Words I Don't Know

sub·tle

adjective (especially of a change or distinction) so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe. "his language expresses rich and subtle meanings" synonyms: fine, fine-drawn, nice, hair-splitting

suc·cinct

adjective (especially of something written or spoken) briefly and clearly expressed. "use short, succinct sentences" synonyms: concise, short (and sweet), brief, compact, condensed, crisp, laconic, terse, to the point, pithy, epigrammatic, synoptic, gnomic;

sal·u·tar·y

adjective (especially with reference to something unwelcome or unpleasant) producing good effects; beneficial. "a salutary reminder of where we came from" synonyms: beneficial, advantageous, good, profitable, productive, helpful, useful, valuable, worthwhile; More

di·lap·i·dat·ed

adjective (of a building or object) in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect. synonyms: run-down, tumbledown, ramshackle, broken-down, in disrepair, shabby, battered, beat-up, rickety, shaky, unsound, crumbling, in ruins, ruined, decayed, decaying, decrepit

de·crep·it

adjective (of a person) elderly and infirm. "a decrepit old drunk" synonyms: feeble, infirm, weak, weakly, frail; More antonyms: strong, fit worn out or ruined because of age or neglect. "centuries-old buildings, now decrepit and black with soot" synonyms: dilapidated, rickety, run-down, tumbledown, beat-up, ramshackle, derelict, ruined, in (a state of) disrepair, gone to rack and ruin

aptly

adjective 1. inclined; disposed; given; prone: too apt to slander others. 2. likely: Am I apt to find him at home? 3. unusually intelligent; able to learn quickly and easily: an apt pupil. 4. suited to the purpose or occasion; appropriate: an apt metaphor; a few apt remarks on world peace. 5. Archaic. prepared; ready; willing. Suitable.

de·lec·ta·tion

pleasure and delight. "a box of chocolates for their delectation" synonyms: enjoyment, gratification, delight, pleasure, satisfaction, relish

im·pul·sive

adjective 1. acting or done without forethought. "they had married as young impulsive teenagers" synonyms: impetuous, spontaneous, hasty, passionate, emotional, uninhibited; More impromptu, snap, spontaneous, unpremeditated, spur-of-the-moment, extemporaneous; impetuous, precipitate, hasty, rash; sudden, ill-considered, ill-thought-out, whimsical antonyms: cautious, premeditated 2. PHYSICS acting as an impulse.

sub·jec·tive

adjective 1. based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions. "his views are highly subjective" synonyms: personal, individual, emotional, instinctive, intuitive More antonyms: objective dependent on the mind or on an individual's perception for its existence. 2. GRAMMAR of, relating to, or denoting a case of nouns and pronouns used for the subject of a sentence. nounGRAMMAR noun: subjective 1. the subjective case.

dis·cord·ant

adjective 1. disagreeing or incongruous. "the principle of meritocracy is discordant with claims of inherited worth" synonyms: different, in disagreement, at variance, at odds, divergent, discrepant, contradictory, contrary, in conflict, conflicting, opposite, opposed, opposing, clashing; More antonyms: harmonious, compatible characterized by quarreling and conflict. "a study of children in discordant homes" 2. (of sounds) harsh and jarring because of a lack of harmony. "bombs, guns, and engines mingled in discordant sound" synonyms: inharmonious, tuneless, off-key, dissonant, harsh, jarring, grating, jangling, jangly, strident, shrill, screeching, screechy, cacophonous

con·tem·pla·tive

adjective 1. expressing or involving prolonged thought. "she regarded me with a contemplative eye" synonyms: thoughtful, pensive, reflective, meditative, musing, ruminative, introspective, brooding, deep/lost in thought, in a brown study More involving or given to deep silent prayer or religious meditation. "contemplative knowledge of God" noun noun: contemplative; plural noun: contemplatives 1. a person whose life is devoted primarily to prayer, especially in a monastery or convent.

mon·o·lith·ic

adjective 1. formed of a single large block of stone. 2. (of an organization or system) large, powerful, and intractably indivisible and uniform. "rejecting any move toward a monolithic European superstate" synonyms: inflexible, rigid, unbending, unchanging, fossilized

