying power lines high above the ground. OR a structure on the wing of an aircraft used for carrying an engine, weapon, fuel tank, or other load. OR a tower or post marking a path for light aircraft, cars, or other vehicles, especially in racing. OR a monumental gateway to an ancient Egyptian temple formed by two truncated pyramidal towers

Vestige

Noun a trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists. "the last vestiges of colonialism" OR the smallest amount (used to emphasize the absence of something). "he waited patiently, but without a vestige of sympathy" OR BIOLOGY a part or organ of an organism that has become reduced or functionless in the course of evolution.

Gloss

Noun a translation or explanation of a word or phrase. OR an explanation, interpretation, or paraphrase. "the chapter acts as a helpful gloss on Pynchon's general method" OR Verb provide an explanation, interpretation, or paraphrase for (a text, word, etc.).

Gimmick

Noun a trick or device intended to attract attention, publicity, or business. "it is not so much a program to improve services as a gimmick to gain votes" OR Verb•US alter or augment with an extra device or feature. "it was using software that had been specially gimmicked to allow for easier surveillance"

Verity

Noun a true principle or belief, especially one of fundamental importance. "the eternal verities" OR truth. "irrefutable, objective verity"

Paradigm

Noun a typical example or pattern of something; a model. "there is a new paradigm for public art in this country" OR a worldview underlying the theories and methodology of a particular scientific subject. "the discovery of universal gravitation became the paradigm of successful science" OR LINGUISTICS a set of linguistic items that form mutually exclusive choices in particular syntactic roles. "English determiners form a paradigm: we can say "a book" or "his book" but not "a his book."" OR in the traditional grammar of Latin, Greek, and other inflected languages) a table of all the inflected forms of a particular verb, noun, or adjective, serving as a model for other words of the same conjugation or declension.

Vale

Noun a valley (used in place names or as a poetic term). "the Vale of Glamorgan"

Dale

Noun a valley, especially a broad one.

Butterfly valve

Noun a valve consisting of a disk rotating on an axis across the diameter of a pipe to regulate the flow, as in the throttles of many engines. OR a valve consisting of a pair of semicircular plates that are attached to a spindle across a pipe and hinged to allow flow only one way.

Megalopolis

Noun a very large, heavily populated city or urban complex. "a dizzying megalopolis ablaze with neon"

Pittance

Noun a very small or inadequate amount of money paid to someone as an allowance or wage.

Malodor

Noun a very unpleasant smell. "in most cases, the malodor is obvious to the sufferer"

Vetch

Noun a widely distributed scrambling herbaceous plant of the pea family, which is cultivated as a silage or fodder crop.

Headwind

Noun a wind blowing from directly in front, opposing forward motion.

Casement

Noun a window or part of a window set on a hinge so that it opens like a door. "casement windows" OR the sash of a sash window. 1 definition omitted. This definition can be found in the study set "Literary and Archaic Terms and Phrases".

Locution

Noun a word or phrase, especially with regard to style or idiom. OR a person's style of speech. "his impeccable locution" OR an utterance regarded in terms of its intrinsic meaning or reference, as distinct from its function or purpose in context. OR language regarded in terms of locutionary rather than illocutionary or perlocutionary acts.

Treatise

Noun a written work dealing formally and systematically with a subject. "a comprehensive treatise on electricity and magnetism"

Misnomer

Noun a wrong or inaccurate name or designation. "morning sickness is a misnomer for many women, since the nausea can occur any time during the day" OR a wrong or inaccurate use of a name or term. "to call this "neighborhood policing" would be a misnomer"

Dysfunction

Noun abnormality or impairment in the function of a specified bodily organ or system. "bowel dysfunction" OR deviation from the norms of social behavior in a way regarded as bad. "inner-city dysfunction"

Accoutrement

Noun additional items of dress or equipment, or other items carried or worn by a person or used for a particular activity. "the accoutrements of religious ritual"

Posterity

Noun all future generations of people. "the victims' names are recorded for posterity" OR

Burlesque

Noun an absurd or comically exaggerated imitation of something, especially in a literary or dramatic work; a parody. "the funniest burlesque of opera" OR a variety show, typically including striptease. "burlesque clubs" OR Verb cause to appear absurd by parodying or copying in an exaggerated form. "she struck a ridiculous pose that burlesqued her own vanity"

Appurtenance

Noun an accessory or other item associated with a particular activity or style of living. "all the appurtenances of luxurious travel"

Recrimination

Noun an accusation in response to one from someone else. "there are no tears, no recriminations"

Soliloquy

Noun an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play. "Edmund ends the scene as he had begun it, with a soliloquy" OR a part of a play involving a soliloquy. "in the opening soliloquy he declares his true intent"

Aperitif

Noun an alcoholic drink taken before a meal to stimulate the appetite.

Legacy

Noun an amount of money or property left to someone in a will. OR a thing handed down by a predecessor. "the legacy of centuries of neglect" OR US an applicant to a particular college or university who is regarded preferentially because a parent or other relative attended the same institution. "being a legacy increased a student's chance of being accepted to a highly selective college by up to 45 percent" Adjective•COMPUTING denoting or relating to software or hardware that has been superseded but is difficult to replace because of its wide use.

Forebear

Noun an ancestor. "generations of his forebears had lived in London"

Vestibule

Noun an antechamber, hall, or lobby next to the outer door of a building. OR an enclosed entrance compartment in a railroad car. OR ANATOMY a chamber or channel opening into another. ANATOMY the central cavity of the labyrinth of the inner ear. OR ANATOMY the part of the mouth outside the teeth.

Watershed

Noun an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas. OR an area or region drained by a river, river system, or other body of water. OR an event or period marking a turning point in a course of action or state of affairs. "these works mark a watershed in the history of music"

Sortie

Noun an attack made by troops coming out from a position of defense. OR a short trip or journey. "an early-morning sortie into the garden of our hotel" OR an attempt to participate in a new activity or sphere. "this latest book is the author's first sortie into non-fiction" OR an operational flight by a single military aircraft. OR Verb come out from a defensive position to make an attack.

Injunction

Noun an authoritative warning or order. OR LAW a judicial order that restrains a person from beginning or continuing an action threatening or invading the legal right of another, or that compels a person to carry out a certain act, e.g., to make restitution to an injured party.

Reverb

Noun an effect whereby the sound produced by an amplifier or an amplified musical instrument is made to reverberate slightly. "the best available Barios recording, despite reverb" OR a device for producing reverb on an amplified musical instrument. "there are 16 effects available, including a number of reverbs"

Faux Pas

Noun an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation. ""I was suddenly sick in the back of their car"—it was years before he could confess his faux pas to them"

Matrix

Noun an environment or material in which something develops; a surrounding medium or structure. "free choices become the matrix of human life" OR a mass of fine-grained rock in which gems, crystals, or fossils are embedded. OR fine material used to bind together the coarser particles of a composite substance. "the matrix of gravel paths is raked regularly" OR a mold in which something, such as printing type or a phonograph record, is cast or shaped. OR an organizational structure in which two or more lines of command, responsibility, or communication may run through the same individual.

Soiree

Noun an evening party or gathering, typically in a private house, for conversation or music.

Facsimile

Noun an exact copy, especially of written or printed material. OR another term for fax. OR Verb make a copy of. "the ride was facsimiled for Disney World"

Surfeit

Noun an excessive amount of something. "a surfeit of food and drink" OR verb cause (someone) to desire no more of something as a result of having consumed or done it to excess. "I am surfeited with shopping"

Concours

Noun an exhibition or contest, especially a parade of vintage or classic motor vehicles in which prizes are awarded for those in the best original condition. "condition is what counts: a concours Mark 1 will fetch more than a ropy Mark 2 six years its junior"

Light

Noun an expression in someone's eyes indicating a particular emotion or mood. "a shrewd light entered his eyes" OR the amount or quality of light in a place. "the plant requires good light" OR a person's opinions, standards, and abilities. "leaving the police to do the job according to their lights" OR understanding of a problem or mystery; enlightenment. "she saw light dawn on the woman's face" OR spiritual illumination by divine truth. OR an area of something that is brighter or paler than its surroundings. "sunshine will brighten the natural lights in your hair" OR a window or opening in a wall to let light in. OR any of the perpendicular divisions of a mullioned window. OR any of the panes of glass forming the roof or side of a greenhouse or the top of a cold frame. OR a person notable or eminent in a particular sphere of activity or place. "such lights of Liberalism as the historian Goldwin Smith" OR Adjective having a considerable or sufficient amount of natural light; not dark. "the bedrooms are light and airy" OR deficient in weight, especially by a specified amount. "the sack of potatoes is 5 pounds light" OR not strongly or heavily built or constructed. "light, impractical clothes" OR carrying or suitable for small loads. "light commercial vehicles" OR carrying only light armaments. "light infantry" OR (of a vehicle, ship, or aircraft) traveling unladen or with less than a full load. OR (of soil) friable, porous, and workable. OR easily borne or done. "he received a relatively light sentence" OR (of a foodstuff) low in fat, cholesterol, sugar, or other rich ingredients. "stick to a light diet" OR (of drink) not too sweet or rich in flavor or strongly alcoholic. "a glass of light Hungarian wine" OR (of type) having thin strokes; not bold. OR (of entertainment) requiring little mental effort; not profound or serious. "pop is thought of as light entertainment" OR not serious or solemn. "his tone was light" OR free from worry or unhappiness; cheerful. "I left the island with a light heart" OR Verb come upon or discover by chance. "he lit on a possible solution"

Plaudit

Noun an expression of praise or approval. "the network has received plaudits for its sports coverage" OR the applause of an audience. "the plaudits for the winner died down"

Conurbation

Noun an extended urban area, typically consisting of several towns merging with the suburbs of one or more cities. "the major conurbations of London and Birmingham"

Conflagration

Noun an extensive fire which destroys a great deal of land or property. "tinder-dry conditions sparked fears of a conflagration in many drought-devastated communities"

Imbroglio

Noun an extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation. "the Watergate imbroglio"

Idyll

Noun an extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque episode or scene, typically an idealized or unsustainable one. "the rural idyll remains strongly evocative in most industrialized societies" OR a short description in verse or prose of a picturesque scene or incident, especially in rustic life.

Favicon

Noun an icon associated with a URL that is variously displayed, as in a browser's address bar or next to the site name in a bookmark list.

Connotation

Noun an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning. OR PHILOSOPHY the abstract meaning or intension of a term, which forms a principle determining which objects or concepts it applies to.

Presumption

Noun an idea that is taken to be true, and often used as the basis for other ideas, although it is not known for certain. "underlying presumptions about human nature" OR an act or instance of taking something to be true or adopting a particular attitude toward something, especially at the start of a chain of argument or action. "the presumption of guilt has changed to a presumption of innocence" OR LAW an attitude adopted in law or as a matter of policy toward an action or proposal in the absence of acceptable reasons to the contrary. "the planning policy shows a general presumption in favor of development" OR behavior perceived as arrogant, disrespectful, and transgressing the limits of what is permitted or appropriate. "he lifted her off the ground, and she was enraged at his presumption"

Propensity

Noun an inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way. "a propensity for violence"

Duffer

Noun an incompetent or stupid person, especially an elderly one. "he's the most worthless old duffer" OR a person inexperienced at something, especially at playing golf.

Eon

Noun an indefinite and very long period of time, often a period exaggerated for humorous or rhetorical effect. "he reached the crag eons before I arrived" OR ASTRONOMY•GEOLOGY a unit of time equal to a billion years. OR GEOLOGY a major division of geological time, subdivided into eras. "the Precambrian eon"

Intimation

Noun an indication or hint. "the first intimations of trouble" OR the action of making something known, especially in an indirect way. "it took ten years from the intimation of a claim to the assessment of damages"

Murrain

Noun an infectious disease, especially babesiosis, affecting cattle or other animals.

Faculty

Noun an inherent mental or physical power. "her critical faculties" OR an aptitude or talent for doing something. "the author's faculty for philosophical analysis" OR a group of university departments concerned with a major division of knowledge. "the Faculty of Arts and Sciences" OR the teaching staff of a university or college, or of one of its departments or divisions, viewed as a body. "there were then no tenured women on the faculty" OR DATED the members of a particular profession, especially medicine, considered collectively. OR a license or authorization from a Church authority.

Syllogism

Noun an instance of a form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn (whether validly or not) from two given or assumed propositions (premises), each of which shares a term with the conclusion, and shares a common or middle term not present in the conclusion (e.g., all dogs are animals; all animals have four legs; therefore all dogs have four legs ). OR deductive reasoning as distinct from induction. "this school of epistemology is highly advanced in syllogism and logical reasoning"

Fudge

Noun an instance of faking or ambiguity. "the new settlement is a fudge rushed out to win cheers at the conference" OR a piece of late news inserted in a newspaper page. OR Verb present or deal with (something) in a vague, noncommittal, or inadequate way, especially so as to conceal the truth or mislead. "a temptation to fudge the issue and nudge grades up" OR adjust or manipulate (facts or figures) so as to present a desired picture. Exclamation DATED nonsense! (expressing disbelief or annoyance).

Imposture

Noun an instance of pretending to be someone else in order to deceive others. "I discovered the imposture as soon as her doppelgänger arrived"

Diversion

Noun an instance of turning something aside from its course. "a diversion of resources from defense to civil research" OR BRITISH an alternative route for use by traffic when the usual road is temporarily closed; a detour. "the road was closed and diversions put into operation" OR an activity that diverts the mind from tedious or serious concerns; a recreation or pastime. "our chief diversion was reading"

Entr'acte

Noun an interval between two acts of a play or opera. OR a piece of music or a dance performed during an entr'acte.

Interstice

Noun an intervening space, especially a very small one. "sunshine filtered through the interstices of the arching trees"

Interval

Noun an intervening time or space. "after his departure, there was an interval of many years without any meetings" OR a component of activity in interval training. "use one day a week for short, sprint intervals" OR BRITISH an intermission separating parts of a theatrical or musical performance. OR the difference in pitch between two musical sounds. OR a space between two things; a gap.

Presentiment

Noun an intuitive feeling about the future, especially one of foreboding. "a presentiment of disaster"

Communiqué

Noun an official announcement or statement, especially one made to the media. "the country's foreign ministry issued a communique"

Dispatch

Noun an official report on state or military affairs. "in his battle dispatch he described the gunner's bravery" OR a report sent in by a newspaper's correspondent from a faraway place. OR speed in action. "the situation might change, so he should proceed with dispatch"

Conjecture

Noun an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information. "conjectures about the newcomer were many and varied" OR an unproven mathematical or scientific theorem. "the Goldbach conjecture" OR (in textual criticism) the suggestion or reconstruction of a reading of a text not present in the original source. OR Verb form an opinion or supposition about (something) on the basis of incomplete information. "many conjectured that the jury could not agree" OR (in textual criticism) propose (a reading).

Furor

Noun an outbreak of public anger or excitement. "the article raised a furor among mathematicians"

Contour

Noun an outline, especially one representing or bounding the shape or form of something. "she traced the contours of his face with her finger" OR a line joining points on a diagram at which some property has the same value. "the map shows contours of every 10-foot difference in elevation" OR a way in which something varies, especially the pitch of music or the pattern of tones in an utterance. "the movement tends to place more emphasis on rhythm than melodic contour" OR Verb mold into a specific shape, especially one designed to fit into something else. "the compartment has been contoured with smooth rounded corners" OR shade (an area or areas of the face) with makeup, typically foundation or bronzer, in such a way as to accentuate or enhance the facial shape or structure. "I prefer to only contour my cheeks"

Cornice

Noun an overhanging mass of hardened snow at the edge of a mountain precipice.

Persona non grata

Noun an unacceptable or unwelcome person. "from now on, these yellow journalists can consider themselves personae non gratae"

Pipe dream

Noun an unattainable or fanciful hope or plan. "free trade in international aviation will remain a pipe dream"

Wretch

Noun an unfortunate or unhappy person. "can the poor wretch's corpse tell us anything?" OR INFORMAL a despicable or contemptible person. "ungrateful wretches"

Gaffe

Noun an unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment to its originator; a blunder. "an unforgivable social gaffe"

Reprobate

Noun an unprincipled person (often used humorously or affectionately). OR Adjective unprincipled (often used as a humorous or affectionate reproach). "a long-missed old reprobate drinking comrade"

Epoxy

Noun any of a class of adhesives, plastics, or other materials that are polymers of epoxides. OR Adjective consisting of epoxy. "epoxy cement" OR Verb glue (something) using epoxy resin.

Theosophy

Noun any of a number of philosophies maintaining that a knowledge of God may be achieved through spiritual ecstasy, direct intuition, or special individual relations, especially the movement founded in 1875 as the Theosophical Society by Helena Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott (1832-1907).

Acculturation

Noun assimilation to a different culture, typically the dominant one. "the process of acculturation may impact both social and psychological well-being"

Gaucherie

Noun awkward, embarrassing, or unsophisticated ways. "she had long since gotten over gaucheries such as blushing"

Posturing

Noun behavior that is intended to impress or mislead. "a masking of fear with macho posturing"

Rancor

Noun bitterness or resentfulness, especially when long-standing. "he spoke without rancor"

Alacrity

Noun brisk and cheerful readiness. "she accepted the invitation with alacrity"

Carte blanche

Noun complete freedom to act as one wishes or thinks best. "we were given carte blanche"

Assiduity

Noun constant or close attention to what one is doing. "the assiduity with which he could wear down his opponents"

Gallantry

Noun courageous behavior, especially in battle. "a medal awarded for outstanding gallantry during the raid"

Exegesis

Noun critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially of scripture. "the task of biblical exegesis"

Efflorescence

Noun crystalline or powdery deposit of salts often visible on the surface of concrete, brick, stucco, or natural stone surfaces. OR the state or a period of flowering. OR an example or result of growth and development "These works are the efflorescence of his genius" OR CHEMISTRY the act or process of efflorescing. OR the resulting powdery substance or incrustation. OR PATHOLOGY a rash or eruption of the skin.

Heterodoxy

Noun deviation from accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs. "his work was marked by elements of theological heterodoxy"

Dissipation

Noun dissipated living. "a descent into drunkenness and sexual dissipation" OR the squandering of money, energy, or resources. "the dissipation of the country's mineral wealth"

Terra Firma

Noun dry land; the ground as distinct from the sea or air. "they needed to rest themselves on terra firma"

Elan

Noun energy, style, and enthusiasm. "a rousing march, played with great elan"

Ardor

Noun enthusiasm or passion. "they felt the stirrings of revolutionary ardor"

Warmth

Noun enthusiasm, affection, or kindness. "she smiled with real warmth" OR vehemence or intensity of emotion. ""Of course not," he snapped, with a warmth that he regretted"

Ethnocentrism

Noun evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one's own culture.

Monomania

Noun exaggerated or obsessive enthusiasm for or preoccupation with one thing. "she has an obsession with the drug that verges on monomania"

Hyperbole

Noun exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally. "he vowed revenge with oaths and hyperboles"

Red Tape

Noun excessive bureaucracy or adherence to rules and formalities, especially in public business. "this law will just create more red tape"

Temerity

Noun excessive confidence or boldness; audacity. "no one had the temerity to question his conclusions"

Ordure

Noun excrement; dung. OR something regarded as vile or abhorrent. "can you give credence to this ordure?"

Finery

Noun expensive or ostentatious clothes or decoration. "officers in their blue, gold, and scarlet finery"

Avidity

Noun extreme eagerness or enthusiasm. "he read detective stories with avidity" OR BIOCHEMISTRY the overall strength of binding between an antibody and an antigen.

Penury

Noun extreme poverty; destitution. "he died in a state of virtual penury"

Joie de vivre

Noun exuberant enjoyment of life. "they seem to be filled with joie de vivre"

Eminence

Noun fame or recognized superiority, especially within a particular sphere or profession. "her eminence in cinematography" OR ANATOMY a slight projection from the surface of a part of the body.

