Index of Word Meanings
catechism
/ˈkatɪkɪz(ə)m/
noun
a summary of the principles of Christian religion in the form of questions and answers, used for religious instruction.
(in Roman Catholic use) religious instruction in general.
a series of fixed questions, answers, or precepts used for instruction.
"the preventive health catechism ‘more exercise, less tobacco and alcohol, and better diet’"
...
behove
/bɪˈhəʊv/
verb FORMAL
3rd person present: behooves
it is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something.
"it behoves the House to assure itself that there is no conceivable alternative"
Similar:
be incumbent on
be obligatory for
be required of
be appropriate for
be expected of
be advisable for
be sensible for
be wise for
befit
become
suit
be fitting to
be suitable for
be seemly for
be proper for
be decorous for
it is appropriate or suitable; it befits.
"it ill behoves Opposition Members to decry the sale of arms to friendly countries"
...
humanistic
/ˌhjuːməˈnɪstɪk/
adjective: humanistic
relating to or supporting the principles of humanism.
"humanistic values"
relating to or characteristic of the Renaissance humanists.
...
humanism
/ˈhjuːmənɪz(ə)m/
noun: humanism
a rationalist outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters.
a Renaissance cultural movement which turned away from medieval scholasticism and revived interest in ancient Greek and Roman thought.
noun: Humanism
(among some contemporary writers) a system of thought criticized as being centred on the notion of the rational, autonomous self and ignoring the conditioned nature of the individual.
...
disparate
/ˈdɪsp(ə)rət/
adjective
essentially different in kind; not able to be compared.
"they inhabit disparate worlds of thought"
Similar:
contrasting
different
differing
dissimilar
unlike
unalike
poles apart
varying
various
diverse
diversified
heterogeneous
unrelated
unconnected
distinct
separate
divergent
divers
myriad
contrastive
Opposite:
homogeneous
noun ARCHAIC
things so unlike that there is no basis for comparison.
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mores
/ˈmɔːreɪz,ˈmɔːriːz/
noun
the essential or characteristic customs and conventions of a society or community.
"an offence against social mores"
Similar:
customs
conventions
ways
way of life
way of doing things
traditions
practices
custom and practice
procedures
habits
usages
praxis
---
thimble
/ˈθɪmb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
a small metal or plastic cap with a closed end, worn to protect the finger and push the needle in sewing.
2.
a short metal tube or ferrule.
---
greenhorn
/ˈɡriːnhɔːn/
Learn to pronounce
noun INFORMAL • NORTH AMERICAN
noun: greenhorn; plural noun: greenhorns
a person who is new to or inexperienced at a particular activity.
"I'm not a seasoned veteran, but I'm no greenhorn either"
Similar:
novice
beginner
starter
tyro
neophyte
new recruit
raw recruit
fledgling
new boy/girl
novitiate
trainee
learner
student
pupil
mentee
probationer
tenderfoot
rookie
new kid (on the block)
newie
newbie
punk
Opposite:
veteran
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evangelize
/ɪˈvan(d)ʒ(ə)lʌɪz/
verb
verb: evangelise
convert or seek to convert (someone) to Christianity.
"some small groups have been evangelized by Protestant missionaries"
Similar:
convert
proselytize
bring to God/Christ/Jesus
bring into the fold
redeem
save
make someone see the light
preach (to)
seek/make converts (among)
act as a missionary
crusade
campaign
win over
recruit
proselyte
preach the gospel.
"the Church has a mission to evangelize and declare the faith"
Origin
late Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin evangelizare, from Greek euangelizesthai, from euangelos (see evangel).
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bluffly:
A bluff is an attempt to make someone believe that you will do something when you do not really intend to do it. The letter was a bluff. ... A bluff is a steep cliff or bank, especially by a river or the sea.
---
gut-wrenching
/ˈɡʌt ˌrɛntʃɪŋ/
adjectiveINFORMAL
extremely unpleasant or upsetting.
"the film is a gut-wrenching portrait of domestic violence"
---
wrench
/rɛn(t)ʃ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: wrench; plural noun: wrenches
1.
a sudden violent twist or pull.
"with a wrench Tony wriggled free"
Similar:
tug
pull
jerk
jolt
wrest
heave
twist
yank
2.
a feeling of sadness or distress caused by one's own or another's departure.
"it will be a real wrench to leave after eight years"
Similar:
painful parting
distressing separation
traumatic event
pain
ache
pang
trauma
3.
an adjustable tool like a spanner, used for gripping and turning nuts or bolts.
"you will need a wrench to tighten it in position"
Similar:
spanner
adjustable spanner
monkey wrench
4.
MECHANICS
a combination of a couple with a force along its axis.
verb
verb: wrench; 3rd person present: wrenches; past tense: wrenched; past participle: wrenched; gerund or present participle: wrenching
1.
pull or twist suddenly and violently.
"Casey grabbed the gun and wrenched it from my hand"
Similar:
tug
pull
jerk
wrest
heave
twist
tear
rip
pluck
grab
seize
snatch
force
take by force
remove by force
prise
peel
pry
yank
injure (a part of the body) as a result of a sudden twisting movement.
"she slipped and wrenched her ankle"
Similar:
sprain
twist
turn
strain
rick
crick
pull
dislocate
put out of joint
damage
injure
hurt
ARCHAIC
distort to fit a particular theory or interpretation.
"to wrench our Bible to make it fit a misconception of facts"
2.
turn (something, especially a nut or bolt) with a wrench.
Phrases
a wrench in (the works) — a person or thing that prevents the successful implementation of a plan.
"he has thrown a wrench in the works by saying he would prefer direct elections to happen"
Origin
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allude
/əˈl(j)uːd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: alluding
suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at.
"she had a way of alluding to Jean but never saying her name"
Similar:
refer to
suggest
hint at
imply
mention
touch on
mention in passing
mention en passant
speak briefly of
make an allusion to
cite
advert to
mention without discussing at length.
"we will allude briefly to the main points"
(of an artist or a work of art) recall (an earlier work or style) in such a way as to suggest a relationship with it.
"the photographs allude to Italian Baroque painting"
Origin
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balk
/bɔːlk,bɔːk/
verb
past tense: balked; past participle: balked
hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.
"he balked at such a drastic solution"
Similar:
eschew
resist
refuse to
be unwilling to
draw the line at
be reluctant to
draw back from
flinch from
shrink from
shy from
recoil from
quail at
demur from
hesitate over
scruple to
take exception to
not like to
hate to
jib at
scorn
disdain
Opposite: accept
thwart or hinder (a plan or person).
"he raised every objection he could to balk this plan"
Similar:
impede
obstruct
thwart
hinder
prevent
check
stop
curb
halt
bar
block
forestall
frustrate
stall
baffle
foil
defeat
beat
counteract
head off
Opposite:
assist
prevent a person or animal from having (something).
"a tiger balked of its prey"
ARCHAIC
miss or refuse (a chance or invitation).
"it's got to be done, so why balk it?"
(with reference to a horse) refuse or cause to refuse to go on.
"he balked, both forefeet thrust stiffly in front of him"
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conciliatory
/kənˈsɪlɪətəri/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: conciliatory
intended or likely to placate or pacify.
"a conciliatory approach"
Similar:
propitiatory
placatory
appeasing
pacifying
pacific
mollifying
peacemaking
reconciliatory
pacificatory
propitiative
placative
irenic
Opposite:
antagonistic
Translate conciliatory to
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darned
/dɑːnd/
adjective INFORMAL • NORTH AMERICAN
adjective: darned; adjective: durned
euphemism for damned.
"you have to work a darned sight harder"
darn1
/dɑːn/
verb
past tense: darned; past participle: darned
mend (a hole in knitted material) by interweaving yarn with a needle.
"I don't expect you to darn my socks"
Similar:
mend
repair
reinforce
sew up
stitch
cobble
botch
patch
vamp
clout
embroider (material) with a large running stitch.
darn2
/dɑːn/
verb · adjective · exclamation INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
past tense: darned; past participle: darned
euphemism for damn.
"darn it all, Poppa"
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delightful
/dɪˈlʌɪtfʊl,dɪˈlʌɪtf(ə)l/
adjective
causing delight; charming.
"a delightful secluded garden"
Similar:
very pleasant
lovely
greatly to one's liking
very agreeable
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flesh and blood
/flɛʃ (ə)n(d) ˈblʌd/
noun
used to emphasize that a person is a physical, living being with human emotions or frailties, often in contrast to something abstract, spiritual, or mechanical.
"the customer is flesh and blood, not just a sales statistic"
Phrases
one's flesh and blood — a near relative or one's close family.
"he felt as much for that girl as if she had been his own flesh and blood"
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stipulate1
/ˈstɪpjʊleɪt/
verb
past tense: stipulated; past participle: stipulated
demand or specify (a requirement), typically as part of an agreement.
"he stipulated certain conditions before their marriage"
Similar:
specify
set down
set out
lay down
set forth
state clearly
demand
require
insist on
make a condition of
make a precondition/proviso of
prescribe
impose
provide
Origin
early 17th century: from Latin stipulat- ‘demanded as a formal promise’, from the verb stipulari .
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recoup
/rɪˈkuːp/
Learn to pronounce
verb
regain (something lost or expended).
"rains have helped recoup water levels"
Similar:
get back
regain
recover
win back
retrieve
repossess
redeem
make good
recuperate
regain (money spent) through subsequent profits.
"oil companies are keen to recoup their investment"
reimburse or compensate (someone) for money spent or lost.
"the company turned to the real estate industry to recoup them"
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outlay
/ˈaʊtleɪ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: outlays
an amount of money spent on something.
"a modest outlay on local advertising"
Similar:
expenditure
expenses
spending
outgoings
money spent
cost
---
Blanket appropriations allow people with access to a budget to use funds on a blanket basis without having to specify the specific projects towards which the funds are being applied. Blanket appropriations are also used in the private sector for smaller projects with lower capital outlays.
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minuet
/mɪnjʊˈɛt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: minuet; plural noun: minuets
a slow, stately ballroom dance for two in triple time, popular especially in the 18th century.
a piece of music in triple time in the style of a minuet, typically as a movement in a suite, sonata, or symphony and frequently coupled with a trio.
verb
verb: minuet; 3rd person present: minuets; past tense: minueted; past participle: minueted; gerund or present participle: minueting
dance a minuet.
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drag one's feet
phrase of drag
walk slowly and wearily or with difficulty.
"they dragged their feet through the orchard towards the house"
be deliberately slow or reluctant to act.
"the government has dragged its heels over permanent legislation"
Similar:
delay
put off doing something
postpone action
defer action
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discretion
/dɪˈskrɛʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offence or revealing confidential information.
"she knew she could rely on his discretion"
Similar:
circumspection
care
carefulness
caution
wariness
chariness
guardedness
tact
tactfulness
diplomacy
delicacy
sensitivity
subtlety
consideration
prudence
judiciousness
judgement
discrimination
sense
good sense
common sense
kid gloves
Opposite:
indiscretion
rashness
2.
the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation.
"local authorities should use their discretion in setting the charges"
Similar:
choice
option
judgement
preference
disposition
volition
pleasure
liking
wish
will
inclination
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chalk something up
phrasal verb of chalk
1.
achieve something noteworthy.
"he has chalked up a box office success"
Similar:
achieve
attain
accomplish
gain
earn
win
succeed in making
reach
make
get
obtain
score
tally
record
register
enter
mark
log
clock up
knock up
notch up
turn in
rack up
bag
2.
ascribe something to a particular cause.
"I chalked my sleeplessness up to nerves"
Similar:
attribute
assign
ascribe
put down
set down
accredit
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stewing
/ˈstjuːɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: stewing
(of meat or other food) suitable for stewing.
"a pound of stewing steak"
stew (1)
/stjuː/
verb
gerund or present participle: stewing
1.
(with reference to meat, fruit, or other food) cook or be cooked slowly in liquid in a closed dish or pan.
"beef stewed in wine"
Similar:
braise
casserole
fricassee
simmer
boil
jug
smoor
seethe
BRITISH: (of tea) become strong and bitter with prolonged brewing.
LITERARY: be steeped in or imbued with.
"politics there are stewed in sexual prejudice and privilege"
2. INFORMAL
remain in a heated or stifling atmosphere.
"sweaty clothes left to stew in a plastic bag"
Similar:
swelter
be very hot
perspire
sweat
roast
bake
be boiling
worry about something, especially on one's own.
"James will be expecting us, so we will let him stew a bit"
Similar:
worry
fret
agonize
be anxious
be nervous
be agitated
get in a panic
get worked up
get in a fluster
get overwrought
get in a flap
get in a state
get in a tizz/tizzy
get in a tiz-woz
get in a sweat
get steamed up
get in a lather
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attrition
/əˈtrɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: attrition
1.
the process of reducing something's strength or effectiveness through sustained attack or pressure.
"the council is trying to wear down the opposition by attrition"
Similar:
wearing down
wearing away
weakening
debilitation
enfeebling
sapping
attenuation
harassment
harrying
NORTH AMERICAN•AUSTRALIAN/NZ
the gradual reduction of a workforce by employees leaving and not being replaced rather than by redundancy.
"the company said that it will reduce its worldwide employment by about 10% through attrition"
wearing away by friction; abrasion.
"the skull shows attrition of the edges of the teeth"
Similar:
abrasion
friction
rubbing
chafing
corroding
corrosion
erosion
eating away
grinding
scraping
wearing away
wearing
excoriation
deterioration
damaging
detrition
2.
(in scholastic theology) sorrow for sin, falling short of contrition.
Origin
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paddy wagon
nounINFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
noun: paddy wagon; plural noun: paddy wagons; noun: paddy waggon; plural noun: paddy waggons
a police van.
Origin
1930s: paddy from Paddy, perhaps because formerly many American police officers were of Irish descent.
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skirmish
/ˈskəːmɪʃ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: skirmish; plural noun: skirmishes
an episode of irregular or unpremeditated fighting, especially between small or outlying parts of armies or fleets.
"the unit was caught in several skirmishes and the commanding officer was killed"
Similar:
fight
battle
clash
conflict
encounter
confrontation
engagement
fray
contest
combat
tussle
scrimmage
fracas
affray
melee
rencounter
a short argument.
"there was a skirmish over the budget"
Similar:
argument
quarrel
squabble
contretemps
disagreement
difference of opinion
dissension
falling-out
dispute
disputation
contention
clash
altercation
exchange
war of words
donnybrook
tiff
set-to
run-in
spat
dust-up
row
barney
ding-dong
bust-up
bit of argy-bargy
ruck
afters
rammy
broil
miff
threap
collieshangie
verb
verb: skirmish; 3rd person present: skirmishes; past tense: skirmished; past participle: skirmished; gerund or present participle: skirmishing
engage in a skirmish.
"reports of skirmishing along the border"
Similar:
fight
do battle with
battle with
engage with
close with
combat
clash with
come to blows with
exchange blows with
struggle with
tussle with
scrap with
Origin
---
deadbeat
/ˈdɛdbiːt/
Learn to pronounce
nounINFORMAL
noun: deadbeat; plural noun: deadbeats; noun: dead-beat; plural noun: dead-beats
an idle, feckless, or disreputable person.
"a nation of deadbeats who must work harder"
Similar:
layabout
loafer
lounger
idler
waster
wastrel
good-for-nothing
cadger
parasite
useless article
bum
scrounger
sponger
sponge
freeloader
skiver
NORTH AMERICAN
a person who tries to evade paying their debts.
"threatening a deadbeat to get him to pay up"
adjective
adjective: dead beat; adjective: deadbeat; adjective: dead-beat
1.
INFORMAL
completely exhausted.
"I must go to bed—I'm dead beat"
2.
(of a clock escapement or other mechanism) without recoil.
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apportion
/əˈpɔːʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: apportioning
divide up and share out.
"voting power will be apportioned according to contribution"
Similar:
share out
divide out
allocate
distribute
allot
assign
dispense
give out
hand out
mete out
deal out
dole out
ration
parcel out
measure out
split
carve up
slice up
divvy up
dish out
assign.
"they did not apportion blame or liability to any one individual"
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slack1
/slak/Submit
adjective
adjective: slack; comparative adjective: slacker; superlative adjective: slackest
1.
not taut or held tightly in position; loose.
"a slack rope"
synonyms: loose, limp, not taut, not tight, hanging, flapping; More
antonyms: tight, taut, stretched, toned, firm, tailored
2.
having or showing laziness or negligence.
"slack accounting procedures"
synonyms: lax, negligent, neglectful, remiss, careless, slapdash, slipshod, lackadaisical, lazy, inefficient, incompetent, inattentive, offhand, casual, disorderly, disorganized; More
antonyms: meticulous, diligent
3.
slow or sluggish.
"they were working at a slack pace"
synonyms: sluggish, slow, quiet, slow-moving, not busy, inactive, flat, depressed, stagnant
"business had never been so slack"
antonyms: busy, thriving
(of business or trade) characterized by a lack of work or activity; quiet.
"business was rather slack"
4.
WEST INDIAN
lewd.
"the veteran king of slack chat"
(typically of a woman) promiscuous.
5.
(of a tide) neither ebbing nor flowing.
"soon the water will become slack, and the tide will turn"
noun
noun: slack; plural noun: slacks
1.
the part of a rope or line which is not held taut; the loose or unused part.
"I picked up the rod and wound in the slack"
synonyms: looseness, play, give
"the rope had just enough slack in it to allow her to reach him"
2.
casual trousers.
"he put on a grey shirt and loose cotton slacks"
3.
INFORMAL
a spell of inactivity or laziness.
"he slept deeply, refreshed by a little slack in the daily routine"
synonyms: lull, pause, respite, spell of inactivity, interval, break, hiatus, breathing space; More
verb
verb: slack; 3rd person present: slacks; past tense: slacked; past participle: slacked; gerund or present participle: slacking
1.
loosen (something, especially a rope).
"slacking the outhaul allows you to adjust the sail"
2.
decrease or reduce in intensity, quantity, or speed.
"the flow of blood slacked off"
synonyms: reduce, lessen, slacken, slow, ease up/off More
antonyms: increase, intensify, work harder, speed up, accelerate
3.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
work slowly or lazily.
"she ticked off her girls if they were slacking"
synonyms: idle, shirk, be inactive, be lazy, be indolent, sit back and do nothing, waste time, lounge about; More
antonyms: work hard
4.
slake (lime).
"150 sacks of lime were slacked by the inrushing water"
Phrases
cut someone some slack
allow someone some leeway in their conduct. "the press is willing to cut the President some slack because they like him"
take up the slack
improve the use of resources to avoid an undesirable lull in business. "as domestic demand starts to flag, foreign demand will help pick up the slack"
Origin
Old English slæc ‘inclined to be lazy, unhurried’, of Germanic origin; related to Latin laxus ‘loose’.
slack2
/slak/Submit
noun
noun: slack
coal dust or small pieces of coal.
"the fire was stoked with a mixture of slack and cement"
Origin
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waver
/ˈweɪvə/Submit
verb
past tense: wavered; past participle: wavered
1.
move in a quivering way; flicker.
"the flame wavered in the draught"
synonyms: flicker, quiver, tremble, twinkle, glimmer, wink, blink
"the candlelight in the room wavered in a warm draught"
2.
become weaker; falter.
"his love for her had never wavered"
synonyms: become unsteady, falter, wobble, tremble, hesitate
"his voice wavered with a hint of uncertainty"
be undecided between two opinions or courses of action.
"she never wavered from her intention"
synonyms: be undecided, be irresolute, be indecisive, hesitate, dither, equivocate, vacillate, fluctuate, see-saw, yo-yo; More
Origin
-
oppressive
/əˈprɛsɪv/Submit
adjective
adjective: oppressive
1.
inflicting harsh and authoritarian treatment.
"an oppressive dictatorship"
synonyms: harsh, cruel, brutal, repressive, crushing, tyrannical, tyrannous, iron-fisted, domineering, autocratic, dictatorial, undemocratic, anti-democratic, despotic, draconian, punitive; More
antonyms: lenient, humane
weighing heavily on the mind or spirits.
"the offices present an oppressive atmosphere"
synonyms: overwhelming, overpowering, hard to bear, unbearable, burdensome, unendurable, intolerable, heavy; More
2.
(of weather) close and sultry.
"the day was sunless and oppressive"
synonyms: muggy, close, heavy, hot, humid, sticky, steamy, soupy, fuggy, airless, stuffy, stifling, suffocating, sultry, torrid
"the day was grey and oppressive"
antonyms: fresh, airy
Origin
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Cheshire
/ˈtʃɛʃə/Submit
noun
noun: Cheshire
a kind of firm crumbly cheese, originally made in Cheshire.
---
bourgeois
/ˈbʊəʒwɑː/Submit
adjective
1.
belonging to or characteristic of the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes.
"a rich, bored, bourgeois family"
synonyms: middle-class, property-owning, propertied, shopkeeping; More
noun
1.
a bourgeois person.
"a self-confessed and proud bourgeois"
synonyms: member of the middle class, property owner
"Liebermann was a self-professed and proud bourgeois"
--
A boudoir (/ˈbuːdwɑːr/; French: [bu.dwaʁ]) is a woman's private sitting room or salon in a furnished accommodation, usually between the dining room and the bedroom, but can also refer to a woman's private bedroom.
---
hoary definition: 1. very old and familiar and therefore not interesting or funny: 2. (of a person) very old and with white or grey hair.
--
slump
/slʌmp/Submit
verb
past tense: slumped; past participle: slumped
1.
sit, lean, or fall heavily and limply.
"she slumped against the cushions"
synonyms: sit heavily, flop, flump, collapse, sink, fall, subside; More
2.
undergo a sudden severe or prolonged fall in price, value, or amount.
"land prices slumped"
synonyms: fall steeply, plummet, plunge, tumble, drop, go down, slide, decline, decrease; More
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dashiki
/ˈdɑːʃɪki/Submit
noun
noun: dashiki; plural noun: dashikis
a loose brightly coloured shirt or tunic, originally from West Africa.
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dandelion
/ˈdandɪlʌɪən/Submit
noun
plural noun: dandelions
a widely distributed weed of the daisy family, with a rosette of leaves and large bright yellow flowers followed by globular heads of seeds with downy tufts.
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root1
/ruːt/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: rooting
1.
cause (a plant or cutting) to grow roots.
"root your own cuttings from stock plants"
synonyms: plant, bed out, sow
"June is a good month to begin rooting cuttings"
(of a plant or cutting) establish roots.
"large trees had rooted in the canal bank"
synonyms: take root, grow roots, become established, establish, strike, take
"give the shoot a gentle tug to see if it has rooted"
2.
establish deeply and firmly.
"vegetarianism is rooted in Indian culture"
synonyms: embedded, fixed, firmly established, implanted; More
have as an origin or cause.
"the Latin verb is rooted in an Indo-European word"
3.
cause (someone) to stand immobile through fear or amazement.
"she found herself rooted to the spot in disbelief"
synonyms: unable to move from, frozen to, riveted to, paralysed to, glued to, fixed to; More
4.
COMPUTING
gain access to the root account of (a smartphone or computer).
"we explained how to manually root almost any Android device"
5.
VULGAR SLANG•AUSTRALIAN/NZ
have sexual intercourse with.
exhaust (someone) or frustrate their efforts.
"grab a pew—you must be rooted"
Origin
late Old English rōt, from Old Norse rót ; related to Latin radix, also to wort.
root2
/ruːt/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: rooting
(of an animal) turn up the ground with its snout in search of food.
"stray dogs rooting around for bones and scraps"
search unsystematically through an untidy mass or area; rummage.
"she was rooting through a pile of papers"
find or extract something by rummaging.
"he managed to root out the cleaning kit"
-
sputter
/ˈspʌtə/Submit
verb
verb: sputter; 3rd person present: sputters; past tense: sputtered; past participle: sputtered; gerund or present participle: sputtering
1.
make a series of soft explosive or spitting sounds.
"the engine sputtered and stopped"
speak in a series of incoherent bursts as a result of strong emotion.
"‘But … but …’ she sputtered"
emit with a spitting sound.
"the goose is in the oven, sputtering fat"
proceed in a spasmodic and feeble way.
"strikes in the public services sputtered on"
2.
PHYSICS
deposit (metal) on a surface by using fast ions to eject particles of it from a target.
coat (a surface) with a spray of metal particles emitted from a target that is bombarded with fast ions.
noun
noun: sputter; plural noun: sputters
1.
a series of soft explosive or spitting sounds.
"the sputter of the motor died away"
Origin
---
impeccable
/ɪmˈpɛkəb(ə)l/Submit
adjective
adjective: impeccable
in accordance with the highest standards; faultless.
"he had impeccable manners"
synonyms: flawless, faultless, unblemished, spotless, stainless, untarnished, perfect, exemplary, ideal, model; More
antonyms: imperfect, sinful
RARE•THEOLOGY
not liable to sin.
Origin
---
patter1
/ˈpatə/Submit
verb
verb: patter; 3rd person present: patters; past tense: pattered; past participle: pattered; gerund or present participle: pattering
1.
make a repeated light tapping sound.
"a flurry of rain pattered against the window"
synonyms: pitter-patter, tap, drum, clatter, beat, pound, rattle, throb, pulsate, rat-a-tat, go pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat, clack, click-clack, thrum; More
run with quick light steps.
"he quickly pattered down the stairs"
synonyms: scurry, scuttle, skip, trip, tiptoe, walk lightly, walk on tiptoe
"she pattered across the floor"
noun
noun: patter; plural noun: patters
1.
a repeated light tapping.
"the plashing patter of steady rain"
synonyms: pitter-patter, tapping, pattering, drumming, drumbeat, clatter, beat, beating, tattoo, pounding, throb, pulsation, rat-a-tat, pit-a-pat, clack, click-clack, clacketing, thrum, thrumming
"the rain had stopped its vibrating patter above him"
Phrases
the patter of tiny feet — used in reference to the presence or imminent birth of a child.
"I had given up hope of hearing the patter of tiny feet"
--
lineage
/ˈlɪnɪɪdʒ/Submit
noun
noun: lineage; plural noun: lineages
1.
direct descent from an ancestor; ancestry or pedigree.
"a Dutch nobleman of ancient lineage"
synonyms: ancestry, family, parentage, birth; More
ANTHROPOLOGY
a social group tracing its descent from a single ancestor.
2.
BIOLOGY
a sequence of species each of which is considered to have evolved from its predecessor.
"the chimpanzee and gorilla lineages"
a sequence of cells in the body which developed from a common ancestral cell.
"the myeloid lineage"
Origin
-
argyle
/ɑːˈɡʌɪl/Submit
noun
noun: argyle; plural noun: argyles
a pattern composed of diamonds of various colours on a plain background, used in knitted garments such as sweaters and socks.
"the traditional argyle design associated with golf"
Origin
1940s: from Argyll, a family name and a former county of Scotland. The pattern is based on the tartan of the Argyll branch of the Campbell clan.
---
goofy
/ˈɡuːfi/Submit
adjectiveINFORMAL
adjective: goofy; comparative adjective: goofier; superlative adjective: goofiest
1.
NORTH AMERICAN
foolish or harmlessly eccentric.
2.
having or displaying protruding or crooked front teeth.
"a goofy grin"
3.
(in surfing and other board sports) having the right leg in front of the left on the board.
----
tract1
/trakt/Submit
noun
noun: tract; plural noun: tracts
1.
an area of land, typically a large one.
"large tracts of natural forest"
synonyms: area, region, expanse, span, sweep, stretch, extent, belt, swathe, zone, plot, patch, parcel, portion, section, sector, quarter; More
an indefinitely large extent of something.
"it took courage to privatize vast tracts of nationalized industry"
2.
a major passage in the body, large bundle of nerve fibres, or other continuous elongated anatomical structure or region.
"the digestive tract"
Origin
late Middle English (in the sense ‘duration or course of time’): from Latin tractus ‘drawing, draught’, from trahere ‘draw, pull’.
tract2
/trakt/Submit
noun
noun: tract; plural noun: tracts
a short treatise in pamphlet form, typically on a religious subject.
synonyms: treatise, essay, article, paper, monograph, disquisition, dissertation, thesis, exposition, study, piece of writing, lecture, homily, sermon, work; More
Origin
late Middle English (denoting a written work treating a particular topic), apparently an abbreviation of Latin tractatus (see tractate). The current sense dates from the early 19th century.
tract3
/trakt/Submit
noun
noun: tract; plural noun: tracts
(in the Roman Catholic Church) an anthem of Scriptural verses formerly replacing the alleluia in certain penitential and requiem Masses.