Stoically

adjective 1. impassive; characterized by a calm, austere fortitude befitting the Stoics: a stoical sufferer. 2. ( initial capital letter ) of or pertaining to the Stoics.

o·ver·wrought

adjective 1. in a state of nervous excitement or anxiety. "she was too overwrought to listen to reason" synonyms: tense, agitated, nervous, on edge, edgy, keyed up, worked up, high-strung, neurotic, overexcited, beside oneself, distracted, distraught, frantic, hysterical; More antonyms: calm 2. (of a piece of writing or a work of art) too elaborate or complicated in design or construction. synonyms: overelaborate, overornate, overblown, overdone, contrived, overworked, strained

ob·scure

adjective 1. not discovered or known about; uncertain. "his origins and parentage are obscure" synonyms: unclear, uncertain, unknown, in doubt, doubtful, dubious, mysterious, hazy, vague, indeterminate, concealed, hidden More antonyms: clear, obvious not clearly expressed or easily understood. "obscure references to Proust" synonyms: abstruse, recondite, arcane, esoteric; More antonyms: clear, plain not important or well known. "an obscure religious sect" synonyms: little known, unknown, unheard of, unnoticed, undistinguished, unimportant, insignificant, inconsequential, minor, lowly; More antonyms: famous, renowned hard to make out or define; vague. "I feel an obscure resentment" synonyms: indistinct, faint, vague, nebulous, ill-defined, unclear, blurred, blurry, misty, hazy; More antonyms: distinct (of a color) not sharply defined; dim or dingy. verb verb: obscure; 3rd person present: obscures; past tense: obscured; past participle: obscured; gerund or present participle: obscuring 1. keep from being seen; conceal. "gray clouds obscure the sun" synonyms: hide, conceal, cover, veil, shroud, screen, mask, cloak, cast a shadow over, shadow, block (out), obliterate, eclipse, darken

skep·ti·cal

adjective 1. not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations. "the public were deeply skeptical about some of the proposals" synonyms: dubious, doubtful, taking something with a pinch of salt, doubting; More antonyms: certain, convinced 2. PHILOSOPHY relating to the theory that certain knowledge is impossible.

er·rat·ic

adjective 1. not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable. "her breathing was erratic" synonyms: unpredictable, inconsistent, changeable, variable, inconstant, irregular, fitful, unstable, turbulent, unsettled, changing, varying, fluctuating, mutable; nounGEOLOGY 1. a rock or boulder that differs from the surrounding rock and is believed to have been brought from a distance by glacial action.

e·gal·i·tar·i·an

adjective 1. of, relating to, or believing in the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities. "a fairer, more egalitarian society" noun 1. a person who advocates or supports egalitarian principles.

sod·den

adjective 1. saturated with liquid, especially water; soaked through. "his clothes were sodden" synonyms: soaking, soaked (through), wet (through), saturated, drenched, sopping wet, wringing wet More antonyms: dry, arid having drunk an excessive amount of a particular alcoholic drink. suffix: -sodden "a whiskey-sodden criminal" verbarchaic verb: sodden; 3rd person present: soddens; past tense: soddened; past participle: soddened; gerund or present participle: soddening 1. saturate (something) with water. Origin Middle English (in the sense 'boiled, cooked by boiling'): archaic past participle of seethe. Translate sodden to Use over time for: sodden

val·e·dic·to·ry

adjective 1. serving as a farewell. "a valedictory wave" synonyms: farewell, goodbye, leaving, parting; More noun noun: valedictory; plural noun: valedictories 1. a farewell address. synonyms: speech, address, lecture, declamation More

pains·tak·ing

adjective 1. taking or characterized by taking, pains or trouble; expending or showing diligent care and effort; careful: a painstaking craftsman; painstaking research. noun 2. careful and diligent effort.

