1: tether /ˈtɛðə/ Learn to pronounce verb verb: tether; 3rd person present: tethers; past tense: tethered; past participle: tethered; gerund or present participle: tethering 1. tie (an animal) with a rope or chain so as to restrict its movement. "the horse had been tethered to a post" h Similar: tie tie up hitch rope chain fasten secure bind fetter shackle restrain Opposite: unleash release 2. use (a smartphone) in order to connect a computer or other device to the internet. "check if Wi-Fi access is free in the lobby or tether your phone" noun noun: tether; plural noun: tethers a rope or chain with which an animal is tied to restrict its movement. "regulations banning neck and girth tethers for sows" h Similar: rope chain cord lead leash fetter restraint halter --- 2: contempt /kənˈtɛm(p)t/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: contempt the feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or beneath consideration. "Pam stared at the girl with total contempt" h Similar: scorn disdain disrespect deprecation disparagement denigration opprobrium odium obloquy scornfulness derision mockery ridicule disgust loathing detestation abhorrence hatred contumely h Opposite: respect disregard for something that should be considered. "this action displays an arrogant contempt for the wishes of the majority" h Similar: disrespect disregard slighting neglect contumacy h Opposite: respect the offence of being disobedient to or disrespectful of a court of law and its officers. plural noun: contempts; noun: contempt of court; plural noun: contempts of court "when he was found to have lied to the House this was a contempt" Phrases beneath contempt utterly worthless or despicable. "tawdry trash that is beneath contempt" hold in contempt judge (someone) to have committed the offence of contempt of court. "the advocate was held in contempt for subpoenaing the judge" Origin late Middle English: from Latin contemptus, from contemnere (see contemn). hold in contempt phrase of contempt judge (someone) to have committed the offence of contempt of court. "the advocate was held in contempt for subpoenaing the judge" consider (someone or something) to be unworthy of respect or attention. "the speed limit is held in contempt by many drivers" --- 3: bereft /bɪˈrɛft/ Learn to pronounce adjective adjective: bereft 1. deprived of or lacking (something). "her room was stark and bereft of colour" h Similar: deprived of robbed of stripped of denuded of cut off from parted from devoid of destitute of bankrupt of wanting in need of lacking without free from low on short of deficient in minus sans clean out of fresh out of 2. (of a person) sad and lonely, especially through someone's death or departure. "his death in 1990 left her bereft" Origin late 16th century: archaic past participle of bereave. Translate bereft to --- 4: vociferously /və(ʊ)ˈsɪf(ə)rəsli/ Learn to pronounce adverb adverb: vociferously in a loud and forceful manner. "the country vociferously opposed the war" --- 5: egalitarian /ɪˌɡalɪˈtɛːrɪən/ Learn to pronounce adjective adjective: egalitarian believing in or based on the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities. "a fairer, more egalitarian society" noun noun: egalitarian; plural noun: egalitarians a person who advocates or supports the principle of equality for all people. "he was a social and political egalitarian" Origin late 19th century: from French égalitaire, from égal ‘equal’, from Latin aequalis (see equal). --- 6: proliferation /prəlɪfəˈreɪʃn/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: proliferation rapid increase in the number or amount of something. "a continuing threat of nuclear proliferation" rapid reproduction of a cell, part, or organism. "we attempted to measure cell proliferation" h Similar: rapid increase growth multiplication spread escalation expansion build-up buildout burgeoning snowballing mushrooming h Opposite: decrease a large number of something. "stress levels are high, forcing upon them a proliferation of ailments" Origin mid 19th century: from French prolifération, from prolifère ‘proliferous’. --- 7: tenaciously /tɪˈneɪʃəsli/ Learn to pronounce adverb adverb: tenaciously with a firm hold of something; closely. "he tenaciously gripped the struts to keep from falling" in a determined or unwavering manner. "people fought tenaciously to have the