SAY BETTER WORDS: Vocabulary to know and/or use more

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Shepard-Risset Glissando

A Shepard tone, named after Roger Shepard, is a sound consisting of a superposition of sine waves separated by octaves. When played with the bass pitch of the tone moving upward or downward, it is referred to as the Shepard scale. This creates the auditory illusion of a tone that continually ascends or descends in pitch, yet which ultimately seems to get no higher or lower.

Pluviophile

(n) a lover of rain; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days.

Here be dragons

"Here be dragons" means dangerous or unexplored territories, in imitation of a medieval practice of putting illustrations of dragons, sea monsters and other mythological creatures on uncharted areas of maps where potential dangers were thought to exist.[1][2]

Virtue signaling

(British virtue signalling) noun the action or practice of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one's good character or the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue: it's noticeable how often virtue signaling consists of saying you hate things | standing on the sidelines saying how awful the situation is does nothing except massage your ego by virtue signaling.

Matryoshka

(also matryoshka doll) noun (plural matryoshki | -kē | ) each of a set of brightly painted hollow wooden dolls of varying sizes, designed to nest inside one another. Also called Russian doll.

Ten-dollar word

(idiomatic) A long and uncommon word used in place of a shorter and simpler one with the intent to appear sophisticated.

Vetocracy

A vetocracy is a dysfunctional system of governance whereby no single entity can acquire enough power to make decisions and take effective charge.[1]Coined by Francis Fukuyama,[2] the term points to an excessive ability or willingness to use the veto power within a government or institution (without an adequate means of any override). Such limitations may point to a lack of trust among members or hesitance to cede sovereignty.

Whistle-stop tour

A whistle stop or whistle-stop tour is a style of political campaigning where the politician makes a series of brief appearances or speeches at a number of small towns over a short period of time. Originally, whistle-stop appearances were made from the open platform of an observation car or a private railroad car.

Bandy

verb (bandies, bandying, bandied) [with object] (usually be bandied about/around) pass on or discuss (an idea or rumor) in a casual or uninformed way: $40,000 is the figure that has been bandied about. PHRASES bandy words with argue pointlessly or rudely: don't bandy words with me, Sir!

Don

verb (dons, donning, donned) [with object] put on (an item of clothing): in the locker room the players donned their football jerseys.

Espy

verb (espies, espying, espied) [with object] literary catch sight of: she espied her daughter rounding the corner.

Luxuriate

verb [no object] (often luxuriate in) enjoy oneself in a luxurious way; take self-indulgent delight: she was luxuriating in a long bath.

Prattle

verb [no object] talk at length in a foolish or inconsequential way: she began to prattle on about her visit to the dentist. noun foolish or inconsequential talk: do you intend to keep up this childish prattle? DERIVATIVES prattler | ˈpradlər | noun

Presage

verb [with object] (of an event) be a sign or warning that (something, typically something bad) will happen: the outcome of the game presaged the coming year. • archaic (of a person) predict: lands he could measure, terms and tides presage. 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. • archaic a feeling of presentiment or foreboding: he had a strong presage that he had only a very short time to live. DERIVATIVES presageful | prɪˈseɪdʒfʊl, -f(ə)l | adjective

Parlay

verb [with object] (parlay something into) turn an initial stake or winnings from a previous bet into (a greater amount) by gambling: it involved parlaying a small bankroll into big winnings. • informal transform into (something greater or more valuable): a banker who parlayed a sizable inheritance into a financial empire | an excellent performance is quickly parlayed into lucrative contracts. noun a cumulative series of bets in which winnings accruing from each transaction are used as a stake for a further bet.

Instate

verb [with object] (usually be instated) set up in position; install or establish: the restoration of those very authoritarian forms against which democracy had been instated.

Osculate

verb [with object] 1 Mathematics (of a curve or surface) touch (another curve or surface) so as to have a common tangent at the point of contact: (as adjective osculating) : the plots have been drawn using osculating orbital elements. 2 formal or humorous kiss. DERIVATIVES osculant | ˈäskyələnt | adjective osculation | ˌäskyəˈlāSH(ə)n | noun osculatory | ˈäskyələˌtôrē | adjective ORIGIN mid 17th century: from Latin osculat- 'kissed', from the verb osculari, from osculum 'little mouth or kiss'.

Bedecked

verb [with object] decorate: he led us into a room bedecked with tinsel.

Amortize

verb [with object] gradually write off the initial cost of (an asset) over a period: they want to amortize the tooling costs quickly. • reduce or pay off (a debt) with regular payments: loan fees can be amortized over the life of the mortgage.

Recompense

verb [with object] make amends to (someone) for loss or harm suffered; compensate: offenders should recompense their victims | he was recompensed for the wasted time. • pay or reward (someone) for effort or work: he was handsomely recompensed. • make amends to or reward someone for (loss, harm, or effort): he thought his loyalty had been inadequately recompensed. • archaic punish or reward (someone) appropriately for an action: according to their doings will he recompense them. noun compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered or effort made: substantial damages were paid in recompense. • archaic restitution made or punishment inflicted for a wrong or injury.

Defoliated

verb [with object] remove leaves from (a tree, plant, or area of land), for agricultural purposes or as a military tactic: the area was defoliated and napalmed many times. DERIVATIVES defoliation | dēˌfōlēˈāSH(ə)n | noun

Instantiate

verb [with object] represent as or by an instance: a study of two groups who seemed to instantiate productive aspects of this. • (be instantiated) Philosophy (of a universal or abstract concept) have an instance; be represented by an actual example. DERIVATIVES instantiation | -ˌstanCHēˈāSHən | noun

Postulate

verb | ˈpäsCHəˌlāt | [with object] 1 suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of (something) as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief: his theory postulated a rotatory movement for hurricanes | [with clause] : he postulated that the environmentalists might have a case. 2 (in ecclesiastical law) nominate or elect (someone) to an ecclesiastical office subject to the sanction of a higher authority. noun | ˈpäsCHələt | formal a thing suggested or assumed as true as the basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief: perhaps the postulate of Babylonian influence on Greek astronomy is incorrect. • Mathematics an assumption used as a basis for mathematical reasoning. DERIVATIVES postulation | ˌpäsCHəˈlāSH(ə)n |

Abhor

| abˈhôr, əbˈhôr | verb (abhors, abhorring, abhorred) [with object] regard with disgust and hatred: professional tax preparers abhor a flat tax because it would dry up their business. DERIVATIVES abhorrer noun

Ad nauseam

| ad ˈnôzēəm | adverb referring to something that has been done or repeated so often that it has become annoying or tiresome: the inherent risks of nuclear power have been debated ad nauseam.

Adherents

| adˈhirənt, adˈherənt | noun someone who supports a particular party, person, or set of ideas: he was a strong adherent of monetarism. adjective sticking fast to an object or surface: the eggs have thick sticky shells to which debris is often adherent.

Ambivalent

| amˈbivələnt | adjective having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone: some loved her, some hated her, few were ambivalent about her | an ambivalent attitude to technology. DERIVATIVES ambivalently adverb

Androgynous

| anˈdräjənəs | adjective partly male and partly female in appearance; of indeterminate sex. • dated having the physical characteristics of both sexes; hermaphrodite. DERIVATIVES androgynously adverb androgyny | anˈdräj(ə)nē | noun

Antipathy

| anˈtēpəTHē | noun (plural antipathies) a deep-seated feeling of dislike; aversion: his fundamental antipathy to capitalism | a thinly disguised mutual antipathy.

Barb

| bärb | noun 1 a sharp projection near the end of an arrow, fishhook, or similar item, angled away from the main point so as to make extraction difficult. • a cluster of spikes on barbed wire. • a deliberately hurtful remark: his barb hurt more than she cared to admit. 2 a beardlike filament at the mouth of some fish, such as barbel and catfish. • each of the fine hairlike filaments growing from the shaft of a feather, forming the vane. 3 a freshwater fish that typically has barbels around the mouth, popular in aquariums. DERIVATIVES barbless adjective barb2 | bärb | noun a small horse of a hardy breed originally from North Africa.

Belligerence

| bəˈlij(ə)rəns | (also belligerency | -ənsē | ) noun aggressive or warlike behavior: the reaction ranged from wild enthusiasm to outright belligerence.

Bemuse

| bəˈmyo͞oz | verb [with object] (usually as adjective bemused) puzzle, confuse, or bewilder (someone): her bemused expression | she was accepted with bemused resignation by her parents as a hippie. DERIVATIVES bemusedly | -zidlē | adverb

Beneficence

| bəˈnefəsənt | adjective (of a person) generous or doing good. • resulting in good: a beneficent democracy. DERIVATIVES beneficence | bəˈnefəs(ə)ns | noun beneficently adverb

Besmirch

| bəˈsmərCH | verb [with object] damage the reputation of (someone or something) in the opinion of others: he had besmirched the good name of his family. • literary make (something) dirty or discolored: the ground was besmirched with blood.

Bifurcation

| bʌɪfəˈkeɪʃ(ə)n | noun [mass noun] the division of something into twobranches or parts: the bifurcation of the profession. • [count noun] either of two branchesinto which something divides.

Duplicitous

| d(y)o͞oˈplisədəs | adjective deceitful: treacherous, duplicitous behavior. • Law (of a charge or plea) containing more than one allegation.

Draconian

| drəˈkōnēən | adjective (of laws or their application) excessively harsh and severe. DERIVATIVES draconic | -ˈkänik | adjective

Décolleté

| dāˌkäləˈtā | adjective (also décolletée) (of a woman's dress or top) having a low neckline. noun a low neckline on a woman's dress or top.

Du jour

| də ˈZHo͝or, ˌd(y)o͞o | adjective [postpositive] (of food in a restaurant) available and being served on this day: cream of mussel, an occasional soup du jour. • informal used to describe something that is enjoying great but probably short-lived popularity or publicity: attention deficit disorder is the disease du jour.

Declivity

| dəˈklivədē | noun (plural declivities) formal a downward slope: a thickly wooded declivity. DERIVATIVES declivitous | dəˈklivədəs | adjective

Endemic

| enˈdemik | adjective 1 (of a disease or condition) regularly found among particular people or in a certain area: complacency is endemic in industry today | areas where malaria is endemic. • [attributive] denoting an area in which a particular disease is regularly found. 2 (of a plant or animal) native or restricted to a certain country or area: a marsupial endemic to northeastern Australia. noun an endemic plant or animal. DERIVATIVES endemically | enˈdemək(ə)lē | adverb endemicity | ˌendəˈmisədē | noun endemism | ˈendəˌmizəm | noun

Escapologist

| eskəˈpäləjəst, əˌskāˈpäləjəst | noun an entertainer specializing in escaping from the confinement of such things as ropes, handcuffs, and chains. DERIVATIVES escapology | əˌskāˈpäləjē, ˌeskəˈpäləjē | noun

Fraught

| frôt | adjective 1 [predicative] (fraught with) (of a situation or course of action) filled with or destined to result in (something undesirable): marketing any new product is fraught with danger. 2 causing or affected by great anxiety or stress: there was a fraught silence | she sounded a bit fraught.

Fortuitous

| fôrˈto͞oədəs | adjective happening by accident or chance rather than design: the similarity between the paintings may not be simply fortuitous. • happening by a lucky chance; fortunate: from a cash standpoint, the company's timing is fortuitous. DERIVATIVES fortuitousness | fôrˈto͞oədəsnəs | noun

Excipient

| ikˈsipēənt | noun an inactive substance that serves as the vehicle or medium for a drug or other active substance.

Excoriate

| ikˈskôrēˌāt, ekˈskôrēˌāt | verb [with object] 1 formal censure or criticize severely: the papers that had been excoriating him were now lauding him. 2 chiefly Medicine damage or remove part of the surface of (the skin). DERIVATIVES excoriation | ikˌskôrēˈāSH(ə)n, ekˌskôrēˈāSH(ə)n | noun

Extractive

| ikˈstraktiv, ekˈstraktiv | adjective of or involving extraction, especially the extensive extraction of natural resources without provision for their renewal: extractive industry.

Imponderable

| imˈpändərəbəl | noun a factor that is difficult or impossible to estimate or assess: there are too many imponderables for an overall prediction. adjective 1 difficult or impossible to estimate, assess, or answer: an imponderable problem of metaphysics. 2 archaic very light. DERIVATIVES imponderability | imˌpänd(ə)rəˈbilədē | noun imponderably | -blē | adverb

Inculcate

| inˈkəlˌkāt, ˈinkəlˌkāt | verb [with object] instill (an attitude, idea, or habit) by persistent instruction: the failures of the churches to inculcate a sense of moral responsibility. • teach (someone) an attitude, idea, or habit by persistent instruction: they will try to inculcate you with a respect for culture. DERIVATIVES inculcation | ˌinkəlˈkāSH(ə)n | noun inculcator | ənˈkəlˌkādər, ˈinkəlˌkādər, ˈiNGkəlˌkādər | noun

Enmeshed

| inˈmeSH, enˈmeSH | verb [with object] (usually be enmeshed in) cause to become entangled in something: whales enmeshed in drift nets. • involve (someone) in a difficult situation from which it is hard to escape: he is enmeshed in an adulterous affair. DERIVATIVES enmeshment noun

Inseparable

| inˈsep(ə)rəb(ə)l | adjective unable to be separated or treated separately: research and higher education seem inseparable. • (of one or more people) unwilling to be separated; usually seen together: they met 18 months ago and have been inseparable ever since. • Grammar (of a prefix) not used as a separate word or (in German) not separated from the base verb when inflected. noun a person or thing inseparable from another. DERIVATIVES inseparability | ˌinˌsep(ə)rəˈbilədē | noun inseparably | inˈsep(ə)rəblē | adverb

Insidious

| inˈsidēəs | adjective proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects: sexually transmitted diseases can be insidious and sometimes without symptoms. • treacherous; crafty: tangible proof of an insidious alliance. DERIVATIVES insidiousness | inˈsidēəsnəs | noun

Insinuated

| inˈsinyo͞oˌāt | verb [with object] 1 suggest or hint (something bad or reprehensible) in an indirect and unpleasant way: [with clause] : he was insinuating that she had slept her way to the top. 2 slide (oneself or a thing) slowly and smoothly into a position: the bugs insinuate themselves between one's skin and clothes. • (insinuate oneself into) maneuver oneself into (a position of favor or office) by subtle manipulation: she seemed to be taking over, insinuating herself into the family. DERIVATIVES insinuatingly adverb insinuator | inˈsinyəˌwādər | noun

Insipid

Intransigent

| inˈtransəjənt, inˈtranzəjənt | adjective unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something. noun an intransigent person. DERIVATIVES intransigency noun intransigently | inˈtransəj(ə)ntlē, inˈtranzəj(ə)ntlē | adverb

Entreaty

| inˈtrēdē, enˈtrēdē | noun (plural entreaties) an earnest or humble request: the king turned a deaf ear to his entreaties.

Interment

| inˈtərmənt | noun the burial of a corpse in a grave or tomb, typically with funeral rites: the day of interment | interments took place in the churchyard.

Interminable

Inordinate

| inˈôrd(ə)nət | adjective unusually or disproportionately large; excessive: a case that had taken up an inordinate amount of time. • archaic (of a person) unrestrained in feelings or behavior; disorderly.

Illusory

Immaculate

| iˈmakyələt | adjective (especially of a person or their clothes) perfectly clean, neat, or tidy: an immaculate white suit. • free from flaws or mistakes; perfect: an immaculate safety record. • Theology (in the Roman Catholic Church) free from sin. • Botany & Zoology uniformly colored without spots or other marks. DERIVATIVES immaculacy | -ləsē | noun immaculateness noun

Inexorably

| iˈneks(ə)rəblē | adverb in a way that is impossible to stop or prevent: the conflict was to lead inexorably to the outbreak of World War I.

Inimical

| iˈnimək(ə)l | adjective tending to obstruct or harm: actions inimical to our interests. • unfriendly; hostile: an inimical alien power. DERIVATIVES inimically | -ik(ə)lē | adverb

Gesticulate

Gelatinous

| jəˈlatnəs | adjective having a jellylike consistency: a sweet, gelatinous drink. • of or like the protein gelatin: tooth enamel is coated with a gelatinous layer of protein. DERIVATIVES gelatinously adverb

Categorically

| kadəˈɡôriklē | adverb in a way that is unambiguously explicit and direct: the rules state categorically, "No violence.".

Cantankerous

Cashet

| kaˈSHā | noun 1 the state of being respected or admired; prestige: no other shipping company had quite the cachet of Cunard. 2 a distinguishing mark or seal. • Philately a printed design added to an envelope to commemorate a special event. 3 a flat capsule enclosing a dose of unpleasant-tasting medicine.

Clout

| klout | noun 1 informal a heavy blow with the hand or a hard object: a clout on the ear. 2 informal influence or power, especially in politics or business: I knew he carried a lot of clout. 3 archaic a piece of cloth or clothing, especially one used as a patch. 4 Archery a target used in long-distance shooting, placed flat on the ground with a flag marking its center. • a shot that hits a clout. verb [with object] 1 informal hit hard with the hand or a hard object: I clouted him on the head. 2 archaic mend with a patch.

Credulity

| krəˈd(y)o͞olədē | noun a tendency to be too ready to believe that something is real or true.

Quip

| kwip | noun a witty remark. • archaic a verbal equivocation. verb (quips, quipping, quipped) [no object] make a witty remark: [with direct speech] : "Flattery will get you nowhere," she quipped. DERIVATIVES quipster | ˈkwipstər | noun

Coquettish

Comport

| kəmˈpôrt | verb 1 (comport oneself) formal conduct oneself; behave: articulate students who comported themselves well in television interviews. 2 [no object] (comport with) archaic accord with; agree with: the actions that comport with her own liberal views. comport2 | ˈkämpôrt | noun another term for compote (sense 2) .

Conducive

| kənˈd(y)o͞osiv | adjective making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible: the harsh lights and cameras were hardly conducive to a relaxed atmosphere.

Concatenate

| kənˈkatnˌāt | verb [with object] formal or technical link (things) together in a chain or series: some words may be concatenated, such that certain sounds are omitted.

Concerted

| kənˈsərdəd | adjective 1 jointly arranged, planned, or carried out; coordinated: determined to begin a concerted action against them. • strenuously carried out; done with great effort: it would take a concerted effort for a burglar to break into my home. 2 (of music) arranged in several parts of equal importance: concerted secular music for voices. DERIVATIVES concertedly adverb

Contusion

| kənˈto͞oZHən | noun Medicine a region of injured tissue or skin in which blood capillaries have been ruptured; a bruise.

Contrarian

| kənˈtre(ə)rēən | noun a person who opposes or rejects popular opinion, especially in stock exchange dealing. adjective opposing or rejecting popular opinion; going against current practice: the comment came more from a contrarian disposition than moral conviction. DERIVATIVES contrarianism | -ˌnizəm | noun

Contrivance

| kənˈtrīvəns | noun 1 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. 2 a device, especially in literary or artistic composition, which gives a sense of artificiality: the often tiresome contrivances of historical fiction. • a thing which is created skillfully and inventively to serve a particular purpose: an assortment of electronic equipment and mechanical contrivances.

Convivial

| kənˈvivēəl | adjective (of an atmosphere or event) friendly, lively, and enjoyable. • (of a person) cheerful and friendly; jovial. DERIVATIVES convivially | kənˈvivēəlē | adverb

Collate

| kəˈlāt, ˈkōˌlāt | verb [with object] 1 collect and combine (texts, information, or sets of figures) in proper order. • compare and analyze (texts or other data): these accounts he collated with his own experience. • Printing verify the order of (sheets of a book) by their signatures. 2 appoint (a member of the clergy) to a benefice.

Caprice

| kəˈprēs | noun 1 a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior: the caprices of the electorate | a land where men were ruled by law and not by caprice. 2 Music another term for capriccio.

Capacious

| kəˈpāSHəs | adjective having a lot of space inside; roomy: she rummaged in her capacious handbag. DERIVATIVES capaciously adverb capaciousness | kəˈpāSHəsnəs | noun

Correlative

| kəˈrelədiv | adjective having a mutual relationship; corresponding: rights, whether moral or legal, can involve correlative duties. • Grammar (of words such as neither and nor) corresponding to each other and regularly used together. noun a word or concept that has a mutual relationship with another word or concept: the child's right to education is a correlative of the parent's duty to send the child to school. DERIVATIVES correlatively | kəˈrelədivlē | adverb correlativity | kəˌreləˈtivitē | noun

Loquacious

Melange

| māˈlänj | (also melange) noun a mixture; a medley: a melange of tender vegetables and herbs.

Mirth

| mərTH | noun amusement, especially as expressed in laughter: his six-foot frame shook with mirth.

Noetic

| nōˈedik | adjective formal relating to mental activity or the intellect.

Pictorial

| pikˈtôrēəl | adjective of or expressed in pictures; illustrated: feelings presented in a pictorial form. noun a newspaper or periodical with pictures as a main feature. DERIVATIVES pictorially | pikˈtôrēəlē | adverb

Proxemics

| präkˈsēmiks | plural noun [treated as singular] the branch of knowledge that deals with the amount of space that people feel it necessary to set between themselves and others. DERIVATIVES proxemic adjective

Prodigious

| prəˈdijəs | adjective 1 remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree: the stove consumed a prodigious amount of fuel. 2 archaic unnatural or abnormal: rumors of prodigious happenings, such as monstrous births. DERIVATIVES prodigiously | prəˈdijəslē, prōˈdijəslē | adverb prodigiousness | prəˈdijəsnəs | noun

Predominant

| prəˈdämənənt | adjective present as the strongest or main element: its predominant color was white. • having or exerting control or power: the predominant political forces.

Predominate

| prəˈdäməˌnāt | verb [no object] be the strongest or main element; be greater in number or amount: small-scale producers predominate in the south. • have or exert control or power: private interest was not allowed to predominate over the public good.

Profundity

| prəˈfəndədē | noun (plural profundities) deep insight; great depth of knowledge or thought: the simplicity and profundity of the message. • great depth or intensity of a state, quality, or emotion: the profundity of her misery. • a statement or idea that shows great knowledge or insight.

Procure

| prəˈkyo͝or | verb [with object] 1 obtain (something), especially with care or effort: food procured for the rebels | [with two objects] : he persuaded a friend to procure him a ticket. • obtain (someone) as a prostitute for another person: he was charged with procuring a minor. 2 [with object and infinitive] Law persuade or cause (someone) to do something: he procured his wife to sign the agreement. DERIVATIVES procurable | prəˈkyo͞orəb(ə)l | adjective

Preponderance

| prəˈpänd(ə)rəns | noun the quality or fact of being greater in number, quantity, or importance: the preponderance of women among older people | forests with a preponderance of Apache pine.

Preposterous

Proviso

| prəˈvīzō | noun (plural provisos) 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.

Posterity

| päˈsterədē | noun all future generations of people: the victims' names are recorded for posterity. • [in singular] archaic the descendants of a person: God offered Abraham a posterity like the stars of heaven.

Pall

| pôl | noun 1 a cloth spread over a coffin, hearse, or tomb. 2 a dark cloud or covering of smoke, dust, or similar matter: a pall of black smoke hung over the quarry. • something regarded as enveloping a situation with an air of gloom, heaviness, or fear: torture and murder have cast a pall of terror over the villages. 3 an ecclesiastical pallium. • Heraldry a Y-shaped charge representing the front of an ecclesiastical pallium. pall2 | pôl | verb [no object] become less appealing or interesting through familiarity: the novelty of the quiet life palled.

Per capita

| pər ˈkapədə | adverb & adjective for each person; in relation to people taken individually: [as adverb] : the state had fewer banks per capita than elsewhere | [as adjective] : per capita spending.

Periphery

| pəˈrif(ə)rē | noun (plural peripheries) the outer limits or edge of an area or object: new buildings on the periphery of the hospital site. • a marginal or secondary position in, or part or aspect of, a group, subject, or sphere of activity: a shift in power from the center to the periphery.

Reductive

| rəˈdəktiv | adjective 1 tending to present a subject or problem in a simplified form, especially one viewed as crude: such a conclusion by itself would be reductive. • (with reference to art) minimal: he combines his reductive abstract shapes with a rippled surface. 2 relating to chemical reduction. DERIVATIVES reductively | rəˈdəktivlē | adverb reductiveness noun

Refrain

| rəˈfrān | verb [no object] stop oneself from doing something: she refrained from comment. refrain2 | rəˈfrān | noun a repeated line or number of lines in a poem or song, typically at the end of each verse. • the musical accompaniment for a refrain. • a comment or complaint that is often repeated: "Poor Tom" had become the constant refrain of his friends.

Rejoinder

| rəˈjoindər | noun a reply, especially a sharp or witty one: she would have made some cutting rejoinder but none came to mind. • Law, dated a defendant's answer to the plaintiff's reply or replication.

Rapacious

Resumption

| rəˈzəm(p)SH(ə)n | noun the action of beginning something again after a pause or interruption: a resumption of meaningful negotiation.

Centrality

| senˈtralədē | noun 1 the quality or fact of being in the middle of somewhere or something. • the state of being accessible from a variety of places: he believes that the location's centrality can only be an added advantage for guests. 2 the quality of being essential or of the greatest importance: the centrality of religion in their lives | the centrality and sovereignty of the state.

Sclerotic

| skləˈrädik | adjective 1 Medicine of or having sclerosis. 2 becoming rigid and unresponsive; losing the ability to adapt: sclerotic management. 3 Anatomy relating to the sclera. noun another term for sclera.

Scholasticism

| skəˈlastəˌsizəm | noun the system of theology and philosophy taught in medieval European universities, based on Aristotelian logic and the writings of the early Church Fathers and having a strong emphasis on tradition and dogma. • narrow-minded insistence on traditional doctrine.

Spawn

| spôn | verb 1 [no object] (of a fish, frog, mollusk, crustacean, etc.) release or deposit eggs: the fish spawn among fine-leaved plants | [with object] : a large brood is spawned. • (be spawned) (of a fish, frog, etc.) be laid as eggs. • (of a character or object in a video game) appear at a certain point in the game: then they enter the undead land where defenders will spawn to fight against them | [with object] : players can spawn a ghost ship to confuse foes. 2 [with object] often derogatory (of a person) produce (offspring): why had she married a man who could spawn a boy like that? • [with object] produce or generate, especially in large numbers: the decade spawned a bewildering variety of books on the forces. • [with object] Computing generate (a dependent or subordinate computer process). noun 1 the eggs of fish, frogs, etc.: the fish covers its spawn with gravel. • the process of producing spawn. 2 chiefly derogatory the product or offspring of a person or place (used to express distaste or disgust): the spawn of chaos: demons and sorcerers. 3 the mycelium of a fungus, especially a cultivated mushroom. DERIVATIVES spawner noun

Stint

| stint | verb [with object, often with negative] supply an ungenerous or inadequate amount of (something): stowage room hasn't been stinted. • restrict (someone) in the amount of something, especially money, given or permitted: to avoid having to stint yourself, budget in advance. • [no object] be economical or frugal about spending or providing something: he doesn't stint on wining and dining. noun 1 a person's fixed or allotted period of work: his varied career included a stint as a magician. 2 limitation of supply or effort: a collector with an eye for quality and the means to indulge it without stint. noun a small short-legged sandpiper of northern Eurasia and Alaska, with a brownish back and white underparts. Genus Calidris, family Scolopacidae: four species.

Svelte

| svelt, sfelt | adjective (of a person) slender and elegant.

Subversive

| səbˈvərsiv | adjective seeking or intended to subvert an established system or institution: subversive literature. noun a subversive person. DERIVATIVES subversively | səbˈvərsivlē | adverb subversiveness noun

Subvert

| səbˈvərt | verb [with object] undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution): an attempt to subvert democratic government. DERIVATIVES subverter | səbˈvərdər | noun

Circuitous

| sərˈkyo͞oədəs | adjective (of a route or journey) longer than the most direct way: the canal followed a circuitous route | figurative : a circuitous line of reasoning. DERIVATIVES circuitously | sərˈkyo͞oədəslē | adverb circuitousness noun

Surmountable

| sərˈmount | verb [with object] 1 overcome (a difficulty or obstacle): all manner of cultural differences were surmounted. 2 (usually be surmounted) stand or be placed on top of: the tomb was surmounted by a sculptured angel. DERIVATIVES surmountable | sərˈmoun(t)əb(ə)l | adjective

Sedate

| səˈdāt | verb [with object] calm (someone) or make them sleep by administering a sedative drug: she was heavily sedated.

Telephony

| təˈlefənē, ˈteləˌfōnē | noun the working or use of telephones.

Voracious

Veracious

| vəˈrāSHəs | adjective formal speaking or representing the truth. DERIVATIVES veraciously adverb veraciousness noun

Vociferously

| vəˈsif(ə)rəslē | adverb in a loud and forceful manner: the country vociferously opposed the war.

Vicissitude

| vəˈsisəˌt(y)o͞od | noun (usually vicissitudes) a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant: her husband's sharp vicissitudes of fortune. • literary alternation between opposite or contrasting things: the vicissitude of the seasons. DERIVATIVES vicissitudinous | vəˈsisəˌt(y)o͞odnəs | adjective

Wonk

| wäNGk | noun North American informal, derogatory a studious or hardworking person: any kid with an interest in science was a wonk. • a person who takes an excessive interest in minor details of political policy: he is a policy wonk in tune with a younger generation of voters. DERIVATIVES wonkish adjective

Ubiquitous

| yo͞oˈbikwədəs | adjective present, appearing, or found everywhere: his ubiquitous influence was felt by all the family | cowboy hats are ubiquitous among the male singers. DERIVATIVES ubiquitously adverb ubiquitousness | yo͞oˈbikwədəsnəs | noun

Utopic

| yo͞oˈtōpik | adjective another term for utopian: a utopic vision.

Artificiality

| ärdəfiSHēˈalədē | noun 1 the quality of being made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally: vigorous debates about the authenticity of the original and the artificiality of the copy. • the quality of being contrived or false: users complain about the artificiality of war games. 2 insincerity or affectedness: he claimed to have been horrified by the artificiality of his actors during the making of his first feature film.

Arcane

| ärˈkān | adjective understood by few; mysterious or secret: modern math and its arcane notation. DERIVATIVES arcanely adverb

Orthogonal

| ôrˈTHäɡənl | adjective 1 of or involving right angles; at right angles. 2 Statistics (of variates) statistically independent. • (of an experiment) having variates which can be treated as statistically independent. DERIVATIVES orthogonality | ôrˌTHäɡəˈnalitē | noun orthogonally | ôrˈTHäɡ(ə)nəlē | adverb

Overtly

| ōˈvərtlē, ˈōvərtlē | adverb without concealment or secrecy; openly: the selection policy was not overtly stated | [as submodifier] : some of the narrative is overtly sexual.

Absconded

| əbˈskänd | verb [no object] 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. • (of a person on bail) fail to surrender oneself for custody at the appointed time. • (of a person kept in detention or under supervision) escape: 176 detainees absconded. • (of a colony of honeybees, especially Africanized ones) entirely abandon a hive or nest. DERIVATIVES absconder | əbˈskändər | noun

Obsequious

Absolve

| əbˈzälv, əbˈsälv | verb [with object] set or declare (someone) free from blame, guilt, or responsibility: the pardon absolved them of any crimes. • give absolution for (a sin).

Obliterate

| əˈblidəˌrāt | verb [with object] destroy utterly; wipe out: the memory was so painful that he obliterated it from his mind. • cause to become invisible or indistinct; blot out: clouds were darkening, obliterating the sun. DERIVATIVES obliterative | -ˌrātiv | adjective obliterator | əˈblidəˌrādər | noun

Effectual

Acuity

| əˈkyo͞oədē | noun sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing: intellectual acuity | visual acuity.

Allegedly

| əˈlejədlē | adverb [sentence adverb] used to convey that something is claimed to be the case or have taken place, although there is no proof: he was allegedly a leading participant in the coup attempt | [as submodifier] : allegedly obscene material.

Allay

| əˈlā | verb [with object] diminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry): the report attempted to educate the public and allay fears. • relieve or alleviate (pain or hunger): some stale figs partly allayed our hunger.

Inured

| əˈn(y)o͝or | (also enure) verb 1 [with object] (usually be inured to) accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant: these children have been inured to violence. 2 [no object] (inure for/to) Law come into operation; take effect: a release given to one of two joint contractors inures to the benefit of both. DERIVATIVES inurement | əˈn(y)o͝ormənt | noun

Opprobrium

| əˈprōbrēəm | noun harsh criticism or censure: his films and the critical opprobrium they have generated. • the public disgrace arising from someone's shameful conduct: the opprobrium of being closely associated with thugs and gangsters. • archaic an occasion or cause of reproach or disgrace.

Assiduously

| əˈsijo͞oəslē | adverb with great care and perseverance: leaders worked assiduously to hammer out an action plan.

Assuage

| əˈswāj | verb [with object] make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense: the letter assuaged the fears of most members. • satisfy (an appetite or desire): an opportunity occurred to assuage her desire for knowledge. DERIVATIVES assuagement noun

Aghast

| əˈɡast | adjective [predicative] filled with horror or shock: when the news came out they were aghast.

Wheelhouse

| ˈ(h)wēlˌhous | noun 1 a part of a boat or ship serving as a shelter for the person at the wheel. 2 Baseball the part of a batter's strike zone most likely to produce a home run: Oakland's closer Street left a fastball in Bonds' wheelhouse with two outs. • (one's wheelhouse) US a place or situation in which one is advantageously at ease: as the campaign swings to the south, that should be right in his wheelhouse.

Thicket

| ˈTHikit | noun a dense group of bushes or trees.

Acrimony

| ˈakrəˌmōnē | noun bitterness or ill feeling: a quagmire of lawsuits, acrimony, and finger-pointing.

Allocative

| ˈaləˌkādiv | adjective chiefly Economics relating to the allocating of resources or funds to a particular area or for a particular purpose: free market mechanisms may be vital for allocative efficiency.

Apogee

| ˈapəjē | noun 1 the highest point in the development of something; a climax or culmination: the White House is considered the apogee of American achievement. 2 Astronomy the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is furthest from the earth. The opposite of perigee.

Aperture

| ˈapərˌCHər, ˈapərˌCHo͝or | noun an opening, hole, or gap: the bell ropes passed through apertures in the ceiling. • a space through which light passes in an optical or photographic instrument, especially the variable opening by which light enters a camera. DERIVATIVES apertural adjective

Asinine

| ˈasəˌnīn | adjective extremely stupid or foolish: Lydia ignored his asinine remark. DERIVATIVES asininity | ˌasəˈninədē | noun

Bevy

| ˈbevē | noun (plural bevies) a large group of people or things of a particular kind: a bevy of big-name cameos will keep the adults entertained. • a group of birds, especially quail, particularly when closely gathered on the ground.

Bombast

| ˈbämbast | noun high-sounding language with little meaning, used to impress people.

Denigrate

Desiccate

| ˈdesəˌkāt | verb [with object] 1 (usually as adjective desiccated) remove the moisture from (something, especially food), typically in order to preserve it: desiccated coconut. 2 (as adjective desiccated) lacking interest, passion, or energy: a desiccated history of ideas. DERIVATIVES desiccation | ˌdesəˈkāSHən | noun desiccative | ˈdesəˌkādiv | adjective

Diffidence

| ˈdifidəns | noun modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence: I say this with some diffidence.

Docile

Dogmatism

| ˈdôɡməˌtizəm | noun the tendency to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true, without consideration of evidence or the opinions of others: a culture of dogmatism and fanaticism. DERIVATIVES dogmatist | ˈdôɡmədəst | noun

Exigency

| ˈeksəjənsē, eɡˈzijənsē | noun (plural exigencies) an urgent need or demand: women worked long hours when the exigencies of the family economy demanded it | he put financial exigency before personal sentiment.

Fascicle

Flagrantly

| ˈflāɡrəntlē | adverb in a conspicuously or obviously offensive way: authorities are flagrantly violating the law by refusing to comply.

Flummoxed

| ˈfləməkst | adjective bewildered or perplexed: he became flummoxed and speechless.

Fractious

| ˈfrakSHəs | adjective (typically of children) irritable and quarrelsome: they fight and squabble like fractious children. • (of a group or organization) difficult to control; unruly: the fractious coalition of Social Democrats. DERIVATIVES fractiously adverb fractiousness | ˈfrakSHəsnəs | noun

Halcyon

| ˈhalsēən | adjective denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful: the halcyon days of the mid-1980s, when profits were soaring. noun 1 a tropical Asian and African kingfisher with brightly colored plumage. Genus Halcyon, family Alcedinidae: many species. 2 a mythical bird said by ancient writers to breed in a nest floating at sea at the winter solstice, charming the wind and waves into calm.