Consternation

Noun feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected. "I always welcomed clover, much to the consternation of the neighbors"

Absolution

Noun formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment. OR an ecclesiastical declaration of forgiveness of sins. "the priest administered absolution"

Whirl

Noun frantic activity of a specified kind. "the event was all part of the mad social whirl"

Affable

Noun friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to. "an affable and agreeable companion"

Odium

Noun general or widespread hatred or disgust directed toward someone as a result of their actions. "his job had made him the target of public hostility and odium"

Poise

Noun graceful and elegant bearing in a person. "poise and good deportment can be cultivated" OR composure and dignity of manner. "at least he had a moment to think, to recover his poise" OR Verb be or cause to be balanced or suspended. "he poised motionless on his toes" OR (of a person or organization) be ready to do something. "teachers are poised to resume their attack on government school tests"

Turf

Noun grass and the surface layer of earth held together by its roots. "they walked across the springy turf" OR peat used for fuel. OR horse racing or racecourses generally. "he spent his money gambling on the turf" OR Verb INFORMAL•BRITISH force (someone) to leave somewhere. "they were turfed off the bus"

Zeal

Noun great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective

Bravura

Noun great technical skill and brilliance shown in a performance or activity. "the recital ended with a blazing display of bravura" OR the display of great daring. "the show of bravura hid a guilty timidity"

Opulence

Noun great wealth or luxuriousness. "rooms of spectacular opulence"

Opprobrium

Noun harsh criticism or censure. "his films and the critical opprobrium they have generated" OR the public disgrace arising from someone's shameful conduct. "the opprobrium of being closely associated with thugs and gangsters"

Asperity

Noun harshness of tone or manner. "he pointed this out with some asperity" OR a rough edge on a surface. "the asperities of the metal surfaces"

Hauteur

Noun haughtiness of manner; disdainful pride. "she swept into the room with formidable hauteur"

Alexipharmic

Noun having the quality or nature of an antidote to poison

Deference

Noun humble submission and respect. "he addressed her with the deference due to age"

Badinage

Noun humorous or witty conversation. "cultured badinage about art and life"

Meaning

Noun implied or explicit significance. "he gave me a look full of meaning" OR Adjective intended to communicate something that is not directly expressed. "she gave Gabriel a meaning look"

Assonance

Noun in poetry, the repetition of the sound of a vowel or diphthong in nonrhyming stressed syllables near enough to each other for the echo to be discernible (e.g., penitence, reticence ). "the use of assonance throughout the poem creates the sound of despair"

Woolgathering

Noun indulgence in aimless thought or dreamy imagining; absentmindedness. "he wanted to be free to indulge his woolgathering"

Throes

Noun intense or violent pain and struggle, especially accompanying birth, death, or great change. "he convulsed in his death throes"

Inattention

Noun lack of attention; distraction. "a moment of inattention that could have cost lives"

Furlough

Noun leave of absence, especially that granted to a member of the armed services. "a civil servant home on furlough OR Verb US grant leave of absence to.

Phosphorescence

Noun light emitted by a substance without combustion or perceptible heat. "the stones overhead gleamed with phosphorescence" OR PHYSICS the emission of radiation in a similar manner to fluorescence but on a longer timescale, so that emission continues after excitation ceases.

Afterglow

Noun light or radiance remaining in the sky after the sun has set. OR good feelings remaining after a pleasurable or successful experience. "basking in the afterglow of victory"

Equanimity

Noun mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation. "she accepted both the good and the bad with equanimity"

Mania

Noun mental illness marked by periods of great excitement or euphoria, delusions, and overactivity. "many people suffering from mania do not think anything is wrong" OR an excessive enthusiasm or desire; an obsession. "he had a mania for automobiles"

Fire-damp

Noun methane, especially as forming an explosive mixture with air in coal mines.

Odds and ends

Noun miscellaneous articles or remnants. "we bought batteries for the radio and a few other odds and ends"

Tithe

Noun one tenth of annual produce or earnings, formerly taken as a tax for the support of the Church and clergy. OR (in certain religious denominations) a tenth of an individual's income pledged to the Church. OR Verb pay or give as a tithe. "he tithes 10 percent of his income to the church" OR HISTORICAL subject to a tax of one tenth of income or produce.

Piping

Noun ornamentation on food consisting of lines of icing, whipped cream, etc. OR thin cord covered in fabric, used to decorate clothing or soft furnishings and reinforce seams. OR the action or art of playing a pipe or pipes. OR Adjective high-pitched. "the piping voice of a little girl"

Breadth

Noun overall unity of artistic effect. "these masterpieces showed a new breadth of handling" OR DATED a piece of cloth of standard or full width.

Cognoscenti

Noun people who are considered to be especially well informed about a particular subject. "it was hailed by the cognoscenti as one of the best golf courses in Europe"

Infirmity

Noun physical or mental weakness. "old age and infirmity come to men and women alike"

Inroads

Noun progress; an advance. "an important way to make inroads in reducing spending" OR an instance of something being affected, encroached on, or destroyed by something else. "serious inroads had now been made into my pitiful cash reserves" OR a hostile attack; a raid.

Varnish

Noun resin dissolved in a liquid for applying on wood, metal, or other materials to form a hard, clear, shiny surface when dry. OR Verb disguise or gloss over (a fact). "the White House is varnishing over the defeat of the president's proposal"

Slaver

Noun saliva running from the mouth. OR Verb let saliva run from the mouth. "the Labrador was slavering at the mouth" OR show excessive desire. "suburbanites slavering over drop-dead models"

Aplomb

Noun self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation. "Diana passed the test with aplomb"

Verbiage

Noun speech or writing that uses too many words or excessively technical expressions. OR US the way in which something is expressed; wording or diction. "we need to look at how the rule should be applied, based on the verbiage"

Obloquy

Noun strong public criticism or verbal abuse. "he endured years of contempt and obloquy" OR disgrace, especially that brought about by public abuse. "conduct to which no more obloquy could reasonably attach"

Crocodile tears

Noun tears or expressions of sorrow that are insincere. "they weep crocodile tears for the poor and disadvantaged, but are basically happy with things as they are"

Pontiff

Noun the Pope. "the Pope's first visit to Poland as pontiff"

Acumen

Noun the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain. "business acumen"

Endowment

Noun the action of endowing something or someone. "he tried to promote the endowment of a Chair of Psychiatry" OR an income or form of property given or bequeathed to someone OR a quality or ability possessed or inherited by someone. OR a form of life insurance involving payment of a fixed sum to the insured person on a specified date, or to their estate should they die before this date. "an endowment policy"

Egress

Noun the action of going out of or leaving a place. "direct means of access and egress for passengers" OR a way out. "a narrow egress" OR US•LAW the right or freedom to come out or go out. OR ASTRONOMY another term for emersion. OR Verb go out of or leave (a place). "they'd egress the area by heading southwest"

Prostration

Noun the action of lying stretched out on the ground. OR the state of being extremely weak or subservient. "the refusal to call a strike reflects the union leadership's prostration before the company" OR extreme physical weakness or emotional exhaustion.

Provision

Noun the action of providing or supplying something for use. "new contracts for the provision of services" OR an amount or thing supplied or provided. "low levels of social provision" OR financial or other arrangements for future eventualities or requirements. "farmers have been slow to make provision for their retirement OR an amount set aside out of profits in the accounts of an organization for a known liability, especially a bad debt or the diminution in value of an asset. OR supplies of food, drink, or equipment, especially for a journey. OR a condition or requirement in a legal document. "a key provision in civil rights law" OR Verb supply with food, drink, or equipment, especially for a journey. "civilian contractors were responsible for provisioning these armies" OR set aside an amount in an organization's accounts for a known liability. "financial institutions have to provision against loan losses" 1 definition omitted.

Remembrance

Noun the action of remembering something. "a flash of understanding or remembrance passed between them" OR the action of remembering the dead, especially in a ceremony. "I decided to sell poppies in remembrance of those who died" OR a memory or recollection "the remembrance of her visit came back with startling clarity" OR a thing kept or given as a reminder or in commemoration of someone.

Flux

Noun the action or process of flowing or flowing out. "the flux of men and women moving back and forth" OR MEDICINE an abnormal discharge of blood or other matter from or within the body. OR PHYSICS the rate of flow of a fluid, radiant energy, or particles across a given area.

Verisimilitude

Noun the appearance of being true or real. "the detail gives the novel some verisimilitude"

Prototype

Noun the archetypal example of a class of living organisms, astronomical objects, or other items. "these objects are the prototypes of a category of rapidly spinning neutron stars"

Accession

Noun the attainment or acquisition of a position of rank or power, typically that of monarch or president. "the Queen's accession to the throne" OR a new item added to an existing collection of books, paintings, or artifacts. OR the action or process of formally joining or being accepted by an association, institution, or group. "the accession of Spain and Portugal into the European Community" OR the formal acceptance of a treaty or agreement. "accession to the Treaty of Paris" OR an amount added to an existing quantity of something. "did not anticipate any further accession of wealth from the man's estate" Verb record the addition of (a new item) to a library, museum, or other collection.

Chassis

Noun the base frame of a motor vehicle or other wheeled conveyance. OR the outer structural framework of a piece of audio, radio, or computer equipment.

Yen

Noun the basic monetary unit of Japan. OR a longing or yearning. "she always had a yen to be a writer" OR Verb feel a longing or yearning. "it's no use yenning for the old simplicities"

Infrastructure

Noun the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise. "the social and economic infrastructure of a country"

Cetology

Noun the branch of zoology that deals with whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

Propagation

Noun the breeding of specimens of a plant or animal by natural processes from the parent stock. "the propagation of plants by root cuttings" OR the action of widely spreading and promoting an idea, theory, etc. "a life devoted to the propagation of the Catholic faith" OR transmission of motion, light, sound, etc. in a particular direction or through a medium. "the propagation of radio waves through space"

Remission

Noun the cancellation of a debt, charge, or penalty. "the plan allows for the partial remission of tuition fees" OR a diminution of the seriousness or intensity of disease or pain; a temporary recovery. "ten out of twenty patients remained in remission" OR FORMAL forgiveness of sins. OR BRITISH the reduction of a prison sentence, especially as a reward for good behavior.

Metropolis

Noun the capital or chief city of a country or region. "he preferred the peaceful life of the countryside to the bustle of the metropolis" OR a very large and densely populated industrial and commercial city. "by the late eighteenth century Edo had grown to a metropolis with a population of nearly one million"

Nave

Noun the central part of a church building, intended to accommodate most of the congregation. In traditional Western churches it is rectangular, separated from the chancel by a step or rail, and from adjacent aisles by pillars. OR the hub of a wheel.

Renown

Noun the condition of being known or talked about by many people; fame. "authors of great renown"

Patois

Noun the dialect of the common people of a region, differing in various respects from the standard language of the rest of the country. "the nurse talked to me in a patois that even Italians would have had difficulty in understanding" OR the jargon or informal speech used by a particular social group. "the raunchy patois of inner-city kids"

Hem

Noun the edge of a piece of cloth or clothing which has been turned under and sewn. OR Verb surround and restrict the space or movement of someone or something. "he was hemmed in by the tables" OR Exclamation used in writing to indicate a sound made when coughing or clearing the throat to attract someone's attention or express hesitation.

Offal

Noun the entrails and internal organs of an animal used as food. "eating pieces of braised offal turned his stomach" OR refuse or waste material. "the packing plant dumped its offal into the stream" OR decomposing animal flesh. "gulls pecking at piles of offal from the narwhal hunt"

Dissent

Noun the expression or holding of opinions at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially held. "there was no dissent from this view" OR refusal to accept the doctrines of an established or orthodox Church; nonconformity. OR Verb hold or express opinions that are at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially expressed. "two members dissented from the majority" OR separate from an established or orthodox church because of doctrinal disagreement.

Upshot

Noun the final or eventual outcome or conclusion of a discussion, action, or series of events. "the upshot of the meeting was that he was on the next plane to New York"

Pad

Noun the fleshy underpart of an animal's foot or of a human finger. OR a number of sheets of blank paper fastened together at one edge, used for writing or drawing. OR a flat-topped structure or area used for helicopter takeoff and landing or for rocket launching OR INFORMAL a person's home. OR ELECTRONICS a flat area on a track of a printed circuit or on the edge of an integrated circuit to which wires or component leads can be attached to make an electrical connection. OR the soft dull sound of steady steps. "he heard the pad of feet" OR Verb fill or cover (something) with a soft material in order to give it a particular shape, protect it or its contents, or make it more comfortable. "a padded envelope" OR NORTH AMERICAN add false items to (an expense report or bill) in order to receive unjustified payment. "faked repairs and padded expenses for government work reaped billions of dollars for the Mafia" OR walk with steady steps making a soft dull sound. "she padded along the corridor" OR travel along (a road or route) on foot. "he was padding the streets"

Impetus

Noun the force or energy with which a body moves. "hit the booster coil before the flywheel loses all its impetus" OR the force that makes something happen or happen more quickly. "the crisis of the 1860s provided the original impetus for the settlements"

Conception

Noun the forming or devising of a plan or idea. "the time between a product's conception and its launch" OR the way in which something is perceived or regarded. "our conception of how language relates to reality" OR a general notion; an abstract idea. "the conception of a balance of power" OR a plan or intention. "reconstructing Bach's original conceptions" OR understanding; ability to imagine. "he had no conception of politics" 1 definition omitted.

Cutwater

Noun the forward edge of a ship's prow. OR a wedge-shaped projection on the pier of a bridge, which divides the flow of water and prevents debris from becoming trapped against the pier.

Complexion

Noun the general aspect or character of something. "Congress's new complexion became boldly apparent last summer"

Apogee

Noun the highest point in the development of something; a climax or culmination. "the White House is considered the apogee of American achievement" OR ASTRONOMY the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is furthest from the earth.

Apotheosis

Noun the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax. "his appearance as Hamlet was the apotheosis of his career" OR the elevation of someone to divine status; deification.

Interpolation

Noun the insertion of something of a different nature into something else. "the interpolation of songs into the piece" OR a remark interjected in a conversation. "as the evening progressed their interpolations became more ridiculous" OR MATHEMATICS the insertion of an intermediate value or term into a series by estimating or calculating it from surrounding known values. "yields were estimated using linear interpolation"

Interim

Noun the intervening time. "in the interim I'll just keep my fingers crossed" OR Adjective in or for the intervening period; provisional or temporary. "an interim arrangement" OR BRITISH relating to less than a full year's business activity. "an interim dividend"

Denotation

Noun the literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests. "beyond their immediate denotation, the words have a connotative power" OR the action or process of indicating or referring to something by means of a word, symbol, etc. OR PHILOSOPHY the object or concept to which a term refers, or the set of objects of which a predicate is true.

Crescendo

Noun the loudest point reached in a gradually increasing sound. "the port engine's sound rose to a crescendo" OR the highest point reached in a progressive increase of intensity. "the hysteria reached a crescendo around the spring festival" OR Adverb MUSIC with a gradual increase in loudness. "in the upper three parts there are groups of longer notes played crescendo" OR

Nadir

Noun the lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization. "they had reached the nadir of their sufferings" OR ASTRONOMY the point on the celestial sphere directly below an observer.

Wherewithal

Noun the money or other means needed for a particular purpose. "they lacked the wherewithal to pay"

Quintessence

Noun the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class. "he was the quintessence of political professionalism" OR the aspect of something regarded as the intrinsic and central constituent of its character. "we were all brought up to believe that advertising is the quintessence of marketing" OR a refined essence or extract of a substance. OR (in classical and medieval philosophy) a fifth substance in addition to the four elements, thought to compose the heavenly bodies and to be latent in all things.

Inner sanctum

Noun the most sacred place in a temple or church. OR a private or secret place to which few other people are admitted. "he walked into the inner sanctum of the editor's office"

Debouchure

Noun the mouth of a river or valley.

Pigment

Noun the natural coloring matter of animal or plant tissue. OR a substance used for coloring or painting, especially a dry powder, which when mixed with oil, water, or another medium constitutes a paint or ink. OR Verb color (something) with or as if with pigment. "pigmented areas such as freckles"

Composition

Noun the nature of something's ingredients or constituents; the way in which a whole or mixture is made up. "the social composition of villages" OR the action of putting things together; formation or construction. "the composition of a new government was announced" OR a thing composed of various elements. "a theory is a composition of interrelated facts" OR a compound artificial substance, especially one serving the purpose of a natural one. "composition flooring" OR LINGUISTICS the formation of words into a compound word. OR a work of music, literature, or art. "Chopin's most romantic compositions" OR the action or art of producing a work of music, literature, or art. "the technical aspects of composition" OR an essay, especially one written by a school or college student. "we had a class composition, "My Best Friend"" OR the artistic arrangement of the parts of a picture. "spoiling the composition of many of the pictures" OR the preparing of text for printing by setting up the characters in order. "an external contractor providing computerized composition and typesetting" OR a legal agreement to pay an amount of money in lieu of a larger debt or other obligation. "he had been released by deed on making a composition with the creditors" OR an amount of money paid under a legal agreement. "Royalists redeemed their sequestrated estates by paying compositions" 3 definitions omitted. One of the three can be found in the set Literary and Archaic Terms and Phrases.

Gorge

Noun the neck of a bastion or other outwork; the rear entrance to a fortification. OR a mass of ice obstructing a narrow passage, especially a river.

Alliteration

Noun the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. "the alliteration of "sweet birds sang""

Probate

Noun the official proving of a will. "the will was in probate" OR a verified copy of a will with a certificate as handed to the executors. OR Verb•NORTH AMERICAN establish the validity of (a will).

Repute

Noun the opinion generally held of someone or something; the state of being generally regarded in a particular way. "pollution could bring the authority's name into bad repute" OR the state of being highly thought of; fame. "chefs of international repute" OR Verb be generally said or believed to do something or to have particular characteristics. "he was reputed to have a fabulous house" OR be generally said or believed to exist or be of a particular type, despite not being so. "this area gave the lie to the reputed flatness of the country" OR be widely known and respected. "intensive training with reputed coaches"

Genesis

Noun the origin or mode of formation of something. "this tale had its genesis in fireside stories"

Forepart

Noun the part situated at the front of something; the foremost part. "the forepart of the brain"

Pâté

Noun the paste of which porcelain is made. OR a rich, savory paste made from finely minced or mashed ingredients, typically seasoned meat or fish. "salmon pâté"

Prosody

Noun the patterns of rhythm and sound used in poetry. "the translator is not obliged to reproduce the prosody of the original" OR the theory or study of prosody. OR the patterns of stress and intonation in a language. "the salience of prosody in child language acquisition"

Repertory

Noun the performance of various plays, operas, or ballets by a company at regular short intervals. "a repertory actor" OR repertory theaters regarded collectively. OR a repertory company. OR another term for repertoire. OR a repository or collection, especially of information or retrievable examples.

Provenance

Noun the place of origin or earliest known history of something. "an orange rug of Iranian provenance" OR the beginning of something's existence; something's origin. "they try to understand the whole universe, its provenance and fate" OR a record of ownership of a work of art or an antique, used as a guide to authenticity or quality. "the manuscript has a distinguished provenance"

Prow

Noun the portion of a ship's bow above water. OR the pointed or projecting front part of something such as a car or building. "the commanding prow of the Jaguar"

Demonization

Noun the portrayal of something as wicked and threatening. "the demonization of enemies continues to be a fundamental part of politics"

Discipline

Noun the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience. "a lack of proper parental and school discipline" OR a branch of knowledge, typically one studied in higher education. "sociology is a fairly new discipline" OR activity or experience that provides mental or physical training. "the tariqa offered spiritual discipline" OR a system of rules of conduct. "he doesn't have to submit to normal disciplines" OR Verb punish or rebuke (someone) formally for an offense. "a member of the staff was to be disciplined by management" OR train oneself to do something in a controlled and habitual way. "every month discipline yourself to go through the file" 1 definition omitted.

Vogue

Noun the prevailing fashion or style at a particular time. "the vogue is to make realistic films" OR general acceptance or favor; popularity. "the 1920s and 30s, when art deco was much in vogue" OR Adjective popular; fashionable. "citizenship" was to be the government's vogue word" OR Verb dance to music in such a way as to imitate the characteristic poses struck by a model on a catwalk.