---
cesspool
/ˈsɛspuːl/Submit
noun
noun: cesspool; plural noun: cesspools
an underground container for the temporary storage of liquid waste and sewage.
a disgusting or corrupt place.
"the town is not the cesspool you portrayed"
-
savage
/ˈsavɪdʒ/Submit
noun
plural noun: savages
1.
(chiefly in historical or literary contexts) a member of a people regarded as primitive and uncivilized.
synonyms: barbarian, wild man, wild woman, primitive, heathen; cannibal
"Sheila had expected mud huts and savages"
2.
a brutal or vicious person.
"the mother of one of the victims has described his assailants as savages"
synonyms: brute, beast, monster, barbarian, ogre, demon, sadist, animal
"the mother of one of the victims has described his assailants as savages"
3.
HERALDRY
a representation of a bearded and semi-naked man with a wreath of leaves.
verb
3rd person present: savages
1.
(especially of a dog or wild animal) attack ferociously and maul.
"police are rounding up dogs after a girl was savaged"
synonyms: maul, attack, tear to pieces, lacerate, claw, bite, mutilate, mangle; worry
"11-year-old Kelly was savaged by two Rottweilers"
subject to a vicious verbal attack; criticize brutally.
"he savaged the government for wasting billions in their failed bid to prop up the pound"
synonyms: criticize severely, attack, lambaste, condemn, flay, shoot down, pillory, revile; More
antonyms: praise, commend, applaud
Origin
---
vicious
/ˈvɪʃəs/Submit
adjective
adjective: vicious
1.
deliberately cruel or violent.
"a vicious assault"
synonyms: brutal, ferocious, savage, violent, dangerous, ruthless, remorseless, merciless, heartless, callous, cruel, harsh, cold-blooded, inhuman, fierce, barbarous, barbaric, brutish, bestial, bloodthirsty, bloody, fiendish, sadistic, monstrous, villainous, murderous, homicidal, heinous, atrocious, diabolical, terrible, dreadful, awful, grim; More
antonyms: gentle, kindly, benevolent
(of an animal) wild and dangerous to people.
"the dog was vicious and likely to bite"
serious or dangerous.
"a vicious flu bug"
2.
LITERARY
immoral.
"every soul on earth, virtuous or vicious, shall perish"
3.
ARCHAIC
(of language or a line of reasoning) imperfect; defective.
Origin
---
tavern
/ˈtav(ə)n/Submit
nounARCHAIC•NORTH AMERICAN
plural noun: taverns
an inn or public house.
---
orthodoxy
/ˈɔːθədɒksi/Submit
noun
noun: orthodoxy; plural noun: orthodoxies
1.
authorized or generally accepted theory, doctrine, or practice.
"monetarist orthodoxy"
synonyms: doctrine, belief, conviction, creed, dogma, credo, theory, view, idea, tenet, teaching, practice, received wisdom, article of faith
"the prevailing aesthetic orthodoxies"
the quality of conforming to orthodox theories, doctrines, or practices.
"writings of unimpeachable orthodoxy"
synonyms: conventionality, conventionalism, conformism, conservatism, traditionalism, conformity, properness, propriety, correctness, doctrinalism, unoriginality
"a pillar of orthodoxy, he challenged the theological liberalism of his time"
2.
the whole community of Orthodox Jews or Orthodox Christians.
"she was brought up in orthodoxy"
Origin
---
tenuous
/ˈtɛnjʊəs/Submit
adjective
adjective: tenuous
very weak or slight.
"the tenuous link between interest rates and investment"
synonyms: slight, insubstantial, flimsy, negligible, weak, fragile, shaky, sketchy, doubtful, dubious, questionable, suspect; More
antonyms: convincing, substantial, strong
very slender or fine; insubstantial.
"a tenuous cloud"
synonyms: fine, thin, slender, attenuated, delicate, gossamer, fragile
"a tenuous thread"
antonyms: thick
Origin
-----
doctrine
/ˈdɒktrɪn/
noun
noun: doctrine; plural noun: doctrines
a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a Church, political party, or other group.
"the doctrine of predestination"
synonyms: creed, credo, dogma, belief, set of beliefs, code of belief, conviction, teaching; More
US
a stated principle of government policy, mainly in foreign or military affairs.
"the Truman Doctrine"
Origin
late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin doctrina ‘teaching, learning’, from doctor ‘teacher’, from docere ‘teach’.
-----
dismay
/dɪsˈmeɪ/
noun
1.
concern and distress caused by something unexpected.
"to his dismay, she left him"
synonyms: alarm, shock, surprise, consternation, concern, perturbation, disquiet, disquietude, discomposure, distress, upset, anxiety, trepidation, fear
"they greeted his decision with great dismay"
verb
1.
cause (someone) to feel concern and distress.
"they were dismayed by the U-turn in policy"
synonyms: appal, horrify, shock, shake, shake up; More
-----
argument
/ˈɑːɡjʊm(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
an exchange of diverging or opposite views, typically a heated or angry one.
"I've had an argument with my father"
Similar:
quarrel
disagreement
squabble
fight
difference of opinion
dispute
wrangle
clash
altercation
feud
dissension
war of words
contretemps
exchange of views
debate
discussion
discourse
disputation
controversy
tiff
barney
set-to
dust-up
bust-up
shouting/slanging match
spat
ding-dong
falling-out
row
afters
rammy
2.
a reason or set of reasons given in support of an idea, action or theory.
"there is a strong argument for submitting a formal appeal"
Similar:
reasoning
line of reasoning
logic
case
defence
---
assuage
/əˈsweɪdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: assuaged; past participle: assuaged
make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense.
"the letter assuaged the fears of most members"
Similar:
relieve
ease
alleviate
soothe
mitigate
dampen
allay
calm
palliate
abate
lull
temper
suppress
smother
stifle
subdue
tranquillize
mollify
moderate
modify
tone down
attenuate
dilute
lessen
diminish
decrease
reduce
lower
put an end to
put a stop to
take the edge off
kill
lenify
Opposite:
aggravate
satisfy (an appetite or desire).
"an opportunity occurred to assuage her desire for knowledge"
Similar:
satisfy
fulfil
gratify
appease
indulge
relieve
slake
sate
satiate
quench
quell
overcome
check
keep in check
dull
blunt
allay
take the edge off
diminish
Opposite:
intensify
Origin
---
seldom
/ˈsɛldəm/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: seldom
not often; rarely.
"Islay is seldom visited by tourists"
Similar:
rarely
infrequently
on rare occasions
hardly ever
scarcely ever
hardly
scarcely
almost never
(every) once in a while
only now and then
not often
only occasionally
sporadically
once in a blue moon
Opposite:
often
frequently
adjectiveDATED
adjective: seldom
not common; infrequent.
"a great but seldom pleasure"
Origin
---
punt1
/pʌnt/
noun
noun: punt; plural noun: punts
a long, narrow flat-bottomed boat, square at both ends and propelled with a long pole, used on inland waters chiefly for recreation.
verb
verb: punt; 3rd person present: punts; past tense: punted; past participle: punted; gerund or present participle: punting
travel or convey in a punt.
"in summer you can enjoy punting along the river"
Origin
Old English, from Latin ponto, denoting a flat-bottomed ferry boat; readopted in the early 16th century from Middle Low German punte or Middle Dutch ponte ‘ferry boat’, of the same origin.
punt2
/pʌnt/
verb
verb: punt; 3rd person present: punts; past tense: punted; past participle: punted; gerund or present participle: punting
1.
SOCCER
kick (the ball) a long distance upfield.
"the Leeds player kindly punted the ball back to them"
2.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL•RUGBY
kick the ball after it has dropped from the hands and before it reaches the ground.
"he used to be able to punt a football farther than anyone"
noun
noun: punt; plural noun: punts
an act of punting a ball.
"Wood failed to cut out a long punt from Nicholas"
Origin
mid 19th century: probably from dialect punt ‘push forcibly’. Compare with bunt1.
punt3
/pʌnt/
verb
verb: punt; 3rd person present: punts; past tense: punted; past participle: punted; gerund or present participle: punting
(in some gambling card games) lay a stake against the bank.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
bet or speculate on something.
"investors are punting on a takeover"
nounINFORMAL•BRITISH
noun: punt; plural noun: punts
a bet.
"those taking a punt on the company's success"
Phrases
take a punt at — attempt to do (something).
Origin
early 18th century: from French ponte ‘player against the bank’, from Spanish punto ‘a point’.
punt4
/pʊnt/
noun
noun: punt; plural noun: punts
(until the introduction of the euro in 2002) the basic monetary unit of the Republic of Ireland, equal to 100 pence.
Origin
---
paddle1
/ˈpad(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: paddled; past participle: paddled
1.
move through the water in a boat using a paddle or paddles.
"she paddled along the coast"
Similar:
row gently
pull
scull
propel a boat along (a stretch of water) using paddles.
"a legal right to paddle Scottish rivers"
(of bird or other animal) swim with short fast strokes.
"the swan paddled away"
2.
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
beat (someone) with a paddle as a punishment.
"ask the mother if she minds the offspring getting paddled from time to time"
Origin
late Middle English (denoting a small spade-like implement): of unknown origin. Current senses date from the 17th century.
paddle2
/ˈpad(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: paddled; past participle: paddled
walk with bare feet in shallow water.
"the children paddled at the water's edge"
Similar:
splash about
wade
dabble
slop
squelch
dabble the feet or hands in water.
"Peter paddled idly in the water with his fingers"
Origin
mid 16th century: of obscure origin; compare with Low German paddeln ‘tramp about’; the association with water remains unexplained.
---
piety
/ˈpʌɪəti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: piety
the quality of being religious or reverent.
"acts of piety and charity"
Similar:
devoutness
devotion
piousness
religiousness
religion
holiness
godliness
sanctity
sanctitude
saintliness
devotion to God
veneration
reverence
faith
religious duty
spirituality
sacredness
religious zeal
fervour
pietism
religiosity
a belief which is accepted with unthinking conventional reverence.
plural noun: pieties
"the accepted pieties of our time"
Similar:
dutifulness
obedience
deference
duty
respect
respectfulness
compliance
acquiescence
tractability
tractableness
submissiveness
submission
subservience
Opposite:
impiety
Origin
---
apothecary
/əˈpɒθɪk(ə)ri/
noun ARCHAIC
a person who prepared and sold medicines and drugs.
Origin
late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin apothecarius, from Latin apotheca, from Greek apothēkē ‘storehouse’.
---
impresario
/ˌɪmprɪˈsɑːrɪəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays, or operas.
Similar:
organizer
manager
producer
stage manager
promotor
publicist
showman
controller
arranger
fixer
financier
money man
director
conductor
maestro
HISTORICAL
the manager of a musical, theatrical, or operatic company.
---
aver
/əˈvəː/
Learn to pronounce
verbFORMAL
verb: aver; 3rd person present: avers; past tense: averred; past participle: averred; gerund or present participle: averring
state or assert to be the case.
"he averred that he was innocent of the allegations"
Similar:
declare
maintain
claim
assert
state
attest
affirm
avow
swear
vow
profess
insist
protest
avouch
asseverate
LAW
allege as a fact in support of a plea.
"the defendant does not aver any performance by himself"
Origin
---
draft
/drɑːft/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: draft; plural noun: drafts; noun: the draft
1.
a preliminary version of a piece of writing.
"the first draft of the party's manifesto"
a plan, sketch, or rough drawing.
"a manuscript draft representing the explorer's latest findings"
Similar:
preliminary version
rough sketch
outline
plan
blueprint
skeleton
abstract
main points
bones
bare bones
design
artist's impression
diagram
drawing
scale drawing
sketch
pattern
map
layout
representation
Opposite:
final version
COMPUTING
a mode of operation of a printer in which text is produced rapidly but with relatively low definition.
2.
a written order to pay a specified sum.
Similar:
cheque
order
banker's order
money order
bill of exchange
postal order
negotiable instrument
3.
US
compulsory recruitment for military service.
"25 million men were subject to the draft"
NORTH AMERICAN
a procedure whereby sports players are made available for selection or reselection by the teams in a league, usually with the earlier choices being given to the weaker teams.
"the White Sox chose him in the 13th round of the 1990 draft"
RARE
a group or individual selected from a larger group for a special duty, e.g. for military service.
"the draft and I were sent to the barracks near Folkestone"
4.
US spelling of draught (noun).
verb
verb: draft; 3rd person present: drafts; past tense: drafted; past participle: drafted; gerund or present participle: drafting; verb: draught; 3rd person present: draughts; past tense: draughted; past participle: draughted; gerund or present participle: draughting
1.
prepare a preliminary version of (a document).
"I drafted a letter of resignation"
2.
select (a person or group of people) and bring them somewhere for a certain purpose.
"riot police were drafted in to break up the blockade"
US
conscript (someone) for military service.
"he was drafted in 1938"
NORTH AMERICAN
select (a player) for a sports team through the draft.
"he was drafted by Winnipeg and traded the following spring"
adjective
US spelling of draught (adjective).
Origin
mid 16th century: phonetic spelling of draught.
draught
/drɑːft/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: draft
1.
a current of cool air in a room or other confined space.
"heavy curtains at the windows cut out draughts"
Similar:
current of air
rush of air
breath
whiff
waft
wind
breeze
gust
puff
blast
gale
blow
zephyr
2.
a single act of drinking or inhaling.
"she downed the remaining beer in one draught"
the amount swallowed or inhaled in a draught.
"he took deep draughts of oxygen into his lungs"
Similar:
gulp
drink
swallow
mouthful
swig
swill
slug
chug
LITERARY•ARCHAIC
a quantity of a liquid with medicinal properties.
"a sleeping draught"
3.
the depth of water needed to float a ship.
"the shallow draught enabled her to get close inshore"
4.
the drawing in of a fishing net.
the fish taken at one drawing; a catch.
adjective
adjective: draft
1.
denoting beer or cider served from a barrel or tank rather than from a bottle or can.
"draught ale"
2.
denoting an animal used for pulling heavy loads.
"a draught horse"
---
stingy
/ˈstɪn(d)ʒi/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveINFORMAL
adjective: stingy; comparative adjective: stingier; superlative adjective: stingiest
mean; ungenerous.
"his boss is stingy and idle"
Similar:
mean
miserly
parsimonious
niggardly
close-fisted
penny-pinching
cheese-paring
penurious
Scrooge-like
ungenerous
illiberal
close
mingy
tight
tight-fisted
cheap
near
vulgar slangtight-arsed
Opposite:
generous
liberal
magnanimous
Origin
mid 17th century: perhaps a dialect variant of the noun sting + -y1.
---
persecution
/pəːsɪˈkjuːʃn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: persecution; plural noun: persecutions
hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs; oppression.
"her family fled religious persecution"
Similar:
oppression
victimization
maltreatment
ill treatment
mistreatment
abuse
ill usage
discrimination
tyranny
tyrannization
punishment
torment
torture
pogrom
witch hunt
red-baiting
harassment
hounding
harrying
badgering
teasing
bullying
molestation
persistent annoyance or harassment.
"his persecution at the hands of other students"
---
brethren
/ˈbrɛðr(ɪ)n/
Learn to pronounce
archaic plural of brother.
noun
plural noun: brethren
fellow Christians or members of a male religious order.
IRONIC•HUMOROUS
people belonging to a particular group.
"our brethren in the popular national press"
brother
/ˈbrʌðə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: brethren
1.
a man or boy in relation to other sons and daughters of his parents.
"he recognized her from her strong resemblance to her brother"
Similar:
male sibling
bro
bruvver
bruv
a male associate or fellow member of an organization.
"the time is coming, brothers, for us to act"
Similar:
colleague
associate
companion
partner
comrade
comrade-in-arms
co-worker
fellow
friend
confrère
pal
chum
mate
bruvver
bruv
bro
compeer
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
a black man (often used as a term of address by other black people).
noun: brotha; noun: brutha
"there I was with one white boy and this other brother"
a thing which resembles or is connected to another thing.
"the machine is almost identical to its larger brother"
2.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
a (male) fellow Christian.
a member of a religious order of men.
"a Benedictine brother"
Similar:
monk
cleric
friar
religious
regular
monastic
contemplative
a member of a fundamentalist Protestant denomination.
"the Plymouth Brethren"
Origin
---
apparel
/əˈpar(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
nounFORMAL•US
noun: apparel
clothing.
"they were dressed in bright apparel"
Similar:
clothes
clothing
garments
dress
attire
wear
garb
wardrobe
outfit
costume
robes
vestments
gear
get-up
togs
duds
garms
clobber
kit
rig-out
threads
raiment
habit
habiliments
embroidered ornamentation on ecclesiastical vestments.
plural noun: apparels
verbARCHAIC
verb: apparel; 3rd person present: apparels; past tense: apparelled; past participle: apparelled; gerund or present participle: apparelling; past tense: appareled; past participle: appareled; gerund or present participle: appareling
clothe (someone).
"all the vestments in which they used to apparel their Deities"
---
homestead
/ˈhəʊmstɛd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: homestead; plural noun: homesteads
1.
a house, especially a farmhouse, and outbuildings.
AUSTRALIAN/NZ
the owner's residence on a sheep or cattle station.
SOUTH AFRICAN
a hut or cluster of huts occupied by one family or clan, standing alone or as part of a traditional African village.
2.
HISTORICAL•NORTH AMERICAN
an area of land (usually 160 acres) granted to a settler in the West as a home.
Origin
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sustain
/səˈsteɪn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: sustain; 3rd person present: sustains; past tense: sustained; past participle: sustained; gerund or present participle: sustaining
1.
strengthen or support physically or mentally.
"this thought had sustained him throughout the years"
Similar:
comfort
help
assist
encourage
succour
support
give strength to
be a source of strength to
be a tower of strength to
buoy up
carry
cheer up
hearten
see someone through
buck up
Opposite:
torment
plague
bear (the weight of an object) without breaking or falling.
"he sagged against her so that she could barely sustain his weight"
Similar:
bear
support
carry
stand
keep up
prop up
shore up
bolster
underpin
buttress
Opposite:
collapse under
2.
undergo or suffer (something unpleasant, especially an injury).
"he sustained severe head injuries"
Similar:
undergo
experience
go through
suffer
endure
3.
cause to continue for an extended period or without interruption.
"he cannot sustain a normal conversation"
Similar:
continue
carry on
keep up
keep going
keep alive
keep in existence
keep
maintain
prolong
preserve
conserve
protract
perpetuate
bolster up
prop up
retain
extend
continuous
ongoing
steady
continual
continuing
constant
running
prolonged
persistent
non-stop
perpetual
unfaltering
unremitting
unabating
unrelenting
relentless
unrelieved
unbroken
never-ending
unending
incessant
unceasing
ceaseless
round the clock
Opposite:
intermittent
sporadic
(of a performer) represent (a part or character) convincingly.
"he sustained the role of Creon with burly resilience"
4.
uphold, affirm, or confirm the justice or validity of.
"the allegations of discrimination were sustained"
Similar:
uphold
validate
ratify
vindicate
confirm
endorse
approve
verify
corroborate
substantiate
bear out
prove
authenticate
attest to
back up
evidence
justify
nounMUSIC
noun: sustain
an effect or facility on a keyboard or electronic instrument whereby a note can be sustained after the key is released.
Origin
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Philadelphia, known colloquially as Philly, is the largest city in the U.S. state and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the sixth-most populous U.S. city with a 2018 census-estimated population of 1,584,138.
The Philadelphia area's many universities and colleges make it a top study destination, as the city has evolved into an educational and economic hub. As of 2019, the Philadelphia metropolitan area is estimated to produce a gross metropolitan product (GMP) of $490 billion. Philadelphia is the center of economic activity in Pennsylvania and is home to five Fortune 1000 companies.
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Jamaica is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning 10,990 square kilometres (4,240 sq mi) in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about 145 kilometres (90 mi) south of Cuba, and 191 kilometres (119 mi) west of Hispaniola (the island containing the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic); the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands lies some 215 kilometres (134 mi) to the north-west.
With 2.9 million people, Jamaica is the third-most populous Anglophone country in the Americas (after the United States and Canada), and the fourth-most populous country in the Caribbean. Kingston is the country's capital and largest city. The majority of Jamaicans are of African ancestry, with significant European, Chinese, Indian, Lebanese, and mixed-race minorities. Due to a high rate of emigration for work since the 1960s, there is a large Jamaican diaspora, particularly in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The country has a global influence that belies its small size; it was the birthplace of the Rastafari religion, reggae music (and associated genres such as dub, ska and dancehall), and it is internationally prominent in sports, most notably cricket, sprinting and athletics.
Jamaica is an upper-middle income country with an economy heavily dependent on tourism, with an average of 4.3 million tourists a year. Politically it is a Commonwealth realm, with Elizabeth II as its queen. Her appointed representative in the country is the Governor-General of Jamaica, an office held by Patrick Allen since 2009. Andrew Holness has served as Prime Minister of Jamaica since March 2016. Jamaica is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with legislative power vested in the bicameral Parliament of Jamaica, consisting of an appointed Senate and a directly elected House of Representatives.
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Montgomery is the capital city of the U.S. state of Alabama and the county seat of Montgomery County. Named for Richard Montgomery, it stands beside the Alabama River, on the coastal Plain of the Gulf of Mexico. In the 2010 Census, Montgomery's population was 205,764. It is the second most populous city in Alabama, after Birmingham, and is the 118th most populous in the United States. The Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area's population in 2010 was estimated at 374,536; it is the fourth largest in the state and 136th among United States metropolitan areas.
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homestead
/ˈhəʊmstɛd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
a house, especially a farmhouse, and outbuildings.
2.
HISTORICAL•NORTH AMERICAN
an area of land (usually 160 acres) granted to a settler in the West as a home.
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impotent
/ˈɪmpət(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: impotent
1.
unable to take effective action; helpless or powerless.
"he was seized with an impotent anger"
Similar:
powerless
ineffective
ineffectual
inadequate
weak
useless
worthless
vain
futile
unavailing
unsuccessful
profitless
fruitless
impuissant
lame
feeble
effete
past it
Opposite:
powerful
effective
strong
2.
(of a man) abnormally unable to achieve an erection or orgasm.
"he was on medication which had made him impotent"
(of a male animal) unable to copulate.
Origin
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tempt
/tɛm(p)t/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: tempted; past participle: tempted
entice or try to entice (someone) to do something that they find attractive but know to be wrong or unwise.
"there'll always be someone tempted by the rich pickings of poaching"
Similar:
entice
persuade
convince
inveigle
induce
cajole
coax
woo
sweet-talk
smooth-talk
Opposite:
discourage
deter
dissuade
have an urge or inclination to do something.
"I was tempted to look at my watch, but didn't dare"
persuade (someone) to do something.
"he was tempted out of retirement to save the team from relegation"
ARCHAIC
risk provoking (a deity or abstract force), usually with undesirable consequences.
"how is it that ye have agreed together, to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?"
Origin
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makeshift
/ˈmeɪkʃɪft/
adjective
acting as an interim and temporary measure.
"arranging a row of chairs to form a makeshift bed"
Similar:
temporary
make-do
provisional
stopgap
standby
rough and ready
substitute
emergency
improvised
ad hoc
impromptu
extemporary
extempore
thrown together
cobbled together
jury-rigged
jury
quick and dirty
Opposite: permanent
noun
a temporary substitute or device.
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BUNS (slang) means "Buttocks"
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affine
/əˈfʌɪn/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveMATHEMATICS
adjective: affine
allowing for or preserving parallel relationships.
nounANTHROPOLOGY
noun: affine; plural noun: affines
a relative by marriage.
Origin
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ubiquitous
/juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
present, appearing, or found everywhere.
"his ubiquitous influence was felt by all the family"
Similar:
omnipresent
ever-present
present everywhere
everywhere
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ablation
/əˈbleɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: ablation
1.
the surgical removal of body tissue.
2.
the removal of snow and ice from a glacier or iceberg by melting or evaporation.
the erosion of rock, typically by wind action.
the loss of surface material from a spacecraft or meteorite through evaporation or melting caused by friction with the atmosphere.
Origin
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intransigence
/ɪnˈtranzɪdʒ(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
refusal to change one's views or to agree about something.
"in the face of government intransigence, he resigned in disgust"
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belonging
/bɪˈlɒŋɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: belonging
an affinity for a place or situation.
"we feel a real sense of belonging"
belong
/bɪˈlɒŋ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: belonging
1.
be the property of.
"the vehicle did not belong to him"
Similar:
be owned by
be the property of
be the possession of
be in the ownership of
be held by
be at the disposal of
be in the hands of
be due to.
"most of the credit belongs to Paul"
(of a contest or period of time) be dominated by.
"the race belonged completely to Fogarty"
2.
be a member of (a particular group or organization).
"he belonged to the local cricket club"
Similar:
be a member of
be in
be included in
be affiliated to
be allied to
be associated with
be connected to
be linked to
be an adherent of
(of a person) have an affinity for a specified place or situation.
"she is a stranger, and doesn't belong here"
Similar:
fit in
be suited to
have a rightful place
have a home
be part of
go
click
affiliation
acceptance
association
attachment
connection
union
integration
closeness
rapport
fellow feeling
fellowship
kinship
partnership
Opposite:
alienation
have the right personal or social qualities to be a member of a particular group.
"young people are generally very anxious to belong"
3.
(of a thing) be rightly placed in a specified position.
"he put the rifle back in the locker where it belonged"
be rightly assigned to a specified category.
"these compounds belong to a class of chemical mediators called kairomones"
Similar:
have a place
be located
be situated
be found
lie
stand
be included
be classed
be classified
be categorized
Origin
Old English belangian, of Germanic origin.
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partisan
/ˈpɑːtɪzan,ˌpɑːtɪˈzan/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person.
"partisans of the exiled Stuarts"
Similar:
supporter
follower
adherent
devotee
champion
backer
upholder
promoter
fanatic
fan
enthusiast
stalwart
zealot
disciple
votary
booster
cohort
rooter
janissary
sectary
2.
a member of an armed group formed to fight secretly against an occupying force, in particular one operating in German-occupied Yugoslavia, Italy, and parts of eastern Europe in the Second World War.
"the partisans opened fire from the woods"
Similar:
guerrilla
freedom fighter
resistance fighter
member of the resistance
underground fighter
irregular soldier
irregular
terrorist
adjective
prejudiced in favour of a particular cause.
"newspapers have become increasingly partisan"
Similar:
biased
prejudiced
one-sided
coloured
discriminatory
preferential
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sweeten-the-pot. Verb. (idiomatic) To increase a wager. He sweetened the pot since there were no takers in the office pool. (idiomatic) To make something more desirable.
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mollify
/ˈmɒlɪfʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: mollified; past participle: mollified
appease the anger or anxiety of (someone).
"nature reserves were set up around the power stations to mollify local conservationists"
Similar:
appease
placate
pacify
conciliate
humour
soothe
calm
calm down
still
quieten
propitiate
square someone off
Opposite:
enrage
RARE
reduce the severity of (something).
"the women hoped to mollify the harsh wilderness environment"
Similar:
allay
assuage
alleviate
mitigate
ease
lessen
reduce
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latent
/ˈleɪt(ə)nt/
adjective
(of a quality or state) existing but not yet developed or manifest; hidden or concealed.
"they have a huge reserve of latent talent"
Similar:
dormant
quiescent
inactive
untapped
unused
undiscovered
hidden
unrevealed
unexpressed
concealed
unapparent
indiscernible
imperceptible
invisible
inert
covert
unseen
veiled
masked
lurking
undeveloped
unrealized
unfulfilled
potential
not activated
inoperative
in abeyance
suppressed
repressed
possible
likely
underlying
inherent
innermost
immanent
inchoate
unacknowledged
subconscious
unconscious
sleeping
Opposite:
manifest
obvious
active
BIOLOGY
lying dormant or hidden until circumstances are suitable for development or manifestation.
"axillary buds or eyes in the leaf axils are latent growth buds"
Similar:
dormant
quiescent
inactive
untapped
unused
undiscovered
hidden
unrevealed
unexpressed
concealed
unapparent
indiscernible
imperceptible
invisible
inert
covert
unseen
veiled
masked
lurking
undeveloped
unrealized
unfulfilled
potential
not activated
inoperative
in abeyance
suppressed
repressed
possible
likely
underlying
inherent
innermost
immanent
inchoate
unacknowledged
subconscious
unconscious
sleeping
Opposite:
manifest
obvious
active
(of a disease) not yet manifesting the usual symptoms.