Chutzpah

| ˈho͝otspə, ˈKHo͝otspə | (also chutzpa or hutzpah or hutzpa) noun informal shameless audacity; impudence.

Impasse

| ˈimˌpas, imˈpas | noun a situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement; a deadlock: the current political impasse.

Interim

| ˈin(t)ərəm | noun the intervening time: in the interim I'll just keep my fingers crossed. adjective in or for the intervening period; provisional or temporary: an interim arrangement. • chiefly British relating to less than a full year's business activity: an interim dividend | interim profit. adverb archaic meanwhile.

Interplay

| ˈin(t)ərˌplā | noun the way in which two or more things have an effect on each other: the interplay between inheritance and learning.

Intraday

| ˈintrəˌdā | adjective [attributive] Stock Market, North American occurring within one day: the dollar slipped from an intraday high of 104.

Jaded

| ˈjādəd | adjective tired, bored, or lacking enthusiasm, typically after having had too much of something: meals to tempt the most jaded appetites. DERIVATIVES jadedly adverb jadedness noun

Genial

| ˈjēnyəl | adjective friendly and cheerful: waved to them in genial greeting. • literary (especially of air or climate) pleasantly mild and warm. DERIVATIVES genially | ˈjēnyəlē | adverb ORIGIN mid 16th century: from Latin genialis 'nuptial, productive', from genius (see genius). The Latin sense was adopted into English; hence the senses 'mild and conducive to growth' (mid 17th century), later 'cheerful, kindly' (mid 18th century). genial2 | jəˈnēəl | adjective Anatomy, rare relating to the chin.

Cadre

| ˈkadrē, ˈkädrē, ˈkadˌrā, ˈkädˌrā | noun a small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession: a small cadre of scientists. • a group of activists in a communist or other revolutionary organization. • a member of an activist group.

Caterwaul

| ˈkadərˌwôl | verb [no object] (often as noun caterwauling) (of a cat) make a shrill howling or wailing noise: the caterwauling of a pair of bobcats | (as adjective caterwauling) figurative : a caterwauling guitar. noun a shrill howling or wailing noise.

Cataract

| ˈkadəˌrakt | noun 1 a large waterfall. • a sudden rush of water; a downpour: the rain enveloped us in a deafening cataract. 2 a medical condition in which the lens of the eye becomes progressively opaque, resulting in blurred vision: she had cataracts in both eyes.

Castigated

Crestfallen

| ˈkres(t)ˌfôlən | adjective sad and disappointed: he came back empty-handed and crestfallen.

Credence

| ˈkrēdəns | noun 1 belief in or acceptance of something as true: psychoanalysis finds little credence among laymen. • the likelihood of something being true; plausibility: being called upon by the media as an expert lends credence to one's opinions. 2 [usually as modifier] a small side table, shelf, or niche in a church for holding the elements of the Eucharist before they are consecrated: a credence table. PHRASES give credence to accept as true.

Cretinous

| ˈkrēt(ə)nəs | adjective 1 informal, offensive foolish or stupid. 2 Medicine, dated physically deformed and having learning disabilities as a result of congenital thyroid deficiency.

Quagmire

| ˈkwaɡˌmī(ə)r | noun a soft boggy area of land that gives way underfoot: torrential rain turned the building site into a quagmire. • an awkward, complex, or hazardous situation: a legal quagmire.

Comic

| ˈkämik | adjective causing or meant to cause laughter: comic and fantastic exaggeration. • relating to or in the style of comedy: a comic actor | comic drama. noun 1 a comedian, especially a professional one: a stand-up comic. 2 • (comics) North American comic strips.

Controvert

| ˈkäntrəˌvərt, ˌkäntrəˈvərt | verb [with object] deny the truth of (something): subsequent work from the same laboratory controverted these results. • argue about (something): the views in the article have been controverted. DERIVATIVES controvertible | ˌkäntrəˈvərdəb(ə)l | adjective

Carnal

| ˈkärnl | adjective relating to physical, especially sexual, needs and activities: carnal desire. DERIVATIVES carnality | kärˈnalədē | noun carnally adverb

Coda

| ˈkōdə | noun Music the concluding passage of a piece or movement, typically forming an addition to the basic structure. • 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. • a concluding event, remark, or section: his new novel is a kind of coda to his previous books.

Cogently

| ˈkōjənt | adjective (of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing. DERIVATIVES cogently | ˈkōjəntlē | adverb

Latticework

| ˈladisˌwərk | noun interlacing strips of wood, metal, or other material forming a lattice.

Latterly

| ˈladərlē | adverb recently: latterly, his painting has shown a new freedom of expression. • in the later stages of a period of time, especially of a person's life: he worked on the paper for fifty years, latterly as its political editor.

Laxity

| ˈlaksədē | noun 1 lack of strictness or care: the result of such fiscal laxity is a budget deficit | laxity of discipline. 2 looseness of a limb or muscle: over-stretching can result in joint laxity.

Lecherous

Lethargy

| ˈleTHərjē | noun a lack of energy and enthusiasm: periods of weakness and lethargy | [in singular] : she might have sunk into a lethargy. • Medicine a pathological state of sleepiness or deep unresponsiveness and inactivity.

Leverage

| ˈlev(ə)rij, ˈlēv(ə)rij | noun 1 the exertion of force by means of a lever or an object used in the manner of a lever: my spade hit something solid that wouldn't respond to leverage. • mechanical advantage gained by using leverage: use a metal bar to increase the leverage. • the power to influence a person or situation to achieve a particular outcome: the right wing had lost much of its political leverage in the Assembly. 2 Finance the ratio of a company's loan capital (debt) to the value of its common stock (equity). • the use of credit or borrowed capital to increase the earning potential of stock. verb [with object] 1 (usually as adjective leveraged) use borrowed capital for (an investment), expecting the profits made to be greater than the interest payable: a leveraged takeover bid. 2 use (something) to maximum advantage: the organization needs to leverage its key resources.

Littoral

| ˈlidərəl | adjective relating to or situated on the shore of the sea or a lake: the littoral states of the Indian Ocean. • Ecology relating to or denoting the zone of the seashore between high- and low-water marks, or the zone near a lake shore with rooted vegetation: limpets and other littoral mollusks. noun a region lying along a shore: irrigated regions of the Mediterranean littoral. • Ecology the littoral zone.

Listicle

| ˈlistək(ə)l | noun a piece of writing or other content presented wholly or partly in the form of a list: a recent BuzzFeed listicle called "21 Pictures That Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity" has attracted more than 13 million views.

Logophile

| ˈlôɡəˌfīl, ˈläɡə- | noun a lover of words.

Logjam

| ˈlôɡˌjam, ˈläɡˌjam | noun 1 a crowded mass of logs blocking a river. 2 a situation that seems irresolvable: the president can use the power of the White House to break the logjam over this issue. • a backlog: keeping a diary may ease the logjam of work considerably.

Masticate

Miscible

| ˈmisəbəl | adjective (of liquids) forming a homogeneous mixture when added together: sorbitol is miscible with glycerol. DERIVATIVES miscibility | ˌmisəˈbilədē | noun

Mizzle

| ˈmizəl | chiefly dialect noun light rain; drizzle. verb [no object] (it mizzles, it is mizzling, etc.) rain lightly: it was mizzling steadily. DERIVATIVES mizzly | ˈmizlē | adjective verb [no object] British informal, dated go away suddenly; vanish: he mizzled into the crowd.

Moniker

| ˈmänəkər | (also monicker) noun informal a name. DERIVATIVES monikered adjective

Markedly

| ˈmärkədlē | adverb to an extent which is clearly noticeable; significantly: new diagnoses have increased markedly since 1998 | [as submodifier] : this advice is markedly different to that last year.

Mawkish

| ˈmôrāz | plural noun the essential or characteristic customs and conventions of a community: an offense against social mores.

Musculature

| ˈməskyələCHər, ˈməskyələˌCHo͝or | noun the system or arrangement of muscles in a body, part of the body, or an organ.

Nexus

| ˈneksəs | noun (plural same or nexuses) a connection or series of connections linking two or more things: the nexus between industry and political power. • a connected group or series: a nexus of ideas. • the central and most important point or place: the nexus of all this activity was the disco.

Nest egg

| ˈnest ˌeɡ | noun 1 a sum of money saved for the future: I worked hard to build up a nice little nest egg. 2 a real or artificial egg left in a nest to induce hens to lay eggs there.

Nadir

| ˈnādər, ˈnādir | noun [in singular] the lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization: they had reached the nadir of their sufferings. • Astronomy the point on the celestial sphere directly below an observer. The opposite of zenith.

Neophyte

| ˈnēəˌfīt | noun a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief: four-day cooking classes are offered to neophytes and experts. • a new convert to a religion. • a novice in a religious order, or a newly ordained priest.

Pablum

| ˈpabləm | noun (also pabulum | ˈpabyələm | ) literary bland or insipid intellectual fare, entertainment, etc.; pap.

Parity

| ˈperədē | noun 1 the state or condition of being equal, especially regarding status or pay: parity of incomes between rural workers and those in industrial occupations. • (also purchasing parity) the value of one currency in terms of another at an established exchange rate. • a system of providing farmers with consistent purchasing power by regulating prices of farm products, usually with government price supports. 2 Mathematics (of a number) the fact of being even or odd. • Physics the property of a spatial wave equation that either remains the same (even parity) or changes sign (odd parity) under a given transformation. • Physics the value of a quantum number corresponding to parity. • Computing a function whose being even (or odd) provides a check on a set of binary values. | ˈperədē | noun Medicine the fact or condition of having borne children. • the number of children previously borne: very high parity (six children or more).

Paroxysm

| ˈperəkˌsizəm | noun a sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity: a paroxysm of weeping. • Medicine a sudden recurrence or attack of a disease; a sudden worsening of symptoms. DERIVATIVES paroxysmal | ˌperəkˈsizm(ə)l | adjective

Paramount

| ˈperəˌmount | a city in southwestern California, southeast of Los Angeles; population 55,236 (est. 2008). paramount | ˈperəˌmount | adjective more important than anything else; supreme: the interests of the child are of paramount importance. • [attributive] having supreme power: a paramount chief. DERIVATIVES paramountcy | ˈperəˌmountsē | noun paramountly adverb

Prowess

| ˈprouəs | noun 1 skill or expertise in a particular activity or field: his prowess as a fisherman. 2 bravery in battle.

Prodigal

| ˈprädəɡəl | adjective 1 spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant: prodigal habits die hard. 2 having or giving something on a lavish scale: the dessert was crunchy with brown sugar and prodigal with whipped cream. noun a person who spends money in a recklessly extravagant way. • (also prodigal son or daughter) a person who leaves home and behaves recklessly, but later makes a repentant return. [with biblical allusion to the parable in Luke 15:11-32.] DERIVATIVES prodigality | ˌprädəˈɡalədē | noun prodigally | ˈprädəɡ(ə)lē | adverb

Proffer

| ˈpräfər | verb [with object] hold out (something) to someone for acceptance; offer: he proffered his resignation. noun literary an offer or proposal.

Posthumous

| ˈpäsCHəməs | adjective occurring, awarded, or appearing after the death of the originator: he was awarded a posthumous Military Cross | a posthumous collection of his articles. • (of a child) born after the death of its father.

Rancor

| ˈraNGkər | (British rancour) noun bitterness or resentfulness, especially when long-standing: he spoke without rancor.

Regularize

| ˈreɡyələˌrīz | verb [with object] make (something) regular. • establish (a hitherto temporary or provisional arrangement) on an official or correct basis: immigrants applying to regularize their status as residents. DERIVATIVES regularization | ˌreɡyələrəˈzāSH(ə)n, ˌreɡyələˌrīˈzāSH(ə)n | noun

Stalking horse

| ˈstôkiNG ˌhôrs | noun 1 a false pretext concealing someone's real intentions. • a political candidate who runs only in order to provoke the election and thus allow a stronger candidate to come forward. 2 a screen traditionally made in the shape of a horse behind which a hunter can stay concealed when stalking prey.

Swanky

| ˈswaNGkē | adjective (swankier, swankiest) informal stylishly luxurious and expensive: directors with swanky company cars. • using one's wealth, knowledge, or achievements to try to impress others. DERIVATIVES swankily | -kəlē | adverb swankiness noun

Scion

| ˈsīən | noun 1 (also cion) a young shoot or twig of a plant, especially one cut for grafting or rooting. 2 a descendant of a notable family: he was the scion of a wealthy family.

Tenet

| ˈtenət | noun a principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy: the tenets of classical liberalism.

Tractate

| ˈtraktāt | noun formal a treatise.

Tokenism

| ˈtōkəˌnizəm | noun the practice of making only a perfunctory or symbolic effort to do a particular thing, especially by recruiting a small number of people from underrepresented groups in order to give the appearance of sexual or racial equality within a workforce. DERIVATIVES tokenistic | ˌtōkəˈnistik | adjective

Venerate

| ˈvenəˌrāt | verb [with object] regard with great respect; revere: Mother Teresa is venerated as a saint. DERIVATIVES venerator | ˈvenəˌrādər | noun

Watershed

| ˈwôdərˌSHed, ˈwädərˌSHed | noun 1 an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas. • an area or region drained by a river, river system, or other body of water. 2 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.

Yiddishism

| ˈyidəˌSHizəm | noun 1 a Yiddish word or idiom, especially one adopted into another language. 2 advocacy of Yiddish culture.

Zenith

| ˈzēnəTH | noun [in singular] 1 the time at which something is most powerful or successful: under Justinian, the Byzantine Empire reached its zenith of influence. 2 Astronomy the point in the sky or celestial sphere directly above an observer. The opposite of nadir. • the highest point reached by a celestial or other object: the sun was well past the zenith | the missile reached its zenith and fell. DERIVATIVES zenithal | ˈzēniTH(ə)l | adjective

Obstinate

| ˈäbstənət | adjective stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so. • (of an unwelcome phenomenon or situation) very difficult to change or overcome: the obstinate problem of unemployment. DERIVATIVES obstinately | ˈäbztənətlē, ˈäbstənətlē | adverb

Omnibus

| ˈämnəˌbəs | noun 1 a volume containing several novels or other items previously published separately: an omnibus of her first trilogy. 2 dated a bus. adjective comprising several items: Congress passed an omnibus anticrime package.

Onslaught

| ˈänˌslôt, ˈônˌslôt | noun a fierce or destructive attack: a series of onslaughts on the citadel. • a large quantity of people or things that is difficult to cope with: an onslaught of electronic mail.

Optics

| ˈäptiks | plural noun [usually treated as singular] 1 the scientific study of sight and the behavior of light, or the properties of transmission and deflection of other forms of radiation. 2 chiefly North American (typically in a political context) the way in which an event or course of action is perceived by the public: the issue itself is secondary to the optics of the Democrats opposing this administration in a high-profile way.

Ardent

| ˈärdnt | adjective enthusiastic or passionate: an ardent baseball fan | an ardent suitor. • archaic or literary burning; glowing: the ardent flames.

Alienable

| ˈālēənəbəl | adjective Law able to be transferred to new ownership. DERIVATIVES alienability | ˌālēənəˈbilədē | noun

Idyll

| ˈīdl | 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. • a short description in verse or prose of a picturesque scene or incident, especially in rustic life.

Odious

Absolution

| ˌabsəˈl(y)o͞oSH(ə)n | noun formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment. • an ecclesiastical declaration of forgiveness of sins: the priest administered absolution.

Insubordination

| ˌinsəˌbôrdəˈnāSH(ə)n | noun defiance of authority; refusal to obey orders: he was dismissed for insubordination.

Invariably

| ˌinˈverēəblē | adverb in every case or on every occasion; always: the meals here are invariably big and hearty.

Sisyphean

| ˌsisəˈfēən | adjective (of a task) such that it can never be completed.

Psychographic

| ˌsīkōˈɡrafiks | plural noun [treated as singular] the study and classification of people according to their attitudes, aspirations, and other psychological criteria, especially in market research. DERIVATIVES psychographic adjective

Suppositious

| ˌsəpəˈziSHəs | adjective based on assumption rather than fact: most of the evidence is purely suppositious. DERIVATIVES suppositiously adverb suppositiousness noun

Asiatic

| ˌāZHēˈadik, ˌāzēˈadik | adjective relating to or deriving from Asia: Asiatic coastal regions | Asiatic cholera. noun offensive an Asian person.

Unenviable

| ˌənˈenvēəb(ə)l | adjective difficult, undesirable, or unpleasant: an unenviable reputation for drunkenness | he had the unenviable task of trying to reconcile their disparate interests. DERIVATIVES unenviably | -blē | adverb

Gastronomic

Astroturfing

Astroturfing is the practice of masking the sponsors of a message or organization (e.g., political, advertising, religious or public relations) to make it appear as though it originates from and is supported by grassroots participants. It is a practice intended to give the statements or organizations credibility by withholding information about the source's financial connection. The term astroturfing is derived from AstroTurf, a brand of synthetic carpeting designed to resemble natural grass, as a play on the word "grassroots." The implication behind the use of the term is that instead of a "true" or "natural" grassroots effort behind the activity in question, there is a "fake" or "artificial" appearance of support.

Ostalgia

In German culture, Ostalgie (German: [ˌʔɔstalˈɡiː]) is nostalgia for aspects of life in Communist East Germany. It is a portmanteau of the German words Ost (east) and Nostalgie (nostalgia). Its anglicised equivalent, ostalgia (rhyming with "nostalgia"), is also sometimes used. As with other cases of Communist nostalgia, there are various motivations, whether ideology, nationalism, wistfulness for a lost sense of social status or stability, or even aesthetics or irony.

Mise en place

Mise en place (French pronunciation: [mi zɑ̃ ˈplas]) is a French culinary phrase which means "putting in place" or "everything in its place." It refers to the set up required before cooking, and is often used in professional kitchens to refer to organizing and arranging the ingredients (e.g., cuts of meat, relishes, sauces, par-cooked items, spices, freshly chopped vegetables, and other components) that a cook will require for the menu items that are expected to be prepared during a shift. The practice can be applied in home kitchens.

Sapioexual

One who finds intelligence the most sexually attractive feature; behaviour of becoming attracted to or aroused by intelligence and its use.

Service à la russe

Service à la russe (French, "service in the Russian style") is a manner of dining that involves courses being brought to the table sequentially. It contrasts with service à la française ("service in the French style") in which all the food is brought out at once, in an impressive display.

Scedasticity

The distribution of error terms. Error terms are distributed either randomly and with constant variance (homoscedasticity) or with some kind of pattern (heteroscedasticity).

Foggy

adjective (foggier, foggiest) full of or accompanied by fog: a dark and foggy night. • unable to think clearly; confused: she was foggy with sleep. • indistinctly expressed or perceived; obscure: exactly what the company hopes to achieve is still foggy. PHRASES not have the foggiest (also not have the foggiestidea or not have the foggiest notion) informal, mainly British have no idea at all. DERIVATIVES foggily adverb fogginess | ˈfôɡēnəs | noun ORIGIN late 15th century: perhaps from fog2.

Incendiary

adjective (of a device or attack) designed to cause fires: incendiary grenades. • tending to stir up conflict: incendiary rhetoric | an incendiary slogan. • very exciting: an incendiary live performer. noun (plural incendiaries) an incendiary bomb or device. • a person who starts fires, especially in a military context. • a person who stirs up conflict. DERIVATIVES incendiarism | inˈsendēəˌrizəm | noun

Urbane

adjective (of a person, especially a man) suave, courteous, and refined in manner: he is charming and urbane | a sophisticated, urbane man. DERIVATIVES urbanely | ərˈbānlē | adverb urbaneness noun

Polysyllabic

adjective (of a word) having more than one syllable. • using or characterized by words of many syllables: polysyllabic jargon. DERIVATIVES polysyllabically | -səˈlabək(ə)lē | adverb

Granular

adjective 1 resembling or consisting of small grains or particles. • having a roughened surface or structure. 2 technical characterized by a high level of granularity: a granular database. ORIGIN late 18th century: from late Latin granulum (see granule) + -ar1.

Peculiar

adjective 1 strange or odd; unusual: his accent was a peculiar mixture of Cockney and Irish. • [predicative] informal slightly and indefinably unwell; faint or dizzy: I felt a little peculiar for a while, but I'm absolutely fine now. 2 particular; special: any attempt to explicate the theme is bound to run into peculiar difficulties. • [predicative] (peculiar to) belonging exclusively to: the air hung with an antiseptic aroma peculiar to hospitals. noun mainly British a parish or church exempt from the jurisdiction of the diocese in which it lies, through being subject to the jurisdiction of the monarch or an archbishop.

Gobsmacked

adjective British informal utterly astonished; astounded.

Causative

adjective acting as a cause: a causative factor. • Grammar expressing causation: a causative verb. noun Grammara causative verb. DERIVATIVES causatively adverb

Quadripartite

adjective consisting of four parts: a simple quadripartite vault. • shared by or involving four parties: a quadripartite conference. ORIGIN late Middle English: from Latin quadripartitus, from quadri- 'four' + partitus 'divided'.

Dastardly

adjective dated or humorous wicked and cruel: pirates and their dastardly deeds. DERIVATIVES dastardliness noun

Autotelic

adjective formal (of an activity or a creative work) having an end or purpose in itself.

Epochal

adjective forming or characterizing an epoch; epoch-making: the epochal scale of change in the East | the beginning of Jesus's human life is an epochal event.

Irascible

adjective having or showing a tendency to be easily angered: an irascible man. DERIVATIVES irascibility | iˌrasəˈbilədē | nounirascibly | iˈrasəblē | adverb

Seditious

adjective inciting or causing people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch: the letter was declared seditious. DERIVATIVES seditiously | səˈdiSHəslē | adverb

Fugacious

adjective literary tending to disappear; fleeting: she was acutely conscious of her fugacious youth. DERIVATIVES fugaciously adverb fugaciousness noun

Evanescent

adjective mainly literary soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing: a shimmering evanescent bubble. • Physics denoting a field or wave that extends into a region where it cannot propagate and whose amplitude therefore decreases with distance. DERIVATIVES evanescence | ˌevəˈnes(ə)ns | noun evanescently adverb

Crepuscular

adjective of, resembling, or relating to twilight. • Zoology (of an animal) appearing or active in twilight.

Cocksure

adjective presumptuously or arrogantly confident: the cocksure golf prodigy from California. DERIVATIVES cocksurely adverb cocksureness | ˌkäkˈSHo͝ornəs | noun

Profligate

adjective recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources: profligate consumers of energy. • licentious; dissolute: he succumbed to drink and a profligate lifestyle. noun a licentious, dissolute person: he is a drunkard and a profligate. DERIVATIVES profligately | ˈpräfləɡətlē, ˈpräfləˌɡātlē | adverb

Corybantic

adjective wild; frenzied: rock and roll's corybantic gyrations.

Tempestuous

adjective1 characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion: he had a reckless and tempestuous streak. 2 very stormy: a tempestuous wind. DERIVATIVEStempestuously | temˈpesCH(o͞o)əslē | adverb tempestuousness | temˈpesCH(o͞o)əsnəs | noun

Give up the ghost

die. (of a machine) stop working.

Imp

imp | noun a small, mischievous devil or sprite. • a mischievous child: a rude young imp. verb [with object] repair a damaged feather in (the wing or tail of a trained hawk) by attaching part of a new feather. IMP | imp | abbreviation Bridge International Match Point.

Plat principal

main course; main dish.

Knock-on effect

noun a secondary, indirect, or cumulative effect: a decline in butterflies would have a knock-on effect on other British species.

Refectory

noun (plural refectories) a room used for communal meals in an educational or religious institution.

Chaebol

noun (plural same or chaebols) (in South Korea) a large family-owned business conglomerate. ORIGIN Korean, from chae 'money' + bol 'faction, clique', on the model of Japanese zaibatsu (see zaibatsu).

Seraph

noun (plural seraphim | ˈserəˌfim | or seraphs) an angelic being, regarded in traditional Christian angelology as belonging to the highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy, associated with light, ardor, and purity. ORIGIN Old English, back-formation from seraphim (plural), via late Latin and Greek from Hebrew śĕrāp̱īm. Compare with cherub.

Islet

noun 1 a small island. 2 Anatomy a portion of tissue structurally distinct from surrounding tissues. • (islets) short for islets of Langerhans. ORIGIN mid 16th century: from Old French, diminutive of isle (see isle).

Perturbation

noun 1 anxiety; mental uneasiness: she sensed her friend's perturbation. • a cause of anxiety or uneasiness: Frank's atheism was more than a perturbation to Michael. 2 a deviation of a system, moving object, or process from its regular or normal state or path, caused by an outside influence: some minor perturbation in his house's cash flow. • Astronomy a minor deviation in the course of a celestial body, caused by the gravitational attraction of a neighboring body.

Propinquity

noun 1 formal the state of being close to someone or something; proximity: he kept his distance as though afraid propinquity might lead him into temptation. 2 technical close kinship.

Conniption

noun North American informal a fit of rage or hysterics: the casting choice gave the writers a conniption. ORIGIN mid 19th century: probably an invented word.

Cynosure

noun [in singular] a person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration: the Queen was the cynosure of all eyes.

Compunction

noun [usually with negative] a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad: spend the money without compunction | he had no compunction about behaving blasphemously. DERIVATIVES compunctionless adjective

Blue ribbon

noun a badge made of blue ribbon and given as first prize to the winner of a competition. • (in the UK) a badge worn by members of the Order of the Garter. adjective [attributive] North American 1 of the highest quality; first-class: blue-ribbon service. 2 (of a jury or committee) carefully or specially selected: the SEC's blue-ribbon committee on auditor independence.

Yurt

noun a circular tent of felt or skins on a collapsible framework, used by nomads in Mongolia, Siberia, and Turkey.

Actuator

noun a device that causes a machine or other device to operate: a computerized unit instructs the actuator how to move the tires.

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. • a person whose views or actions have great influence over trends in social behavior: an arbiter of taste.

Despot

noun a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way.

Demitasse

noun a small coffee cup: [as modifier] : a demitasse spoon.

Aperitif

noun an alcoholic drink taken before a meal to stimulate the appetite.

Diktat

noun an order or decree imposed by someone in power without popular consent: a diktat from the Bundestag | he can disband the legislature and rule by diktat.

Debutante

noun an upper-class young woman making her first appearance in fashionable society.

Stanchion

noun an upright bar, post, or frame forming a support or barrier. • (in full cattle stanchion) a frame that holds the head of a cow in place, especially to facilitate milking. DERIVATIVES stanchioned adjective

Pilferage

noun the action of stealing things of little value: surveillance practices reduce theft and pilferage in the workplace | the pilferage of food is widespread.

Vintage

noun the year or place in which wine, especially wine of high quality, was produced. • a wine of high quality made from the crop of a single identified district in a good year. • literary wine. • the harvesting of grapes for winemaking. • the grapes or wine produced in a particular season. • the time that something of quality was produced: rifles of various sizes and vintages. adjective relating to or denoting wine of high quality: vintage claret. • denoting something of high quality, especially something from the past or characteristic of the best period of a person's work: a vintage Sherlock Holmes adventure. ORIGIN late Middle English: alteration (influenced by vintner) of earlier vendage, from Old French vendange, from Latin vindemia (from vinum 'wine'+ demere 'remove').

Vuja de

something familiar viewed with a fresh view

Drachenfutter

(very rare) A gift given to placate someone, especially a spouse, who is angry at the giver.

Ballast

noun 1 heavy material, such as gravel, sand, iron, or lead, placed low in a vessel to improve its stability: the hull had insufficient ballast. • heavy material carried in an airship or on a hot-air balloon to stabilize it, and jettisoned when greater altitude is required. • something that gives stability or substance: the film is an entertaining comedy with some serious ideas thrown in for ballast. 2 gravel or coarse stone used to form the bed of a railroad track or road: a thick layer of railroad ballast. • a mixture of coarse and fine aggregate for making concrete. 3 a passive component used in an electric circuit to moderate changes in current: ballasts are permanently wired into existing fixtures | [as modifier] : ballast resistors. verb [with object] (usually be ballasted) 1 give stability to (a ship) by putting a heavy substance in its bilge: the vessel has been ballasted to give the necessary floating stability. 2 form (the bed of a railroad line or road) with gravel or coarse stone: the track was laid with rails and ballasted with earth. PHRASES in ballast (of a ship) laden only with ballast.

Croupier

noun 1 the person in charge of a gaming table, gathering in and paying out money or tokens. 2 historical the assistant chairman at a public dinner, seated at the lower end of the table.

Quarterbacking

noun American Football a player positioned behind the center who directs a team's offensive play. • North American a person who directs or coordinates an operation or project. verb [with object] American Football play as a quarterback for (a particular team): he spent last fall quarterbacking the scout team. • North American direct or coordinate (an operation or project): McIntyre had been quarterbacking the development of a satellite video transmission system.

Spandrel

noun Architecture the almost triangular space between one side of the outer curve of an arch, a wall, and the ceiling or framework. • the space between the shoulders of adjoining arches and the ceiling or molding above. ORIGIN late Middle English: perhaps from Anglo-Norman French spaund(e)re, or from espaundre 'expand'.

Corpuscle

noun Biology a minute body or cell in an organism, especially a red or white cell in the blood of vertebrates. • historical a minute particle regarded as the basic constituent of matter or light: these subparticles at the center of an antimony corpuscle are fluid and volatile. DERIVATIVES corpuscular | kôrˈpəskyələr | adjective ORIGIN mid 17th century: from Latin corpusculum 'small body', diminutive of corpus.

Abattoir

noun British a slaughterhouse.

Donkey work

noun British informal the boring or laborious part of a job; drudgery: supervisors who get a research student to do the donkeywork.

Minger

noun British informal, derogatory an unattractive or unpleasant person or thing: Why can't anyone see that Spencer is a complete minger?

Bootloader

noun Computing a program that loads an operating system when a computer is turned on: Linux's GRUB bootloader can be used to select which operating system you'd like to boot into.

Referent

noun Linguisticsthe thing that a word or phrase denotes or stands for: "the Morning Star" and "the Evening Star" have the same referent (the planet Venus).

Snifter

noun North American a footed glass that is wide at the bottom and tapers to the top, used for brandy and other drinks. • informal a small quantity of an alcoholic drink: care to join me for a snifter?

Way station

noun North American a stopping point on a journey: the hotel was a way station for all the aid workers who passed through the city | Anchorage is a way station on the great circle route | figurative : experts think the cellular field is only a way station to more complex technologies. • a minor station on a railroad.

Phenom

noun North American informal a person who is outstandingly talented or admired, especially an up-and-comer: the newest pop phenom. ORIGINlate 19th century: abbreviation of phenomenon.

Monday morning quarterback

noun North American informal a person who passes judgment on and criticizes something after the event. DERIVATIVESMonday morning quarterbacking noun

Percept

noun Philosophy an object of perception; something that is perceived. • a mental concept that is developed as a consequence of the process of perception. ORIGIN mid 19th century: from Latin perceptum 'something perceived', neuter past participle of percipere 'seize, understand', on the pattern of concept.

Pièce de résistance

noun [in singular] (especially with reference to creative work or a meal) the most important or remarkable feature: the pièce de résistance of the meal was flaming ice cream.

Dearth

noun [in singular] a scarcity or lack of something: there is a dearth of evidence.

Furor

noun [in singular] an outbreak of public anger or excitement: the article raised a furor among mathematicians. • archaic a wave of enthusiastic admiration; a craze: it was little thought that they would excite such a furor among stamp collectors. ORIGIN late 18th century: from Italian, from Latin furor, from furere 'be mad, rage'.

Upshot

noun [in singular] 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.

Trepidation

noun [mass noun] 1 a feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen: the men set off in fear and trepidation. 2 archaic trembling movements or motion.

Metacognition

noun [mass noun] Psychologyawareness and understanding of one's own thought processes. DERIVATIVESmetacognitive adjective

Profiteering

noun [mass noun] the practice of making or seeking to make an excessive or unfair profit, especially illegally or in a black market: seven food merchants were charged for profiteering | the profiteering of tabloid journalists.

Maven

noun [often with modifier] North American informal an expert or connoisseur: fashion mavens call beige oatmeal. ORIGIN 1960s: Yiddish.

Intelligentsia

noun [treated as singular or plural] (usually the intelligentsia) intellectuals or highly educated people as a group, especially when regarded as possessing culture and political influence: a distrust of the intelligentsia and of theoretical learning | the belief that the liberal intelligentsia is ruining the country.

Surfeit

noun [usually in singular] an excessive amount of something: a surfeit of food and drink. • archaic an illness caused or regarded as being caused by excessive eating or drinking: he died of a surfeit. verb (surfeits, surfeiting, surfeited) [with object] (usually be surfeited with) cause (someone) to desire no more of something as a result of having consumed or done it to excess: I am surfeited with shopping. • [no object] archaic consume too much of something: he never surfeited on rich wine.

Dalliance

noun a casual romantic or sexual relationship: Jack was not averse to an occasional dalliance with a pretty girl. • brief or casual involvement with something: Berkeley was my last dalliance with the education system.

Festoon

noun a chain or garland of flowers, leaves, or ribbons, hung in a curve as a decoration. • a carved or molded ornament representing a festoon. verb [with object] (often be festooned with) adorn (a place) with ribbons, garlands, or other decorations: the room was festooned with balloons and streamers. DERIVATIVES festoonery noun

Duumvirate

noun a coalition of two people having joint authority or influence: real power will devolve into the hands of a duumvirate.

Assemblage

noun a collection or gathering of things or people: a wondrous assemblage of noble knights, cruel temptresses, and impossible loves. • a machine or object made of pieces fitted together: some vast assemblage of gears and cogs. • a work of art made by grouping found or unrelated objects. • the action of gathering or fitting things together: the assemblage of electronic image and text databases.

Panoply

noun a complete or impressive collection of things: a deliciously inventive panoply of insults. • a splendid display: all the panoply of Western religious liturgy. • historical or literary a complete set of arms or suit of armor. DERIVATIVES panoplied | ˈpanəplēd | adjective

Gambit

noun a device, action, or opening remark, typically one entailing a degree of risk, that is calculated to gain an advantage: his resignation was a tactical gambit. • (in chess) an opening in which a player makes a sacrifice, typically of a pawn, for the sake of some compensating advantage.

Auteur

noun a filmmaker whose personal influence and artistic control over a movie are so great that the filmmaker is regarded as the author of the movie. DERIVATIVES auteurism | -ˌizəm | noun auteurist | -ist | adjective

Cavalcade

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

Retinue

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

Onramp

noun a lane for traffic entering a turnpike or freeway.

Skein

noun a length of thread or yarn, loosely coiled and knotted. • a tangled or complicated arrangement, state, or situation: the skeins of her long hair | figurative : a skein of lies. • a flock of wild geese or swans in flight, typically in a V-shaped formation.

Marque

noun a make of car, as distinct from a specific model: marques such as Bentley, Ferrari, or Porsche. ORIGINearly 20th century: from French, back-formation from marquer 'to brand', of Scandinavian origin.

Bildungsroman

noun a novel dealing with one person's formative years or spiritual education: the book is a bildungsroman of sorts, as Tull overcomes his abused childhood and learns about love.

Backwater

noun a part of a river not reached by the current, where the water is stagnant: the eels inhabit backwaters. • an isolated or peaceful place: a sleepy Midwest backwater. • a place or condition in which no development or progress is taking place: the country remained an economic backwater.

Rapporteur

noun a person appointed by an organization to report on the proceedings of its meetings: the UN rapporteur. ORIGINlate 18th century: French, from rapporter 'bring back'.

Pedestrian

noun a person walking along a road or in a developed area: the road is so dangerous pedestrians avoid it | [as modifier] : a pedestrian bridge. adjective lacking inspiration or excitement; dull: disenchantment with their present, pedestrian lives. DERIVATIVES pedestrianism noun pedestrianly adverb

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. adjective hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts: a philistine government | there were displays to inspire even the most philistine of visitors. DERIVATIVES philistinism | ˈfiləst(ə)nizəm | noun

Megalomaniac

noun a person who is obsessed with their own power. • a person who suffers delusions of their own power or importance. adjectiveexhibiting megalomania. DERIVATIVES megalomaniacal | ˌmeɡ(ə)ləməˈnīək(ə)l | adjective

Huckster

noun a person who sells small items, either door-to-door or from a stall or small store. • a mercenary person eager to make a profit out of anything. • North American a publicity agent or advertising copywriter, especially for radio or television. verb [with object] North American promote or sell (something, typically a product of questionable value). • [no object] bargain; haggle. DERIVATIVES hucksterism | -izəm | noun

Lodestone

noun a piece of magnetite or other naturally magnetized mineral, able to be used as a magnet. • a naturally magnetized mineral; magnetite. • a thing that is the focus of attention or attraction: the revolution in eastern Europe has robbed the state of its ideological lodestone.