ven·er·a·ble

adjective accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character. "a venerable statesman" synonyms: respected, venerated, revered, honored, esteemed, hallowed, august, distinguished, eminent, great, grand More (in the Roman Catholic Church) a title given to a deceased person who has attained a certain degree of sanctity but has not been fully beatified or canonized. (in the Anglican Church) a title given to an archdeacon

pre·ten·tious

adjective attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed. "a pretentious literary device" synonyms: affected, ostentatious, showy;

a·droit

adjective clever or skillful in using the hands or mind. "he was adroit at tax avoidance" synonyms: skillful, adept, dexterous, deft, nimble, able, capable, skilled, expert, masterly, masterful, master, practiced, handy, polished, slick, proficient, accomplished, gifted, talented;

som·ber

adjective dark or dull in color or tone; gloomy. "the night skies were somber and starless" synonyms: dark, drab, dull, dingy; More antonyms: bright oppressively solemn or sober in mood; grave. "he looked at her with a somber expression" synonyms: solemn, earnest, serious, grave, sober, unsmiling, stern, grim, dour, humorless;

prag·mat·ic

adjective dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations. "a pragmatic approach to politics" synonyms: practical, matter-of-fact, sensible, down-to-earth, commonsensical, businesslike, having both/one's feet on the ground, hardheaded, no-nonsense; More antonyms: impractical relating to philosophical or political pragmatism. LINGUISTICS of or relating to pragmatics.

dex·ter·ous

adjective demonstrating neat skill, especially with the hands. "dexterous accordion playing" synonyms: deft, adept, adroit, agile, nimble, neat, handy, able, capable, skillful, skilled, proficient, expert, practiced, polished; More antonyms: clumsy, stupid mentally adroit; clever. "power users are dexterous at using software, rather than creating it"

en·ig·mat·ic

adjective difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious. "he took the money with an enigmatic smile" synonyms: mysterious, inscrutable, puzzling, mystifying, baffling, perplexing, impenetrable, unfathomable, sphinxlike, Delphic, oracular; More

pen·sive

adjective engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought. "a pensive mood" synonyms: thoughtful, reflective, contemplative, musing, meditative, introspective, ruminative, absorbed, preoccupied, deep/lost in thought, in a brown study;

gar·ru·lous

adjective excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters. "Polonius is portrayed as a foolish, garrulous old man" synonyms: talkative, loquacious, voluble, verbose, chatty, chattering, gossipy;

joc·u·lar

adjective fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful. "she sounded in a jocular mood" synonyms: humorous, funny, witty, comic, comical, amusing, droll, waggish, jokey, hilarious, facetious, tongue-in-cheek, teasing, playful;

af·fa·ble

adjective friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to. "an affable and agreeable companion" synonyms: friendly, amiable, genial, congenial, cordial, warm, pleasant, nice, likable, personable, charming, agreeable, sympathetic, simpatico, good-humored, good-natured, jolly, kindly, kind, courteous, civil, gracious, approachable, accessible, amenable, sociable, hail-fellow-well-met, outgoing, gregarious, neighborly

im·pos·ing

adjective grand and impressive in appearance. "an imposing 17th-century manor house" synonyms: impressive, striking, arresting, eye-catching, impactful, dramatic, spectacular, stunning, awesome, awe-inspiring, formidable, splendid, grand, grandiose, majestic, stately, august

state·ly

adjective having a dignified, unhurried, and grand manner; majestic in manner and appearance. "a stately procession" synonyms: dignified, majestic, ceremonious, courtly, imposing, impressive, solemn, awe-inspiring, regal, elegant, grand, glorious, splendid, magnificent, resplendent; More

as·tute

adjective having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage. "an astute businessman" synonyms: shrewd, sharp, acute, adroit, quick, clever, crafty, intelligent, bright, smart, canny, intuitive, perceptive, insightful, incisive, sagacious, wise;

dil·i·gent

adjective having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties. "many caves are located only after a diligent search" synonyms: industrious, hard-working, assiduous, conscientious, particular, punctilious, meticulous, painstaking, rigorous, careful, thorough, sedulous, earnest; More

dis·cern·ing

adjective having or showing good judgment. "the restaurant attracts discerning customers" synonyms: discriminating, judicious, shrewd, clever, astute, intelligent, sharp, selective, sophisticated, tasteful, sensitive, perceptive, percipient, perspicacious, wise, aware, knowing;

pro·sa·ic

adjective having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty. "prosaic language can't convey the experience" synonyms: ordinary, everyday, commonplace, conventional, straightforward, routine, run-of-the-mill, by-the-numbers, workaday; More antonyms: interesting, imaginative, inspired commonplace; unromantic. "the masses were too preoccupied by prosaic day-to-day concerns" synonyms: ordinary, everyday, commonplace, conventional, straightforward, routine, run-of-the-mill, by-the-numbers, workaday;

