survival8: Word Meanings 20191205

concoct
/kənˈkɒkt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: concocted; past participle: concocted
make (a dish or meal) by combining various ingredients.
"she began to concoct a dinner likely to appeal to him"
Similar:
prepare
make
put together
assemble
cook
fix
rustle up
knock up
create or devise (a story or plan).
"his cronies concocted a simple plan"
Similar:
make up
think up
dream up
fabricate
invent
contrive
manufacture

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lumpen
[ˈləmpən]

ADJECTIVE
(in Marxist contexts) uninterested in revolutionary advancement.
"the lumpen public is enveloped in a culture of dependency"
boorish and stupid.
"growing ranks of lumpen, uninhibited, denim-clad youth"
synonyms:
stupid · foolish · idiotic · cretinous · ungainly · loutish · clumsy · awkward · gawkish · lumbering · ape-like · bearish · cloddish · clownish · doltish · Neanderthal · uncouth · uncultured · boorish · rough · coarse · crass · brutish · blockish · rough-hewn · ill-mannered · badly behaved · unrefined · unsophisticated · clodhopping · blockheaded · moronic · boneheaded · halfwitted · dumb · lamebrained · chuckleheaded · thickheaded · yobbish · chowderheaded · lubberly
antonyms:
smart · clever · neat
NOUN
(the lumpen)
the lumpenproletariat.

ORIGIN
1940s: back-formation from lumpenproletariat; the sense ‘misshapen, ponderous’ is by association with lumpish.

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adverse
[adˈvərs, ˈadˌvərs]

ADJECTIVE
preventing success or development; harmful; unfavorable.
"taxes are having an adverse effect on production" · [more]
synonyms:
unfavorable · disadvantageous · inauspicious · unpropitious · unfortunate · unlucky · untimely · untoward · disagreeable · unpleasant · bad · poor · terrible · [more]
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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

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instigate
/ˈɪnstɪɡeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: instigated; past participle: instigated
bring about or initiate (an action or event).
"they instigated a reign of terror"
Similar:
set in motion
put in motion
get under way
get going
get off the ground
get in operation
start
begin
initiate
launch
institute
lay the foundations of
lay the first stone of
sow the seeds of
set up
inaugurate
found
establish
put in place
organize
get working
get functioning
activate
trigger off
set off
spark off
inspire
foment
kindle
stir up
whip up
actuate
generate
cause
bring about
start/get/set the ball rolling
kick off
commence

Opposite: halt

incite someone to do something, especially something bad.
"instigating men to refuse allegiance to the civil powers"

Similar:
incite
encourage
urge
goad
provoke
spur on
drive on

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proofread
/ˈpruːfriːd/
verb
verb: proof-read; past tense: proof-read; past participle: proof-read
read (printer's proofs or other written or printed material) and mark any errors.
"they must revise and proofread their work"
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inflection
[inˈflekSH(ə)n]

NOUN
grammar
a change in the form of a word (typically the ending) to express a grammatical function or attribute such as tense, mood, person, number, case, and gender.
"a set of word forms differing only in respect of inflections"
synonyms:
conjugation · declension · form · ending · case
the process or practice of inflecting words.
the modulation of intonation or pitch in the voice.
"she spoke slowly and without inflection" · [more]
synonyms:
stress · cadence · rhythm · accentuation · intonation · emphasis · [more]
the variation of the pitch of a musical note.
mathematics
a change of curvature from convex to concave at a particular point on a curve.
"the point of inflection of the bell-shaped curve"
synonyms:
curving · curvature · bending · turning · curve · bend · turn · bow · crook · [more]
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virtue
[ˈvərCHo͞o]

NOUN
behavior showing high moral standards.
"paragons of virtue"
synonyms:
goodness · virtuousness · righteousness · morality · ethicalness · [more]
a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person.
"patience is a virtue"
synonyms:
good point · good quality · strong point · strong suit · long suit · asset · [more]
a good or useful quality of a thing.
"Mike was extolling the virtues of the car" · [more]
synonyms:
merit · advantage · benefit · usefulness · efficacy · efficaciousness · [more]
(virtues)
(in traditional Christian angelology) the seventh highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy.
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skepticism
[ˈskeptəˌsizəm]

NOUN
scepticism (noun)
a skeptical attitude; doubt as to the truth of something.
"these claims were treated with skepticism"
synonyms:
doubt · doubtfulness · dubiousness · a pinch of salt · lack of conviction · [more]
philosophy
the theory that certain knowledge is impossible.
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perennial
[pəˈrenēəl]

ADJECTIVE
lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring.
"his perennial distrust of the media" · [more]
synonyms:
everlasting · perpetual · eternal · continuing · unending · never-ending · [more]
NOUN
a perennial plant.
"perennials will transform the garden in summer"
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muddle
[ˈmədl]