Rubicon

noun a point of no return: on the way to political union we are now crossing the Rubicon | with this book he has crossed a Rubicon. noun(in piquet) an act of winning a game against an opponent whose total score is less than 100, in which case the loser's score is added to rather than subtracted from the winner's. verb (rubicons, rubiconing, rubiconed) [with object] score a rubicon against (one's opponent).

Diminution

noun a reduction in the size, extent, or importance of something: a permanent diminution in value | the disease shows no signs of diminution. • Music the shortening of the time values of notes in a melodic part.

Phantasmagoria

noun a sequence of real or imaginary images like those seen in a dream: what happened next was a phantasmagoria of horror and mystery. DERIVATIVES phantasmagoric | fanˌtazməˈɡôrik | adjective phantasmagorical | ɡôrikəl | adjective

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. • a monologue or spoken improvisation, especially a humorous one, on a particular subject: subsequent riffs on the same themes fail to amuse. verb [no object] play musical riffs: the other horns would be riffing behind him. • perform a monologue or spoken improvisation on a particular subject: he also riffs on racism and the economy.

Panacea

noun a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases: the panacea for all corporate ills | the time-honored panacea, cod liver oil. DERIVATIVES panacean | -ˈsēən | adjective

Paean

noun a song of praise or triumph: a paean of praise for the great poets. • a thing that expresses enthusiastic praise: his books are paeans to combat.

Reverie

noun a state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts; a daydream: a knock on the door broke her reverie | I slipped into reverie. • Music an instrumental piece suggesting a dreamy or musing state: his own compositions can move from impressionist reveries to an orchestral chordal approach. • archaic a fanciful or impractical idea or theory: he defended and explained all the reveries of astrology.

Bourse

noun a stock market in a non-English-speaking country, especially France. • (the Bourse) the Paris stock exchange. ORIGIN mid 16th century (as burse, the usual form until the mid 19th century): from French, literally 'purse', via medieval Latin from Greek bursa 'leather'.

Revisionist

noun a supporter of a policy of revision or modification: the revisionists who sought to replace it were long denied. • a person with a revised attitude to a previously accepted situation or point of view: revisionists have argued that the battle was crucial. adjective advocating a policy of revision or modification: a radically revisionist republican strategy. • promoting a revised attitude to a previously accepted situation or point of view: he is unimpressed by the arguments of revisionist historians | a revisionist view of the media's role in politics.

Atavism

noun a tendency to revert to something ancient or ancestral: the more civilized a society seems to be, the more susceptible it is to its buried atavism. • Biology recurrence of traits of an ancestor in a subsequent generation.

Archaism

noun a thing that is very old or old-fashioned. • an archaic word or style of language or art. • the use or conscious imitation of very old or old-fashioned styles or features in language or art. DERIVATIVES archaistic | ˌärkēˈistik, ˌärkāˈistik | adjective

Insurrection

noun a violent uprising against an authority or government: the insurrection was savagely put down | opposition to the new regime led to armed insurrection. DERIVATIVES insurrectionary | ˌinsəˈrekSHəˌnerē | adjective insurrectionist | ˌinsəˈrekSH(ə)nəst | noun & adjective ORIGIN late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin insurrectio(n-), from insurgere 'rise up'.

Loanword

noun a word adopted from a foreign language with little or no modification.

Tontine

noun an annuity shared by subscribers to a loan or common fund, the shares increasing as subscribers die until the last survivor enjoys the whole income. • a life insurance plan in which the beneficiaries are those who survive and maintain a policy to the end of a given period.

Extravaganza

noun an elaborate and spectacular entertainment or production: an extravaganza of dance in many forms.

Sine qua non

noun an essential condition; a thing that is absolutely necessary: grammar and usage are the sine qua non of language teaching and learning. ORIGIN Latin, literally '(cause) without which not'.

Kludge

noun an ill-assorted collection of parts assembled to fulfill a particular purpose. • Computing a machine, system, or program that has been badly put together. verb [with object] use ill-assorted parts to make (something): Hugh had to kludge something together.

Requisition

noun an official order laying claim to the use of property or materials: I had to make various requisitions for staff and accommodations. • a formal written demand that some duty should be performed or something be put into operation. • the appropriation of goods for military or public use: requisition of grain at the point of a gun proved a novel experience for the peasantry. verb [with object] demand the use or supply of, especially by official order and for military or public use: the government had assumed powers to requisition cereal products at fixed prices. • demand the performance or occurrence of: one of the investors has requisitioned a special meeting. DERIVATIVES requisitioner noun requisitionist noun

Paramour

noun archaic a lover, especially the illicit partner of a married person.

Succor

noun assistance and support in times of hardship and distress: the wounded had little chance of succor. • (succors) archaic reinforcements of troops. verb [with object] give assistance or aid to: prisoners of war were liberated and succored. DERIVATIVES succorless (British succourless) adjective

Indolence

noun avoidance of activity or exertion; laziness: my failure is probably due to my own indolence.

Whole cloth

noun cloth of the full size as manufactured, as distinguished from a piece cut off for a garment or other item. PHRASES out of (the) whole cloth North American informal totally false: the allegations had been created out of whole cloth.

Passementerie

noun decorative trimming such as tassels, braid, and fringing, used on furniture and clothing (e.g. military uniforms).

Terra firma

noun dry land; the ground as distinct from the sea or air: they needed to rest themselves on terra firma.

Lechery

noun excessive or offensive sexual desire; lustfulness: the vice of lechery.

Appellation

noun formal a name or title: the city fully justifies its appellation "the Pearl of the Orient.". • the action of giving a name to a person or thing. noun an appellation contrôlée: about 20 percent of French wines with an appellation come from Alsace. • a wine bearing an appellation contrôlée: the top appellations Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. • the district in which a wine bearing an appellation contrôlée is produced: the northeast corner of the appellation.

Malefactor

noun formal a person who commits a crime or some other wrong. DERIVATIVES malefaction | ˌmaləˈfakSH(ə)n | noun ORIGIN late Middle English: from Latin, from malefact- 'done wrong', from the verb malefacere, from male 'ill' + facere 'do'.

Turpitude

noun formal depravity; wickedness: acts of moral turpitude.

Alterity

noun formal the state of being other or different; otherness: the problem of alterity occurs also in homogeneous societies. ORIGIN mid 17th century: from late Latin alteritas, from alter 'other'.

Clarion

noun historical a shrill narrow-tubed war trumpet. • an organ stop with a quality resembling that of a clarion. adjective literary loud and clear: clarion trumpeters. PHRASES clarion call | ˈklerēən ˌkôl | a strongly expressed demand or request for action: he issued a clarion call to young people to join the Party.

Multi-hyphenate

noun informal a person, especially a celebrity, with several professions or skills: her list of professional accomplishments puts other pop culture multi-hyphenates to shame | [as modifier] : the multi-hyphenate star added health-food advocate and entrepreneur to his list of credits | the multi-hyphenate actor-artist-author-presenter is listed as the director.

Step change

noun mainly British (in business or politics) a significant change in policy or attitude, especially one that results in an improvement or increase.

Tome

noun mainly humorous a book, especially a large, heavy, scholarly one: a weighty tome.

Intransigence

noun refusal to change one's views or to agree about something: in the face of government intransigence, he resigned in disgust.

Futurology

noun systematic forecasting of the future, especially from present trends in society. DERIVATIVESfuturological | ˌfyo͞oCHərəˈläjēk(ə)l | adjectivefuturologist | ˌfyo͞oCHəˈräləjəst | noun

Dyad

noun technical something that consists of two elements or parts: the mother-child dyad. • Mathematics an operator which is a combination of two vectors. • Chemistry a divalent atom or radical. DERIVATIVES dyadic | dīˈadik | adjective

Respirations

noun the action of breathing: opiates affect respiration. • mainly Medicine a single breath: observation of the patient's respirations will gradually be decreased. • Biology a process in living organisms involving the production of energy, typically with the intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide from the oxidation of complex organic substances.

Egress

noun the action of going out of or leaving a place: direct means of access and egress for passengers. • a way out: a narrow egress. • Law US the right or freedom to come out or go out. • Astronomy another term for emersion.verb [with object] mainly US go out of or leave (a place): they'd egress the area by heading southwest. DERIVATIVES egression noun

Self-aggrandizement

noun the action or process of promoting oneself as being powerful or important: critics accused him of self-aggrandizement.

Declinism

noun the belief that a particular country, society, or institution is in a state of significant and possibly irreversible decline: polls showed a rise in declinism after Nixon's devaluation of the dollar.

Creme de la creme

noun the best person or thing of a particular kind: the crème de la crème of the dancers have left the country. ORIGIN French, literally 'cream of the cream'.

Peroration

noun the concluding part of a speech, typically intended to inspire enthusiasm in the audience: he again invoked the theme in an emotional peroration.

Malapropism

noun the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing effect, as in, for example, "dance a flamingo" (instead of flamenco).

Offing

noun the more distant part of the sea in view. PHRASES in the offing likely to happen or appear soon: there are several initiatives in the offing.

Pax romana

noun the peace which existed between nationalities within the Roman Empire. ORIGIN mid 19th century: Latin, literally 'Roman peace'.

Vivisection

noun the practice of performing operations on live animals for the purpose of experimentation or scientific research (used only by people who are opposed to such work): the abolition of vivisection. • ruthlessly sharp and detailed criticism or analysis: the vivisection of America's seamy underbelly. DERIVATIVES vivisectional adjective vivisectionist | ˌvivəˈsekSH(ə)nəst | noun & adjective

Putrefaction

noun the process of decay or rotting in a body or other organic matter: the breeze shifted and we caught the stench of putrefaction. ORIGINlate Middle English: from Old French, or from late Latin putrefactio(n-), from putrefacere 'make rotten' (see putrefy).

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 | figurative : the growing accretion of central government authority. • a thing formed or added by gradual growth or increase: the city has a historic core surrounded by recent accretions | about one-third of California was built up by accretions. • Astronomy the coming together and cohesion of matter under the influence of gravitation to form larger bodies: the planets could have continued to grow by accretion from solid debris. ORIGIN early 17th century: from Latin accretio(n-), from accrescere 'become larger' (see accrete).

Recombination

noun the process of recombining things: the fragmentation of the earlier large units and recombination of land under new ownership. • Genetics the rearrangement of genetic material, especially by crossing over in chromosomes or by the artificial joining of segments of DNA from different organisms.

Conviviality

noun the quality of being friendly and lively; friendliness: the conviviality of the evening.

Erudition

noun the quality of having or showing great knowledge or learning; scholarship: he was known for his wit, erudition, and teaching skills.

Serological

noun the scientific study or diagnostic examination of blood serum, especially with regard to the response of the immune system to pathogens or introduced substances. DERIVATIVES serologic | ˌsiräˈläjik | adjective serological adjective serologically adverb serologist | -jist | noun

Dereliction

noun the state of having been abandoned and become dilapidated: every year valuable gardens start the slow slide to dereliction. • (usually dereliction of duty) the shameful failure to fulfill one's obligations. ORIGIN late 16th century: from Latin derelictio(n-), from the verb derelinquere (see derelict).

Necromancy

noun the supposed practice of communicating with the dead, especially in order to predict the future: alchemy, necromancy, and other magic practices. • sorcery or black magic in general.

Casuistry

noun the use of clever but unsound reasoning, especially in relation to moral questions; sophistry. • the resolving of moral problems by the application of theoretical rules to particular instances.

Bleeding edge

noun the very forefront of technological development: [as modifier] : an architecture that many people believe is still too bleeding edge for large mission-critical systems.

Presentism

noun uncritical adherence to present-day attitudes, especially the tendency to interpret past events in terms of modern values and concepts. DERIVATIVESpresentist adjective

Sacrilege

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

Detritus

noun waste or debris of any kind: streets filled with rubble and detritus. • gravel, sand, silt, or other material produced by erosion. • organic matter produced by the decomposition of organisms. DERIVATIVES detrital | dəˈtrīdl | adjective ORIGIN late 18th century (in the sense 'detrition'): from French détritus, from Latin detritus, from deterere 'wear away'.

Excise

noun | ˈekˌsīz | [usually as modifier] a tax levied on certain goods and commodities produced or sold within a country and on licenses granted for certain activities: excise taxes on cigarettes. verb | ikˈsīz | [with object] (usually as adjective excised) charge excise on (goods): excised goods. excise2 | ikˈsīz | verb [with object] cut out surgically: the precision with which surgeons can excise brain tumors | (as adjective excised) : excised tissue. • remove (a section) from a text or piece of music: the clauses were excised from the treaty.

Predicate

noun | ˈpredəkət | Grammar the part of a sentence or clause containing a verb and stating something about the subject (e.g., went home in John went home): [as modifier] : predicate adjective. • Logic something that is affirmed or denied concerning an argument of a proposition. verb | ˈpredəˌkāt | [with object] 1 Grammar & Logic state, affirm, or assert (something) about the subject of a sentence or an argument of a proposition: a word that predicates something about its subject | aggression is predicated of those who act aggressively. 2 (predicate something on/upon) found or base something on: the theory of structure on which later chemistry was predicated. DERIVATIVES predication | ˌpredəˈkāSH(ə)n | noun

Umpteenth

ordinal number informal used to emphasize that something has happened on many other occasions: she checked her watch for the umpteenth time | Totti swung his umpteenth corner into Scotland's box.

In point of fact

phrase of fact used to emphasize the truth of an assertion, especially one contrary to what might be expected or what has been asserted.

Carry a torch for

phrase. If you say that someone is carrying a torch for someone else, you mean that they secretly admire them or love them. He has always carried a torch for Barbara.

Hoi polloi

plural noun (usually the hoi polloi) derogatory the masses; the common people: avoid mixing with the hoi polloi.

Qualia

plural noun Philosophy the internal and subjective component of sense perceptions, arising from stimulation of the senses by phenomena. qua·le| ˈkwälē | noun (plural qualia | ˈkwälēə | ) (usually qualia) Philosophya quality or property as perceived or experienced by a person. ORIGIN late 17th century: from Latin, neuter of qualis 'of what kind'.

Metaphysics

plural noun [usually treated as singular] the branch of philosophy that deals with the first principles of things, including abstract concepts such as being, knowing, substance, cause, identity, time, and space: they would regard the question of the initial conditions for the universe as belonging to the realm of metaphysics or religion. • abstract theory with no basis in reality: his concept of society as an organic entity is, for market liberals, simply metaphysics. metaphysicize (British also metaphysicise) verb

Premia

plural noun non-standard plural of premium.

Felicitations

plural noun words expressing praise for an achievement or good wishes on a special occasion: it is my honor to extend the felicitations of the president of France to you.

Vernacular

| vərˈnakyələr | noun 1 (usually the 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. • [with adjective or noun modifier] informal the terminology used by people belonging to a specified group or engaging in a specialized activity: gardening vernacular. 2 architecture concerned with domestic and functional rather than monumental buildings: buildings in which Gothic merged into farmhouse vernacular. adjective 1 (of language) spoken as one's mother tongue; not learned or imposed as a second language. • (of speech or written works) spoken or written using one's mother tongue: vernacular literature. 2 (of architecture) concerned with domestic and functional rather than monumental buildings. DERIVATIVES vernacularism | vərˈnakyələˌrizəm | noun vernacularity | vərˌnakyəˈlerədē | noun vernacularize | vərˈnakyələˌrīz | verb vernacularly adverb

Vicarious

| vəˈkerēəs, vīˈkerēəs | adjective 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. • acting or done for another: a vicarious atonement. • Physiology of or pertaining to the performance by one organ of the functions normally discharged by another. DERIVATIVES vicariousness | vəˈkerēəsnəs, vīˈkerēəsnəs | noun

Veracity

| vəˈrasədē | noun conformity to facts; accuracy: officials expressed doubts concerning the veracity of the story. • habitual truthfulness: voters should be concerned about his veracity and character.

WASP

| wäsp | (also WASP) 1960s: acronym from white Anglo-Saxon Protestant. noun North American an upper- or middle-class American white Protestant, considered to be a member of the most powerful group in society. DERIVATIVES Waspish adjective Waspy adjective

Ubiquity

| yo͞oˈbikwədē | noun the fact of appearing everywhere or of being very common: the ubiquity of mobile phones means you don't really need a watch | the growing ubiquity of advertising.

Euphoric

| yo͞oˈfôrik, yo͞oˈfärik | adjective characterized by or feeling intense excitement and happiness: a euphoric sense of freedom. DERIVATIVES euphorically | yo͞oˈfôrik(ə)lē, -ˈfär- | adverb

Tsar

| zär, (t)sär | (also czar or tzar) noun 1 an emperor of Russia before 1917: Tsar Nicholas II. • a South Slav ruler in former times, especially one reigning over Serbia in the 14th century. 2 (often czar) [usually with adjective or noun modifier] a person appointed by government to advise on and coordinate policy in a particular area: America's new drug czar. DERIVATIVES tsardom | ˈzärdəm, ˈ(t)särdəm | noun tsarism | ˈzärˌizəm, ˈ(t)säˌrizəm | noun tsarist | ˈzärəst, ˈ(t)särəst | noun & adjective

Al dente

| äl ˈdentā, al | adjective & adverb (of food, typically pasta) cooked so as to be still firm when bitten.

Articulated

| ärˈtikyəˌlādəd | adjective 1 having two or more sections connected by a flexible joint: eight articulated trailer coaches | the trilobite's thorax has a variable number of articulated segments. 2 (of an idea or feeling) expressed; put into words: the lack of a clearly articulated policy.

Ostensibly

| äˈstensiblē, əˈstensiblē | adverb [sentence adverb] apparently or purportedly, but perhaps not actually: portrayed as a blue-collar type, ostensibly a carpenter.

Austere

| ôˈstir | adjective (austerer, austerest) severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance: an austere man, with a rigidly puritanical outlook | an austere expression. • (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. • having an extremely plain and simple style or appearance; unadorned: the cathedral is impressive in its austere simplicity. • (of an economic policy or measure) designed to reduce a budget deficit, especially by cutting public expenditure. DERIVATIVES austerely | ôˈstirlē | adverb

Elicit

| ēˈlisət | verb (elicits, eliciting, elicited) [with object] evoke or draw out (a response, answer, or fact) from someone in reaction to one's own actions or questions: they invariably elicit exclamations of approval from guests. • archaic draw forth (something that is latent or potential) into existence: a corrupt heart elicits in an hour all that is bad in us. DERIVATIVES elicitation | əˌlisəˈtāSH(ə)n | noun elicitor | -tər | noun

Elucidate

Iconoclast

| īˈkänəˌklast | noun 1 a person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions. 2 a destroyer of images used in religious worship. • 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. • historical a Puritan of the 16th or 17th century.

Iota

| īˈōdə | noun 1 the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet (Ι, ι), transliterated as 'i.'. • [followed by Latin genitive] (Iota) Astronomy the ninth star in a constellation: Iota Piscium. 2 [in singular, usually with negative] an extremely small amount: nothing she said seemed to make an iota of difference.

Emblazoned

| əmˈblāzn | verb [with object and adverbial of place] conspicuously inscribe or display a design on: T-shirts emblazoned with the names of baseball teams. • depict (a heraldic device) on something: the cardinal's coat of arms is emblazoned on the door panel. • archaic celebrate or extol publicly: their success was emblazoned. DERIVATIVES emblazonment noun

Emphatically

| əmˈfadək(ə)lē | adverb in a forceful way. • [as submodifier] without doubt; clearly: Jane, though born in California, feels emphatically Canadian | [sentence adverb] : Greg is emphatically not a slacker.

Empirical

| əmˈpirik(ə)l | adjective based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic: they provided considerable empirical evidence to support their argument.

Endeavor

| ənˈdevər | (British endeavour) verb [no object, with infinitive] try hard to do or achieve something: he is endeavoring to help the Third World. noun an attempt to achieve a goal: [with infinitive] : an endeavor to reduce serious injury. • earnest and industrious effort, especially when sustained over a period of time: enthusiasm is a vital ingredient in all human endeavor. • an enterprise or undertaking: a political endeavor.

Ensconce

| ənˈskäns | verb [with object and adverbial of place] establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe, or secret place: Agnes ensconced herself in their bedroom | spectators who were once comfortably ensconced in the old stadium's box seats.

Envisage

| ənˈvizij | verb [with object] contemplate or conceive of as a possibility or a desirable future event: the Rome Treaty envisaged free movement across frontiers. • form a mental picture of (something not yet existing or known): he knew what he liked but had difficulty envisaging it.

Eschew

| əsˈCHo͞o, iˈSHo͞o | verb [with object] deliberately avoid using; abstain from: he appealed to the crowd to eschew violence. DERIVATIVES eschewal noun

Abet

| əˈbet | verb (abets, abetting, abetted) [with object] encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular, to commit a crime or other offense: he was not guilty of murder but was guilty of aiding and abetting others. • encourage or assist someone to commit (a crime): we are aiding and abetting this illegal traffic. DERIVATIVES abetment | əˈbetmənt | noun abettor | əˈbedər | (also abetter) noun

Oblique

| əˈblēk, ōˈblēk | adjective 1 neither parallel nor at a right angle to a specified or implied line; slanting: we sat on the settee oblique to the fireplace. • not explicit or direct in addressing a point: he issued an oblique attack on the president. • Geometry (of a line, plane figure, or surface) inclined at other than a right angle. • Geometry (of an angle) acute or obtuse. • Geometry (of a cone, cylinder, etc.) with an axis not perpendicular to the plane of its base. • Anatomy (especially of a muscle) neither parallel nor perpendicular to the long axis of a body or limb. 2 Grammar denoting any case other than the nominative or vocative. 3 not explicit or done in a direct way: he issued an oblique attack on the president. noun 1 a muscle neither parallel nor perpendicular to the long axis of a body or limb. 2 British another term for slash1 (sense 2 of the noun) . DERIVATIVES obliqueness | əˈblēknis, ōˈblēknis | noun obliquity | əˈblikwədē, ōˈblikwədē | noun

Abatement

| əˈbātmənt | noun (often in legal use) the ending, reduction, or lessening of something: noise abatement | an abatement in the purchase price.

Adrenalized

| əˈdrēnlˌīzd | adjective affected with adrenaline. • informal excited, charged, or tense: they possess an adrenalized vigor that distinguishes them from other bands.

Eclectic

| əˈklektik | adjective 1 deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources: her musical tastes are eclectic. 2 (Eclectic) Philosophy of, denoting, or belonging to a class of ancient philosophers who did not belong to or found any recognized school of thought but selected such doctrines as they wished from various schools. noun a person who derives ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources. DERIVATIVES eclectically adverb eclecticism | əˈklektəˌsizəm | noun

Accouterments

| əˈko͞odərmənt, əˈko͞otrəmənt | (also accouterment) noun (usually accoutrements) 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.

Equivocal

Ameliorate

| əˈmēlyəˌrāt | verb [with object] formal make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better: the reform did much to ameliorate living standards. DERIVATIVES ameliorative | əˈmēlēərədiv, əˈmēlyərədiv, əˈmēlēəˌrādiv, əˈmēlyəˌrādiv | adjective ameliorator | -ˌrātər | noun

Emulsion

| əˈməlSH(ə)n | noun 1 a fine dispersion of minute droplets of one liquid in another in which it is not soluble or miscible. • a fine dispersion of one liquid or pureed food substance in another: ravioli with pea and ginger emulsion. 2 (also emulsion paint) British a water-based paint used for walls. • a light-sensitive coating for photographic films and plates, containing crystals of a silver compound dispersed in a medium such as gelatin.

Enumerate

| əˈn(y)o͞oməˌrāt | verb [with object] mention (a number of things) one by one: there is not space to enumerate all his works. • formal establish the number of: the 2000 census enumerated 10,493 households in the county. DERIVATIVES enumerative | əˈn(y)o͞omərədiv, ēˈn(y)o͞omərədiv, əˈn(y)o͞oməˌrādiv, ēˈn(y)o͞oməˌrādiv | adjective

Anathema

| əˈnaTHəmə | noun 1 something or someone that one vehemently dislikes: racial hatred was anathema to her. 2 a formal curse by a pope or a council of the Church, excommunicating a person or denouncing a doctrine. • literary a strong curse: the sergeant clutched the ruined communicator, muttering anathemas.

Anachronism

| əˈnakrəˌnizəm | 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. • an act of attributing a custom, event, or object to a period to which it does not belong.

Anesthetize

| əˈnesTHəˌtīz | (British anaesthetize) verb [with object] administer an anesthetic to (a person or animal), especially so as to induce a loss of consciousness. • deprive of feeling or awareness: tragedy of a magnitude that anesthetizes the mind. DERIVATIVES anesthetization | əˌnesTHədəˈzāSH(ə)n | noun

Aplomb

| əˈpläm, əˈpləm | noun self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation: Diana passed the test with aplomb.

Apocryphal

| əˈpäkrəfəl | adjective (of a story or statement) of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true: an apocryphal story about a former president. • (also Apocryphal) of or belonging to the Apocrypha: the apocryphal Gospel of Thomas.

Erasure

| əˈrāSHər | noun the removal of writing, recorded material, or data. • the removal of all traces of something; obliteration: the erasure of prior history.

Erroneous

| əˈrōnēəs | adjective wrong; incorrect: employers sometimes make erroneous assumptions. DERIVATIVES erroneousness | eˈrōnēəsnəs, ēˈrōnēəsnəs, ēˈrōnyəsnəs, eˈrōnyəsnəs | noun

Assiduous

| əˈsijo͞oəs | adjective showing great care and perseverance: she was assiduous in pointing out every feature. DERIVATIVES assiduousness | əˈsijo͞oəsnəs | noun

Attrition

| əˈtriSH(ə)n | noun 1 the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure: the council is trying to wear down the opposition by attrition | the squadron suffered severe attrition of its bombers. • chiefly North American & Australian/NZ the gradual reduction of a workforce by employees' leaving and not being replaced rather than by their being laid off: with so few retirements since March, the year's attrition was insignificant. • wearing away by friction; abrasion: the skull shows attrition of the edges of the teeth. 2 (in scholastic theology) sorrow, but not contrition, for sin. DERIVATIVES attritional | -SHənl | adjective

Eviscerate

| əˈvisəˌrāt | verb [with object] formal disembowel (a person or animal): the goat had been skinned and neatly eviscerated. • deprive (something) of its essential content: myriad little concessions that would eviscerate the project. • Surgery remove the contents of (a body organ). DERIVATIVES evisceration | əˌvisəˈrāSH(ə)n | noun

Glibly

Gradations

| ɡrāˈdāSH(ə)n | noun a scale or a series of successive changes, stages, or degrees: within the woodpecker family, there is a gradation of drilling ability. • a stage or change in a series of successive degrees: minute gradations of distance. • a minute change from one shade, tone, or color to another: amorphous shapes in subtle gradations of green and blue. • (in historical linguistics) another term for ablaut. DERIVATIVES gradational | ɡrāˈdāSH(ə)n(ə)l | adjective gradationally | -SHənl-ē | adverb

Garrote

| ɡəˈrät ɡəˈrōt | (also garrotte or garotte) verb [with object] kill (someone) by strangulation, typically with an iron collar or a length of wire or cord: he had been garroted with piano wire. noun a wire, cord, or apparatus used to strangle someone.

Hubris

| ˈ(h)yo͞obrəs | noun excessive pride or self-confidence. • (in Greek tragedy) excessive pride toward or defiance of the gods, leading to nemesis.

Homage

| ˈ(h)ämij | noun special honor or respect shown publicly: they paid homage to the local boy who became president | a masterly work written in homage to Beethoven. • historical formal public acknowledgment of feudal allegiance: a man doing homage to his personal lord.

Churlish

Shoehorn

| ˈSHo͞oˌhôrn | noun a curved instrument used to ease one's heel into a shoe. verb [with object and adverbial] force into an inadequate space: people were shoehorned into cramped corners.

Schadenfreude

| ˈSHädənˌfroidə | noun pleasure derived by someone from another person's misfortune.

Anglophile

| ˈaNGɡləˌfīl | noun a person who is fond of or greatly admires England or Britain. adjective fond or admiring of England or Britain. DERIVATIVES Anglophilia | ˌaNGɡləˈfilēə | noun

Anglicize

| ˈaNGɡləˌsīz | verb [with object] make English in form or character: he anglicized his name to Goodman | (as adjective anglicized) : an anglicized form of a Navajo word. DERIVATIVES anglicization | ˌaNGɡləsəˈzāSHən | noun

Abject

| ˈabˌjekt, abˈjekt | adjective 1 (of something bad) experienced or present to the maximum degree: his letter plunged her into abject misery | abject poverty. 2 (of a person or their behavior) completely without pride or dignity; self-abasing: an abject apology. DERIVATIVES abjection | abˈjekSH(ə)n | noun abjectly | ˈabˌjek(t)lē, ˌabˈjek(t)lē | adverb abjectness | ˈabˌjek(t)nəs, ˌabˈjek(t)nəs | noun

Advert

| ˈadˌvərt | noun British informal an advertisement. ORIGIN mid 19th century: abbreviation. advert2 | adˈvərt, ədˈvərt | verb [no object] (advert to) formal refer to in speaking or writing: he had failed to advert to the consequences that his conduct was having.

Afferent

| ˈaf(ə)rənt | adjective Physiology conducting or conducted inward or toward something (for nerves, the central nervous system; for blood vessels, the organ supplied). The opposite of efferent. noun an afferent nerve fiber or vessel.

Adjective

Actualize

| ˈak(t)SH(o͞o)əˌlīz | verb [with object] make a reality of: he had actualized his dream and achieved the world record. DERIVATIVES actualization | ˌak(t)SH(o͞o)əˌlīˈzāSH(ə)n | noun

Alchemy

| ˈalkəmē | noun the medieval forerunner of chemistry, based on the supposed transformation of matter. It was concerned particularly with attempts to convert base metals into gold or to find a universal elixir. • a seemingly magical process of transformation, creation, or combination: finding the person who's right for you requires a very subtle alchemy. DERIVATIVES alchemic | alˈkemik | adjective alchemical | alˈkemikəl | adjective alchemize | ˈalkəˌmīz | verb

Amorous

Antiquated

| ˈan(t)əˌkwādəd | adjective old-fashioned or outdated: this antiquated central heating system.

Ancillary

| ˈansəˌlerē | adjective providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization, institution, industry, or system: the development of ancillary services to support its products. • additional; subsidiary: paragraph 19 was merely ancillary to paragraph 16. noun (plural ancillaries) a person whose work provides necessary support to the primary activities of an organization, institution, or industry: the employment of specialist teachers and ancillaries. • something which functions in a supplementary or supporting role: undergraduate courses of three main subjects with related ancillaries.

Aspirant

| ˈaspərənt, əˈspīrənt | adjective [attributive] (of a person) having ambitions to achieve something, typically to follow a particular career: an aspirant politician. noun a person who has ambitions to achieve something: an aspirant to the throne.

Atlas

| ˈatləs | noun 1 a book of maps or charts: a road atlas | I looked in the atlas to find a map of Italy. • a book of illustrations or diagrams on any subject: Atlas of Surgical Operations. 2 (also atlas vertebra) Anatomy the topmost vertebra of the backbone, articulating with the occipital bone of the skull. 3 (plural atlantes | atˈlantiːz | ) Architecture a stone carving of a male figure, used as a column to support the entablature of a Greek or Greek-style building.

Atrophy

| ˈatrəfē | verb (atrophies, atrophying, atrophied) [no object] 1 (of body tissue or an organ) waste away, typically due to the degeneration of cells, or become vestigial during evolution: without exercise, the muscles will atrophy | (as adjective atrophied) : in some beetles, the hind wings are atrophied. 2 gradually decline in effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect: her artistic skills atrophied from lack of use. noun the process of atrophying or state of having atrophied: gastric atrophy | extensive TV viewing may lead to atrophy of children's imaginations. DERIVATIVES atrophic | əˈträfik | adjective

Backstop

| ˈbakstäp | noun a person or thing placed at the rear of or behind something as a barrier, support, or reinforcement: bullets volleyed into the backstop of a flood-control canal. • Baseball a high fence or similar structure behind the home plate area. • Baseball a catcher: he tore the chest protector completely off the big Yankee backstop. • an emergency precaution or last resort: the human operator has to act as the ultimate backstop when things go badly wrong. verb [with object] Baseball act as backstop for. • Ice Hockey act as goaltender for. • support or reinforce: the founding banks were backstopping the loans.

Banzai

| ˈbanzī | exclamation 1 a Japanese battle cry. 2 a form of greeting used to the Japanese emperor. adjective (especially of Japanese troops) attacking fiercely and recklessly: a banzai charge.

Bellwether

| ˈbelˌweT͟Hər | noun the leading sheep of a flock, with a bell on its neck. • an indicator or predictor of something: college campuses are often the bellwether of change | [as modifier] : the market's bellwether stock.

Byzantine

| ˈbizənˌtēn, ˈbizənˌtīn | adjective 1 relating to Byzantium, the Byzantine Empire, or the Eastern Orthodox Church. • 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. 2 (also byzantine) (of a system or situation) excessively complicated, and typically involving a great deal of administrative detail: Byzantine insurance regulations. • characterized by deviousness or underhanded procedure: he has the most Byzantine mind in politics | Byzantine intrigues. noun a citizen of Byzantium or the Byzantine Empire. DERIVATIVES Byzantinism | bəˈzantəˌnizəm, bī- | noun

Blatherskite

| ˈblaT͟Hərˌskīt | noun chiefly North American a person who talks at great length without making much sense. • foolish talk; nonsense: politicians get away all the time with their blatherskite.

Blandishment

| ˈblandiSHmənt | noun (usually blandishments) a flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently to do something: the blandishments of the travel brochure.

Boilerplate

| ˈboilərˌplāt | noun 1 rolled steel for making boilers. 2 (boilerplates) Climbing smooth, overlapping, and undercut slabs of rock: the ice-worn boilerplates. 3 North American writing that is clichéd or expresses a generally accepted opinion or belief: the same dreary boilerplate he's been dishing up for years. • standardized pieces of text for use as clauses in contracts or as part of a computer program: some sections have been written as boilerplate for use in all proposals.

Boisterous

| ˈboist(ə)rəs | adjective (of a person, event, or behavior) noisy, energetic, and cheerful; rowdy: the boisterous conviviality associated with taverns of that period. • (of wind, weather, or water) wild or stormy: the boisterous wind was lulled. DERIVATIVES boisterously | ˈboist(ə)rəslē | adverb boisterousness | ˈboist(ə)rəsnəs | noun

Brevity

| ˈbrevədē | noun concise and exact use of words in writing or speech. • shortness of time: the brevity of human life. PHRASES brevity is the soul of wit proverb the essence of a witty statement lies in its concise wording and delivery. [from Shakespeare's Hamlet (ii. ii. 90).]

Balkanize

| ˈbôlkəˌnīz | verb [with object] divide (a region or body) into smaller mutually hostile states or groups. DERIVATIVES Balkanization | ˌbôlkəˌnīˈzāSH(ə)n | noun

Bogus

| ˈbōɡəs | adjective not genuine or true; fake: a bogus insurance claim. DERIVATIVES bogusly adverb bogusness noun

Burgeoning

| ˈbərjən | verb [no object] (often as adjective burgeoning) begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish: manufacturers are keen to cash in on the burgeoning demand. • archaic or literary put forth young shoots; bud.

Dubious

| ˈd(y)o͞obēəs | adjective 1 hesitating or doubting: Alex looked dubious, but complied. 2 not to be relied upon; suspect: extremely dubious assumptions. • morally suspect: time-sharing has been brought into disrepute by dubious sales methods. • of questionable value: she earned the dubious distinction of being the lowest-paid teacher in the nation. DERIVATIVES dubiously | ˈd(y)o͞obēəslē | adverb dubiousness | ˈd(y)o͞obēəsnəs | noun

Decorous

Delphic

| ˈdelfik | (also Delphian | -fēən | ) adjective relating to the ancient Greek oracle at Delphi. • (typically of a pronouncement) deliberately obscure or ambiguous.

Derelict

| ˈderəˌlikt | adjective in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect: the cities were derelict and dying. • chiefly North American (of a person) shamefully negligent in not having done what one should have done: he was derelict in his duty to his country. noun a person without a home, job, or property: derelicts who could fit all their possessions in a paper bag. • a piece of property, especially a ship, abandoned by the owner and in poor condition.