qui·es·cent

adjective in a state or period of inactivity or dormancy. "strikes were headed by groups of workers who had previously been quiescent" synonyms: inactive, inert, idle, dormant, at rest, inoperative, deactivated, quiet;

in·sip·id

adjective lacking flavor. "mugs of insipid coffee" synonyms: tasteless, flavorless, bland, weak, wishy-washy; More antonyms: tasty lacking vigor or interest. "many artists continued to churn out insipid, shallow works" synonyms: unimaginative, uninspired, uninspiring, characterless, flat, uninteresting, lackluster, dull, drab, boring, dry, humdrum, ho-hum, monochrome, tedious, uneventful, run-of-the-mill, commonplace, pedestrian, trite, tired, hackneyed, stale, lame, wishy-washy, colorless, anemic, lifeless

cum·ber·some

adjective large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use; unwieldy. "cumbersome diving suits" synonyms: unwieldy, unmanageable, awkward, clumsy, inconvenient, incommodious; More antonyms: manageable slow or complicated and therefore inefficient. "organizations with cumbersome hierarchical structures" synonyms: complicated, complex, involved, inefficient, unwieldy, slow

pro·tract·ed

adjective lasting for a long time or longer than expected or usual. "a protracted and bitter dispute" synonyms: prolonged, long-lasting, extended, long-drawn-out, spun out, dragged out, strung out, lengthy, long; More

or·nate

adjective made in an intricate shape or decorated with complex patterns. "an ornate wrought-iron railing" synonyms: elaborate, decorated, embellished, adorned, ornamented, fancy, fussy, ostentatious, showy; More antonyms: unadorned (of literary style) using unusual words and complex constructions. "peculiarly ornate and metaphorical language" synonyms: elaborate, flowery, florid; More antonyms: plain, simple (of musical composition or performance) using many ornaments such as grace notes and trills.

deft

adjective neatly skillful and quick in one's movements. "a deft piece of footwork" demonstrating skill and cleverness. "the script was both deft and literate" synonyms: skillful, adept, adroit, dexterous, agile, nimble, handy;

a·loof

adjective not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant. "they were courteous but faintly aloof" synonyms: distant, detached, unfriendly, antisocial, unsociable, avoidant, remote, unapproachable, formal, stiff, withdrawn, reserved, unforthcoming, uncommunicative, unsympathetic; More antonyms: familiar, friendly conspicuously uninvolved and uninterested, typically through distaste. "he stayed aloof from the bickering"

vo·lu·mi·nous

adjective occupying or containing much space; large in volume, in particular. (of clothing or drapery) loose and ample. adjective: voluminous synonyms: capacious, roomy, spacious, ample, full, big, large, bulky, extensive, sizable, generous; More (of writing) very lengthy and full.

an·te·di·lu·vi·an

adjective of or belonging to the time before the biblical Flood. "gigantic bones of antediluvian animals" synonyms: out of date, outdated, outmoded, old-fashioned, antiquated, behind the times, passé More humorous ridiculously old-fashioned. "they maintain antediluvian sex-role stereotypes" synonyms: out of date, outdated, outmoded, old-fashioned, antiquated, behind the times, passé

spon·ta·ne·ous

adjective performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse or inclination and without premeditation or external stimulus. "the audience broke into spontaneous applause" synonyms: unplanned, unpremeditated, unrehearsed, impulsive, impetuous, unstudied, impromptu, spur-of-the-moment, extempore, extemporaneous; More antonyms: planned, calculated (of a person) having an open, natural, and uninhibited manner. synonyms: natural, uninhibited, relaxed, unselfconscious, unaffected, open, genuine, easy, free and easy; More antonyms: inhibited (of a process or event) occurring without apparent external cause. "spontaneous miscarriages"

gran·dil·o·quent

adjective pompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner, especially in a way that is intended to impress. "a grandiloquent celebration of Spanish glory" synonyms: pompous, bombastic, magniloquent, pretentious, ostentatious, high-flown, orotund, florid, flowery; More

ed·i·fy·ing

adjective providing moral or intellectual instruction. "edifying literature"