Seasoning

Noun the process of adjusting the moisture content of wood to make it more suitable for use as timber. "the outside may be notably drier in the intermediate stages of seasoning"

Accretion

Noun the process of growth or increase, typically by the gradual accumulation of additional layers or matter. "the accretion of sediments in coastal mangroves" OR a thing formed or added by gradual growth or increase. "the city has a historic core surrounded by recent accretions" OR ASTRONOMY the coming together and cohesion of matter under the influence of gravitation to form larger bodies.car

Acclimatization

Noun the process or result of becoming accustomed to a new climate or to new conditions. "the most important feature of acclimatization to high altitude is an increase in the rate and depth of breathing"

Clarity

Noun the quality of being coherent and intelligible. "for the sake of clarity, each of these strategies is dealt with separately" OR the quality of being certain or definite. "it was clarity of purpose that he needed" OR the quality of transparency or purity. "the crystal clarity of water" OR the quality of being easy to see or hear; sharpness of image or sound. "the clarity of the picture"

Integrity

Noun the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. "he is known to be a man of integrity" OR the state of being whole and undivided. "upholding territorial integrity and national sovereignty" OR the condition of being unified, unimpaired, or sound in construction. "the structural integrity of the novel" OR internal consistency or lack of corruption in electronic data. "integrity checking"

Specificity

Noun the quality of belonging or relating uniquely to a particular subject. "the statement of special educational needs lacked specificity" OR BIOLOGY the narrowness of the range of substances with which an antibody or other agent acts or is effective. "the specificity of the antibody was checked" OR MEDICINE the extent to which a diagnostic test is specific for a particular condition, trait, etc. "the sensitivity of paramedics for diagnosis of stroke was 66%, with a specificity of 98%"

Frequency

Noun the rate at which something occurs or is repeated over a particular period of time or in a given sample. "shops have closed with increasing frequency during the period" OR the fact of being frequent or happening often. OR STATISTICS the ratio of the number of actual to possible occurrences of an event. OR STATISTICS the (relative) number of times something occurs in a given sample. OR the rate at which a vibration occurs that constitutes a wave, either in a material (as in sound waves), or in an electromagnetic field (as in radio waves and light), usually measured per second. OR the particular waveband at which a radio station or other system broadcasts or transmits signals.

Dregs

Noun the remnants of a liquid left in a container, together with any sediment or grounds. "coffee dregs" OR the most worthless part or parts of something. "the dregs of society"

Restitution

Noun the restoration of something lost or stolen to its proper owner. "seeking the restitution of land taken from blacks under apartheid" OR recompense for injury or loss. "he was ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution" OR PHYSICS the resumption of an object's original shape or position through elastic recoil.

Palate

Noun the roof of the mouth, separating the cavities of the nose and the mouth in vertebrates. OR a person's appreciation of taste and flavor, especially when sophisticated and discriminating. "a fine range of drink for sophisticated palates" OR taste or flavor of wine or beer. "a wine with a zingy, peachy palate"

Pathology

Noun the science of the causes and effects of diseases, especially the branch of medicine that deals with the laboratory examination of samples of body tissue for diagnostic or forensic purposes. OR MEDICINE pathological features considered collectively; the typical behavior of a disease. "the pathology of Huntington's disease" OR MEDICINE a pathological condition. "the dominant pathology is multiple sclerosis" OR mental, social, or linguistic abnormality or malfunction. "the city's inability to cope with the pathology of a burgeoning underclass"

Cosmology

Noun the science of the origin and development of the universe. Modern astronomy is dominated by the Big Bang theory, which brings together observational astronomy and particle physics. OR an account or theory of the origin of the universe.

Zoology

Noun the scientific study of the behavior, structure, physiology, classification, and distribution of animals. OR the animal life of a particular area or time. "the zoology of Russia's vast interior"

Lee

Noun the sheltered side of something; the side away from the wind. "they must move your house to the lee of the stone" OR shelter from wind or weather given by a neighboring object, especially nearby land. "we pitch our tents in the lee of a rock"

Starboard

Noun the side of a ship or aircraft that is on the right when one is facing forward. "I made a steep turn to starboard" Verb turn (a ship or its helm) to starboard. "a red light is always a signal not to starboard the helm"

Synchronicity

Noun the simultaneous occurrence of events which appear significantly related but have no discernible causal connection. "such synchronicity is quite staggering" Origin coined by C. G. Jung. in the 1950s

Outset

Noun the start or beginning of something. "a field of which he had known nothing at the outset and learned on the job"

Internment

Noun the state of being confined as a prisoner, especially for political or military reasons. "he was threatened with internment in a concentration camp"

Animation

Noun the state of being full of life or vigor; liveliness. "they started talking with animation"

Tedium

Noun the state of being tedious. "cousins and uncles filled the tedium of winter nights with many a tall tale"

Languor

Noun the state or feeling, often pleasant, of tiredness or inertia. "he remembered the languor and warm happiness of those golden afternoons" OR an oppressive stillness of the air. "the afternoon was hot, quiet, and heavy with languor"

Gaiety

Noun the state or quality of being lighthearted or cheerful. "the sudden gaiety of children's laughter" OR DATED entertainments or amusements.

Propriety

Noun the state or quality of conforming to conventionally accepted standards of behavior or morals. "he always behaved with the utmost propriety" OR the details or rules of behavior conventionally considered to be correct. "she's a great one for the proprieties" OR the condition of being right, appropriate, or fitting. "they questioned the propriety of certain investments made by the council"

Astrology

Noun the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies interpreted as having an influence on human affairs and the natural world.

Theology

Noun the study of the nature of God and religious belief. OR religious beliefs and theory when systematically developed. "a willingness to tolerate new theologies"

Metonym

Noun the substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant, for example suit for business executive, or the track for horse racing.

Assay

Noun the testing of a metal or ore to determine its ingredients and quality. "submission of plate for assay" OR Verb determine the content or quality of (a metal or ore). "the man who assayed gold was more than a technician" OR determine the biochemical or immunological activity of (a sample). OR "cell contents were assayed for enzyme activity" OR examine (something) in order to assess its nature. "stepping inside, I quickly assayed the clientele" 1 definition omitted. This definition can be found in the study set "Literary and Archaic Terms and Phrases".

Casuistry

Noun the use of clever but unsound reasoning, especially in relation to moral questions; sophistry. OR the resolving of moral problems by the application of theoretical rules to particular instances.

Sophistry

Noun the use of fallacious arguments, especially with the intention of deceiving. "trying to argue that I had benefited in any way from the disaster was pure sophistry"

Lexicon

Noun the vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge. "the size of the English lexicon" OR a dictionary, especially of Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, or Arabic. "a Greek-Latin lexicon" OR LINGUISTICS the complete set of meaningful units in a language.

Fustian

Noun thick, durable twilled cloth with a short nap, usually dyed in dark colors. OR pompous or pretentious speech or writing. "a smoke screen of fustian and fantasy"

Duress

Noun threats, violence, constraints, or other action brought to bear on someone to do something against their will or better judgment. "confessions extracted under duress" OR LAW constraint illegally exercised to force someone to perform an act. 1 definition omitted. Can be found in the quizlet, "Literary and Archaic Terms and Phrases"

Solidarity

Noun unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group. "factory workers voiced solidarity with the striking students" OR an independent trade union movement in Poland that developed into a mass campaign for political change and inspired popular opposition to communist regimes across eastern Europe during the 1980s.

Messrs.

Noun used as a title to refer formally to more than one man simultaneously, or in names of companies. "Messrs. Sotheby"

Modulation

Noun variation in the strength, tone, or pitch of one's voice. "excellent voice modulation" OR alteration of the amplitude or frequency of an electromagnetic wave or other oscillation in accordance with the variations of a second signal. "modulation of the ray amplitude will result in sound being heard" OR MUSIC a change from one key to another in a piece of music. "their bold approach to harmony and modulation"

Millinery

Noun women's hats. "her designer millinery" OR the trade or business of a milliner. "she is contemplating a new career in millinery"

Weasel words

Noun words or statements that are intentionally ambiguous or misleading.

Verse

Noun writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme. "a lament in verse"

Matter

Noun written or printed material. "reading matter" OR the substance or content of a text as distinct from its manner or form. OR PRINTING the body of a printed work, as distinct from titles, headings, etc. OR LOGIC the particular content of a proposition, as distinct from its form. OR Verb RARE•US (of a wound) secrete or discharge pus.

Elegy

Noun A poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead OR (in Greek and Roman poetry) a poem written in elegiac couplets, as notably by Catullus and Propertius.

Imprecation

Noun FORMAL a spoken curse. "she hurled her imprecations at anyone who might be listening"

Teleprompter

Noun NORTH AMERICAN a device used to project a speaker's script onto a transparent panel in front of a television camera lens in such a way that the text remains hidden from the camera.

Vicegerent

Noun FORMAL a person exercising delegated power on behalf of a sovereign or ruler. OR a person regarded as an earthly representative of God or a god, especially the Pope.

Propinquity

Noun FORMAL the state of being close to someone or something; proximity. "he kept his distance as though afraid propinquity might lead him into temptation" OR TECHNICAL close kinship

Mimesis

Noun FORMAL•TECHNICAL representation or imitation of the real world in art and literature. "Barth has always detached his use of plot from mimesis" OR the deliberate imitation of the behavior of one group of people by another group as a factor in social change. "culture is organized in terms of mimesis and desire" OR ZOOLOGY another term for mimicry.

Schmaltz

Noun INFORMAL excessive sentimentality, especially in music or movies. "at the end of the film the audience are drowned in a sea of schmaltz"

High roller

Noun INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN a person who gambles or spends large amounts of money. "corporate jets still ferry in high rollers to the tables of Caesar's Palace"

Schlub

Noun INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN a talentless, unattractive, or boorish person. "the poor dumb shlub just didn't get it"

Roué

Noun•DATED a debauched man, especially an elderly one. "he had lived the life of a roué in the fleshpots of London and Paris"

Comity

Noun•FORMAL an association of nations for their mutual benefit. OR courtesy and considerate behavior toward others. "a show of public comity in the White House" OR the mutual recognition by nations of the laws and customs of others.

Approbation

Noun•FORMAL approval or praise. "the opera met with high approbation"

Probity

Noun•FORMAL the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency. "financial probity"

Sestina

Noun•PROSODY a poem with six stanzas of six lines and a final triplet, all stanzas having the same six words at the line-ends in six different sequences that follow a fixed pattern, and with all six words appearing in the closing three-line envoi.

Percolate

Verb (of a liquid or gas) filter gradually through a porous surface or substance. "the water percolating through the soil may leach out minerals" OR (of coffee) be prepared in a percolator. "he put some coffee on to percolate" OR US be or become full of lively activity or excitement. "the night was percolating with an expectant energy"

Adduct

Verb (of a muscle) move (a limb or other part of the body) toward the midline of the body or toward another part. "the main function of pectorals is to adduct the arms"

Languish

Verb (of a person or other living thing) lose or lack vitality; grow weak or feeble. "plants may appear to be languishing simply because they are dormant" OR fail to make progress or be successful. "foreign stocks are still languishing" OR suffer from being forced to remain in an unpleasant place or situation. "he has been languishing in jail since 1974"

Terminate

Verb (of a thing) have its end at (a specified place) or of (a specified form). "the chain terminated in an iron ball covered with spikes" OR (of a train, bus, or boat service) end its journey. "the train will terminate at Stratford"

Paw

Verb (of an animal) feel or scrape with a paw or hoof. "the horse rose on its strong haunches, its forelegs pawing the air" OR INFORMAL (of a person) touch or handle clumsily or lasciviously. "some overweight, ugly Casanova had tried to paw her"

Belie

Verb (of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict. "his lively, alert manner belied his years" OR fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation); betray. "the notebooks belie Darwin's later recollection"

Augur

Verb (of an event or circumstance) portend a good or bad outcome. "the end of the cold war seemed to augur well" OR portend or bode (a specified outcome). "a new coalition would not augur a new period of social reforms" OR Noun (in ancient Rome) a religious official who observed natural signs, especially the behavior of birds, interpreting these as an indication of divine approval or disapproval of a proposed action.

Presage

Verb (of an event) be a sign or warning that (something, typically something bad) will happen. "the outcome of the game presaged the coming year" OR Noun a sign or warning that something, typically something bad, will happen; an omen or portent. "the fever was a somber presage of his final illness"

Bristle

Verb (of hair or fur) stand upright away from the skin, especially in anger or fear. "the hair on the back of his neck bristled" OR make one's hair or fur stand on end. "the cat bristled in annoyance" OR react angrily or defensively, typically by drawing oneself up. "she bristled at his rudeness" OR be covered with or abundant in. "the roof bristled with antennas"

Relapse

Verb (of someone suffering from a disease) suffer deterioration after a period of improvement. "two of the patients in remission relapsed after 48 months" OR return to (a less active or a worse state). "he relapsed into silence" OR Noun a deterioration in someone's state of health after a temporary improvement. "he responded well to treatment, but then suffered a relapse"

Abate

Verb (of something perceived as hostile, threatening, or negative) become less intense or widespread. "the storm suddenly abated" OR cause to become smaller or less intense. "nothing abated his crusading zeal" OR LAW lessen, reduce, or remove (especially a nuisance). "this action would not have been sufficient to abate the odor nuisance"

Chafe

Verb (of something restrictive or too tight) make (a part of the body) sore by rubbing against it. "the collar chafed his neck" OR (of a part of the body) be or become sore as a result of abrasive rubbing. OR (of an object) rub abrasively against another object. "the grommet stops the cable from chafing on the metal"' OR rub (a part of the body) to restore warmth or sensation. OR become or make annoyed or impatient because of a restriction or inconvenience. "the bank chafed at the restrictions imposed upon it"

Palpitate

Verb (of the heart) beat rapidly, strongly, or irregularly. "it wakened him in the night with a palpitating heart" OR shake; tremble. "she was palpitating with terror"

Wane

Verb (of the moon) have a progressively smaller part of its visible surface illuminated, so that it appears to decrease in size. OR (especially of a condition or feeling) decrease in vigor, power, or extent; become weaker. "confidence in the dollar waned"

Coppice

Verb BRITISH cut back (a tree or shrub) to ground level periodically to stimulate growth. "the company began to coppice the woodland for conservation purposes"

Prozelytize

Verb Convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another. "the program did have a tremendous evangelical effect, proselytizing many" OR advocate or promote (a belief or course of action). "Davis wanted to share his concept and proselytize his ideas"

Shanghai

Verb HISTORICAL force (someone) to join a ship lacking a full crew by drugging them or using other underhanded means. "they specialized in drugging and robbing sailors, sometimes arranging for them to be shanghaied aboard tramp boats" OR INFORMAL coerce or trick (someone) into a place or position or into doing something. "Brady shanghaied her into his Jaguar and roared off" OR shoot with a catapult. "in spite of his shanghaiing all the cats, the rodents were still on top" OR catapult in a particular direction. "the springy, resilient saplings would shanghai him backwards" OR AUSTRALIAN•NEW ZEALAND Noun a catapult

Fold

Verb INFORMAL (of an enterprise or organization) cease operating as a result of financial problems or a lack of support. "the club folded earlier this year" OR (of a poker player) drop out of a hand. "an unerring knack for knowing when to fold and when to stay in OR shut (livestock) in a fold. OR Noun a form or shape produced by the gentle draping of a loose, full garment or piece of cloth. "the fabric fell in soft folds" OR an area of skin that sags or hangs loosely. OR BRITISH an undulation or gentle curve of the ground; a slight hill or hollow. "the house lay in a fold of the hills" OR a piece of paper or cloth that has been folded. "a fold of paper slipped out of the diary" OR a pen or enclosure in a field where livestock, especially sheep, can be kept.

Wise

Verb INFORMAL become alert to or aware of something. "wise up and sort yourselves out before it's too late" OR NORTH AMERICAN make jokes or witty remarks. "Jake and I would wise off to him"

Bilk

Verb INFORMAL obtain or withhold money from (someone) by deceit or without justification; cheat or defraud. "government waste has bilked the taxpayer of billions of dollars" OR INFORMAL obtain (money) fraudulently. "some businesses bilk thousands of dollars from unsuspecting elderly consumers"

Devise

Verb LAW leave (real estate) to someone by the terms of a will. OR Noun•LAW a clause in a will leaving something, especially real estate, to someone.

Collocate

Verb LINGUISTICS (of a word) be habitually juxtaposed with another with a frequency greater than chance. ""maiden" collocates with "voyage."" OR RARE place side by side or in a particular relation. "McAndrew was a collocated facility with Argentia Naval Station" OR Noun•LINGUISTICS a word that is habitually juxtaposed with another with a frequency greater than chance. "collocates for the word "mortgage" include "lend" and "property.""

Roil

Verb OR (of a liquid) move in a turbulent, swirling manner. "the sea roiled below her" OR US make (someone) annoyed or irritated.

Abduct

Verb PHYSIOLOGY (of a muscle) move (a limb or part) away from the midline of the body or from another part.

Indoctrinate

Verb Teach (a person or group) to accept a set of beliefs uncritically. "broadcasting was a vehicle for indoctrinating the masses"

Inure

Verb accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant. "these children have been inured to violence" OR LAW come into operation; take effect. "a release given to one of two joint contractors inures to the benefit of both"

Officiate

Verb act as an official in charge of something, as a sporting event. "the first woman to officiate a men's basketball game" OR perform a religious service or ceremony. "he baptized children and officiated at weddings"

Kowtow

Verb act in an excessively subservient manner. "she didn't have to kowtow to a boss" OR HISTORICAL kneel and touch the ground with the forehead in worship or submission as part of Chinese custom. OR Noun HISTORICAL an act of kowtowing as part of Chinese custom.

Rollick

Verb act or behave in a jovial and exuberant fashion. "a satirical novelist who rollicks through the sleaze of the American psyche"

Dally

Verb act or move slowly. "workers were loafing, dallying, or goofing off" OR show a casual interest in something, without committing oneself seriously. "the company has been dallying with the idea of opening a new office"

Season

Verb add a quality or feature to (something), especially so as to make it more lively or exciting. "his conversation is seasoned liberally with exclamation points and punch lines" OR make (wood) suitable for use as timber by adjusting its moisture content to that of the environment in which it will be used.

Annotate

Verb add notes to (a text or diagram) giving explanation or comment. "documentation should be annotated with explanatory notes"

Reproach

Verb address (someone) in such a way as to express disapproval or disappointment. ""You know that isn't true," he reproached her" OR accuse someone of. "his wife reproached him with cowardice" OR Noun the expression of disapproval or disappointment. "he gave her a look of reproach" OR a thing that makes the failings of (someone or something else) more apparent. "his elegance is a living reproach to our slovenly habits" 2 definitions omitted. 1 definition can be found in the quizlet set Literary and Archaic Terms and Phrases.

Variegate

Verb alter in appearance, especially by adding different colors. "the designer can variegate the object's color and physical character as needed" OR make more diverse or varied. "the route to success lies in variegating the offerings presented"

Vacilate

Verb alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive. "I had for a time vacillated between teaching and journalism"

Parse

Verb analyze (a sentence) into its parts and describe their syntactic roles. OR COMPUTING analyze (a string or text) into logical syntactic components, typically in order to test conformability to a logical grammar. OR examine or analyze minutely. "he has always been quick to parse his own problems in public" OR Noun COMPUTING an act of or the result obtained by parsing a string or a text.

Mollify

Verb appease the anger or anxiety of (someone). "nature reserves were set up around the power stations to mollify local conservationists" OR RARE reduce the severity of (something); soften.

Codify

Verb arrange (laws or rules) into a systematic code. OR arrange according to a plan or system. "Verdi helped codify an international operatic culture"

Entreat

Verb ask someone earnestly or anxiously to do something. "his friends entreated him not to go"

Domineer

Verb assert one's will over another in an arrogant way. "how can I do my job with a domineering boss yelling in my ear?"

Appraise

Verb assess the value or quality of. "she stealthily appraised him in a pocket mirror" OR (of an official or expert) set a price on; value. "they appraised the painting at $200,000"

Posit

Verb assume as a fact; put forward as a basis of argument. "the Confucian view posits a perfectible human nature" OR base something on the truth of (a particular assumption). "these plots are posited on a false premise about women's nature as inferior" OR put in position; place. "the Professor posits Cohen in his second category of poets" OR Noun•PHILOSOPHY a statement which is made on the assumption that it will prove to be true.