school restored" --- 8: recalcitrant /rɪˈkalsɪtr(ə)nt/ Learn to pronounce adjective adjective: recalcitrant having an obstinately uncooperative attitude towards authority or discipline. "a class of recalcitrant fifteen-year-olds" h 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 h Opposite: amenable docile compliant noun noun: recalcitrant; plural noun: recalcitrants a person with an obstinately uncooperative attitude. "a stiff-necked recalcitrant and troublemaker" Origin mid 19th century: from Latin recalcitrant- ‘kicking out with the heels’, from the verb recalcitrare, based on calx, calc- ‘heel’. --- 9: familial /fəˈmɪljəl/ Learn to pronounce adjective adjective: familial relating to or occurring in a family or its members. "familial relationships" Origin mid 19th century: from French, from Latin familia ‘family’. --- 10: quotidian /kwɒˈtɪdɪən,kwəʊˈtɪdɪən/ Learn to pronounce adjective adjective: quotidian 1. of or occurring every day; daily. "the car sped noisily off through the quotidian traffic" ordinary or everyday; mundane. "his story is an achingly human one, mired in quotidian details" h Similar: daily everyday occurring each/every day day-to-day diurnal circadian ordinary average normal run-of-the-mill standard typical middle-of-the-road common conventional mainstream unremarkable unexceptional unpretentious modest plain simple workaday undistinguished nondescript characterless colourless commonplace humdrum mundane unmemorable pedestrian prosaic uninteresting uneventful dull boring uninspiring homely homespun common or garden garden-variety OK so-so bog-standard nothing to write home about a dime a dozen no great shakes not up to much ornery h Opposite: unusual exciting 2. Medicine denoting the malignant form of malaria. Origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin quotidianus, earlier cotidianus, from cotidie ‘daily’. --- 11: unsullied /ʌnˈsʌlɪd/ Learn to pronounce adjective adjective: unsullied not spoiled or made impure. "an unsullied reputation" h Similar: spotless untarnished unblemished untainted impeccable undamaged unspoiled unimpaired undefiled stainless intact perfect --- 12: culpability /ˌkʌlpəˈbɪlɪti/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: culpability responsibility for a fault or wrong; blame. "a level of moral culpability" h --- 13: shibboleth /ˈʃɪbəlɛθ/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: shibboleth; plural noun: shibboleths a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important. "the majority, under the influence of vague nineteenth-century shibboleths, understood him to be associating himself with the doctrine that every nation has a right to be a sovereign state" Origin mid 17th century: from Hebrew šibbōleṯ ‘ear of corn’, used as a test of nationality by its difficult pronunciation (Judg. 12:6). --- 14: proximal /ˈprɒksɪm(ə)l/ Learn to pronounce adjective adjective: proximal Anatomy situated nearer to the centre of the body or the point of attachment. "the proximal end of the forearm" Geology relating to or denoting an area close to a centre of a geological process such as sedimentation or volcanism. Origin early 19th century (as a term in anatomy and zoology): from Latin proximus ‘nearest’ + -al. In geology, usage dates from the 1940s. --- 15: ignoble /ɪɡˈnəʊb(ə)l/ Learn to pronounce adjective adjective: ignoble; comparative adjective: ignobler; superlative adjective: ignoblest 1. not honourable in character or purpose. "ignoble feelings of intense jealousy" h Similar: dishonourable unworthy base shameful contemptible despicable shabby abject low sordid degraded corrupt mean wrong improper unprincipled unchivalrous uncharitable discreditable blameworthy reprehensible h Opposite: noble 2. of humble origin or social status. --- 16: savage /ˈsavɪdʒ/ adjective adjective: savage 1. (of an animal or force of nature) fierce, violent, and uncontrolled. "packs of savage dogs roamed the streets" h Similar: ferocious fierce wild untamed undomesticated feral predatory ravening h Opposite: tame cruel and vicious; aggressively hostile. "a savage attack on the government" h Similar: vicious brutal cruel sadistic ferocious fierce violent bloody murderous homicidal bloodthirsty bestial brutish barbaric barbarous merciless ruthless pitiless heartless inhuman harsh callous cold-blooded fell sanguinary blistering scathing searing