"diabetes may be latent for some years before diagnosis"
Similar:
dormant
quiescent
inactive
untapped
unused
undiscovered
hidden
unrevealed
unexpressed
concealed
unapparent
indiscernible
imperceptible
invisible
inert
covert
unseen
veiled
masked
lurking
undeveloped
unrealized
unfulfilled
potential
not activated
inoperative
in abeyance
suppressed
repressed
possible
likely
underlying
inherent
innermost
immanent
inchoate
unacknowledged
subconscious
unconscious
sleeping
Opposite:
manifest
obvious
active
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.
Similar:
dormant
quiescent
inactive
untapped
unused
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godsend
/ˈɡɒdsɛnd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: godsends
a very helpful or valuable event, person, or article.
"these information packs are a godsend to schools"
Similar:
boon
blessing
bonus
good thing
benefit
help
aid
advantage
gain
asset
privilege
luxury
windfall
bonanza
stroke of luck
piece of good fortune
perk
plus
plus point
pro
perquisite
benison
Opposite:
scourge
Origin
early 19th century: from God's send ‘what God has sent’.
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dovetail
/ˈdʌvteɪl/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: dovetail; plural noun: dovetails
a joint formed by one or more tapered projections (tenons) on one piece which interlock with corresponding notches or recesses (mortises) in another.
a tenon used in a dovetail joint, typically wider at its extremity.
verb
verb: dovetail; 3rd person present: dovetails; past tense: dovetailed; past participle: dovetailed; gerund or present participle: dovetailing
1.
join together by means of a dovetail.
Similar:
joint
join
fit together
link
interlock
splice
mortise
tenon
2.
fit or cause to fit together easily and conveniently.
"plan to enable parents to dovetail their career and family commitments"
Similar:
fit in
go together
be consistent
agree
accord
concur
coincide
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betwixt
/bɪˈtwɪkst/
Learn to pronounce
preposition · adverb
preposition: betwixt; adverb: betwixt
archaic term for between.
Phrases
betwixt and between — not fully or properly either of two things.
"the book seems betwixt and between—neither tall tale nor American history"
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impinge
/ɪmˈpɪn(d)ʒ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: impinge; 3rd person present: impinges; past tense: impinged; past participle: impinged; gerund or present participle: impinging
have an effect, especially a negative one.
"several factors impinge on market efficiency"
Similar:
affect
have an effect on
have a bearing on
touch
influence
exert influence on
make an impression on
make an impact on
leave a mark on
advance over an area belonging to someone or something else; encroach.
"the proposed fencing would impinge on a public bridleway"
Similar:
encroach on
intrude on
infringe
invade
trespass on
obtrude into
make inroads into
cut through
interfere with
violate
muscle in on
entrench on
PHYSICS
strike.
"the gases impinge on the surface of the liquid"
Similar:
strike
hit
dash against
collide with
Origin
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conceal
/kənˈsiːl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
not allow to be seen; hide.
"a line of sand dunes concealed the distant sea"
Similar:
hide
keep out of sight
keep hidden
secrete
tuck away
screen
cover
obscure
block out
blot out
disguise
camouflage
mask
cloak
mantle
shroud
enshroud
hidden
not visible
secret
out of sight
unseen
invisible
screened
covered
disguised
camouflaged
obscured
inconspicuous
unnoticeable
private
privy
secreted
tucked away
Opposite:
reveal
expose
prevent (something) from being known; keep secret.
"they were at great pains to conceal that information from the public"
Similar:
hide
cover up
disguise
dissemble
mask
veil
keep secret
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ingeniously
/ɪnˈdʒiːnɪəsli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: ingeniously
in a clever, original, and inventive manner.
"rooms ingeniously designed to withstand the most devastating earthquakes"
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Phrase. when push comes to shove. (figuratively, idiomatic) When the pressure is on; when the situation is critical or urgent; when the time has come for action, even if it is difficult. He is not a particularly talented builder, but when push comes to shove, he can usually get the job done.
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BATNA and ZOPA -- a quick introduction
BATNA stands for Best Alternative To Negotiated Agreement. ... ZOPA stands for Zone of Possible Agreement. The people you're negotiating with have a BATNA too. The ZOPA is the set of all deals that are at least as good for each party in a negotiation as their respective BATNAs.
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slop1
/slɒp/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: slop; 3rd person present: slops; past tense: slopped; past participle: slopped; gerund or present participle: slopping
1.
(of a liquid) spill or flow over the edge of a container, typically as a result of careless handling.
"water slopped over the edge of the sink"
Similar:
spill
flow
overflow
run
slosh
splash
splatter
spatter
cause (a liquid) to spill over the edge of a container.
"I slopped coffee in my saucer"
(of liquid) move within a container, noisily slapping against the sides.
"water slopped around in the bottom of the boat"
apply or pour (a liquid substance) in a casual or careless manner.
"they spent their weekend slopping on paint"
wade through (a wet or muddy area).
"they were slopping through paddy fields"
2.
BRITISH
dress in an untidy or casual manner.
"at weekends he would slop about in his oldest clothes"
Similar:
laze (around/about)
lounge (around/about)
do nothing
loll (around/about)
loaf (around/about)
slouch (about/around)
vegetate
hang around
veg out
hang about
mooch about/around
slummock around
bum around
bat around/about
lollygag
3.
BRITISH
(especially in prison) empty the contents of a chamber pot.
"the indignity of slopping out"
4.
feed slops to (an animal).
"they think a farmer's wife spends all her time slopping hogs"
5.
NORTH AMERICAN
speak or write in a sentimentally effusive manner; gush.
"she slopped over her dog"
noun
plural noun: slops
1.
waste water from a kitchen, bathroom, or chamber pot that has to be emptied by hand.
"sink slops"
semi-liquid kitchen refuse, often used as animal food.
"she emptied some slops for the chickens"
unappetizing semi-liquid food.
noun: slop
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
sentimental language or material.
"country music is not all commercial slop"
3.
NAUTICAL
a choppy sea.
Phrases
on the slops — drinking alcohol (especially beer) in large quantities.
"when we get on the slops, the first one to look at their phone has to pay"
Origin
mid 16th century (in the sense ‘to spill, splash’): probably related to slip3. Early use of the noun denoted ‘slushy mud’, the first of the current senses (‘unappetizing food’) dating from the mid 17th century.
slop2
/slɒp/
noun ARCHAIC
noun: slop; plural noun: slops
1.
a workman's loose outer garment.
2.
wide, baggy trousers common in the 16th and early 17th centuries, especially as worn by sailors.
clothes and bedding supplied to sailors by the navy.
ready-made or cheap clothing.
Origin
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sag1
/saɡ/
verb
past tense: sagged; past participle: sagged
1.
sink, subside, or bulge downwards under weight or pressure or through lack of strength.
"she let her head sag lower and lower"
Similar:
sink
subside
slump
crumple
loll
flop
curve down
hang down
dip
droop
swag
bulge
bag
hang down loosely or unevenly.
"stockings which sagged at the knees"
Similar:
drooping
saggy
bowed
bowing
hanging limply
dangling
droopy
wilting
2.
decline to a lower level, usually temporarily.
"exports are forging ahead while home sales sag"
Similar:
falter
weaken
languish
flag
fade
wilt
shrivel
wither
fail
fall
decline
go down
drop
drop/fall off
turn down
decrease
diminish
reduce
sink
slump
plummet
tumble
crash
take a nosedive
nosedive
Origin
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sweltering
/ˈswɛlt(ə)rɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: sweltering
uncomfortably hot.
"a sweltering English summer"
swelter
/ˈswɛltə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: sweltering
be uncomfortably hot.
"Barney sweltered in his doorman's uniform"
Similar:
hot
stifling
suffocating
humid
steamy
sultry
sticky
muggy
close
stuffy
airless
oppressive
tropical
torrid
burning
searing
parching
like an oven
like a Turkish bath
jungle-like
claggy
boiling
baking
roasting
blistering
sizzling
Opposite:
cold
chilly
cool
Origin
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wilt1
/wɪlt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: wilted; past participle: wilted
1.
(of a plant, leaf, or flower) become limp through heat, loss of water, or disease; droop.
Similar:
droop
sag
become limp
become flaccid
flop
wither
shrivel (up)
Opposite:
thrive
flourish
(of a person) lose energy, vigour, or confidence.
"Lady Beresford was beginning to wilt as she greeted the long line of guests"
Similar:
languish
flag
lose energy
become listless
feel weak/faint
droop
sag
Opposite:
perk up
2.
leave (mown grass or a forage crop) in the open to dry partially before being collected for silage.
Origin
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teacake
/ˈtiːkeɪk/
Learn to pronounce
nounBRITISH
plural noun: teacakes
a light yeast-based sweet bun with dried fruit, typically served toasted and buttered.
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amble
/ˈamb(ə)l/
verb
past tense: ambled; past participle: ambled
walk or move at a slow, relaxed pace.
"they ambled along the riverbank"
Similar:
stroll
saunter
wander
meander
ramble
dawdle
promenade
walk
go for a walk
take a walk
roam
traipse
stretch one's legs
get some exercise
get some air
take the air
stravaig
mosey
tootle
pootle
bimble
mooch
swan
putter
perambulate
peregrinate
Opposite:
stride
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slat
/slat/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: slat; plural noun: slats
a thin, narrow piece of wood, plastic, or metal, especially one of a series which overlap or fit into each other, as in a fence or a Venetian blind.
"sunlight filtered dustily through the slats of the door"
Origin
late Middle English (in the sense ‘roofing slate’): shortening of Old French esclat ‘splinter’, from esclater ‘to split’. The current sense dates from the mid 18th century.
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epic
/ˈɛpɪk/
noun: epic; plural noun: epics
1.
a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the past history of a nation.
Similar:
heroic poem
long poem
long story
saga
legend
romance
lay
history
chronicle
myth
fable
folk tale
folk story
the genre of epics.
"the romances display gentler emotions not found in Greek epic"
a long film, book, or other work portraying heroic deeds and adventures or covering an extended period of time.
"a Hollywood biblical epic"
Similar:
epic film
long film
blockbuster
2.
INFORMAL
an exceptionally long and arduous task or activity.
"the business of getting hospital treatment soon became an epic"
adjective: epic
1.
relating to or characteristic of an epic or epics.
"our national epic poem Beowulf"
Similar:
heroic
long
grand
monumental
vast
Homeric
Miltonian
lofty
grandiloquent
high-flown
high-sounding
extravagant
bombastic
Opposite:
understated
2.
heroic or grand in scale or character.
"his epic journey around the world"
Similar:
ambitious
heroic
grand
arduous
extraordinary
Herculean
very long
very great
very large
huge
monumental
INFORMAL
particularly impressive or remarkable.
"the gig last night was epic"
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catecholamine
/ˌkatɪˈkəʊləmiːn/
nounBIOCHEMISTRY
any of a class of aromatic amines which includes a number of neurotransmitters such as adrenaline and dopamine.
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fawning
/ˈfɔːnɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: fawning
displaying exaggerated flattery or affection; obsequious.
"fawning adoration"
fawn1
/fɔːn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: fawning
(of a deer) produce young.
"the forest was closed for hunting when the does were fawning"
Origin
late Middle English: from Old French faon, based on Latin fetus ‘offspring’; compare with fetus.
fawn2
/fɔːn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: fawning
(of a person) give a servile display of exaggerated flattery or affection, typically in order to gain favour.
"congressmen fawn over the President"
Similar:
be obsequious to
be sycophantic to
be servile to
curry favour with
pay court to
play up to
crawl to
creep to
ingratiate oneself with
dance attendance on
fall over oneself for
kowtow to
toady to
truckle to
bow and scrape before
grovel before
cringe before
abase oneself before
flatter
praise
sing the praises of
praise to the skies
praise to excess
eulogize
sweet-talk
soft-soap
brown-nose
suck up to
make up to
smarm around
be all over
fall all over
butter up
lick someone's boots
rub up the right way
lay it on thick
lay it on with a trowel
smoodge to
obsequious
servile
sycophantic
flattering
ingratiating
unctuous
oleaginous
oily
toadyish
slavish
bowing and scraping
grovelling
abject
crawling
creeping
cringing
prostrate
Uriah Heepish
bootlicking
smarmy
slimy
sucky
soapy
brown-nosing
saponaceous
vulgar slangkiss someone's arse
arse-kissing
bum-sucking
kiss-ass
ass-kissing
suckholing
(of a dog) show slavish devotion, especially by rubbing against someone.
"the dogs started fawning on me"
Origin
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collard
/ˈkɒlɑːd/
Learn to pronounce
nounDIALECT•NORTH AMERICAN
noun: collard; plural noun: collards; noun: collards greens; plural noun: collards greenses; plural noun: collard greens
a cabbage of a variety that does not develop a heart.
Origin
mid 18th century: reduced form of colewort, in the same sense, from cole + wort.
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yonder
/ˈjɒndə/
Learn to pronounce
adverbARCHAIC•DIALECT
adverb: yonder
at some distance in the direction indicated; over there.
"there's a ford south of here, about nine miles yonder"
determinerARCHAIC•DIALECT
determiner: yonder
that or those (used to refer to something situated at a distance).
"what light through yonder window breaks?"
noun
noun: yonder
the far distance.
"attempting to fly off into the wide blue yonder"
Origin
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puny
/ˈpjuːni/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
small and weak.
"white-faced, puny children"
Similar:
undersized
underdeveloped
undernourished
underfed
stunted
slight
small
little
diminutive
dwarfish
pygmy
weak
feeble
weakly
sickly
delicate
frail
fragile
weedy
pint-sized
pitiful
pitiable
inadequate
negligible
insufficient
scant
scanty
derisory
miserable
sorry
wretched
meagre
paltry
trifling
trivial
insignificant
inconsequential
petty
pathetic
measly
piddling
piffling
mingy
poxy
dinky
exiguous
Opposite:
strong
sturdy
significant
sizeable
substantial
poor in quality, amount, or size.
"the army was reduced to a puny 100,000 men"
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scowl
/skaʊl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: scowled; past participle: scowled
frown in an angry or bad-tempered way.
"she scowled at him defiantly"
Similar:
glower
frown
glare
lour
look daggers at
look angrily at
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struggling
/ˈstrʌɡlɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
striving to achieve or attain something in the face of difficulty or resistance.
"these figures suggest more bad news for struggling homeowners"
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edict
/ˈiːdɪkt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
an official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority.
"Clovis issued an edict protecting Church property"
Similar:
decree
order
command
commandment
mandate
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tyke
/tʌɪk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: tyke; plural noun: tykes; noun: tike; plural noun: tikes; noun: Yorkshire tyke; plural noun: Yorkshire tykes
1.
INFORMAL
a small child, especially a cheeky or mischievous one.
"is the little tyke up to his tricks again?"
CANADIAN
an initiation level of sports competition for young children.
"tyke hockey"
2.
DATED•BRITISH
an unpleasant or coarse man.
3.
a dog, especially a mongrel.
4.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
a person from Yorkshire.
"Geordies and tykes have never got on particularly well"
5.
INFORMAL•DEROGATORY
a Roman Catholic.
Origin
late Middle English (tyke (sense 2, sense 3)): from Old Norse tík ‘bitch’.
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vicissitude
/vɪˈsɪsɪtjuːd,vʌɪˈsɪsɪtjuːd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: vicissitudes
1.
a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.
"her husband's sharp vicissitudes of fortune"
Similar:
change
alteration
alternation
transformation
metamorphosis
transmutation
mutation
modification
transition
development
shift
switch
turn
reversal
reverse
downturn
inconstancy
instability
uncertainty
unpredictability
chanciness
fickleness
variability
changeability
fluctuation
vacillation
ups and downs
2.
LITERARY
alternation between opposite or contrasting things.
"the vicissitude of the seasons"
Origin
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mackerel
/ˈmak(ə)r(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: mackerel; plural noun: mackerel; plural noun: mackerels; noun: North Atlantic mackerel; plural noun: North Atlantic mackerel
a predatory marine fish with a greenish-blue back, important as a food fish.
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squelch
/skwɛltʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: squelch; 3rd person present: squelches; past tense: squelched; past participle: squelched; gerund or present participle: squelching
make a soft sucking sound such as that made by treading heavily through mud.
"bedraggled guests squelched across the lawns"
INFORMAL
forcefully silence or suppress.
"property developers tried to squelch public protest"
noun
noun: squelch; plural noun: squelches; noun: squelch circuit; plural noun: squelch circuits
1.
a soft sucking sound made when pressure is applied to liquid or mud.
"the squelch of their feet"
2.
ELECTRONICS
a circuit that suppresses the output of a radio receiver if the signal strength falls below a certain level.
Origin
early 17th century (originally denoting a heavy crushing fall on to something soft): imitative.
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prickle
/ˈprɪk(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: prickle; plural noun: prickles
a short pointed outgrowth on the bark or epidermis of a plant; a small thorn.
"the prickles of the gorse bushes"
Similar:
thorn
needle
barb
spike
point
spine
quill
spur
bristle
prong
tine
spicule
a small spine or pointed outgrowth on the skin of certain animals.
a tingling sensation on a person's skin, typically caused by strong emotion.
"Kathleen felt a prickle of excitement"
Similar:
tingle
tingling sensation
tingling
prickling sensation
chill
thrill
itching
creeping sensation
goosebumps
goose pimples
pins and needles
paraesthesia
formication
verb
verb: prickle; 3rd person present: prickles; past tense: prickled; past participle: prickled; gerund or present participle: prickling
(of a part of the body) experience a tingling sensation, especially as a result of strong emotion.
"the sound made her skin prickle with horror"
Similar:
tingle
itch
have a creeping sensation
have goose pimples
have gooseflesh
have goosebumps
have pins and needles
cause a tingling sensation in.
"I hate the way the fibres prickle your skin"
Similar:
make something tingle
make something smart
make something itch
sting
prick
(of a person) react defensively or angrily to something.
"she prickled at the implication that she had led a protected life"
Origin
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fib
/fɪb/
verb
gerund or present participle: fibbing
tell a fib.
Similar:
lie
tell a fib
tell a lie
invent a story
make up a story
dissemble
dissimulate
pretend
depart from the truth
exaggerate
stretch the truth
pull someone's leg
lie through one's teeth
con
kid
be economical with the truth
vulgar slangbullshit
Opposite:
tell the truth
Origin
mid 16th century: perhaps a shortening of obsolete fible-fable ‘nonsense’, reduplication of fable.
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befuddle
/bɪˈfʌd(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: befuddled; past participle: befuddled
cause to become unable to think clearly.
"even in my befuddled state I could see that they meant trouble"
Similar:
confused
muddled
addled
bewildered
disoriented
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Liverwurst, leberwurst, or liver sausage is a kind of sausage made from liver. ... Liverwurst usually contains pigs' or calves' livers. Other ingredients are meat (notably veal), fat, and spices including ground black pepper, marjoram, allspice, thyme, ground mustard seed, or nutmeg.
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golly1
/ˈɡɒli/
Learn to pronounce
exclamationINFORMAL
used to express surprise or delight.
"Golly! Is that the time?"
---
flimsy
/ˈflɪmzi/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: flimsy; comparative adjective: flimsier; superlative adjective: flimsiest
insubstantial and easily damaged.
"a flimsy barrier"
Similar:
insubstantial
slight
light
fragile
breakable
frail
shaky
unstable
wobbly
tottery
rickety
ramshackle
makeshift
jerry-built
badly built
thrown together
cheap
shoddy
gimcrack
Opposite:
sturdy
(of clothing) very light and thin.
"the flimsy garment fell from her"
Similar:
thin
light
lightweight
fine
ultra-fine
diaphanous
sheer
delicate
insubstantial
floaty
filmy
silken
chiffony
gossamer
gossamer-thin
gossamer-like
gossamery
gauzy
gauze-like
cobwebby
feathery
translucent
transparent
see-through
transpicuous
translucid
Opposite:
thick
(of a pretext or account) weak and unconvincing.
"a pretty flimsy excuse"
Similar:
weak
feeble
poor
inadequate
insufficient
thin
unsubstantial
unconvincing
implausible
unsatisfactory
paltry
trifling
trivial
shallow
Opposite:
sound
nounBRITISH
noun: flimsy; plural noun: flimsies
a document, especially a copy, made on very thin paper.
"credit-card flimsies"
very thin paper.
"sheets of yellow flimsy"
Origin
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abrasive
/əˈbreɪsɪv/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: abrasives
a substance used for grinding, polishing, or cleaning a hard surface.
"the refrigerator is easily damaged by abrasives"
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resuscitation
/rɪsʌsɪˈteɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: resuscitation; noun: resuscitations
the action or process of reviving someone from unconsciousness or apparent death.
"paramedics were called and aggressive resuscitation was performed"
the action of making something active or vigorous again.
"resuscitation of bygone artistic styles"
---
sleuth
/sluːθ/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
noun
noun: sleuth; plural noun: sleuths
a detective.
"they make MI5 look like a bunch of amateur sleuths"
Similar:
private detective
detective
private investigator
investigator
enquiry agent
private eye
PI
snoop
sleuth-hound
private dick
dick
peeper
shamus
gumshoe
hawkshaw
sherlock
Pinkerton
verb
verb: sleuth; 3rd person present: sleuths; past tense: sleuthed; past participle: sleuthed; gerund or present participle: sleuthing
carry out a search or investigation in the manner of a detective.
"scientists began their genetic sleuthing for honey mushrooms four years ago"
DATED
investigate (someone or something).
"I am not sleuthing you"
Origin
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swivel
/ˈswɪv(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: swiveling
turn around a point or axis or on a swivel.
"he swivelled in the chair"
Similar:
turn
spin
swing
rotate
revolve
pivot
twirl
whirl
wheel
gyrate
pirouette
Origin
Middle English, from the base of Old English swīfan ‘to move (along a course), sweep’.
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ravishing
/ˈravɪʃɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
delightful; entrancing.
"she looked ravishing"
Similar:
very beautiful
gorgeous
stunning
wonderful
exquisite
lovely
---
levity
/ˈlɛvɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
the treatment of a serious matter with humour or lack of due respect.
"as an attempt to introduce a note of levity, the words were a disastrous flop"
Similar:
light-heartedness
carefreeness
light-mindedness
high spirits
vivacity
---
slobber
/ˈslɒbə/
verb: slobber; 3rd person present: slobbers; past tense: slobbered; past participle: slobbered; gerund or present participle: slobbering
have saliva dripping copiously from the mouth.
"Fido tended to slobber"
Similar:
drool
slaver
dribble
salivate
water at the mouth
slabber
drivel
show excessive enthusiasm for.
"news executives slobbered over him for autographs"
(noun)
saliva dripping copiously from the mouth.
"slobber hung in frothy ropes from the dog's mouth"
---
repertoire
/ˈrɛpətwɑː/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a stock of plays, dances, or items that a company or a performer knows or is prepared to perform.
Similar:
collection
stock
range
repertory
reserve
store
repository
supply
stockpile
the whole body of items which are regularly performed.
"the mainstream concert repertoire"
a stock of skills or types of behaviour that a person habitually uses.
"his repertoire of denigratory gestures"
---
chickenyard
pecan
misery
predilection
recreation
--
bevy
/ˈbɛvi/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
a large group of people or things of a particular kind.
"a bevy of big-name cameos will keep the adults entertained"
Similar:
group
gang
troop
troupe
party
company
band
body
crowd
pack
army
herd
flock
drove
horde
galaxy
assemblage
gathering
knot
cluster
covey
bunch
gaggle
posse
crew
2.
RARE
a group of roe deer, quails, or larks.
"a bevy of larks trill their carefree songs"
--
bafflegab
/ˈbaf(ə)lɡab/
nounINFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
noun: bafflegab
incomprehensible or pretentious verbiage, especially bureaucratic jargon.
"the smooth chairman who had elevated bafflegab to an art form"
--
finch
/fɪn(t)ʃ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: finch; plural noun: finches
a seed-eating songbird that typically has a stout bill and colourful plumage.
Origin
--
wallop
/ˈwɒləp/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
verb
verb: wallop; 3rd person present: wallops; past tense: walloped; past participle: walloped; gerund or present participle: walloping
strike or hit very hard.
"they walloped the back of his head with a stick"
Similar:
hit
strike
beat
batter
thump
pound
attack
assault
knock
rap
smack
thwack
slap
pummel
punch
rain blows on
belabour
hammer
cudgel
thrash
bang
drub
welt
cuff
crack
buffet
box someone's ears
bash
clobber
clout
clip
whack
belt
tan
biff
bop
lay into
pitch into
lace into
let someone have it
sock
lam
whomp
stick one on
slosh
boff
bust
slug
light into
whale
dong
quilt
smite
swinge
heavily defeat (an opponent).
"we were walloped by Milan"
noun
noun: wallop; plural noun: wallops
1.
a heavy blow or punch.
"I gave it a wallop with my boot"
NORTH AMERICAN
a powerful effect.
"the script packs a wallop"
2.
BRITISH
alcoholic drink, especially beer.
"an endless supply of free wallop"
Origin
--
parenthetical
/ˌpar(ə)nˈθɛtɪk(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: parenthetical
relating to or inserted as a parenthesis.
"parenthetical remarks"
Similar:
incidental
supplementary
by-the-way
by-the-by
in parentheses
parenthetic
in brackets
explanatory
qualifying
inserted
interposed
extraneous
Origin
--
caper1
/ˈkeɪpə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: caper; 3rd person present: capers; past tense: capered; past participle: capered; gerund or present participle: capering
skip or dance about in a lively or playful way.
"children were capering about the room"
Similar:
skip
dance
romp
jig
frisk
gambol
cavort
prance
frolic
leap
hop
jump
bound
spring
curvet
rollick
capriole
noun
noun: caper; plural noun: capers
1.
a playful skipping movement.
"she did a little caper or dance"
Similar:
dance
skip
hop
leap
jump
curvet
gambado
gambade
2.
INFORMAL
an illicit or ridiculous activity or escapade.
"I'm too old for this kind of caper"
Similar:
escapade
stunt
prank
trick
practical joke
antics
high jinks
mischief
game
sport
fun
jest
jesting
jape
shenanigans
lark
skylarking
monkey tricks
monkey business
dido
a light-hearted, far-fetched film, especially about crime.
"a cop caper about intergalactic drug dealers"
Phrases
cut a caper — make a playful skipping movement.
"he cut a little caper as he walked along the corridor"
Origin
late 16th century: abbreviation of capriole.
caper2
/ˈkeɪpə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: caper; plural noun: capers
1.
the cooked and pickled flower bud of a prickly southern European shrub, used to flavour food.
"add capers and olives"
2.
the shrub from which capers are taken.
Origin
--
rubberneck
/ˈrʌbənɛk/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
verb
verb: rubberneck; 3rd person present: rubbernecks; past tense: rubbernecked; past participle: rubbernecked; gerund or present participle: rubbernecking
turn one's head to stare at something in a foolish manner.
"a passer-by rubbernecking at the accident scene"
noun
noun: rubberneck; plural noun: rubbernecks
a person who rubbernecks.
--
reprieve
/rɪˈpriːv/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: reprieve; 3rd person present: reprieves; past tense: reprieved; past participle: reprieved; gerund or present participle: reprieving
cancel or postpone the punishment of (someone, especially someone condemned to death).
"under the new regime, prisoners under sentence of death were reprieved"
Similar:
grant a stay of execution to
pardon
spare
acquit
grant an amnesty to
amnesty
let off
let off the hook
respite
Opposite:
charge
punish
abandon or postpone plans to close or abolish (something).
"the threatened pits could be reprieved"
Similar:
save
rescue
grant a stay of execution to
give a respite to
take off the hit list
noun
noun: reprieve; plural noun: reprieves
a cancellation or postponement of a punishment.
"he accepted the death sentence and refused to appeal for a reprieve"
Similar:
stay of execution
cancellation of punishment
postponement of punishment
remission
suspension of punishment
respite
pardon
amnesty
acquittal
continuance
let-off
a cancellation or postponement of an undesirable event.
"a mother who faced eviction has been given a reprieve"
Origin
--
flub
/flʌb/
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
verb
verb: flub; 3rd person present: flubs; past tense: flubbed; past participle: flubbed; gerund or present participle: flubbing
botch or bungle (something).
"she glanced at her notes and flubbed her lines"
noun
noun: flub; plural noun: flubs
a thing badly or clumsily done; a blunder.
"the textbooks are littered with flubs"
Origin
1920s: of unknown origin.