VERB
bring into a disordered or confusing state.
"I fear he may have muddled the message" · [more]
synonyms:
jumbled · in a jumble · in a muddle · in a mess · chaotic · in disorder · [more]
mix (a drink) or stir (an ingredient) into a drink.
"muddle the kiwi slices with the sugar"
synonyms:
mix · blend · agitate · beat · whip · whisk · fold in
NOUN
an untidy and disorganized state or collection.
"the finances were in a muddle" · [more]
synonyms:
untidiness · disorder · disarray · clutter · heap · shambles · litter · tangle · [more]
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verve
[vərv]

NOUN
vigor and spirit or enthusiasm.
"Kollo sings with supreme verve and flexibility"
synonyms:
enthusiasm · vigor · energy · pep · dynamism · go · elan · vitality · vivacity · buoyancy · liveliness · animation · sprightliness · zest · sparkle · effervescence · fizz · spirit · [more]
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stagger
[ˈstaɡər]

VERB
walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall.
"he staggered to his feet, swaying a little"
synonyms:
lurch · walk unsteadily · reel · sway · teeter · totter · stumble · wobble · [more]
astonish or deeply shock.
"I was staggered to find it was six o'clock"
synonyms:
astonish · amaze · nonplus · startle · astound · surprise · bewilder · stun · [more]
arrange (events, payments, hours, etc.) so that they do not occur at the same time; spread over a period of time.
"meetings are staggered throughout the day"
synonyms:
spread (out) · space (out) · time at intervals · overlap
NOUN
an unsteady walk or movement.
"she walked with a stagger"
an arrangement of things in a zigzag order or so that they are not in line.
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The primary sector of the economy includes any industry involved in the extraction and collection of natural resources; such as farming, forestry, mining and fishing.

The primary sector tends to make up a larger portion of the economy in developing countries than it does in developed countries. For example, in 2018, agriculture, forestry, and fishing comprised more than 15% of GDP in sub-Saharan Africa[3] but less than 1% of GDP in North America.

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Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.

GDP per capita
₹360,644 (US$5,200) (current prices; 2017–18)
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engender
[ənˈjendər]

VERB
engendered (past tense) · engendered (past participle)
cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition).
"the issue engendered continuing controversy"
synonyms:
cause · be the cause of · give rise to · bring about · lead to · result in · produce · create · generate · arouse · rouse · provoke · incite · kindle · trigger · spark off · [more]

archaic
(of a father) beget (offspring).
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ebullience
[ɪˈbʊlɪəns]

NOUN
the quality of being cheerful and full of energy; exuberance.
"the ebullience of happy children"
synonyms:
exuberance · buoyancy · cheerfulness · joy · joyfulness · gladness · cheeriness · merriment · jollity · sunniness · breeziness · jauntiness · light-heartedness · high spirits · [more]
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raconteur
[ˌrakɒnˈtəː]

NOUN
a person who tells anecdotes in a skilful and amusing way.
"a colourful raconteur"
synonyms:
storyteller · teller of tales · spinner of yarns · narrator · relater · recounter · magsman · anecdotist · anecdotalist
---
stigma
[ˈstiɡmə]

NOUN
a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.
"the stigma of having gone to prison will always be with me" · [more]
synonyms:
shame · disgrace · dishonor · stain · taint · blot · blot on one's escutcheon · [more]
(stigmata)
(in Christian tradition) marks corresponding to those left on Jesus’ body by the Crucifixion, said to have been impressed by divine favor on the bodies of St. Francis of Assisi and others.
medicine
a visible sign or characteristic of a disease.
"knee deformities or other stigmata of childhood rickets"
botany
(in a flower) the part of a pistil that receives the pollen during pollination.
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convulsion
[kənˈvəlSHən]

NOUN
convulsions (plural noun)
a sudden, violent, irregular movement of a limb or of the body, caused by involuntary contraction of muscles and associated especially with brain disorders such as epilepsy, the presence of certain toxins or other agents in the blood, or fever in children.
"toxic side effects like convulsions" · [more]
synonyms:
fit · seizure · paroxysm · spasm · attack · muscular contractions · throes · ictus
(convulsions)
uncontrollable laughter.
"the audience collapsed in convulsions"
synonyms:
fits of laughter · paroxysms of laughter · gales of laughter · [more]
an earthquake or other violent or major movement of the earth's crust.
"the violent convulsions of tectonic plates"
a violent social or political upheaval.
"the convulsions of 1939–45"
synonyms:
upheaval · eruption · turmoil · turbulence · disruption · agitation · [more]
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ontology
/ɒnˈtɒlədʒi/
Learn to pronounce
noun
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"
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compost
[ˈkämˌpōst]