per·ti·nent

adjective relevant or applicable to a particular matter; apposite. "she asked me a lot of very pertinent questions" synonyms: relevant, to the point, apposite, appropriate, suitable, fitting, fit, apt, applicable, material, germane, to the purpose, apropos;

staid

adjective sedate, respectable, and unadventurous. "staid law firms" synonyms: sedate, respectable, quiet, serious, serious-minded, steady, conventional, traditional, unadventurous, unenterprising, set in one's ways, sober, proper, decorous, formal, stuffy, stiff, priggish; More

aus·tere

adjective severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance. "an austere man, with a rigidly puritanical outlook" synonyms: severe, stern, strict, harsh, steely, flinty, dour, grim, cold, frosty, unemotional, unfriendly; More antonyms: genial (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" synonyms: ascetic, self-denying, self-disciplined, nonindulgent, frugal, spartan, puritanical, abstemious, abstinent, self-sacrificing, strict, temperate, sober, simple, restrained; More antonyms: immoderate having an extremely plain and simple style or appearance; unadorned. "the cathedral is impressive in its austere simplicity" synonyms: plain, simple, basic, functional, modest, unadorned, unembellished, unfussy, restrained;

as·sid·u·ous

adjective showing great care and perseverance. "she was assiduous in pointing out every feature" synonyms: diligent, careful, meticulous, thorough, sedulous, attentive, conscientious, punctilious, painstaking, rigorous, particular;

man·ic

adjective showing wild and apparently deranged excitement and energy. "his manic enthusiasm" synonyms: mad, insane, deranged, demented, maniacal, lunatic, wild, crazed, demonic, hysterical, raving, unhinged, unbalanced; More antonyms: sane frenetically busy; frantic. "the pace is utterly manic" synonyms: frenzied, feverish, frenetic, hectic, intense; More antonyms: calm PSYCHIATRY relating to or affected by mania. "the manic interludes in depression"

in·ane

adjective silly; stupid. "don't constantly badger people with inane questions" synonyms: silly, foolish, stupid, fatuous, idiotic, ridiculous, ludicrous, absurd, senseless, asinine, frivolous, vapid; More

lu·di·crous

adjective so foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to be amusing; ridiculous. "it's ludicrous that I have been fined" synonyms: absurd, ridiculous, farcical, laughable, risible, preposterous, foolish, mad, insane, idiotic, stupid, inane, silly, asinine, nonsensical;

fru·gal

adjective sparing or economical with regard to money or food. "he led a remarkably frugal existence" synonyms: thrifty, economical, careful, cautious, prudent, provident, unwasteful, sparing, scrimping; More antonyms: extravagant simple and plain and costing little. "a frugal meal" synonyms: meager, scanty, scant, paltry, skimpy; More

e·va·sive

adjective tending to avoid commitment or self-revelation, especially by responding only indirectly. "she was evasive about her phone number" synonyms: equivocal, prevaricating, elusive, ambiguous, noncommittal, vague, inexplicit, unclear; More directed toward avoidance or escape. "they decided to take evasive action" synonyms: equivocal, prevaricating, elusive, ambiguous, noncommittal, vague, inexplicit, unclear;

te·na·cious

adjective tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely. "a tenacious grip" synonyms: firm, tight, fast, clinging; More antonyms: weak, loose not readily relinquishing a position, principle, or course of action; determined. "you're tenacious and you get at the truth" synonyms: persevering, persistent, determined, dogged, strong-willed, tireless, indefatigable, resolute, patient, unflagging, staunch, steadfast, untiring, unwavering, unswerving, unshakable, unyielding, insistent; More antonyms: irresolute persisting in existence; not easily dispelled. "a tenacious local legend"

lo·qua·cious

adjective tending to talk a great deal; talkative. synonyms: talkative, voluble, communicative, expansive, garrulous, unreserved, chatty, gossipy, gossiping;

im·par·tial

adjective treating all rivals or disputants equally; fair and just. "independent and impartial advice" synonyms: unbiased, unprejudiced, neutral, nonpartisan, nondiscriminatory, disinterested, detached, dispassionate, objective, open-minded, equitable, evenhanded, fair, fair-minded, just;