Decile

| ˈdeˌsīl | noun Statistics each of ten equal groups into which a population can be divided according to the distribution of values of a particular variable: the lowest income decile of the population. • each of the nine values of the random variable that divide a population into ten such groups.

Dictum

| ˈdiktəm | noun (plural dicta | -tə | or dictums) a formal pronouncement from an authoritative source: the First Amendment dictum that "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech". • a short statement that expresses a general truth or principle: the old dictum "might makes right.". • Law short for obiter dictum.

Dilatory

| ˈdiləˌtôrē | adjective slow to act: he had been dilatory in appointing a solicitor. • intended to cause delay: they resorted to dilatory procedural tactics, forcing a postponement of peace talks. DERIVATIVES dilatorily | ˌdiləˈtôrəlē | adverb dilatoriness | ˈdiləˌtôrēnəs | noun

Disparate

| ˈdispərət, dəˈsperət | adjective essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison: they inhabit disparate worlds of thought. • containing elements very different from one another: a culturally disparate country. noun (disparates) archaic things so unlike that there is no basis for comparison. DERIVATIVES disparately adverb disparateness noun

Ditsy

| ˈditsē | (also ditsy) adjective North American informal silly or scatterbrained: don't tell me my ditzy secretary didn't send you an invitation! DERIVATIVES ditziness noun

Docket

| ˈdäkət | noun 1 North American a calendar or list of cases for trial or people having cases pending. • an agenda or list of things to be done. 2 a document or label listing the contents of a package or delivery. verb (dockets, docketing, docketed) [with object] 1 North American enter (a case or suit) onto a list of those due to be heard: the case will go to the Supreme Court, and may be docketed for the fall term. 2 mark (goods or a package) with a document or label listing the contents. • annotate (a letter or document) with a brief summary of its contents: he docketed the letter on the back in his distinctive writing.

Domicile

| ˈdäməˌsīl, ˈdōməˌsīl, ˈdäməsəl | noun formal or Law the country that a person treats as their permanent home, or lives in and has a substantial connection with: his wife has a domicile of origin in Germany. • chiefly US a person's residence or home: the builder I've hired to renovate my new domicile. • the place at which a company or other body is registered, especially for tax purposes. verb [with adverbial of place] (be domiciled) formal or Law treat a specified country as a permanent home: the tenant is domiciled in the US. • chiefly US reside or be based: he was domiciled in a frame house on the outskirts of town.

Dogged

| ˈdôɡəd | adjective having or showing tenacity and grim persistence: success required dogged determination. DERIVATIVES doggedness | ˈdôɡədnəs | noun

Duffer

| ˈdəfər | noun informal an incompetent or stupid person, especially an elderly one: he's the most worthless old duffer. • a person inexperienced at something, especially at playing golf. duffer2 | ˈdəfər | noun Australian informal a person who steals and alters the brands on cattle.

Echelon

| ˈeSHəˌlän | noun 1 a level or rank in an organization, a profession, or society: the upper echelons of the business world. 2 Military a formation of troops, ships, aircraft, or vehicles in parallel rows with the end of each row projecting further than the one in front. • [often with modifier] a part of a military force differentiated by position in battle or by function: the rear echelon. verb [with object] Military arrange in an echelon formation: (as noun echeloning) : the echeloning of fire teams.

Execrable

| ˈeksəkrəb(ə)l | adjective extremely bad or unpleasant: execrable cheap wine. DERIVATIVES execrably | ˈeksəkrəblē | adverb

Emissary

| ˈeməˌserē | noun (plural emissaries) a person sent on a special mission, usually as a diplomatic representative.

Epoch

| ˈepək | noun a period of time in history or a person's life, typically one marked by notable events or particular characteristics: the Victorian epoch. • 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. • Geology a division of time that is a subdivision of a period and is itself subdivided into ages, corresponding to a series in chronostratigraphy: the Pliocene epoch. • Astronomy an arbitrarily fixed date relative to which planetary or stellar measurements are expressed.

Erudite

| ˈer(y)əˌdīt | adjective having or showing great knowledge or learning. DERIVATIVES eruditely | ˈer(y)əˌdītlē | adverb

Aesthete

| ˈesˌTHēt | (also esthete) noun a person who has or affects to have a special appreciation of art and beauty.

Evergreen

| ˈevərˌɡrēn | adjective relating to or denoting a plant that retains green leaves throughout the year: the glossy laurel is hardy and evergreen | evergreen shrubs. Often contrasted with deciduous. • having an enduring freshness, success, or popularity: in Hollywood parlance, Star Trek is an evergreen asset. noun a plant that retains green leaves throughout the year: evergreens planted to cut off the east wind.

Fatuous

Facile

| ˈfasəl | adjective 1 (especially of a theory or argument) appearing neat and comprehensive only by ignoring the true complexities of an issue; superficial. • (of a person) having a superficial or simplistic knowledge or approach: a man of facile and shallow intellect. 2 (especially of success in sports) easily achieved; effortless: a facile victory | he was revealed to be a facile liar. DERIVATIVES facilely | ˈfasəl(l)ē | adverb facileness noun

Pharisaical

Filigree

| ˈfiləˌɡrē | (also filagree) noun ornamental work of fine (typically gold or silver) wire formed into delicate tracery: [as modifier] : delicate silver filigree earrings | figurative : a wedding cake of gold and white filigree.

Flatly

| ˈflatlē | adverb 1 showing little interest or emotion: "You'd better go," she said flatly. 2 in a firm and unequivocal manner; absolutely: they flatly refused to play | [as submodifier] : his view seems to me flatly contrary to our evidence. 3 in a smooth and even way: I applied the paint flatly. • Photography without marked contrast of light and dark: the photographs were lit very flatly.

Frippery

| ˈfrip(ə)rē | noun (plural fripperies) showy or unnecessary ornament in architecture, dress, or language. • a tawdry or frivolous thing.

Farcical

| ˈfärsək(ə)l | adjective relating to or resembling farce, especially because of absurd or ridiculous aspects: a farcical tangle of events.

Falsify

| ˈfôlsəˌfī | verb (falsifies, falsifying, falsified) [with object] 1 alter (information or evidence) so as to mislead. • forge or alter (a document) fraudulently: (as adjective falsified) : falsified documents. 2 prove (a statement or theory) to be false: the hypothesis is falsified by the evidence. • fail to fulfill (a hope, fear, or expectation); remove the justification for: changes falsify individual expectations. DERIVATIVES falsifiability | ˌfôlsəˌfīəˈbilətē | noun falsifiable | ˌfôlsəˈfīəb(ə)l | adjective

Fortnightly

| ˈfôrtˌnītlē | chiefly British adjective happening or produced every two weeks: a fortnightly bulletin. adverb every two weeks: evening classes will run fortnightly. noun (plural fortnightlies) a magazine or similar publication issued every two weeks.

Haberdasher

| ˈhabərˌdaSHər | noun 1 North American a dealer in men's clothing. 2 British a dealer in goods for dressmaking and sewing.

Heterodox

| ˈhedərəˌdäks | adjective not conforming with accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs: heterodox views. DERIVATIVES heterodoxy | ˈhed(ə)rəˌdäksē | noun

Hemorrhage

| ˈhem(ə)rij | (British haemorrhage) noun an escape of blood from a ruptured blood vessel, especially when profuse. • a damaging loss of valuable people or resources suffered by an organization, group, or country: a hemorrhage of highly qualified teachers. verb [no object] (of a person) suffer a hemorrhage: he had begun hemorrhaging in the night. • [with object] expend (money) in large amounts in a seemingly uncontrollable manner: the business was hemorrhaging cash.

Heliotrop

| ˈhēlēəˌtrōp | noun a plant of the borage family, cultivated for its fragrant purple or blue flowers which are used in perfume. Genus Heliotropium, family Boraginaceae. • a light purple color, similar to that typical of heliotrope flowers.

Hokey

| ˈhōkē | adjective (hokier, hokiest) North American informal mawkishly sentimental: a good-hearted, slightly hokey song. • noticeably contrived: a hokey country-western accent. DERIVATIVES hokeyness (also hokiness) noun

Humdrum

| ˈhəmˌdrəm | adjective lacking excitement or variety; dull; monotonous: humdrum routine work. noun dullness; monotony: an escape from the humdrum of his life.

imbecile

Impish

Impetus

| ˈimpədəs | noun the force or energy with which a body moves: hit the booster coil before the flywheel loses all its impetus. • the force that makes something happen or happen more quickly: the crisis of the 1860s provided the original impetus for the settlements.

Insular

| ˈins(y)ələr | adjective 1 ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one's own experience: a stubbornly insular farming people. • lacking contact with other people: people living restricted and sometimes insular existences. 2 relating to or from an island: the movement of goods of insular origin. • 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. • (of climate) equable because of the influence of the sea. 3 Anatomy relating to the insula of the brain. DERIVATIVES insularly | ˈins(y)ələrlē | adverb

Instigate

| ˈinstəˌɡāt | verb [with object] bring about or initiate (an action or event): they instigated a reign of terror | instigating legal proceedings. • (instigate someone to do something) incite someone to do something, especially something bad: instigating men to refuse allegiance to the civil powers.

Inroad

| ˈinˌrōd | noun 1 [usually in plural] (inroads) progress; an advance: an important way to make inroads in reducing spending. • an instance of something being affected, encroached on, or destroyed by something else: serious inroads had now been made into my pitiful cash reserves. 2 a hostile attack; a raid.

Generative

| ˈjenərədiv, ˈjenəˌrādiv | adjective relating to or capable of production or reproduction: the generative power of the life force. • Linguistics applying principles of generative grammar.

Calcify

| ˈkalsəˌfī | verb (calcifies, calcifying, calcified) [with object] (usually as adjective calcified) harden by deposition of or conversion into calcium carbonate or some other insoluble calcium compounds: calcified cartilage. DERIVATIVES calcific | ˌkalˈsifik | adjective calcification | ˌkalsəfəˈkāSH(ə)n | noun

Catbird

| ˈkatbərd | noun 1 a long-tailed American songbird of the mockingbird family, with mainly dark gray or black plumage and catlike calls. Two genera and species, family Mimidae, in particular the gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) of North America. 2 a thickset Australasian bird of the bowerbird family, typically with a loud call like a yowling cat. It does not generally construct bowers. PHRASES in the catbird seat North American informal in a superior or advantageous position. [said to be an allusion to a baseball player in the fortunate position of having no strikes and therefore three balls still to play (a reference made in James Thurber's short story The Catbird Seat).]

Caricature

| ˈkerikəCHər, ˈkerikəˌCHo͝or | noun a picture, description, or imitation of a person in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect: there are elements of caricature in the portrayal of the hero | a caricature of Jimmy Durante. • a ludicrous or grotesque version of someone or something: he looked like a caricature of his normal self. verb [with object] make or give a comically or grotesquely exaggerated representation of (someone or something): he was caricatured on the cover of TV Guide | a play that caricatures the legal profession. DERIVATIVES caricatural | ˈkerəkəCH(ə)rəl | adjective caricaturist | ˈkerəkəˌCHo͝o(ə)rəst | noun

Carapace

| ˈkerəˌpās | noun the hard upper shell of a turtle, crustacean, or arachnid.

Classicize

| ˈklasəˌsīz | verb [no object] (usually as adjective classicizing) imitate a classical style: the classicizing strains in Guercino's art.

Credo

| ˈkrēdō, ˈkrādō | noun (plural credos) a statement of the beliefs or aims which guide someone's actions: he announced his credo in his first editorial. • (Credo) a creed of the Christian Church in Latin. • (Credo) a musical setting of the Nicene Creed, typically as part of a mass.

Quanta

| ˈkwän(t)əm | noun (plural quanta | -tə | ) 1 Physics a discrete quantity of energy proportional in magnitude to the frequency of the radiation it represents. • an analogous discrete amount of any other physical quantity, such as momentum or electric charge. • Physiology the unit quantity of acetylcholine released at a neuromuscular junction by a single synaptic vesicle, contributing a discrete small voltage to the measured end-plate potential. 2 a required or allowed amount, especially an amount of money legally payable in damages. • a share or portion: each man has only a quantum of compassion.

Quasi

| ˈkwāˌzī, ˈkwäzē | combining form seemingly; apparently but not really: quasi-American | quasi-scientific. • being partly or almost: quasicrystalline.

Cumulus

Codify

| ˈkädəˌfī, ˈkōdəˌfī | verb (codifies, codifying, codified) [with object] arrange (laws or rules) into a systematic code. • arrange according to a plan or system: Verdi helped codify an international operatic culture. DERIVATIVES codifier | ˈkädəˌfī(ə)r, ˈkōdəˌfī(ə)r | noun

Competency

| ˈkämpədəns | (also competency | -tənsē | ) noun 1 the ability to do something successfully or efficiently: the players displayed varying degrees of competence. • the legal authority of a court or other body to deal with a particular matter: the court's competence has been accepted. • the ability of a criminal defendant to stand trial, as gauged by their mental ability to understand the proceedings and to assist defense lawyers. • (also linguistic or language competence) Linguistics a speaker's subconscious, intuitive knowledge of the rules of their language. Often contrasted with performance. • Biology & Medicine effective performance of the normal function. 2 dated an income large enough to live on, typically unearned: he found himself with an ample competence and no obligations.

Cardinal

| ˈkärd(ə)nl | noun 1 a leading dignitary of the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinals are nominated by the Pope, and form the Sacred College which elects succeeding popes (now invariably from among their own number). • (also cardinal red) a deep scarlet color like that of a cardinal's cassock. 2 a New World songbird of the bunting family, with a stout bill and typically with a conspicuous crest. The male is partly or mostly red in color. adjective [attributive] of the greatest importance; fundamental: two cardinal points must be borne in mind. DERIVATIVES cardinalate | ˈkärd(ə)nələt | noun cardinal (sense 1 of the noun) cardinally adverb cardinalship | ˈkärd(ə)nəlˌSHip | noun cardinal (sense 1 of the noun)

Corporate

| ˈkôrp(ə)rət | adjective relating to a corporation, especially a large company or group: airlines are very keen on their corporate identity. • Law (of a company or group of people) authorized to act as a single entity and recognized as such in law. • of or shared by all the members of a group: the service emphasizes the corporate responsibility of the congregation. noun a corporate company or group. DERIVATIVES corporately | ˈkôrp(ə)rətlē | adverb

Culpable

| ˈkəlpəb(ə)l | adjective deserving blame: sometimes you're just as culpable when you watch something as when you actually participate. DERIVATIVES culpably | ˈkəlpəblē | adverb

Lackey

| ˈlakē | noun (plural lackeys) a servant, especially a liveried footman or manservant. • derogatory a person who is obsequiously willing to obey or serve another person or group of people. verb (lackeys, lackeying, lackeyed) [with object] (also lacquey) archaic behave servilely to; wait upon as a lackey.

Laggard

| ˈlaɡərd | noun a person who makes slow progress and falls behind others: there was no time for laggards. adjective slower than desired or expected: a bell to summon laggard children to school. DERIVATIVES laggardly adjective & adverb laggardness noun

Litany

| ˈlitnē | noun (plural litanies) a series of petitions for use in church services or processions, usually recited by the clergy and responded to in a recurring formula by the people. • a tedious recital or repetitive series: a litany of complaints.

Lurid

| ˈlo͝orəd | adjective very vivid in color, especially so as to create an unpleasantly harsh or unnatural effect: lurid food colorings | a pair of lurid shorts. • (of a description) presented in vividly shocking or sensational terms, especially giving explicit details of crimes or sexual matters: the more lurid details of the massacre were too frightening for the children. DERIVATIVES luridly | ˈlo͝orədlē | adverb luridness | ˈlo͝orədnəs | noun

Latent

| ˈlātnt | adjective (of a quality or state) existing but not yet developed or manifest; hidden or concealed: discovering her latent talent for diplomacy. • Biology (of a bud, resting stage, etc.) lying dormant or hidden until circumstances are suitable for development or manifestation. • (of a disease) in which the usual symptoms are not yet manifest. • Physiology (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. DERIVATIVES latently adverb

Laity

| ˈlāədē | noun (usually treated as plural the laity) lay people, as distinct from the clergy. • ordinary people, as distinct from professionals or experts.

Lionize

| ˈlīəˌnīz | verb [with object] give a lot of public attention and approval to (someone); treat as a celebrity: modern athletes are lionized. DERIVATIVES lionization | ˌlīənəˈzāSHən | noun lionizer noun

Luddite

| ˈlədˌīt | noun a member of any of the bands of English workers who destroyed machinery, especially in cotton and woolen mills, which they believed was threatening their jobs (1811-16). • derogatory a person opposed to increased industrialization or new technology: a small-minded Luddite resisting progress. DERIVATIVES Luddism | ˈləˌdizəm | noun Ludditism | -ˌītˌizəm | noun

Matador

| ˈmadəˌdôr | noun 1 a bullfighter whose task is to kill the bull. 2 (in ombre, skat, and other card games) any of the highest trumps. 3 a domino game in which halves are matched so as to make a total of seven. • any of the dominoes which have seven spots altogether, together with the double blank.

Maculate

| ˈmakyəˌlāt | literary adjective spotted or stained. verb [with object] mark with a spot or spots; stain. DERIVATIVES maculation | ˌmakyəˈlāSHən | noun

Maverick

| ˈmav(ə)rik | noun 1 an unorthodox or independent-minded person: a maverick among Connecticut Republicans. 2 North American an unbranded calf or yearling. adjective unorthodox: a maverick detective.

Mitigate

| ˈmidəˌɡāt | verb [with object] make less severe, serious, or painful: he wanted to mitigate misery in the world. • lessen the gravity of (an offense or mistake): (as adjective mitigating) : he would have faced a prison sentence but for mitigating circumstances. DERIVATIVES mitigable | -ɡibəl | adjective mitigator | -ˌɡātər | noun mitigatory | ˈmidəɡəˌtôrē | adjective

Misanthrope

| ˈmis(ə)nˌTHrōp, ˈmiz(ə)nˌTHrōp | (also misanthropist | misˈanTHrəpist | ) noun a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society.

Moon shot

| ˈmo͞on ˌSHät | (also moonshot) noun the launching of a spacecraft to the moon.

Marshal

| ˈmärSHəl | noun 1 an officer of the highest rank in the armed forces of some countries, including France. • British historical a high-ranking officer of state. 2 US a federal or municipal law officer. • the head of a police department. • North American the head of a fire department. 3 an official responsible for supervising public events, especially sports events or parades. verb (marshals, marshaling, marshaled; chiefly British marshals, marshalling, marshalled) [with object] 1 arrange or assemble (a group of people, especially soldiers) in order: the general marshaled his troops | figurative : he paused for a moment, as if marshaling his thoughts. • [with object] correctly position or arrange (rolling stock). • [with object] guide or direct the movement of (an aircraft) on the ground at an airport. 2 Heraldry combine (coats of arms) to indicate marriage, descent, or the bearing of office. DERIVATIVES marshaler noun marshalship | -ˌSHip | noun

Mire

| ˈmī(ə)r | noun 1 a stretch of swampy or boggy ground. • soft and slushy mud or dirt. • Ecology a wetland area or ecosystem based on peat. 2 a situation or state of difficulty, distress, or embarrassment from which it is hard to extricate oneself: he has been left to squirm in a mire of new allegations. verb [with object] cause to become stuck in mud: sometimes a heavy truck gets mired down. • cover or spatter with mud. • (mire someone/something in) involve someone or something in (a difficulti situation): the economy is mired in its longest recession since World War II.

Neutralize

| ˈn(y)o͞otrəˌlīz | verb [with object] render (something) ineffective or harmless by applying an opposite force or effect: impatience at his frailty began to neutralize her fear. • make (an acidic or alkaline substance) chemically neutral. • disarm (a bomb or similar weapon). • a euphemistic way of saying kill or destroy, especially in a covert or military operation. DERIVATIVES neutralization | ˌn(y)o͞otrələˈzāSH(ə)n, ˌn(y)o͞otrəˌlīˈzāSH(ə)n | noun neutralizer | ˈn(y)o͞otrəˌlīzər | noun

Knacker

| ˈnakər | British noun a person whose business is the disposal of dead or unwanted animals, especially those whose flesh is not fit for human consumption. verb [with object] (often as adjective knackered) informal tire (someone) out; exhaust: you look absolutely knackered. • damage severely.

Nebulous

Nepotism

Nascent

| ˈnāsənt, ˈnasənt | adjective (especially of a process or organization) just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential: the nascent space industry. • Chemistry (chiefly of hydrogen) freshly generated in a reactive form. DERIVATIVES nascence noun nascency noun

Nomenclature

| ˈnōmənˌklāCHər | noun the devising or choosing of names for things, especially in a science or other discipline. • the body or system of names in a particular field: the nomenclature of chemical compounds. • formal the term or terms applied to someone or something: "customers" was preferred to the original nomenclature "passengers.". DERIVATIVES nomenclator noun nomenclatural | ˌnōmənˈklāCHərəl | adjective

Outset

| ˈoutˌset | noun [in singular] the start or beginning of something: a field of which he had known nothing at the outset and learned on the job. PHRASES at (or from) the outset at or from the beginning.

Pantheon

| ˈpanTHēˌän, ˈpanTHēən | noun all the gods of a people or religion collectively: the deities of the Hindu and Shinto pantheons. • (also Pantheon) (especially in ancient Greece and Rome) a temple dedicated to all the gods. • a building in which the illustrious dead of a nation are buried or honored. • a group of particularly respected, famous, or important people: the pantheon of the all-time greats.

Pacify

| ˈpasəˌfī | verb (pacifies, pacifying, pacified) [with object] quell the anger, agitation, or excitement of: he had to pacify angry spectators. • bring peace to (a country or warring factions), especially by the use or threatened use of military force: the general pacified northern Italy. DERIVATIVES pacification | ˌpasəfəˈkāSH(ə)n | noun pacificatory | pəˈsifikəˌtôrē | adjective

Patently

| ˈpat(ə)n(t)lē, ˈpāt(ə)n(t)lē | adverb [often as submodifier] clearly; without doubt: these claims were patently false | a law that is patently ridiculous.

Pedant

| ˈpednt | noun a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning.

Pedigree

| ˈpedəˌɡrē | noun 1 the record of descent of an animal, showing it to be purebred. • a purebred animal. 2 the recorded ancestry, especially upper-class ancestry, of a person or family. • the background or history of a person or thing, especially as conferring distinction or quality. • a genealogical table. DERIVATIVES pedigreed | ˈpedəˌɡrēd | adjective

Peckish

| ˈpekiSH | adjective informal, chiefly British hungry: we were both feeling a bit peckish and there was nothing to eat.

Paraphrase

| ˈperəˌfrāz | verb [with object] express the meaning of (the writer or speaker or something written or spoken) using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity: you can either quote or paraphrase literary texts. noun a rewording of something written or spoken by someone else. DERIVATIVES paraphrasable adjective paraphrastic | ˌperəˈfrastik | adjective

Perigee

| ˈperəˌjē | noun Astronomy the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is nearest to the earth. The opposite of apogee.

Paragon

| ˈperəˌɡän | noun a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality: it would have taken a paragon of virtue not to feel viciously jealous. • a person or thing viewed as a model of excellence: your cook is a paragon. • a perfect diamond of 100 carats or more.

Petrified

| ˈpetrəˌfīd | adjective 1 so frightened that one is unable to move; terrified: the petrified child clung to her mother. 2 (of organic matter) changed into a stony substance; ossified: petrified wood. petrify | ˈpetrəˌfī | verb (petrifies, petrifying, petrified) [with object] 1 change (organic matter) into a stony concretion by encrusting or replacing its original substance with a calcareous, siliceous, or other mineral deposit. 2 make (someone) so frightened that they are unable to move or think: his icy controlled quietness petrified her.

Pithy

Pluralism

| ˈplo͝orəˌlizəm | noun 1 a condition or system in which two or more states, groups, principles, sources of authority, etc., coexist. • a political theory or system of power-sharing among a number of political parties. • a theory or system of devolution and autonomy for individual bodies in preference to monolithic state control. • a form of society in which the members of minority groups maintain their independent cultural traditions. • Philosophy a theory or system that recognizes more than one ultimate principle. Compare with monism. 2 the practice of holding more than one office or church benefice at a time.

Plausible

| ˈplôzəb(ə)l | adjective (of an argument or statement) seeming reasonable or probable: a plausible explanation | it seems plausible that one of two things may happen. • (of a person) skilled at producing persuasive arguments, especially ones intended to deceive: a plausible liar.

Placate

Pleonasm

Prescient

| ˈpreSH(ē)ənt | adjective having or showing knowledge of events before they take place: a prescient warning. DERIVATIVES presciently | ˈpreSH(ē)əntlē | adverb

Promulgated

| ˈpräməlˌɡāt | verb [with object] promote or make widely known (an idea or cause): these objectives have to be promulgated within the organization. • put (a law or decree) into effect by official proclamation: in January 1852 the new Constitution was promulgated. DERIVATIVES promulgation | ˌpräm(ə)lˈɡāSH(ə)n | noun promulgator | ˈpräməlˌɡādər | noun

Pronto

| ˈpräntō | adverb informal promptly; quickly: put it in the refrigerator, pronto.

Pretext

| ˈprēˌtekst | noun a reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason: the rebels had the perfect pretext for making their move. PHRASES on (or under) the pretext giving the specified reason as one's justification: the police raided Grand River on the pretext of looking for moonshiners.

Punitive

| ˈpyo͞onədiv | adjective inflicting or intended as punishment: he called for punitive measures against the Eastern bloc. • (of a tax or other charge) extremely high: a current punitive interest rate of 31.3%. DERIVATIVES punitively adverb punitiveness noun

Posit

| ˈpäzət | verb (posits, positing, posited) 1 [with object] assume as a fact; put forward as a basis of argument: the Confucian view posits a perfectible human nature | [with clause] : he posited that the world economy is a system with its own particular equilibrium. • (posit something on) base something on the truth of (a particular assumption): these plots are posited on a false premise about women's nature as inferior. 2 [with object and adverbial] put in position; place: the Professor posits Cohen in his second category of poets. noun Philosophy a statement which is made on the assumption that it will prove to be true.

Pauperization

Paucity

| ˈpôsədē | noun [in singular] the presence of something only in small or insufficient quantities or amounts; scarcity: a paucity of information.

Pundit

| ˈpəndət | noun 1 an expert in a particular subject or field who is frequently called on to give opinions about it to the public: a globe-trotting financial pundit. 2 variant spelling of pandit. DERIVATIVES punditry | ˈpəndətrē | noun pundit (sense 1)

Percolate

| ˈpərkəˌlāt | verb 1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of a liquid or gas) filter gradually through a porous surface or substance: the water percolating through the soil may leach out minerals. • (of information or an idea or feeling) spread gradually through an area or group of people: this issue has percolated into the public consciousness. 2 [no object] (of coffee) be prepared in a percolator: he put some coffee on to percolate. • [with object] prepare (coffee) in a percolator: (as adjective percolated) : freshly percolated coffee. • US be or become full of lively activity or excitement: the night was percolating with an expectant energy. DERIVATIVES percolation | ˌpərkəˈlāSH(ə)n | noun

Purview

| ˈpərˌvyo͞o | noun [in singular] formal the scope of the influence or concerns of something: such a case might be within the purview of the legislation. • range of experience or thought: social taboos meant that little information was likely to come within the purview of women generally.

Racket

| ˈrakət | (also racquet) noun a type of bat with a round or oval frame strung with catgut, nylon, etc., used especially in tennis, badminton, and squash. • chiefly North American a snowshoe resembling a racket. racket2 | ˈrakət | noun 1 [in singular] a loud unpleasant noise; a din: the kids were making a racket. • archaic the noise and liveliness of fashionable society. 2 informal an illegal or dishonest scheme for obtaining money: a protection racket. • a person's line of business or way of life: I'm in the insurance racket. verb (rackets, racketing, racketed) [no object] make a loud unpleasant noise: trains racketed by. • (racket around) enjoy oneself socially; go in pursuit of pleasure or entertainment. DERIVATIVES rackety adjective

Rhapsodize

| ˈrapsəˌdīz | verb [no object] speak or write about someone or something with great enthusiasm and delight: he began to rhapsodize about Gaby's beauty and charm.

Reticent

| ˈredəsənt | adjective not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily: she was extremely reticent about her personal affairs. DERIVATIVES reticently | ˈredəs(ə)ntlē | adverb

Rectify

| ˈrektəˌfī | verb (rectifies, rectifying, rectified) [with object] 1 put (something) right; correct: mistakes made now cannot be rectified later | efforts to rectify the situation. • (usually as adjective rectified) purify or refine (a substance) by repeated distillation: add 10 cc of rectified alcohol. 2 convert (alternating current) to direct current: (as adjective rectified) : rectified AC power systems. 3 find a straight line equal in length to (a curve). DERIVATIVES rectifiable | ˈrektəˌfīəb(ə)l | adjective

Ruminate

Rakish

| ˈrākiSH | adjective having or displaying a dashing, jaunty, or slightly disreputable quality or appearance: he had a rakish, debonair look. DERIVATIVES rakishly | ˈrākiSHlē | adverb rakishness noun

Recourse

| ˈrēˌkôrs, rēˈkôrs | noun [in singular] a source of help in a difficult situation: surgery may be the only recourse. • (recourse to) the use of someone or something as a source of help in a difficult situation: a means of solving disputes without recourse to courts of law | all three countries had recourse to the IMF for standby loans. • the legal right to demand compensation or payment: the bank has recourse against the exporter for losses incurred. PHRASES without recourse Finance a formula used to disclaim responsibility for future nonpayment, especially of a negotiable financial instrument.

Rubbish

| ˈrəbiSH | noun chiefly British waste material; refuse or litter: an alleyway high with rubbish. • material that is considered unimportant or valueless: she had to sift through the rubbish in every drawer. • absurd, nonsensical, or worthless talk or ideas: I suppose you believe that rubbish about vampires. verb [with object] British informal criticize severely and reject as worthless: he has pointedly rubbished professional estimates of the development and running costs. adjective British informal very bad; worthless or useless: people might say I was a rubbish manager.

Roughshod

| ˈrəfˌSHäd | adjective archaic (of a horse) having shoes with nailheads projecting to prevent slipping. PHRASES ride roughshod over see ride.

Sacrosanct

| ˈsakrōˌsaNG(k)t | adjective (especially of a principle, place, or routine) regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with: the individual's right to work has been upheld as sacrosanct. DERIVATIVES sacrosanctity | ˌsakrōˈsaNG(k)tədē | noun

Sedulous

Censure

| ˈsen(t)SHər | verb [with object] 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. noun the expression of formal disapproval: angry delegates offered a resolution of censure against the offenders | they paid the price in social ostracism and family censure. DERIVATIVES censurable | ˈsen(t)SH(ə)rəb(ə)l | adjective

Syncretism

| ˈsiNGkrəˌtizəm | noun 1 the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought. 2 Linguistics the merging of different inflectional varieties of a word during the development of a language. DERIVATIVES syncretic | siNGˈkretik | adjective syncretist noun & adjective syncretistic | ˌsiNGkrəˈtistik | adjective

Scintillating

| ˈsin(t)lˌādiNG | adjective sparkling or shining brightly: the scintillating sun. • brilliantly and excitingly clever or skillful: the audience loved his scintillating wit | the team produced a scintillating second-half performance. DERIVATIVES scintillatingly adverb scintillate | ˈsin(t)lˌāt | verb [no object] emit flashes of light; sparkle. • Physics fluoresce momentarily when struck by a photon or charged particle. DERIVATIVES scintillant | -ənt | adjective & noun

Synergy

Systematize

| ˈsistəməˌtīz | verb [with object] arrange according to an organized system; make systematic: Galen set about systematizing medical thought | (as adjective systematized) : systematized reading schemes. DERIVATIVES systematization | ˌsistəmədəˈzāSH(ə)n, ˌsistəməˌtīˈzāSH(ə)n | noun systematizer noun

Scrupulous

| ˈskro͞opyələs | adjective (of a person or process) diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details: the research has been carried out with scrupulous attention to detail. • very concerned to avoid doing wrong: she's too scrupulous to have an affair with a married man. DERIVATIVES scrupulosity | ˌskro͞opyəˈläsədē | noun scrupulousness | ˈskro͞opyələsnəs | noun

Scruple

| ˈskro͞opəl | noun 1 (usually scruples) a feeling of doubt or hesitation with regard to the morality or propriety of a course of action: I had no scruples about eavesdropping | without scruple, these politicians use fear as a persuasion weapon. 2 historical a unit of weight equal to 20 grains, used by apothecaries. • archaic a very small amount of something, especially a quality. verb [no object, with infinitive and usually with negative] hesitate or be reluctant to do something that one thinks may be wrong: she doesn't scruple to ask her parents for money.

Squalid

| ˈskwäləd | adjective (of a place) extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty or neglect: the squalid, overcrowded prison. • showing or involving a contemptible lack of moral standards: a squalid attempt to save themselves from electoral embarrassment. DERIVATIVES squalidly adverb squalidness noun

Slanderous

| ˈslandərəs | adjective (of a spoken statement) false and malicious: slanderous allegations. DERIVATIVES slanderously | ˈsland(ə)rəslē | adverb

Smutty

Spurious

| ˈsp(y)o͝orēəs | adjective not being what it purports to be; false or fake: separating authentic and spurious claims. • (of a line of reasoning) apparently but not actually valid: this spurious reasoning results in nonsense. • archaic (of offspring) illegitimate. DERIVATIVES spuriously | ˈsp(y)o͝orēəslē | adverb spuriousness | ˈsp(y)o͝orēəsnəs | noun

Specious

| ˈspēSHəs | adjective superficially plausible, but actually wrong: a specious argument. • misleading in appearance, especially misleadingly attractive: the music trade gives Golden Oldies a specious appearance of novelty. DERIVATIVES speciously | ˈspēSHəslē | adverb speciousness | ˈspēSHəsnəs | noun

Sputtering

| ˈspədər | verb 1 [no object] make a series of soft explosive sounds, typically when being heated or as a symptom of a fault: the engine sputtered and stopped. • [reporting verb] speak in a series of incoherent bursts as a result of indignation or some other strong emotion: [with direct speech] : "But ... but ..." she sputtered. • [with object] emit with a spitting sound: the goose is in the oven, sputtering fat. • [with adverbial] proceed or develop in a spasmodic and feeble way: strikes in the public services sputtered on. 2 [with object] Physics deposit (metal) on a surface by using fast ions to eject particles of it from a target. • cover (a surface) with metal by sputter method. noun a series of soft explosive sounds, typically produced by an engine or by something heating or burning: the sputter of the motor died away. DERIVATIVES sputterer noun

Stratum

| ˈstrādəm, ˈstradəm | noun (plural strata | ˈstrātə, ˈstra- | ) 1 a layer or a series of layers of rock in the ground: a stratum of flint. • a thin layer within any structure: thin strata of air. 2 a level or class to which people are assigned according to their social status, education, or income: members of other social strata. • Statistics a group into which members of a population are divided in stratified sampling.

Strumpet

| ˈstrəmpət | noun archaic or humorous a female prostitute or a promiscuous woman.

Stodgy

| ˈstäjē | adjective (stodgier, stodgiest) 1 dull and uninspired: some of the material is rather stodgy and top-heavy with facts. 2 British (of food) heavy, filling, and high in carbohydrates. • chiefly US bulky or heavy in appearance: this stodgy three-story building. DERIVATIVES stodginess | ˈstäjēnəs | noun stodgily | ˈstäjəlē | adverb

Starchitect

| ˈstärkiˌtekt | noun informal, chiefly derogatory a famous or high-profile architect. DERIVATIVES starchitecture noun

Stultify

| ˈstəltəˌfī | verb (stultifies, stultifying, stultified) [with object] 1 (usually as adjective stultifying) cause to lose enthusiasm and initiative, especially as a result of a tedious or restrictive routine: the mentally stultifying effects of a disadvantaged home. 2 cause (someone) to appear foolish or absurd: Counsel is not expected to stultify himself in an attempt to advance his client's interests. DERIVATIVES stultification | ˌstəltəfəˈkāSH(ə)n | noun stultifier noun stultifyingly adverb

Salient

| ˈsālyənt | adjective 1 most noticeable or important: it succinctly covered all the salient points of the case. • prominent; conspicuous: it was always the salient object in my view. 2 (of an angle) pointing outward. The opposite of re-entrant. 3 [postpositive] Heraldry (of an animal) standing on its hind legs with the forepaws raised, as if leaping. noun a piece of land or section of fortification that juts out to form an angle. • an outward bulge in a line of military attack or defense. DERIVATIVES saliency noun saliently adverb

Siphon

| ˈsīfən | (also syphon) noun a tube used to convey liquid upwards from a reservoir and then down to a lower level of its own accord. Once the liquid has been forced into the tube, typically by suction or immersion, flow continues unaided. • Zoology a tubular organ in an aquatic animal, especially a mollusk, through which water is drawn in or expelled. verb [with object] draw off or convey (liquid) by means of a siphon. • draw off or transfer over a period of time, especially illegally or unfairly: he's been siphoning money off the firm. DERIVATIVES siphonage | -nij | noun siphonic | sīˈfänik | adjective

Silo

| ˈsīlō | noun (plural silos) 1 a tower or pit on a farm used to store grain. • a pit or other airtight structure in which green crops are compressed and stored as silage. 2 an underground chamber in which a guided missile is kept ready for firing. 3 a system, process, department, etc. that operates in isolation from others: it's vital that team members step out of their silos and start working together | [as modifier] : we have made significant strides in breaking down that silo mentality. verb (siloes, siloing, siloed) [with object] isolate (one system, process, department, etc.) from others: most companies have expensive IT systems they have developed over the years, but they are siloed | why are so many companies still siloing their SEO and social media marketing? | (as adjective siloed) : managers have been told to break down the walls between siloed applications.