stinging devastating mordant trenchant caustic cutting biting withering virulent vitriolic h Opposite: mild gentle 2. (of something bad or negative) very great; severe. "the decision was a savage blow for the town" h Similar: severe crushing devastating crippling terrible awful dreadful dire catastrophic calamitous ruinous mortal lethal fatal 3. offensive•dated (of a person or group) primitive and uncivilized. "a savage race" h Similar: primitive uncivilized unenlightened in a state of nature heathen wild barbarian barbarous barbaric rude h Opposite: civilized (of a place) wild-looking and inhospitable; uncultivated. h Similar: rugged rough wild inhospitable uninhabitable noun noun: savage; plural noun: savages 1. a brutal or vicious person. "the mother of one of the victims has described his assailants as savages" h Similar: brute beast monster barbarian ogre demon sadist animal 2. offensive•dated a member of a people regarded as primitive and uncivilized. h Similar: barbarian wild man wild woman primitive heathen cannibal 3. Heraldry a representation of a bearded and semi-naked man with a wreath of leaves. verb verb: savage; 3rd person present: savages; past tense: savaged; past participle: savaged; gerund or present participle: savaging (especially of a dog or wild animal) attack ferociously and maul. "police are rounding up dogs after a girl was savaged" h Similar: maul attack tear to pieces lacerate claw bite mutilate mangle worry subject to a vicious verbal attack; criticize brutally. "he savaged the government for wasting billions in their failed bid to prop up the pound" h Similar: criticize severely attack lambast condemn flay shoot down pillory revile jump on tear to pieces take to pieces take/pull apart lay into pitch into hammer slam bash do a hatchet job on crucify give something a battering roast skewer throw brickbats at knock slate rubbish slag off monster bad-mouth pummel trash bag give someone bondi excoriate slash h Opposite: praise commend applaud Origin Middle English: from Old French sauvage ‘wild’, from Latin silvaticus ‘of the woods’, from silva ‘a wood’. --- 17: denizen /ˈdɛnɪz(ə)n/ Learn to pronounce noun plural noun: denizens formal•humorous a person, animal, or plant that lives or is found in a particular place. "denizens of field and forest" h Similar: inhabitant resident townsman townswoman native local occupier occupant dweller local yokel burgher burgess habitant residentiary oppidan indweller historical•British a foreigner allowed certain rights in their adopted country. Origin late Middle English deynseyn, via Anglo-Norman French from Old French deinz ‘within’ (from Latin de ‘from’ + intus ‘within’) + -ein (from Latin -aneus ‘-aneous’). The change in the form of the word was due to association with citizen. --- 18: indigenous /ɪnˈdɪdʒɪnəs/ Learn to pronounce adjective adjective: indigenous originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native. "the indigenous peoples of Siberia" h Similar: native aboriginal local original earliest first initial ancient --- 19: astray /əˈstreɪ/ Learn to pronounce adverb adverb: astray 1. away from the correct path or direction. "we went astray but a man redirected us" h Similar: off target wide of the mark wide awry off course off track off the right track adrift off beam 2. into error or morally questionable behaviour. "he was led astray by boozy colleagues" h Similar: into wrongdoing into error into sin into iniquity off the rails Phrases go astray — (of an object) become lost or mislaid. "the money had gone astray" Origin Middle English (in the sense ‘distant from the correct path’): from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French estraie, past participle of estraier, based on Latin extra ‘out of bounds’ + vagari ‘wander’. go astray phrase of astray (of an object) become lost or mislaid. "the money had gone astray" --- 20: incisive /ɪnˈsʌɪsɪv/ Learn to pronounce adjective adjective: incisive 1. (of a person or mental process) intelligently analytical and clear-thinking. "she was an incisive critic" h Similar: penetrating acute sharp sharp-witted razor-sharp keen rapier-like astute shrewd trenchant piercing perceptive insightful percipient perspicacious discerning analytical intelligent canny clever smart quick concise succinct pithy to the point crisp clear punchy on the ball heads-up argute sapient