ar·cha·ic

adjective very old or old-fashioned. "prisons are run on archaic methods" synonyms: obsolete, out of date, old-fashioned, outmoded, behind the times, bygone, anachronistic, antiquated, superannuated, antediluvian, old world, old-fangled; More antonyms: modern (of a word or a style of language) no longer in everyday use but sometimes used to impart an old-fashioned flavor. of an early period of art or culture, especially the 7th-6th centuries BC in Greece. "the archaic temple at Corinth"

ten·u·ous

adjective very weak or slight. "the tenuous link between interest rates and investment" synonyms: slight, insubstantial, meager, flimsy, weak, doubtful, dubious, questionable, suspect; More antonyms: convincing, strong very slender or fine; insubstantial. "a tenuous cloud" synonyms: fine, thin, slender, delicate, wispy, gossamer, fragile

a·mor·phous

adjective without a clearly defined shape or form. "amorphous blue forms and straight black lines" synonyms: shapeless, formless, structureless, indeterminate; More vague; ill-organized; unclassifiable. "make explicit the amorphous statements" (of a group of people or an organization) lacking a clear structure or focus. "an amorphous and leaderless legislature"

re·doubt·a·ble

adjectivehumorous (of a person) formidable, especially as an opponent. "he was a redoubtable debater" synonyms: formidable, awe-inspiring, fearsome, daunting

ev·a·nes·cent

adjectiveliterary soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing. "a shimmering evanescent bubble" synonyms: vanishing, fading, evaporating, melting away, disappearing; More antonyms: permanent PHYSICS denoting a field or wave that extends into a region where it cannot propagate and whose amplitude therefore decreases with distance.

doggedly

adverb Adj. form is dogged- persistent in effort; stubbornly tenacious: a dogged worker.

gran·di·ose

djective impressive or magnificent in appearance or style, especially pretentiously so. "the court's grandiose facade" synonyms: magnificent, impressive, grand, imposing, awe-inspiring, splendid, resplendent, majestic, glorious, elaborate; More antonyms: humble, unimpressive excessively grand or ambitious. "grandiose plans to reform the world" synonyms: ambitious, bold, overambitious, extravagant, high-flown, flamboyant

au·ton·o·my

noun (of a country or region) the right or condition of self-government, especially in a particular sphere. "Tatarstan demanded greater autonomy within the Russian Federation" a self-governing country or region. plural noun: autonomies freedom from external control or influence; independence. "economic autonomy is still a long way off for many women" synonyms: self-government, self-rule, home rule, self-determination, independence, sovereignty, freedom More

mas·quer·ade

noun 1. a false show or pretense. "his masquerade ended when he was arrested" synonyms: pretense, deception, pose, act, front, facade, disguise, dissimulation, bluff, play-acting, make-believe; More the wearing of disguise. "dressing up, role-playing, and masquerade" NORTH AMERICAN a masked ball. synonyms: masked ball, masque, fancy-dress party, costume party; More verb verb: masquerade; 3rd person present: masquerades; past tense: masqueraded; past participle: masqueraded; gerund or present participle: masquerading 1. pretend to be someone one is not. "a journalist masquerading as a man in distress" synonyms: pretend to be, pose as, pass oneself off as, impersonate, disguise oneself as More

e·clipse

noun 1. an obscuring of the light from one celestial body by the passage of another between it and the observer or between it and its source of illumination. "an eclipse of the sun" synonyms: blotting out, blocking, covering, obscuring, concealing, darkening; More a loss of significance, power, or prominence in relation to another person or thing. "the election result marked the eclipse of the traditional right and center" synonyms: decline, fall, failure, decay, deterioration, degeneration, weakening, collapse More 2. ORNITHOLOGY a phase during which the distinctive markings of a bird (especially a male duck) are obscured by molting of the breeding plumage. "eclipse plumage" verb verb: eclipse; 3rd person present: eclipses; past tense: eclipsed; past participle: eclipsed; gerund or present participle: eclipsing 1. (of a celestial body) obscure the light from or to (another celestial body). "as the last piece of the sun was eclipsed by the moon"

ap·pre·hen·sion

noun 1. anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen. "he felt sick with apprehension" synonyms: anxiety, worry, unease, nervousness, nerves, misgivings, disquiet, concern, tension, trepidation, perturbation, consternation, angst, dread, alarm, fear, foreboding; More antonyms: confidence 2. understanding; grasp. "the pure apprehension of the work of art"