Seismic

| ˈsīzmik | adjective relating to earthquakes or other vibrations of the earth and its crust. • relating to or denoting geological surveying methods involving vibrations produced artificially by explosions. • of enormous proportions or effect: there are seismic pressures threatening American society. DERIVATIVES seismical adjective seismically | ˈsīzmək(ə)lē | adverb

Subterfuge

| ˈsəbtərˌfyo͞oj | noun deceit used in order to achieve one's goal.

Sultry

Sully

| ˈsəlē | verb (sullies, sullying, sullied) [with object] literary damage the purity or integrity of; defile: they were outraged that anyone should sully their good name.

Sumptuous

Sundry

| ˈsəndrē | adjective [attributive] of various kinds; several: lemon rind and sundry herbs. as plural noun (sundries) various items not important enough to be mentioned individually: a drugstore selling magazines, newspapers, and sundries. PHRASES all and sundry see all.

Servile

| ˈsərvəl, ˈsərˌvīl | adjective 1 having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others: he bowed his head in a servile manner. 2 of or characteristic of a slave or slaves. DERIVATIVES servilely | ˈsərvəlē, ˈsərˌvīlˌlē | adverb

Seminal

| ˈsɛmɪn(ə)l | adjective1 strongly influencing later developments: his seminal work on chaos theory. 2 relating to or denoting semen: the spermatozoa are washed to separate them from the seminalplasma. • Botany relating to or derived from the seed of a plant: the seminal root system. DERIVATIVES seminally adverb

Tutelage

| ˈt(y)o͞odlij | noun protection of or authority over someone or something; guardianship: the organizations remained under firm government tutelage. • instruction; tuition: he felt privileged to be under the tutelage of an experienced actor.

Talisman

| ˈtaləsmən, ˈtalizmən | noun (plural talismans) an object, typically an inscribed ring or stone, that is thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck. DERIVATIVES talismanic | ˌtaləzˈmanik | adjective

Tantamount

| ˈtan(t)əˌmount | adjective [predicative] (tantamount to) equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as: the resignations were tantamount to an admission of guilt.

Tacitly

| ˈtasətlē | adverb in a way that is understood or implied without being directly stated: the production company has tacitly encouraged the Internet phenomenon of fan films | the truth that goes unspoken but is tacitly understood.

Technobabble

| ˈteknōˌbabəl | noun informal incomprehensible technical jargon.

Temporal

| ˈtemp(ə)rəl | adjective 1 relating to worldly as opposed to spiritual affairs; secular. 2 relating to time. • Grammar relating to or denoting time or tense. temporal2 | ˈtemp(ə)rəl | adjective Anatomy of or situated in the temples of the head.

Tenuous

Tenable

| ˈtenəb(ə)l | adjective 1 able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection: such a simplistic approach is no longer tenable. 2 (of an office, position, scholarship, etc.) able to be held or used: the post is tenable for three years. DERIVATIVES tenability | ˌtenəˈbilədē | noun

Typify

| ˈtipəˌfī | verb (typifies, typifying, typified) [with object] be characteristic or a representative example of: tough, low-lying vegetation typifies this arctic area. • represent; symbolize: the sun typified the Greeks, and the moon the Persians. DERIVATIVES typification | ˌtipəfəˈkāSH(ə)n | noun typifier noun

Trenchant

| ˈtren(t)SHənt | adjective 1 vigorous or incisive in expression or style: she heard angry voices, not loud, yet certainly trenchant. 2 archaic or literary (of a weapon or tool) having a sharp edge: a trenchant blade. DERIVATIVES trenchancy | ˈtren(t)SH(ə)nsē | noun trenchant (sense 1) trenchantly | ˈtren(t)SH(ə)ntlē | adverb trenchant (sense 1)

Truism

| ˈtro͞oˌizəm | noun a statement that is obviously true and says nothing new or interesting: the truism that you get what you pay for. • Logic a proposition that states nothing beyond what is implied by any of its terms. DERIVATIVES truistic | tro͞oˈistik | adjective

Troglodyte

Trifle

| ˈtrīfəl | noun 1 a thing of little value or importance: we needn't trouble the headmaster over such trifles. • [in singular] a small amount of something: the thousand yen he'd paid seemed the merest trifle. 2 British a cold dessert of sponge cake and fruit covered with layers of custard, jelly, and cream. verb [no object] 1 (trifle with) treat (someone or something) without seriousness or respect: he is not a man to be trifled with | men who trifle with women's affections. 2 archaic talk or act frivolously: we will not trifle—life is too short. • [with object] (trifle something away) waste something, especially time, frivolously. PHRASES a trifle a little; somewhat: his methods are a trifle eccentric. DERIVATIVES trifler | ˈtrīf(ə)lər | noun

Truculent

Zeitgeist

| ˈtsītˌɡīst, ˈzītˌɡīst | noun [in singular] the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time: the story captured the zeitgeist of the late 1960s.

Tweedy

| ˈtwēdē | adjective (tweedier, tweediest) (of a garment) made of tweed cloth: a tweedy suit. • informal (of a person) habitually wearing tweed clothes: a stout, tweedy woman. • informal of a refined, traditional, upscale character: the tweedy world of books. DERIVATIVES tweedily | -dilē | adverb tweediness noun

Toggle

| ˈtäɡəl | noun 1 a short rod of wood or plastic sewn to one side of a coat or other garment, pushed through a hole or loop on the other side and twisted so as to act as a fastener. • a pin or other crosspiece put through the eye of a rope or a link of a chain to keep it in place. • (also toggle bolt) a kind of wall fastener for use on hollow walls, having a part that springs open or turns through 90° after it is inserted so as to prevent withdrawal. • a movable pivoted crosspiece acting as a barb on a harpoon. 2 (also toggle switch or toggle key) Computing a key or command that toggles between two modes, such as the caps lock key. verb 1 [no object, with adverbial] Computing switch from one effect, feature, or state to another by using a toggle. 2 [with object] provide or fasten with a toggle or toggles.

Tawdry

Torpor

| ˈtôrpər | noun a state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy: they veered between apathetic torpor and hysterical fanaticism.

Tedium

| ˈtēdēəm | noun the state of being tedious: cousins and uncles filled the tedium of winter nights with many a tall tale.

Touchpoint

| ˈtəCHˌpoint | noun 1 Business any point of contact between a buyer and a seller. 2 Computing on some laptop computers, a device like a miniature joystick with a rubber tip, manipulated with a finger to move the screen pointer. 3 a time, condition, or circumstance that is vulnerable or unstable enough to precipitate a highly unfavorable, possibly devastating outcome: a touchpoint for world conflagration. • Psychology the time in a child's development that precedes an appreciable leap in physical, emotional, or cognitive growth. [1990s: from the usage coined in the book Touchpoints (1992) by US pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton (1918-) and US child psychiatrist Joshua D. Sparrow.]

Touchstone

| ˈtəCHˌstōn | noun a piece of fine-grained dark schist or jasper formerly used for testing alloys of gold by observing the color of the mark which they made on it. • a standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized: they tend to regard grammar as the touchstone of all language performance.

Valorized

| ˈvaləˌrīz | verb [with object] give or ascribe value or validity to (something): the culture valorizes the individual. • raise or fix the price or value of (a commodity or currency) by artificial means, especially by government action. DERIVATIVES valorization | ˌvalərəˈzāSH(ə)n, ˌvaləˌrīˈzāSH(ə)n | noun

Vectors

| ˈvektər | noun 1 Mathematics & Physics a quantity having direction as well as magnitude, especially as determining the position of one point in space relative to another. Compare with scalar. • a matrix with one row or one column. • [as modifier] Computing denoting a type of graphical representation using straight lines to construct the outlines of objects. 2 an organism, typically a biting insect or tick, that transmits a disease or parasite from one animal or plant to another. • Genetics a bacteriophage or plasmid which transfers genetic material into a cell, or from one bacterium to another. 3 a course to be taken by an aircraft. verb [with object and adverbial of direction] direct (an aircraft in flight) to a desired point. DERIVATIVES vectorial | vekˈtôrēəl | adjective vectorially | vekˈtôrēəlē | adverb vectorization | ˌvektərəˈzāSHən | noun vectorize | -ˌrīz | verb

Variegated

| ˈver(ē)əˌɡādəd | adjective exhibiting different colors, especially as irregular patches or streaks: variegated yellow bricks. • 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. • marked by variety: his variegated and amusing observations. DERIVATIVES variegate | ˈver(ē)əˌɡāt | verb variegation | ˌver(ē)əˈɡāSH(ə)n | noun

Verity

| ˈverədē | noun (plural verities) a true principle or belief, especially one of fundamental importance: the eternal verities. • truth: irrefutable, objective verity.

Vitriol

| ˈvitrēəl, ˈvitrēˌôl | noun 1 cruel and bitter criticism: her mother's sudden gush of fury and vitriol. 2 archaic or literary sulfuric acid.

Vehemently

| ˈvēəməntlē | adverb in a forceful, passionate, or intense manner; with great feeling: he vehemently denied any suggestion of improper conduct | the entire community protested vehemently against the cuts.

Veritable

| ˈvərədəb(ə)l | adjective [attributive] used as an intensifier, often to qualify a metaphor: the early 1970s witnessed a veritable price explosion. DERIVATIVES veritably | ˈvərədəblē | adverb

Woolly

| ˈwo͝olē | (also wooly) adjective (woollier, woolliest) 1 made of wool: a red woolly hat. • (of an animal, plant, or part) bearing or naturally covered with wool or hair resembling wool. • resembling wool in texture or appearance: woolly wisps of cloud. 2 vague or confused in expression or character: woolly thinking. • (of a sound) indistinct or distorted: an opaque and woolly recording. noun (plural woollies) informal 1 chiefly British (usually woollies) a garment made of wool, especially a pullover. 2 Australian/NZ a sheep. DERIVATIVES woolliness | ˈwo͝olēnəs | noun

Wantonly

| ˈwänt(ə)nlē | adverb 1 in a deliberate and unprovoked manner: during the raids, the police wantonly destroyed property | these children are being wantonly misled. • in a reckless manner: he was wantonly extravagant with his money | they add teams wantonly. 2 in a sexually immodest or promiscuous manner: she pressed herself against him wantonly. 3 literary profusely: viruses continue to spread wantonly across networks. • in a playful or lively manner: marriage is not something to be undertaken wantonly.

Zany

| ˈzānē | adjective (zanier, zaniest) amusingly unconventional and idiosyncratic: zany humor. noun an erratic or eccentric person. • historical a comic performer partnering a clown, whom he imitated in an amusing way. DERIVATIVES zanily | -nəlē | adverb zaniness noun

Arduous

Archetype

| ˈärkəˌtīp | noun a very typical example of a certain person or thing: the book is a perfect archetype of the genre. • an original that has been imitated: the archetype of faith is Abraham. • a recurrent symbol or motif in literature, art, or mythology: mythological archetypes of good and evil. • Psychoanalysis (in Jungian psychology) a primitive mental image inherited from the earliest human ancestors, and supposed to be present in the collective unconscious. DERIVATIVES archetypical | ˌärk(ə)ˈtipik(ə)l | adjective

Ossify

| ˈäsəˌfī | verb (ossifies, ossifying, ossified) [no object] 1 turn into bone or bony tissue: these tracheal cartilages may ossify. 2 (often as adjective ossified) cease developing; be stagnant or rigid: ossified political institutions. DERIVATIVES ossification | ˌäsəfəˈkāSH(ə)n | noun

Amiable

| ˈāmēəb(ə)l | adjective having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner: an amiable, unassuming fellow. DERIVATIVES amiableness noun

Apex

| ˈāpeks | noun a system of reduced fares for scheduled airline flights and railroad journeys that must be booked and paid for before a certain period in advance of departure: Apex fares. apex | ˈāpeks | noun (plural apexes or apices | ˈāpəˌsēz, ˈapə- | ) the top or highest part of something, especially one forming a point: the living room extends right up into the apex of the roof | figurative : the apex of his career was when he hoisted aloft the World Cup. • Geometry the highest point in a plane or solid figure, relative to a base line or plane. • Botany the growing point of a shoot. • the highest level of a hierarchy, organization, or other power structure regarded as a triangle or pyramid: the central bank is at the apex of the financial system. verb [no object] reach a high point or climax: melodic lines build up to the chorus and it apexes at the solo.

Ethos

| ˈēTHäs | 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.

Ichor

| ˈīkôr | noun Greek Mythology the fluid that flows like blood in the veins of the gods. • literary any bloodlike fluid: tomatoes drooled ichor from their broken skins. • archaic a watery, fetid discharge from a wound. DERIVATIVES ichorous | ˈīkərəs | adjective

Overture

| ˈōvərCHər, ˈōvərˌCHo͝or | noun 1 an orchestral piece at the beginning of an opera, suite, play, oratorio, or other extended composition. • an independent orchestral composition in one movement. 2 an introduction to something more substantial: the talks were no more than an overture to a long debate. 3 (usually overtures) an approach or proposal made to someone with the aim of opening negotiations or establishing a relationship: Coleen listened to his overtures of love.

Underpinning

| ˈəndərˌpiniNG | noun a solid foundation laid below ground level to support or strengthen a building. • a set of ideas, motives, or devices that justify or form the basis for something: the theoretical underpinning for free-market economics.

Ergo

| ˈərɡō, ˈerɡō | adverb [sentence adverb] therefore: she was the sole beneficiary of the will, ergo the prime suspect.

Gamut

| ˈɡamət | noun (the gamut) 1 the complete range or scope of something: the whole gamut of human emotion. 2 Music a complete scale of musical notes; the compass or range of a voice or instrument. • historical a scale consisting of seven overlapping hexachords, containing all the recognized notes used in medieval music, covering almost three octaves from bass G to treble E. • historical the lowest note in the gamut scale. PHRASES run the gamut experience, display, or perform the complete range of something: wines that run the gamut from dry to sweet.

Gaslight

| ˈɡaslīt | noun a type of lamp in which an incandescent mantle is heated by a jet of burning gas. • the light produced by a gas lamp: in the gaslight she looked paler than ever. verb (gaslights, gaslighting, gaslighted) [with object] manipulate (someone) by psychological means into questioning their own sanity: in the first episode, Karen Valentine is being gaslighted by her husband. [from the storyline of the film Gaslight (1944), in which a man psychologically manipulates his wife into believing that she is going insane.] DERIVATIVES gaslit | ˈɡaslit | adjective

Garish

Guru

| ˈɡo͝oro͞o | noun (plural gurus) (in Hinduism and Buddhism) a spiritual teacher, especially one who imparts initiation. • each of the ten first leaders of the Sikh religion. • an influential teacher or popular expert: a management guru.

Grandiose

| ˈɡrandēˌōs, ˌɡrandēˈōs | adjective impressive or magnificent in appearance or style, especially pretentiously so: the court's grandiose facade. • excessively grand or ambitious: grandiose plans to reform the world. DERIVATIVES grandiosely adverb grandiosity | ˌɡrandēˈäsədē | noun

Gravitas

| ˈɡravəˌtäs | noun dignity, seriousness, or solemnity of manner: a post for which he has the expertise and the gravitas.

Greenwash

| ˈɡrēnwôSH, ˈɡrēnwäSH | (also greenwashing) noun disinformation disseminated by an organization so as to present an environmentally responsible public image: the recycling bins in the cafeteria are just feeble examples of their corporate greenwash. DERIVATIVES greenwasher noun

Galling

| ˈɡôliNG | adjective annoying; humiliating: the loss was particularly galling. DERIVATIVES gallingly adverb

Irretrievably

| ˈˌi(r)rəˈtrēvəblē | adverb in a way that cannot be retrieved or put right: trillions of dollars were irretrievably lost | the marriage had irretrievably broken down.

Shaggy-dog story

| ˌSHaɡēˈdôɡ ˈstôrē | a long, rambling story or joke, typically one that is amusing only because it is absurdly inconsequential or pointless. [from an anecdote of this type, about a shaggy-haired dog (1945).]

Joie de vivre

| ˌZHwä də ˈvēvrə | noun exuberant enjoyment of life.

Abrogation

| ˌabrəˈɡāSH(ə)n | noun formal the repeal or abolition of a law, right, or agreement.

Aberration

| ˌabəˈrāSH(ə)n | noun a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome: they described the outbreak of violence in the area as an aberration. • Biology a characteristic that deviates from the normal type: color aberrations. • Optics the failure of rays to converge at one focus because of limitations or defects in a lens or mirror. • Astronomy the apparent displacement of a celestial object from its true position, caused by the relative motion of the observer and the object. DERIVATIVES aberrational | -SHənl | adjective

Ad hoc

| ˌad ˈhäk | adjective & adverb formed, arranged, or done for a particular purpose only: the discussions were on an ad hoc basis | [as adverb] : the group was constituted ad hoc | [as adjective] : an ad hoc committee.

Advertorial

| ˌadvərˈtôrēəl | noun a newspaper or magazine advertisement giving information about a product in the style of an editorial or objective journalistic article.

Affidavit

| ˌafəˈdāvit | noun Law a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, for use as evidence in court.

Adulation

| ˌajəˈlāSH(ə)n | noun obsequious flattery; excessive admiration or praise: he found it difficult to cope with the adulation of the fans.

Axiomatic

| ˌaksēəˈmadik | adjective self-evident or unquestionable: it is axiomatic that dividends have to be financed. • chiefly Mathematics [attributive] relating to or containing axioms. DERIVATIVES axiomatically | -ik(ə)lē | adverb

Acquiesce

| ˌakwēˈes | verb [no object] accept something reluctantly but without protest: Sara acquiesced in his decision.

Academician

| ˌakədəˈmiSHən, əˌkadəˈmiSHən | noun 1 North American an academic; an intellectual. 2 a member of an academy, especially of the Royal Academy of Arts, the Académie Française, or the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Algebraically

| ˌaljəˈbrāik | adjective relating to or involving algebra. • (of a mathematical expression or equation) in which a finite number of symbols is combined using only the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and exponentiation with constant rational exponents. Compare with transcendental. DERIVATIVES algebraical adjective algebraically adverb

Allegorical

Ambidexterity

| ˌambēˈdekst(ə)rəs | adjective (of a person) able to use the right and left hands equally well: few of us are naturally ambidextrous. • (of an implement) designed to be used by left-handed and right-handed people with equal ease. DERIVATIVES ambidexterity | ˌambēˌdeksˈterədē | noun ambidextrously | ˌambēˈdekst(ə)rəslē | adverb

Antithetical

| ˌan(t)əˈTHedək(ə)l | adjective 1 directly opposed or contrasted; mutually incompatible: people whose religious beliefs are antithetical to mine | two antithetical emotions pulled at her. 2 [attributive] connected with, containing, or using the rhetorical device of antithesis. DERIVATIVES antithetic | ˌan(t)əˈTHedik | adjective antithetically | ˌan(t)əˈTHedək(ə)lē | adverb

Anthropomorphism

| ˌanTHrəpəˈmôrfizəm | noun the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object. DERIVATIVES anthropomorphize | ˌanTHrəpəˈmôrˌfīz | verb

Annexation

| ˌanekˈsāSH(ə)n | noun the action of annexing something, especially territory: the annexation of Austria. DERIVATIVES annexationist | ˌanekˈsāSH(ə)nəst | noun & adjective

Apropos

| ˌaprəˈpō | preposition with reference to; concerning: she remarked apropos of the initiative, "It's not going to stop the abuse.". adverb [sentence adverb] (apropos of nothing) used to state a speaker's belief that someone's comments or acts are unrelated to any previous discussion or situation: Isabel kept smiling apropos of nothing. adjective [predicative] very appropriate to a particular situation: the composer's reference to child's play is apropos.

Ascertain

| ˌasərˈtān | verb [with object] find (something) out for certain; make sure of: an attempt to ascertain the cause of the accident | [with clause] : management should ascertain whether adequate funding can be provided. DERIVATIVES ascertainable | ˌasərˈtānəb(ə)l | adjective ascertainment | ˌasərˈtānmənt | noun

Avant-garde

| ˌaväntˈɡärd | noun (usually the avant-garde) new and unusual or experimental ideas, especially in the arts, or the people introducing them: works by artists of the Russian avant-garde. adjective favoring or introducing experimental or unusual ideas: a controversial avant-garde composer. DERIVATIVES avant-gardism | ˌäˌvänˈɡärˌdizəm | noun avant-gardist | ˌäˌvänˈɡärdəst | noun

Blue-sky

| ˌblo͞oˈskī | (also blue-skies) informal adjective [attributive] informal not yet practical or profitable: blue-sky research. verb [no object] make impractical or as yet unachievable plans.

Bureaucratic

| ˌbyo͝orəˈkradik | adjective relating to the business of running an organization, or government: well-established bureaucratic procedures. • overly concerned with procedure at the expense of efficiency or common sense: the plan is overly bureaucratic and complex. DERIVATIVES bureaucratically | ˌbyo͞orəˈkradək(ə)lē | adverb

Botheration

| ˌbäT͟HəˈrāSHən | informal noun effort, worry, or difficulty; bother: he has caused us a deal of unnecessary botheration. exclamation dated used to express mild irritation or annoyance.

Bombastic

Debonair

| ˌdebəˈner | adjective (of a man) confident, stylish, and charming. DERIVATIVES debonairly adverb

Deleterious

| ˌdeləˈtirēəs | adjective formal causing harm or damage: divorce is assumed to have deleterious effects on children. DERIVATIVES deleteriously adverb

Diseconomy

| ˌdisiˈkänəmē | noun (plural diseconomies) Economics an economic disadvantage such as an increase in cost arising from an increase in the size of an organization: in an ideal world, these diseconomies of scale would be minimized.

Disingenuous

Disabuse

| ˌdisəˈbyo͞oz | verb [with object] persuade (someone) that an idea or belief is mistaken: he quickly disabused me of my fanciful notions.

Disaffected

| ˌdisəˈfektəd | adjective dissatisfied with the people in authority and no longer willing to support them: a military plot by disaffected elements in the army. DERIVATIVES disaffectedly adverb

Doctrinaire

| ˌdäktrəˈner | adjective seeking to impose a doctrine in all circumstances without regard to practical considerations: a doctrinaire conservative. noun a person who seeks to impose a doctrine without regard to practical considerations. DERIVATIVES doctrinairism | -ˌizəm | noun

Decontextualize

| ˌdēkənˈteksCH(əw)əˌlīz | verb [with object] (usually as adjective decontextualized) consider (something) in isolation from its context: coffee-table photo books with their beautiful but decontextualized photographs. DERIVATIVES decontextualization | ˌdēkənˌteksCH(əw)ələˈzāSH(ə)n | noun

Demarcation

| ˌdēmärˈkāSH(ə)n | noun the action of fixing the boundary or limits of something: the demarcation of the maritime border. • a dividing line: a horizontal band that produces a distinct demarcation two inches from the top. DERIVATIVES demarcator | diˈmärˌkātər | noun

Denotation

| ˌdēnōˈtāSHən | 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. • the action or process of indicating or referring to something by means of a word, symbol, etc. • Philosophy the object or concept to which a term refers, or the set of objects of which a predicate is true. Often contrasted with connotation. DERIVATIVES denotational | -SHənl | adjective

Dialectical

| ˌdīəˈlektək(ə)l | adjective 1 relating to the logical discussion of ideas and opinions: dialectical ingenuity. 2 concerned with or acting through opposing forces: a dialectical opposition between social convention and individual libertarianism. DERIVATIVES dialectically | ˌdīəˈlektək(ə)lē | adverb

Diametrically

| ˌdīəˈmetrək(ə)lē | adverb (with reference to opposition) completely; directly: [as submodifier] : two diametrically opposed viewpoints.

Domesticity

| ˌdōmeˈstisədē | noun home or family life: the atmosphere is one of happy domesticity.

Efficacious

| ˌefəˈkāSHəs | adjective formal (of something inanimate or abstract) successful in producing a desired or intended result; effective: the vaccine has proved both efficacious and safe. DERIVATIVES efficaciously | ˌefəˈkāSHəslē | adverb efficaciousness | ˌefəˈkāSHəsnəs | noun

Expeditiously

| ˌekspəˈdiSHəslē | adverb with speed and efficiency: the directors will move expeditiously to reach a conclusion.

Externality

| ˌekstərˈnalədē | noun (plural externalities) 1 Economics a side effect or consequence of an industrial or commercial activity that affects other parties without this being reflected in the cost of the goods or services involved, such as the pollination of surrounding crops by bees kept for honey. 2 Philosophy the fact of existing outside the perceiving subject.

Exegesis

Exoteric

| ˌeksəˈterik | adjective formal (especially of a doctrine or mode of speech) intended for or likely to be understood by the general public: an exoteric, literal meaning and an esoteric, inner teaching. The opposite of esoteric.

Elegiac

| ˌeləˈjīək | adjective relating to or characteristic of an elegy: haunting and elegiac poems. • wistfully mournful. plural noun (elegiacs) verses in an elegiac meter. DERIVATIVES elegiacally | ˌeləˈjīək(ə)lē | adverb

Elocution

Emblematic

Enigmatic

| ˌenəɡˈmadik | (also enigmatical) adjective difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious: he took the money with an enigmatic smile. DERIVATIVES enigmatically | ˌeniɡˈmadək(ə)lē | adverb

Epistemic

| ˌepəˈstemik, ˌepəˈstēmik | adjective relating to knowledge or to the degree of its validation. DERIVATIVES epistemically | -(ə)lē | adverb

Eschatological

Esoteric

Foment

| ˌfōˈment, ˈfōˌment | verb [with object] 1 instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action): they accused him of fomenting political unrest. 2 archaic bathe (a part of the body) with warm or medicated lotions. DERIVATIVES fomenter | ˌfōˈmen(t)ər | noun

Haphazard

| ˌhapˈhazərd | adjective lacking any obvious principle of organization: the kitchen drawers contained a haphazard collection of silver souvenir spoons. DERIVATIVES haphazardness noun

Helter-skelter

| ˌheltərˈskeltər | adjective & adverb in disorderly haste or confusion: [as adverb] : hurtling helter-skelter down the pavement | [as adjective] : she had blamed her grogginess on a helter-skelter lifestyle. noun 1 [in singular] disorder; confusion: the helter-skelter of a school day. 2 British a tall spiral slide winding around a tower at a fair.

Hyperbolic

| ˌhīpərˈbälik | adjective 1 relating to a hyperbola. • Mathematics (of a function, e.g., a cosine) having the same relation to a rectangular hyperbola as the unqualified function does to a circle. 2 (of language) exaggerated; hyperbolical.

Irreducible

| ˌi(r)rəˈd(y)o͞osəb(ə)l | adjective not able to be reduced or simplified. • not able to be brought to a certain form or condition: the imagery remains irreducible to textual structures. DERIVATIVES irreducibility | ˌi(r)rəˌd(y)o͞osəˈbilədē | noun irreducibly | -blē | adverb

Irrespective

| ˌi(r)rəˈspektiv | adjective [predicative] (irrespective of) not taking (something) into account; regardless of: child benefit is paid irrespective of income levels. DERIVATIVES irrespectively | ˌi(r)rəˈspektəvlē | adverb

Incrementalism

| ˌiNGkrəˈmen(t)lˌizəm | noun belief in or advocacy of change by degrees; gradualism. DERIVATIVES incrementalist noun & adjective

Idiosyncratic

| ˌidēəsiNGˈkradik | adjective relating to idiosyncrasy; peculiar or individual: she emerged as one of the great, idiosyncratic talents of the nineties. DERIVATIVES idiosyncratically | ˌidēəsiNGˈkradək(ə)lē | adverb

Imperceptible

| ˌimpərˈseptəb(ə)l | adjective impossible to perceive: his head moved in an almost imperceptible nod. DERIVATIVES imperceptibility | ˌimpərˌseptəˈbilədē | noun

Interdiction

| ˌin(t)ərˈdikSH(ə)n | noun chiefly North American 1 the action of prohibiting or forbidding something: the interdiction of the slave trade. 2 the action of intercepting and preventing the movement of a prohibited commodity or person: the interdiction of arms shipments | [as modifier] : drug interdiction operations. • Military the action of impeding an enemy force, especially by bombing lines of communication or supply: battlefield air interdiction | air, ground, and naval interdictions.

Interlocutor

| ˌin(t)ərˈläkyədər | noun formal a person who takes part in a dialogue or conversation. DERIVATIVES interlocution | ˌin(t)ərˌlōˈkyo͞oSH(ə)n | noun

Integration

| ˌin(t)əˈɡrāSH(ə)n | noun 1 the action or process of integrating: economic and political integration | integration of individual countries into trading blocs. • the intermixing of people or groups previously segregated: integration is the best hope for both black and white Americans. 2 Mathematics the finding of an integral or integrals: integration of an ordinary differential equation | mathematical integrations. 3 Psychology the coordination of processes in the nervous system, including diverse sensory information and motor impulses: visuomotor integration. • Psychoanalysis the process by which a well-balanced psyche becomes whole as the developing ego organizes the id, and the state that results or that treatment seeks to create or restore by countering the fragmenting effect of defense mechanisms. DERIVATIVES integrationist | ˌin(t)əˈɡrāSH(ə)nəst | noun

Indignation

| ˌindiɡˈnāSH(ə)n | noun anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment: the letter filled Lucy with indignation.

Indefatigable

Indissoluble

Inexplicable

| ˌinekˈsplikəb(ə)l | adjective unable to be explained or accounted for: for some inexplicable reason her mind went completely blank. DERIVATIVES inexplicability | ˌinekˌsplikəˈbilədē | noun

Inclination

| ˌinkləˈnāSH(ə)n | noun 1 a person's natural tendency or urge to act or feel in a particular way; a disposition or propensity: John was a scientist by training and inclination | he was free to follow his inclinations. • (inclination for/to/toward) an interest in or liking for (something): Burger King and Wendy's didn't show any inclination to jump into a price war with McDonald's. 2 a slope or slant: changes in inclination of the line on the graph. • the action of inclining the body or head: the questioner's inclination of his head. • the dip of a magnetic needle. 3 the angle at which a straight line or plane is inclined to another. • Astronomy the angle between the orbital plane of a planet, comet, etc. and the ecliptic, or between the orbital plane of a satellite and the equatorial plane of its primary. • Astronomy the angle between the axis of an astronomical object and a fixed reference angle.

Incontrovertible

Incidentally

| ˌinsəˈdent(ə)lē | adverb 1 [sentence adverb] used when a person has something more to say, or is about to add a remark unconnected to the current subject; by the way: incidentally, it was many months before the whole truth was discovered. 2 in an incidental manner; as a chance occurrence: the infection was discovered only incidentally at a postmortem examination.

Inextricable

| ˌinəkˈstrikəb(ə)l, inˈekstrikəb(ə)l | adjective impossible to disentangle or separate: the past and the present are inextricable. • impossible to escape from: an inextricable situation. DERIVATIVES inextricability | ˌinəkˌstrikəˈbilədē | noun

Ineradicable

| ˌinəˈradəkəb(ə)l | adjective unable to be destroyed or removed: ineradicable hostility. DERIVATIVES ineradicably | -blē | adverb

Incongruous

| ˌinˈkäNGɡro͞oəs | 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. DERIVATIVES incongruously | inˈkäNGɡrəwəslē, iNGˈkäNGɡrəwəslē | adverb

Intractable

Juvenilia

| ˌjo͞ovəˈnilēə | plural noun works produced by an author or artist while still young.

Catatonic

| ˌkadəˈtänik | adjective Psychiatry relating to or characterized by catatonia: catatonic schizophrenia. • informal of or in an immobile or unresponsive stupor.

Kleptomania

| ˌkleptəˈmānēə | noun a recurrent urge to steal, typically without regard for need or profit. DERIVATIVES kleptomaniac | ˌkleptəˈmānēˌak | noun & adjective

Clairvoyant

| ˌklerˈvoiənt | noun a person who claims to have a supernatural ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact. adjective having or exhibiting an ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact: he didn't tell me about it and I'm not clairvoyant. DERIVATIVES clairvoyantly adverb

Counterintuitive

| ˌkoun(t)ərinˈt(y)o͞oədiv | adjective contrary to intuition or to common-sense expectation (but often nevertheless true). DERIVATIVES counterintuitively adverb

Counterfactual

| ˌkoun(t)ərˈfak(t)SH(əw)əl | Philosophy adjective relating to or expressing what has not happened or is not the case. noun a counterfactual conditional statement (e.g. If kangaroos had no tails, they would topple over).

Conflagration

| ˌkänfləˈɡrāSH(ə)n | noun an extensive fire which destroys a great deal of land or property.

Consternation

| ˌkänstərˈnāSH(ə)n | noun feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected: I always welcomed clover, much to the consternation of the neighbors.

Constellation

| ˌkänstəˈlāSH(ə)n | noun a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that is traditionally named after its apparent form or identified with a mythological figure. Modern astronomers divide the sky into eighty-eight constellations with defined boundaries. • a group or cluster of related things: no two patients ever show exactly the same constellation of symptoms.

Comorbidity

| ˌkōmôrˈbidədē | noun the simultaneous presence of two chronic diseases or conditions in a patient: the comorbidity of anxiety and depression in Parkinson's disease. DERIVATIVES comorbid adjective

Coalesce

| ˌkōəˈles | verb [no object] come together to form one mass or whole: the puddles had coalesced into shallow streams | the separate details coalesce to form a single body of scientific thought. • [with object] combine (elements) in a mass or whole: to help coalesce the community, they established an office. DERIVATIVES coalescence | ˌkōəˈlesns | noun coalescent | -ˈlesənt | adjective

Comeuppance

| ˌkəmˈəpəns | noun [in singular] informal a punishment or fate that someone deserves: he got his comeuppance.

Legalese

| ˌlēɡəˈlēz | noun informal the formal and technical language of legal documents that is often hard to understand.

Magisterium

| ˌmajəˈstirēəm | noun the teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church, especially as exercised by bishops or the Pope. • the official and authoritative teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.

Machination

| ˌmakəˈnāSHən, ˌmaSHəˈnāSHən | noun (usually machinations) a plot or scheme.

Magnanimity

| ˌmaɡnəˈnimədē | noun the fact or condition of being magnanimous; generosity: both sides will have to show magnanimity.

Meretricious

| ˌmerəˈtriSHəs | adjective 1 apparently attractive but having in reality no value or integrity: meretricious souvenirs for the tourist trade. 2 archaic relating to or characteristic of a prostitute. DERIVATIVES meretriciously adverb meretriciousness noun

Mea culpa

| ˌmeɪə ˈkʊlpə, ˌmiːə ˈkʌlpə | exclamationused as an acknowledgement of one's fault or error: 'Well, whose fault wasthat?' 'Mea culpa!' Frank said. ORIGIN Latin, 'by my fault'.

Monotonic

| ˌmänəˈtänik | adjective 1 Mathematics (of a function or quantity) varying in such a way that it either never decreases or never increases. 2 speaking or uttered with an unchanging pitch or tone: her dour, monotonic husband. DERIVATIVES monotonically | -ik(ə)lē | adverb monotonicity | ˌmänətnˈisətē | noun

Myopic

| ˌmīˈäpik | adjective nearsighted. • lacking imagination, foresight, or intellectual insight: the government still has a myopic attitude to public spending. DERIVATIVES myopically | mīˈäpik(ə)lē | adverb

Mundane

| ˌmənˈdān | adjective 1 lacking interest or excitement; dull: seeking a way out of his mundane, humdrum existence. 2 of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one: the boundaries of the mundane world. • relating to or denoting the branch of astrology that deals with political, social, economic, and geophysical events and processes. DERIVATIVES mundanely | ˌmənˈdānlē | adverb mundaneness | ˌmənˈdānnis | noun mundanity | -ˈdānətē | noun (plural mundanities)

Non sequitur

| ˌnän ˈsekwədər | noun a conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement.