Ascribe

Verb attribute something to (a cause). "he ascribed Jane's short temper to her upset stomach" OR attribute (a text, quotation, or work of art) to a particular person or period. "a quotation ascribed to Thomas Cooper" OR regard a quality as belonging to. "tough-mindedness is a quality commonly ascribed to top bosses"

Epitomize

Verb be a perfect example of. "Hearst's newspapers epitomized bare-knuckle yellow journalism"

Portend

Verb be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen. "the eclipses portend some major events"

Prefigure

Verb be an early indication or version of (something). "the Hussite movement prefigured the Reformation"

Bear

Verb be called by (a name or title). "he bore the surname Tiller" OR carry or conduct oneself in a particular manner. "she bore herself with dignity" OR be able to accept or stand up to. "it is doubtful whether either of these distinctions would bear scrutiny" OR turn and proceed in a specified direction. "bear left and follow the old road"

Typify

Verb be characteristic or a representative example of. "tough, low-lying vegetation typifies this arctic area" OR represent; symbolize. "the sun typified the Greeks, and the moon the Persians"

Dithering

Verb be indecisive. "he was dithering about the election date" OR add white noise to (a digital recording) to reduce distortion of low-amplitude signals. OR display or print (a color image) in such a way that there appears to be more colors in it than are really available. "the easiest way to remove hot pixels is to dither the images"

Hasten

Verb be quick to do something. "he hastened to refute the assertion" OR move or travel hurriedly. "we hastened back to Paris" OR cause (something) to happen sooner than it otherwise would. "a move that could hasten peace talks"

Throb

Verb beat or sound with a strong, regular rhythm; pulsate steadily. "the war drums throbbed" OR feel pain in a series of regular beats. "her foot throbbed with pain" OR Noun a strong, regular beat or sound; a steady pulsation. "the throb of the ship's engines" OR a feeling of pain in a series of regular beats

Unbend

Verb become less reserved, formal, or strict. "you could be fun too, you know, if you'd only unbend a little" OR SAILING unfasten (sails) from yards and stays. OR untie or cast loose (a rope or cable).

Qualify

Verb become officially recognized as a practitioner of a particular profession or activity by satisfying the relevant conditions or requirements, typically by undertaking a course of study and passing examinations. "I've only just qualified" OR officially recognize or establish (someone) as a practitioner of a particular profession or activity. "the courses qualify you as an instructor of the sport" OR make (a statement or assertion) less absolute; add reservations to. "she felt obliged to qualify her first short answer" OR GRAMMAR (of a word or phrase) attribute a quality to (another word, especially a preceding noun). 7 definitions omitted. 3 of the 7 are included in a separate quizlet: Literary and Archaic Terms and Phrases.

Abase

Verb behave in a way that belittles or degrades (someone). "I watched my colleagues abasing themselves before the board of trustees"

Rouse

Verb bring out of sleep; awaken. "she was roused from a deep sleep by a hand on her shoulder" OR cease to sleep or to be inactive; wake up. "she roused and looked around" OR startle out of inactivity; cause to become active. "once the enemy camp was roused, they would move on the castle" OR startle (game) from a lair or cover. OR cause to feel angry or excited. "the crowds were roused to fever pitch by the drama of the race" OR stir (a liquid, especially beer while brewing). "rouse the beer as the hops are introduced"

Arraign

Verb call or bring (someone) before a court to answer a criminal charge. "her sister was arraigned on attempted murder charges" OR find fault with (someone or something); censure. "the soldiers bitterly arraigned the government for failing to keep its word"

Lull

Verb calm or send to sleep, typically with soothing sounds or movements. "the rhythm of the boat lulled her to sleep" OR cause (someone) to feel deceptively secure or confident. "the rarity of earthquakes there has lulled people into a false sense of security" OR (of noise or a storm) abate or fall quiet. "conversation lulled for an hour" OR Noun a temporary interval of quiet or lack of activity. "for two days there had been a lull in the fighting"

Reprieve

Verb cancel or postpone the punishment of (someone, especially someone condemned to death). "under the new regime, prisoners under sentence of death were reprieved" OR abandon or postpone plans to close or put an end to (something). "the threatened pits could be reprieved" OR Noun a cancellation or postponement of a punishment. "he accepted the death sentence and refused to appeal for a reprieve" OR a temporary escape from an undesirable fate or unpleasant situation. "a mother who faced eviction has been given a reprieve"

Precipitate

Verb cause (an event or situation, typically one that is bad or undesirable) to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely. "the incident precipitated a political crisis" OR cause to move suddenly and with force. "suddenly the ladder broke, precipitating them down into a heap" OR send someone or something suddenly into a particular state or condition. "they were precipitated into a conflict for which they were quite unprepared" OR Adjective done, made, or acting suddenly or without careful consideration. "I must apologize for my staff—their actions were precipitate" OR (of an event or situation) occurring suddenly or abruptly. "a precipitate decline in cultural literacy" 3 definitions omitted.

Extenuate

Verb cause (an offense) to seem less serious. "even the fact that you once helped to save my life could not extenuate your offence"

Engender

Verb cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition). "the issue engendered continuing controversy"

Invoke

Verb cite or appeal to (someone or something) as an authority for an action or in support of an argument. "the antiquated defense of insanity is rarely invoked today" OR call on (a deity or spirit) in prayer, as a witness, or for inspiration. OR call earnestly for. "she invoked his help against this attack" OR summon (a spirit) by charms or incantation. OR give rise to; evoke. "how could she explain how the accident happened without invoking his wrath?" OR COMPUTING cause (a procedure) to be carried out.

Coalesce

Verb come together to form one mass or whole. "the puddles had coalesced into shallow streams" OR combine (elements) in a mass or whole. "to help coalesce the community, they established an office"

Moralize

Verb comment on issues of right and wrong, typically with an unfounded air of superiority. "the solution to climate change is not to moralize from on high" OR reform the character and conduct of. "he endeavored to moralize an immoral society" OR interpret or explain as giving lessons on good and bad character and conduct. "mythographers normally moralize Narcissus as the man who wastes himself in pursuing worldly goods"

Vie

Verb compete eagerly with someone in order to do or achieve something. "rival mobs vying for control of the liquor business"

Dissemble

Verb conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs. "an honest, sincere person with no need to dissemble" OR disguise or conceal (a feeling or intention). "she smiled, dissembling her true emotion"

Dissimulate

Verb conceal or disguise (one's thoughts, feelings, or character). "a country gentleman who dissimulates his wealth beneath ragged pullovers"

Sign off

Verb conclude a letter, broadcast, or other message. "he signed off with a few words of advice" OR conclude an activity. "she signed off from her talk show in September" OR sign a register to record that one is leaving work for the day. "a colleague signed off for me" OR record that someone is entitled to miss work, typically because of illness. "she had seen her doctor and been signed off for a month" OR BRITISH register to stop receiving unemployment benefit after finding work. "I signed off when I found myself a job"

Corrorborate

Verb confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding). "the witness had corroborated the boy's account of the attack"

Make

Verb consider to be; estimate as. "How many are there? I make it sixteen" OR arrive at (a place) within a specified time or in time for (a train or other transport). "we've got a lot to do if you're going to make the shuttle" OR succeed in something; become successful. "he waited confidently for his band to make it" OR go or prepare to go in a particular direction. "he struggled to his feet and made toward the car" OR act as if one is about to perform an action. "she made as if to leave the room" OR NAUTICAL (of the tide) begin to flow or ebb. OR Noun the structure or composition of something. OR the making of electrical contact.

Envisage

Verb contemplate or conceive of as a possibility or a desirable future event. "the Rome Treaty envisaged free movement across frontiers" OR form a mental picture of (something not yet existing or known). "he knew what he liked but had difficulty envisaging it"

Electrify

Verb convert (a machine or system, especially a railroad line) to the use of electrical power. "the rails aren't electrified" OR arouse a sudden sense of great excitement in; thrill. "the audience was electrified by her performance"

Gild

Verb cover thinly with gold. "in 1436 he gilded and painted statues for Bruges Town Hall" OR give a specious or false brilliance to. "they gild the facts until the truth all but vanishes"

Revile

Verb criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner. "he was now reviled by the party that he had helped to lead"

Romanticize

Verb deal with or describe in an idealized or unrealistic fashion; make (something) seem better or more appealing than it really is. "the tendency to romanticize nonindustrial societies"

Annul

Verb declare invalid (an official agreement, decision, or result). "the elections were annulled by the general amid renewed protests" OR declare (a marriage) to have had no legal existence. "her first marriage was finally annulled by His Holiness"

Asseverate

Verb declare or state solemnly or emphatically. "he asseverated the need for a just, fair, and united country"

Retard

Verb delay or hold back in terms of progress, development, or accomplishment. "our progress was retarded by unforeseen difficulties"

Consign

Verb deliver (something) to a person's custody, typically in order for it to be sold. "he consigned three paintings to Sotheby's" OR send (goods) by a public carrier. OR assign; commit decisively or permanently. "she consigned the letter to the wastebasket"

Controvert

Verb deny the truth of (something). "subsequent work from the same laboratory controverted these results" OR argue about (something). "the views in the article have been controverted"

Divest

Verb deprive (someone) of power, rights, or possessions. "men are unlikely to be divested of power without a struggle" OR deprive (something) of a particular quality. "he has divested the original play of its charm" OR rid oneself of something that one no longer wants or requires, such as a business interest or investment. "the government's policy of divesting itself of state holdings" OR DATED•HUMOROUS relieve (someone) of something being worn or carried. "she divested him of his coat"

Disenfranchise

Verb deprive (someone) of the right to vote. "the law disenfranchised some 3,000 voters on the basis of a residence qualification" OR deprive (someone) of a right or privilege. "a measure that would disenfranchise people from access to legal advice"

Fumigate

Verb disinfect or purify (an area) with the fumes of certain chemicals. "we got sulfur candles to fumigate the house"

Command

Verb dominate (a strategic position) from a superior height. "the two castles commanded the harbor" OR Noun the ability to use or control something. "he had a brilliant command of English"

Sniff

Verb draw in air audibly through the nose to detect a smell, to stop it from running, or to express contempt. "his dog sniffed at my trousers" OR show contempt or dislike for. "the price is not to be sniffed at" OR INFORMAL investigate covertly, especially to find out confidential or incriminating information about someone. "a couple of journalists are sniffing around" OR INFORMAL discover something by investigation. "he made millions upon millions sniffing out tax loopholes for companies" OR Noun INFORMAL a trace, hint, or small amount. "they're off at the first sniff of trouble" OR INFORMAL a small chance. "the Olympic hosts will at least get a sniff at a medal"

Oust

Verb drive out or expel (someone) from a position or place. "he ousted a long-term incumbent by only 500 votes" OR LAW deprive (someone) of or exclude (someone) from possession of something.

Impel

Verb drive, force, or urge (someone) to do something. "financial difficulties impelled him to desperate measures" OR drive forward; propel. "vital energies impel him in unforeseen directions"

Revel

Verb enjoy oneself in a lively and noisy way, especially with drinking and dancing. "they spent the evening reveling with their guests" OR get great pleasure from (a situation or experience). "Bill said he was secretly reveling in his new-found fame" OR Noun lively and noisy enjoyment, especially with drinking and dancing.

Roister

Verb enjoy oneself or celebrate in a noisy or boisterous way. "workers from the refinery roistered in the bars"

Ensconce

Verb establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe, or secret place. "Agnes ensconced herself in their bedroom"

Palpate

Verb examine (a part of the body) by touch, especially for medical purposes. "the skin of the lower neck must be palpated for cysts and infection"

Intoxicate

Verb excite or exhilarate. "the team was intoxicated by the prospect of another victorious season"

Censure

Verb express severe disapproval of (someone or something), especially in a formal statement. "a judge was censured in 1983 for a variety of types of injudicious conduct" OR Noun the expression of formal disapproval. "angry delegates offered a resolution of censure against the offenders"

Spatter

Verb fall so as to be scattered over an area. "she watched the raindrops spatter down" OR Noun a spray or splash of something. OR a sprinkling. "there was a spatter of freckles over her nose" OR a short outburst of sound. "the sharp spatter of shots"

Upbraid

Verb find fault with (someone); scold. "he was upbraided for his slovenly appearance"

Proscribe

Verb forbid, especially by law. "strikes remained proscribed in the armed forces" OR denounce or condemn. "certain practices that the Catholic Church proscribed, such as polygyny" OR HISTORICAL outlaw (someone). "a plaque on which were the names of proscribed traitors"

Lionize

Verb give a lot of public attention and approval to (someone); treat as a celebrity. "modern athletes are lionized"

Vouchsafe

Verb give or grant (something) to (someone) in a gracious or condescending manner. "it is a blessing vouchsafed him by heaven" OR reveal or disclose (information). "you'd never vouchsafed that interesting tidbit before"

Enfranchise

Verb give the right to vote to. "a proposal that foreigners should be enfranchised for local elections" OR HISTORICAL free (a slave).

Flounce

Verb go or move in an exaggeratedly impatient or angry manner. "he stood up in a fury and flounced out" OR move with exaggerated motions. "she flounced around, playing the tart and flirting" OR trimmed with a flounce or flounces. "a flounced skirt" OR Noun an exaggerated action, typically intended to express one's annoyance or impatience. "she left the room with a flounce" OR a wide ornamental strip of material gathered and sewn to a piece of fabric, typically on a skirt or dress; a frill.

Suffuse

Verb gradually spread through or over. "her cheeks were suffused with color"

Confer

Verb grant or bestow (a title, degree, benefit, or right). "moves were made to confer an honorary degree on her" OR have discussions; exchange opinions. "the officials were conferring with allies"

Importune

Verb harass (someone) persistently for or to do something. "reporters importuned him with pointed questions" OR approach (someone) to request or offer sexual services, especially as a prostitute. "the girl is charged with loitering in a public place with intent to solicit or importune another person"

Indurate

Verb harden. "a bed of indurated clay"

Notarize

Verb have (a document) legalized by a notary.

Proffer

Verb hold out (something) to someone for acceptance; offer. "he proffered his resignation"

Dabble

Verb immerse (one's hands or feet) partially in water and move them around gently. "they dabbled their feet in the rock pools"; OR (of a duck or other waterbird) move the bill around in shallow water while feeding. "teal dabble in the shallows" OR take part in an activity in a casual or superficial way. "he dabbled in writing as a young man"

Apprise

Verb inform or tell (someone). "I thought it right to apprise Chris of what had happened"

Load

Verb insert something into (a device) so that it can be operated. "load your camera before you start" OR insert (something) into a device so that it will operate. "load the cassette into the camcorder" OR COMPUTING transfer (a program or data) into memory, or into the central processor from storage.

Imbue

Verb inspire or permeate with (a feeling or quality). "the entire performance was imbued with sparkle and elan"

Foment

Verb instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action). "they accused him of fomenting political unrest"

Enjoin

Verb instruct or urge (someone) to do something. "the code enjoined members to trade fairly" OR prescribe (an action or attitude) to be performed or adopted. "the charitable deeds enjoined on him by religion" OR LAW prohibit someone from performing (a particular action) by issuing an injunction.

Intercede

Verb intervene on behalf of another. "I begged him to intercede for Theresa, but he never did a thing"

Sequester

Verb isolate or hide away. "Tiberius was sequestered on an island" OR take legal possession of (assets) until a debt has been paid or other claims have been met. "the power of courts to sequester the assets of unions" OR legally place (the property of a bankrupt) in the hands of a trustee for division among the creditors. "a trustee in a sequestered estate" OR CHEMISTRY form a chelate or other stable compound with (an ion, atom, or molecule) so that it is no longer available for reactions. "non-precipitating water softeners use complex phosphates to sequester calcium and magnesium ions" OR Noun US a general cut in government spending. "if the budget deal hadn't gone through, there would have been a sequester of at least $100 billion"

Cavort

Verb jump or dance around excitedly. "spider monkeys leap and cavort in the branches" OR INFORMAL apply oneself enthusiastically to sexual or disreputable pursuits. "he spent his nights cavorting with the glitterati"

Chortle

Verb laugh in a breathy, gleeful way; chuckle. "he chortled at his own pun" OR Noun a breathy, gleeful laugh. "Thomas gave a chortle"

Snigger

Verb laugh in a half-suppressed, typically scornful way. "the boys at school were sure to snigger at him behind his back" OR Noun a half-suppressed, typically scornful laugh.

Bequeath

Verb leave (a personal estate or one's body) to a person or other beneficiary by a will. "he bequeathed his art collection to the town" OR pass (something) on or leave (something) to someone else. "he is ditching the unpopular policies bequeathed to him"

Kindle

Verb light or set on fire. OR arouse or inspire (an emotion or feeling). "a love of art was kindled in me" OR (of an emotion) be aroused. "she hesitated, suspicion kindling within her" OR become impassioned or excited. "the young man kindled at once" OR (of a hare or rabbit) give birth.

Vegetate

Verb live or spend a period of time in a dull, inactive, unchallenging way. "if she left him there alone, he'd sit in front of the television set and vegetate" OR DATED (of a plant or seed) grow; sprout. OR cause plants to grow in or cover (a place). OR MEDICINE (of an abnormal growth) increase in size.

Cohabit

Verb live together and have a sexual relationship without being married. OR coexist. "animals that can cohabit with humans thrive"

Palliate

Verb make (a disease or its symptoms) less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause. "treatment works by palliating symptoms" OR allay or moderate (fears or suspicions). "this eliminated, or at least palliated, suspicions aroused by German unity" OR disguise the seriousness or gravity of (an offense). "there is no way to excuse or palliate his dirty deed"

Consummate

Verb make (a marriage or relationship) complete by having sexual intercourse. "they did not consummate their marriage until months after it took place" OR complete (a transaction or attempt); make perfect. "his scheme of colonization was consummated through bloodshed" OR Adjective showing a high degree of skill and flair; complete or perfect. "she dressed with consummate elegance"

Expedite

Verb make (an action or process) happen sooner or be accomplished more quickly. "he promised to expedite economic reforms"

Impart

Verb make (information) known; communicate. "teachers had a duty to impart strong morals to their students" OR bestow (a quality). "its main use has been to impart a high surface gloss to finished articles"

Vex

Verb make (someone) feel annoyed, frustrated, or worried, especially with trivial matters. "the memory of the conversation still vexed him"

Elucidate

Verb make (something) clear; explain. "work such as theirs will help to elucidate this matter"

Enliven

Verb make (something) more entertaining, interesting, or appealing. "the wartime routine was enlivened by a series of concerts" OR make (someone) more cheerful or animated. "the visit had clearly enlivened my mother"

Humanize

Verb make (something) more humane or civilized. "his purpose was to humanize prison conditions" OR give (something) a human character. "dogs are wonderful friends but why do we try to humanize them?"

Vet

Verb make a careful and critical examination of (something). "proposals for vetting large takeover bids" OR investigate (someone) thoroughly, especially in order to ensure that they are suitable for a job requiring secrecy, loyalty, or trustworthiness. "each applicant will be vetted by police"

Drone

Verb make a continuous low humming sound. "in the far distance a machine droned" OR speak tediously in a dull monotonous tone. "he reached for another beer while Jim droned on" OR move with a continuous humming sound. "traffic droned up and down the street"

Thrum

Verb make a continuous rhythmic humming sound. "the boat's huge engines thrummed in his ears" OR strum (the strings of a musical instrument) in a rhythmic way. OR cover or adorn (cloth or clothing) with ends of thread. OR Noun a continuous rhythmic humming sound. "the steady thrum of rain on the windows OR (in weaving) an unwoven end of a warp thread, or a fringe of such ends, left in the loom when the finished cloth is cut away. OR any short loose thread.