em·i·nence

noun 1. fame or recognized superiority, especially within a particular sphere or profession. "her eminence in cinematography" synonyms: fame, celebrity, illustriousness, distinction, renown, preeminence, notability, greatness, prestige, importance, reputation, repute, note; More an important, influential, or distinguished person. plural noun: eminences "the Lord Chancellor canvassed the views of various legal eminences" synonyms: important person, dignitary, luminary, worthy, grandee, notable, notability, personage, leading light, VIP; More a title given to a Roman Catholic cardinal, or used in addressing him. noun: His Eminence; noun: Your Eminence "His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Wolsey" 2. formalliterary a piece of rising ground. "an eminence commanding the River Emme" synonyms: elevation, height, rise

ma·son·ry

noun 1. stonework. 2. Freemasonry.

en·light·en·ment

noun 1. the action of enlightening or the state of being enlightened. "Robbie looked to me for enlightenment" synonyms: insight, understanding, awareness, wisdom, education, learning, knowledge; More the action or state of attaining or having attained spiritual knowledge or insight, in particular (in Buddhism) that awareness which frees a person from the cycle of rebirth. 2. a European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition. It was heavily influenced by 17th-century philosophers such as Descartes, Locke, and Newton, and its prominent exponents include Kant, Goethe, Voltaire, Rousseau, and Adam Smith.

di·ag·no·sis

noun 1. the identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms. "early diagnosis and treatment are essential" synonyms: identification, detection, recognition, determination, discovery, pinpointing More 2. the distinctive characterization in precise terms of a genus, species, or phenomenon.

co·nun·drum

noun a confusing and difficult problem or question. "one of the most difficult conundrums for the experts" synonyms: problem, difficult question, difficulty, quandary, dilemma; More a question asked for amusement, typically one with a pun in its answer; a riddle. synonyms: riddle, puzzle, word game;

be·quest

noun a legacy. "her $135,000 was the largest bequest the library ever has received" synonyms: legacy, inheritance, endowment, settlement; More the action of bequeathing something. "a painting acquired by bequest"

eu·phe·mism

noun a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing. ""downsizing" as a euphemism for cuts" synonyms: polite term, indirect term, circumlocution, substitute, alternative, understatement, genteelism More

ad·mo·ni·tion

noun an act or action of admonishing; authoritative counsel or warning. "the old judge's admonition to the jury on this point was particularly weighty"

ex·panse

noun an area of something, typically land or sea, presenting a wide continuous surface. "the green expanse of the forest" synonyms: area, stretch, sweep, tract, swathe, belt, region; More the distance to which something expands or can be expanded. "the moth has a wing expanse of 20 to 24 mm"

ar·ti·san

noun plural noun: artisans a worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand. synonyms: craftsman, craftswoman, craftsperson; More (of food or drink) made in a traditional or non-mechanized way using high-quality ingredients. "local artisan cheeses"

gran·deur

noun splendor and impressiveness, especially of appearance or style. "the austere grandeur of mountain scenery" synonyms: splendor, magnificence, impressiveness, glory, resplendence, majesty, greatness; More high rank or social importance. "for all their grandeur, the chancellors were still officials of the household"

prog·no·sis

noun the likely course of a disease or ailment. "the disease has a poor prognosis" a forecast of the likely course of a disease or ailment. "it is very difficult to make an accurate prognosis" a forecast of the likely outcome of a situation. "gloomy prognoses about overpopulation"

vi·tal·i·ty

noun the state of being strong and active; energy. "changes that will give renewed vitality to our democracy" synonyms: liveliness, life, energy, spirit, vivacity, exuberance, buoyancy, bounce, elan, verve, vim, pep, brio, zest, sparkle, dynamism, passion, fire, vigor, drive, punch; More the power giving continuance of life, present in all living things. "the vitality of seeds"

ed·i·fi·ca·tion

noun formal the instruction or improvement of a person morally or intellectually. "the idea that art's main purpose is to supply moral uplift and edification" synonyms: education, instruction, tuition, teaching, training, tutelage, guidance;