Nonsensical

| ˌnänˈsensək(ə)l | adjective 1 having no meaning; making no sense: a nonsensical argument | he dismissed the claim as nonsensical. 2 ridiculously impractical or ill-advised: a tax that everyone recognizes was nonsensical. DERIVATIVES nonsensicality | ˌnänsensəˈkalitē | noun nonsensically | ˌnänˈsensək(ə)lē | adverb

Pathological

| ˌpaTHəˈläjək(ə)l | (also pathologic) adjective relating to pathology: the interpretation of pathological studies. • involving, caused by, or of the nature of a physical or mental disease: pathological changes associated with senile dementia. • informal compulsive; obsessive: a pathological gambler.

Pamphleteer

| ˌpamfləˈtir | noun a writer of pamphlets, especially ones of a political and controversial nature. verb [no object] (usually as noun pamphleteering) write and issue political or controversial pamphlets.

Peccadillo

| ˌpekəˈdilō | noun (plural peccadilloes or peccadillos) a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin.

Peripatetic

| ˌperēpəˈtedik | adjective 1 traveling from place to place, in particular working or based in various places for relatively short periods: the peripatetic nature of military life. 2 (Peripatetic) Aristotelian. [with reference to Aristotle's practice of walking to and fro while teaching.] noun 1 a person who travels from place to place. 2 (Peripatetic) an Aristotelian philosopher. DERIVATIVES peripatetically | -ik(ə)lē | adverb peripateticism | ˌperəpəˈtedəˌsizəm | noun

Paradigmatic

| ˌperədiɡˈmadik | adjective 1 of the nature of a paradigm or model: they offer this database as a paradigmatic example. 2 of or denoting the relationship between a set of linguistic items that form mutually exclusive choices in particular syntactic roles. Contrasted with syntagmatic. DERIVATIVES paradigmatically | ˌperəˌdiɡˈmadək(ə)lē | adverb

Paradisal

| ˌperəˈdīzəl, ˌparəˈdīsəl | adjective (of a place or state) ideal or idyllic; heavenly: she told me tales of her paradisal childhood.

Periphrastic

| ˌperəˈfrastik | adjective (of speech or writing) indirect and circumlocutory: the periphrastic nature of legal syntax. • Grammar (of a case or tense) formed by a combination of words rather than by inflection (such as did go and of the people rather than went and the people's). DERIVATIVES periphrastically | ˌperəˈfrastək(ə)lē | adverb

Paranoia

| ˌperəˈnoiə | noun a mental condition characterized by delusions of persecution, unwarranted jealousy, or exaggerated self-importance, typically elaborated into an organized system. It may be an aspect of chronic personality disorder, of drug abuse, or of a serious condition such as schizophrenia in which the person loses touch with reality. • suspicion and mistrust of people or their actions without evidence or justification: the global paranoia about hackers and viruses. DERIVATIVES paranoiac | ˌperəˈnoiik, ˌperəˈnoiak | adjective & noun paranoiacally | ˌperəˈnoiik(ə)lē, ˌperəˈnoiak(ə)lē | adverb paranoic | ˌperəˈnoiik | adjective paranoically adverb

Predilection

| ˌpredlˈekSH(ə)n, ˌprēdlˈekSH(ə)n | noun a preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something: my predilection for Asian food.

Propagandize

| ˌpräpəˈɡanˌdīz | verb [no object] chiefly derogatory promote or publicize a particular cause, organization, or view, especially in a biased or misleading way: abolitionist leaders had not specifically propagandized for emancipation. • [with object] attempt to influence (someone) with propaganda: people who have to be emotionalized and propagandized by logical arguments.

Premonition

| ˌprēməˈniSH(ə)n, ˌpreməˈniSH(ə)n | noun a strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something unpleasant: he had a premonition of imminent disaster. DERIVATIVES premonitory | prēˈmänəˌtôrē | adjective

Presupposition

| ˌprēˌsəpəˈziSH(ə)n | noun a thing tacitly assumed beforehand at the beginning of a line of argument or course of action: images that challenge presuppositions about feminine handiwork. • the action or state of presupposing or being presupposed.

Prima facie

| ˌprīmə ˈfāSHē | adjective & adverb Law based on the first impression; accepted as correct until proved otherwise: [as adjective] : a prima facie case of professional misconduct | [as adverb] : the original lessee prima facie remains liable for the payment of the rent.

Prototypical

| ˌprōdəˈtipik(ə)l | adjective denoting the first, original, or typical form of something: the prototypical vehicle | the phone emerged as the prototypical example of point-to-point communication. DERIVATIVES prototypically | ˌprōdəˈtipik(ə)lē | adverb

Prophylactic

| ˌprōfəˈlaktik | adjective intended to prevent disease: prophylactic measures. noun a medicine or course of action used to prevent disease: I took malaria prophylactics. • North American a condom. DERIVATIVES prophylactically | ˌprōfəˈlaktək(ə)lē, ˌpräfəˈlaktək(ə)lē | adverb

Perpetuity

| ˌpərpəˈt(y)o͞oədē | noun (plural perpetuities) 1 a bond or other security with no fixed maturity date. 2 Law a restriction making an estate inalienable perpetually or for a period beyond certain limits fixed by law. 3 the state or quality of lasting forever: he did not believe in the perpetuity of military rule. PHRASES in (or for) perpetuity forever: all the Bonapartes were banished from France in perpetuity.

Perspicacious

| ˌpərspəˈkāSHəs | adjective having a ready insight into and understanding of things: it offers quite a few facts to the perspicacious reporter. DERIVATIVES perspicaciously adverb

Perfervid

| ˌpərˈfərvid | adjective literary intense and impassioned: perfervid nationalism. DERIVATIVES perfervidly adverb

Racketeer

| ˌrakəˈtir | noun a person who engages in dishonest and fraudulent business dealings.

Reprehensible

Reparation

| ˌrepəˈrāSH(ə)n | noun 1 the making of amends for a wrong one has done, by paying money to or otherwise helping those who have been wronged: the courts required a convicted offender to make financial reparation to his victim. • (reparations) the compensation for war damage paid by a defeated state. 2 archaic the action of repairing something: the old hall was pulled down to avoid the cost of reparation. DERIVATIVES reparative | rəˈperədiv | adjective

Repetitious

| ˌrepəˈtiSHəs | adjective another term for repetitive. DERIVATIVES repetitiously adverb repetitiousness noun

Retrofit

| ˌretrōˈfit | verb (retrofits, retrofitting, retrofitted) [with object] add (a component or accessory) to something that did not have it when manufactured: drivers who retrofit catalysts to older cars. • provide (something) with a component or accessory not fitted during manufacture: buses have been retrofitted with easy-access features. noun an act of adding a component or accessory to something that did not have it when manufactured. • a component or accessory added to something after manufacture.

Retrospective

| ˌretrəˈspektiv | adjective looking back on or dealing with past events or situations: our survey was retrospective. • (of an exhibition or compilation) showing the development of an artist's work over a period of time. • (of a statute or legal decision) taking effect from a date in the past: retrospective pay awards. noun an exhibition or compilation showing the development of the work of a particular artist over a period of time: a Georgia O'Keeffe retrospective.

Rudimentary

| ˌro͞odəˈment(ə)rē | adjective involving or limited to basic principles: he received a rudimentary education. • relating to an immature, undeveloped, or basic form: a rudimentary stage of evolution. DERIVATIVES rudimentarily | ˌro͞odəmənˈterəlē | adverb rudimentariness | ˌro͞odəˈmen(t)ərēnəs | noun

Reconnoiter

| ˌrēkəˈnoidər, ˌrekəˈnoidər | (British reconnoitre) verb [with object] make a military observation of (a region): they reconnoitered the beach some weeks before the landing | [no object] : the raiders were reconnoitering for further attacks. noun an act of reconnoitering: a nocturnal reconnoiter of the camp.

Recapitulate

| ˌrēkəˈpiCHəˌlāt | verb [with object] summarize and state again the main points of: he began to recapitulate his argument with care. • Biology repeat (an evolutionary or other process) during development and growth. DERIVATIVES recapitulatory | -ləˌtôrē | adjective

Sanctimonious

Sacerdotal

| ˌsasərˈdōdl, ˌsakərˈdōdl | adjective relating to priests or the priesthood; priestly. • Theology relating to or denoting a doctrine which ascribes sacrificial functions and spiritual or supernatural powers to ordained priests. DERIVATIVES sacerdotalism | ˌsasərˈdōdlˌizəm, ˌsakərˈdōdlˌizəm | noun

Center of gravity

| ˌsen(t)ər əv ˈɡravədē | noun a point from which the weight of a body or system may be considered to act. In uniform gravity it is the same as the center of mass.

Sycophantic

| ˌsikəˈfan(t)ik | adjective behaving or done in an obsequious way in order to gain advantage: a sycophantic interview. DERIVATIVES sycophantically | ˌsikəˈfantik(ə)lē | adverb

Smoking gun

| ˌsmōkiNG ˈɡən | noun a piece of incontrovertible incriminating evidence.

Stereoscopic

| ˌsterēəˈskäpik | adjective relating to or denoting a process by which two photographs of the same object taken at slightly different angles are viewed together, creating an impression of depth and solidity: stereoscopic 3D vision technology. DERIVATIVES stereoscopically adverb stereoscopy | ˌsterēˈäskəpē | noun

Stratification

| ˌstradəfəˈkāSH(ə)n | noun the arrangement or classification of something into different groups: wealth is the main symbol of social stratification | stratification of patients into low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups | [count noun] : a metropolis with a multiplicity of ethnic, social, and age stratifications. • the formation of strata in rock: rock seams without any distinct stratification | [count noun] : geological stratifications. • the placing of seeds close together in layers in moist sand or peat to preserve them or to help them germinate: following cold stratification, seeds were germinated in greenhouses.

Solomonic

| ˌsäləˈmänik | adjective relating to the biblical figure of Solomon, the son of David and a king of ancient Israel: the founder of the Solomonic dynasty. • very wise: I made my Solomonic decision.

Saltation

| ˌsôlˈtāSHən | noun 1 Biology abrupt evolutionary change; sudden large-scale mutation. 2 Geology the movement of hard particles such as sand over an uneven surface in a turbulent flow of air or water. 3 archaic the action of leaping or dancing. DERIVATIVES saltatory | ˈsaltəˌtôrē, ˈsôl- | adjective

Sadomasochism

| ˌsādōˈmasəˌkizəm | noun psychological tendency or sexual practice characterized by both sadism and masochism. DERIVATIVES sadomasochist | ˌsādōˈmasəkəst | noun

Subjugation

| ˌsəbjəˈɡāSH(ə)n | noun the action of bringing someone or something under domination or control: the colonial subjugation of a country by means of brute military force | the fear of human subjugation by technology | [count noun] : conquests and subjugations that we think are long forgotten.

Circumlocutory

| ˌsərkəmˈläkyəˌtôrē | adjective using many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive; long-winded: he has a meandering, circumlocutory speaking style.

Surreptitiously

| ˌsərəpˈtiSHəslē | adverb in a way that attempts to avoid notice or attention; secretively: Mary surreptitiously slipped from the room | surreptitiously recorded conversations.

Tranquility

| ˌtraNGˈkwilədē | (also tranquillity) noun the quality or state of being tranquil; calm: passing cars are the only noise that disturbs the tranquility of rural life.

Vitriolic

| ˌvitrēˈälik | adjective filled with bitter criticism or malice: vitriolic attacks on the politicians | vitriolic outbursts. DERIVATIVES vitriolically adverb

Virality

| ˌvīˈralədē | noun the tendency of an image, video, or piece of information to be circulated rapidly and widely from one Internet user to another; the quality or fact of being viral: new metrics will allow marketeers to better assess the virality of their campaigns.

Obsolescence

| ˌäbsəˈlesəns | noun the process of becoming obsolete or outdated and no longer used: computers are infamous for their rapid obsolescence | gunpowder brought about the obsolescence of many weapons.

Oxymoronic

| ˌäksəˈmôrˌän | noun a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (e.g. faith unfaithful kept him falsely true). DERIVATIVES oxymoronic | -məˈränik | adjective

En route

| ˌän ˈro͞ot | adverb during the course of a journey; on the way: he stopped in Turkey en route to Geneva.

Ostentatious

| ˌästənˈtāSHəs | adjective characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice: books that people buy and display ostentatiously but never actually finish. DERIVATIVES ostentatiousness | ˌäst(ə)nˈtāSHəsnəs | noun

Oscillation

| ˌäsəˈlāSH(ə)n | noun 1 movement back and forth at a regular speed: the natural oscillation of a spring | the oscillations of a pendulum. • variation or fluctuation between two extremes of opinion, action, or quality: the plot's oscillation between bleak and comic elements. 2 Physics regular variation in magnitude or position around a central point.

Unambiguous

| ˌənamˈbiɡyo͞oəs | adjective not open to more than one interpretation: instructions should be unambiguous. DERIVATIVES unambiguity | ˌənˌambəˈɡyo͞oədē | noun

Unsubstantiated

| ˌənsəbˈstan(t)SHēˌādəd | adjective not supported or proven by evidence: unsubstantiated claims.

Unabated

| ˌənəˈbādəd | adjective without any reduction in intensity or strength: the storm was raging unabated. DERIVATIVES unabatedly adverb

Unassailable

Unfetter

| ˌənˈfedər | verb [with object] (usually as adjective unfettered) release from restraint or inhibition: his imagination is unfettered by the laws of logic.

Unprecedented

| ˌənˈpresədən(t)əd | adjective never done or known before: the government took the unprecedented step of releasing confidential correspondence. DERIVATIVES unprecedentedly | ˌənˈpresəd(ə)n(t)ədlē | adverb

Untenable

Par for the course

what is normal or expected in any given circumstances: given the high standards of the food, the prices seem par for the course.

Shunt

| SHənt | verb 1 [with object and adverbial of direction] push or pull (a train or part of a train) from the main line to a siding or from one track to another: their train had been shunted into a siding. • (usually be shunted) push or shove (someone or something): chairs were being shunted back and forth. • direct or divert (someone or something) to a less important place or position: amateurs were gradually being shunted to filing jobs. 2 [with object] provide (an electrical current) with a conductor joining two points of a circuit, through which more or less of the current may be diverted. noun 1 an act of pushing or shoving something. 2 an electrical conductor joining two points of a circuit, through which more or less of a current may be diverted. • Surgery an alternative path for the passage of the blood or other body fluid: [as modifier] : shunt surgery.

Chicanery

| SHəˈkān(ə)rē | noun the use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose: an underhanded person who schemes corruption and political chicanery behind closed doors.

Throes

| THrōz | plural noun intense or violent pain and struggle, especially accompanying birth, death, or great change: he convulsed in his death throes. PHRASES in the throes of in the middle of doing or dealing with something very difficult or painful: a friend was in the throes of a divorce.

Abhorrent

| abˈhôrənt, abˈhärənt | adjective inspiring disgust and loathing; repugnant: racial discrimination was abhorrent to us all.

Abstraction

| abˈstrakSH(ə)n | noun 1 the quality of dealing with ideas rather than events: topics will vary in degrees of abstraction. • something which exists only as an idea: the question can no longer be treated as an academic abstraction. 2 freedom from representational qualities in art: geometric abstraction has been a mainstay in her work. • an abstract work of art. 3 a state of preoccupation: she sensed his momentary abstraction. 4 the process of considering something independently of its associations, attributes, or concrete accompaniments: duty is no longer determined in abstraction from the consequences. 5 the process of removing something, especially water from a river or other source: the abstraction of water from springs and wells.

Blasé

| bläˈzā | adjective unimpressed or indifferent to something because one has experienced or seen it so often before: she was becoming quite blasé about the dangers.

Beleaguer

| bəˈlēɡər | verb [with object] (usually as adjective beleaguered) lay siege to: he is leading a relief force to the aid of the beleaguered city. • beset with difficulties: the board is supporting the beleaguered director amid calls for his resignation.

Belie

| bəˈlī | verb (belies, belying, belied) [with object] 1 (of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict: his lively, alert manner belied his years. 2 fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation); betray: the notebooks belie Darwin's later recollection.

Beneficent

| bəˈnefəsənt | adjective (of a person) generous or doing good. • resulting in good: a beneficent democracy. DERIVATIVES beneficence | bəˈnefəs(ə)ns | noun beneficently adverb

Baroque

| bəˈrōk | adjective relating to or denoting a style of European architecture, music, and art of the 17th and 18th centuries that followed mannerism and is characterized by ornate detail. In architecture the period is exemplified by the palace of Versailles and by the work of Bernini in Italy. Major composers include Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel; Caravaggio and Rubens are important baroque artists. • highly ornate and extravagant in style: the candles were positively baroque. noun the baroque style or period.

Betwixt

| bəˈtwikst | preposition & adverb archaic term for between. PHRASES betwixt and between informal not fully or properly either of two things.

Beguile

| bəˈɡīl | verb [with object] 1 charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way: every prominent American artist has been beguiled by Maine | (as adjective beguiling) : a beguiling smile. • trick (someone) into doing something: they were beguiled into signing a peace treaty. 2 dated help (time) pass pleasantly: to beguile some of the time they went to the movie theater. DERIVATIVES beguilement | bəˈɡīlmənt | noun beguiler | bəˈɡīlər | noun beguilingly | bəˈɡīliNGlē | adverb

Daft

| daft | adjective British informal silly; foolish: don't ask such daft questions. • (daft about) infatuated with: we were all daft about him. DERIVATIVES daftness noun

Discomfiture

| disˈkəmfəˌCHər | noun a feeling of unease or embarrassment; awkwardness: many MPs are secretly enjoying his discomfiture.

Dystopia

| disˈtōpēə | noun an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one. Compare with utopia.

Dragoon

| drəˈɡo͞on | noun a member of any of several cavalry regiments in the British army. • historical a mounted infantryman armed with a short rifle or musket. verb [with object] coerce (someone) into doing something: she had been dragooned into helping with the housework.

Dogmatic

| dôɡˈmadik | adjective inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true: he gives his opinion without trying to be dogmatic. DERIVATIVES dogmatically | dôɡˈmadək(ə)lē | adverb

Demystify

| dēˈmistəˌfī | verb (demystifies, demystifying, demystified) [with object] make (a difficult or esoteric subject) clearer and easier to understand: this book attempts to demystify technology. DERIVATIVES demystification | ˌdēˌmistəfəˈkāSH(ə)n | noun

Diathesis

| dīˈaTHəsəs | noun 1 [usually with modifier] Medicine a tendency to suffer from a particular medical condition: a bleeding diathesis. 2 Linguistics another term for voice (sense 5 of the noun).

Diaspora

| dīˈaspərə | noun (often the Diaspora) the dispersion of the Jews beyond Israel. • Jews living outside Israel. • the dispersion of any people from their original homeland: the diaspora of boat people from Asia. • the people so dispersed: the Ukrainian diaspora flocked back to Kiev.

Dichotomous

| dīˈkädəməs | adjective exhibiting or characterized by dichotomy: a dichotomous view of the world. • Botany (of branching) in which the axis is divided into two branches. DERIVATIVES dichotomously adverb

Dynamic

| dīˈnamik | adjective 1 (of a process or system) characterized by constant change, activity, or progress: a dynamic economy. • Physics relating to forces producing motion. Often contrasted with static. • Linguistics (of a verb) expressing an action, activity, event, or process. Contrasted with stative. • 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. 2 (of a person) positive in attitude and full of energy and new ideas: she's dynamic and determined. 3 relating to the volume of sound produced by an instrument, voice, or recording: an astounding dynamic range. 4 Electronics (of a memory device) needing to be refreshed by the periodic application of a voltage. noun 1 a force that stimulates change or progress within a system or process: evaluation is part of the basic dynamic of the project. 2 Music another term for dynamics (sense 3) . DERIVATIVES dynamical | dīˈnamək(ə)l | adjective

Defamatory

| dəˈfaməˌtôrē | adjective (of remarks, writing, etc.) damaging the good reputation of someone; slanderous or libelous: a defamatory allegation.

Definitive

| dəˈfinədiv | adjective 1 (of a conclusion or agreement) done or reached decisively and with authority: a definitive diagnosis. • (of a book or other text) the most authoritative of its kind: the definitive biography of Harry Truman. 2 (of a postage stamp) for general use and typically of standard design, not special or commemorative. noun a definitive postage stamp.

Decant

| dəˈkant | verb [with object] gradually pour (liquid, typically wine or a solution) from one container into another, especially without disturbing the sediment: the wine was decanted about 40 minutes before being served.

Democratize

| dəˈmäkrəˌtīz | verb [with object] introduce a democratic system or democratic principles to: public institutions need to be democratized. • make (something) accessible to everyone: mass production has not democratized fashion.

Demonstrably

| dəˈmänstrəblē | adverb in a way that is clearly apparent or capable of being logically proved: the policies followed so far have demonstrably failed | the claim is demonstrably false.

Demonstrative

| dəˈmänstrədiv | adjective 1 (of a person) tending to show feelings, especially of affection, openly. 2 serving as conclusive evidence of something; giving proof: demonstrative evidence. • involving demonstration, especially by scientific means: the possibility of a demonstrative science of ethics. 3 Grammar (of a determiner or pronoun) indicating the person or thing referred to (e.g. this, that, those). noun Grammar a demonstrative determiner or pronoun. DERIVATIVES demonstratively | dəˈmänstrədivlē | adverb demonstrativeness | dəˈmänstrədivnəs | noun

Deposed

| dəˈpōz | verb [with object] 1 remove from office suddenly and forcefully: he had been deposed by a military coup. 2 Law testify to or give (evidence) on oath, typically in a written statement: every affidavit shall state which of the facts deposed to are within the deponent's knowledge. 3 Law question (a witness) in deposition.

Despatched

| dəˈspaCH | (also despatch) verb [with object] 1 send off to a destination or for a purpose: he dispatched messages back to base | [with object and infinitive] : the mayor dispatched 150 police officers to restore order. 2 deal with (a task, problem, or opponent) quickly and efficiently: they dispatched the opposition. • kill: he dispatched the animal with one blow. noun 1 the sending of someone or something to a destination or for a purpose: a resolution authorizing the dispatch of a peacekeeping force. • speed in action: the situation might change, so he should proceed with dispatch. 2 an official report on state or military affairs: in his battle dispatch he described the gunner's bravery. • a report sent in by a newspaper's correspondent from a faraway place. 3 the killing of someone or something: the legendary dispatch of villains by a hero.

Dispatch

Disparity

| dəˈsperədē | noun (plural disparities) a great difference: economic disparities between different regions of the country | the great disparity of weight between the sun and the planets.

Filtration

| filˈtrāSH(ə)n | noun the action or process of filtering something: small particles are difficult to remove without filtration.

Frisson

| frēˈsôn | noun a sudden strong feeling of excitement or fear; a thrill: a frisson of excitement.

Futurity

| fyəˈCHo͝orədē, fyəˈto͝orədē | noun (plural futurities) the future time: the tremendous shadows that futurity casts upon the present. • a future event. • renewed or continuing existence: the snowdrops were a promise of futurity. • US short for futurity race.

Fief

| fēf | noun 1 Law, historical an estate of land, especially one held on condition of feudal service. 2 a person's sphere of operation or control.

Verboten

| fərˈbōtn, vər- | adjective forbidden, especially by an authority.

Fallacious

Fanaticism

| fəˈnadəˌsizəm | noun the quality of being fanatical: the dangers of religious fanaticism.

Facetious

Heuristic

| hyo͞oˈristik | adjective enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves: a "hands-on" or interactive heuristic approach to learning. • Computing proceeding to a solution by trial and error or by rules that are only loosely defined. noun a heuristic process or method. • (heuristics) [usually treated as singular] the study and use of heuristic techniques. DERIVATIVES heuristically adverb

Hedonic

| hēˈdänik | adjective technical relating to or considered in terms of pleasant (or unpleasant) sensations.

Hoser

| hōzər | noun Canadian informal a foolish or uncultivated person.

Hegemony

| həˈjemənē, ˈhejəˌmōnē | noun leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others: Germany was united under Prussian hegemony after 1871.

Immutable

Eccentric

| ikˈsentrik | adjective 1 (of a person or their behavior) unconventional and slightly strange: my favorite aunt is very eccentric. 2 technical (of a thing) not placed centrally or not having its axis or other part placed centrally. • (of a circle) not centered on the same point as another. • (of an orbit) not circular. noun 1 a person of unconventional and slightly strange views or behavior: he enjoys a colorful reputation as an engaging eccentric. 2 a disc or wheel mounted eccentrically on a revolving shaft in order to transform rotation into backward-and-forward motion, e.g. a cam in an internal combustion engine. DERIVATIVES eccentrically | ikˈsentrək(ə)lē | adverb

Explicitly

| ikˈsplisitlē | adverb in a clear and detailed manner, leaving no room for confusion or doubt: the essay should state explicitly how the facts support the thesis | she has explicitly rejected the theory of patriarchy. • (in reference to representations of sexual activity) graphically and vividly: [as submodifier] : explicitly erotic images.

Experiential

| ikˌspirēˈen(t)SH(ə)l | adjective involving or based on experience and observation: the experiential learning associated with employment. DERIVATIVES experientially adverb

Impetuous

Implacable

Implicitly

| imˈplisətlē | adverb 1 in a way that is not directly expressed; tacitly: she implicitly suggested that he was responsible for the error. 2 without qualification: absolutely: he trusted Sarah implicitly.

Implore

| imˈplôr | verb [reporting verb] beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something: [with object and infinitive] : he implored her to change her mind | [with direct speech] : "Please don't talk that way," Ellen implored. • [with object] archaic beg earnestly for: I implore mercy. DERIVATIVES imploringly | imˈplôriNGlē | adverb

Impunity

| imˈpyo͞onədē | noun exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action: the impunity enjoyed by military officers implicated in civilian killings | protesters burned flags on the streets with impunity.

Importunate

Indelible

| inˈdeləb(ə)l | adjective (of ink or a pen) making marks that cannot be removed. • not able to be forgotten or removed: his story made an indelible impression on me. DERIVATIVES indelibility | -ˌdeləˈbilitē | noun

Indemnify

| inˈdemnəˌfī | verb (indemnifies, indemnifying, indemnified) [with object] compensate (someone) for harm or loss: the amount of insurance that may be carried to indemnify the owner in the event of a loss. • secure (someone) against legal responsibility for their actions: the newspaper could not be forced to indemnify the city for personal-injury liability. DERIVATIVES indemnification | inˌdemnəfəˈkāSHən | noun indemnifier noun

Indicative

| inˈdikədiv | adjective 1 serving as a sign or indication of something: having recurrent dreams is not necessarily indicative of any psychological problem. 2 Grammar denoting a mood of verbs expressing simple statement of a fact. Compare with subjunctive. noun Grammar a verb in the indicative mood. • (the indicative) the indicative mood. DERIVATIVES indicatively adverb

Inflection

| inˈflekSH(ə)n | (chiefly British also inflexion) noun 1 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. • the process or practice of inflecting words. 2 the modulation of intonation or pitch in the voice: she spoke slowly and without inflection | the variety of his vocal inflections. • the variation of the pitch of a musical note. 3 chiefly Mathematics a change of curvature from convex to concave at a particular point on a curve. DERIVATIVES inflectional | inˈflekSH(ə)n(ə)l | adjective inflectionally | -SHənl-ē | adverb inflectionless adjective

Injurious

| inˈjo͝orēəs | adjective causing or likely to cause damage or harm: high temperature is injurious to mangoes. • (of language) maliciously insulting; libelous. DERIVATIVES injuriously adverb injuriousness noun

Injunction

| inˈjəNG(k)SH(ə)n | noun an authoritative warning or order. • 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. DERIVATIVES injunctive | inˈjəNG(k)tiv | adjective

Incredulous

| inˈkrejələs | adjective (of a person or their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something: an incredulous gasp. DERIVATIVES incredulousness | inˈkrejələsnəs | noun

Incorrigible

| inˈkôrəjəb(ə)l | adjective (of a person or their tendencies) not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed: she's an incorrigible flirt. noun an incorrigible person. DERIVATIVES incorrigibility | ˈˌinˌkôrəjəˈbilədē, ənˌkôrəjəˈbilədē, iNGˌkôrəjəˈbilədē | noun incorrigibleness noun incorrigibly | ˈˌinˈkôrəjəblē, ənˈkôrəjəblē, iNGˈkôrəjəblē | adverb [as submodifier] : the incorrigibly macho character of news-gathering operations

Interstices

| inˈtərstəs | noun (usually interstices) an intervening space, especially a very small one: sunshine filtered through the interstices of the arching trees.

Inveterate

| inˈvedərət | adjective [attributive] having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change: he was an inveterate gambler. • (of a feeling or habit) long-established and unlikely to change. DERIVATIVES inveteracy | inˈved(ə)rəsē | noun inveterately adverb

Ingratiate

| inˈɡrāSHēˌāt | verb (ingratiate oneself) bring oneself into favor with someone by flattering or trying to please them: a social climber who had tried to ingratiate herself with the city gentry. DERIVATIVES ingratiation | -ˌɡrāSHēˈāSHən | noun

Ignoble

Exhaustive

| iɡˈzôstiv | adjective examining, including, or considering all elements or aspects; fully comprehensive: she has undergone exhaustive tests since becoming ill. DERIVATIVES exhaustiveness | iɡˈzôstivnəs | noun

Inoculate

| iˈnäkyəˌlāt | verb [with object] treat (a person or animal) with a vaccine to produce immunity against a disease: he inoculated his tenants against smallpox. Compare with vaccinate. • introduce (an infective agent) into an organism: it can be inoculated into laboratory animals. • introduce (cells or organisms) into a culture medium. DERIVATIVES inoculable | iˈnäkyələb(ə)l | adjective inoculator | iˈnäkyəˌlādər | noun

Espouse

| iˈspouz | verb [with object] 1 adopt or support (a cause, belief, or way of life): he turned his back on the modernism he had espoused in his youth. 2 archaic marry: Edward had espoused the lady Grey. • (be espoused to) (of a woman) be engaged to (a particular man). DERIVATIVES espouser noun

Imagineer

| iˌmajəˈnir | noun a person who devises and implements a new or highly imaginative concept or technology, in particular one who devises the attractions in Walt Disney theme parks. verb [with object] (often as noun imagineering) devise and implement (such a concept or technology): theme parks are benefiting from a new era of imagineering.

Egalitarian

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

Jive

| jīv | noun 1 a lively style of dance popular especially in the 1940s and 1950s, performed to swing music or rock and roll. • swing music. • a style of dance music popular in South Africa: township jive. 2 (also jive talk) a form of slang associated with black American jazz musicians. • North American informal a thing, especially talk, that is deceptive or worthless: a single image says more than any amount of blather and jive. verb 1 [no object] perform the jive or a similar dance to popular music: people were jiving in the aisles. 2 [with object] North American informal taunt or sneer at: Willy kept jiving him until Jimmy left. • [no object] talk nonsense: he wasn't jiving about that bartender. adjective North American informal deceitful or worthless. DERIVATIVES jiver noun jivey adjective

Quell

| kwel | verb [with object] put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force: extra police were called to quell the disturbance. • subdue or silence someone: Connor quelled him with a look. • suppress (a feeling, especially an unpleasant one): he spoke up again to quell any panic among the assembled youngsters. DERIVATIVES queller noun

Quid

| kwid | noun (plural same) British informal one pound sterling: we paid him four hundred quid. quid2 | kwid | noun a lump of tobacco for chewing.

Qualm

| kwäm, kwälm | noun an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear, especially about one's own conduct; a misgiving: military regimes generally have no qualms about controlling the press. • archaic a momentary faint or sick feeling. DERIVATIVES qualmish | ˈkwä(l)miSH | adjective

Quotidian

| kwōˈtidēən | adjective [attributive] of or occurring every day; daily: the car sped noisily off through the quotidian traffic. • ordinary or everyday, especially when mundane: his story is an achingly human one, mired in quotidian details. • Medicine denoting the malignant form of malaria.

Carte blanche

| kärt ˈblänSH | noun complete freedom to act as one wishes or thinks best: we were given carte blanche.

Compelling

| kəmˈpeliNG | adjective evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way: his eyes were strangely compelling | a compelling film. • not able to be refuted; inspiring conviction: a compelling argument | compelling evidence. • not able to be resisted; overwhelming: the temptation to give up was compelling.

Conjunctive

| kənˈdʒʌŋ(k)tɪv | adjective1 relating to or forming a connection or combination of things: theconjunctive tissue. • involving the combination or co-occurrence of two or moreconditions or properties. 2 Grammar of the nature of or relating to a conjunction. noun Grammar a word or expression acting as a conjunction. DERIVATIVES conjunctively | kənˈdʒʌŋktɪvli | adverb

Conflate

| kənˈflāt | verb [with object] combine (two or more texts, ideas, etc.) into one: the urban crisis conflates a number of different economic and social issues.

Confound

| kənˈfound | verb [with object] 1 cause surprise or confusion in (someone), especially by acting against their expectations: the inflation figure confounded economic analysts. • prove (a theory, expectation, or prediction) wrong: the rise in prices confounded expectations. • defeat (a plan, aim, or hope): we will confound these tactics by the pressure groups. • archaic overthrow (an enemy). 2 (often be confounded with) mix up (something) with something else so that the individual elements become difficult to distinguish: 'nuke' is now a cooking technique, as microwave radiation is confounded with nuclear radiation. exclamation dated used to express anger or annoyance: oh confound it, where is the thing?

Confer

| kənˈfər | verb (confers, conferring, conferred) 1 [with object] grant or bestow (a title, degree, benefit, or right): moves were made to confer an honorary degree on her. 2 [no object] have discussions; exchange opinions: the officials were conferring with allies. DERIVATIVES conferment | kənˈfərmənt | noun confer (sense 1) conferrable | kənˈfərəb(ə)l | adjective conferral | -ˈfərəl | noun confer (sense 1)

Conjecture

| kənˈjekCHər | noun an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information: conjectures about the newcomer were many and varied | the purpose of the opening in the wall is open to conjecture. • an unproven mathematical or scientific theorem: the Goldbach conjecture. • (in textual criticism) the suggestion or reconstruction of a reading of a text not present in the original source. verb [reporting verb] form an opinion or supposition about (something) on the basis of incomplete information: many conjectured that the jury could not agree | he conjectured the existence of an otherwise unknown feature. • (in textual criticism) propose (a reading). DERIVATIVES conjecturable | kənˈjek(t)SH(ə)rəb(ə)l | adjective

Conciliatory

| kənˈsilēəˌtôrē | adjective intended or likely to placate or pacify: a conciliatory approach. DERIVATIVES conciliatoriness noun

Conspicuously

| kənˈspikyo͝oəslē | adverb in a clearly visible way: the signs were conspicuously displayed inside the restaurant. • in a way that attracts notice or attention: his arguments conspicuously lack rigor | [as submodifier] : one important voice has been conspicuously absent.

Contingent

| kənˈtinjənt | adjective 1 subject to chance: the contingent nature of the job. • (of losses, liabilities, etc.) that can be anticipated to arise if a particular event occurs: businesses need to be aware of their liabilities, both actual and contingent. • Philosophy true by virtue of the way things in fact are and not by logical necessity: that men are living creatures is a contingent fact. 2 (contingent on/upon) 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. noun a group of people united by some common feature, forming part of a larger group: a contingent of Japanese businessmen attending a conference. • a body of troops or police sent to join a larger force in an operation: a contingent of 2,000 marines. DERIVATIVES contingently | kənˈtinj(ə)ntlē | adverb

Cadaver

| kəˈdavər | noun Medicine or literary a corpse. DERIVATIVES cadaveric | kəˈdav(ə)rik | adjective

Calamitous

| kəˈlamədəs | adjective involving calamity; catastrophic or disastrous: such calamitous events as fires, hurricanes, and floods. DERIVATIVES calamitously adverb

Commensurate

| kəˈmensərət, kəˈmenSHərət | adjective corresponding in size or degree; in proportion: salary will be commensurate with experience | such heavy responsibility must receive commensurate reward. DERIVATIVES commensurately adverb

Comestible

| kəˈmestəbəl | noun (usually comestibles) an item of food: a fridge groaning with comestibles. adjective edible: comestible plants.

Capricious

Corroborated

Kvetch

| kəˈveCH, kfeCH | North American informal noun a person who complains a great deal. • a complaint. verb [no object] complain.