NOUN
decayed organic material used as a plant fertilizer.
"cover with a layer of fine compost"
synonyms:
fertilizer · plant food · dressing · organic matter · vegetable waste · humus · peat
VERB
make (vegetable matter or manure) into compost.
"don't compost heavily infested plants"
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conflation
/kənˈfleɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
the merging of two or more sets of information, texts, ideas, etc. into one.
"the forceful conflation of two traditions"
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dilation
/dɪˈleɪʃ(ə)n,dʌɪˈleɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
PHYSIOLOGY
the action or condition of becoming or being made wider, larger, or more open.
"nitric oxide causes dilation of the blood vessels"
2.
the action of speaking or writing at length on (a subject).
"the main editorial involved no dilation on the privileges or responsibilities of citizenship"
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taxonomy
[takˈsänəmē]

NOUN
biology
the branch of science concerned with classification, especially of organisms; systematics.
synonyms:
categorization · categorizing · classifying · classing · grouping · grading · ranking · organization · sorting · codification · systematization · stratification
the classification of something, especially organisms.
"the taxonomy of these fossils"
a system of classification.
"a taxonomy of smells"
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ontology
[änˈtäləjē]

NOUN
ontologies (plural noun)
the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being.
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" · [more]
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despicable
[dəˈspikəb(ə)l]

ADJECTIVE
deserving hatred and contempt.
"a despicable crime"
synonyms:
contemptible · loathsome · hateful · detestable · reprehensible · abhorrent · abominable · awful · heinous · beyond the pale · odious · execrable · repellent · repugnant · [more]
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slimeball
[ˈslīmbôl]

NOUN
slime-ball (noun)
a repulsive or despicable person.
"the slimeball had turned on his friends"
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indignation
[ˌindiɡˈnāSH(ə)n]

NOUN
anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment.
"the letter filled Lucy with indignation"
synonyms:
resentment · umbrage · affront · disgruntlement · anger · distress · unhappiness · discontent · dissatisfaction · displeasure · hurt · pain · upset · offense · pique · spleen · [more]
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embellish
[əmˈbeliSH]

VERB
embellished (past tense) · embellished (past participle)
make (something) more attractive by the addition of decorative details or features.
"blue silk embellished with golden embroidery"
synonyms:
decorate · adorn · ornament · dress · dress up · furnish · beautify · enhance · enrich · grace · trim · garnish · gild · varnish · brighten up · ginger up · deck · bedeck · [more]
make (a statement or story) more interesting or entertaining by adding extra details, especially ones that are not true.
"she had real difficulty telling the truth because she liked to embellish things"
synonyms:
elaborate · embroider · color · expand on · exaggerate · dress up · touch up · gild · catastrophize
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Lip Service meaning
lip service. noun. : an avowal of advocacy, adherence, or allegiance expressed in words but not backed by deeds —usually used with pay.
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slob
[slɒb]

NOUN
informal
a person who is lazy and has low standards of cleanliness.
"he's a slob and expects others to clean up after him"
synonyms:
layabout · good-for-nothing · sluggard · slug · laggard · lout · oaf · slacker · [more]
IRISH
muddy land.
VERB
BRITISH
informal
behave in a lazy and slovenly way.
"he spent his life watching television and generally slobbing around"
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jugular
[ˈdʒʌɡjʊlə]

ADJECTIVE
of the neck or throat.
zoology
(of fish's pelvic fins) located in front of the pectoral fins.
NOUN
short for jugular vein.
---
headway
[ˈhɛdweɪ]

NOUN
forward movement of a ship or boat, especially when this is slow or difficult.
"the ship was making very little headway against heavy seas"
synonyms:
make progress · make strides · gain ground · progress · advance · proceed · [more]
progress, especially when this is slow or difficult.
"the firm is finally beginning to make headway" · [more]
synonyms:
make progress · make strides · gain ground · progress · advance · [more]
the average interval between trains or buses on a regular service.
"a six-minute headway"
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knell
[nɛl]

NOUN
the sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral.
synonyms:
toll · tolling · ringing · chime · clang · dong · peal · stroke · resounding · [more]
VERB
(of a bell) ring solemnly, especially for a death or funeral.
synonyms:
ring · peal · toll · sound · ding · dong · clang · boom · resound · reverberate · [more]
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lax
[laks]

ADJECTIVE
not sufficiently strict, severe, or careful.
"lax security arrangements at the airport" · [more]
synonyms:
slack · slipshod · negligent · neglectful · remiss · careless · heedless · [more]
(of the limbs or muscles) relaxed.
"muscles have more potential energy when they are stretched than when they are lax"
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profusion
[prəˈfyo͞oZHən]

NOUN
an abundance or large quantity of something.
"a rich profusion of wildflowers" · [more]
synonyms:
abundance · lot · mass · host · plenitude · cornucopia · riot · plethora · superfluity · superabundance · glut · surplus · surfeit · quantities · scores · millions · multitude · [more]
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egalitarian
[ɪˌɡalɪˈtɛːrɪən]