Rasp

Verb make a harsh, grating noise. "my breath rasped in my throat" OR say in a harsh, grating voice. ""Stay where you are!" he rasped" OR scrape (something) with a rasp in order to make it smoother. OR (of a rough surface or object) scrape (something, especially someone's skin) in a painful or unpleasant way. OR remove something by scraping it off. "more enamel is rasped off the upper outside edges of the teeth"

Eke

Verb manage to support oneself or make a living with difficulty. "they eked out their livelihoods from the soil" OR make an amount or supply of something last longer by using or consuming it frugally. "the remains of yesterday's stew could be eked out to make another meal" OR obtain or create, but just barely. "Tennessee eked out a 74-73 overtime victory"

Incise

Verb mark or decorate (an object or surface) with a cut or a series of cuts. "a button incised with a skull" OR cut (skin or flesh) with a surgical instrument. "the wound was incised and drained"

Enumerate

Verb mention (a number of things) one by one. "there is not space to enumerate all his works" OR FORMAL establish the number of. "the 2000 census enumerated 10,493 households in the county"

Mingle

Verb mix or cause to mix together. "the sound of voices mingled with a scraping of chairs" OR move freely around a place or at a social function, associating with others. "over aperitifs, there was a chance to mingle with friends old and new"

Gyrate

Verb move or cause to move in a circle or spiral, especially quickly. "their wings gyrate through the water like paddle wheels" OR dance in a wild or suggestive manner. "strippers gyrated to rock music on a low stage"

Balk

Verb obtain (money) fraudulently. "some businesses bilk thousands of dollars from unsuspecting elderly consumers" OR prevent a person or animal from having (something). "the lions, fearing to be balked of their prey" OR (of a horse) refuse to go on. OR Noun a roughly squared timber beam. OR any area on a pool or billiard table in which play is restricted in some way. OR a ridge left unplowed between furrows.

Procure

Verb obtain (something), especially with care or effort. "food procured for the rebels" LAW persuade or cause (someone) to do something. "he procured his wife to sign the agreement"

Punctuate

Verb occur at intervals throughout (a continuing event or a place). "the country's history has been punctuated by coups" OR interrupt or intersperse (an activity) with. "she punctuates her conversation with snatches of song"

Supervene

Verb occur later than a specified or implied event or action, typically in such a way as to change the situation. "he had appendicitis and as complications supervened, refrained from work for months" OR PHILOSOPHY (of a fact or property) be entailed by or consequent on the existence or establishment of another. "the view that mental events supervene upon physical ones"

Turn

Verb perform (a somersault or cartwheel). OR twist or sprain (an ankle). OR (of the tide) change from flood to ebb or vice versa. OR fold or unfold (fabric or a piece of a garment) in the specified way. "i turned my collar to the cold and damp" OR pass around (the flank or defensive lines of an army) so as to attack it from the side or rear. OR remake (a garment or a sheet), putting the worn outer side on the inside. "a sheet that Mrs Dibb wanted turned sides to middle" OR (with reference to the stomach) make or become nauseated. "the smell was bad enough to turn the strongest stomach" OR start doing or becoming involved with. "in 1939 he turned to films in earnest" OR shape (something) on a lathe. "the faceplate is turned rather than cast" OR give a graceful or elegant form to. "if I could turn a tune, I even think I should sing" OR Noun one round in a coil of rope or other material. OR a place where a road meets or branches off another; a turning. OR a change of the tide from ebb to flow or vice versa. OR a short performance, especially one of a number given by different performers in succession. "a comic turn" OR a performer giving one of a number of short performances. OR a short walk or ride. "why don't you take a turn around the garden?" OR INFORMAL a shock. "you gave us quite a turn!" OR a brief feeling or experience of illness. "tell me how you feel when you have these funny turns" OR the difference between the buying and selling price of stocks or other financial products. OR a profit made from the difference between the buying and selling price of stocks or other financial products. OR MUSIC a melodic ornament consisting of the principal note with those above and below it.

Busk

Verb perform music or other entertainment in the street or another public place for monetary donations. "the group began by busking on Philadelphia sidewalks" OR INFORMAL improvise.

Cajole

Verb persuade (someone) to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery. "he hoped to cajole her into selling the house"

Perforate

Verb pierce and make a hole or holes in. "a perforated appendix" OR make a row of small holes in (paper) so that a part may be torn off easily. OR Adjective perforated. "a perforate shell"

Range

Verb place or arrange in a row or rows or in a specified order or manner. "a table with half a dozen chairs ranged around it" OR run or extend in a line in a particular direction. "he regularly came to the benches that ranged along the path" OR (of a person or animal) travel or wander over a wide area. "patrols ranged thousands of miles deep into enemy territory" OR obtain the range of a target by adjustment after firing past it or short of it, or by the use of radar or laser equipment. "radar-type transmissions which appeared to be ranging on our convoys"

Recontextualize

Verb place or consider in a new or different context. "exhibitions can introduce ideas that you might not have previously thought about, or they can recontextualize an object"

Forbear

Verb politely or patiently restrain an impulse to do something; refrain. "he modestly forbears to include his own work" OR refrain from doing or using (something). "Rebecca could not forbear a smile"

Expound

Verb present and explain (a theory or idea) systematically and in detail. "he was expounding a powerful argument" OR explain the meaning of (a literary or doctrinal work). "the abbess expounded the scriptures to her nuns"

Preclude

Verb prevent from happening; make impossible. "the secret nature of his work precluded official recognition" OR (of a situation or condition) prevent someone from doing something. "his difficulties preclude him from leading a normal life"

Posterize

Verb print or display (a photograph or other image) using only a small number of different tones. "posterize the image and view the result"

Substantiate

Verb provide evidence to support or prove the truth of. "they had found nothing to substantiate the allegations"

Lampoon

Verb publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm. "the senator made himself famous as a pinch-penny watchdog of public spending, lampooning dubious federal projects"

Rectify

Verb put (something) right; correct. "mistakes made now cannot be rectified later" OR purify or refine (a substance) by repeated distillation. "add 10 cc of rectified alcohol" OR convert (alternating current) to direct current. "rectified AC power systems" OR find a straight line equal in length to (a curve).

Cite

Verb quote (a passage, book, or author) as evidence for or justification of an argument or statement, especially in a scholarly work. "authors who are highly regarded by their peers tend to be cited" OR praise (someone, typically a member of the armed forces) for a courageous act in an official dispatch. "he has been cited many times for his contributions in the intelligence area" OR mention as an example. "medics have been cited as a key example of a modern breed of technical expert" OR LAW refer to a former tried case as a guide to deciding a comparable case or in support of an argument. OR summon (someone) to appear in a court of law. "the summons cited four of the defendants" OR Noun•US a citation.

Stimulate

Verb raise levels of physiological or nervous activity in (the body or any biological system). "the women are given fertility drugs to stimulate their ovaries" OR encourage interest or activity in (a person or animal). "the reader could not fail to be stimulated by the ideas presented" OR encourage development of or increased activity in (a state or process). "the courses stimulate a passion for learning"

Commemorate

Verb recall and show respect for (someone or something). "a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the war dead" OR celebrate (an event, a person, or a situation) by doing or building something. "it was a night commemorated in a song"

Prescribe

Verb recommend (a substance or action) as something beneficial. "marriage is often prescribed as a universal remedy" OR state authoritatively or as a rule that (an action or procedure) should be carried out. "rules prescribing five acts for a play are purely arbitrary"

Attenuate

Verb reduce the force, effect, or value of. "her intolerance was attenuated by an unexpected liberalism" OR reduce in thickness; make thin. OR reduce the amplitude of (a signal, electric current, or other oscillation). "the filter must severely attenuate frequencies above 10 Hz" OR reduce the virulence of (a pathogenic organism), especially when preparing a vaccine. "the first live vaccine was insufficiently attenuated and produced a significant disease" OR Adjective•RARE reduced in force, effect, or physical thickness.

Repudiate

Verb refuse to accept or be associated with. "she has repudiated policies associated with previous party leaders" OR deny the truth or validity of. "the minister repudiated allegations of human rights abuses" OR LAW refuse to fulfill or discharge (an agreement, obligation, or debt). "breach of a condition gives the other party the right to repudiate a contract" OR (especially in the past or in non-Christian religions) divorce (one's wife).

Obviate

Verb remove (a need or difficulty). "the Venetian blinds obviated the need for curtains" OR avoid; prevent. "a parachute can be used to obviate disaster"

Desiccate

Verb remove the moisture from (something); cause to become completely dry. "both the older growth and the new vegetation were desiccated by months of relentless sun"

Adulterate

Verb render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance, typically an inferior one. "the meat was ground fine and adulterated with potato flour"

Obfuscate

Verb render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible. "the spelling changes will deform some familiar words and obfuscate their etymological origins" OR bewilder (someone). "it is more likely to obfuscate people than enlighten them"

Impute

Verb represent (something, especially something undesirable) as being done, caused, or possessed by someone; attribute. "the crimes imputed to Richard" OR FINANCE assign (a value) to something by inference from the value of the products or processes to which it contributes. "by imputing the interest rates they potentially introduce a measurement error" OR THEOLOGY ascribe (righteousness, guilt, etc.) to someone by virtue of a similar quality in another. "Christ's righteousness has been imputed to us"

Instantiate

Verb represent as or by an instance. "a study of two groups who seemed to instantiate productive aspects of this" OR PHILOSOPHY (of a universal or abstract concept) have an instance; be represented by an actual example.

Reciprocate

Verb respond to (a gesture or action) by making a corresponding one. "the favor was reciprocated" OR (of a part of a machine) move backward and forward in a straight line. "when you're shooting most semiautomatic handguns, the slide reciprocates as part of the firing cycle" OR experience the same (love, liking, or affection) for someone as that person does for oneself. "her passion for him was not reciprocated"

Gambol

Verb run or jump about playfully. "the mare gamboled toward her" OR Noun an act of running or jumping about playfully.

Enunciate

Verb say or pronounce clearly. "she enunciated each word slowly" OR express (a proposition, theory, etc.) in clear or definite terms. "a written document enunciating this policy" OR proclaim. "a prophet enunciating the Lord's wisdom"

Sanctify

Verb set apart as or declare holy; consecrate. "a small shrine was built to sanctify the site" OR make legitimate or binding by religious sanction. "they see their love sanctified by the sacrament of marriage" OR free from sin; purify. OR cause to be or seem morally right or acceptable. "ancient customs that are sanctified by tradition"

Loll

Verb sit, lie, or stand in a lazy, relaxed way. "the two girls lolled in their chairs" OR hang loosely; droop. "he slumped against a tree trunk, his head lolling back" OR stick out (one's tongue) so that it hangs loosely out of the mouth. "the boy lolled out his tongue"

Caper

Verb skip or dance about in a lively or playful way. "children were capering about the room" OR Noun a playful skipping movement. "she did a little caper" OR INFORMAL an activity or escapade, typically one that is illicit or ridiculous. OR an amusing or far-fetched story, especially one presented on film or stage. "a cop caper about intergalactic drug dealers"

Molder

Verb slowly decay or disintegrate, especially because of neglect. "I couldn't permit someone of your abilities to molder away in a backwater"

Simper

Verb smile in an affectedly coy or ingratiating manner. "she simpered, looking pleased with herself" OR Noun an affectedly coy or ingratiating smile. "an exaggerated simper"

Canvass

Verb solicit votes from (electors in a constituency). "in each ward, two workers canvassed some 2,000 voters" OR Noun an act or process of attempting to secure votes or ascertain opinions. "a house-to-house canvass"

Scoff

Verb speak to someone or about something in a scornfully derisive or mocking way. ""You, a scientist?" he scoffed" INFORMAL eat (something) quickly and greedily. "she scoffed down several chops" OR Noun an expression of scornful derision. OR INFORMAL food

Check

Verb stop or slow down the progress of (something undesirable). "efforts were made to check the disease" OR curb or restrain (a feeling or emotion). "he learned to check his excitement" OR provide a means of preventing. "processes to check against deterioration in the quality of the data held" OR (of a hound) pause to make sure of or regain a scent. OR NORTH AMERICAN (of a passenger) consign (baggage) to the care of the transport provider with whom they are traveling. "I checked my bag and got my boarding pass" OR deposit (a coat, bag, or other item) for temporary safekeeping in the cloakroom of a restaurant, theater, etc. "the drinks weren't expensive and there's no cover charge but you do have to check your coat for $3.00" OR Noun a stopping or slowing of progress. "there was no check to the expansion of the market" OR a means of control or restraint. "a permanent check upon the growth or abuse of central authority" OR a token of identification for left luggage. OR a crack or flaw in timber. OR Exclamation INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN expressing assent or agreement. OR a pattern of small squares. "a fine black-and-white check" OR Adjective having a pattern of small squares. "a blue check T-shirt"

Recapitulate

Verb summarize and state again the main points of. "he began to recapitulate his argument with care" OR BIOLOGY repeat (an evolutionary or other process) during development and growth.

Sate

Verb supply (someone) with as much as or more of something than is desired or can be managed.

Stint

Verb supply an ungenerous or inadequate amount of (something). "stowage room hasn't been stinted" OR restrict (someone) in the amount of something, especially money, given or permitted. "to avoid having to stint yourself, budget in advance" OR be economical or frugal about spending or providing something. "he doesn't stint on wining and dining" OR Noun a person's fixed or allotted period of work. "his varied career included a stint as a magician" OR limitation of supply or effort. "a collector with an eye for quality and the means to indulge it without stint" OR a small short-legged sandpiper of northern Eurasia and Alaska, with a brownish back and white underparts.

Underpin

Verb support (a building or other structure) from below by laying a solid foundation below ground level or by substituting stronger for weaker materials. OR support, justify, or form the basis for. "the theme of honor underpinning the two books"

Nonplus

Verb surprise and confuse (someone) so much that they are unsure how to react. "Diane was nonplussed by such an odd question"

Circumvallate

Verb surround with or as if with a rampart. "the walls were circumvallated with a ditch"

Distend

Verb swell or cause to swell by pressure from inside. "the abdomen distended rapidly"

Prattle

Verb talk at length in a foolish or inconsequential way. "she began to prattle on about her visit to the dentist" OR Noun foolish or inconsequential talk. "do you intend to keep up this childish prattle?"

Blither

Verb talk in a long-winded way without making very much sense. "I won't blither on too much about the job itself" OR Noun long-winded talk with no real substance.

Maunder

Verb talk in a rambling manner. "Dennis maundered on about the wine" OR move or act in a dreamy or idle manner. "he maunders through the bank, composing his thoughts"

Ruminate

Verb think deeply about something. "we sat ruminating on the nature of existence" OR (of a ruminant) chew the cud. "goats ruminated nonchalantly around them"

Caress

Verb touch or stroke gently or lovingly. "she caressed the girl's forehead" OR Noun a gentle or loving touch. "she felt the caress of his breath on her cheek"

Devolve

Verb transfer or delegate (power) to a lower level, especially from central government to local or regional administration. "measures to devolve power to the provinces" OR (of duties or responsibility) pass to (a body or person at a lower level). "his duties devolved on a comrade" OR FORMAL degenerate or be split into. "the Empire devolved into separate warring states"

Desecrate

Verb treat (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect; violate. "more than 300 graves were desecrated"

Patronize

Verb treat in a way that is apparently kind or helpful but that betrays a feeling of superiority. "she was determined not to be put down or patronized" OR frequent (a store, theater, restaurant, or other establishment) as a customer. "restaurants remaining open in the evening were well patronized" OR give encouragement and financial support to (a person, especially an artist, or a cause). "local churches and voluntary organizations were patronized by the family"

Careen

Verb turn (a ship) on its side for cleaning, caulking, or repair. OR NORTH AMERICAN move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way in a specified direction. "an electric golf cart careened around the corner"

Ossify

Verb turn into bone or bony tissue. "these tracheal cartilages may ossify" OR become rigid or fixed in attitude or position; cease developing. "our political system has ossified"

Equivocate

Verb use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself. ""Not that we are aware of," she equivocated"

Contravene

Verb violate the prohibition or order of (a law, treaty, or code of conduct). "this would contravene the rule against hearsay" OR conflict with (a right, principle, etc.), especially to its detriment. "this contravened Washington's commitment to its own proposal"

Sidle

Verb walk in a furtive, unobtrusive, or timid manner, especially sideways or obliquely. "I sidled up to her" OR Noun an act or instance of sidling.

Embellishment

a decorative detail or feature added to something to make it more attractive. "architectural embellishments" OR a detail, especially one that is not true, added to a statement or story to make it more interesting or entertaining. OR the action of adding details or features.

Amenity

a desirable or useful feature or facility of a building or place. "heating is regarded as a basic amenity" OR the pleasantness of a place or a person. "the exertion of amenity toward the boss"

Determinant

a factor which decisively affects the nature or outcome of something. "pure force of will was the main determinant of his success" OR BIOLOGY a gene or other factor that determines the character and development of a cell or group of cells in an organism, a set of which forms an individual's idiotype. OR MATHEMATICS a quantity obtained by the addition of products of the elements of a square matrix according to a given rule. OR serving to determine or decide something.

Disquiet

a feeling of anxiety or worry. "public disquiet about animal testing" OR make (someone) worried or anxious. "she felt disquieted at the lack of interest the girl had shown"

Patina

a green or brown film on the surface of bronze or similar metals, produced by oxidation over a long period. OR a gloss or sheen on a surface resulting from age or polishing. "the dining table will acquire a warm patina with age" OR the impression or appearance of something. "he carries the patina of old money and good breeding"

Clout

a heavy blow with the hand or a hard object. "a clout on the ear" OR influence or power, especially in politics or business. "I knew he carried a lot of clout"

Obiter dictum

a judge's incidental expression of opinion, not essential to the decision and not establishing precedent. OR an incidental remark.

Discrepancy

a lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts. "there's a discrepancy between your account and his"

Irreverence

a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously. "an attitude of irreverence toward politicians"

Chorus

a part of a song that is repeated after each verse, typically by more than one singer. "they sang the chorus again" OR a large organized group of singers, especially one that performs together with an orchestra or opera company. "the soloists were good and the chorus sang powerfully"

Iconoclast

a person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions. OR a destroyer of images used in religious worship. OR HISTORICAL a supporter of the 8th- and 9th-century movement in the Byzantine Church which sought to abolish the veneration of icons and other religious images. OR HISTORICAL a Puritan of the 16th or 17th century.

Vibe

a person's emotional state or the atmosphere of a place as communicated to and felt by others. "a lot of moody people giving off bad vibes"

Aphorism

a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it.". "the old aphorism "the child is father to the man"" OR a concise statement of a scientific principle, typically by an ancient classical author. "the opening sentence of the first aphorism of Hippocrates"

Vista

a pleasing view, especially one seen through a long, narrow opening. "a vista of church spires" OR a mental view of a succession of remembered or anticipated events. "vistas of freedom seemed to open ahead of him"

Corrollary

a proposition that follows from (and is often appended to) one already proved. OR a direct or natural consequence or result. "the huge increases in unemployment were the corollary of expenditure cuts" OR forming a proposition that follows from one already proved. OR associated or supplementary.

Dearth

a scarcity or lack of something. "there is a dearth of evidence"

Cipher

a secret or disguised way of writing; a code. "he was writing cryptic notes in a cipher" OR a thing written in a cipher. OR a key to such a cipher. OR a person or thing of no importance, especially a person who does the bidding of others and seems to have no will of their own. "he has spent most of his working life as a cipher" OR a monogram. OR put (a message) into secret writing; encode.

Forecast

a simple prediction of the future

Cascade

a small waterfall, typically one of several that fall in stages down a steep rocky slope. "the cascade ripped bill's arm off" OR a process whereby something, typically information or knowledge, is successively passed on. "the greater the number of people who are well briefed, the wider the cascade effect" OR a large number or amount of something occurring or arriving in rapid succession. "a cascade of antiwar literature"

Doldrums

a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or depression. "the mortgage market has been in the doldrums for three years" OR an equatorial region of the Atlantic Ocean with calms, sudden storms, and light unpredictable winds.

Penchant

a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something. "he has a penchant for adopting stray dogs"

Aspersion

an attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something. "I don't think anyone is casting aspersions on you"

Shrewd

having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute. "she was shrewd enough to guess the motive behind his gesture" OR (of a blow) severe. "a bayonet's shrewd thrust" OR mischievous; malicious.