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mea culpa
/ˌmeɪə ˈkʊlpə,ˌmiːə ˈkʌlpə/
exclamation
noun: mea culpa; plural noun: mea culpas
used as an acknowledgement of one's fault or error.
"‘Well, whose fault was that?’ ‘Mea culpa!’ Frank said"
--
deference
/ˈdɛf(ə)r(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: deference
polite submission and respect.
"he addressed her with the deference due to age"
Similar:
respect
respectfulness
regard
esteem
consideration
--
nebulous
/ˈnɛbjʊləs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
1.
in the form of a cloud or haze; hazy.
"a giant nebulous glow"
Similar:
indistinct
indefinite
unclear
vague
hazy
cloudy
fuzzy
misty
lacking definition
blurred
blurry
out of focus
foggy
faint
shadowy
dim
obscure
shapeless
formless
unformed
amorphous
nebulose
Opposite:
clear
2.
(of a concept) vague or ill-defined.
"nebulous concepts like quality of life"
Similar:
vague
ill-defined
unclear
hazy
uncertain
indefinite
indeterminate
---
canary
/kəˈnɛːri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: canary; plural noun: canaries; noun: island canary; plural noun: island canaries; noun: canary yellow; plural noun: canary yellows; noun: canary wine; plural noun: canary wines
1.
a mainly African finch with a melodious song, typically having yellowish-green plumage. One kind is popular as a cage bird and has been bred in a variety of colours, especially bright yellow.
2.
a bright yellow colour resembling the plumage of a canary.
"villas painted in canary yellow"
3.
HISTORICAL
a sweet wine from the Canary Islands, similar to Madeira.
Phrases
canary in the coal mine — an early indicator of potential danger or failure.
"native brook trout are very much the canary in the coal mine for the health of a stream"
---
owda (da: dadaji wala)
Uska
---
thodi (di: as in P Diddy)
aapki
---
pupil dilation:
pupils staying open
---
(as) tough as nails
phrase of nail
(of a person) very strong and resilient in the face of hardship or pain.
"a leader who is as tough as nails"
---
inchoate
/ɪnˈkəʊeɪt,ˈɪnkəʊeɪt,ɪnˈkəʊət/
adjective
adjective: inchoate
1.
just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary.
"a still inchoate democracy"
confused or incoherent.
"inchoate proletarian protest"
2.
LAW
(of an offence, such as incitement or conspiracy) anticipating or preparatory to a further criminal act.
Origin
---
dreaded
/ˈdrɛdɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
regarded with great fear or apprehension.
"the dreaded news came that Joe had been wounded"
--
preamble
/priːˈamb(ə)l,ˈpriːamb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: preamble; plural noun: preambles
a preliminary or preparatory statement; an introduction.
"he could tell that what she said was by way of a preamble"
LAW
the introductory part of a statute or deed, stating its purpose, aims, and justification.
Similar:
introduction
preliminaries
preface
lead-in
overture
prologue
foreword
prelude
front matter
forward matter
intro
prelims
proem
prolegomenon
exordium
prolusion
prodrome
Origin
late Middle English: from Old French preambule, from medieval Latin praeambulum, from late Latin praeambulus ‘going before’.
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impertinent
/ɪmˈpəːtɪnənt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: impertinent
1.
not showing proper respect; rude.
"an impertinent question"
Similar:
rude
insolent
impolite
unmannerly
ill-mannered
bad-mannered
uncivil
discourteous
disrespectful
impudent
cheeky
audacious
bold
brazen
brash
shameless
presumptuous
forward
pert
tactless
undiplomatic
unsubtle
personal
brass-necked
fresh
flip
saucy
sassy
nervy
malapert
contumelious
mannerless
Opposite:
polite
2.
FORMAL
not pertinent to a particular matter; irrelevant.
"talk of ‘rhetoric’ and ‘strategy’ is impertinent to this process"
Similar:
irrelevant
inapplicable
inapposite
inappropriate
immaterial
unrelated
unconnected
not germane
beside the point
out of place
nothing to do with it
neither here nor there
Opposite:
relevant
pertinent
Origin
--
leper
/ˈlɛpə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: leper; plural noun: lepers
a person suffering from leprosy.
a person who is shunned or rejected by others for moral or social reasons.
"the story made her out to be a social leper"
Similar:
outcast
social outcast
pariah
untouchable
undesirable
exile
reject
non-person
unperson
persona non grata
Origin
late Middle English: probably from an attributive use of leper ‘leprosy’, from Old French lepre, via Latin from Greek lepra, feminine of lepros ‘scaly’, from lepos, lepis ‘scale’.
--
magpie
/ˈmaɡpʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: magpie; plural noun: magpies; noun: black-billed magpie; plural noun: black-billed magpies; noun: bell magpie; plural noun: bell magpies; noun: Australian magpie; plural noun: Australian magpies; noun: black-backed magpie; plural noun: black-backed magpies
1.
a long-tailed crow with boldly marked (or green) plumage and a noisy call.
2.
any bird of the Australasian butcher-bird family, having black-and-white plumage and musical calls.
3.
used figuratively to refer to a person who obsessively collects things or who chatters idly.
"his father was a garrulous old man who chattered like a magpie"
4.
the division of a circular target next to the outer one, or a shot which strikes this.
Origin
--
faraway
/ˈfɑːrəweɪ,fɑːrəˈweɪ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: faraway; adjective: far-away
distant in space or time.
"exotic and faraway locations"
Similar:
distant
far off
far
remote
out of the way
far flung
far removed
outlying
obscure
isolated
secluded
cut off
off the beaten track
in the back of beyond
in the middle of nowhere
Opposite:
nearby
neighbouring
seeming remote from one's immediate surroundings.
"she had a faraway look in her eyes"
Similar:
dreamy
daydreaming
abstracted
absent-minded
distracted
preoccupied
--
derelict
/ˈdɛrəlɪkt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: derelict
1.
in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect.
"a derelict Georgian mansion"
Similar:
unsafe
dangerous
hazardous
perilous
precarious
insecure
treacherous
dilapidated
ramshackle
run down
broken-down
worn out
tumbledown
in (a state of) disrepair
in ruins
ruined
falling to pieces
falling apart
rickety
creaky
creaking
decrepit
deteriorating
crumbling
deteriorated
neglected
untended
unmaintained
gone to rack and ruin
gone to seed
on its last legs
the worse for wear
unhealthy
contaminated
unsound
infected
blighted
unwholesome
septic
rotten
bad
disused
abandoned
deserted
discarded
rejected
forsaken
cast off
relinquished
ownerless
Opposite:
safe
in good repair
wholesome
in use
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
shamefully negligent of one's duties or obligations.
"he was derelict in his duty to his country"
Similar:
negligent
neglectful
remiss
lax
careless
sloppy
slipshod
slack
irresponsible
delinquent
Opposite:
dutiful
punctilious
noun
noun: derelict; plural noun: derelicts
1.
a person without a home, job, or property.
"derelicts who could fit all their possessions in a paper bag"
Similar:
tramp
vagrant
vagabond
down and out
homeless person
drifter
knight of the road
beggar
mendicant
outcast
pariah
ne'er do well
good-for-nothing
wastrel
streety
dosser
bag lady
hobo
bum
derro
2.
a ship or other piece of property abandoned by the owner and in poor condition.
"she had been a derelict recommissioned for this journey"
Origin
--
rheumy
/ˈruːmi/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: rheumy; comparative adjective: rheumier; superlative adjective: rheumiest
(especially of the eyes) full of rheum; watery.
"she was small and wizened, with rheumy eyes and bad teeth"
--
spurge
/spəːdʒ/
noun
noun: spurge; plural noun: spurges
a herbaceous plant or shrub with milky latex and very small, typically greenish, flowers. Many kinds are cultivated as ornamentals and some are of commercial importance.
Origin
late Middle English: shortening of Old French espurge, from espurgier, from Latin expurgare ‘cleanse’ (because of the purgative properties of the milky latex).
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concede
/kənˈsiːd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: concede; 3rd person present: concedes; past tense: conceded; past participle: conceded; gerund or present participle: conceding
1.
admit or agree that something is true after first denying or resisting it.
"I had to concede that I'd overreacted"
Similar:
admit
acknowledge
accept
allow
grant
recognize
own
confess
agree
take on board
Opposite:
deny
admit (defeat) in a match or contest.
"reluctantly, Ellen conceded defeat"
Similar:
capitulate
give in
surrender
yield
give up the struggle
cave in
submit
raise/show the white flag
lay down one's arms
back down
climb down
throw in the towel
throw in the sponge
admit defeat in (a match or contest).
"they conceded the match to their opponents"
2.
surrender or yield (a possession, right, or privilege).
"in 475 the emperor conceded the Auvergne to Euric"
Similar:
surrender
yield
give up
relinquish
cede
hand over
turn over
part with
deliver up
forfeit
sacrifice
Opposite:
retain
gain
grant (a right, privilege, or demand).
"their rights to redress of grievances were conceded once more"
(in sport) fail to prevent an opponent scoring (a goal or point).
"they have conceded only one goal in seven matches"
allow (a lead or advantage) to slip.
"he took an early lead which he never conceded"
Origin
--
callous
/ˈkaləs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: callous
showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others.
"his callous comments about the murder made me shiver"
Similar:
heartless
unfeeling
uncaring
cold
cold-hearted
hard
as hard as nails
hard-hearted
with a heart of stone
stony-hearted
insensitive
lacking compassion
hard-bitten
cold-blooded
hardened
case-hardened
harsh
cruel
ruthless
brutal
unsympathetic
uncharitable
indifferent
unconcerned
unsusceptible
insensible
bloodless
soulless
hard-boiled
indurate
indurated
marble-hearted
Opposite:
kind
compassionate
noun
noun: callous; plural noun: callouses
variant spelling of callus.
Origin
late Middle English (in the Latin sense): from Latin callosus ‘hard-skinned’.
callus
/ˈkaləs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: callous
a thickened and hardened part of the skin or soft tissue, especially in an area that has been subjected to friction.
MEDICINE
the bony healing tissue which forms around the ends of broken bone.
BOTANY
a hard formation of tissue, especially new tissue formed over a wound.
"the exposed surface will quickly form healing callus"
Origin
--
give someone the benefit of the doubt. to decide that you will believe someone, even though you are not sure that what the person is saying is true: She said she was late because her flight was canceled, and we gave her the benefit of the doubt.
--
triangulate
Learn to pronounce
verb
/trʌɪˈaŋɡjʊleɪt/
1.
divide (an area) into triangles for surveying purposes.
2.
form into a triangle or triangles.
"the brackets triangulate the frame"
--
embargo
/ɛmˈbɑːɡəʊ,ɪmˈbɑːɡəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: embargo; plural noun: embargoes
1.
an official ban on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country.
"an embargo on grain sales"
an official ban on any activity.
"there is a complete embargo on taking photographs in court"
Similar:
ban
bar
prohibition
stoppage
interdict
proscription
veto
moratorium
restriction
restraint
blockage
check
barrier
impediment
obstruction
hindrance
boycott
2.
HISTORICAL
an order of a state forbidding foreign ships to enter, or any ships to leave, its ports.
"an embargo laid by our Emperor upon all vessels whatsoever"
verb
verb: embargo; 3rd person present: embargoes; past tense: embargoed; past participle: embargoed; gerund or present participle: embargoing
1.
impose an official ban on (trade or a country or commodity).
"all of these countries have been embargoed by the US"
officially ban the publication of.
"documents of national security importance are routinely embargoed"
Similar:
ban
bar
prohibit
stop
interdict
debar
proscribe
outlaw
make illegal
restrict
restrain
block
check
impede
obstruct
hinder
boycott
blacklist
ostracize
Opposite:
allow
2.
ARCHAIC
seize (a ship or goods) for state service.
"they must embargo means of transport"
Origin
--
myopic
/mʌɪˈɒpɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: myopic
short-sighted.
"most myopic children can be fitted with glasses to correct their vision"
Similar:
short-sighted
nearsighted
as blind as a bat
purblind
Opposite:
long-sighted
lacking foresight or intellectual insight.
"the government still has a myopic attitude to public spending"
Similar:
unimaginative
uncreative
unadventurous
narrow-minded
lacking foresight
small-minded
short-term
narrow
insular
parochial
provincial
Opposite:
far-sighted
--
divulge
/dʌɪˈvʌldʒ,dɪˈvʌldʒ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: divulging
make known (private or sensitive information).
"I do not want to divulge my plans at the moment"
Similar:
disclose
reveal
make known
tell
impart
communicate
pass on
publish
broadcast
proclaim
promulgate
declare
expose
uncover
make public
go public with
bring into the open
give away
let slip
let drop
blurt out
leak
confess
betray
admit
come out with
spill the beans about
let on about
tell all about
blow the lid off
squeal about
blow the gaff on
discover
unbosom
Opposite:
conceal
Origin
--
nuance
/ˈnjuːɑːns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.
"he was familiar with the nuances of the local dialect"
Similar:
fine distinction
subtle distinction/difference
shade
shading
gradation
variation
modulation
degree
subtlety
nicety
refinement
overtone
verb
give nuances to.
"the effect of the music is nuanced by the social situation of listeners"
--
incur
/ɪnˈkəː/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: incur; 3rd person present: incurs; past tense: incurred; past participle: incurred; gerund or present participle: incurring
become subject to (something unwelcome or unpleasant) as a result of one's own behaviour or actions.
"I will pay any expenses incurred"
Similar:
suffer
sustain
experience
bring upon oneself
expose oneself to
lay oneself open to
run up
collect
attract
invite
provoke
earn
arouse
induce
cause
give rise to
bring on
be liable/subject to
meet with
draw
Opposite:
avoid
Origin
--
Cuba
Country in the Caribbean
Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is a country comprising the island of Cuba as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located in the northern Caribbean where the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean meet.
President: Miguel Díaz-Canel
Capital: Havana
Cuba travel guide
3-star hotel averaging ₹4,328, 5-star averaging ₹12,804
Currencies: Cuban convertible peso, Cuban peso
---
Spat:
spit1
/spɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: spit; 3rd person present: spits; past tense: spat; past participle: spat; gerund or present participle: spitting
1.
eject saliva forcibly from one's mouth, sometimes as a gesture of contempt or anger.
"Todd spat in Hugh's face"
Similar:
expectorate
hawk
gob
hoick
forcibly eject (food or liquid) from one's mouth.
"the baby spat out its porridge"
NORTH AMERICAN
(especially of a baby) vomit or regurgitate food.
"their infants fretted, mewled, and spat up over their jeans"
utter in a hostile or aggressive way.
"she spat abuse at the jury"
Similar:
snap
say angrily
hiss
rasp
splutter
be extremely angry or frustrated.
"he was spitting with sudden fury"
INFORMAL
perform rap music.
(of a fire or something being cooked) emit small bursts of sparks or hot fat with a series of short, explosive noises.
"the bonfire crackled and spat"
Similar:
sizzle
hiss
crackle
sputter
frizzle
fizz
(of a cat) make a hissing noise as a sign of anger or hostility.
"the cat arched his back and spat at her"
2.
BRITISH
light rain falls.
"it began to spit"
Similar:
rain lightly
drizzle
spot
mizzle
sprinkle
noun
noun: spit
1.
saliva, typically that which has been ejected from a person's mouth.
Similar:
spittle
saliva
sputum
slaver
slobber
dribble
drool
phlegm
gob
2.
an act of spitting.
Phrases
be the spit of
look exactly like. "Felix is the spit of Rosa's brother"
spit-and-sawdust
used to describe an old-fashioned or simple pub or bar, of a type whose floor was originally covered with sawdust.
spit blood
be very angry.
spit chips
be very angry or frustrated. "she will spit chips when she finds out what he has been up to"
spit the dummy
behave in a bad-tempered or petulant way.
spit feathers
be very thirsty.
spit in the eye of
show contempt or scorn for.
spit in the wind
do something futile or pointless.
spit it out
used to urge someone to say or confess something quickly. "spit it out, man, I haven't got all day"
Origin
Old English spittan, of imitative origin.
spit2
/spɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: spit; plural noun: spits
1.
a long, thin metal rod pushed through meat in order to hold and turn it while it is roasted over an open fire.
"chicken cooked on a spit"
Similar:
skewer
brochette
rotisserie
broach
2.
a narrow point of land projecting into the sea.
"a narrow spit of land shelters the bay"
verb
verb: spit; 3rd person present: spits; past tense: spitted; past participle: spitted; gerund or present participle: spitting
put a spit through (meat) in order to roast it over an open fire.
"he spitted the rabbit and cooked it"
Origin
Old English spitu, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch spit and German Spiess .
spit3
/spɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: spit; plural noun: spit; plural noun: spits
a layer of earth whose depth is equal to the length of the blade of a spade.
"break up the top spit with a fork"
Origin
early 16th century: from Middle Dutch and Middle Low German; probably related to spit2.
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stifle1
/ˈstʌɪf(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: stifle; 3rd person present: stifles; past tense: stifled; past participle: stifled; gerund or present participle: stifling
1.
make (someone) unable to breathe properly; suffocate.
"those in the streets were stifled by the fumes"
Similar:
suffocate
choke
asphyxiate
smother
very hot
sweltering
airless
suffocating
oppressive
humid
close
muggy
sticky
soupy
claggy
boiling
Opposite:
cold
chilly
2.
restrain (a reaction) or stop oneself acting on (an emotion).
"she stifled a giggle"
Similar:
suppress
smother
restrain
keep back
hold back
hold in
fight back
choke back
gulp back
withhold
check
keep in check
swallow
muffle
quench
curb
silence
contain
bottle up
bite one's lip
cork up
Opposite:
let out
prevent or constrain (an activity or idea).
"high taxes were stifling private enterprise"
Similar:
constrain
hinder
hamper
impede
hold back
curb
check
restrain
prevent
inhibit
put an end/stop to
stop
quash
squash
stamp out
destroy
crush
extinguish
deaden
damp down
subdue
suppress
repress
silence
muffle
mute
gag
Opposite:
encourage
Origin
late Middle English: perhaps from a frequentative of Old French estouffer ‘smother, stifle’.
stifle2
/ˈstʌɪf(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: stifle; plural noun: stifles; noun: stifle joint; plural noun: stifle joints
a joint in the legs of horses, dogs, and other animals, equivalent to the knee in humans.
Origin
Middle English: of unknown origin.
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numbskull
/ˈnʌmskʌl/
Learn to pronounce
nounINFORMAL
plural noun: numbskulls
a stupid or foolish person.
Similar:
idiot
fool
ass
halfwit
nincompoop
dunce
dolt
---
archetype
/ˈɑːkɪtʌɪp/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: archetypes
1.
a very typical example of a certain person or thing.
"he was the archetype of the old-style football club chairman"
2.
PSYCHOANALYSIS
(in Jungian theory) a primitive mental image inherited from the earliest human ancestors, and supposed to be present in the collective unconscious.
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unto
/ˈʌntʊ/
Learn to pronounce
preposition
preposition: unto
1.
archaic term for to.
"do unto others as you would have them do unto you"
2.
archaic term for until.
"marriage was forever—unto death"
Origin
---
ferocious
/fəˈrəʊʃəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
savagely fierce, cruel, or violent.
"a ferocious beast"
Similar:
fierce
savage
wild
feral
untamed
predatory
rapacious
ravening
aggressive
dangerous
brutal
brutish
vicious
violent
bloody
barbarous
barbaric
sadistic
ruthless
remorseless
cruel
pitiless
merciless
heartless
bloodthirsty
murderous
tigerish
wolfish
wicked
inhuman
monstrous
abominable
fiendish
hellish
diabolical
beastly
fell
sanguinary
Opposite:
tame
gentle
INFORMAL
very great; extreme.
"a ferocious headache"
Similar:
intense
extreme
strong
powerful
fierce
burning
---
shoal1
/ʃəʊl/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: shoals
a large number of fish swimming together.
"a shoal of bream"
INFORMAL•BRITISH
a large number of people or things.
"shoals of people were coming up the drive"
verb
3rd person present: shoals
(of fish) form shoals.
"these fish can safely be released to shoal with most adult species"
Origin
late 16th century: probably from Middle Dutch schōle ‘troop’. Compare with school2.
shoal2
/ʃəʊl/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: shoals
an area of shallow water.
"we clawed our way out from the Bahamian shoals into the deep waters of the Atlantic"
a submerged sandbank visible at low water.
Similar:
sandbank
bank
mudbank
bar
sandbar
tombolo
shallow
shelf
sands
cay
a hidden danger or difficulty.
"he alone could safely guide them through Hollywood's treacherous shoals"
verb
3rd person present: shoals
(of water) become shallower.
"the water shoals reasonably gently, and the swimming is safe"
Origin
Old English sceald (adjective), of Germanic origin; related to shallow.
---
tack1
/tak/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: tacking
1.
fasten or fix in place with tacks.
"he used the tool to tack down sheets of fibreboard"
Similar:
pin
nail
staple
fix
fasten
attach
secure
affix
put up
put down
fasten (pieces of cloth) together temporarily with long stitches.
"when the dress was roughly tacked together, she tried it on"
Similar:
stitch
baste
sew
bind
hem
add or append something to something already existing.
"the castles have new wings and other bits tacked on"
Similar:
attach
add
append
join
tag
annex
2.
SAILING
change course by turning a boat's head into and through the wind.
"their boat was now downwind and they had to tack"
alter the course of (a boat) by tacking.
"I tacked the ship shortly after midnight"
make a series of changes of course while sailing.
"but what happens when you have to tack up a narrow channel singlehanded?"
Similar:
change course
change direction
change heading
swerve
zigzag
veer off/away
go about
come about
beat
sail into the wind
Origin
Middle English (in the general sense ‘something that fastens one thing to another’): probably related to Old French tache ‘clasp, large nail’.
---
squall
/skwɔːl/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: squalls
1.
a sudden violent gust of wind or localized storm, especially one bringing rain, snow, or sleet.
"low clouds and squalls of driving rain"
Similar:
gust
storm
blast
flurry
shower
gale
blow
rush
puff
scud
windstorm
thunderstorm
2.
a loud cry.
"he emitted a short mournful squall"
verb
3rd person present: squalls
(of a baby or small child) cry noisily and continuously.
"Sarah was squalling in her crib"
Origin
mid 17th century: probably an alteration of squeal, influenced by bawl.
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glower
/ˈɡlaʊə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: glowering
have an angry or sullen look on one's face; scowl.
"she glowered at him suspiciously"
Similar:
scowl
glare
stare angrily
look daggers
frown
lour
give a someone black look
pull a face
give someone a dirty look
give someone a death stare
glout
glunch
Opposite:
smile
grin
Origin
---
irascible
/ɪˈrasɪb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
having or showing a tendency to be easily angered.
"an irascible and difficult man"
Similar:
irritable
quick-tempered
short-tempered
bad-tempered
---
pandemonium
/ˌpandɪˈməʊnɪəm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: pandemonium
wild and noisy disorder or confusion; uproar.
"there was complete pandemonium—everyone just panicked"
Similar:
bedlam
chaos
mayhem
uproar
madness
havoc
turmoil
tumult
commotion
confusion
disorder
anarchy
furore
frenzy
clamour
din
hubbub
hue and cry
babel
rumpus
fracas
hurly-burly
maelstrom
bangarang
hullabaloo
all hell breaking loose
madhouse
Opposite:
silence
peace
Origin
--
besieged
/bɪˈsiːdʒd/
adjective
(of a place) surrounded by armed forces aiming to capture it or force surrender.
"the besieged city"
besiege
/bɪˈsiːdʒ/
verb
past tense: besieged; past participle: besieged
surround (a place) with armed forces in order to capture it or force its surrender.
"the king marched north to besiege Berwick"
Similar:
lay siege to
beleaguer
blockade
surround
shut off
block off
invest
surround and harass.
"she spent the whole day besieged by newsmen"
Similar:
surround
mob
crowd round
swarm round
throng round
ring round
encircle
hem in
shut in
set upon
fall upon
oppress
torment
torture
rack
plague
afflict
harrow
beset
beleaguer
trouble
bedevil
cause suffering to
prey on
weigh heavily on
lie heavy on
gnaw at
nag at
haunt
be inundated by large numbers of requests or complaints.
"the television station was besieged with calls"
Similar:
overwhelm
inundate
deluge
flood
swamp
snow under
bombard
--
eschew
/ɪsˈtʃuː,ɛsˈtʃuː/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: eschewed; past participle: eschewed
deliberately avoid using; abstain from.
"he appealed to the crowd to eschew violence"
Similar:
abstain from
refrain from
give up
forgo
forswear
shun
renounce
swear off
abjure
steer clear of
have nothing to do with
give a wide berth to
fight shy of
relinquish
reject
dispense with
disavow
abandon
deny
gainsay
disclaim
repudiate
renege on
spurn
abnegate
abdicate
wash one's hands of
drop
kick
jack in
pack in
disaffirm
forsake
Opposite:
indulge in
Origin
--
divvy1
/ˈdɪvi/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
verb
verb: divvy; 3rd person present: divvies; past tense: divvied; past participle: divvied; gerund or present participle: divvying
share out.
"they divvied up the proceeds"
nounBRITISH
noun: divvy; plural noun: divvies; noun: divi; plural noun: divis
a dividend or share, especially of profits earned by a cooperative.
"the divvy is being held at 8.8p"
Origin
late 19th century: abbreviation of dividend.
divvy2
/ˈdɪvi/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL•BRITISH
noun
noun: divvy; plural noun: divvies
a foolish or stupid person.
adjective
adjective: divvy
foolish; stupid.
Origin
1970s: of unknown origin.
--
disparage
/dɪˈsparɪdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: disparaged; past participle: disparaged
regard or represent as being of little worth.
"he never missed an opportunity to disparage his competitors"
Similar:
belittle
denigrate
deprecate
depreciate
downgrade
play down
deflate
trivialize
minimize
make light of
treat lightly
undervalue
underrate
underestimate
disdain
dismiss
ridicule
deride
mock
scorn
pour scorn on
scoff at
sneer at
laugh at
laugh off
run down
defame
decry
discredit
slander
libel
malign
speak ill of
speak badly of
cast aspersions on
impugn
vilify
traduce
revile
criticize
condemn
slur
do down
do a hatchet job on
take to pieces
pull apart
pull to pieces
pick holes in
drag through the mud
hit out at
knock
slam
pan
bash
bad-mouth
pooh-pooh
look down one's nose at
rubbish
slate
slag off
have a go at
cry down
hold cheap
misprize
minify
asperse
derogate
calumniate
vilipend
vituperate
derogatory
deprecating
deprecatory
denigratory
belittling
slighting
insulting
abusive
critical
scathing
negative
unfavourable
uncomplimentary
uncharitable
unsympathetic
contemptuous
scornful
snide
derisive
disdainful
sneering
bitchy
catty
contumelious
Opposite:
praise
overrate
complimentary
Origin
--
by-law
/ˈbʌɪlɔː/
noun
plural noun: bylaws
1.
BRITISH
a regulation made by a local authority or corporation.
2.
a rule made by a company or society to control the actions of its members.
Similar:
local law
regulation
rule
Origin
Middle English: probably from obsolete byrlaw ‘local law or custom’, from Old Norse býjar, genitive singular of býr ‘town’, but associated with by.
--
mooring
/ˈmɔːrɪŋ,ˈmʊərɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: moorings
a place where a boat or ship is moored.
"they tied up at Water Gypsy's permanent moorings"
the ropes, chains, or anchors by or to which a boat, ship, or buoy is moored.
"the great ship slipped her moorings and slid out into the Atlantic"
--
pugilist
/ˈpjuːdʒɪlɪst/
Learn to pronounce
nounDATED•HUMOROUS
noun: pugilist; plural noun: pugilists
a boxer, especially a professional one.
Similar:
boxer
fighter
prize fighter
sparring partner
bruiser
pug
ringster
Origin
--
disabuse
/ˌdɪsəˈbjuːz/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: disabuse; 3rd person present: disabuses; past tense: disabused; past participle: disabused; gerund or present participle: disabusing
persuade (someone) that an idea or belief is mistaken.
"he quickly disabused me of my fanciful notions"
Similar:
disillusion
undeceive
correct
set right/straight
open the eyes of
--
Like the great ear-biting pugilist Mike Tyson once said, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”
--
panache
/pəˈnaʃ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: panache
1.
flamboyant confidence of style or manner.