im·ply

verb strongly suggest the truth or existence of (something not expressly stated). "the salesmen who uses jargon to imply his superior knowledge" synonyms: insinuate, suggest, hint (at), intimate, say indirectly, indicate, give someone to understand, convey the impression, signal More (of a fact or occurrence) suggest (something) as a logical consequence. "the forecasted traffic increase implied more roads and more air pollution" synonyms: involve, entail;

en·er·vate

verb ˈenərˌvāt/ 1. cause (someone) to feel drained of energy or vitality; weaken. synonyms: exhaust, tire, fatigue, weary, wear out, devitalize, drain, sap, weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, incapacitate, prostrate; More antonyms: invigorate adjectiveliterary adjective: enervate ˈenərvit/ 1. lacking in energy or vitality. "the enervate slightness of his frail form

pu·gi·list

noundatedhumorous plural noun: pugilists a boxer, especially a professional one. synonyms: boxer, fighter, prizefighter;

ed·i·fice

nounformal plural noun: edifices 1. a building, especially a large, imposing one. synonyms: building, structure, construction, erection, pile, complex; More 2. a complex system of beliefs. "the concepts on which the edifice of capitalism was built"

bruis·er

nouninformalderogatory plural noun: bruisers a person who is tough and aggressive and enjoys a fight or argument. a professional boxer.

pe·ruse

verbformal read (something), typically in a thorough or careful way. "he has spent countless hours in libraries perusing art history books and catalogues" examine carefully or at length. "Laura perused a Caravaggio" synonyms: read, study, scrutinize, inspect, examine, wade through, look through;

as·cer·tain

verb find (something) out for certain; make sure of. "an attempt to ascertain the cause of the accident" synonyms: find out, discover, get to know, work out, make out, fathom, learn, deduce, divine, discern, see, understand, comprehend;

de·pict

verb gerund or present participle: depicting show or represent by a drawing, painting, or other art form. synonyms: portray, represent, picture, illustrate, delineate, reproduce, render; More portray in words; describe. "youth is depicted as a time of vitality and good health" synonyms: describe, detail, relate;

ex·ploit

verb gerund or present participle: exploiting ikˈsploit/ make full use of and derive benefit from (a resource). "500 companies sprang up to exploit this new technology" synonyms: utilize, harness, use, make use of, turn/put to good use, make the most of, capitalize on, benefit from; More use (a situation or person) in an unfair or selfish way. "the company was exploiting a legal loophole" benefit unfairly from the work of (someone), typically by overworking or underpaying them. "making money does not always mean exploiting others" synonyms: take advantage of, abuse, impose on, treat unfairly, misuse, ill-treat; More

in·sti·gate

verb gerund or present participle: instigating bring about or initiate (an action or event). "they instigated a reign of terror" synonyms: set in motion, get underway, get off the ground, start, commence, begin, initiate, launch, institute, set up, inaugurate, establish, organize; More antonyms: halt incite someone to do something, especially something bad. "instigating men to refuse allegiance to the civil powers" synonyms: incite, encourage, urge, provoke, goad, spur (on), initiate, stimulate, push (for), prompt, induce; More

cir·cum·scribe

verb past tense: circumscribed; past participle: circumscribed 1. restrict (something) within limits. "their movements were strictly monitored and circumscribed" synonyms: restrict, limit, keep within bounds, curb, confine, restrain; More 2. GEOMETRY draw (a figure) around another, touching it at points but not cutting it.

stim·u·late

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" synonyms: restorative, tonic, invigorating, bracing, energizing, reviving, refreshing, revitalizing, revivifying, exhilarating; More antonyms: sedative encourage interest or activity in (a person or animal). "the reader could not fail to be stimulated by the ideas presented" synonyms: encourage, act as a stimulus/incentive/impetus/spur to, prompt, prod, move, motivate, trigger, spark, spur on, galvanize, activate, kindle, fire, fire with enthusiasm, fuel, whet, nourish; More antonyms: discourage, uninspiring, uninteresting, boring encourage development of or increased activity in (a state or process). "the courses stimulate a passion for learning"

in·ter·ject

verb say (something) abruptly, especially as an aside or interruption. "she interjected the odd question here and there" synonyms: interpose, introduce, throw in, interpolate, add, insert