Nebulous

in the form of a cloud or haze; hazy. "a giant nebulous glow" OR (of a concept or idea) unclear, vague, or ill-defined. "nebulous concepts like quality of life"

Consolidate

make (something) physically stronger or more solid. "the first phase of the project is to consolidate the outside walls" OR reinforce or strengthen (one's position or power). "the company consolidated its position in the international market" OR combine (a number of things) into a single more effective or coherent whole. "all manufacturing activities have been consolidated in new premises" OR combine (a number of financial accounts or funds) into a single overall account or set of accounts. OR BRITISH combine (two or more legal actions involving similar questions) into one for action by a court.

Endemic

of a disease or condition) regularly found among particular people or in a certain area. "complacency is endemic in industry today" OR (of a plant or animal) native and restricted to a certain place. "a marsupial endemic to northeastern Australia"

Rhetorical

relating to or concerned with the art of rhetoric. "repetition is a common rhetorical device" OR expressed in terms intended to persuade or impress. "the rhetorical commitment of the government to give priority to primary education" OR (of a question) asked in order to produce an effect or to make a statement rather than to elicit information.

Quintessential

representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class. "he was the quintessential tough guy—strong, silent, and self-contained"

Obligatory

required by a legal, moral, or other rule; compulsory. "use of seat belts in cars is now obligatory" OR (of a ruling) having binding force. "a sovereign whose laws are obligatory"

Preemptive

serving or intended to preempt or forestall something, especially to prevent attack by disabling the enemy. "a preemptive strike" OR relating to the purchase of goods or shares by one person or party before the opportunity is offered to others. "preemptive rights" OR BRIDGE denoting a bid, typically an opening bid, intended to be so high that it prevents or interferes with effective bidding by the opponents.

Complacent

showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements. "you can't afford to be complacent about security"

Assimilate

take in (information, ideas, or culture) and understand fully. "Marie tried to assimilate the week's events" OR absorb and integrate (people, ideas, or culture) into a wider society or culture. "pop trends are assimilated into the mainstream with alarming speed" OR become absorbed and integrated into a society or culture. "the older generation had more trouble assimilating" OR (of the body or any biological system) absorb and digest (food or nutrients). "the sugars in the fruit are readily assimilated by the body" OR cause (something) to resemble; liken. "philosophers had assimilated thought to perception" OR come to resemble. "the Churches assimilated to a certain cultural norm" OR Phonetics make (a sound) more like another in the same or next word

Initiative

the ability to assess and initiate things independently. "use your initiative, imagination, and common sense" OR the power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do. "we have lost the initiative and allowed our opponents to dictate the subject" OR an act or strategy intended to resolve a difficulty or improve a situation; a fresh approach to something. "a new initiative against car crime" OR a proposal made by one nation to another in an attempt to improve relations. "diplomatic initiatives to end the war"

Diction

the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing. "Wordsworth campaigned against exaggerated poetic diction" OR the style of enunciation in speaking or singing. "she began imitating his careful diction"

Sythesis

the combination of ideas to form a theory or system. "the synthesis of intellect and emotion in his work" OR the production of chemical compounds by reaction from simpler materials. "the synthesis of methanol from carbon monoxide and hydrogen"

Culmination

the highest or climactic point of something, especially as attained after a long time. "the product was the culmination of 13 years of research" OR ASTRONOMY•ASTROLOGY the reaching of the meridian by a celestial body.

Symmetry

the quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis. "this series has a line of symmetry through its center" OR correct or pleasing proportion of the parts of a thing. "an overall symmetry making the poem pleasant to the ear" OR similarity or exact correspondence between different things.

Saturation

the state or process that occurs when no more of something can be absorbed, combined with, or added. OR the degree or extent to which something is dissolved or absorbed compared with the maximum possible, usually expressed as a percentage. OR to a very full extent, especially beyond the point regarded as necessary or desirable. "saturation bombing" OR (especially in photography) the intensity of a color, expressed as the degree to which it differs from white.

Raze

to destroy

Occlude

to obstruct or block to stop up; to prevent the passage of

My heart bleeds for you

used ironically to express the speaker's belief that the person spoken about does not deserve the sympathetic response sought. ""I flew out here feeling tired and overworked." "My heart bleeds for you!" she replied"

Quercine

Adjective of, like or pertaining to oak trees

Regal

Adjective of, resembling, or fit for a monarch, especially in being magnificent or dignified. "her regal bearing"

Lubricious

Adjective offensively displaying or intended to arouse sexual desire. "he probed the ladies for every lubricious detail of their interactions" OR smooth and slippery with oil or a similar substance.

Apsis

ASTRONOMY Noun either of two points on the orbit of a planet or satellite that are nearest to or furthest from the body around which it moves.

I.e.

Abbreviation that is to say (used to add explanatory information or to state something in different words). "a walking boot that is synthetic, i.e., not leather or suede"

Laxative

Adjective (chiefly of a drug or medicine) tending to stimulate or facilitate evacuation of the bowels. "laxative drugs" OR Noun a medicine which has a laxative effect. "he may prescribe a laxative to ease the congestion"

Noncommittal

Adjective (of a person or a person's behavior or manner) not expressing or revealing commitment to a definite opinion or course of action. "her tone was noncommittal, and her face gave nothing away"

Sheepish

Adjective (of a person or expression) showing embarrassment from shame or a lack of self-confidence. "a sheepish grin"

Incisive

Adjective (of a person or mental process) intelligently analytical and clear-thinking. "she was an incisive critic" OR of an account) accurate and sharply focused. "the songs offer incisive pictures of American ways"

Lascivious

Adjective (of a person, manner, or gesture) feeling or revealing an overt and often offensive sexual desire. "he gave her a lascivious wink"

Windswept

Adjective (of a place) exposed to strong winds. "the windswept moors" OR untidy in appearance after being exposed to the wind. "his windswept hair"

Blowsy

Adjective (of a woman) coarse, untidy, and red-faced. "blowsy, old-fashioned roses"

Salacious

Adjective having or conveying undue or inappropriate interest in sexual matters. "salacious stories"

Vacuous

Adjective having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless. "a vacuous smile"

Astute

Adjective having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage. "an astute businessman"

Servile

Adjective having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others. "he bowed his head in a servile manner" OR of or characteristic of a slave or slaves. "the servile condition of the peasants"

Pied

Adjective having two or more different colors. "pied dogs from the Pyrenees"

Chaste

Adjective abstaining from extramarital, or from all, sexual intercourse. OR not having any sexual nature or intention. "a chaste, consoling embrace" OR without unnecessary ornamentation; simple or restrained. "the dark, chaste interior was lightened by tilework"

Copious

Adjective abundant in supply or quantity. "she took copious notes"

Lethargic

Adjective affected by lethargy; sluggish and apathetic. "I felt tired and a little lethargic"

Imperious

Adjective assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering. "his imperious demands"

Furtive

Adjective attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive. "they spent a furtive day together" OR suggestive of guilty nervousness. "the look in his eyes became furtive"

Resplendent

Adjective attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous. "she was resplendent in a sea-green dress"

Prepossessing

Adjective attractive or appealing in appearance. "he was not a prepossessing sight"

Quaint

Adjective attractively unusual or old-fashioned. "quaint country cottages"

Surly

Adjective bad-tempered and unfriendly. "he left with a surly expression"

Chameleonlike

Adjective changing one's opinions, behavior, or appearance according to the situation. "they had grown disenchanted with chameleon-like politicians"

Kafkaesque

Adjective characteristic or reminiscent of the oppressive or nightmarish qualities of Franz Kafka's fictional world. "a Kafkaesque bureaucratic office"

Tempestuous

Adjective characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion. "he had a reckless and tempestuous streak" OR very stormy. "a tempestuous wind"

Droll

Adjective curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement. "his unique brand of droll self-mockery"

Black

Adjective deeply stained with dirt. "his clothes were absolutely black" OR (of a plant or animal) dark in color as distinguished from a lighter variety. "Japanese black pine" OR (of a period of time or situation) characterized by tragic or disastrous events; causing despair or pessimism. "five thousand men were killed on the blackest day of the war" OR (of a person's state of mind) full of gloom or misery; very depressed. "Jean had disappeared and Mary was in a black mood" OR full of anger or hatred. "Roger shot her a black look" OR Noun darkness, especially of night or an overcast sky. "the only thing visible in the black was the light of the lantern" OR the situation of not owing money to a bank or of making a profit in a business operation. "I managed to break even in the first six months—quite a short time for a small business to get into the black" OR Verb make black, especially by the application of black polish. "blacking the prize bull's hooves"

Effusive

Adjective expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner. "an effusive welcome" OR GEOLOGY (of igneous rock) poured out when molten and later solidified.

Clamorous

Adjective expressing or characterized by vehement protests or demands. "the clamorous radical wing of the party"

Doleful

Adjective expressing sorrow; mournful. "a doleful look" OR causing grief or misfortune. "doleful consequences"

Execrable

Adjective extremely bad or unpleasant. "execrable cheap wine"

Abysmal

Adjective extremely bad; appalling. "the quality of her work is abysmal"

Thunderstruck

Adjective extremely surprised or shocked. "they were thunderstruck by this revelation"

Effervescent

(of a liquid) giving off bubbles; fizzy. OR vivacious and enthusiastic. "effervescent young people"

Presumptuous

(of a person or their behavior) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate. "I hope I won't be considered presumptuous if I offer some advice"

Flamboyant

(of a person or their behavior) tending to attract attention because of their exuberance, confidence, and stylishness.

Stentorian

(of a person's voice) loud and powerful. "he introduced me to the staff with a stentorian announcement"

Taciturn

(of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little. "after such gatherings she would be taciturn and morose"

Mercurial

(of a person) subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind. "his mercurial temperament" OR (of a person) sprightly; lively.

Aggrandize

(v.) to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater

Frenetic

Adjective fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way. "a frenetic pace of activity"

Indignant

Adjective feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment. "he was indignant at being the object of suspicion"

Flighty

Adjective fickle and irresponsible. "you may be seen as too flighty and lightweight for real responsibility"

Aghast

Adjective filled with horror or shock. "when the news came out they were aghast"

Deflated

Adjective having been emptied of air or gas. "a deflated balloon" OR having suddenly lost confidence or optimism. "the news left him feeling utterly deflated"

Accomplished

Adjective highly trained or skilled. "an accomplished pianist" OR having a higher level of education than average and good social skills. "a very elegant and accomplished person"

Indubitable

Adjective impossible to doubt; unquestionable. "an indubitable truth"

Indomitable

Adjective impossible to subdue or defeat. "a woman of indomitable spirit"

Discrete

Adjective individually separate and distinct. "speech sounds are produced as a continuous sound signal rather than discrete units"

Maladroit

Adjective ineffective or bungling; clumsy. "both men are unhappy about the maladroit way the matter has been handled"

Histrionic

Adjective overly theatrical or melodramatic in character or style. "a histrionic outburst" OR FORMAL of or concerning actors or acting. "histrionic talents" Noun exaggerated dramatic behavior designed to attract attention. "discussions around the issue have been based as much in histrionics as in history"

Pacific

Adjective peaceful in character or intent. "a pacific gesture" OR Noun a steam locomotive of 4-6-2 wheel arrangement.

Roseate

Adjective rose-colored. "the early, roseate light" OR optimistic or idealistic. "his letters home give a very good, although somewhat too roseate, idea of how he lived" OR used in names of birds with partly pink plumage, e.g., roseate tern, roseate spoonbill.

Boorish

Adjective rough and bad-mannered; coarse. "boorish behavior"

Scabrous

Adjective rough and covered with, or as if with, scabs. OR indecent; salacious. "scabrous publications"

Doctinaire

Adjective seeking to impose a doctrine in all circumstances without regard to practical considerations. "a doctrinaire conservative" OR Noun a person who seeks to impose a doctrine without regard to practical considerations.

Maudlin

Adjective self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkenness. "the drink made her maudlin"

Otiose

Adjective serving no practical purpose or result. "he did fuss, uttering otiose explanations"

Implacable

Adjective unable to be placated. "he was an implacable enemy of Ted's" OR relentless; unstoppable. "the implacable advance of the enemy"

Ineluctable

Adjective unable to be resisted or avoided; inescapable. "the ineluctable facts of history"

Insolvent

Adjective unable to pay debts owed. "the company became insolvent" OR relating to insolvency. "insolvent liquidation" OR Noun an insolvent person.

Categorical

Adjective unambiguously explicit and direct. "a categorical assurance"

Gratuitous

Adjective uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted. "gratuitous violence" OR given or done free of charge. "solicitors provide a form of gratuitous legal advice"

Superfluous

Adjective unnecessary, especially through being more than enough. "the purchaser should avoid asking for superfluous information"

Incontrovertible

Adjective unquestionable, beyond dispute

De jure

Adverb according to rightful entitlement or claim; by right. "the resolution declared that the independent Republic of Latvia proclaimed on November 18, 1918 was still in existence de jure" OR Adjective denoting something or someone that is rightfully such. "he had been de jure king since his father's death"

Et seq.

Adverb and what follows (used in page references). "see volume 35, p. 329 et seq"

Per Se

Adverb by or in itself or themselves; intrinsically. "it is not these facts per se that are important"

Whereby

Adverb by which. "a system whereby people could vote by telephone"

Patently

Adverb clearly; without doubt. "these claims were patently false"

Duly

Adverb in accordance with what is required or appropriate; following proper procedure or arrangement. "a document duly signed and authorized by the inspector" OR as might be expected or predicted. "I used the tent and was duly impressed"

Thereabouts

Adverb near that place. "the land is dry in places thereabouts" OR used to indicate that a date or figure is approximate. "the notes were written in 1860 or thereabouts"

Eminently

Adverb to a notable degree; very. "an eminently readable textbook"

Hitherto

Adverb until now or until the point in time under discussion. "there is a need to replace what has hitherto been a haphazard method of payment"

Aloft

Adverb up in or into the air; overhead. "the congregation sways, hands aloft" OR up the mast or into the rigging of a sailing vessel. "Tom went aloft with the bosun"

Dudgeon

Noun a feeling of offense or deep resentment. "the manager walked out in high dudgeon"

Arrant

DATED Adjective complete, utter. "what arrant nonsense!"

Well-upholstered

HUMOROUS (of a person) fat. "for a well-upholstered man, he's graceful"

Adorbs

INFORMAL Adjective inspiring great delight; cute or adorable. "all the pets are totally adorbs"

Apoplectic

INFORMAL Adjective overcome with anger; extremely indignant. "Mark was apoplectic with rage at the decision" OR DATED relating to or denoting apoplexy (stroke). "an apoplectic attack"

Zine

INFORMAL Noun a magazine, especially a fanzine. OR a webzine

Moniker

INFORMAL Noun a name. "his real moniker is Dave Kennedy"

Rumpus

INFORMAL Noun a noisy disturbance; a commotion. "he caused a rumpus with his flair for troublemaking"

Abrazo

US Noun an embrace. "they stood in a wordless abrazo"

Pissy

VULGAR SLANG Adjective inferior or contemptible. OR US arrogantly argumentative.

Seethe

Verb (of a liquid) bubble up as a result of being boiled. "the brew foamed and seethed" OR (of a person) be filled with intense but unexpressed anger. "inwardly he was seething at the slight to his authority" OR (of a place) be crowded with people or things moving about in a rapid or hectic way. "the entire cellar was seething with spiders" OR (of a crowd of people) move in a rapid or hectic way. "we cascaded down the stairs and seethed across the station"

Luxuriate

Verb enjoy oneself in a luxurious way; take self-indulgent delight. "she was luxuriating in a long bath"

Regale

Verb entertain or amuse (someone) with talk. "he regaled her with a colorful account of that afternoon's meeting" OR lavishly supply (someone) with food or drink. "he was regaled with excellent home cooking"

Efface

Verb erase (a mark) from a surface. "with time, the words are effaced by the frost and the rain" OR make oneself appear insignificant or inconspicuous.

Endow

Verb establish (a college post, annual prize, or project) by donating the funds needed to maintain it.

Foist

Verb impose an unwelcome or unnecessary person or thing on. "don't let anyone foist inferior goods on you"

Proliferate

Verb increase rapidly in numbers; multiply. "the science fiction magazines that proliferated in the 1920s" OR (of a cell, structure, or organism) reproduce rapidly. "the Mediterranean faces an ecological disaster if the seaweed continues to proliferate at its present rate" OR cause (cells, tissue, structures, etc.) to reproduce rapidly. "electromagnetic radiation can only proliferate cancers already present"

Nitpicking

Verb looking for small or unimportant errors or faults, especially in order to criticize unnecessarily

Genuflect

Verb lower one's body briefly by bending one knee to the ground, typically in worship or as a sign of respect. "she genuflected and crossed herself" OR show deference or servility. "her party still genuflects to her, and a core within it reflexively venerates her"

Symposium

a conference or meeting to discuss a particular subject. OR a collection of essays or papers on a particular subject by a number of contributors. OR a drinking party or convivial discussion, especially as held in ancient Greece after a banquet (and notable as the title of a work by Plato).

Motif

a decorative design or pattern. "T-shirts featuring spiral motifs" OR a distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition. "the nautical motif of his latest novel" OR MUSIC a short succession of notes producing a single impression; a brief melodic or rhythmic formula out of which longer passages are developed. "the motif in the second violin is submerged by the first violin's countermelody" OR an ornament of lace, braid, etc., sewn separately on a garment. OR BIOCHEMISTRY a distinctive sequence on a protein or DNA, having a three-dimensional structure that allows binding interactions to occur.

Compunction

a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad. "spend the money without compunction"

Symbol

a mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function, or process, e.g. the letter or letters standing for a chemical element or a character in musical notation. hieroglyph, ideogram "the chemical symbol for helium is He" OR a thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract. "the limousine was another symbol of his wealth and authority"

Agglomeration

a mass or collection of things; an assemblage. "the arts center is an agglomeration of theaters, galleries, shops, restaurants and bars"

Monogram

a motif of two or more letters, typically a person's initials, usually interwoven or otherwise combined in a decorative design, used as a logo or to identify a personal possession. OR decorate with a monogram. "monogrammed sheets"

Tone

a musical or vocal sound with reference to its pitch, quality, and strength. "the piano tone appears monochrome or lacking in warmth" OR

Swathe

Verb wrap in several layers of fabric. "his hands were swathed in bandages" OR Noun a piece or strip of material in which something is wrapped. "they wrapped the body inside a canvas swathe"

Forswear

Verb FORMAL agree to give up or do without (something). "he would never forswear the religion of his people" OR swear falsely; commit perjury. "I swore that I would lead us safely home and I do not mean to be forsworn"

Rasterize

Verb•COMPUTING convert (an image stored as an outline) into pixels that can be displayed on a screen or printed. "the driver uses these commands to rasterize the page"

Ameliorate

Verb•FORMAL make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better. "the reform did much to ameliorate living standards

Aver

Verb•FORMAL state or assert to be the case. "he averred that he was innocent of the allegations" OR LAW allege as a fact in support of a plea.

Brochure

a small book or magazine containing pictures and information about a product or service. "a holiday brochure"

Artifice

Noun clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others. "the style is not free from the artifices of the period"

Clientele

Noun clients collectively. "an upscale clientele" OR the customers of a shop, bar, or place of entertainment. "the dancers don't mix with the clientele"

Linen

Noun cloth woven from flax. "a linen suit" OR garments or other household articles such as sheets made, or originally made, of linen. "the linen cupboard"

Effluent

Noun liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the sea. "the bay was contaminated with the effluent from an industrial plant"

Paraphernalia

Noun miscellaneous articles, especially the equipment needed for a particular activity. "drills, saws, and other paraphernalia necessary for home improvements" OR trappings associated with a particular institution or activity that are regarded as superfluous. "the rituals and paraphernalia of government"

Bric a Brac

Noun miscellaneous objects and ornaments of little value. "then came donations of bric-a-brac"

Ready money

Noun money in the form of cash that is immediately available. "you might find yourself without the ready money you need to snap up a bargain"

Remuneration

Noun money paid for work or a service. "they work in excess of their contracted hours for no additional remuneration"

Camaraderie

Noun mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together. "a genuine camaraderie on the hockey team"

Realia

Noun objects and material from everyday life, especially when used as teaching aids. "the industrial English language course makes extensive and varied use of realia, such as specifications, extracts from company brochures, manuals, diagrams, etc."