h Opposite: rambling vague (of an account) accurate and sharply focused. "the songs offer incisive pictures of American ways" 2. (of an action) quick and direct. "the most incisive move of a tight match" Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘cutting, penetrating’): from medieval Latin incisivus, from Latin incidere ‘cut into’ (see incise). --- 21: doughy /ˈdəʊi/ Learn to pronounce adjective adjective: doughy; comparative adjective: doughier; superlative adjective: doughiest (of food) having a thick, malleable consistency. "doughy white bread" (of a person) pale and rather fat. "a pasty, doughy, chubby white kid from the suburbs" --- 22: infantilism /ɪnˈfantɪlɪz(ə)m/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: infantilism childish behaviour. "his comedy is a blend of slapstick and sentimental infantilism" Psychology the persistence of infantile characteristics or behaviour in adult life. --- 23: predicament /prɪˈdɪkəm(ə)nt/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: predicament; plural noun: predicaments 1. a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation. "the club's financial predicament" h Similar: difficult situation awkward situation mess difficulty problematic situation issue plight quandary trouble muddle mare's nest crisis hole fix jam sticky situation pickle scrape bind tight spot/corner spot corner dilemma hot/deep water kettle of fish how-do-you-do 2. (in Aristotelian logic) each of the ten ‘categories’, often listed as: substance or being, quantity, quality, relation, place, time, posture, having or possession, action, and passion. Origin late Middle English (in predicament (sense 2)): from late Latin praedicamentum ‘something predicated’ (rendering Greek katēgoria ‘category’), from Latin praedicare (see predicate). From the sense ‘category’ arose the sense ‘state of being, condition’; hence ‘unpleasant situation’. --- 24: pernicious /pəˈnɪʃəs/ Learn to pronounce adjective adjective: pernicious having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way. "the pernicious influences of the mass media" h Similar: harmful damaging destructive injurious hurtful detrimental deleterious dangerous adverse inimical unhealthy unfavourable bad evil baleful wicked malign malevolent malignant noxious poisonous cancerous corrupting ruinous deadly lethal fatal malefic maleficent pestilent pestilential baneful pestiferous h Opposite: beneficial benign favourable Origin late Middle English: from Latin perniciosus ‘destructive’, from pernicies ‘ruin’, based on nex, nec- ‘death’. --- 25: contour /ˈkɒntʊə/ Learn to pronounce Filter definitions by topic See definitions in: all mathematics music phonetics cosmetics transportation noun plural noun: contours 1. an outline representing or bounding the shape or form of something. "she traced the contours of his face with her finger" h Similar: outline shape form lines curves figure silhouette profile lineation an outline of a natural feature such as a hill. "the road climbs steadily, following the contours of the hillside" short for contour line. "below the 1200-ft contour is a belt of limestone" a line joining points on a diagram at which some property has the same value. "the figure shows contours of 21-cm line emission of atomic hydrogen" 2. a way in which something varies, especially the pitch of music or the pattern of tones in an utterance. verb 3rd person present: contours 1. mould into a specific shape, especially one designed to fit into something else. "the compartment has been contoured with smooth rounded corners" shade (an area or areas of the face) with make-up, typically foundation or bronzer, in such a way as to accentuate or enhance the facial shape or structure. "I prefer to only contour my cheeks" 2. mark (a map or diagram) with contour lines. "a variety of different data sources have been compiled to contour the maps" 3. (of a road or railway) follow the outline of (a topographical feature), especially along a contour line. "the road contours the hillside" Origin mid 17th century: from French, from Italian contorno, from contornare ‘draw in outline’, from con- ‘together’ + tornare ‘to turn’. --- 26: troupe /truːp/ Learn to pronounce noun plural noun: troupes a group of dancers, actors, or other entertainers who tour to different venues. "a dance troupe" h Similar: group company band ensemble set