"he entertained London society with great panache"
Similar:
flamboyant confidence
flamboyance
confidence
self-assurance
style
stylishness
flair
elan
dash
flourish
verve
zest
spirit
brio
éclat
vivacity
vigour
gusto
animation
liveliness
vitality
enthusiasm
energy
pizzazz
oomph
zip
zing
2.
HISTORICAL
a tuft or plume of feathers, especially as a headdress or on a helmet.
Origin
mid 16th century: from French, from Italian pennacchio, from late Latin pinnaculum, diminutive of pinna ‘feather’.
--
flamboyance
/flamˈbɔɪəns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: flamboyance; plural noun: flamboyances
the tendency to attract attention because of one's exuberance, confidence, and stylishness.
"he had a reputation for flair and flamboyance"
the quality of being bright, colourful, and very noticeable.
"the stunning tones give the show a lot of visual flamboyance"
--
umbrage
/ˈʌmbrɪdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: umbrage
1.
offence or annoyance.
"she took umbrage at his remarks"
Similar:
take offence
be offended
take exception
bridle
take something personally
be aggrieved
be affronted
take something amiss
be upset
be annoyed
be angry
be indignant
get one's hackles up
be put out
be insulted
be hurt
be wounded
be piqued
be resentful
be disgruntled
get/go into a huff
get huffy
be miffed
be riled
get the hump
2.
ARCHAIC
shade or shadow, especially as cast by trees.
Origin
--
wobbly
/ˈwɒbli/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
tending to move unsteadily from side to side.
"the car had a wobbly wheel"
Similar:
unsteady
unstable
shaky
rocky
rickety
flimsy
frail
spindly
unsafe
precarious
insecure
uneven
unbalanced
teetery
wonky
dicky
Opposite:
stable
steady
nounINFORMAL•BRITISH
a fit of temper or panic.
"my daughter threw a wobbly when I wouldn't let her play"
--
credo
/ˈkriːdəʊ,ˈkreɪdəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: credo; plural noun: credos
a statement of the beliefs or aims which guide someone's actions.
"he announced his credo in his first editorial"
a creed of the Christian Church in Latin.
noun: Credo; plural noun: Credos
a musical setting of the Nicene Creed, typically as part of a mass.
noun: Credo
"the Credo of Bach's B minor Mass"
Origin
--
yank
/jaŋk/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
verb
verb: yank; 3rd person present: yanks; past tense: yanked; past participle: yanked; gerund or present participle: yanking
pull with a jerk.
"her hair was yanked, and she screamed"
Similar:
jerk
pull
tug
wrench
heave
haul
drag
tweak
twitch
pluck
snatch
seize
rip
tear
whisk
jolt
force
whip
noun
noun: yank; plural noun: yanks
a sudden hard pull.
"one of the other girls gave her ponytail a yank"
Similar:
jerk
pull
tug
jolt
wrench
heave
tweak
twitch
Origin
late 18th century (as a Scots word in the sense ‘sudden sharp blow’): of unknown origin.
Yank
/jaŋk/
noun
1.
INFORMAL•DEROGATORY
an American.
2.
INFORMAL•US
another term for Yankee (sense 2).
--
klutz
/klʌts/
noun INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
a clumsy, awkward, or foolish person.
Similar:
oaf
ape
blunderer
bungler
hulk
butterfingers
clodhopper
clot
--
succinct
/səkˈsɪŋ(k)t/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: succinct
(especially of something written or spoken) briefly and clearly expressed.
"use short, succinct sentences"
Similar:
concise
short
brief
compact
condensed
crisp
laconic
terse
tight
to the point
economic
pithy
thumbnail
summary
short and sweet
in a few well-chosen words
compendious
epigrammatic
synoptic
aphoristic
gnomic
Opposite:
lengthy
long-winded
verbose
Origin
late Middle English (in the sense ‘encircled’): from Latin succinctus ‘tucked up’, past participle of succingere, from sub- ‘from below’ + cingere ‘gird’.
---
fait accompli
/ˌfeɪt əˈkɒmpli,French fɛt akɔ̃pli/
noun
noun: fait accompli; plural noun: faits accomplis
a thing that has already happened or been decided before those affected hear about it, leaving them with no option but to accept it.
"the results were presented to shareholders as a fait accompli"
Origin
mid 19th century: from French, literally ‘accomplished fact’.
--
extenuating
/ɪkˈstɛnjʊeɪtɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
gerund or present participle: extenuating
(of a factor or situation) serving to lessen the seriousness of an offence.
"library staff will waive fines where there are genuine extenuating circumstances"
Origin
early 17th century (with the meaning ‘causing to become thin’): from extenuate.
extenuate
/ɪkˈstɛnjʊeɪt,ɛkˈstɛnjʊeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: extenuating
1.
cause (an offence) to seem less serious.
"even the fact that you once helped to save my life could not extenuate your offence"
Similar:
excuse
mitigate
palliate
make allowances for
make excuses for
defend
vindicate
justify
explain
explain away
give an explanation for
make a case for
diminish
lessen
moderate
qualify
soften
play down
reduce
temper
weaken
mitigating
excusing
exonerative
palliating
palliative
justifying
justificatory
vindicating
exculpatory
moderating
qualifying
softening
tempering
diminishing
lessening
Opposite:
aggravate
aggravating
2.
LITERARY
make (someone) thin.
"his whole frame was extenuated by hunger and fatigue"
Origin
late Middle English (in the sense ‘make thin’): from Latin extenuat- ‘made thin’, from the verb extenuare (based on tenuis ‘thin’).
--
bawling
/ˈbɔːlɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: bawling
weeping or crying noisily.
"bawling babies"
bawl
/bɔːl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: bawling
1.
shout or call out noisily and unrestrainedly.
"‘Move!’ bawled the drill corporal"
Similar:
shout
call out
cry out
cry
yell
roar
bellow
screech
scream
shriek
howl
whoop
bark
growl
snarl
bluster
vociferate
trumpet
thunder
yammer
holler
Opposite:
whisper
2.
weep or cry noisily.
"I began to bawl like a child"
Similar:
cry
sob
weep
shed tears
wail
blubber
snivel
whimper
whine
howl
squall
blub
greet
ululate
Origin
--
bad faith
noun
noun: bad faith
1.
intent to deceive.
"frustrated industry representatives accused them of negotiating in bad faith"
2.
(in existentialist philosophy) refusal to confront facts or choices.
--
clincher
/ˈklɪn(t)ʃə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: clincher; plural noun: clinchers
a fact, argument, or event that settles a matter conclusively.
"Sixsmith scored the clincher after 81 minutes"
--
allay
/əˈleɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: allay; 3rd person present: allays; past tense: allayed; past participle: allayed; gerund or present participle: allaying
diminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry).
"the report attempted to educate the public and allay fears"
Similar:
reduce
diminish
decrease
lessen
assuage
alleviate
ease
relieve
soothe
soften
take the edge off
dull
cushion
mollify
moderate
calm
lull
temper
mitigate
palliate
blunt
deaden
abate
tone down
dispel
banish
dismiss
dissipate
drive away
drive off
chase away
put to rest
quell
check
eliminate
lenify
Opposite:
increase
intensify
relieve or alleviate (pain or hunger).
"some stale figs partly allayed our hunger"
Origin
--
ratification
/ratɪfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: ratification; plural noun: ratifications
the action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it officially valid.
"ratification of the treaty raised problems in several member states"
--
denomination
/dɪˌnɒmɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/
noun
1.
a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church.
"the Presbyterian community is the second largest denomination in the country"
Similar:
religious group
sect
Church
cult
movement
faith community
body
persuasion
religious persuasion
communion
order
fraternity
brotherhood
sisterhood
school
faith
creed
belief
religious belief
religion
sodality
2.
the face value of a banknote, coin, or postage stamp.
"high-denomination banknotes"
Similar:
value
unit
grade
size
measure
--
gusto
/ˈɡʌstəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
enjoyment and enthusiasm in doing something.
"Hawkins tucked into his breakfast with gusto"
Similar:
enthusiasm
relish
appetite
enjoyment
delight
glee
pleasure
satisfaction
gratification
appreciation
liking
fondness
zest
zeal
fervour
verve
keenness
avidity
delectation
Opposite:
apathy
distaste
2.
ARCHAIC
the style in which a work of art is executed.
--
relegate
/ˈrɛlɪɡeɪt/
verb
assign an inferior rank or position to.
"they aim to prevent women from being relegated to a secondary role"
Similar:
downgrade
lower
lower in rank/status
put down
move down
consign
banish
exile
demote
degrade
declass
strip someone of their rank
reduce to the ranks
disrate
drum out
bust
Opposite:
upgrade
promote
BRITISH
transfer (a sports team) to a lower division of a league.
"United were relegated to division two"
--
sabotage
/ˈsabətɑːʒ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: sabotage; 3rd person present: sabotages; past tense: sabotaged; past participle: sabotaged; gerund or present participle: sabotaging
deliberately destroy, damage, or obstruct (something), especially for political or military advantage.
"power lines from South Africa were sabotaged by rebel forces"
Similar:
wreck
deliberately damage
vandalize
destroy
obstruct
disrupt
cripple
impair
incapacitate
spoil
ruin
undermine
filibuster
damage
threaten
subvert
muller
noun
noun: sabotage
the action of sabotaging something.
"a coordinated campaign of sabotage"
Similar:
wrecking
deliberate damage
vandalism
destruction
obstruction
disruption
crippling
impairment
incapacitation
ecotage
spoiling
ruining
undermining
filibustering
damage
subversion
a spanner in the works
a monkey wrench in the works
Origin
early 20th century: from French, from saboter ‘kick with sabots, wilfully destroy’ (see sabot).
--
elude
/ɪˈl(j)uːd/
verb
3rd person present: eludes
1.
escape from or avoid (a danger, enemy, or pursuer), typically in a skilful or cunning way.
"he tried to elude the security men by sneaking through a back door"
Similar:
evade
avoid
get away from
dodge
flee
escape (from)
run (away) from
lose
duck
shake off
give the slip to
slip away from
throw off the scent
slip through someone's fingers
slip through the net
circumvent
bilk
Opposite:
be caught by
avoid compliance with (a law or penalty).
"we need to ensure that bad cases do not elude tough penalties"
2.
(of an achievement or something desired) fail to be attained by (someone).
"sleep still eluded her"
(of an idea or fact) fail to be understood or remembered by (someone).
"the logic of this eluded most people"
--
levity
[ˈlevədē]
NOUN
humor or frivolity, especially the treatment of a serious matter with humor or in a manner lacking due respect.
"as an attempt to introduce a note of levity, the words were a disastrous flop"
synonyms:
light-heartedness · carefreeness · light-mindedness · high spirits · vivacity · liveliness · conviviality · cheerfulness · cheeriness · humor · gaiety · fun · jocularity · hilarity · frivolity · frivolousness · amusement · mirth · laughter · merriment · glee · comedy · [more]
--
sinew
/ˈsɪnjuː/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a piece of tough fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone; a tendon or ligament.
"the sinews in her neck"
verbLITERARY
strengthen with or as if with sinews.
"the sinewed shape of his back"
--
get along
phrasal verb of "get"
1.
have a harmonious or friendly relationship.
"they seem to get along pretty well"
2.
manage to live or survive.
"don't worry, we'll get along without you"
Similar:
fare
manage
progress
advance
get on
do
cope
survive
muddle through/along
succeed
prosper
flourish
get by
make out
INFORMAL•BRITISH
used to express scepticism or disbelief or to tell someone to go away.
"oh, get along with you!"
--
knick-knack
/ˈnɪknak/
noun
plural noun: knickknacks
small worthless objects, especially household ornaments.
"the room was filled with tables, knick-knacks, and a large three-piece suite"
Similar:
ornament
novelty
gewgaw
piece of bric-a-brac
bibelot
trinket
--
good faith
noun
noun: good faith
honesty or sincerity of intention.
"the details contained in this brochure have been published in good faith"
--
fait accompli
/ˌfeɪt əˈkɒmpli,French fɛt akɔ̃pli/
noun
noun: fait accompli; plural noun: faits accomplis
a thing that has already happened or been decided before those affected hear about it, leaving them with no option but to accept it.
"the results were presented to shareholders as a fait accompli"
--
sleep tight
phrase of sleep
sleep well.
--
stand one's ground
phrase of "ground"
1.
not retreat or lose one's advantage in the face of opposition.
"you will be able to hold your ground and resist the enemy's attack"
Similar:
stand firm
be firm
make a stand
be resolute
insist
be determined
show determination
hold on
hold out
be emphatic
not take no for an answer
brook no refusal
stick to one's guns
Opposite:
give up
2.
US•LAW
denoting a law or legal principle that permits a person to use deadly force in self-defence without first trying to retreat.
---
Definition of iron out. transitive verb. 1 : to make smooth or flat by or as if by pressing. 2 : to resolve or work out a solution to ironed out their differences.
--
nicety
/ˈnʌɪsɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: niceties
a fine or subtle detail or distinction.
"legal niceties are wasted on him"
Similar:
fine point
subtlety
nuance
fine distinction
shade
refinement
detail
accuracy or precision.
"she prided herself on her nicety of pronunciation"
Similar:
precision
accuracy
exactness
meticulousness
rigour
rigorousness
a detail or aspect of polite social behaviour.
"we were brought up to observe the niceties"
--
stymie
/ˈstʌɪmi/
Learn to pronounce
verbINFORMAL
past tense: stymied; past participle: stymied
prevent or hinder the progress of.
"the changes must not be allowed to stymie new medical treatments"
Similar:
impede
interfere with
hamper
hinder
obstruct
inhibit
frustrate
thwart
foil
spoil
stall
shackle
fetter
stop
check
block
cripple
handicap
scotch
put paid to
put the kibosh on
snooker
scupper
Opposite:
assist
help
Origin
mid 19th century (originally a golfing term, denoting a situation on the green where a ball obstructs the shot of another player): of unknown origin.
--
relish
/ˈrɛlɪʃ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: relish; plural noun: relishes
1.
great enjoyment.
"she swigged a mouthful of wine with relish"
liking for or pleasurable anticipation of something.
"I was appointed to a post for which I had little relish"
Similar:
enjoyment
gusto
delight
pleasure
glee
rapture
satisfaction
contentment
contentedness
gratification
happiness
exhilaration
excitement
titillation
appreciation
liking
fondness
enthusiasm
appetite
zest
delectation
Opposite:
dislike
2.
a piquant sauce or pickle eaten with plain food to add flavour.
"use salsa as a relish with grilled meat or fish"
Similar:
condiment
accompaniment
sauce
dressing
flavouring
seasoning
dip
3.
ARCHAIC
an appetizing flavour.
"the tired glutton finds no relish in the sweetest meat"
a distinctive taste or tinge.
"the relish of wine"
verb
verb: relish; 3rd person present: relishes; past tense: relished; past participle: relished; gerund or present participle: relishing
1.
enjoy greatly.
"he was relishing his moment of glory"
Similar:
enjoy
delight in
love
like
adore
be pleased by
take pleasure in
rejoice in
appreciate
savour
revel in
luxuriate in
glory in
gloat over
feel self-satisfied about
crow about
get a kick out of
get a thrill out of
Opposite:
dislike
anticipate with pleasure.
"we did not relish the idea of a strike"
Similar:
look forward to
fancy
anticipate with pleasure
await with pleasure
lick one's lips over
be unable to wait for
count the days until
long for
hope for
Opposite:
dread
2.
ARCHAIC
make pleasant to the taste; add relish to.
"I have also a novel to relish my wine"
Origin
Middle English: alteration of obsolete reles, from Old French reles ‘remainder’, from relaisser ‘to release’. The early noun sense was ‘odour, taste’ giving rise to ‘appetizing flavour, piquant taste’ (mid 17th century), and hence relish (sense 2 of the noun) (late 18th century).
--
chasm
/ˈkaz(ə)m/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: chasm; plural noun: chasms
a deep fissure in the earth's surface.
"a chasm a mile long"
Similar:
gorge
abyss
canyon
ravine
gully
gulf
pass
defile
couloir
crevasse
cleft
rift
rent
pit
void
crater
cavity
hole
opening
gap
fissure
crevice
hollow
chine
bunny
clough
gill
thrutch
cleuch
heugh
gulch
coulee
flume
arroyo
barranca
quebrada
nullah
khud
sloot
kloof
donga
khor
a profound difference between people, viewpoints, feelings, etc.
"the chasm between rich and poor"
Similar:
breach
gulf
rift
division
schism
split
severance
rupture
break
break-up
parting of the ways
separation
disunion
estrangement
alienation
difference
dissension
discord
argument
quarrel
scission
Origin
late 16th century (denoting an opening up of the sea or land, as in an earthquake): from Latin chasma, from Greek khasma ‘gaping hollow’.
--
surmount
/səˈmaʊnt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: surmount; 3rd person present: surmounts; past tense: surmounted; past participle: surmounted; gerund or present participle: surmounting
1.
overcome (a difficulty or obstacle).
"all manner of cultural differences were surmounted"
Similar:
overcome
conquer
get over
prevail over
triumph over
get the better of
beat
vanquish
master
clear
cross
make one's way round/past/over
make it round/past/over
pass over
be unstoppable by
deal with
cope with
resist
endure
Opposite:
be beaten by
2.
stand or be placed on top of.
"the tomb was surmounted by a sculptured angel"
Similar:
cap
top
crown
tip
rise above
tower above
overtop
dominate
Opposite:
be dominated by
Origin
--
elicit
/ɪˈlɪsɪt/
verb
past tense: elicited; past participle: elicited
evoke or draw out (a reaction, answer, or fact) from someone.
"I tried to elicit a smile from Joanna"
Similar:
obtain
bring out
draw out
extract
evoke
bring about
bring forth
induce
excite
give rise to
call forth
prompt
generate
engender
spark off
trigger
kindle
extort
exact
wrest
derive
provoke
wring
screw
squeeze
worm out
ARCHAIC
draw forth (something that is latent or potential) into existence.
"a corrupt heart elicits in an hour all that is bad in us"
--
abbot
/ˈabət/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: abbot; plural noun: abbots
a man who is the head of an abbey of monks.
Origin
Old English abbod, from ecclesiastical Latin abbas, abbat-, from Greek abbas ‘father’, from Aramaic 'abbā (see Abba1).
--
jettison
/ˈdʒɛtɪs(ə)n,ˈdʒɛtɪz(ə)n/
verb: jettison; 3rd person present: jettisons; past tense: jettisoned; past participle: jettisoned; gerund or present participle: jettisoning
throw or drop (something) from an aircraft or ship.
"six aircraft jettisoned their loads in the sea"
abandon or discard (someone or something that is no longer wanted).
"the scheme was jettisoned"
Similar:
dump
drop
ditch
discharge
eject
throw out
empty out
pour out
tip out
unload
throw overboard
throw over the side
discard
dispose of
throw away
get rid of
toss out
reject
scrap
dispense with
cast aside/off
abandon
relinquish
have done with
shed
slough off
shrug off
throw on the scrapheap
chuck (away/out)
fling
axe
bin
junk
get shut of
get shot of
trash
Opposite:
load
keep
retain
noun: jettison
the action of jettisoning something.
"the jettison lever"
--
dregs
/drɛɡz/
noun
plural noun: dregs
the remnants of a liquid left in a container, together with any sediment.
"coffee dregs"
Similar:
sediment
deposit
residue
remains
accumulation
slops
sludge
scum
debris
dross
detritus
refuse
lees
grounds
scourings
precipitate
sublimate
residuum
settlings
alluvium
draff
grouts
the most worthless part or parts of something.
"the dregs of society"
Similar:
scum
refuse
rabble
vermin
down-and-outs
good-for-nothings
outcasts
deadbeats
tramps
vagrants
the underclass
the untouchables
the lowest of the low
the great unwashed
the hoi polloi
the ragtag (and bobtail)
the canaille
riff-raff
Z-list
trash
dossers
--
gangplank
/ˈɡaŋplaŋk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a movable plank, typically with cleats nailed on it, used by passengers to board or disembark from a ship or boat.
---
statuette
/statʃʊˈɛt,statjʊˈɛt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: statuette; plural noun: statuettes
a small statue or figurine, especially one that is smaller than life-size.
Origin
mid 19th century: from French, diminutive of statue .
--
crockery
/ˈkrɒk(ə)ri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: crockery
plates, dishes, cups, and other similar items, especially ones made of earthenware or china.
Similar:
dishes
pots
crocks
plates
bowls
cups
saucers
pottery
china
porcelain
earthenware
stoneware
tableware
dinner service
tea service
dinnerware
delph
Origin
early 18th century: from obsolete crocker ‘potter’, from crock1.
--
pester
/ˈpɛstə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: pestered; past participle: pestered
trouble or annoy (someone) with frequent or persistent requests or interruptions.
"she constantly pestered him with telephone calls"
Similar:
badger
hound
annoy
bother
harass
trouble
plague
irritate
irk
chivvy
keep after
persecute
torment
molest
bedevil
besiege
harry
worry
beleaguer
nag
dun
importune
hassle
bug
aggravate
give someone a hard time
get on someone's nerves
drive round the bend
drive up the wall
get in someone's hair
get up someone's nose
get at
get on someone's back
mither
ride
devil
Origin
--
submissive
/səbˈmɪsɪv/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: submissive
ready to conform to the authority or will of others; meekly obedient or passive.
"a submissive, almost sheeplike people"
Similar:
compliant
yielding
malleable
acquiescent
accommodating
amenable
tractable
manageable
unassertive
non-resisting
passive
obedient
biddable
dutiful
duteous
docile
ductile
pliant
meek
timid
mild
patient
resigned
forbearing
subdued
humble
self-effacing
spiritless
deferential
obsequious
servile
slavish
self-abasing
spineless
grovelling
lamblike
supine
bootlicking
under someone's thumb
resistless
longanimous
Opposite:
domineering
obstinate
intractable
Origin
late 16th century: from submission, on the pattern of pairs such as remission, remissive .
--
vermouth
/ˈvəːməθ,vəˈmuːθ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: vermouth; plural noun: vermouths
a red or white wine flavoured with aromatic herbs, chiefly made in France and Italy and drunk mixed with gin.
Origin
from French vermout, from German Wermut ‘wormwood’.
--
recalcitrant
/rɪˈkalsɪtr(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
having an obstinately uncooperative attitude towards authority or discipline.
"a class of recalcitrant fifteen-year-olds"
Similar:
uncooperative
obstinately disobedient
intractable
unmanageable
ungovernable
refractory
insubordinate
defiant
rebellious
mutinous
wilful
wayward
headstrong
self-willed
contrary
perverse
difficult
awkward
obdurate
bloody-minded
bolshie
stroppy
contumacious
froward
renitent
pervicacious
Opposite:
amenable
docile
compliant
noun
a person with an obstinately uncooperative attitude.
"a stiff-necked recalcitrant and troublemaker"
--
obstinate
/ˈɒbstɪnət/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.
"her obstinate determination to pursue a career in radio"
Similar:
stubborn
headstrong
wilful
unyielding
inflexible
unbending
intransigent
intractable
obdurate
mulish
stubborn as a mule
pig-headed
bull-headed
self-willed
strong-minded
strong-willed
contrary
perverse
recalcitrant
refractory
uncooperative
unmanageable
cross-grained
stiff-necked
stiff
rigid
steely
iron-willed
uncompromising
implacable
relentless
unrelenting
unpersuadable
immovable
unmalleable
unshakeable
inexorable
with one's toes/feet dug in
persistent
persevering
tenacious
pertinacious
dogged
single-minded
adamant
firm
steadfast
determined
bloody-minded
bolshie
stroppy
balky
froward
contumacious
contrarious
indurate
Opposite:
compliant
amenable
tractable
(of an unwelcome situation) very difficult to change or overcome.
"the obstinate problem of unemployment"
--
arbitration
/ɑːbɪˈtreɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: arbitration; plural noun: arbitrations
the use of an arbitrator to settle a dispute.
"Tayside Regional Council called for arbitration to settle the dispute"
Similar:
adjudication
mediation
mediatorship
negotiation
conciliation
intervention
interceding
interposition
peacemaking
judgement
arbitrament
Phrases
go to arbitration — use an arbitrator to settle a dispute.
"the trust and consortium are likely to go to arbitration"
--
loom2
/luːm/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: looming
appear as a vague form, especially one that is large or threatening.
"vehicles loomed out of the darkness"
Similar:
emerge
appear
become visible
come into view
take shape
materialize
reveal itself
appear indistinctly
come to light
take on a threatening shape
(of an event regarded as threatening) seem about to happen.
"there is a crisis looming"
Similar:
be imminent
be on the horizon
impend
be impending
be close
be ominously close
--
herring
/ˈhɛrɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a fairly small silvery fish which is most abundant in coastal waters and is of widespread commercial importance.
--
adjourn
/əˈdʒəːn/
verb
break off (a meeting, legal case, or game) with the intention of resuming it later.
"the meeting was adjourned until December 4"
(of a group of people) go somewhere for rest or refreshment.
"they adjourned to a local pub"
Similar:
withdraw
retire
retreat
beat a retreat
take oneself
decamp
depart
go out
go off
go away
exit
repair
remove
betake oneself
abstract oneself
put off or postpone (a resolution or sentence).
"sentence was adjourned for a social inquiry report"
Similar:
suspend
break off
discontinue
interrupt
postpone
put off
--
"Agree to disagree" or "agreeing to disagree" is a phrase in English referring to the resolution of a conflict (usually a debate or quarrel) whereby all parties tolerate but do not accept the opposing position(s).
--
capitulate
/kəˈpɪtjʊleɪt/
verb
gerund or present participle: capitulating
cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; yield.
"the patriots had to capitulate to the enemy forces"
Similar:
surrender
give in
yield
admit defeat
concede defeat
give up the struggle
--
transpire
/tranˈspʌɪə,trɑːnˈspʌɪə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
3rd person present: transpires
1.
(of a secret or something unknown) come to be known; be revealed.
"it transpired that millions of dollars of debt had been hidden in a complex web of transactions"
Similar:
become known
become apparent
be revealed
be disclosed
come to light
emerge
come out
get out
be discovered
be uncovered
materialize
leak out
turn out
be made public
prove to be the case.
"as it transpired, he was right"
occur; happen.
"I'm going to find out exactly what transpired"
Similar:
happen
occur
take place
come about
come to pass
crop up
turn up
arise
chance
ensue
befall
be realized
take shape
pan out
end up
2.
BOTANY
(of a plant or leaf) give off water vapour through the stomata.
"a cactus does not transpire as freely as most plants"
Origin
--
carnage
/ˈkɑːnɪdʒ/
noun
the killing of a large number of people.
"the bombing was timed to cause as much carnage as possible"
Similar:
slaughter
massacre
mass murder
mass destruction
butchery
--
strenuously
/ˈstrɛnjʊəsli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
in a way that requires great physical exertion.
"drink more if you're exercising strenuously"
with great effort and determination.
"he strenuously denied any wrongdoing"
--
undeterred
/ʌndɪˈtəːd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: undeterred
persevering with something despite setbacks.
"he was undeterred by these disasters"
--
reticent
/ˈrɛtɪs(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: reticent
not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily.
"she was extremely reticent about her personal affairs"
Similar:
reserved
withdrawn
introverted
restrained
inhibited
diffident
shy
modest
unassuming
shrinking
distant
undemonstrative
wouldn't say boo to a goose
uncommunicative
unforthcoming
unresponsive
tight-lipped
close-mouthed
close-lipped
quiet
taciturn
silent
guarded
secretive
private
media-shy
mum
Opposite:
expansive
garrulous
Origin
--
fisticuffs
/ˈfɪstɪkʌfs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: fisticuffs
fighting with the fists.
"the result was an outbreak of fisticuffs"
Origin
early 17th century: probably from obsolete fisty ‘relating to the fists or to fist fighting’ + cuff2.
--
A thief thinks every man steals. This old Danish proverb refers to the paranoia a thief develops due to his own actions.
--
(as) tough as nails
phrase of nail
(of a person) very strong and resilient in the face of hardship or pain.
"a leader who is as tough as nails"
--
prefecture
/ˈpriːfɛktjʊə/
noun
(in certain countries) a district under the authority of a prefect or governor.
...
a prefect's office or tenure.
the official residence or headquarters of a prefect.
"enraged fans besieged the Prefecture of Police"
--
overture
/ˈəʊvətj(ʊ)ə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
an orchestral piece at the beginning of an opera, play, etc.
"the overture to Mozart's ‘Don Giovanni’"
Similar:
prelude
introduction
opening
introductory movement
voluntary
verset
2.
an introduction to something more substantial.