Infarction

Noun obstruction of the blood supply to an organ or region of tissue, typically by a thrombus or embolus, causing local death of the tissue.

Gentry

Noun people of good social position, specifically (in the UK) the class of people next below the nobility in position and birth. "a member of the landed gentry"

Brawn

Noun physical strength in contrast to intelligence. "commando work required as much brain as brawn" OR BRITISH meat from a pig's or calf's head that is cooked and pressed in a pot with jelly; headcheese. "a slice of brawn"

Agitprop

Noun political (originally communist) propaganda, especially in art or literature. "agitprop painters"

Dross

Noun something regarded as worthless; rubbish. "there are bargains if you have the patience to sift through the dross" OR foreign matter, dregs, or mineral waste, in particular scum formed on the surface of molten metal.

Circa

Preposition (often preceding a date) approximately. "built circa 1935"

Transpicuous

RARE Adjective transparent. OR easily understood, lucid.

Emulsion

Noun a fine dispersion of minute droplets of one liquid in another in which it is not soluble or miscible. OR BRITISH a water-based paint used for walls. OR a light-sensitive coating for photographic films and plates, containing crystals of a silver compound dispersed in a medium such as gelatin.

Writ

Noun a form of written command in the name of a court or other legal authority to act, or abstain from acting, in some way. OR one's power to enforce compliance or submission; one's authority. "you have business here which is out of my writ and competence"

Valetudinarian

Noun a person who is unduly anxious about their health. OR a person suffering from poor health. OR showing undue concern about one's health. "the valetudinarian English" OR suffering from poor health.

Expatriate

Noun a person who lives outside their native country. "American expatriates in London" OR Verb settle oneself abroad. "candidates should be willing to expatriate"

Unperson

Noun a person whose name or existence is denied or ignored, especially because of a political misdemeanor.

Immure

enclose or confine (someone) against their will. "her brother was immured in a lunatic asylum"

Poignant

evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret. "a poignant reminder of the passing of time"

Scrupulous

exact, careful, attending thoroughly to details; having high moral standards, principled

Vicarious

experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person. "I could glean vicarious pleasure from the struggles of my imaginary film friends" OR acting or done for another. "a vicarious atonement" OR PHYSIOLOGY of or pertaining to the performance by one organ of the functions normally discharged by another.

Asnine

extremely stupid or foolish. "Lydia ignored his asinine remark"

Odious

extremely unpleasant; repulsive. "a pretty odious character"

Logo

a symbol or other design adopted by an organization to identify its products, uniform, vehicles, etc. "the Olympic logo was emblazoned across their jackets"

Proclivity

a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition toward a particular thing. "a proclivity for hard work"

Forte

a thing at which someone excels. "small talk was not his forte" OR FENCING the stronger part of a sword blade, from the hilt to the middle.

Precipice

a very steep rock face or cliff, especially a tall one. "we swerved toward the edge of the precipice"

Rapacious

aggressively greedy or grasping. "rapacious landlords"

Sullen

bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy

Equipoise

balance of forces or interests. "this temporary equipoise of power" OR a counterbalance or balancing force. "capital flows act as an equipoise to international imbalances in savings"

Propagate

breed specimens of (a plant or animal) by natural processes from the parent stock. "try propagating your own houseplants from cuttings" OR spread and promote (an idea, theory, etc.) widely. "the French propagated the idea that the English were violent and gluttonous drunkards" OR (of a plant or animal) reproduce by natural processes. "the plant propagates freely from stem cuttings" OR (with reference to motion, light, sound, etc.) transmit or be transmitted in a particular direction or through a medium. "electromagnetic effects can be propagated at a finite velocity only through material substances"

Jingoistic

characterized by extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive or warlike foreign policy. "jingoistic propaganda"

Euphoric

characterized by or feeling intense excitement and happiness. "a euphoric sense of freedom"

Chipper

cheerful and lively. "Eugene was feeling chipper"

Maritime

connected with the sea, especially in relation to seafaring commercial or military activity. "a maritime museum" OR living or found in or near the sea. "dolphins and other maritime mammals" OR bordering on the sea. "two species of Diptera occur in the maritime Antarctic" OR denoting a climate that is moist and temperate owing to the influence of the sea.

Contrast

the state of being strikingly different from something else in juxtaposition or close association

Contrition

the state of feeling remorseful and penitent.

Edifying

Adjective Providing moral or intellectual instruction. "edifying literature"

Rabelaisian

Adjective displaying earthy humor; bawdy. "the conversation was often highly Rabelaisian"

Illicit

Adjective forbidden by law, rules, or custom. "illicit drugs"

Irrefragable

Adjective not able to be refuted or disproved; indisputable.

Wily

Adjective skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully. "his wily opponents"

Cordial

Adjective warm and friendly. "the atmosphere was cordial and relaxed" OR strongly felt. "I earned his cordial loathing" OR Noun NORTH AMERICAN another term for liqueur. OR BRITISH a sweet fruit-flavored drink. "wine cups and fruit cordials" OR a comforting or pleasant-tasting medicine. "Merry was given a raspberry-tasting cordial for his illness"

Mesne

Adjective LAW intermediate

Indeed

Adverb used to emphasize a statement or response confirming something already suggested. "it was not expected to last long, and indeed it took less than three weeks" OR used to introduce a further and stronger or more surprising point. "the idea is attractive to many men and indeed to many women" OR used to emphasize a description, typically of a quality or condition. "it was a very good buy indeed" OR used in a response to express interest, incredulity, or contempt. ""His neck was broken." "Indeed?"" OR expressing interest of an ironic kind with repetition of a question just asked. ""Who'd believe it?" "Who indeed?""

Askance

Adverb with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval. "the reformers looked askance at the mystical tradition"

Gradient

An inclined part of a road or railway; a slope. "fail-safe brakes for use on steep gradients" OR the degree of a slope. "the path becomes very rough as the gradient increases" OR MATHEMATICS the degree of steepness of a graph at any point. OR the vector formed by the operator ∇ acting on a scalar function at a given point in a scalar field. OR PHYSICS an increase or decrease in the magnitude of a property (e.g. temperature, pressure, or concentration) observed in passing from one point or moment to another. OR the rate of a gradient change.

-mania

Combining Form denoting a specified type of mental abnormality or obsession. "kleptomania OR denoting extreme enthusiasm or admiration. "Beatlemania"

Ad rem

FORMAL Adverb in a way that is relevant to what is being done or discussed at the time. "address the issue and argue ad rem" OR Adjective relevant to what is being done or discussed at the time. "ad rem arguments alone may be considered relevant for science"

Inanition

FORMAL Noun exhaustion caused by lack of nourishment. OR lack of mental or spiritual vigor and enthusiasm. "she was thinking that old age bred inanition"

Purview

FORMAL Noun the scope of the influence or concerns of something. "such a case might be within the purview of the legislation" OR range of experience or thought. "social taboos meant that little information was likely to come within the purview of women generally

Opine

FORMAL Verb hold and state as one's opinion. ""The man is a genius," he opined"

Gerund

GRAMMAR Noun a form that is derived from a verb but that functions as a noun, in English ending in -ing, e.g., asking in do you mind my asking you?.

Inflection

GRAMMAR a change in the form of a word (typically the ending) to express a grammatical function or attribute such as tense, mood, person, number, case, and gender. OR the process or practice of inflecting words. OR the modulation of intonation or pitch in the voice. "she spoke slowly and without inflection" OR the variation of the pitch of a musical note. OR MATHEMATICS a change of curvature from convex to concave at a particular point on a curve.

Slog

INFORMAL Verb work hard over a period of time. "they were slogging away to meet a deadline" OR walk or move with difficulty or effort. "he slogged home through the gray slush" OR hit forcefully and typically wildly, especially in boxing. "the fighters were slogging away" OR BRITISH fight or compete at length or fiercely. OR Noun a spell of difficult, tiring work or traveling. "it would be a hard slog back to the camp"

Second Banana

INFORMAL the second most important person in an organization or activity.

Understrapper

INFORMAL • DATED Noun an assistant or junior official. "just about every top-rank honcho vamoosed, with quite a few of their understrappers"

Splendiferous

INFORMAL • HUMOROUS Adjective splendid. "a splendiferous Sunday dinner"

Bloody-minded

INFORMAL•BRITISH Adjective deliberately uncooperative. "a bloody-minded landlord"

Probative

LAW Adjective having the quality or function of proving or demonstrating something; affording proof or evidence. "it places the probative burden on the defendant"

Infraction

LAW Noun a violation or infringement of a law or agreement.

Malfeasance

LAW Noun wrongdoing, especially by a public official.

Placeholder

MATHEMATICS a significant zero in the decimal representation of a number. OR a symbol or piece of text used in a mathematical expression or in an instruction in a computer program to denote a missing quantity or operator. OR LINGUISTICS an element of a sentence that is required by syntactic constraints but carries little or no semantic information, for example the word it as a subject in it is a pity that she left, where the true subject is that she left.

Rapprochement

Noun (especially in international relations) an establishment or resumption of harmonious relations. "there were signs of a growing rapprochement between the two countries"

Tisane

Noun a herbal tea.

Cay

Noun a low bank or reef of coral, rock, or sand.

Physique

Noun the form, size, and development of a person's body. "a sturdy, muscular physique"

Contrivance

Noun the use of skill to bring something about or create something. "the requirements of the system, by happy chance and some contrivance, can be summed up in an acronym" OR a device, especially in literary or artistic composition, which gives a sense of artificiality. "the often tiresome contrivances of historical fiction" OR a thing which is created skillfully and inventively to serve a particular purpose. "an assortment of electronic equipment and mechanical contrivances"

Oeuvre

Noun the works of a painter, composer, or author regarded collectively. "the complete oeuvre of Mozart" OR a work of art, music, or literature. "an early oeuvre"

Epistemology

PHILOSOPHY Noun the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. Epistemology is the investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from opinion.

Superluminal

PHYSICS Adjective denoting or having a speed greater than that of light.

Dash off

Phrasal Verb write something quickly or hastily. "I dashed off a quick letter"

-Fold

Suffix in an amount multiplied by. "threefold" OR consisting of so many parts or facets. "twofold"

Dyad

TECHNICAL Noun something that consists of two elements or parts. "the mother-child dyad" OR MATHEMATICS an operator which is a combination of two vectors. OR CHEMISTRY a divalent atom or radical.

Eschatological

THEOLOGY Adjective relating to death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind. "unorthodox religionists concerned with eschatological questions"

Rolodex

TRADEMARK•NORTH AMERICAN Noun a desktop card index used to record names, addresses, and telephone numbers, in the form of a rotating spindle or a small tray to which removable cards are attached. OR INFORMAL a person's list of business contacts and friends.

Pootle along

Verb Travel in a leisurely way.

Meridian

a circle of constant longitude passing through a given place on the earth's surface and the terrestrial poles. OR ASTRONOMY a circle passing through the celestial poles and the zenith of a given place on the earth's surface. OR (in acupuncture and Chinese medicine) each of a set of pathways in the body along which vital energy is said to flow. There are twelve such pathways associated with specific organs. OR relating to or situated at a meridian. "the meridian moon"

Secular

denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis. "secular buildings" OR Astronomy of or denoting slow changes in the motion of the sun or planets. OR Economics (of a fluctuation or trend) occurring or persisting over an indefinitely long period. "there is evidence that the slump is not cyclical but secular" OR occurring once every century or similarly long period (used especially in reference to celebratory games in ancient Rome).

Inculcate

instill (an attitude, idea, or habit) by persistent instruction. "the failures of the churches to inculcate a sense of moral responsibility" OR teach (someone) an attitude, idea, or habit by persistent instruction. "they will try to inculcate you with a respect for culture"

Exasperate

irritate and frustrate (someone) intensely. "this futile process exasperates prison officials"

Hassle

irritating inconvenience. "traveling can be a hassle"

Consecrate

make or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose. "the present Holy Trinity church was consecrated in 1845" OR (in Christian belief) make (bread or wine) into the body or blood of Christ. "after the priest had consecrated the bread and wine, it was immortal and divine" OR ordain (someone) to a sacred office, typically that of bishop. "in 1969 he was consecrated bishop of Northern Uganda" OR INFORMAL devote (something) exclusively to a particular purpose. "they'd decided to consecrate all their energies to this purposeful act"

Conducive

making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible. "the harsh lights and cameras were hardly conducive to a relaxed atmosphere"

Tumultuous

making a loud, confused noise; uproarious. "tumultuous applause" OR excited, confused, or disorderly. "a tumultuous crowd"

Raucous

making or constituting a disturbingly harsh and loud noise. "raucous youths"

Garish

obtrusively bright and showy; lurid. "garish shirts in all sorts of colors"

Superimpose

place or lay (one thing) over another, typically so that both are still evident. "the number will appear on the screen, superimposed on a flashing button"

Recant

say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief, especially one considered heretical. "heretics were burned if they would not recant"

Frugal

sparing or economical with regard to money or food. "he led a remarkably frugal existence" OR simple and plain and costing little. "a frugal meal"

Pessimistic

tending to see the worst aspect of things or believing that the worst will happen

Apostasy

the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief. "the execution of their leader for apostasy brought widespread criticism"

Aura

the distinctive atmosphere or quality that seems to surround and be generated by a person, thing, or place. "the ceremony retains an aura of mystery" OR (in spiritualism and some forms of alternative medicine) a supposed emanation surrounding the body of a living creature and regarded as an essential part of the individual. "emotional, mental, and spiritual levels form an energy field around the body known as the aura" OR any invisible emanation, especially an odour. "there was a faint aura of disinfectant" OR MEDICINE a warning sensation experienced before an attack of epilepsy or migraine.

Vernacular

the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region. "he wrote in the vernacular to reach a larger audience" OR Informal the terminology used by people belonging to a specified group or engaging in a specialized activity. "gardening vernacular" OR architecture concerned with domestic and functional rather than public or monumental buildings. "buildings in which Gothic merged into farmhouse vernacular" OR Adjective (of language) spoken as one's mother tongue; not learned or imposed as a second language. OR (of speech or written works) spoken or written using one's mother tongue. "vernacular literature" OR (of architecture) concerned with domestic and functional rather than public or monumental buildings.

Discretion

the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information. "she knew she could rely on his discretion" OR the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation. "it is up to local authorities to use their discretion in setting the charges"

Symbolism

the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. "he has always believed in the importance of symbolism in garden art" OR symbolic meaning attributed to natural objects or facts. "the old-fashioned symbolism of flowers" OR an artistic and poetic movement or style using symbolic images and indirect suggestion to express mystical ideas, emotions, and states of mind. It originated in late 19th century France and Belgium, with important figures including Mallarmé, Maeterlinck, Verlaine, Rimbaud, and Redon.

Alcove

Noun a recess in the wall of a room or garden.

Denomination

Noun a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church. OR a group or branch of any religion. "Jewish clergy of all denominations" OR the face value of a banknote, coin, or postage stamp. "a hundred dollars or so, in small denominations" OR the rank of a playing card within a suit, or of a suit relative to others. "two cards of the same denomination" OR FORMAL a name or designation, especially one serving to classify a set of things. OR the action of naming or classifying something. "the denomination of herself as intellectual rebel"

Vitriol

cruel and bitter criticism

Propitious

Adjective giving or indicating a good chance of success; favorable. "the timing for such a meeting seemed propitious"

Dingy

Adjective gloomy and drab. "a dingy room"

Mutable

Adjective liable to change. "the mutable nature of fashion"

Aquiline

Adjective like an eagle.

Outlandish

Adjective looking or sounding bizarre or unfamiliar. "outlandish, brightly colored clothes"

Seidel

DATED Noun a beer mug or glass. OR the contents of a seidel. "I drank a seidel of beer"

Affray

DATED•LAW Noun an instance of fighting in a public place that disturbs the peace. "Lowe was charged with causing an affray"

Cavalier

HISTORICAL a supporter of King Charles I in the English Civil War. OR a dashing and attentive man, especially one acting as a lady's escort. OR a small spaniel of a breed with a moderately long, noncurly, silky coat. OR showing a lack of proper concern; offhand. "Anne was irritated by his cavalier attitude"

Bulkhead

Noun a dividing wall or barrier between compartments in a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.

Flourish

Verb (of a person) be working or at the height of one's career during a specified period. "the caricaturist and wit who flourished in the early years of this century" OR (of a person) wave (something) around to attract the attention of others. ""Happy New Year!" he yelled, flourishing a bottle of whiskey" OR Noun a bold or extravagant gesture or action, made especially to attract the attention of others. "with a flourish, she ushered them inside" OR an elaborate rhetorical or literary expression. OR an ornamental flowing curve in handwriting or scrollwork. "spiky gothic letters with an emphatic flourish beneath them" OR an instance of suddenly performing or developing in an impressively successful way. "the Bulldogs produced a late second-half flourish" OR MUSIC a fanfare played by brass instruments. "a flourish of trumpets" OR MUSIC an ornate musical passage. OR MUSIC an improvised addition played especially at the beginning or end of a composition.

Imminent

about to happen. "they were in imminent danger of being swept away"

Append

add (something) as an attachment or supplement. "the results of the survey are appended to this chapter"

Riveting

adjective completely engrossing; compelling. "the book is a riveting account of the legendary freedom fighter" OR Verb hold (someone or something) fast so as to make them incapable of movement. "the grip on her arm was firm enough to rivet her to the spot" OR direct (one's eyes or attention) intently. "all eyes were riveted on him"

Wanting

adjective lacking in a certain required or necessary quality. "they weren't wanting in confidence" OR not existing or supplied; absent. "the kneecap is wanting in amphibians and reptiles"

Unremitting

adjective never relaxing or slackening; incessant. "unremitting drizzle"

Ecclesiastical

adjective relating to the Christian Church or its clergy. "the ecclesiastical hierarchy"

Tact

adroitness and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues. "the inspector broke the news to me with tact and consideration"

Pallor

an unhealthy pale appearance

Intrinsic

belonging naturally; essential. "access to the arts is intrinsic to a high quality of life" OR (of a muscle) contained wholly within the organ on which it acts.

Precipitous

dangerously high or steep. "the precipitous cliffs of the North Atlantic coast" OR (of a change to a worse situation or condition) sudden and dramatic. "the end of the war led to a precipitous decline in exports" OR (of an action) done suddenly and without careful consideration. "precipitous intervention"

Duplicity

deceitfulness; double-dealing. "the president was accused of duplicity in his dealings with Congress"

Scintillate

emit flashes of light; sparkle. "the sleek boat seemed to scintillate with a dark blue light" OR PHYSICS fluoresce momentarily when struck by a photon or charged particle. "a zinc sulfide screen scintillated when it was struck by an alpha particle"

Zest

great enthusiasm and energy

Narrow-minded

not willing to listen to or tolerate other people's views; prejudiced. "it would be narrow-minded not to welcome these developments"

Deluge

noun - A downpour of rain; a flood. OR verb - overwhelm with a great quantity of something

Extol

praise enthusiastically. "he extolled the virtues of the Russian peoples"

Athwart

preposition from side to side of; across. "a long counter thrown athwart the entranceway" OR in opposition to; counter to. "these statistics run sharply athwart conventional presumptions" OR adverb across from side to side; transversely. "one table running athwart was all the room would hold" OR so as to be perverse or contradictory. "our words ran athwart and we ended up at cross purposes"

Vivid

producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind. "memories of that evening were still vivid" OR (of a color) intensely deep or bright.