cast Origin early 19th century: from French, literally ‘troop’. --- 27: ornery /ˈɔːnəri/ Learn to pronounce adjectiveinformal•North American adjective: ornery bad-tempered or difficult to deal with. "an ornery old military man" h Similar: grouchy grumpy cranky crotchety cantankerous bad-tempered ill-tempered dyspeptic irascible waspish Origin early 19th century: variant of ordinary, representing a dialect pronunciation. --- 28: saddle /ˈsad(ə)l/ Learn to pronounce See definitions in: all riding racing verb past tense: saddled; past participle: saddled 1. put a saddle on (a horse). "he was in the stable saddling up his horse" (of a trainer) enter (a horse) for a race. "he saddles Native Mission in today's Tote Gold Trophy Hurdle at Newbury" 2. burden (someone) with an onerous responsibility or task. "he's saddled with debts of $12 million" h Similar: burden encumber lumber hamper weigh down land charge inflict something on impose something on thrust something on unload something on fob something off on to Origin --- 29: capitulate /kəˈpɪtjʊleɪt/ Learn to pronounce verb verb: capitulate; 3rd person present: capitulates; past tense: capitulated; past participle: capitulated; 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 submit back down climb down give way cave in succumb crumble bow to someone/something relent acquiesce accede come to terms be beaten be overcome be overwhelmed fall lay down one's arms raise/show the white flag throw in the towel throw in the sponge Opposite: resist hold out Origin mid 16th century (in the sense ‘parley, draw up terms’): from French capituler, from medieval Latin capitulare ‘draw up under headings’, from Latin capitulum, diminutive of caput ‘head’. --- 30: 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. --- 31: degeneration /dɪˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: degeneration the state or process of being or becoming degenerate; decline or deterioration. "overgrazing has caused serious degeneration of grassland" h Similar: deterioration decline decay debasement degradation slide sinking descent drop regression retrogression lapse atrophy devolution h Opposite: improvement Medicine deterioration and loss of function in the cells of a tissue or organ. "degeneration of the muscle fibres" --- 32: whiny /ˈwʌɪni/ Learn to pronounce adjective adjective: whiny; adjective: whiney; comparative adjective: whinier; superlative adjective: whiniest having a drawn-out, high-pitched, unpleasant sound. "he speaks in a whiny, childish voice" having a complaining tone. "without wanting to sound whiny, it's quite hard work" --- 33: treachery /ˈtrɛtʃ(ə)ri/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: treachery; plural noun: treacheries betrayal of trust. "many died because of his treachery" h Similar: betrayal disloyalty perfidy perfidiousness faithlessness unfaithfulness infidelity bad faith breach of trust duplicity deceit deceitfulness deception false-heartedness falseness stab in the back back-stabbing double-dealing untrustworthiness treason two-timing Punic faith h Opposite: loyalty faithfulness the quality of being deceptive. "the treachery of language" Origin Middle English: from Old French trecherie, from trechier ‘to cheat’. --- 34: antics /ˈantɪks/ Learn to pronounce noun plural noun: antics foolish, outrageous, or amusing behaviour. "the antics of our political parties" h Similar: capers amusing behaviour pranks larks escapades high jinks skylarking stunts tricks horseplay romps frolics silliness foolish behaviour tomfoolery foolery clowning buffoonery monkey tricks didoes harlequinades Origin early 16th century: from antic. --- 35: recalcitrant /rɪˈkalsɪtr(ə)nt/ Learn to pronounce adjective adjective: recalcitrant having an obstinately uncooperative attitude towards authority or discipline. "a class of recalcitrant fifteen-year-olds" h 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 h Opposite: amenable docile compliant noun noun: recalcitrant; plural noun: recalcitrants a person with an obstinately uncooperative attitude. "a stiff-necked recalcitrant and troublemaker" Origin mid 19th century: from Latin recalcitrant- ‘kicking out with the heels’, from the verb recalcitrare, based on calx, calc- ‘heel’.
Friday, February 11, 2022
Word Meanings (2022-Feb-11)
Index of Word Meanings
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