Capitulation

| kəˌpiCHəˈlāSH(ə)n | noun the action of surrendering or ceasing to resist an opponent or demand: a capitulation to wage demands | the victor sees it as a sign of capitulation. • (capitulations) historical an agreement or set of conditions.

Lieu

| lo͞o | noun (in phrase in lieu) instead: the company issued additional shares to shareholders in lieu of a cash dividend.

Lunation

| lo͞oˈnāSHən | noun Astronomy another term for lunar month.

Laud

| lôd | verb [with object] formal praise (a person or their achievements) highly, especially in a public context: the obituary lauded him as a great statesman and soldier | [as adjective, with submodifier] (lauded) : her much lauded rendering of Lady Macbeth. noun archaic praise: all glory, laud, and honor to Thee.

Longevity

| lônˈjevədē, länˈjevədē | noun long life: the greater longevity of women compared with men. • long existence or service: her longevity in office now appeared as a handicap to the party.

Laborious

| ləˈbôrēəs | adjective (especially of a task, process, or journey) requiring considerable effort and time: years of laborious training | the work is very slow and laborious. • (of speech or writing style) showing obvious signs of effort and lacking in fluency: his slow, laborious style. DERIVATIVES laboriousness | ləˈbôrēəsnəs | noun

Leguminous

| ləˈɡyo͞omənəs | adjective Botany relating to or denoting plants of the pea family (Leguminosae). They have seeds in pods, distinctive flowers, and typically root nodules containing symbiotic bacteria able to fix nitrogen. Compare with papilionaceous.

Mendacity

| menˈdasədē | noun untruthfulness: people publicly castigated for past mendacity.

Mendacious

| menˈdāSHəs | adjective not telling the truth; lying: mendacious propaganda. DERIVATIVES mendaciously adverb mendaciousness noun

Milieu

| milˈyo͞o, milˈyə(r) | noun (plural milieux pronounced same, or milieus) a person's social environment: he grew up in a military milieu.

Misnomer

| misˈnōmər | 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. • a wrong or inaccurate use of a name or term: to call this "neighborhood policing" would be a misnomer.

Mite

| mīt | noun a minute arachnid which has four pairs of legs when adult, related to the ticks. Many kinds live in the soil and a number are parasitic on plants or animals. Order (or subclass) Acari: numerous families. mite2 | mīt | noun 1 a small child or animal, especially when regarded as an object of sympathy: the poor little mite looks half-starved. 2 a very small amount: his teacher thought he needed a mite of discipline. • historical a small coin, in particular a small Flemish copper coin of very low face value. See also widow's mite. adverb (a mite) informal a little; slightly: all evening he's seemed a mite awkward.

Modality

| mōˈdalədē | noun (plural modalities) 1 modal quality: the harmony had a touch of modality. 2 a particular mode in which something exists or is experienced or expressed. • a particular method or procedure: traditional modalities of representing time and space. • a particular form of sensory perception: the visual and auditory modalities. • (in medicine, particularly homeopathy) a symptom or pattern that aids in diagnosis: The modality of "worse with activity" is associated with Rhus Tox.

Malinger

| məˈliNGɡər | verb [no object] exaggerate or feign illness in order to escape duty or work.

Mellifluous

| məˈliflo͞oəs | adjective (of a voice or words) sweet or musical; pleasant to hear: the voice was mellifluous and smooth. DERIVATIVES mellifluously adverb mellifluousness noun

Malarkey

| məˈlärkē | noun informal meaningless talk; nonsense: don't give me that malarkey.

Malaise

| məˈlāz | noun a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or uneasiness whose exact cause is difficult to identify: a general air of malaise | a society afflicted by a deep cultural malaise.

Monastic

| məˈnastik | adjective relating to monks, nuns, or others living under religious vows, or the buildings in which they live: a monastic order. • resembling or suggestive of monks or their way of life, especially in being austere, solitary, or celibate: a monastic student bedroom. noun a monk or other follower of a monastic rule. DERIVATIVES monastically | məˈnastək(ə)lē | adverb monasticism | məˈnastəˌsizəm | noun

Morass

| məˈras | noun 1 an area of muddy or boggy ground. 2 a complicated or confused situation: she would become lost in a morass of lies and explanations.

Metastasize

| məˈtastəˌsīz | verb [no object] Medicine (of a cancer) spread to other sites in the body by metastasis: cancers that metastasize to the brain.

Metonymy

Neologism

Natality

| nəˈtalədē, nāˈtalədē | noun the ratio of the number of births to the size of the population; birth rate: in spite of falling natality, the population as a whole went up.

Propriety

| p(r)əˈprīədē | noun (plural proprieties) the state or quality of conforming to conventionally accepted standards of behavior or morals: he always behaved with the utmost propriety. • (proprieties) the details or rules of behavior conventionally considered to be correct: she's a great one for the proprieties. • the condition of being right, appropriate, or fitting: they questioned the propriety of certain investments made by the council.

Proprietary

| p(r)əˈprīəˌterē | adjective relating to an owner or ownership: the company has a proprietary right to the property. • (of a product) marketed under and protected by a registered trade name: proprietary brands of insecticide. • behaving as if one were the owner of someone or something: he looked about him with a proprietary air. noun an owner; proprietor. • historical especially in North America, a grantee or owner of a colony who has been granted, as an individual or as part of a group, the full rights of self-government.

Plum

| pləm | noun 1 an oval fleshy fruit that is purple, reddish, or yellow when ripe and contains a flattish pointed pit. 2 (also plum tree) the deciduous tree that bears the plum. Several species in the genus Prunus, family Rosaceae, in particular P. domestica. 3 a reddish-purple color: [as modifier] : a plum blazer. 4 [usually as modifier] informal a highly desirable attainment, accomplishment, or acquisition, typically a job: he landed a plum assistant producer's job. adverb chiefly US variant spelling of plumb1: the helicopter crashed plum on the cabins.

Prognosis

| präɡˈnōsəs | noun (plural prognoses | -ˌsēz | ) 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.

Privations

| prīˈvāSH(ə)n | 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 | the privations of life at the front. • formal the loss or absence of a quality or attribute that is normally present: cold is the privation of heat.

Progenitor

| prōˈjenədər | noun a person or thing from which a person, animal, or plant is descended or originates; an ancestor or parent: his sons and daughters were the progenitors of many of Scotland's leading noble families. • a person who originates an artistic, political, or intellectual movement: the progenitor of modern jazz. DERIVATIVES progenitorial | -ˌjenəˈtôrēəl | adjective

Proclivity

| prōˈklivədē, prəˈklivədē | noun (plural proclivities) a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition toward a particular thing: a proclivity for hard work.

Profound

| prəˈfound | adjective (profounder, profoundest) 1 (of a state, quality, or emotion) very great or intense: profound feelings of disquiet | profound social changes. • (of a disease or disability) very severe; deep-seated: a case of profound liver failure. 2 (of a person or statement) having or showing great knowledge or insight: a profound philosopher. • (of a subject or thought) demanding deep study or thought: expressing profound truths in simple language. 3 archaic at, from, or extending to a great depth; very deep: he opened the door with a profound bow. noun (the profound) literary the vast depth of the ocean or of the mind. DERIVATIVES profoundness | prəˈfoun(d)nəs | noun

Preclude

| prəˈklo͞od | verb [with object] prevent from happening; make impossible: the secret nature of his work precluded official recognition. • (preclude someone from) (of a situation or condition) prevent someone from doing something: his difficulties preclude him from leading a normal life. DERIVATIVES preclusion | prəˈklo͞oZH(ə)n | noun preclusive | prəˈklo͞osiv | adjective

Prerogative

| prəˈräɡədiv | noun a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class: owning an automobile was still the prerogative of the rich. • (also royal prerogative) the right of the sovereign, which in British law is theoretically subject to no restriction. • a faculty or property distinguishing a person or class: it's not a female prerogative to feel insecure. adjective [attributive] Law, British 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.

Precipitously

| prəˈsipədəslē | adverb 1 very steeply: off the coast, the depth of the sea floor drops precipitously | a wall collapsed, causing the floors above to slope precipitously. • (with reference to a change to a worse situation) suddenly and dramatically: sales dropped precipitously | savings rates have fallen precipitously. 2 hastily and without careful consideration: several columnists criticized the government for acting precipitously.

Prosaic

| prəˈzāik | adjective having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty: prosaic language can't convey the experience. • commonplace; unromantic: the masses were too preoccupied by prosaic day-to-day concerns. DERIVATIVES prosaically | prəˈzāik(ə)lē | adverb prosaicness | prəˈzāiknəs | noun

Perfidious

| pərˈfidēəs | adjective literary deceitful and untrustworthy: a perfidious lover. DERIVATIVES perfidiously | pərˈfidēəslē | adverb

Perfunctory

Pernicious

Perplexity

| pərˈpleksədē | noun (plural perplexities) 1 inability to deal with or understand something complicated or unaccountable: she paused in perplexity. • (usually perplexities) a complicated or baffling situation or thing: the perplexities of international relations. 2 archaic an entangled state: the dense perplexity of dwarf palm, garlanded creepers, glossy undergrowth.

Purportedly

| pərˈpôrdədlē | adverb as appears or is stated to be true, though not necessarily so; allegedly: the photos purportedly show Nina with a lover | a purportedly independent arbitrator.

Purveyance

| pərˈvāəns | noun formal the action of purveying something. • British historical the right of the sovereign to buy provisions and use horses and vehicles for a fixed price lower than the market value.

Pejorative

| pəˈjôrədiv | adjective expressing contempt or disapproval: permissiveness is used almost universally as a pejorative term. noun a word expressing contempt or disapproval. DERIVATIVES pejoratively | ˈpejəˌrādivlē, pəˈjôrədivlē | adverb

Palatial

| pəˈlāSHəl | adjective resembling a palace in being spacious and splendid: her palatial apartment in Chicago. DERIVATIVES palatially adverb

Paralysis

| pəˈraləsəs | noun (plural paralyses | -sēz | ) the loss of the ability to move (and sometimes to feel anything) in part or most of the body, typically as a result of illness, poison, or injury. • inability to act or function in a person, organization, or place: the paralysis gripping the country.

Parameter

| pəˈramədər | noun technical a numerical or other measurable factor forming one of a set that defines a system or sets the conditions of its operation: the transmission will not let you downshift unless your speed is within the lower gear's parameters. • Mathematics a quantity whose value is selected for the particular circumstances and in relation to which other variable quantities may be expressed. • Statistics a numerical characteristic of a population, as distinct from a statistic of a sample. • (in general use) a limit or boundary that defines the scope of a particular process or activity: they set the parameters of the debate.

Peripheral

| pəˈrif(ə)rəl | adjective relating to or situated on the edge or periphery of something: the peripheral areas of Europe. • of secondary or minor importance; marginal: she will see their problems as peripheral to her own. • [attributive] (of a device) able to be attached to and used with a computer, although not an integral part of it. • Anatomy near the surface of the body, with special reference to the circulation and nervous system: lymphocytes from peripheral blood. noun Computing a peripheral device. DERIVATIVES peripherality | -ˌrifəˈralitē | noun peripheralization | pəˌrifərəliˈzāSHən | noun peripheralize | -ˌīz | verb peripherally | pəˈrif(ə)rəlē | adverb

Pericope

| pəˈrikəpē | noun an extract from a text, especially a passage from the Bible.

Pariah

| pəˈrīə | noun 1 an outcast: they were treated as social pariahs. 2 historical a member of a low caste in southern India.

Potentiate

| pəˈten(t)SHēˌāt | verb [with object] technical increase the power, effect, or likelihood of (something, especially a drug or physiological reaction): the glucose will potentiate intestinal absorption of sodium.

Rapport

| raˈpôr, rəˈpôr | noun a close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned understand each other's feelings or ideas and communicate well: she was able to establish a good rapport with the children | there was little rapport between them.

Wrest

| rest | verb [with object] forcibly pull (something) from a person's grasp: Leila tried to wrest her arm from his hold. • take (something, especially power or control) from someone or something else after considerable effort or difficulty: they wanted to allow people to wrest control of their lives from impersonal bureaucracies. • archaic distort the meaning or interpretation of (something) to suit one's own interests or views: you appear convinced of my guilt, and wrest every reply I have made. noun archaic a key for tuning a harp or piano.

Ream

| rēm | noun 500 (formerly 480) sheets of paper. • a large quantity of something, typically paper or writing on paper: reams of paper have been used to debate these questions. ORIGIN late Middle English: from Old French raime, based on Arabic rizma 'bundle'. ream2 | rēm | verb [with object] widen (a bore or hole) with a special tool. • widen a bore or hole in (a gun or other metal object) with a special tool. • North American clear out or remove (material) from something. • North American vulgar slang have anal intercourse with (someone). • North American informal rebuke someone fiercely: the agent was reaming him out for walking away from the deal. PHRASES ream someone's ass (or butt) North American vulgar slang criticize or rebuke someone. ream3 | rēm | verb [no object] Scottish & Northern Irish froth or overflow: a full pot reaming with froth.

Reflexively

| rəˈfleksivlē | adverb as a reflex, without conscious thought; automatically: they reflexively oppose policies that could harm their salaries | we nod reflexively before we're sure that we agree.

Refuse

| rəˈfyo͞oz | verb [no object, with infinitive] indicate or show that one is not willing to do something: I refused to answer | he was severely beaten when he refused. • [with object] indicate that one is not willing to accept or grant (something offered or requested): she refused a cigarette | [with two objects] : the old lady was refused admission to four hospitals. • informal (of a thing) fail to perform a required action: the car refused to start. • [with object] dated decline to accept an offer of marriage from (someone): he's so conceited he'd never believe anyone would refuse him. • [with object] (of a horse) stop short or run alongside (a fence or other obstacle) instead of jumping it. DERIVATIVES refuser noun

Recalcitrant

| rəˈkalsətrənt | adjective having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline: a class of recalcitrant fifteen-year-olds. noun a person with an obstinately uncooperative attitude. DERIVATIVES recalcitrance | rəˈkalsətrəns | noun recalcitrantly adverb

Recoup

| rəˈko͞op | verb [with object] regain (something lost or expended): rains have helped recoup water levels | sleep was what she needed to recoup her strength. • regain (money spent or lost), especially through subsequent profits: oil companies are keen to recoup their investment. • reimburse or compensate (someone) for money spent or lost. • Law deduct or keep back (part of a sum due). DERIVATIVES recoupable adjective recoupment | rēˈko͞opmənt | noun

Remiss

| rəˈmis | adjective [predicative] lacking care or attention to duty; negligent: it would be very remiss of me not to pass on that information | the government has been remiss in its duties. DERIVATIVES remissly adverb remissness | rəˈmisnəs | noun

Remedial

| rəˈmēdēəl | adjective giving or intended as a remedy or cure: remedial surgery. • provided or intended for students who are experiencing learning difficulties: remedial education. DERIVATIVES remedially adverb

Replete

| rəˈplēt | adjective [predicative] filled or well-supplied with something: sensational popular fiction, replete with adultery and sudden death. • very full of or sated by food: I went out into the sun-drenched streets again, replete and relaxed. DERIVATIVES repletion | rəˈplēSH(ə)n | noun

Repository

| rəˈpäzəˌtôrē | noun (plural repositories) a place, building, or receptacle where things are or may be stored: a deep repository for nuclear waste. • a place in which something, especially a natural resource, has accumulated or where it is found in significant quantities: accessible repositories of water. • Computing a central location in which data is stored and managed: the metadata will be aggregated in a repository. • 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.

Repugnant

| rəˈpəɡnənt | adjective 1 extremely distasteful; unacceptable: the thought of going back into the fog was repugnant to him. 2 [predicative] (repugnant to) in conflict with; incompatible with: a bylaw must not be repugnant to the general law of the country. • archaic given to stubborn resistance. DERIVATIVES repugnantly adverb

Regalia

| rəˈɡālyə | plural noun [treated as singular or plural] the emblems or insignia of royalty, especially the crown, scepter, and other ornaments used at a coronation. • the distinctive clothing worn and ornaments carried at formal occasions as an indication of status: the Bishop of Florence in full regalia.

Recherché

| rəˌSHerˈSHā | adjective rare, exotic, or obscure: a few linguistic terms are perhaps a bit recherché for the average readership.

Recrimination

| rəˌkriməˈnāSH(ə)n | noun (usually recriminations) an accusation in response to one from someone else: there are no tears, no recriminations | there was a period of bitter recrimination.

Remediation

| rəˌmēdēˈāSH(ə)n | noun the action of remedying something, in particular of reversing or stopping environmental damage. • the giving of remedial teaching or therapy. DERIVATIVES remediate | riˈmēdēˌāt | verb

Sententious

Cessation

| seˈsāSH(ə)n | noun the fact or process of ending or being brought to an end: the cessation of hostilities | a cessation of animal testing of cosmetics.

Snafu

| snaˈfo͞o | North American informal noun a confused or chaotic state; a mess: an enormous amount of my time was devoted to untangling snafus. adjective in utter confusion or chaos: our refrigeration plant is snafu. verb [with object] throw (a situation) into chaos: you ignored his orders and snafued everything.

Spasmodic

| spazˈmädik | adjective occurring or done in brief, irregular bursts: spasmodic fighting continued. • caused by, subject to, or in the nature of a spasm or spasms: a spasmodic cough. DERIVATIVES spasmodically | spazˈmädək(ə)lē | adverb

Strait

| strāt | noun 1 (also straits) a narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two other large areas of water: [in place names] : the Strait of Gibraltar. 2 (straits) used in reference to a situation characterized by a specified degree of trouble or difficulty: the economy is in dire straits | a crippling disease could leave anyone in serious financial straits. adjective archaic (of a place) of limited spatial capacity; narrow or cramped: the road was so strait that a handful of men might have defended it. • close, strict, or rigorous: my captivity was strait as ever. DERIVATIVES straitly adverb straitness | ˈstrātnəs | noun

Soirée

| swäˈrā | noun an evening party or gathering, typically in a private house, for conversation or music.

Suite

| swēt | noun 1 a set of rooms designated for one person's or family's use or for a particular purpose. • a set of coordinating furniture. 2 Music a set of instrumental compositions, originally in dance style, to be played in succession. • a set of selected pieces from an opera or musical, arranged to be played as one instrumental work. 3 a group of people in attendance on a monarch or other person of high rank. 4 Computing a set of programs with a uniform design and the ability to share data. 5 Geology a group of minerals, rocks, or fossils occurring together and characteristic of a location or period.

Sardonic

Sartorial

| särˈtôrēəl | adjective [attributive] relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress: sartorial elegance. DERIVATIVES sartorially adverb

Sate

| sāt | verb [with object] satisfy (a desire or an appetite) to the full: sate your appetite at the resort's restaurant. • supply (someone) with as much as or more of something than is desired or can be managed.

Subsidiary

| səbˈsidēˌerē | adjective less important than but related or supplementary to something: many environmentalists argue that the cause of animal rights is subsidiary to that of protecting the environment. • (of a company) controlled by a holding or parent company. noun (plural subsidiaries) a company controlled by a holding company. • rare a thing that is of lesser importance than but related to something else: Mozart follows his first theme by a crowd of subsidiaries. DERIVATIVES subsidiarily | səbˌsidēˈerəlē | adverb

Subsume

| səbˈso͞om | verb [with object] include or absorb (something) in something else: most of these phenomena can be subsumed under two broad categories. DERIVATIVES subsumable adjective subsumption | səbˈsəm(p)SH(ə)n | noun

Sublime

| səˈblīm | adjective (sublimer, sublimest) of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe: Mozart's sublime piano concertos | (as noun the sublime) : experiences that ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. • used to denote the extreme or unparalleled nature of a person's attitude or behavior: he had the sublime confidence of youth. verb 1 [no object] Chemistry (of a solid substance) change directly into vapor when heated, typically forming a solid deposit again on cooling. • [with object] cause (a substance) to sublime: these crystals could be sublimed under a vacuum. 2 [with object] archaic elevate to a high degree of moral or spiritual purity or excellence. DERIVATIVES sublimely | səˈblīmlē | adverb sublimity | səˈblimədē | noun

Solemnity

| səˈlemnədē | noun (plural solemnities) the state or quality of being serious and dignified: his ashes were laid to rest with great solemnity. • (usually solemnities) a formal, dignified rite or ceremony: the ritual of the Church was observed in all its solemnities.

Soliloquy

| səˈliləkwē | noun (plural soliloquies) an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play. • a part of a play involving a soliloquy. DERIVATIVES soliloquist | səˈliləkwəst | noun soliloquize | səˈliləˌkwīz | verb

Semantic

| səˈman(t)ik | adjective relating to meaning in language or logic. DERIVATIVES semantically | səˈman(t)ək(ə)lē | adverb

Senility

| səˈnilədē | noun the condition of being senile: the onset of senility.

Sepulchral

| səˈpəlkrəl | adjective relating to a tomb or interment: sepulchral monuments. • gloomy; dismal: a speech delivered in sepulchral tones. DERIVATIVES sepulchrally adverb

Superlative

| səˈpərlədiv | adjective 1 of the highest quality or degree: a superlative piece of skill. 2 Grammar (of an adjective or adverb) expressing the highest or a very high degree of a quality (e.g. bravest, most fiercely). Contrasted with positive and comparative. noun 1 Grammar a superlative adjective or adverb. • (the superlative) the highest degree of comparison. 2 (usually superlatives) an exaggerated or hyperbolical expression of praise: the critics ran out of superlatives to describe him. 3 something or someone embodying excellence: chili has become the superlative among spices. DERIVATIVES superlatively | səˈpərlədivlē | adverb [as submodifier] : he was superlatively fit superlativeness | səˈpərlədivnəs | noun

Sagacious

| səˈɡāSHəs | adjective having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; shrewd: they were sagacious enough to avoid any outright confrontation. DERIVATIVES sagaciously | səˈɡāSHəslē | adverb

Trite

Trope

| trōp | noun a figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression: he used the two-Americas trope to explain how a nation free and democratic at home could act wantonly abroad. • a significant or recurrent theme; a motif: she uses the Eucharist as a pictorial trope. verb [no object] create a trope.

Tautology

| tôˈtäləjē | noun (plural tautologies) the saying of the same thing twice in different words, generally considered to be a fault of style (e.g., they arrived one after the other in succession). • a phrase or expression in which the same thing is said twice in different words. • Logic a statement that is true by necessity or by virtue of its logical form. DERIVATIVES tautological | ˌtôdlˈäjək(ə)l | adjective tautologically | ˌtôdlˈäjək(ə)lē | adverb tautologist | -jist | noun tautologize | tôˈtäləˌjīz | verb tautologous | -ɡəs | adjective

Typology

| tīˈpäləjē | noun (plural typologies) 1 a classification according to general type, especially in archaeology, psychology, or the social sciences: a typology of Saxon cremation vessels. • study or analysis using typology. 2 the study and interpretation of types and symbols, originally especially in the Bible. DERIVATIVES typological | ˌtīpəˈläjək(ə)l | adjective typologist | -jist | noun

Terse

Temerity

| təˈmerədē | noun excessive confidence or boldness; audacity: no one had the temerity to question his conclusions.

Vexatious

| vekˈsāSHəs | adjective causing or tending to cause annoyance, frustration, or worry: the vexatious questions posed by software copyrights. • Law denoting an action or the bringer of an action that is brought without sufficient grounds for winning, purely to cause annoyance to the defendant. DERIVATIVES vexatiously | vekˈsāSHəslē | adverb vexatiousness noun

Vignette

| vinˈyet | noun 1 a brief evocative description, account, or episode. 2 a small illustration or portrait photograph which fades into its background without a definite border. 3 a small ornamental design filling a space in a book or carving, typically based on foliage. verb [with object] portray (someone) in the style of a vignette. • produce (a photograph) in the style of a vignette by softening or shading away the edges of the subject. DERIVATIVES vignettist | -ˈyetist | noun

Vogue

| vōɡ | noun [usually in singular] the prevailing fashion or style at a particular time: the vogue is to make realistic films. • general acceptance or favor; popularity: the 1920s and 30s, when art deco was much in vogue. adjective [attributive] popular; fashionable: "citizenship" was to be the government's vogue word. verb (vogues, vogueing or voguing, vogued) [no object] dance to music in such a way as to imitate the characteristic poses struck by a model on a catwalk. [1980s: from the name of the fashion magazine Vogue.] DERIVATIVES voguish adjective

Volition

| vōˈliSH(ə)n | noun the faculty or power of using one's will: without conscious volition she backed into her office. PHRASES of (or by or on) one's own volition voluntarily: they choose to leave early of their own volition. DERIVATIVES volitional | -SHənl | adjective volitionally | -SHənl-ē | adverb

Wheresoever

adverb & conjunction formal word for wherever: he was free to lead the party wheresoever he wished.

Eccentricity

noun (plural eccentricities) 1 the quality of being eccentric. • (usually eccentricities) an eccentric act, habit, or thing: her eccentricities were amusing rather than irritating. 2 technical deviation of a curve or orbit from circularity. • a measure of the extent of a deviation of a curve or orbit: Halley's Comet has an eccentricity of about 0.9675.

Elegy

noun (plural elegies) 1 a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead. 2 (in Greek and Roman poetry) a poem written in elegiac couplets, as notably by Catullus and Propertius.

Derogation

noun 1 an exemption from or relaxation of a rule or law: the massive derogation of human rights. 2 the perception or treatment of someone or something as being of little worth: the derogation of women.

Frontispiece

noun 1 an illustration facing the title page of a book. 2 Architecture the principal face of a building. • a decorated entrance. • a pediment over a door or window.

Mimesis

noun 1 formal or technical representation or imitation of the real world in art and literature: Barth has always detached his use of plot from mimesis. • 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. 2 Zoology another term for mimicry.

Grist

noun 1 grain that is ground to make flour. • malt crushed to make mash for brewing. 2 useful material, especially to back up an argument: the research provided the most sensational grist for opponents of tobacco. PHRASES grist for the mill (also grist for someone's mill) useful experience, material, or knowledge. ORIGIN Old English 'grinding', of Germanic origin; related to grind.

Acutely

adverb [usually as submodifier] 1 (with reference to something unpleasant or unwelcome) intensely: the whole situation was acutely embarrassing | Elizabeth felt Jane's distress acutely. • (in relation to illness) in a way that progresses rapidly but lasts for a short period: an acutely inflamed gall bladder. 2 in a way that shows a perceptive understanding or insight: we are all acutely aware of the fragility of our world.

Ex hypothesi

adverb according to the hypothesis proposed.

Heretofore

adverb formal before now: diseases that heretofore were usually confined to rural areas.

Unseasonably

adverb in a way that is unusual for the time of year: unseasonably warm weather.

Wistfully

adverb with a feeling of vague or regretful longing: he smiled wistfully as he spoke of her | I wistfully recall moments of my youth.

Forum

noun (plural forums) 1 a place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged: it will be a forum for consumers to exchange their views on medical research. • a website or web page where users can post comments about a particular issue or topic and reply to other users' postings. 2 mainly North American a court or tribunal. 3 (plural fora | ˈfôrə | ) (in an ancient Roman city) a public square or marketplace used for judicial and other business.

Gadfly

noun (plural gadflies) a fly that bites livestock, especially a horsefly, warble fly, or botfly. • an annoying person, especially one who provokes others into action by criticism: always a gadfly, he attacked intellectual orthodoxies.

Grotto

noun (plural grottoes or grottos) a small picturesque cave, especially an artificial one in a park or garden. • an indoor structure resembling a cave: visits to Father Christmas's grotto. DERIVATIVES grottoed adjective ORIGIN early 17th century: from Italian grotta, via Latin from Greek kruptē (see crypt).

Haberdashery

noun (plural haberdasheries) 1 North American men's clothing and accessories. • a shop in which men's clothing and accessories are sold. 2 British small items used in sewing, such as buttons, zippers, and thread; notions. • a shop or a department within a larger store that sells items used in sewing.

Ignoramus

noun (plural ignoramuses) an ignorant or stupid person: assume that your examiner is an ignoramus and explain everything to him.

Infelicity

noun (plural infelicities) a thing that is inappropriate, especially a remark or expression: she winced at their infelicities and at the clumsy way they talked. • archaic unhappiness; misfortune.

Mot juste

noun (plural mots justes pronounced same) the exact, appropriate word: that's the mot juste, I think. ORIGIN French.

Nullity

noun (plural nullities) 1 Law an act or thing that is legally void. • the state of being legally void; invalidity, especially of a marriage. 2 a thing of no importance or worth. • nothingness.

Ostinato

noun (plural ostinatos or ostinati | -tē | ) a continually repeated musical phrase or rhythm: [as modifier] : the cellos have the tune, above an ostinato bass figure. ORIGIN Italian, literally 'obstinate'.

Truckle

verb [no object] submit or behave obsequiously: he will neither bow nor truckled to any kind of control | they truckled to the leaders of the trade union movement. DERIVATIVES truckler | ˈtrək(ə)lər | noun noun a small barrel-shaped cheese, especially Cheddar.

Dawdle

verb [no object] waste time; be slow: I couldn't dawdle over my coffee any longer. • [with adverbial of direction] move slowly and idly: Ruth dawdled back through the woods. DERIVATIVESdawdler | ˈdôdlər | noun ORIGIN mid 17th century: related to dialect daddle, doddle 'dally'.

Baptize

verb [with object and often with complement] administer baptism to (someone); christen: he was baptized Joshua. • admit (someone) into a specified Church by baptism: Mark had been baptized a Catholic. • give a name or nickname to: he baptized the science of narrative "narratology.".

Excrete

verb [with object] (of a living organism or cell) separate and expel as waste (a substance, especially a product of metabolism): excess bicarbonate is excreted by the kidney | [no object] : the butterfly pupa neither feeds nor excretes. DERIVATIVES excreter noun excretive | ikˈskrēdiv | adjective

Muster

verb [with object] 1 assemble (troops), especially for inspection or in preparation for battle: 17,000 men had been mustered on Haldon Hill. • [no object] (of troops) come together for inspection or preparation: the cavalrymen mustered beside the other regiments. • [no object] (of a group of people) gather together: reporters mustered outside her house. 2 collect or assemble (a number or amount): he could fail to muster a majority. • summon up (a particular feeling, attitude, or response): he replied with as much dignity as he could muster | I finally mustered up the courage to call them. noun 1 a formal gathering of troops, especially for inspection, display, or exercise: he attended the musters, which were called to train all able-bodied men | [mass noun] : a meeting was held to fix the times and places of muster. • short for muster roll.2 rare a group of peacocks: the sound was like the cry of a muster of peacocks. PHRASES pass muster be accepted as adequate or satisfactory: a treaty that might pass muster with the voters. PHRASAL VERBS muster someone in (or out) US enroll someone into (or discharge someone from) military service: soon after my arrival I got mustered in.

Actuate

verb [with object] 1 cause (a machine or device) to operate: the pendulum actuates an electrical switch. 2 cause (someone) to act in a particular way; motivate: the defendants were actuated by malice.

Canalize

verb [with object] 1 convert (a river) into a navigable canal: successive railway engineers were to divert and canalize many miles of river. 2 convey (something) through a duct or channel: a narrow strait can so canalize the tide that a powerful current is developed. DERIVATIVES canalization | ˌkanələˈzāSH(ə)n | (British also canalisation) noun

Truncate

verb [with object] 1 shorten the duration or extent of: he was a sensational player whose career was truncated by injuries | like many women of her generation who were at school just before the war, she was obliged to truncate her education | the novel has been truncated. • shorten by cutting off the top or end: the torso has been truncated just below the neck line. 2 Crystallography replace (an edge or an angle) by a plane, typically so as to make equal angles with the adjacent faces. adjective Botany & Zoology (of a leaf, feather, or other part) ending abruptly as if cut off across the base or tip. DERIVATIVES truncation | ˌtrəNGˈkāSH(ə)n | noun truncately adverb ORIGIN late 15th century (earlier (Middle English) as truncation): from Latin truncat- 'maimed', from the verb truncare.

Catheterize

verb [with object] Medicine insert a catheter into (a patient or body cavity). DERIVATIVES catheterization | ˌkaTHəd(ə)rəˈzāSH(ə)n, ˌkaTHədəˌrīˈzāSH(ə)n | noun

Lobotomize

verb [with object] Surgery perform a lobotomy on: her brother had developed a schizophrenic illness and had been lobotomized. • informal reduce the mental or emotional capacity or ability to function of: couples we knew who had been lobotomized by the birth of their children. DERIVATIVES lobotomization | -ˌbätəməˈzāshən | (British also lobotomisation) noun

Medicate

verb [with object] administer a drug to (someone): both infants were heavily medicated to alleviate their seizures. • treat (a condition) using a drug: the born worrier medicates the common cold as though it were a terminal condition. • add a drug to: the fish are given feed medicated with antibiotics to ward off disease. DERIVATIVES medicative | ˈmedəˌkādiv | adjective ORIGIN early 17th century: from Latin medicat- 'treated', from the verb medicari 'administer remedies to', from medicus (see medic1).

Portend

verb [with object] be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen: the eclipses portend some major events.

Pollard

verb [with object] cut off the top and branches of (a tree) to encourage new growth at the top: it was the practice of local authorities to pollard these trees on a regular basis. noun 1 a tree whose top and branches have been pollarded: young trees have grown up between the pollards | [as modifier] : a row of pollard willows. 2 archaic an animal, e.g., a sheep or deer, that has lost its horns or cast its antlers.

Bewail

verb [with object] express great regret, disappointment, or bitterness over (something): he bewailed the fact that heart trouble had slowed him down. DERIVATIVES bewailer noun

Prognosticate

verb [with object] foretell or prophesy (an event in the future): the economists were prognosticating financial Armageddon. DERIVATIVES prognosticable adjective prognosticative adjective prognosticatory | -kəˌtôrē | adjective

Circumambulate

verb [with object] formal walk all the way around (something): they used to circumambulate the perimeter wall. DERIVATIVEScircumambulation | -ˌambyəˈlāSHən | noun circumambulatory | -ˈambyələˌtôrē | adjective

Imbibe

verb [with object] formal, often humorous drink (alcohol): they were imbibing far too many pitchers of beer | [no object] : having imbibed too freely, he fell over. • absorb or assimilate (ideas or knowledge): she had imbibed the gospel of modernism from Kandinsky. • mainly Botany (especially of seeds) absorb (water) into ultramicroscopic spaces or pores. • Botany place (seeds) in water in order to absorb it. DERIVATIVES imbiber noun

Ennoble

verb [with object] give (someone) a noble rank or title. • lend greater dignity or nobility of character to: the theater is a moralinstrument to ennoble the mind. DERIVATIVES ennoblement | əˈnōb(ə)lmənt | noun

Suffuse

Problematize

verb [with object] make into or regard as a problem requiring a solution: he problematized the concept of history. DERIVATIVESproblematization | ˌpräbləmətəˈzāSHən, -ˌmatə- | (British also problematisation) noun

Cajole

verb [with object] persuade (someone) to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery: he hoped to cajole her into selling the house | [no object] : she pleaded and cajoled as she tried to win his support. DERIVATIVES cajolement | kəˈdʒəʊlmənt | noun

Exoticize

verb [with object] portray (someone or something unfamiliar) as exotic or unusual; romanticize or glamorize: importantly, the film doesn't exoticize the East. DERIVATIVES exoticization (British also exoticisation) noun

Lampoon

verb [with object] 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. noun a speech or text lampooning someone or something: does this sound like a lampoon of student life? DERIVATIVES lampoonery noun lampoonist | lamˈpo͞onəst | noun

Gloze

verb [with object] rare make excuses for: the demeanor of Mathews is rather glozed over. • [no object] archaic use ingratiating or fawning language. • [no object] archaic make a comment or comments.

Curtailed

verb [with object] reduce in extent or quantity; impose a restriction on: civil liberties were further curtailed. • (curtail someone of) archaic deprive someone of (something): I that am curtailed of this fair proportion.

Repatriated

verb [with object] send (someone) back to their own country: the United Nations hopes to repatriate all the refugees. • [no object] return to one's own country: the majority came to America as migrant workers who intended to repatriate to Hungary. • [with object] send or bring (something, especially money) back to one's own country: foreign firms would be permitted to repatriate all profits. noun a person who has been repatriated.

Denude

verb [with object] strip (something) of its covering, possessions, or assets; make bare: almost overnight the Arctic was denuded of animals. DERIVATIVESdenudation | ˌdēn(y)o͞oˈdāSH(ə)n | noun ORIGIN late Middle English: from Latin denudare, from de- 'completely' + nudare 'to bare' (from nudus 'naked').