"the talks were no more than an overture to a long debate"
Similar:
preliminary
prelude
curtain-raiser
introduction
lead-in
--
frantic
/ˈfrantɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: frantic
distraught with fear, anxiety, or other emotion.
"she was frantic with worry"
Similar:
panic-stricken
panic-struck
panicky
beside oneself
at one's wits' end
berserk
distraught
overwrought
worked up
agitated
distressed
frenzied
wild
frenetic
fraught
fevered
feverish
hysterical
mad
crazed
out of control
uncontrolled
unhinged
out of one's mind
maniacal
demented
desperate
in a state
in a tizzy/tizz
wound up
het up
in a flap
in a cold sweat
tearing one's hair out
having kittens
in a flat spin
swivel-eyed
Opposite:
calm
conducted in a hurried, excited, and disorganized way.
"frantic attempts to resuscitate the girl"
Origin
late Middle English frentik, ‘insane, violently mad’, from Old French frenetique (see frenetic).
--
emanate
/ˈɛməneɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
3rd person present: emanates
(of a feeling, quality, or sensation) issue or spread out from (a source).
"warmth emanated from the fireplace"
Similar:
emerge
flow
pour
proceed
issue
ensue
come out
come forth
spread out
come
be uttered
be emitted
be transmitted
arise
originate
stem
derive
spring
start
originate from; be produced by.
"the proposals emanated from a committee"
give out or emit (a feeling, quality, or sensation).
"he emanated a powerful brooding air"
Similar:
exude
give off
give out
send out
send forth
pour out
throw out
spread
discharge
disgorge
emit
exhale
radiate
distil
Origin
--
veritable
/ˈvɛrɪtəb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: veritable
used for emphasis, often to qualify a metaphor.
"the early 1970s witnessed a veritable price explosion"
Origin
late Middle English: from Old French, from verite ‘truth’ (see verity). Early senses included ‘true’ and ‘speaking the truth’, later ‘genuine, actual’.
--
gong
/ɡɒŋ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: gong; plural noun: gongs
1.
a metal disc with a turned rim, giving a resonant note when struck.
2.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
a medal or award.
verb
verb: gong; 3rd person present: gongs; past tense: gonged; past participle: gonged; gerund or present participle: gonging
sound a gong or make a sound like that of a gong being struck.
Origin
early 17th century: from Malay gong, gung, of imitative origin.
--
denigrate
/ˈdɛnɪɡreɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
criticize unfairly; disparage.
"doom and gloom merchants who denigrate their own country"
Similar:
disparage
belittle
diminish
deprecate
cast aspersions on
decry
criticize unfairly
--
salient
/ˈseɪlɪənt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: salient
1.
most noticeable or important.
"it succinctly covered all the salient points of the case"
Similar:
important
main
principal
major
chief
primary
notable
noteworthy
outstanding
arresting
conspicuous
striking
noticeable
obvious
remarkable
signal
prominent
pronounced
predominant
dominant
key
crucial
vital
essential
basic
staple
critical
pivotal
prime
central
focal
paramount
Opposite:
unimportant
inconspicuous
prominent; conspicuous.
"the salient object in my view"
2.
(of an angle) pointing outwards.
3.
HERALDRY
(of an animal) standing on its hind legs with the forepaws raised, as if leaping.
noun
noun: salient; plural noun: salients
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 defence.
"this decisive battle broke the Germans' ability to attack any further into the Kursk salient"
Origin
mid 16th century (as a heraldic term): from Latin salient- ‘leaping’, from the verb salire . The noun dates from the early 19th century.
--
scrounge
/skraʊn(d)ʒ/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
verb
seek to obtain (something, typically food or money) at the expense or through the generosity of others or by stealth.
"he had managed to scrounge a free meal"
Similar:
beg
borrow
cadge
sponge
bum
touch someone for
scab
sorn on someone for
mooch
bludge
noun
an act of scrounging.
"we went for a scrounge"
--
salient
/ˈseɪlɪənt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
1.
most noticeable or important.
"it succinctly covered all the salient points of the case"
Similar:
important
main
principal
major
chief
primary
notable
noteworthy
outstanding
arresting
conspicuous
striking
noticeable
obvious
remarkable
signal
prominent
pronounced
predominant
dominant
key
crucial
vital
essential
basic
staple
critical
pivotal
prime
central
focal
paramount
Opposite:
unimportant
inconspicuous
2.
(of an angle) pointing outwards.
noun
a piece of land or section of fortification that juts out to form an angle.
--
fledgling
/ˈflɛdʒlɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a young bird that has just fledged.
Similar:
chick
baby bird
nestling
a person or organization that is immature, inexperienced, or underdeveloped.
"the country's fledgling democracy"
Similar:
emerging
emergent
arising
sunrise
dawning
beginning
--
nefarious
/nɪˈfɛːrɪəs/
adjective
(typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal.
"the nefarious activities of the organized-crime syndicates"
Similar:
wicked
evil
sinful
iniquitous
villainous
criminal
heinous
atrocious
appalling
abhorrent
vile
foul
base
abominable
odious
depraved
corrupt
shameful
scandalous
monstrous
fiendish
diabolical
devilish
unholy
ungodly
infernal
satanic
dark
unspeakable
despicable
outrageous
shocking
disgraceful
knavish
dastardly
egregious
flagitious
Opposite:
good
admirable
Origin
early 17th century: from Latin nefarius, from nefas, nefar- ‘wrong’ (from ne- ‘not’ + fas ‘divine law’) + -ous.
--
feel a tug :
1 to perceive (something) by touching. 2 to have a physical or emotional sensation of (something) to feel heat, to feel anger. 3 tr to examine (something) by touch.
--
outflank
/aʊtˈflaŋk/
Learn to pronounce
verb
move round the side of (an enemy) so as to outmanoeuvre them.
"the Germans had sought to outflank them from the north-east"
outwit.
"an attempt to outflank the opposition"
--
galvanize
/ˈɡalvənʌɪz/
verb
gerund or present participle: galvanizing
1.
shock or excite (someone) into taking action.
"the urgency of his voice galvanized them into action"
Similar:
jolt
shock
startle
impel
stir
spur
prod
urge
motivate
stimulate
electrify
excite
rouse
arouse
awaken
invigorate
fire
fuel
animate
vitalize
energize
exhilarate
thrill
dynamize
inspire
get someone going
light a fire under
give someone a shot in the arm
give someone a kick
inspirit
incentivize
Opposite:
demotivate
2.
coat (iron or steel) with a protective layer of zinc.
"an old galvanized bucket"
Origin
early 19th century (in the sense ‘stimulate by electricity’): from French galvaniser (see Galvani, Luigi).
--
deferential
/dɛfəˈrɛnʃ(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: deferential
showing deference; respectful.
"people were always deferential to him"
Similar:
obsequious
humble
respectful
considerate
attentive
thoughtful
courteous
polite
civil
dutiful
reverent
reverential
awed
obedient
submissive
subservient
fawning
toadying
yielding
acquiescent
complaisant
compliant
pliant
tractable
biddable
manageable
docile
slavish
mannerly
regardful
obeisant
Opposite:
arrogant
impolite
Origin
early 19th century: from deference, on the pattern of pairs such as prudence, prudential .
--
legalese
/ˌliːɡəˈliːz/
noun
INFORMAL
the formal and technical language of legal documents.
"the typed pages were full of confusing legalese"
--
Good faith
Honesty; a sincere intention to deal fairly with others. Good faith is an abstract and comprehensive term that encompasses a sincere belief or motive without any malice or the desire to defraud others. It derives from the translation of the Latin term bona fide, and courts use the two terms interchangeably.
good faith
noun
honesty or sincerity of intention.
"the details contained in this brochure have been published in good faith"
--
on·tol·o·gy
/änˈtäləjē/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: ontology; plural noun: ontologies
1.
the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being.
2.
a set of concepts and categories in a subject area or domain that shows their properties and the relations between them.
"what's new about our ontology is that it is created automatically from large datasets"
Origin
early 18th century: from modern Latin ontologia, from Greek ōn, ont- ‘being’ + -logy.
~
Ontology
Field of study
DescriptionOntology is the philosophical study of being. More broadly, it studies concepts that directly relate to being, in particular becoming, existence, reality, as well as the basic categories of being and their relations. Wikipedia
---
Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way. —Daniele Vare, Italian diplomat
---
ostensibly
/ɒˈstɛnsɪbli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: ostensibly
as appears or is stated to be true, though not necessarily so; apparently.
"the party secretary resigned, ostensibly from ill health"
h
Similar:
apparently
seemingly
on the face of it
to all appearances
--
gusto
/ˈɡʌstəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: gusto
1.
enjoyment and enthusiasm in doing something.
"Hawkins tucked into his breakfast with gusto"
h
Similar:
enthusiasm
relish
appetite
enjoyment
delight
glee
pleasure
satisfaction
gratification
appreciation
liking
fondness
zest
zeal
fervour
verve
keenness
avidity
delectation
h
Opposite:
apathy
distaste
archaic
a relish or liking.
"he had a particular gusto for those sort of performances"
2.
archaic
the style in which a work of art is executed.
Origin
early 17th century: from Italian, from Latin gustus ‘taste’.
--
stymie
/ˈstʌɪmi/
Learn to pronounce
verbinformal
past tense: stymied; past participle: stymied
prevent or hinder the progress of.
"the changes must not be allowed to stymie new medical treatments"
h
Similar:
impede
interfere with
hamper
hinder
obstruct
inhibit
frustrate
thwart
foil
spoil
stall
shackle
fetter
stop
check
block
cripple
handicap
scotch
put paid to
put the kibosh on
snooker
scupper
h
Opposite:
assist
help
Origin
mid 19th century (originally a golfing term, denoting a situation on the green where a ball obstructs the shot of another player): of unknown origin.
--
gangplank
/ˈɡaŋplaŋk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: gangplank; plural noun: gangplanks; noun: gang-plank; plural noun: gang-planks
a movable plank, typically with cleats nailed on it, used by passengers to board or disembark from a ship or boat.
--
conciliation
/kənˌsɪlɪˈeɪʃn/
noun: conciliation; plural noun: conciliations
the action of stopping someone being angry; placation.
"he held his hands up in a gesture of conciliation"
Similar:
appeasement
pacification
peacemaking
placation
propitiation
mollification
reconciliation
Opposite:
provocation
the action of mediating between two disputing people or groups.
"many disputes are settled through conciliation by the official body"
--
testament
/ˈtɛstəm(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
See definitions in:
All
Law
Biblical
noun
noun: testament; plural noun: testaments
1.
a person's will, especially the part relating to personal property.
"father's will and testament"
2.
something that serves as a sign or evidence of a specified fact, event, or quality.
"growing attendance figures are a testament to the event's popularity"
Similar:
testimony
witness
evidence
proof
attestation
demonstration
indication
exemplification
monument
tribute
3.
(in biblical use) a covenant or dispensation.
a division of the Bible.
noun: Testament; plural noun: Testaments
a copy of the New Testament.
noun: Testament
"he was able to buy a Testament"
Origin
Middle English: from Latin testamentum ‘a will’ (from testari ‘testify’), in Christian Latin also translating Greek diathēkē ‘covenant’.
--
acrimonious
/ˌakrɪˈməʊnɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
(typically of speech or discussion) angry and bitter.
"an acrimonious dispute about wages"
Similar:
bitter
rancorous
caustic
acerbic
scathing
sarcastic
acid
--
A cymbal is a common percussion instrument. Often used in pairs, cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys. The majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sound a definite note (see: crotales).
Cymbal
Musical instrument
DescriptionA cymbal is a common percussion instrument. Often used in pairs, cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys. The majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sound a definite note. Wikipedia
Instrument family: Percussion, Orchestral percussion
Related instrument: Crotales
Classification: Percussion
Developed: 7th century BC
--
lucid
/ˈluːsɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
1.
expressed clearly; easy to understand.
"a lucid account"
Similar:
intelligible
comprehensible
understandable
cogent
coherent
communicative
articulate
eloquent
clear
clear-cut
crystal clear
transparent
plain
simple
direct
vivid
sharp
straightforward
perspicuous
unambiguous
graphic
explicit
joined-up
Opposite:
confusing
unclear
ambiguous
2.
LITERARY
bright or luminous.
"birds dipped their wings in the lucid flow of air"
Similar:
bright
shining
gleaming
luminous
radiant
brilliant
glowing
---
prodigal
/ˈprɒdɪɡ(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: prodigal
1.
spending money or using resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.
"prodigal habits die hard"
Similar:
wasteful
extravagant
spendthrift
improvident
imprudent
immoderate
profligate
thriftless
excessive
intemperate
irresponsible
self-indulgent
reckless
wanton
Opposite:
thrifty
economical
parsimonious
2.
having or giving something on a lavish scale.
"the dessert was prodigal with whipped cream"
Similar:
generous
lavish
liberal
unstinting
unsparing
bountiful
copious
profuse
abundant in
abounding in
rich
bounteous
Opposite:
mean
noun
noun: prodigal; plural noun: prodigals
a person who spends money in a recklessly extravagant way.
"the government wished to clip the wings of the local authority prodigals"
a person who leaves home to lead a prodigal life but later makes a repentant return.
noun: prodigal daughter; plural noun: prodigal daughters; noun: prodigal son; plural noun: prodigal sons
Origin
late Middle English: from late Latin prodigalis, from Latin prodigus ‘lavish’.
--
pupil1
/ˈpjuːpɪl,ˈpjuːp(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
Filter definitions by topic
See definitions in:
All
Education
Law
Anatomy
noun
noun: pupil; plural noun: pupils
a person who is taught by another, especially a schoolchild or student in relation to a teacher.
"they are former pupils of the school"
Similar:
student
schoolchild
schoolboy
schoolgirl
scholar
disciple
follower
learner
protégé
apprentice
trainee
mentee
probationer
novice
recruit
beginner
tyro
neophyte
BRITISH
a trainee barrister.
Origin
late Middle English (in the sense ‘orphan, ward’): from Old French pupille, from Latin pupillus (diminutive of pupus ‘boy’) and pupilla (diminutive of pupa ‘girl’).
pupil2
/ˈpjuːpɪl,ˈpjuːp(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: pupil; plural noun: pupils
the dark circular opening in the centre of the iris of the eye, which varies in size to regulate the amount of light reaching the retina.
Origin
--
impassioned
/ɪmˈpaʃ(ə)nd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: impassioned
filled with or showing great emotion.
"she made an impassioned plea for help"
Similar:
emotional
heartfelt
wholehearted
full-hearted
from the heart
earnest
sincere
fervent
fervid
ardent
vehement
intense
burning
urgent
passionate
feverish
frantic
emotive
zealous
perfervid
passional
Opposite:
half-hearted
impassion
/ɪmˈpaʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: impassioned; past participle: impassioned
make passionate.
"her body had once pleased and impassioned him"
Origin
--
stalwart
/ˈstɔːlwət,ˈstɒlwət/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: stalwart
loyal, reliable, and hard-working.
"he remained a stalwart supporter of the cause"
Similar:
staunch
loyal
faithful
committed
devoted
dedicated
dependable
reliable
steady
constant
trusty
hard-working
vigorous
stable
firm
steadfast
redoubtable
resolute
unswerving
unwavering
unhesitating
unfaltering
Opposite:
disloyal
unfaithful
unreliable
DATED
strongly built and sturdy.
"he was of stalwart build"
noun
noun: stalwart; plural noun: stalwarts
a loyal, reliable, and hard-working supporter of or participant in an organization or team.
"the stalwarts of the Labour Party"
Origin
--
pro rata
/prəʊ ˈrɑːtə,ˈreɪtə/
adjective
adjective: pro rata
proportional.
"as the pound has fallen costs have risen on a pro rata basis"
adverb
adverb: pro rata
proportionally.
"their fees will rise pro rata with salaries"
Origin
late 16th century: Latin, literally ‘according to the rate’.
--
platitude
/ˈplatɪtjuːd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: platitudes
a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.
"she began uttering liberal platitudes"
Similar:
cliché
truism
commonplace
banality
old chestnut
bromide
inanity
tag
Origin
early 19th century: from French, from plat ‘flat’.
--
steward
/ˈstjuːəd/
Learn to pronounce
Filter definitions by topic
See definitions in:
All
Title
Royalty
noun
plural noun: stewards
1.
a person employed to look after the passengers on a ship, aircraft, or train.
Similar:
flight attendant
cabin attendant
member of the cabin staff
stewardess
air hostess
stew
2.
a person responsible for supplies of food to a college, club, or other institution.
Similar:
major-domo
seneschal
manciple
butler
3.
an official appointed to supervise arrangements or keep order at a large public event, for example a race, match, or demonstration.
Similar:
official
marshal
organizer
4.
short for shop steward.
5.
a person employed to manage another's property, especially a large house or estate.
Similar:
(estate) manager
agent
overseer
custodian
caretaker
land agent
bailiff
factor
reeve
HISTORICAL•BRITISH
an officer of the royal household, especially an administrator of Crown estates.
"Chief Steward of the Duchy of Lancaster"
a person whose responsibility it is to take care of something.
"farmers pride themselves on being stewards of the countryside"
verb
3rd person present: stewards
1.
(of an official) supervise arrangements or keep order at (a large public event).
"the event was organized and stewarded properly"
2.
manage or look after (another's property).
"security is found in reparticipating in community and stewarding nature"
Origin
Old English stīweard, from stig (probably in the sense ‘house, hall’) + weard ‘ward’. The verb dates from the early 17th century.
--
exacerbate
/ɪɡˈzasəbeɪt,ɛkˈsasəbeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: exacerbated; past participle: exacerbated
make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.
"the exorbitant cost of land in urban areas only exacerbated the problem"
Similar:
aggravate
make worse
worsen
inflame
compound
intensify
increase
heighten
magnify
add to
amplify
augment
make matters worse
compound the problem
add fuel to the fire/flames
fan the flames
rub salt in the wounds
add insult to injury
Opposite:
calm
reduce
Origin
--
congenial
/kənˈdʒiːnɪəl/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: congenial
(of a person) pleasing or liked on account of having qualities or interests that are similar to one's own.
"his need for some congenial company"
Similar:
like-minded
compatible
kindred
well suited
easy to get along with
companionable
sociable
sympathetic
comradely
convivial
neighbourly
hospitable
genial
personable
agreeable
friendly
pleasant
likeable
kindly
pleasing
amiable
nice
good-natured
sympathique
simpatico
Opposite:
disagreeable
incompatible
(of a thing) pleasant or agreeable because suited to one's taste or inclination.
"he went back to a climate more congenial to his cold stony soul"
Similar:
pleasant
pleasing
to one's liking
agreeable
enjoyable
--
Invasion of Normandy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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It has been suggested that Operation Overlord be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since February 2020.
This article is about the first few weeks of the invasion of Normandy. The first day of the landings (commonly known as D-Day) is covered in more detail at Normandy landings.
For earlier invasions of Normandy in other wars, see Invasions of Normandy (disambiguation).
Invasion of Normandy
Part of Operation Overlord (World War II)
Into the Jaws of Death 23-0455M edit.jpg
Into the Jaws of Death by Robert F. Sargent. Assault craft land one of the first waves at Omaha Beach. The U.S. Coast Guard caption identifies the unit as Company E, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.
Date 6 June 1944 – mid-July 1944
Location
Normandy, France
Coordinates: 49°20′N 0°34′W
Result Allied victory
Territorial
changes German army retreats eastwards to Paris.
Belligerents
Allies
United Kingdom
United States
Canada
Allied contributions Axis
Nazi Germany
Commanders and leaders
United States Dwight D. Eisenhower
(Supreme Allied Commander)
United Kingdom Arthur Tedder
(Deputy Supreme Allied Commander)
United Kingdom Bernard Montgomery
(21st Army Group, Ground Forces Commander in Chief)
United Kingdom Trafford Leigh-Mallory
(Air Commander in Chief)
United Kingdom Bertram Ramsay
(Naval Commander in Chief)
United Kingdom Miles Dempsey
(British 2nd Army)
United States Omar Bradley
(U.S. 1st Army) Nazi Germany Gerd von Rundstedt (Oberbefehlshaber West)
Nazi Germany Erwin Rommel (Heeresgruppe B)
Nazi Germany Friedrich Dollmann (7 Armeeoberkommando)
Nazi Germany Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg (Panzergruppe West)
Strength
1,332,000 (by 24 July)[1] 380,000 (by 23 July)[2]
Casualties and losses
by 24 July:
≈120,000 casualties[1] by 24 July:
113,059 casualties[1]
vte
Operation Overlord
Invasion of Normandy
vte
West European Campaign (1944–45)
vte
Western Front of
World War II
The Western Allies of World War II launched the largest amphibious invasion in history when they attacked German positions at Normandy, located on the northern coast of France, on 6 June 1944. The invaders were able to establish a beachhead as part of Operation Overlord after a successful "D-Day", the first day of the invasion.
Allied land forces came from the United States, Britain, Canada, and Free French forces. In the weeks following the invasion, Polish forces and contingents from Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece and the Netherlands participated in the ground campaign; most also provided air and naval support alongside elements of the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and the Royal Norwegian Navy.[3][4]
The Normandy invasion began with overnight parachute and glider landings, massive air attacks and naval bombardments. In the early morning, amphibious landings commenced on five beaches codenamed Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah, with troops from the United States landing on Omaha and Utah, Britain landing on Gold and Sword, and Canada landing on Juno. During the evening the remaining elements of the airborne divisions landed. Land forces used on D-Day sailed from bases along the south coast of England, the most important of these being Portsmouth.[5]
---
Definition of disserve. transitive verb. : to serve badly or falsely : harm.
--
lampoon
/lamˈpuːn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: lampooning
publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm.
"the actor was lampooned by the press"
Similar:
satirize
mock
ridicule
make fun of
poke fun at
caricature
burlesque
--
outlay
/ˈaʊtleɪ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: outlays
an amount of money spent on something.
"a modest outlay on local advertising"
Similar:
expenditure
expenses
spending
outgoings
money spent
cost
--
chicanery
/ʃɪˈkeɪnəri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: chicanery
the use of deception or subterfuge to achieve one's purpose.
"storylines packed with political chicanery"
Similar:
trickery
deception
deceit
deceitfulness
duplicity
dishonesty
unscrupulousness
underhandedness
subterfuge
fraud
fraudulence
legerdemain
sophistry
sharp practice
skulduggery
swindling
cheating
duping
hoodwinking
deviousness
guile
intrigue
palace intrigue
craft
craftiness
artfulness
slyness
wiles
misleading talk
crookedness
monkey business
funny business
hanky-panky
shenanigans
flimflam
jiggery-pokery
monkeyshines
codology
management
knavery
Origin
--
vacillate
/ˈvasɪleɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: vacillated; past participle: vacillated
waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive.
"I vacillated between teaching and journalism"
Similar:
dither
be indecisive
be irresolute
be undecided
be uncertain
be unsure
be doubtful
waver
teeter
temporize
hesitate
oscillate
fluctuate
keep changing one's mind
haver
hum and haw
swither
dilly-dally
shilly-shally
blow hot and cold
irresolute
hesitant
tentative
dithering
wavering
teetering
fluctuating
ambivalent
divided
doubtful
unsure
uncertain
in two minds
undecided
indefinite
unresolved
undetermined
dilly-dallying
shilly-shallying
iffy
blowing hot and cold
Opposite:
resolute
Origin
--
conduit
/ˈkɒndjʊɪt,ˈkɒndɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: conduit; plural noun: conduits
1.
a channel for conveying water or other fluid.
"nearby springs supplied the conduit which ran into the brewery"
a person or organization that acts as a channel for the transmission of something.
"as an actor you have to be a conduit for other people's words"
2.
a tube or trough for protecting electric wiring.
"the gas pipe should not be close to any electrical conduit"
Similar:
channel
duct
pipe
tube
gutter
groove
furrow
trough
trench
culvert
cut
sluice
spillway
race
flume
chute
ditch
drain
Origin
Middle English: from Old French, from medieval Latin conductus, from Latin conducere ‘bring together’ (see conduct).
--
lockstep
/ˈlɒkstɛp/
Learn to pronounce
nounNORTH AMERICAN
a way of marching with each person as close as possible to the one in front.
"the trio marched in lockstep"
close adherence to and emulation of another's actions.
"they raised prices in lockstep with those of foreign competitors"
--
fiduciary
/fɪˈdjuːʃ(ə)ri/
Learn to pronounce
Filter definitions by topic
See definitions in:
all
law
finance
adjective
adjective: fiduciary
1.
Law
involving trust, especially with regard to the relationship between a trustee and a beneficiary.
"the company has a fiduciary duty to shareholders"
archaic
held or given in trust.
"fiduciary estates"
2.
Finance
(of a paper currency) depending for its value on securities (as opposed to gold) or the reputation of the issuer.
noun
noun: fiduciary; plural noun: fiduciaries
a trustee.
--
bequest
/bɪˈkwɛst/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: bequests
a legacy.
"a bequest of over £300,000"
h
Similar:
legacy
inheritance
endowment
estate
heritage
bestowal
bequeathal
settlement
provision
benefaction
gift
present
contribution
donation
devise
hereditament
the action of bequeathing something.
"a painting acquired by bequest"
Origin
--
odious
/ˈəʊdɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: odious
extremely unpleasant; repulsive.
"a pretty odious character"
h
Similar:
revolting
repulsive
repellent
repugnant
disgusting
offensive
objectionable
vile
foul
abhorrent
loathsome
nauseating
nauseous
sickening
hateful
detestable
execrable
abominable
monstrous
appalling
reprehensible
deplorable
insufferable
intolerable
unacceptable
despicable
contemptible
beyond the pale
unspeakable
poisonous
noxious
obscene
base
hideous
grisly
gruesome
horrendous
heinous
atrocious
awful
terrible
dreadful
frightful
obnoxious
unsavoury
unpalatable
unpleasant
disagreeable
nasty
distasteful
dislikeable
off-putting
displeasing
ghastly
horrible
horrid
gross
putrid
sick-making
yucky
godawful
beastly
bogging
skanky
noisome
disgustful
scurvy
loathly
h
Opposite:
delightful
pleasant
agreeable
charming
Origin
--
egregious
/ɪˈɡriːdʒəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: egregious
1.
outstandingly bad; shocking.
"egregious abuses of copyright"
h
Similar:
shocking
appalling
horrific
horrifying
horrible
terrible
awful
dreadful
grievous
gross
ghastly
hideous
horrendous
frightful
atrocious
abominable
abhorrent
outrageous
monstrous
nightmarish
heinous
harrowing
dire
unspeakable
shameful
flagrant
glaring
blatant
scandalous
unforgivable
unpardonable
intolerable
h
Opposite:
marvellous
2.
archaic
remarkably good.
Origin
--
surmise
/səˈmʌɪz/
verb
verb: surmise; 3rd person present: surmises; past tense: surmised; past participle: surmised; gerund or present participle: surmising
suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it.
"he surmised that something must be wrong"
h
Similar:
guess
conjecture
suspect
deduce
infer
come to the conclusion
conclude
theorize
speculate
glean
divine
assume
presume
suppose
understand
gather
feel
have a sneaking suspicion
hazard a guess
sense
be of the opinion
think
believe
imagine
judge
fancy
reckon
opine
h
Opposite:
know
noun
noun: surmise; plural noun: surmises
a supposition that something may be true, even though there is no evidence to confirm it.
"Charles was glad to have his surmise confirmed"
Origin
late Middle English (in the senses ‘formal allegation’ and ‘allege formally’): from Anglo-Norman French and Old French surmise, feminine past participle of surmettre ‘accuse’, from late Latin supermittere ‘put in afterwards’, from super- ‘over’ + mittere ‘send’.
--
lassitude
/ˈlasɪtjuːd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: lassitude
a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy.
"she was overcome by lassitude and retired to bed"
h
Similar:
lethargy
listlessness
weariness
languor
sluggishness
enervation
tiredness
exhaustion
fatigue
sleepiness
drowsiness
torpor
torpidity
ennui
lifelessness
sloth
apathy
h
Opposite:
vigour
energy
Origin
late Middle English: from French, from Latin lassitudo, from lassus ‘tired’.
--
idyllic
/ɪˈdɪlɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: idyllic
like an idyll; extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque.
"an attractive hotel in an idyllic setting"
h
Similar:
perfect
ideal
idealized
wonderful
blissful
halcyon
happy
--
cellar
/ˈsɛlə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: cellar; plural noun: cellars
a room below ground level in a house, often used for storing wine or coal.