Promulgate

promote or make widely known (an idea or cause). "these objectives have to be promulgated within the organization" OR put (a law or decree) into effect by official proclamation. "in January 1852 the new Constitution was promulgated"

Gumption

shrewd or spirited initiative and resourcefulness. "she had the gumption to put her foot down and head Dan off from those crazy schemes"

Foresight

the ability to predict or the action of predicting what will happen or be needed in the future. "he had the foresight to check that his escape route was clear"

Effrontery

Noun insolent or impertinent behavior. "one juror had the effrontery to challenge the coroner's decision"

Invective

Noun insulting, abusive, or highly critical language. "he let out a stream of invective"

Fervor

Noun intense and passionate feeling. "he talked with all the fervor of a new convert"

Aglow

Adjective glowing "his bald head aglow under the lights"

Anagram

Noun a word, phrase, or name formed by rearranging the letters of another, such as cinema, formed from iceman.

Pariah

Noun an outcast. "they were treated as social pariahs"

Advent

Noun the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. "the advent of television"

Interment

Noun the burial of a corpse in a grave or tomb, typically with funeral rites. "the day of interment"

Hydroponics

Noun the process of growing plants in sand, gravel, or liquid, with added nutrients but without soil.

Twigs

Verb INFORMAL•BRITISH understand or realize something. "it was amazing that Graham hadn't twigged before"

Waul

Verb give a loud plaintive cry like that of a cat.

Volatile

(of a substance) easily evaporated at normal temperatures. OR liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse. "the political situation was becoming more volatile" OR (of a person) liable to display rapid changes of emotion. OR (of a computer's memory) retaining data only as long as there is a power supply connected. OR a volatile substance.

Reedy

(of a voice, sound, or instrument) high and thin in tone. "Frank's reedy voice" OR (of water or land) full of or edged with reeds. "they swam in the reedy lake" OR (of a person) tall and thin. "a reedy twelve-year-old"

Resonant

(of sound) deep, clear, and continuing to sound or ring. "a full-throated and resonant guffaw" OR (of a room, musical instrument, or hollow body) tending to reinforce or prolong sounds, especially by synchronous vibration.

Flagrant

Adjective (of something considered wrong or immoral) conspicuously or obviously offensive. "a flagrant violation of the law"

Squalid

(of a place) extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty or neglect. "the squalid, overcrowded prison" OR showing or involving a contemptible lack of moral standards. "a squalid attempt to save themselves from electoral embarrassment"

Succinct

(especially of something written or spoken) briefly and clearly expressed. "use short, succinct sentences"

Dulcet

(especially of sound) sweet and soothing (often used ironically). "record the dulcet tones of your family and friends"

Prolific

(of a plant, animal, or person) producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring. "in captivity tigers are prolific breeders" OR (of an artist, author, or composer) producing many works. "he was a prolific composer of operas" OR (of a sports player) high-scoring. "a prolific home-run hitter" OR present in large numbers or quantities; plentiful. "mahogany was once prolific in the tropical forests" OR (of a river, area, or season of the year) characterized by plentiful wildlife or produce. "the prolific rivers and lakes of Franklin County"

Latent

(of a quality or state) existing but not yet developed or manifest; hidden or concealed. "discovering her latent talent for diplomacy" OR Biology (of a bud, resting stage, etc.) lying dormant or hidden until circumstances are suitable for development or manifestation. OR (of a disease) in which the usual symptoms are not yet manifest. OR (of a microorganism, especially a virus) present in the body without causing disease, but capable of doing so at a later stage, or when transmitted to another body.

Indictment

(noun) a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime (2) a thing that serves to illustrate that a system or situation is bad and deserves to be condemned

Stagnant

(of a body of water or the atmosphere of a confined space) having no current or flow and often having an unpleasant smell as a consequence. "a stagnant ditch" OR showing no activity; dull and sluggish. "a stagnant economy"

Gangling

(of a person) tall, thin, and awkward in movements or bearing. "a gangling youth with a trace of down on his cheeks"

Harmony

1. The quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole. 2. Agreement or concord. peaceable or friendly relations; accord; agreement; tranquility; concord

Vertex

A point where two or more straight lines meet.

Adroit

Adjective clever or skillful in using the hands or mind. "he was adroit at tax avoidance"

Caloric

Adjective•NORTH AMERICAN relating to heat; calorific. "a caloric value of 7 calories per gram" OR Noun (in the late 18th and early 19th centuries) a hypothetical fluid substance that was thought to be responsible for the phenomena of heat.

Macilent

Adjective•RARE (of a person or animal) thin; lean.

Labile

Adjective•TECHNICAL liable to change; easily altered. "persons whose blood pressure is more labile will carry an enhanced risk of heart attack" OR of or characterized by emotions that are easily aroused or freely expressed, and that tend to alter quickly and spontaneously; emotionally unstable. "mood seemed generally appropriate, but the patient was often labile" OR CHEMISTRY easily broken down or displaced. "the breakage of labile bonds"

Whence

Adverb from what place or source. "whence does Congress derive this power?" OR from which; from where. "the Ural mountains, whence the ore is procured" OR to the place from which. "he will be sent back whence he came" OR as a consequence of which. "whence it followed that the strategies were obsolete"

Pell-mell

Adverb in a confused, rushed, or disorderly manner. "the contents of the sacks were thrown pell-mell to the ground"

Coolly

Adverb in a way that lacks friendliness or enthusiasm. "the representatives were greeted coolly" OR INFORMAL in a way that is fashionably attractive or impressive. "she was coolly dressed down in cut-off jean shorts"

Ad hoc

Adverb when necessary or needed. "the group was constituted ad hoc" OR Adjective created or done for a particular purpose as necessary. "the discussions were on an ad hoc basis"

Akimbo

Adverb with hands on the hips and elbows turned outward. "she stood with arms akimbo, frowning at the small boy" OR (of other limbs) flung out widely or haphazardly.

Gratis

Adverb without charge; free. "a monthly program was issued gratis" OR Adjective given or done for nothing; free. "gratis copies"

Upmarket

BRITISH Adjective relatively expensive and designed to appeal to affluent consumers. "an upmarket ski resort" OR Adverb towards the more expensive or affluent sector of the market. "the pub seems to have forgotten its local community in a quest to go upmarket"

Saponify

CHEMISTRY Verb turn (fat or oil) into soap by reaction with an alkali. "saponified vegetable oils" OR convert (any ester) into an alcohol and a metal salt by alkaline hydrolysis.

Fore-

Combining Form (added to verbs) in front. "foreshorten" OR beforehand; in advance. "forebode" OR (added to nouns) situated in front of. "forecourt" OR the front part of. "forebrain" OR of or near the bow of a ship. "forecastle" OR preceding; going before. "forefather"

Hoi polloi

DEROGATORY Noun the masses; the common people. "avoid mixing with the hoi polloi"

Pertinacious

FORMAL Adjective holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action. "he worked with a pertinacious resistance to interruptions"

Accede

FORMAL Verb agree to a demand, request, or treaty. "the authorities did not accede to the strikers' demands" OR assume an office or position. "Elizabeth I acceded to the throne in 1558" OR become a member of a community or organization. "Albania acceded to the IMF in 1990"

Gainsay

FORMAL Verb deny or contradict (a fact or statement). "the impact of the railroads cannot be gainsaid" OR speak against or oppose (someone). "none could gainsay her"

Requite

FORMAL Verb make appropriate return for (a favor, service, or wrongdoing). "they are quick to requite a kindness" OR return a favor to (someone). "to win enough to requite my friends" OR respond to (love or affection); return. "she did not requite his love"

Eventuate

FORMAL Verb occur as a result. "you never know what might eventuate" OR lead to as a result. "circumstances that eventuate in crime"

Vitiate

FORMAL Verb spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of. "development programs have been vitiated by the rise in population" destroy or impair the legal validity of.

Abrogate

FORMAL Verb repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement). "a proposal to abrogate temporarily the right to strike" OR evade (a responsibility or duty). "we believe the board is abrogating its responsibilities to its shareholders"

Epistle

FORMAL•HUMOROUS Noun a letter. OR a poem or other literary work in the form of a letter or series of letters. OR a book of the New Testament in the form of a letter from an Apostle. OR an extract from an Epistle (or another New Testament book not a Gospel) that is read in a church service.

Delectation

FORMAL•HUMOROUS Noun pleasure and delight. "a box of chocolates for their delectation"

Imbibe

FORMAL•HUMOROUS Verb drink (alcohol). "they were imbibing far too many pitchers of beer" OR absorb or assimilate (ideas or knowledge). "she had imbibed the gospel of modernism from Kandinsky" OR BOTANY (especially of seeds) absorb (water) into ultramicroscopic spaces or pores. OR BOTANY place (seeds) in water in order to absorb it.

Transmogrify

HUMOROUS Verb transform in a surprising or magical manner. "the cucumbers that were ultimately transmogrified into pickles"

Hue

Hue a color or shade. "verdigris is greenish-yellow in hue" OR the attribute of a color by virtue of which it is discernible as red, green, etc., and which is dependent on its dominant wavelength and independent of intensity or lightness. OR character or aspect. "men of all political hues submerged their feuds"

Eager beaver

INFORMAL Noun a keen and enthusiastic person who works very hard.

Funny farm

INFORMAL Noun a psychiatric hospital. "he should be taken off to the funny farm"

Drawing card

INFORMAL Noun a quality or feature that evokes interest or liking; an attraction. "rookie fireball flingers are the prime drawing cards of spring baseball"

Eatery

INFORMAL Noun a restaurant or other place where people can be served food.

Stan

INFORMAL Noun an overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity. "he has millions of stans who are obsessed with him and call him a rap god"

Twitterpated

INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN Adjective infatuated or obsessed. "Gus is still hopelessly twitterpated by Lee" OR in a state of nervous excitement. "CBS execs are twitterpated over this new idea"

Gonzo

INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN Adjective of or associated with journalistic writing of an exaggerated, subjective, and fictionalized style. OR bizarre or crazy. "the woman was either gonzo or stoned"

Bum rap

INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN Noun a false charge, typically one leading to imprisonment. "he's been handed a bum rap for handling stolen goods" OR an unfair punishment or scolding. "the industry often gets a bum rap for being dishonest"

Phenom

INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN Noun a person who is outstandingly talented or admired, especially an up-and-comer. "the newest pop phenom"

Beat Feet

Idiom To run or flee quickly from a scene or situation; that is, to beat one's feet on the ground rapidly (as in the act of running)

Deadfall

NORTH AMERICAN Noun a trap consisting of a heavy weight positioned to fall on an animal. OR a tangled mass of fallen trees and brush. "the brush and deadfall along the river stopped us cold" OR a fallen tree. "the deadfall was a poplar about ten inches in diameter"

Acclimation

NORTH AMERICAN Noun the process or result of becoming accustomed to a new climate or to new conditions. "he spent most of his rookie season documenting his acclimation to life in the NFL"

Partition

Noun (especially with reference to a country with separate areas of government) the action or state of dividing or being divided into parts. "the country's partition into separate states" OR a structure dividing a space into two parts, especially a light interior wall. OR COMPUTING each of a number of portions into which some operating systems divide memory or storage. OR Verb divide into parts. "an agreement was reached to partition the country" OR divide (a room) into smaller rooms or areas by erecting partitions. "the hall was partitioned to contain the noise of the computers" OR separate a part of a room from the rest by erecting a partition. "partition off part of a large bedroom to create a small bathroom"

Motive

Noun (in art, literature, or music) a motif. "the entire work grows organically from the opening horn motive" OR Adjective producing physical or mechanical motion. "the charge of gas is the motive force for every piston stroke"

Sycophant

Noun a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.

Bedclothes

Noun coverings for a bed, such as sheets and blankets.

Jabot

Noun an ornamental frill or ruffle on the front of a shirt or blouse, typically made of lace.

Forearm

Noun the part of a person's arm extending from the elbow to the wrist or the fingertips.

Electromotive

PHYSICS Adjective producing or tending to produce an electric current.

Eidetic

PSYCHOLOGY Adjective relating to or denoting mental images having unusual vividness and detail, as if actually visible. "an eidetic memory"

Gestalt

PSYCHOLOGY Noun an organized whole that is perceived as more than the sum of its parts.

Apropos

Preposition with reference to; concerning. "she remarked apropos of the initiative, "It's not going to stop the abuse."" OR Adjective very appropriate to a particular situation. "the composer's reference to child's play is apropos"

Vicinal

RARE Adjective neighboring; adjacent. OR CHEMISTRY relating to or denoting substituents attached to adjacent atoms in a ring or chain.

Dulcify

RARE Verb sweeten. "cider pap dulcified with molasses" OR calm or soothe. "his voice dulcified the panic"

Anastrophe

RHETORIC Noun the inversion of the usual order of words or clauses.

Antonomasia

RHETORIC Noun the substitution of an epithet or title for a proper name (e.g., the Bard for Shakespeare). OR the use of a proper name to express a general idea (e.g., a Scrooge for a miser).

Thrawn

SCOTTISH Adjective twisted; crooked. "a slightly thrawn neck" OR perverse; ill-tempered. "your mother's looking a bit thrawn this morning"

Agley

SCOTTISH Adverb askew; awry.

Wash

Verb (especially of waves) sweep, move, or splash in a particular direction. "the sea began to wash along the decks" OR (of a river, sea, or lake) flow through or lap against (a country, coast, etc.). "offshore islands washed by warm blue seas" OR brush with a thin coat of diluted paint or ink. "the walls were washed with shades of umber" OR coat inferior metal with (a film of gold or silver from a solution). OR INFORMAL seem convincing or genuine. "charm won't wash with this crew"

Wallow

Verb (of a boat or aircraft) roll from side to side. "the small jet wallowed in the sky" OR (of a person) indulge in an unrestrained way in (something that creates a pleasurable sensation). "I was wallowing in the luxury of the hotel" OR Noun an act of wallowing. "a wallow in nostalgia" OR an area of mud or shallow water where mammals go to wallow, typically developing into a depression in the ground over long use.

Die

Verb (of a plant) decay from the tip toward the root. "rhubarb dies back to a crown of buds each winter" OR die one after another until few or none are left. "the original founders died off or retired" OR (of a fire or light) stop burning or gleaming. "the fire had died and the room was cold" OR INFORMAL (of a machine) stop functioning or run out of electric charge. "three toasters have died on me" OR Noun a device for cutting or molding metal into a particular shape. OR an engraved device for stamping a design on coins or medals.

Purl

Verb (of a stream or river) flow with a swirling motion and babbling sound. "large stones stood blackly in the water, making it purl as it rolled around them" OR Noun a purling motion or sound. "it was quiet except for the liquid purl of the fountain" OR a cord of twisted gold or silver wire used for bordering or edging something.

Effloresce

Verb (of a substance) lose moisture and turn to a fine powder on exposure to air. OR reach an optimum stage of development; blossom. "simple concepts that effloresce into testable conclusions" OR (of salts) come to the surface of brickwork, rock, or other material and crystallize there. OR (of a surface) become covered with salt particles.

Abut

Verb (of an area of land or a building) be next to or have a common boundary with. "gardens abutting Prescott Street" OR touch or lean on. "masonry may crumble where a roof abuts it"

Adduce

Verb cite as evidence "a number of factors are adduced to explain the situation"

Traipse

Verb walk or move wearily or reluctantly. "students had to traipse all over Washington to attend lectures" OR walk about casually or needlessly. "there's people traipsing in and out all the time" OR Noun a tedious or tiring journey on foot.

Swaddle

Verb wrap (someone, especially a baby) in garments or cloth. "she swaddled the baby tightly"

Intubate

Verb•MEDICINE insert a tube into (a person or a body part, especially the trachea for ventilation). "it is possible to intubate patients undergoing oral surgery in the hospital"

Effulgence

Very bright

Cataylst

a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change. OR a person or thing that precipitates an event. "the governor's speech acted as a catalyst for debate"

Heirloom

a valuable object that has belonged to a family for several generations. OR denoting a traditional variety of plant or breed of animal which is not associated with large-scale commercial agriculture. "his garden is filled with heirloom vegetables"

Aggregate

a whole formed by combining several (typically disparate) elements. "the council was an aggregate of three regional assemblies" OR a material or structure formed from a loosely compacted mass of fragments or particles.

Adjective

a word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it.

Synonym

a word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language, for example shut is a synonym of close. OR a person or thing so closely associated with a particular quality or idea that the mention of their name calls it to mind. OR in biology a taxonomic name which has the same application as another, especially one which has been superseded and is no longer valid.

Verb

a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, and forming the main part of the predicate of a sentence, such as hear, become, happen.

Obligation

an act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound; a duty or commitment. "I have an obligation to look after her" OR the condition of being morally or legally bound to do something. "they are under no obligation to stick to the scheme" OR a debt of gratitude for a service or favor. "she didn't want to be under an obligation to him" OR Law a binding agreement committing a person to a payment or other action.

Obliquely

adverb not in a direct way; indirectly. "he referred only obliquely to current events" OR in an oblique direction; slantwise. "these markings cross the wing obliquely"

Pirouette

an act of spinning on one foot, typically with the raised foot touching the knee of the supporting leg. OR a movement performed in advanced dressage and classical riding, in which the horse makes a circle by pivoting on a hind leg, while cantering.

Precedent

an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances. "there are substantial precedents for using interactive media in training" OR adjective preceding in time, order, or importance. "a precedent case"

Dogma

an unproven principle or belief held to be true

Obtuse

annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand. "he wondered if the doctor was being deliberately obtuse" OR difficult to understand. "some of the lyrics are a bit obtuse" OR (of an angle) more than 90° and less than 180°. OR not sharp-pointed or sharp-edged; blunt.

Matriculate

be enrolled at a college or university. "he matriculated at the University of Vermont"

Virtue

behavior showing high moral standards. "paragons of virtue" OR a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person. "patience is a virtue" OR a good or useful quality of a thing. "Mike was extolling the virtues of the car"

Credence

belief in or acceptance of something as true. "psychoanalysis finds little credence among laymen" OR the likelihood of something being true; plausibility. "being called upon by the media as an expert lends credence to one's opinions" OR a small side table, shelf, or niche in a church for holding the elements of the Eucharist before they are consecrated. "a credence table"

Cynical

believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity.

Mortify

cause (someone) to feel embarrassed, ashamed, or humiliated. "she was mortified to see her wrinkles in the mirror" OR subdue (the body or its needs and desires) by self-denial or discipline. "return to heaven by mortifying the flesh" OR (of flesh) be affected by gangrene or necrosis. "the cut in Henry's arm had mortified"

Vindicate

clear (someone) of blame or suspicion. "hospital staff were vindicated by the inquest verdict" OR show or prove to be right, reasonable, or justified. "more sober views were vindicated by events"

Domiciliary

concerned with or occurring in someone's home. "a study compared domiciliary care with hospital care"

Denigrate

criticize unfairly; disparage. "there is a tendency to denigrate the poor"

Obeisance

deferential respect. "they paid obeisance to the Prince" OR a gesture expressing deferential respect, such as a bow or curtsy. "she made a deep obeisance"

Dainty

delicately small and pretty

Exude

discharge (moisture or a smell) slowly and steadily. "the beetle exudes a caustic liquid" OR (of a person) display (an emotion or quality) strongly and openly. "Mr. Thomas exuded friendship and goodwill" OR (of moisture or a smell) be discharged by something slowly and steadily. "slime exudes from the fungus" OR (of a place) have a strong atmosphere of. "the building exudes an air of tranquility"

Macabre

disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury. "a macabre series of murders"

Bleed someone/something dry/white

drain someone or something of wealth or resources. "this car has been bleeding me dry"

Quaff

drink (something, especially an alcoholic drink) heartily. "he quaffed pint after pint of good Berkshire ale" OR an alcoholic drink.

Carouse

drink plentiful amounts of alcohol and enjoy oneself with others in a noisy, lively way. "they danced and caroused until the drink ran out" OR a noisy, lively drinking party. "corporate carouses"

Chummy

on friendly terms; friendly

Partake

eat or drink (something). "she had partaken of a cheese sandwich and a cup of coffee" OR join in (an activity). "visitors can partake in golfing or clay pigeon shooting" OR be characterized by (a quality). "the birth of twins became an event that partook of the mythic"

Vigor

effort, energy, and enthusiasm

Expunge

erase or remove completely (something unwanted or unpleasant). "I've kind of expunged that period from my CV"

Ultimatum

final set of demands

Epochal

forming or characterizing an epoch; epoch-making. "the epochal scale of change in the East"

Tranquil