Acculturate

verb assimilate or cause to assimilate a different culture, typically the dominant one: [no object] : those who have acculturated to the US | [with object] : the next weeks were spent acculturating the field staff | (as adjective acculturated) : an acculturated Cherokee. DERIVATIVES acculturative | -ərətiv, -əˌrātiv | adjective

Import

verb | imˈpôrt | [with object] 1 bring (goods or services) into a country from abroad for sale: Japan's reluctance to import more cars. • introduce (an idea) from a different place or context: new beliefs were often imported by sailors. • Computing transfer (data) into a file or document. 2 archaic indicate or signify: having thus seen, what is imported in a Man's trusting his Heart. • express or make known: [with clause] : they passed a resolution importing that they relied on His Majesty's gracious promise. noun | ˈimˌpôrt | 1 (usually imports) a commodity, article, or service brought in from abroad for sale. • (imports) sales of goods or services brought in from abroad, or the revenue from such sales: this surplus pushes up the yen, which ought to boost imports. • the action or process of importing goods or services: the import of live cattle from Canada. 2 [in singular] the meaning or significance of something, especially when not directly stated: the import of her message is clear. • great significance; importance: pronouncements of world-shaking import. DERIVATIVES importable | imˈpôrdəb(ə)l | adjective

Pontificate

verb | pänˈtifiˌkāt | [no object] 1 express one's opinions in a way considered annoyingly pompous and dogmatic: he was pontificating about art and history. 2 (in the Roman Catholic Church) officiate as bishop, especially at Mass. noun | pänˈtifikət | (also Pontificate) (in the Roman Catholic Church) the office or tenure of pope or bishop. DERIVATIVES pontification | -ˈkāSHən | noun pontificator | -ˌkātər | noun

Purport

verb | pərˈpôrt | [with infinitive] appear or claim to be or do something, especially falsely; profess: she is not the person she purports to be. noun | ˈpərˌpôrt | the meaning or substance of something, typically a document or speech: I do not understand the purport of your remarks. • the purpose of a person or thing: the purport of existence.

Surmise

verb | sərˈmīz | [no object, usually with clause] suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it: he surmised that something must be wrong | [with direct speech] : "I don't think they're locals," she surmised. noun | sərˈmīz, ˈsərˌmīz | a supposition that something may be true, even though there is no evidence to confirm it: Charles was glad to have his surmise confirmed | all these observations remain surmise.

Effete

adjective (of a person) affected, overrefined, and ineffectual: effete trendies from art college. • no longer capable of effective action: the authority of an effete aristocracy began to dwindle. DERIVATIVES effetely adverb effeteness | əˈfētnəs | noun

Stolid

In vivo

adjective (of a process) performed or taking place in a living organism: in vivo studies in animals. The opposite of in vitro.adverb in a living organism: fluid transport was measured in vivo. The opposite of in vitro.ORIGIN early 20th century: Latin, literally 'in a living thing'.

Gimmicky

adjective (of a trick or device) intended to attract attention, publicity, or trade: gimmicky 3D effects | scripts with gimmicky plots.

Panoramic

adjective (of a view or picture) with a wide view surrounding the observer; sweeping: on a clear day there are panoramic views. • including all aspects of a subject; wide-ranging: his panoramic vision of post-World War I peace. DERIVATIVES panoramically | ˌpanəˈramək(ə)lē | adverb

Sylphlike

adjective (of a woman or girl) slender and graceful: his arm curled around her sylphlike waist.

Toothsome

adjective (of food) temptingly tasty: a toothsome morsel. • informal (of a person) good-looking; attractive: a toothsome bimbo | I thought he was toothsome.

Inclement

adjective (of the weather) unpleasantly cold or wet: walkers should be prepared for inclement weather. DERIVATIVES inclemency | inˈklemənsē | noun (plural inclemencies) inclemently adverb

Paltry

adjective (paltrier, paltriest) (of an amount) very small or meagre: she would earn a paltry £33 more a month. • petty; trivial: naval glory struck him as paltry. DERIVATIVESpaltriness | ˈpɔːltrɪnəs, ˈpɒltrɪnəs | noun

Wooly

adjective (woollier, woolliest) 1 made of wool: a red woolly hat. • (of an animal, plant, or part) bearing or naturally covered with wool or hair resembling wool: woolly gray-green foliage | the woolly aphid. • resembling wool in texture or appearance: woolly wisps of cloud. 2 vague or confused in expression or character: woolly thinking. • (of a sound) indistinct or distorted: an opaque and woolly recording. noun (plural woollies) informal 1 mainly British (usually woollies) a garment made of wool, especially a pullover. 2 Australian/NZ a sheep. DERIVATIVES woolliness | ˈwo͝olēnəs | (US also wooliness) noun

Provincial

adjective 1 of or concerning a province of a country or empire: provincial elections. 2 of or concerning the regions outside the capital city of a country, especially when regarded as unsophisticated or narrow-minded: the whole exhibition struck one as being very provincial | scenes of violence were reported in provincial towns. noun 1 an inhabitant of a province of a country or empire. • (provincials) (in Canada) athletic contests held between teams representing the country's administrative divisions. 2 an inhabitant of the regions outside the capital city of a country, especially when regarded as unsophisticated or narrow-minded: a town populated by money-grubbers, philistines, and self-satisfied provincials. 3 Christian Church the head or chief of a province or of a religious order in a province. DERIVATIVES provinciality | prəˌvinSHēˈalətē | noun provincialization | prəˌvinSHələˈzāSHən | noun provincialize (British also provincialise) verb provincially | prəˈvin(t)SHəlē | adverb

Antiseptic

adjective 1 relating to or denoting substances that prevent the growth of disease-causing microorganisms: garlic has powerful antiseptic properties | his breath smelled of antiseptic mouthwash. 2 scrupulously clean or pure, especially so as to be bland or characterless: the antiseptic modernity of a conference center. nounan antiseptic compound or preparation: the inappropriate use of antiseptics | [mass noun] : come into the house and have some antiseptic put on that wound. DERIVATIVES antiseptically | -ik(ə)lē | adverb

Knackered

adjective British informal 1 very tired; exhausted: I'm knackered by the end of the day. 2 severely damaged or broken: he had seen Sonny flying around on a knackered old bike for the last two weeks.

Saccharine

adjective [attributive] 1 excessively sweet or sentimental: saccharine music. 2 dated relating to or containing sugar; sugary. noun another term for saccharin.ORIGIN late 17th century: from modern Latin saccharum + -ine1.

Awash

adjective [predicative] covered or flooded with water, especially seawater or rain: the boat rolled violently, its decks awash. • containing large numbers or amounts of someone or something: the city was awash with journalists. • level with the surface of water, especially the sea, so that it just washes over: a rock awash outside the reef entrance.

Harrowing

adjective acutely distressing: a harrowing film about racism and violence | it was a harrowing experience. DERIVATIVES harrowingly adverb

Multilateral

adjective agreed upon or participated in by three or more parties, especially the governments of different countries: multilateral negotiations | multilateral nuclear disarmament. • having members or contributors from several groups, especially several different countries: multilateral aid agencies. DERIVATIVES multilaterally adverb

Imperious

adjective assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering: his imperious demands. DERIVATIVES imperiously | imˈpirēəslē | adverb imperiousness | imˈpirēəsnəs | noun

Bromidic

adjective attempting to soothe or placate in a trite or clichéd way: he was happy to regurgitate the same worn, bromidic phrases.

Misbegotten

adjective badly conceived, designed, or planned: a misbegotten journey to Indianapolis. • contemptible (used as a term of abuse): you misbegotten hound! • archaic (of a child) illegitimate.

Anachronistic

adjective belonging to a period other than that being portrayed: 'Titus' benefits from the effective use of anachronistic elements like cars and loudspeakers. • belonging or appropriate to an earlier period, especially so as to seem conspicuously old-fashioned: she is rebelling against the anachronistic morality of her parents. DERIVATIVESanachronistically | əˌnakrəˈnistik | adverb

Rancorous

adjective characterized by bitterness or resentment: sixteen miserable months of rancorous disputes | a rancorous debate. DERIVATIVES rancorously | ˈraNGk(ə)rəslē | adverb

Episodic

adjective containing or consisting of a series of loosely connected parts or events: an episodic narrative. • occurring occasionally and at irregular intervals: volcanic activity is highly episodic in nature. • (of a television or radio program or magazine story) broadcast or published as a series of installments. DERIVATIVES episodical adjective episodically | -(ə)lē | adverb

Bellicose

adjective demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight: a group of bellicose patriots. DERIVATIVES bellicosity | ˌbeləˈkäsədē | noun

Demotic

adjective denoting or relating to the kind of language used by ordinary people; popular or colloquial: a demotic idiom. • relating to or denoting the form of modern Greek used in everyday speech and writing. Compare with katharevousa.• relating to or denoting a simplified, cursive form of ancient Egyptian script, dating from c. 650 bc and replaced by Greek in the Ptolemaic period. Compare with hieratic.noun ordinary colloquial speech: he blinked in mild surprise at this uncharacteristic leap into the demotic. • demotic Greek. • demotic Egyptian script.

Bereft

adjective deprived of or lacking something, especially a nonmaterial asset: her room was stark and bereft of color. • (of a person) lonely and abandoned, especially through someone's death or departure: his death in 1990 left her bereft.

Ignominious

adjective deserving or causing public disgrace or shame: no other party risked ignominious defeat. DERIVATIVES ignominiously | ˌiɡnəˈminēəslē | adverb ignominiousness noun

Pugnacious

adjective eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight: his public statements became increasingly pugnacious. DERIVATIVES pugnaciously | pəɡˈnāSHəslē | adverb pugnaciousness noun pugnacity | pəɡˈnasədē | noun

Acquisitive

adjective excessively interested in acquiring money or material things: we live in a competitive and acquisitive society. DERIVATIVES acquisitively adverb

Diminutive

adjective extremely or unusually small: a diminutive figure dressed in black. • (of a word, name, or suffix) implying smallness, either actual or imputed in token of affection, scorn, etc., (e.g., teeny, -let, -kins). noun a diminutive word or suffix. • a shortened form of a name, typically used informally: "Nick" is a diminutive of "Nicholas.". • Heraldry a charge of the same form as an ordinary but of lesser size or width. DERIVATIVES diminutively adverb diminutiveness | dəˈminyədivnəs | noun

Frenetic

adjective fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way: a frenetic pace of activity. DERIVATIVES frenetically | frəˈnedək(ə)lē | adverb freneticism noun

Intrepid

adjective fearless; adventurous (often used for rhetorical or humorous effect): our intrepid reporter. DERIVATIVES intrepidity | ɪntrɪˈpɪdɪti | noun intrepidly | ɪnˈtrɛpɪdli | adverb intrepidness noun

Contrite

adjective feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt: a broken and a contrite heart. DERIVATIVES contritely | kənˈtrītlē | adverb contriteness noun

Disputatious

adjective fond of or causing heated arguments: a congenial hangout for disputatious academics | disputatious council meetings. DERIVATIVES disputatiously adverb disputatiousness noun

Penurious

adjective formal 1 extremely poor; poverty-stricken: a penurious old tramp. • characterized by poverty or need: penurious years. 2 parsimonious; mean: a tight-fisted, penurious boss whose wage scale is well below other bandleaders. DERIVATIVES penuriously | pəˈn(y)o͝orēəslē | adverb penuriousness | pəˈn(y)o͝orēəsnəs | noun ORIGIN late 16th century: from medieval Latin penuriosus, from Latin penuria 'need, scarcity' (see penury).

Majoritarian

adjective governed by or believing in decision by a majority: the value of the Supreme Court as guardian of our liberties depends on its being distanced from ordinary majoritarian politics. noun a person who is governed by or believes in decision by a majority: the hectoring tone of majoritarians toward heterodox opinions. DERIVATIVES majoritarianism | -ˌnizəm | noun

Endogenous

adjective having an internal cause or origin: the expected rate of infection is endogenous to the system. Often contrasted with exogenous.• Biology growing or originating from within an organism: endogenous gene sequences. • mainly Psychiatry (of a disease or symptom) not attributable to any external or environmental factor: endogenous depression. • confined within a group or society.

Aerosolized

adjective having the form of a fine spray or colloidal suspension in the air: people walking by these vents can inhale the aerosolized bacteria and fall ill in a matter of days.

Decorous

adjective in keeping with good taste and propriety; polite and restrained: dancing with decorous space between partners. DERIVATIVES decorously | ˈdek(ə)rəslē | adverb decorousness | ˈdek(ə)rəsnəs | noun ORIGIN mid 17th century (in the sense 'appropriate, seemly'): from Latin decorus 'seemly' + -ous.

Moronic

adjective informal very foolish or stupid: a truly moronic movie. DERIVATIVES moronically | məˈränək(ə)lē | adverb

Feckless

adjective lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible: a feckless mama's boy | an unfortunate example of feckless filmmaking | the feckless exploitation of the world's natural resources. DERIVATIVES fecklessly adverb fecklessness | ˈfekləsnəs | noun

Ephemeral

adjective lasting for a very short time: fashions are ephemeral. • (chiefly of plants) having a very short life cycle: chickweed is an ephemeral weed, producing several generations in one season. nounan ephemeral plant: ephemerals avoid the periods of drought as seeds. DERIVATIVES ephemerality | əˌfem(ə)ˈralədē | noun ephemerally adverb ephemeralness noun

Vatic

adjective literary describing or predicting what will happen in the future: vatic utterances. ORIGIN early 17th century: from Latin vates 'prophet'+ -ic.

Obstreperous

adjective noisy and difficult to control: the boy is cocky and obstreperous. DERIVATIVESobstreperously | əbˈstrep(ə)rəslē | adverb obstreperousness | əbˈstrep(ə)rəsnəs | noun

Untrammeled

adjective not deprived of freedom of action or expression; not restricted or hampered: a mind untrammeled by convention.

Inexpedient

adjective not practical, suitable, or advisable. DERIVATIVES inexpediency | ˌinikˈspēdēənsē | noun

Impious

adjective not showing respect or reverence, especially for a god: the emperor's impious attacks on the Church. • (of a person or act) wicked: impious villains. DERIVATIVES impiously | ˈimpēəslē, imˈpīəslē | adverb impiousness noun

Pedantic

adjective of or like a pedant: many of the essays are long, dense, and too pedantic to hold great appeal. DERIVATIVES pedantically | pəˈdan(t)ək(ə)lē | adverb

Portentous

adjective of or like a portent: the envelope and its portentous contents. • done in a pompously or overly solemn manner so as to impress: the author's portentous moralizings. DERIVATIVES portentously | pôrˈten(t)əslē | adverb portentousness | pôrˈten(t)əsnəs | noun

Primeval

adjective of or resembling the earliest ages in the history of the world: mile after mile of primeval forest. • (of feelings or actions) based on primitive instinct; raw and elementary: a primeval desire. DERIVATIVES primevally | prīˈmēv(ə)lē | (British also primaevally) adverb ORIGIN mid 17th century: from Latin primaevus (from primus 'first' + aevum 'age') + -al.

Vapid

adjective offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging: tuneful but vapid musical comedies. DERIVATIVES vapidity | vəˈpidədē | noun vapidly | ˈvapədlē | adverb vapidness noun ORIGIN mid 17th century (used originally in description of drinks as 'lacking in flavor'): from Latin vapidus.

Berserk

adjective out of control with anger or excitement; wild or frenzied: after she left him, he went berserk, throwing things around the apartment.

Dynastic

adjective relating to a line of hereditary rulers of a country: the last dynastic rulers of Rome | dynastic monarchies. • relating to a succession of people from the same family who play a prominent role in business, politics, or another field: the plot concerns the dynastic struggles of two brothers. DERIVATIVESdynastically | -ˈnastɪk(ə)li | adverb

Gnostic

adjective relating to knowledge, especially esoteric mystical knowledge. • (Gnostic) relating to Gnosticism. noun (Gnostic) an adherent of Gnosticism.

Sophomoric

adjective relating to or characteristic of a sophomore: my sophomoric years. • pretentious or juvenile: sophomoric double entendres.

Cataclysmic

adjective relating to or denoting a violent natural event: a cataclysmic earthquake. • informal used to emphasize the extent of something bad or unwelcome: the concert was a cataclysmic failure. DERIVATIVES cataclysmically | -mik(ə)lē | adverb

A priori

adjective relating to or denoting reasoning or knowledge which proceeds from theoretical deduction rather than from observation or experience: a priori assumptions about human nature. adverbin a way based on theoretical deduction rather than empirical observation: sexuality may be a factor but it cannot be assumed a priori | [sentence adverb] : a priori, it would seem that his government was an extension of that power. DERIVATIVES apriorism | āˈprīəˌrizəm | noun ORIGIN late 16th century: Latin, 'from what is before'.

Paleolithic

adjective relating to or denoting the early phase of the Stone Age, lasting about 2.5 million years, when primitive stone implements were used. Compare with Mesolithic, Neolithic: the oldest remains found here include Paleolithic arrow heads and knives.

Ergonomic

adjective relating to or designed for efficiency and comfort in the working environment: ergonomic keyboard design | workstations with ergonomic chairs | the ergonomic hazards of computer use.

Polemical

adjective relating to or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech: a polemical essay. DERIVATIVES polemically | pəˈlemək(ə)lē | adverb

Kinetic

adjective relating to or resulting from motion. • (of a work of art) depending on movement for its effect. DERIVATIVES kinetically | -ik(ə)lē | adverb

Ecclesiastical

adjective relating to the Christian Church or its clergy: the ecclesiastical hierarchy. DERIVATIVESecclesiastically adverb

Topgraphical

adjective relating to the arrangement or accurate representation of the physical features of an area: the topographical features of the river valley. • (of a work of art or an artist) dealing with or depicting places (especially towns), buildings, and natural prospects in a realistic and detailed manner. • Anatomy & Biology relating to or representing the physical distribution of parts or features on the surface of or within an organ or organism. DERIVATIVES topographically | -ik(ə)lē | adverb

Cosmic

adjective relating to the universe or cosmos, especially as distinct from the earth: cosmic matter. • inconceivably vast: the song is a masterpiece of cosmic proportions. DERIVATIVES cosmical adjective cosmically | ˈkäzmik(ə)lē | adverb

De rigueur

adjective required by etiquette or current fashion: it was de rigueur for bands to grow their hair long.

Priggish

Farouche

adjective sullen or shy in company: how farouche you are—I refuse to stay and talk to you any longer.

Liminal

adjective technical 1 relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process. 2 occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold. DERIVATIVESliminality | ˌliməˈnalətē | noun ORIGINlate 19th century: from Latin limen, limin- 'threshold'+ -al.

Impermissible

adjective too bad to be allowed: the prosecution made impermissible use of the testimony. DERIVATIVES impermissibility | -ˌmisəˈbilitē | noun

Itinerant

adjective traveling from place to place: itinerant traders. noun a person who travels from place to place. DERIVATIVES itineracy | -rəsē | noun itinerancy | īˈtin(ə)rənsē, əˈtin(ə)rənsē | noun itinerantly adverb

Indisputable

adjective unable to be challenged or denied: a far from indisputable fact. DERIVATIVES indisputability | ˌindəˌspyo͞odəˈbilədē| noun

Parsimonious

adjective unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy or frugal: parsimonious New Hampshire voters, who have a phobia about taxes. DERIVATIVES parsimoniously | ˌpärsəˈmōnēəslē | adverb parsimoniousness | ˌpärsəˈmōnēəsnəs | noun

Particularity

noun (plural particularities) the quality of being individual: the central figures of his novels are stripped of their particularity. • fullness or minuteness of detail in the treatment of something: parties must present their case with some degree of accuracy and particularity. • (particularities) small details: the tedious particularities of daily life | he wanted to disregard the particularities and establish general laws. • Christian Theology God's incarnation as Jesus as a particular person at a particular time and place.

Ermine

noun (plural same or ermines) 1 a stoat, especially when in its white winter coat. • the white fur of the stoat, used for trimming garments, especially the ceremonial robes of judges or peers: the men were dressed in costly ermine and sable-edged cloaks. • Heraldry fur represented as black spots on a white ground, as a heraldic tincture: [postpositive] : on a canton ermine a lion rampant sable. 2 (also ermine moth) a stout-bodied moth that has cream or white wings with black spots, and a very hairy caterpillar. Family Arctiidae: several genera and species.DERIVATIVES ermined | ˈərmənd | adjective

Simulacrum

noun (plural simulacra | -ˈlākrə, -ˈlakrə | or simulacrums) an image or representation of someone or something: a small-scale simulacrum of a skyscraper. • an unsatisfactory imitation or substitute: a bland simulacrum of American soul music. ORIGIN late 16th century: from Latin, from simulare (see simulate).

Substratum

noun (plural substrata | sʌbˈstrɑːtə, sʌbˈstreɪtə | ) an underlying layer or substance, in particular a layer of rock or soil beneath the surface of the ground: the plant will grow very rapidly and send out runners above the substratum | a geological substratum | whole substrata of society. • a foundation or basis of something: there is a broad substratum of truth in her story.

Tour de force

noun (plural tours de force pronounced same or | ˈto͝orz | ) an impressive performance or achievement that has been accomplished or managed with great skill: his novel is a tour de force.

Gloaming

noun (the gloaming) literary twilight; dusk: hundreds of lights are already shimmering in the gloaming. ORIGIN Old English glōmung, from glōm 'twilight', of Germanic origin; related to glow.

Druther

noun (usually one's druthers) a person's preference in a matter: if I had my druthers, I would prefer to be a writer. adverb rather; by preference.

Loggerhead

noun 1 (also loggerhead turtle) a reddish-brown turtle with a very large head, occurring chiefly in warm seas. Caretta caretta, family Cheloniidae.2 (also loggerhead shrike) a widespread North American shrike, having mainly gray plumage with a black eyestripe, wings, and tail. Lanius ludovicianus, family Laniidae.3 archaic a foolish person. PHRASES at loggerheads in stubborn dispute or disagreement: council was at loggerheads with the government over the grant allocation. [perhaps a use of loggerhead in the late 17th-century sense 'long-handled iron instrument for heating liquids and tar' (when wielded as a weapon).]

Triumvirate

noun 1 (in ancient Rome) a group of three men holding power, in particular (the First Triumvirate) the unofficial coalition of Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus in 60 bc and (the Second Triumvirate) a coalition formed by Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian in 43 bc. • a group of three powerful or notable people or things existing in relation to each other: a triumvirate of three former executive vice presidents. 2 the office of triumvir in ancient Rome.

Hobby horse

noun 1 a child's toy consisting of a stick with a model of a horse's head at one end. • a rocking horse. • a model of a horse or a horse'shead, typically of wicker, used in morris dancing or pantomime. 2 a preoccupation or favourite topic: Brennan admits that the greenhouse effect is a hobby horse of his.

Demerit

noun 1 a feature or fact deserving censure: the merits and demerits of these proposals. 2 North American a mark awarded against someone for a fault or offense. DERIVATIVES demeritorious | -ˌmeriˈtôrēəs | adjective

Screed

noun 1 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. 2 a leveled layer of material (e.g., cement) applied to a floor or other surface. • a strip of plaster or other material placed on a surface as a guide to thickness. verb [with object] level (a floor or layer of concrete) with a straight edge using a back and forth motion while moving across the surface.

Scapegoat

noun 1 a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others, especially for reasons of expediency. 2 (in the Bible) a goat sent into the wilderness after the Jewish chief priest had symbolically laid the sins of the people upon it (Lev. 16). verb [with object] make a scapegoat of: few things are harder for kids to bear than being scapegoated | it makes little sense to scapegoat the poor. DERIVATIVES scapegoater noun scapegoating noun scapegoatism | -ˌizəm | noun

Bauble

noun 1 a small, showy trinket or decoration: clutch bags embellished with glittering baubles. • something that is superficially attractive but useless or worthless: people in quest of honors are wasting time and effort to secure baubles. 2 historical a baton formerly used as an emblem by jesters. ORIGIN Middle English: from Old French baubel 'child's toy', of unknown origin.

Confederate

adjective | kənˈfed(ə)rət | joined by an agreement or treaty: some local groups united to form confederate councils. • (Confederate) relating to the Confederate States of America: the Confederate flag. noun | kənˈfed(ə)rət | 1 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? 2 (Confederate) a supporter of the Confederate States of America. verb | kənˈfedəˌrāt | [with object] (usually as adjective confederated) bring (states or groups of people) into an alliance: Switzerland is a model for the new confederated Europe.

Legitimate

adjective | ləˈjidəmət | conforming to the law or to rules: his claims to legitimate authority. • able to be defended with logic or justification: a legitimate excuse for being late. • (of a child) born of parents lawfully married to each other. • (of a sovereign) having a title based on strict hereditary right: the last legitimate Anglo-Saxon king. • constituting or relating to serious drama as distinct from musical comedy, revue, etc.: the legitimate theater. verb | ləˈjidəmāt | [with object] make legitimate; justify or make lawful: the regime was not legitimated by popular support. DERIVATIVES legitimation | ləˌjidəˈmāSH(ə)n | noun legitimatize | ləˈjidəməˌtīz | verb

Tepid

adjective1 (especially of a liquid) only slightly warm; lukewarm: she soaked a flannel in the tepid water. 2 showing little enthusiasm: the applause was tepid. DERIVATIVES tepidity | tɪˈpɪdɪti | noun tepidly | ˈtɛpɪdli | adverb tepidness noun

Incumbent

adjective1 [predicative] (incumbent on/upon) necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility: it is incumbent on all decent people to concentrate on destroying this evil. 2 [attributive] (of an official or regime) currently holding office: the incumbent president had been defeated. noun the holder of an office or post: the present incumbent will soon be retiring. • Christian Church the holder of an ecclesiastical benefice.

Ethereal

adjective1 extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world: her ethereal beauty | a singer who has a weirdly ethereal voice. • heavenly or spiritual: ethereal, otherworldly visions. 2 Chemistry (of a solution) having diethyl ether as a solvent: sodium is dissolved in ethereal solutions of aromatic ketones. DERIVATIVES ethereality | əˌTHirēəˈalədē | noun ethereally adverb

Colossal

adjective1 extremely large or great: a colossal amount of mail | a colossal mistake. • Sculpture (of a statue) at least twice life size. 2 Architecture (of an order) having more than one story of columns. DERIVATIVES colossally adverb

Attenuate

verb | əˈtenyəˌwāt | [with object] reduce the force, effect, or value of: her intolerance was attenuated by a rather unexpected liberalism. • reduce the amplitude of (a signal, electric current, or other oscillation). • (usually as adjective attenuated) reduce the virulence of (a pathogenic organism or vaccine): attenuated strains of rabies virus. • reduce in thickness; make thin: the trees are attenuated from being grown too close together. adjective | əˈtenyo͞oət, əˈtenyo͞oˌāt | rare reduced in force, effect, or physical thickness.

Contemporary

adjective1 living or occurring at the same time: the event was recorded by a contemporary historian. • dating from the same time: this series of paintings is contemporary with other works in an early style. 2 belonging to or occurring in the present: the tension and complexities of our contemporary society. • following modern ideas or fashion in style or design: contemporary art. noun (plural contemporaries) a person or thing living or existing at the same time as another: he was a contemporary of Darwin. • a person of roughly the same age as another: my contemporaries at school. DERIVATIVES contemporarily | kənˌtempəˈre(ə)rəlē| adverb contemporariness noun

Secular

adjective1 not connected with religious or spiritual matters: secular buildings | secular attitudes to death. Contrasted with sacred.2 Christian Church (of clergy) not subject to or bound by religious rule; not belonging to or living in a monastic or other order. Contrasted with regular.3 Astronomy of or denoting slow changes in the motion of the sun or planets. 4 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. 5 occurring once every century or similarly long period (used especially in reference to celebratory games in ancient Rome). noun a secular priest. DERIVATIVES secularity | sɛkjʊˈlarɪti | noun secularly | ˈsɛkjʊləli | adverb

Forlorn

adjective1 pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely: forlorn figures at bus stops. 2 (of an aim or endeavor) unlikely to succeed or be fulfilled; hopeless: a forlorn attempt to escape.

Nomothetic

adjectiverelating to the study or discovery of general scientific laws. Oftencontrasted with idiographic.

Animate

verb | ˈanəˌmāt | [with object] 1 bring to life: the desert is like a line drawing waiting to be animated with color. • give inspiration, encouragement, or renewed vigor to: she has animated the nation with a sense of political direction. 2 (usually be animated) give (a movie or character) the appearance of movement using animation techniques. adjective | ˈanəmət | alive or having life: all of creation, animate and inanimate. • lively and active; animated: party photos of animate socialites.

Stave

noun 1 a vertical wooden post or plank in a building or other structure. • any of the lengths of wood attached side by side to make a barrel, bucket, or other container. • a strong wooden stick or iron pole used as a weapon. 2 Music, British another term for staff1(sense 4 of the noun).3 a verse or stanza of a poem. verb [with object] 1 (past and past participle staved or stove | stəʊv | ) (stave something in) break something by forcing it inward or piercing it roughly: the door was staved in. 2 (past and past participle staved) (stave something off) avert or delay something bad or dangerous: a reassuring presence can stave off a panic attack.

Vestibule

noun 1 an antechamber, hall, or lobby next to the outer door of a building. • an enclosed entrance compartment in a railroad car. 2 Anatomy a chamber or channel opening into another. • the central cavity of the labyrinth of the inner ear. • the part of the mouth outside the teeth. • the space in the vulva into which both the urethra and vagina open. DERIVATIVES vestibuled adjective

Civies

civies/civvies (British slang for "civilian attire"), refers to plain or ordinary clothes, especially when worn by one who normally wears, or has long worn, a military or other uniform

Hoist by one's own petard

have one's plans to cause trouble for others backfire on one. [from Shakespeare's Hamlet (iii. iv. 207); hoist is in the sense 'lifted and removed', past participle of dialect hoise (see hoist).]

Coterie

noun (plural coteries) a small group of people with shared interests or tastes, especially one that is exclusive of other people: a coterie of friends and advisers. ORIGIN early 18th century: from French, earlier denoting an association of tenants, based on Middle Low German kote 'cote'.

Assignation

noun 1 an appointment to meet someone in secret, typically one made by lovers: his assignation with an older woman. 2 the allocation or attribution of someone or something as belonging to something: this document explains the principles governing the assignation of lexical units to lexemes.

Coup de grâce

noun (plural coups de grâce pronounced same) a final blow or shot given to kill a wounded person or animal: he administered the coup de grâce with a knife. • an action or event that serves as the culmination of a bad or deteriorating situation: the epidemic has been the coup de grâce for the airline crisis.

Desideratum

noun (plural desiderata | -tə | ) something that is needed or wanted: integrity was a desideratum.

Requiem

noun (also requiem mass) (especially in the Roman Catholic Church) a Mass for the repose of the souls of the dead: a requiem was held for the dead queen | the musical tradition of the requiem mass has inspired imitation | large numbers attended the requiem mass. • a musical composition setting parts of a requiem Mass, or of a similar character: Fauré's Requiem. • an act or token of remembrance: he designed the epic as a requiem for his wife.

Vivacity

noun (especially in a woman) the quality of being attractively lively and animated: he was struck by her vivacity, humor and charm.

Eon

noun (often eons) 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 | his eyes searched her face for what seemed like eons. • Astronomy & Geology a unit of time equal to a billion years. • Geology a major division of geological time, subdivided into eras: the Precambrian eon. • Philosophy (in Neoplatonism, Platonism, and Gnosticism) a power existing from eternity; an emanation or phase of the supreme deity. ORIGIN mid 17th century: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek aiōn 'age'.

Mafioso

noun (plural Mafiosi | -sē, -zē | ) a member of the Mafia.

USP

noun (plural USPs) a feature or characteristic of a product, service, etc. that distinguishes it from others of a similar nature and makes it more appealing: you must come up with some sort of USP for your product | the USP of this hotel is its East-West combo cuisine.

Dictate

verb | ˈdikˌtāt, ˌdikˈtāt | [with object] 1 lay down authoritatively; prescribe: the tsar's attempts to dictate policy | [no object] : that doesn't give you the right to dictate to me. • control or decisively affect; determine: choice is often dictated by availability | [no object] : a review process can be changed as circumstances dictate. 2 say or read aloud (words to be typed, written down, or recorded on tape): I have four letters to dictate. noun (usually dictates) an order or principle that must be obeyed: the dictates of fashion.

Correlate

verb | ˈkôrəˌlāt | [no object] have a mutual relationship or connection, in which one thing affects or depends on another: the study found that success in the educational system correlates highly with class. • [with object] establish a mutual relationship or connection between: we should correlate general trends in public opinion with trends in the content of television news. noun | ˈkôrələt | each of two or more related or complementary things: strategies to promote health should pay greater attention to financial hardship and other correlates of poverty.

Up to scratch

up to the required standard; satisfactory: her German was not up to scratch.

Bedevil

verb (bedevils, bedeviling, bedeviled; also mainly British bedevils, bedevilling, bedevilled) [with object] (of something bad) cause great and continual trouble to: inconsistencies that bedevil modern English spelling. • (of a person) torment or harass: he bedeviled them with petty practical jokes. DERIVATIVES bedevilment | bəˈdevəlmənt | noun

Nod

verb (nods, nodding, nodded) 1 [no object] lower and raise one's head slightly and briefly, especially in greeting, assent, or understanding, or to give someone a signal: [with object] : she nodded her head in agreement | he nodded to Monica to unlock the door. • [with object] signify or express (greeting, assent, or understanding) by nodding: he nodded his consent. • move one's head up and down repeatedly: he shut his eyes, nodding to the beat | figurative : foxgloves nodding by the path. • draw or direct attention to someone or something by moving one's head: he nodded toward the corner of the room. 2 [no object] have one's head fall forward when drowsy or asleep: Anna nodded over her book.

Shanghai

verb (shanghais, shanghaiing | -ˌhī-iNG | , shanghaied | -ˌhīd | ) [with object] 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. • informal coerce or trick (someone) into a place or position or into doing something: Brady shanghaied her into his Jaguar and roared off. shoot with a catapult: in spite of his shanghaiing all the cats, the rodents were still on top. • [with object and adverbial of direction] catapult in a particular direction: the springy, resilient saplings would shanghai him backwards. ORIGIN mid 19th century: probably an alteration of Scots dialect shangan 'a stick cleft at one end'.

Smack

verb [no object] (smack of) have a flavor of; taste of: the tea smacked of peppermint. • suggest the presence or effects of (something wrong or unpleasant): the whole thing smacks of a cover-up. noun (a smack of) a flavor or taste of: anything with even a modest smack of hops dries the palate. • a trace or suggestion of: I hear the smack of collusion between them.

Kowtow

verb [no object] 1 act in an excessively subservient manner: she didn't have to kowtow to a boss. 2 historical kneel and touch the ground with the forehead in worship or submission as part of Chinese custom. noun historical an act of kowtowing as part of Chinese custom. DERIVATIVES kowtower noun

Playact

verb [no object] 1 engage in pretense in order to trick someone or gain an advantage: I am a professional and I would never playact to get someone sent off | [with object] : she playacted grief when told her husband had died. 2 act in a play: they don costumes and playact on stage in the town's unoccupied theater. • [with object] act (a scene, role, etc.): they were play-acting a western duel. DERIVATIVES playactor | ˈplāˌaktər | noun

Tergiversate

verb [no object] 1 make conflicting or evasive statements; equivocate: the more she tergiversated, the greater grew the ardency of the reporters for an interview. 2 change one's loyalties; be apostate. DERIVATIVES tergiversation | ˌtərjəvərˈsāSHən | noun tergiversator | ˈtərjəvərˌsādər, ˌtərjəˈvərˌsādər | noun

Vacillate

verb [no object] alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive: I had for a time vacillated between teaching and journalism. DERIVATIVES vacillator | -ˌlātər | noun

Muse

verb [no object] be absorbed in thought: he was musing on the problems he faced. • say to oneself in a thoughtful manner: "I think I've seen him somewhere before," mused Rachel. • (muse on) gaze thoughtfully at: he sat on the edge of the bank, legs dangling, eyes musing on the water. noun an instance or period of reflection. ORIGIN Middle English: from Old French muser 'meditate, waste time', perhaps from medieval Latin musum 'muzzle'.

Ratiocinate

Genuflect

verb [no object] 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. • [with adverbial] show deference or servility: politicians had to genuflect to the far left to advance their careers. DERIVATIVES genuflection | ˌjenyəˈflekSH(ə)n | noun genuflector | -tər | noun

Vociferate

verb [no object] shout, complain, or argue loudly or vehemently: he then began to vociferate pretty loudly | [with object] : he entered, vociferating curses. DERIVATIVES vociferance noun vociferant | -rənt | adjective vociferation | vəˌsifəˈrāSH(ə)n | noun vociferator noun

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