"the servants led us down into a cellar"
h
Similar:
basement
vault
crypt
undercroft
underground room
catacomb
garden flat
sub-basement
lower ground floor
below stairs
h
Opposite:
attic
a stock of wine.
"he spent years building up a remarkable cellar of aged Riojas"
verb
verb: cellar; 3rd person present: cellars; past tense: cellared; past participle: cellared; gerund or present participle: cellaring
store (wine) in a cellar.
"it is drinkable now but can be cellared for at least five years"
Origin
Middle English (in the general sense ‘storeroom’): from Old French celier, from late Latin cellarium ‘storehouse’, from Latin cella ‘storeroom or chamber’.
Translate cellar to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
cellar is sometimes confused with seller
--
patsy
/ˈpatsi/
Learn to pronounce
nouninformal•North American
noun: patsy; plural noun: patsies
a person who is easily taken advantage of, especially by being cheated or blamed for something.
"the blonde was drop-dead gorgeous but she was nobody's patsy"
Origin
early 20th century: of unknown origin.
--
arcane
/ɑːˈkeɪn/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: arcane
understood by few; mysterious or secret.
"arcane procedures for electing people"
h
Similar:
mysterious
secret
hidden
concealed
covert
clandestine
enigmatic
dark
esoteric
obscure
abstruse
recondite
little known
recherché
inscrutable
impenetrable
opaque
incomprehensible
cryptic
occult
h
Opposite:
well known
open
Origin
--
offhanded
/ˌɒfˈhandɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: offhanded; adjective: off-handed
ungraciously or offensively nonchalant or cool in manner; offhand.
"offhanded remarks that weren't fully considered"
--
impetuous
/ɪmˈpɛtjʊəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: impetuous
acting or done quickly and without thought or care.
"she might live to rue this impetuous decision"
Similar:
impulsive
rash
hasty
overhasty
reckless
heedless
foolhardy
incautious
imprudent
injudicious
ill-conceived
ill-considered
unplanned
unreasoned
unthought-out
unthinking
spontaneous
impromptu
spur-of-the-moment
precipitate
precipitous
headlong
hurried
rushed
Opposite:
cautious
considered
moving forcefully or rapidly.
"an impetuous but controlled flow of water"
Similar:
torrential
powerful
forceful
vigorous
violent
raging
rampant
relentless
unrestrained
uncontrolled
unbridled
rapid
fast
fast-flowing
rushing
Opposite:
sluggish
weak
Origin
late Middle English: from Old French impetueux, from late Latin impetuosus, from impetere ‘to attack’.
--
flit
/flɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: flitting
move swiftly and lightly.
"small birds flitted about in the branches"
h
Similar:
dart
dance
skip
play
dash
trip
flick
skim
flutter
bob
bounce
spring
scoot
hop
gambol
caper
cavort
prance
frisk
scamper
beetle
Scottish•Northern English
move house or leave one's home, typically secretly so as to escape creditors or obligations.
Origin
--
Our motto is: "If at first you do succeed, quit trying."
--
burgeon
/ˈbəːdʒ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: burgeoned; past participle: burgeoned
begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish.
"manufacturers are keen to cash in on the burgeoning demand"
Similar:
grow rapidly
increase rapidly/exponentially
expand
spring up
shoot up
swell
explode
boom
mushroom
proliferate
snowball
multiply
become more numerous
escalate
rocket
skyrocket
run riot
put on a spurt
flourish
thrive
prosper
Opposite:
shrink
ARCHAIC•LITERARY
put forth young shoots; bud.
--
fi·del·i·ty
/fəˈdelədē/
Learn to pronounce
noun
faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.
"he sought only the strictest fidelity to justice"
Similar:
loyalty
allegiance
obedience
constancy
fealty
homage
staunchness
fastness
sexual faithfulness to a spouse or partner.
Similar:
faithfulness
loyalty
constancy
devotedness
devotion
commitment
adherence
true-heartedness
trustworthiness
trustiness
honesty
dependability
reliability
monogamy
troth
Opposite:
disloyalty
infidelity
the degree of exactness with which something is copied or reproduced.
"the 1949 recording provides reasonable fidelity"
Similar:
accuracy
exactness
exactitude
precision
preciseness
correctness
scrupulousness
strictness
closeness
faithfulness
correspondence
literalness
conformity
realism
verisimilitude
veracity
authenticity
naturalism
Opposite:
inaccuracy
Translations, word origin, and more definitions
--
nag1
/naɡ/
verb
3rd person present: nags
annoy or irritate (a person) with persistent fault-finding or continuous urging.
"she constantly nags her daughter about getting married"
Similar:
harass
keep on at
go on at
harp on at
badger
keep after
give someone a hard time
get on someone's back
persecute
chivvy
hound
harry
bully
pick on
criticize
find fault with
keep complaining to
moan (on) at
grumble at
henpeck
carp at
scold
upbraid
berate
hassle
ride
heavy
shrewish
complaining
grumbling
fault-finding
scolding
carping
cavilling
criticizing
be persistently painful, troublesome, or worrying to.
"something nagged at the back of his mind"
Similar:
persistent
continuous
lingering
niggling
troublesome
unrelenting
unremitting
unabating
aching
painful
distressing
worrying
noun
plural noun: nags
a person who nags someone.
Similar:
shrew
nagger
harpy
termagant
harridan
moaner
complainer
grumbler
fault-finder
carper
caviller
kvetch
targe
scold
a persistent feeling of anxiety.
"he felt once again that little nag of doubt"
Origin
early 19th century (originally dialect in the sense ‘gnaw’): perhaps of Scandinavian or Low German origin; compare with Norwegian and Swedish nagga ‘gnaw, irritate’ and Low German ( g)naggen ‘provoke’.
nag2
/naɡ/
noun
plural noun: nags
INFORMAL•DEROGATORY
a horse, especially one that is old or in poor health.
"the old nag the lad fetched smelled sweaty"
Similar:
worn-out horse
old horse
hack
Rosinante
bag of bones
plug
crowbait
moke
screw
jade
rip
keffel
ARCHAIC
a horse suitable for riding as opposed to a draft animal.
Origin
Middle English: of unknown origin.
--
quick·sand
/ˈkwikˌsand/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: quicksand; plural noun: quicksands
loose wet sand that yields easily to pressure and sucks in anything resting on or falling into it.
a bad or dangerous situation from which it is hard to escape.
"John found himself sinking fast in financial quicksand"
--
im·per·a·tive
/əmˈperədiv/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: imperative
1.
of vital importance; crucial.
"immediate action was imperative"
Similar:
vitally important
of vital importance
all-important
vital
crucial
critical
essential
of the essence
a matter of life and death
of great consequence
necessary
indispensable
exigent
pressing
urgent
required
compulsory
mandatory
obligatory
Opposite:
unimportant
optional
2.
giving an authoritative command; peremptory.
"the bell pealed again, a final imperative call"
Similar:
peremptory
commanding
imperious
authoritative
masterful
lordly
magisterial
autocratic
dictatorial
domineering
overbearing
assertive
firm
insistent
bossy
high-handed
overweening
Opposite:
submissive
GRAMMAR
denoting the mood of a verb that expresses a command or exhortation, as in come here!.
noun
noun: imperative; plural noun: imperatives
1.
an essential or urgent thing.
"free movement of labor was an economic imperative"
a factor or influence making something necessary.
"the change came about through a financial imperative"
2.
GRAMMAR
a verb or phrase in the imperative mood.
the imperative mood.
noun: the imperative
--
e·gre·gious
/əˈɡrējəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: egregious
1.
outstandingly bad; shocking.
"egregious abuses of copyright"
Similar:
shocking
appalling
horrific
horrifying
horrible
terrible
awful
dreadful
grievous
gross
ghastly
hideous
horrendous
frightful
atrocious
abominable
abhorrent
outrageous
monstrous
nightmarish
heinous
harrowing
dire
unspeakable
shameful
flagrant
glaring
blatant
scandalous
unforgivable
unpardonable
intolerable
Opposite:
marvelous
2.
ARCHAIC
remarkably good.
Origin
---
dis·ar·ray
/ˌdisəˈrā/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: disarray; plural noun: disarrays
a state of disorganization or untidiness.
"her gray hair was in disarray"
Similar:
disorder
confusion
chaos
untidiness
dishevelment
mess
muddle
clutter
jumble
mix-up
tangle
hotchpotch
shambles
omnishambles
disorganization
lack of order
discomposure
disunity
indiscipline
unruliness
Opposite:
tidiness
orderliness
verb
verb: disarray; 3rd person present: disarrays; past tense: disarrayed; past participle: disarrayed; gerund or present participle: disarraying
1.
throw (someone or something) into a state of disorganization or untidiness.
"the inspection disarrayed the usual schedule"
Similar:
disarrange
make untidy
bring/throw into disarray
bring/throw into disorder
disorganize
turn upside-down
unsettle
dishevel
tousle
rumple
Opposite:
tidy
organize
2.
LITERARY
strip (someone) of clothing.
"attendant damsels to help to disarray her"
Origin
--
hand·i·work
/ˈhandēˌwərk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: handiwork; noun: one's handiwork; plural noun: one's handiworks
1.
something that one has made or done.
"the dressmakers stood back to survey their handiwork"
Similar:
creation
product
work
achievement
design
doing
action
result
handicraft
craft
craftwork
2.
making things by hand, considered as a subject of instruction.
"they taught young women reading, writing, and handiwork"
Origin
--
junk bond
/ˈjəNGk ˌbänd/
noun
a high-yield, high-risk security, typically issued by a company seeking to raise capital quickly in order to finance a takeover.
Junk bonds are bonds that carry a higher risk of default than most bonds issued by corporations and governments. A bond is a debt or promises to pay investors interest payments and the return of invested principal in exchange for buying the bond.
--
ze·ro-cou·pon bond
noun
a bond that is issued at a deep discount to its face value but pays no interest.
--
erg1
/ərɡ/
See definitions in:
All
Physics
Geography
nounPHYSICS
a unit of work or energy, equal to the work done by a force of one dyne when its point of application moves one centimeter in the direction of action of the force.
--
befitting
/bəˈfidiNG/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: befitting
appropriate to the occasion.
"a country which can run the prestigious tournament in a befitting manner"
be·fit
/bəˈfit/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: befitting
be appropriate for; suit.
"the ballet ends nobly, as befits a tragedy"
Similar:
in keeping with
as befits
fitting
appropriate to
fit for
suitable for
suited to
apt for
proper to
right for
compatible with
consistent with
in character with
meet for
Opposite:
out of keeping with
Translate befitting to
--
Du jour
Let’s start with the meaning of du jour. Du jour is an adjective used only after a noun, as in
soup du jour
topic du jour
hairstyle du jour
It comes from French, in which du jour means literally “of the day.” In English, it can mean either an item served in a restaurant on a particular day, as in example 1 above, or something that is happening or popular at the current time (this month, this year, etc.), as in examples 2 and 3. When it is used to mean popular, it can have a slightly negative meaning, similar to trendy.
Du jour is most commonly used in newspapers, magazines, and news shows. It is not common in academic writing. Below are some example sentences that show how du jour is used.
Our pasta du jour is linguine with clam sauce.
Long straight hair was the style du jour.
The recession was once again the topic du jour on the radio.
Strategy du jour
A strategy is a careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal. As you can probably guess, a strategy du jour is a strategy that is widely used or popular at the current time.
--
por·tend
/pôrˈtend/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: portended; past participle: portended
be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen.
"the eclipses portend some major events"
Similar:
presage
augur
foreshadow
foretell
prophesy
be a sign of
be a warning of
--
ob·scure
/əbˈskyo͝or/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: obscure; comparative adjective: obscurer; superlative adjective: obscurest
not discovered or known about; uncertain.
"his origins and parentage are obscure"
Similar:
unclear
uncertain
unknown
in doubt
doubtful
dubious
mysterious
hazy
vague
indeterminate
concealed
hidden
not clearly expressed or easily understood.
"obscure references to Proust"
Similar:
abstruse
recondite
arcane
esoteric
recherché
occult
enigmatic
mystifying
puzzling
perplexing
baffling
ambiguous
cryptic
equivocal
Delphic
oracular
riddling
oblique
opaque
elliptical
unintelligible
uninterpretable
incomprehensible
impenetrable
unfathomable
inexplicable
unexplained
as clear as mud
Opposite:
clear
plain
not important or well known.
"an obscure religious sect"
Similar:
little known
unknown
unheard of
undistinguished
insignificant
unimportant
inconsequential
inconspicuous
unnoticed
nameless
anonymous
minor
humble
lowly
unrenowned
unsung
unrecognized
unhonored
inglorious
forgotten
Opposite:
famous
renowned
hard to make out or define; vague.
"I feel an obscure resentment"
Similar:
indistinct
faint
vague
ill-defined
unclear
blurred
blurry
misty
hazy
foggy
veiled
cloudy
clouded
nebulous
fuzzy
dark
dim
unlit
black
murky
somber
gloomy
shady
shadowy
dusky
tenebrous
darkling
crepuscular
caliginous
Cimmerian
Opposite:
distinct
(of a color) not sharply defined; dim or dingy.
verb
verb: obscure; 3rd person present: obscures; past tense: obscured; past participle: obscured; gerund or present participle: obscuring
keep from being seen; conceal.
"gray clouds obscure the sun"
Similar:
hide
conceal
cover
veil
shroud
screen
mask
cloak
cast a shadow over
shadow
envelop
mantle
block
block out
blank out
obliterate
eclipse
overshadow
enshroud
bedim
benight
obnubilate
adumbrate
Opposite:
reveal
make unclear and difficult to understand.
"the debate has become obscured by conflicting ideological perspectives"
Similar:
confuse
complicate
obfuscate
cloud
blur
muddy
muddy the waters
becloud
befog
Opposite:
clarify
illuminate
overshadow.
"none of this should obscure the skill, experience, and perseverance of the workers"
Origin
late Middle English: from Old French obscur, from Latin obscurus ‘dark’, from an Indo-European root meaning ‘cover’.
--
re·peal
/rəˈpēl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: repeal; 3rd person present: repeals; past tense: repealed; past participle: repealed; gerund or present participle: repealing
revoke or annul (a law or congressional act).
"the legislation was repealed five months later"
Similar:
revoke
rescind
cancel
reverse
abrogate
annul
nullify
declare null and void
make void
void
invalidate
render invalid
quash
abolish
set aside
countermand
retract
withdraw
overrule
override
vacate
avoid
recall
disannul
Opposite:
introduce
enact
ratify
noun
noun: repeal; plural noun: repeals
the action of revoking or annulling a law or congressional act.
"the House voted in favor of repeal"
Similar:
revocation
rescinding
cancellation
reversal
annulment
nullification
voiding
invalidation
quashing
abolition
abrogation
setting aside
countermanding
retraction
withdrawal
rescindment
overruling
overriding
recall
rescission
disannulment
Opposite:
introduction
enactment
ratification
Origin
--
ab·er·ra·tion
/ˌabəˈrāSH(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
Filter definitions by topic
See definitions in:
All
Biology
Optics
Astronomy
noun
plural noun: aberrations
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"
Similar:
anomaly
deviation
divergence
abnormality
irregularity
variation
digression
freak
rogue
rarity
quirk
oddity
curiosity
mistake
eccentricity
transgression
straying
lapse
aberrancy
BIOLOGY
a characteristic that deviates from the normal type.
"color aberrations"
Similar:
disorder
defect
disease
irregularity
instability
derangement
vagary
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.
Origin
--
bane
/bān/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: bane; plural noun: banes
a cause of great distress or annoyance.
"the bane of the decorator is the long, narrow hall"
Similar:
scourge
ruin
death
plague
ruination
destruction
torment
torture
menace
suffering
pain
distress
hardship
cross to bear
burden
thorn in one's flesh/side
bitter pill
affliction
calamity
despair
trouble
misery
woe
tribulation
misfortune
nuisance
pest
headache
trial
blight
curse
nightmare
ARCHAIC
something, typically poison, that causes death.
Origin
--
er·satz
/ˈerˌzäts,ˈerˌsäts/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: ersatz
(of a product) made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for something else.
"ersatz coffee"
Similar:
artificial
substitute
imitation
synthetic
fake
false
faux
mock
simulated
pseudo
sham
bogus
spurious
counterfeit
forged
pretended
so-called
plastic
manufactured
man-made
unnatural
fabricated
replica
reproduction
facsimile
inferior
low-quality
poor-quality
low-grade
shoddy
substandard
unsatisfactory
adulterated
phoney
Opposite:
genuine
not real or genuine.
"ersatz emotion"
Origin
late 19th century: from German, literally ‘replacement’.
--
con·script
verb
past tense: conscripted; past participle: conscripted
/kənˈskript/
enlist (someone) compulsorily, typically into the armed services.
"they were conscripted into the army"
Similar:
call up
enlist
recruit
mobilize
raise
muster
draft
press
--
cinch
/sin(t)SH/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: cinch; plural noun: cinches
1.
INFORMAL
an extremely easy task.
"the program was a cinch to use"
Similar:
easy
uncomplicated
not difficult
undemanding
unexacting
unchallenging
effortless
painless
trouble-free
facile
simple
straightforward
elementary
idiot-proof
plain sailing
a walkover
a gift
nothing
easy-peasy
easy as pie
as easy as falling off a log
as easy as ABC
a piece of cake
a cakewalk
child's play
kids' stuff
no sweat
a picnic
a doddle
a doss
a breeze
a pushover
a sitter
a five-finger exercise
a walk in the park
money for old rope
money for jam
duck soup
a snap
easy-breezy
a bludge
a snack
a piece of old tackle
a snip
vulgar slanga piece of piss
Opposite:
challenge
NORTH AMERICAN
a sure thing; a certainty.
"he was a cinch to take a prize"
Similar:
certainty
sure thing
cert
dead cert
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
a girth for a Western saddle or pack.
verbNORTH AMERICAN
verb: cinch; 3rd person present: cinches; past tense: cinched; past participle: cinched; gerund or present participle: cinching
1.
secure (a garment) with a belt.
fix (a saddle) securely by means of a girth; girth up (a horse).
2.
INFORMAL
make certain of.
"his advice cinched her decision to accept the offer"
Origin
--
croup·i·er
/ˈkro͞opēˌā,ˈkro͞opēər/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: croupier; plural noun: croupiers
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.
Origin
--
spe·cious
/ˈspēSHəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: specious
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"
Similar:
plausible but wrong
seemingly correct
misleading
deceptive
false
fallacious
unsound
casuistic
sophistic
Origin
--
sub·vert
/səbˈvərt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: subvert; 3rd person present: subverts; past tense: subverted; past participle: subverted; gerund or present participle: subverting
undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution).
"an attempt to subvert democratic government"
Similar:
destabilize
unsettle
overthrow
overturn
bring down
bring about the downfall of
topple
depose
oust
supplant
unseat
dethrone
disestablish
dissolve
disrupt
wreak havoc on
sabotage
ruin
upset
destroy
annihilate
demolish
wreck
undo
undermine
undercut
weaken
impair
damage
corrupt
pervert
warp
deprave
defile
debase
distort
contaminate
poison
embitter
vitiate
Origin
--
col·lusive
/kəˈlo͞osiv/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: collusive
involving secret or unlawful cooperation aimed at deceiving or gaining an advantage over others.
"the companies' collusive behavior enabled them to charge higher prices"
--
pur·port
verb
gerund or present participle: purporting
/pərˈpôrt/
appear or claim to be or do something, especially falsely; profess.
"she is not the person she purports to be"
Similar:
claim
lay claim
profess
pretend
set oneself up (as)
appear
seem
be apparently
be ostensibly
pose as
impersonate
pass oneself off as
be disguised as
masquerade as
feign the identity of
pass for
represent oneself as
personate
Origin
--
en masse
/än ˈmas/
adverb
adverb: en masse; adverb: enmasse
in a group; all together.
"the board of directors resigned en masse"
Similar:
(all) together
as a group
in a body
as one
as a whole
in a mass
wholesale
simultaneously
all at once
at the same time
at one and the same time
at the same instant
at the same moment
contemporaneously
in unison
in concert
in chorus
en bloc
ensemble
synchronously
Opposite:
singly
Origin
late 18th century: French, ‘in a mass’.
--
ex·hil·a·rat·ing
/iɡˈziləˌrādiNG/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: exhilarating
making one feel very happy, animated, or elated; thrilling.
"an exhilarating two-hour rafting experience"
ex·hil·a·rate
/iɡˈziləˌrāt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: exhilarating
make (someone) feel very happy, animated, or elated.
"the children were exhilarated by a sense of purpose"
Similar:
thrill
excite
intoxicate
elate
make someone's spirits soar
make very happy
give someone great pleasure
delight
gladden
brighten
cheer up
enliven
animate
invigorate
energize
lift
stimulate
raise someone's spirits
revitalize
refresh
give someone a kick
give someone a thrill
give someone a buzz
turn someone on
give someone a charge
inspirit
thrilling
exciting
intoxicating
heady
stimulating
invigorating
electrifying
energizing
uplifting
enlivening
revitalizing
vitalizing
stirring
breathtaking
refreshing
bracing
mind-blowing
Opposite:
depress
boring
depressing
Origin
--
ark
/ärk/
noun
(in the Bible) the ship built by Noah to save his family and two of every kind of animal from the Flood; Noah's ark.
ARCHAIC
a large, flat-bottomed boat.
plural noun: arks
Origin
Old English ærc, from Latin arca ‘chest’.
--
im·plic·it
/imˈplisit/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: implicit
1.
implied though not plainly expressed.
"comments seen as implicit criticism of the policies"
Similar:
implied
indirect
inferred
understood
hinted
suggested
deducible
unspoken
unexpressed
undeclared
unstated
unsaid
tacit
unacknowledged
silent
taken for granted
taken as read
assumed
inherent
latent
underlying
inbuilt
incorporated
fundamental
Opposite:
explicit
direct
2.
essentially or very closely connected with; always to be found in.
"the values implicit in the school ethos"
3.
with no qualification or question; absolute.
"an implicit faith in God"
Similar:
absolute
complete
entire
total
wholehearted
perfect
sheer
utter
unqualified
unconditional
unreserved
unadulterated
unalloyed
undiluted
positive
unshaken
unshakeable
unhesitating
unquestioning
firm
steadfast
constant
Opposite:
limited
4.
MATHEMATICS
(of a function) not expressed directly in terms of independent variables.
--
span·iel
/ˈspanyəl/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: spaniel; plural noun: spaniels
a dog of a breed with a long silky coat and drooping ears.
used in similes and metaphors as a symbol of devotion or obsequiousness.
"I followed my uncles around as faithfully as any spaniel"
Origin
Middle English: from Old French espaigneul ‘Spanish (dog)’, from Latin Hispaniolus ‘Spanish’.
--
pro for·ma
/ˌprō ˈfôrmə/
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See definitions in:
All
Commerce
Finance
adjective
adjective: pro forma; adjective: proforma
done or produced as a matter of form.
"pro forma reports"
denoting a standard document or form, especially an invoice sent in advance of or with goods supplied.
(of a financial statement) showing potential or expected income, costs, assets, or liabilities, especially in relation to some planned or expected act or situation.
adverb
adverb: pro forma; adverb: proforma
as a matter of form or politeness.
"he nodded to him pro forma"
noun
noun: pro forma; plural noun: pro formas; noun: proforma; plural noun: proformas
a standard document, form or financial statement.
Origin
--
wham·my
/ˈ(h)wamē/
Learn to pronounce
nounINFORMAL
noun: whammy; plural noun: whammies
an event with a powerful and unpleasant effect; a blow.
"the third whammy was the degradation of the financial system"
US
an evil or unlucky influence.
"I've come to put the whammy on them"
Origin
--
cat·e·chism
/ˈkadəˌkizəm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: catechism; plural noun: catechisms
a summary of the principles of Christian religion in the form of questions and answers, used for the instruction of Christians.
a series of fixed questions, answers, or precepts used for instruction in other situations.
"the preventive health catechism “more exercise, less tobacco and alcohol, and better diet”"
Origin
--
e·gre·gious
/əˈɡrējəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: egregious
1.
outstandingly bad; shocking.
"egregious abuses of copyright"
Similar:
shocking
appalling
horrific
horrifying
horrible
terrible
awful
dreadful
grievous
gross
ghastly
hideous
horrendous
frightful
atrocious
abominable
abhorrent
outrageous
monstrous
nightmarish
heinous
harrowing
dire
unspeakable
shameful
flagrant
glaring
blatant
scandalous
unforgivable
unpardonable
intolerable
Opposite:
marvelous
2.
ARCHAIC
remarkably good.
Origin
--
imp·ish
/ˈimpiSH/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: impish
inclined to do slightly naughty things for fun; mischievous.
"he had an impish look about him"
Similar:
mischievous
naughty
wicked
devilish
rascally
roguish
prankish
--
almanac
/ˈɔːlmənak,ˈɒlmənak/
Learn to pronounce
noun
an annual calendar containing important dates and statistical information such as astronomical data and tide tables.
Similar:
yearbook
calendar
register
annual
manual
handbook
compendium
annal(s)
archive(s)
chronicle(s)
a handbook, typically published annually, containing information of general interest or on a sport or pastime.
--
hilt
/hɪlt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: hilt; plural noun: hilts
the handle of a weapon or tool, especially a sword, dagger, or knife.
Similar:
handle
haft
handgrip
grip
shaft
shank
stock
helve
Opposite:
head
blade
Phrases
to the hilt — completely.
"the estate was mortgaged up to the hilt"
--
sub-par
adjective. below an average, usual, or normal level, quality, or the like; below par: This month his performance has been subpar.
--
fig leaf
noun
a leaf of a fig tree, often used for concealing the genitals in paintings and sculpture.
a thing intended to conceal a difficulty or embarrassment.
"the amendment was just a fig leaf intended to cover the cracks in the party"
--
grubby
/ˈɡrʌbi/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: grubby; comparative adjective: grubbier; superlative adjective: grubbiest
covered with dirt; grimy.
"the grubby face of a young boy"
Similar:
dirty
grimy
filthy
unwashed
stained
soiled
smeared
spotted
muddy
dusty
sooty
messy
scruffy
shabby
untidy
unkempt
slovenly
slatternly
sordid
squalid
unhygienic
unsanitary
insanitary
mucky
cruddy
yucky
icky
manky
grotty
gungy
bogging
befouled
besmirched
besmeared
begrimed
feculent
Opposite:
clean
involving dishonest or disreputable activity; sordid.
"the grubby business of selling arms"
--
collie
/ˈkɒli/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: collies
a sheepdog of a breed originating in Scotland, having a long pointed nose and long thick hair.
Origin
mid 17th century: perhaps from coal (the breed originally being black).
--
cocker
/ˈkɒkə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: cocker spaniels
a small spaniel of a breed with a silky coat.
Origin
early 19th century: from cock1 + -er1 (the dog was bred to flush out game birds such as woodcock).
--
bailiwick
/ˈbeɪlɪwɪk/
noun
noun: bailiwick; plural noun: bailiwicks
1.
one's sphere of operations or area of interest.
"after the war, the Middle East remained his bailiwick"
2.
LAW
the district or jurisdiction of a bailie or bailiff.
"the warden had the right to arrest all poachers found within his bailiwick"
Origin
late Middle English: from bailie + wick2.
--
abet
/əˈbɛt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: abetted; past participle: abetted
encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular to commit a crime.
"he was not guilty of murder but was guilty of aiding and abetting others"
Similar:
assist
aid
help
lend a hand
support
back
encourage
cooperate with
collaborate with
work with
connive with
collude with
go along with
be in collusion with
be hand in glove with
side with
second
endorse
boost
favour
champion
sanction
succour
promote
further
expedite
push
give a push to
connive at
participate in
Opposite:
hinder
encourage or assist someone to commit (a crime).
"we are aiding and abetting this illegal traffic"
Origin
--
obviate
/ˈɒbvɪeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: obviate; 3rd person present: obviates; past tense: obviated; past participle: obviated; gerund or present participle: obviating
remove (a need or difficulty).
"the presence of roller blinds obviated the need for curtains"
Similar:
preclude
prevent
remove
get rid of
do away with
get round
rule out
eliminate
make unnecessary
take away
foreclose
avoid
avert
counter
avoid or prevent (something undesirable).
"a parachute can be used to obviate disaster"
Origin
late 16th century: from late Latin obviat- ‘prevented’, from the verb obviare, based on Latin via ‘way’.
--
hitherto
/hɪðəˈtuː,ˈhɪðətuː/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: hitherto
until now or until the point in time under discussion.
"hitherto part of French West Africa, Benin achieved independence in 1960"
Similar:
previously
formerly
earlier
so far
thus far
before
beforehand
--
MSME:
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
---
certitude
/ˈsəːtɪtjuːd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
absolute certainty or conviction that something is the case.
"the question may never be answered with certitude"
Similar:
certainty
confidence
sureness
positiveness
conviction
reliability
assuredness
assurance
Opposite:
doubt
something that someone firmly believes is true.
plural noun: certitudes
"the collapse of the old political certitudes in eastern Europe"
--
commission
/kəˈmɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: commission; plural noun: commissions
1.
an instruction, command, or role given to a person or group.
"one of his first commissions was to redesign the Great Exhibition building"
Similar:
task
employment
job
work
piece of work
project
mission
assignment
undertaking
exercise
enterprise
endeavour
solution
duty
charge
responsibility
burden
office
an order for something, especially a work of art, to be produced specially.
"Mozart at last received a commission to write an opera"
a work produced in response to a commission.
"in that year Zeuxis painted his most famous commission"
ARCHAIC
the authority to perform a task or certain duties.
"the divine Commission of Christ"
Similar:
warrant
licence
sanction
authority
2.
a group of people entrusted by a government or other official body with authority to do something.
"a commission was appointed to investigate allegations of police violence"
Similar:
committee
board
board of commissioners
council
panel
directorate
advisory body
advisorate
convocation
delegation
3.
a sum, typically a set percentage of the value involved, paid to an agent in a commercial transaction.
"foreign banks may charge a commission"
Similar:
percentage
brokerage
share
portion
dividend
premium
fee
consideration
bonus
gratuity
tip
honorarium
cut
take
whack
rake-off
slice
slice of the cake
piece of the action
divvy
apportionment
quantum
moiety
4.
a warrant conferring the rank of officer in an army, navy, or air force.
"he has resigned his commission"
5.
the action of committing a crime or offence.
"the commission of an arrestable offence"
Similar:
perpetration
committing
committal
execution
performance
verb
verb: commission; 3rd person present: commissions; past tense: commissioned; past participle: commissioned; gerund or present participle: commissioning
1.
order or authorize the production of (something).
"the portrait was commissioned by his widow in 1792"
Similar:
order
put in an order for
place an order for
contract for
pay for
authorize
bespeak
order or authorize (a person or organization) to do or produce something.
"they commissioned an architect to manage the building project"
Similar:
engage
contract
charge
employ
hire
recruit
retain
appoint
enlist
co-opt
book
sign up
authorize
empower
detail
2.
bring (something newly produced) into working condition.
"we had a few hiccups getting the heating equipment commissioned"
3.
appoint (someone) to the rank of officer in an army, navy, or air force.
"he was commissioned into the Royal Fusiliers"
Phrases
in commission
in use or in service. "a reduced number of ships were retained in commission"
out of commission
not in service; not in working order. "my car is out of commission until a new clutch arrives"
--
goodwill
/ɡʊdˈwɪl/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: goodwill; noun: good-will
1.
friendly, helpful, or cooperative feelings or attitude.
"the scheme is dependent on goodwill between the two sides"
Similar:
benevolence
compassion
kind-heartedness
big-heartedness
goodness
kindness
kindliness
consideration
charity
cooperation
collaboration
friendliness
thoughtfulness
decency
amity
sympathy
understanding
amenability
neighbourliness
mutual support
Opposite:
hostility
2.
the established reputation of a business regarded as a quantifiable asset and calculated as part of its value when it is sold.
--
impious
/ɪmˈpʌɪəs,ˈɪmpɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: impious
showing a lack of respect for God or religion.
"the emperor's impious attacks on the Church"
Similar:
godless
ungodly
unholy
irreligious
sinful
immoral
unrighteous
sacrilegious
profane
blasphemous
irreverent
disrespectful
apostate
atheistic
non-theistic
agnostic
pagan
heathen
faithless
non-believing
unbelieving
disbelieving
doubting
nullifidian
Opposite:
pious
(of a person or act) wicked.
"impious villains"
Origin
--
foregone
/fɔːˈɡɒn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past participle of forego2.
adjectiveARCHAIC
adjective: foregone
past.
"poets dream of lives foregone in worlds fantastical"
Similar:
past
former
earlier
previous
prior
bygone
old
of old
ancient
long-ago
forgotten
of yore
forepassed
Phrases
a foregone conclusion — a result that can be predicted with certainty.
"the result of her trial was a foregone conclusion"
forego1
verb
past participle: foregone
variant spelling of forgo.
forego2
/fɔːˈɡəʊ/
verbARCHAIC
past participle: foregone
precede in place or time.
"so Abdulmelik went away to his house, whither he found that the money had foregone him"
forgo
/fɔːˈɡəʊ,fəˈɡəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past participle: foregone
go without (something desirable).
"she wanted to forgo the tea and leave while they could"
Similar:
do without
go without
give up
waive
renounce
surrender
disavow
relinquish
part with
drop
sacrifice
forswear
abjure
swear off
steer clear of
abandon
cede
yield
abstain from
refrain from
eschew
cut out
decline
refuse
repudiate
spurn
Opposite:
keep
refrain from.
"we forgo any comparison between the two men"
Origin
Old English forgān (see for-, go1).
--
intrinsic
/ɪnˈtrɪnsɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: intrinsic
belonging naturally; essential.
"access to the arts is intrinsic to a high quality of life"
Similar:
inherent
innate
inborn
inbred
congenital
natural
native
constitutional
built-in
ingrained
deep-rooted
inseparable
permanent
indelible
ineradicable
ineffaceable
integral
basic
fundamental
underlying
constitutive
elemental
essential
vital
necessary
connate
connatural
Opposite:
extrinsic
acquired
Origin
late 15th century (in the general sense ‘interior, inner’): from French intrinsèque, from late Latin intrinsecus, from the earlier adverb intrinsecus ‘inwardly, inwards’.
--
bungled
/ˈbʌŋɡ(ə)ld/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
(of a task) carried out clumsily or incompetently.
"a bungled bank raid"
--
temptress
/ˈtɛm(p)trəs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: temptress; plural noun: temptresses
a woman who tempts someone to do something, typically a sexually attractive woman who sets out to allure or seduce someone.
Similar:
seductress
siren
femme fatale
Mata Hari
Delilah
enchantress
sorceress
--
despair
/dɪˈspɛː/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: despaired; past participle: despaired
lose or be without hope.
"we should not despair"
Similar:
lose hope
give up hope
abandon hope
give up
lose heart
be discouraged
be despondent
be demoralized
resign oneself
throw in the towel/sponge
quit
surrender
be pessimistic
look on the black side
despond
hopeless
desperate
anguished
distressed
broken-hearted
heartbroken
grief-stricken
inconsolable
sorrowing
suicidal
in despair
dejected
depressed
despondent
disconsolate
gloomy
melancholy
miserable
wretched
desolate
forlorn
disheartened
discouraged
demoralized
devastated
downcast
resigned
defeatist
pessimistic
dolorous
Opposite:
cheerful
optimistic
Origin
--
lest
/lɛst/
Learn to pronounce
conjunctionFORMAL
with the intention of preventing (something undesirable); to avoid the risk of.
"he spent whole days in his room, wearing headphones lest he disturb anyone"
(after a clause indicating fear) because of the possibility of something undesirable happening; in case.
"she sat up late worrying lest he be murdered on the way home"
Similar:
in case
just in case
for fear that
in order to avoid
--
musty
/ˈmʌsti/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
having a stale, mouldy, or damp smell.
"a dark musty library"
Similar:
mouldy
stale
fusty
damp
dank
mildewed
mildewy
decayed
smelly
stuffy
airless
unventilated
frowsty
claggy
funky
mucid
Opposite:
fresh
fragrant
having a stale taste.
"the beer tasted sour, thin, and musty"
lacking freshness or vitality; old-fashioned.
"the musty formalities of the occasion"
Similar:
unoriginal
uninspired
unimaginative
hackneyed
derivative
--
cub
/kʌb/
See definitions in:
All
Zoology
Scouting
Hunting
noun
noun: cub; plural noun: cubs; plural noun: Cubs
1.
the young of a fox, bear, lion, or other carnivorous mammal.
"she was as protective as a tiger with her cubs"
Similar:
baby
whelp
young
offspring
ARCHAIC
a young man, especially one who is awkward or bad-mannered.
"his sons are as yet mere cubs"
2.
a junior branch of the Scout Association, for boys aged about 8 to 11.
"she tells an anecdote about his wanting to join the Cubs"
a member of the Cubs.
"I was a Cub and already impatient to move up to the Scouts"
verb
verb: cub; 3rd person present: cubs; past tense: cubbed; past participle: cubbed; gerund or present participle: cubbing
1.
give birth to cubs.
"both share the same earth during the first ten days after cubbing"
2.
hunt fox cubs.
"members of the Grafton Hunt were out cubbing"
Origin
---
harrowing
/ˈharəʊɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
acutely distressing.
"a harrowing film about racism and violence"
--
epigraph
/ˈɛpɪɡrɑːf/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: epigraph; plural noun: epigraphs
1.
an inscription on a building, statue, or coin.
2.
a short quotation or saying at the beginning of a book or chapter, intended to suggest its theme.
Origin
late 16th century (denoting the heading of a document or letter): from Greek epigraphē, from epigraphein ‘write on’.
--
willy-nilly
/wɪlɪˈnɪli/
adverb
adverb: willy-nilly
1.
whether one likes it or not.
"he would be forced to collaborate willy-nilly"
Similar:
whether one likes it or not
of necessity
necessarily
one way or the other
nolens volens
like it or not
like it or lump it
perforce
2.
without direction or planning; haphazardly.
"politicians expanded spending programmes willy-nilly"
Similar:
haphazardly
at random
randomly
without planning
without method
Origin
early 17th century: later spelling of will I, nill I ‘I am willing, I am unwilling’.
--
lore1
/lɔː/
noun
noun: lore
a body of traditions and knowledge on a subject or held by a particular group, typically passed from person to person by word of mouth.
"the jinns of Arabian lore"
Similar:
mythology
myths
legends
stories
traditions
folklore
culture
beliefs
sayings
superstitions
fantasy
oral tradition
mythos
mythus
knowledge
learning
wisdom
know-how
how-to
Origin
Old English lār ‘instruction’, of Germanic origin: related to Dutch leer, German Lehre, also to learn.
lore2
/lɔː/
nounZOOLOGY
noun: lore; plural noun: lores
the surface on each side of a bird's head between the eye and the upper base of the beak, or between the eye and nostril in snakes.
Origin
early 19th century: from Latin lorum ‘strap’.
--
purview
/ˈpəːvjuː/
Learn to pronounce
nounFORMAL
noun: purview
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"
Origin
--
vagary
/ˈveɪɡ(ə)ri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: vagaries
an unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someone's behaviour.
"the vagaries of the weather"
Similar:
quirk
idiosyncrasy
peculiarity
oddity
eccentricity
unpredictability
fluctuation
foible
whim
whimsy
notion
conceit
caprice
fancy
kink
crotchet
hang-up
thing
megrim
singularity
Origin
late 16th century (also as a verb in the sense ‘roam’): from Latin vagari ‘wander’.
--
outmoded
/aʊtˈməʊdɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: outmoded
old-fashioned.
"an outmoded Victorian building"
h
Similar:
out of date
old-fashioned
outdated
out of fashion
outworn
dated
--
beset
/bɪˈsɛt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: beset; 3rd person present: besets; past tense: beset; past participle: beset; gerund or present participle: besetting
1.
(of a problem or difficulty) trouble (someone or something) persistently.
"the social problems that beset the UK"
h
Similar:
plague
bedevil
attack
assail
beleaguer
afflict
torment
torture
rack
oppress
trouble
worry
bother
harass
hound
harry
dog
surround and harass.
"I was beset by clouds of flies"
h
Similar:
surround
besiege
hem in
shut in
fence in
box in
encircle
ring round
enclose
hem in.
"the ship was beset by ice and finally sank"
2.
archaic
be covered or studded with.
"springy grass all beset with tiny jewel-like flowers"
Phrases
besetting sin — a fault to which a person or institution is especially prone.
"there was a danger of the country reverting to its besetting sin of complacency"
Origin
--
glean
/ɡliːn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: gleaned; past participle: gleaned
1.
obtain (information) from various sources, often with difficulty.
"the information is gleaned from press cuttings"
h
Similar:
obtain
get
take
draw
derive
extract
cull
garner
gather
reap
select
choose
pick
learn
find out
collect gradually.
"objects gleaned from local markets"
2.
historical
gather (leftover grain) after a harvest.
"the conditions of farm workers in the 1890s made gleaning essential"
Origin
late Middle English: from Old French glener, from late Latin glennare, probably of Celtic origin.
--
vicissitude
/vɪˈsɪsɪtjuːd,vʌɪˈsɪsɪtjuːd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: vicissitudes
1.
a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.
"her husband's sharp vicissitudes of fortune"
h
Similar:
change
alteration
alternation
transformation
metamorphosis
transmutation
mutation
modification
transition
development
shift
switch
turn
reversal
reverse
downturn
inconstancy
instability
uncertainty
unpredictability
chanciness
fickleness
variability
changeability
fluctuation
vacillation
ups and downs
2.
literary
alternation between opposite or contrasting things.
"the vicissitude of the seasons"
Origin
--
ex officio
/ˌɛks əˈfɪʃɪəʊ/
adverb · adjective
adverb: ex officio; adjective: ex officio
by virtue of one's position or status.
"an ex officio member of the committee"
Origin
Latin, from ex ‘out of, from’ + officium ‘duty’.
--
steep1
/stiːp/
Learn to pronounce
See definitions in:
all
skiing
cooking
adjective
adjective: steep; comparative adjective: steeper; superlative adjective: steepest
1.
(of a slope, flight of stairs, or angle) rising or falling sharply; almost perpendicular.
"she pushed the bike up the steep hill"
h
Similar:
precipitous
sheer
abrupt
sharp
perpendicular
vertical
bluff
vertiginous
dizzy
declivitous
acclivitous
scarped
h
Opposite:
gentle
(of a rise or fall in an amount) very large or rapid.
"the steep rise in unemployment"
h
Similar:
sharp
sudden
precipitate
precipitous
rapid
h
Opposite:
gradual
2.
informal
(of a price or demand) not reasonable; excessive.
"a steep membership fee"
h
Similar:
expensive
dear
costly
high
stiff
unreasonable
excessive
overpriced
exorbitant
extortionate
outrageous
prohibitive
over the odds
pricey
over the top
OTT
criminal
h
Opposite:
reasonable
dated
(of a claim or account) exaggerated or incredible.
"this is a rather steep statement"
nounliterary•Skiing
noun: steep; plural noun: steeps
a steep mountain slope.
"hair-raising steeps"
---
insolvency
/ɪnˈsɒlv(ə)nsi/
noun: insolvency; plural noun: insolvencies
the state of being insolvent.
"the club was facing insolvency"
Similar:
bankruptcy
liquidation
failure
collapse
ruin
financial ruin
ruination
pennilessness
penury
impecuniousness
beggary
administration
receivership
folding
pauperdom
Opposite:
solvency
---
entrant
/ˈɛntr(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: entrant; plural noun: entrants
a person or group that enters or takes part in something.
"the prize will be awarded to the entrant who wins the tiebreak"
h
Similar:
new member
new arrival
beginner
newcomer
fresher
freshman
recruit
new boy/girl
novice
trainee
apprentice
probationer
tyro
initiate
neophyte
tenderfoot
hire
rookie
greenhorn
new kid
newbie
cub
competitor
contestant
contender
challenger
participant
player
candidate
applicant
Opposite:
veteran
Origin
--
outgo
noun Indian
noun: outgo
/ˈaʊtɡəʊ/
the outlay of money.
"the secret of success lies in the relation of income to outgo"
verb archaic
verb: outgo; 3rd person present: outgoes; past tense: outwent; gerund or present participle: outgoing; past participle: outgone
/ˈaʊtɡəʊ/
go faster than.
"he on horseback outgoes him on foot"
--
pare
/pɛː/
Learn to pronounce
verb
3rd person present: pares
trim (something) by cutting away its outer edges.
"Carlo pared his thumbnails with his knife"
h
Similar:
cut (off)
trim (off)
peel (off)
shave (off)
strip (off)
clip (off)
skin
decorticate
excoriate
cut off (the outer skin) of something.
"pare off the rind using a peeler"
reduce (something) in size, extent, or quantity in a number of small successive stages.
"union leaders publicly pared down their demands"
h
Similar:
reduce
diminish
decrease
cut
cut back/down
make cutbacks in
whittle away/down
salami-slice
trim
slim down
prune
lower
lessen
retrench
curtail
Origin
Middle English: from Old French parer ‘adorn, prepare’, also ‘peel, trim’, from Latin parare ‘prepare’.
Translate pares to
Use over time for: pares
--
assent
/əˈsɛnt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
the expression of approval or agreement.
"a loud murmur of assent"
verb
express approval or agreement.
"the Prime Minister assented to the change"
Similar:
agree to
accept
approve
consent to
acquiesce in
concur in
accede to
give one's blessing to
bless
rubber-stamp
say yes to
ratify
sanction
endorse
authorize
mandate
license
warrant
validate
pass
confirm
support
back
give one's permission/leave
give the go-ahead to
give the green light to
give the OK to
OK
give the thumbs up to
give the nod
say the word
buy
Opposite:
dissent from
refuse
Tip
Similar-sounding words
assent is sometimes confused with ascent
--
non-committal
/nɒnkəˈmɪt(ə)l/
adjective: non-committal; adjective: noncommittal
not expressing or revealing commitment to a definite opinion or course of action.
"her tone was non-committal, and her face gave nothing away"
Similar:
evasive
equivocal
temporizing
guarded
circumspect
reserved
--
uh-huh
/ˈʌhʌ/
exclamation
used to express assent or as a non-committal response to a question or remark.
"‘Do you understand?’ ‘Uh-huh.’"
--
pursuant
/pəˈsjuːənt/
Learn to pronounce
adverbFORMAL
in accordance with (a law or a legal document or resolution).
"the local authority applied for care orders pursuant to section 31 of the Children Act 1989"
adjectiveARCHAIC
following; going in pursuit.
--
1. dire straits - a state of extreme distress. desperate straits. straits, strait, pass - a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs. Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection.
--
ratify
/ˈratɪfʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: ratified; past participle: ratified
sign or give formal consent to (a treaty, contract, or agreement), making it officially valid.
"both countries were due to ratify the treaty by the end of the year"
Similar:
confirm
approve
sanction
endorse
agree to
accept
--
glistening
/ˈɡlɪs(ə)nɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
shining with a sparkling light.
"the glistening golden dome"
--
siphon
/ˈsʌɪf(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: siphoned; past participle: siphoned
draw off or convey (liquid) by means of a siphon.
"a piece of tubing was used to siphon petrol"
draw off or transfer over a period of time, especially illegally or unfairly.
"he's been siphoning money off the firm"
Origin
--
blood-curdling
/ˈblʌdkəːdlɪŋ/
adjective
adjective: bloodcurdling
causing or expressing terror or horror.
"a blood-curdling scream"
Similar:
terrifying
frightening
spine-chilling
hair-raising
chilling
horrifying
petrifying
--
bristling
/ˈbrɪslɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: bristling
1.
(especially of hair) short, stiff, and spiky.
"a bristling beard"
2.
aggressively brisk or tense.
"he fills the screen with a restless, bristling energy"
bristle
/ˈbrɪs(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: bristling
1.
(of hair or fur) stand upright away from the skin, typically as a sign of anger or fear.
"the hair on the back of his neck bristled"
Similar:
rise
stand up
stand on end
horripilate
(of an animal) react in such a way that its hair or fur stands on end.
"the cat bristled in annoyance"
(of a person) react angrily or defensively.
"she bristled at his rudeness"
Similar:
get angry
become infuriated
be furious
be maddened
bridle
become indignant
be irritated
get/have one's hackles up
feel one's hackles rise
rear up
draw oneself up
flare up
see red
take offence
take umbrage
be defensive
2.
be covered with or abundant in.
"the roof bristled with antennae"
Similar:
abound
swarm
teem
crawl
overflow
hum
be alive
be packed
be crowded
be thronged
be jammed
be infested
be full
be covered
be thick
be crawling
be lousy
be stuffed
be jam-packed
be chock-a-block
be chock-full
Origin
Middle English: from Old English byrst (of Germanic origin, related to German Borste ) + -le1.
--
potshot
/ˈpɒtʃɒt/
noun
noun: potshot; plural noun: potshots; noun: pot-shot; plural noun: pot-shots
a shot aimed at a person or thing that happens to be within easy reach.
"a sniper took a potshot at him"
a criticism, especially a random or unfounded one.
"the show takes wickedly funny potshots at as many movies as it can muster"
Origin
mid 19th century: originally a shot at an animal intended for the pot, i.e. purely for food, rather than for display (which would require skilled shooting according to hunting rules).
--
Silver lining
Idiom
A silver lining is a metaphor for optimism in the common English-language which means a negative occurrence may have a positive aspect to it.
--
disquieting
/dɪsˈkwʌɪətɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
inducing feelings of anxiety or worry.
"he found Jean's gaze disquieting"
--
per se
/pəː ˈseɪ/
adverb
adverb: per se; adverb: perse
by or in itself or themselves; intrinsically.
"it is not these facts per se that are important"
Similar:
in itself
of itself
by itself
as such
intrinsically
by its very nature
in essence
by definition
essentially
Origin
Latin.
--
ipso facto
/ˌɪpsəʊ ˈfaktəʊ/
adverb
adverb: ipso facto
by that very fact or act.
"the enemy of one's enemy may be ipso facto a friend"
Origin
Latin.
--
abstruse
/əbˈstruːs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: abstruse
difficult to understand; obscure.
"an abstruse philosophical inquiry"
Similar:
obscure
arcane
esoteric
little known
recherché
rarefied
recondite
difficult
hard
puzzling
perplexing
enigmatic
inscrutable
cryptic
Delphic
complex
complicated
involved
over/above one's head
incomprehensible
unfathomable
impenetrable
mysterious
involute
involuted
Opposite:
clear
obvious
Origin
--
grapple
/ˈɡrap(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: grapple; 3rd person present: grapples; past tense: grappled; past participle: grappled; gerund or present participle: grappling
1.
engage in a close fight or struggle without weapons; wrestle.
"passers-by grappled with the man after the knife attack"
Similar:
wrestle
struggle
tussle
brawl
fight
scuffle
clash
combat
battle
close
engage
seize hold of (someone).
"he grappled the young man around the throat"
Similar:
seize
grab
lay hold of
take hold of
grip
hold
grasp
clasp
clench
catch hold of
catch
lay one's hands on
get one's hands on
Opposite:
let go of
release
struggle to deal with or overcome (a difficulty or challenge).
"other towns are still grappling with the problem"
Similar:
tackle
confront
address oneself to
face
attend to
attack
get down to
deal with
cope with
get/come to grips with
concentrate on
focus on
apply oneself to
devote oneself to
get stuck into
get cracking on
get weaving on
have a crack at
have a go at
have a shot at
have a stab at
Opposite:
avoid
2.
ARCHAIC
seize or hold with a grappling hook.
noun
noun: grapple; plural noun: grapples
1.
an act of grappling.
INFORMAL
a wrestling match.
2.
an instrument for seizing hold of something; a grappling hook.
Origin
--
cohort
/ˈkəʊhɔːt/
Learn to pronounce
See definitions in:
All
History
Statistics
noun
1.
an ancient Roman military unit, comprising six centuries, equal to one tenth of a legion.
Similar:
unit
outfit
force
army
group
corps
division
brigade
battalion
regiment
squadron
company
commando
battery
troop
section
patrol
cadre
crew
detachment
contingent
column
squad
detail
band
legion
2.
a group of people with a shared characteristic.
"a cohort of civil servants patiently drafting legislation"
--
perish
/ˈpɛrɪʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
1.
LITERARY
die, especially in a violent or sudden way.
"a great part of his army perished of hunger and disease"
Similar:
die
lose one's life
be killed
fall
expire
meet one's death
be lost
lay down one's life
breathe one's last
draw one's last breath
pass away
go the way of all flesh
give up the ghost
go to glory
meet one's maker
go to one's last resting place
cross the great divide
bite the dust
kick the bucket
cash in one's chips
croak
flatline
turn up one's toes
shuffle off this mortal coil
go the way of the dinosaurs
conk out
buy it
snuff it
peg out
pop one's clogs
hop the twig/stick
bite the big one
buy the farm
check out
hand in one's dinner pail
go bung
exit
decease
depart this life
2.
(of rubber, food, etc.) lose its normal qualities; rot or decay.
"an abandoned tyre whose rubber had perished"
Similar:
go bad
go off
spoil
rot
go mouldy
moulder
putrefy
decay
decompose
deteriorate
disintegrate
fall apart
crumble
Tip
Similar-sounding words
perish is sometimes confused with parish
--
antsy
/ˈantsi/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveINFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
adjective: antsy; comparative adjective: antsier; superlative adjective: antsiest
agitated, impatient, or restless.
"Dick got antsy the day he put to sea"
Similar:
agitated
anxious
fidgety
jumpy
fretful
restless
stir-crazy
wired
Origin
mid 19th century: probably from the phrase have ants in one's pants (see ant).
--
scoff1
/skɒf/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: scoffed; past participle: scoffed
speak to someone or about something in a scornfully derisive or mocking way.
"Patrick professed to scoff at soppy love scenes in films"
Similar:
mock
deride
ridicule
sneer at
be scornful about
treat contemptuously
--
shudder
/ˈʃʌdə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: shuddered; past participle: shuddered
(of a person) tremble convulsively, typically as a result of fear or revulsion.
"she still shuddered at the thought of him"
Similar:
shake
shiver
tremble
quiver
quaver
vibrate
palpitate
flutter
quake
heave
convulse
(especially of a vehicle, machine, or building) shake or vibrate deeply.
"the train shuddered and edged forward"
(of a person's breathing) be unsteady, especially as a result of emotional disturbance.
"he drew a deep, shuddering breath"
Origin
Middle English (as a verb): from Middle Dutch schūderen, from a Germanic base meaning ‘shake’.
--
stargaze
/ˈstɑːɡeɪz/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: stargazing
1.
observe the stars.
"a telescope for stargazing through a retractable roof"
2.
observe celebrities.
"the town has been busy stargazing as British superstars jetted in for the grand finale"
--
crummy
/ˈkrʌmi/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
adjective
superlative adjective: crummiest
dirty, unpleasant, or of poor quality.
"a crummy little room"
Similar:
inferior
substandard
below standard
below par
poor
bad
deficient
defective
faulty
imperfect
mediocre
inadequate
insufficient
appalling
abject
abysmal
atrocious
awful
terrible
dreadful
unsatisfactory
low-grade
second-rate
third-rate
jerry-built
shoddy
crude
tinny
trashy
rubbishy
miserable
wretched
lamentable
deplorable
pitiful
execrable
unpleasant
disagreeable
uncomfortable
nasty
horrible
dismal
hateful
frightful
unacceptable
dire
bum
diabolical
rotten
sad
tatty
tenth-rate
ropy
duff
rubbish
pants
a load of pants
grotty
weak sauce
direful
egregious
vulgar slangcrap
crappy
unwell.
"I've been feeling pretty crummy the last few days"
Origin
mid 19th century (earlier in the literal senses ‘crumbly’ and ‘like or covered with crumbs’): variant of crumby.
--
cockamamie
/ˈkɒkəˌmeɪmi/
adjectiveINFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
ridiculous; implausible.
"a cockamamie theory"
--
wallop
/ˈwɒləp/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
verb
past tense: walloped; past participle: walloped
strike or hit very hard.
"they walloped the back of his head with a stick"
Similar:
hit
strike
beat
batter
thump
pound
attack
assault
knock
rap
smack
thwack
slap
pummel
punch
rain blows on
belabour
hammer
cudgel
thrash
bang
drub
welt
cuff
crack
buffet
box someone's ears
bash
clobber
clout
clip
whack
belt
tan
biff
bop
lay into
pitch into
lace into
let someone have it
sock
lam
whomp
stick one on
slosh
boff
bust
slug
light into
whale
dong
quilt
smite
swinge
heavily defeat (an opponent).
"we were walloped by Milan"
Origin
--
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