ADJECTIVE
believing in or based on the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.
"a fairer, more egalitarian society"
synonyms:
fair · just · impartial · even-handed · fair-minded · unbiased · unprejudiced · [more]
NOUN
a person who advocates or supports the principle of equality for all people.
"he was a social and political egalitarian"
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chaise
/ʃeɪz/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
HISTORICAL
a horse-drawn carriage for one or two people, typically one with an open top and two wheels.
2.
US
short for chaise longue.
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chaise longue
/ˌʃeɪz ˈlɒŋɡ/
noun
noun: chaise longue; plural noun: chaises longues
a sofa with a backrest at only one end.

Origin

early 19th century: French, literally ‘long chair’.
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grunt
[ɡrənt]

VERB
grunts (third person present)
(of an animal, especially a pig) make a low, short guttural sound.
"an enormous pig grunted and shuffled in a sty outside"
NOUN
grunts (plural noun)
a low, short guttural sound made by an animal or a person.
"with snorts and grunts the animals were coaxed down the ramp" · [more]
NORTH AMERICAN
informal
a low-ranking or unskilled soldier or other worker.
"he went from grunt to senior executive vice president in less than five years" · [more]
synonyms:
private soldier · common soldier · infantryman · foot soldier · trooper · sapper · [more]
an edible shoaling fish of tropical inshore waters and coral reefs, able to make a loud noise by grinding its teeth and amplifying the sound in the swim bladder.
US
a dessert made of fruit topped with dough.
"blueberry grunt"
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schooner
[ˈsko͞onər]

NOUN
a sailing ship with two or more masts, typically with the foremast smaller than the mainmast, and having gaff-rigged lower masts.
NORTH AMERICAN
AUSTRALIAN / NEW ZEALAND
a tall beer glass.
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fiasco
[fēˈaskō]

NOUN
a thing that is a complete failure, especially in a ludicrous or humiliating way.
"his plans turned into a fiasco"
synonyms:
failure · disaster · catastrophe · debacle · shambles · farce · mess · wreck · ruin · ruination · blunder · botch · abortion · flop · washout · dud · hash · lead balloon · [more]
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Pomeranian (dog):
The Pomeranian (often known as a Pom) is a breed of dog of the Spitz type that is named for the Pomerania region in north-west Poland and north-east Germany in Central Europe. Classed as a toy dog breed because of its small size, the Pomeranian is descended from the larger Spitz-type dogs, specifically the German Spitz. It has been determined by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale to be part of the German Spitz breed; and in many countries, they are known as the Zwergspitz ("Dwarf-Spitz").
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horticulture
[ˈhôrdəˌkəlCHər]

NOUN
the art or practice of garden cultivation and management.
"maize and manioc horticulture"
synonyms:
gardening · floriculture · arboriculture · agriculture · cultivation · cultivation of plants · garden management
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excuse
[excuse]

VERB
attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense); seek to defend or justify.
"he did nothing to hide or excuse Jacob's cruelty"
synonyms:
justify · defend · make excuses for · make a case for · explain (away) · [more]
release (someone) from a duty or requirement.
"it will not be possible to excuse you from jury duty"
synonyms:
let off · release · relieve · exempt · spare · absolve · free · liberate · dispense
NOUN
a reason or explanation put forward to defend or justify a fault or offense.
"there can be no possible excuse for any further delay" · [more]
synonyms:
justification · defense · reason · explanation · mitigating circumstances · [more]
informal
(an excuse for)
a poor or inadequate example of.
"that pathetic excuse for a man!"
synonyms:
travesty of · apology for · poor specimen of · pitiful example of · mockery of · [more]
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indignation
[ˌindiɡˈnāSH(ə)n]

---
disgusting
[disˈɡəstiNG]

ADJECTIVE
arousing revulsion or strong indignation.
"he had the most disgusting rotten teeth" · [more]
synonyms:
revolting · repellent · repulsive · sickening · nauseating · nauseous · [more]
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cold-call
verb
make an unsolicited visit or telephone call to (someone), in an attempt to sell goods or services.
"he has been cold-called a dozen times in the past two months"
noun
an unsolicited visit or telephone call made by someone trying to sell goods or services.
"the salesmen spend most of their time making cold calls on perfect strangers"
---
subsume
[səbˈso͞om]

VERB
subsumed (past tense) · subsumed (past participle)
include or absorb (something) in something else.
"most of these phenomena can be subsumed under two broad categories"
synonyms:
include · encompass · embrace · contain · comprise · cover · incorporate · embody · comprehend · envelop · digest · assimilate · admit · hold
---
privy
[ˈprivē]

ADJECTIVE
(privy to)
sharing in the knowledge of (something secret or private).
"he was no longer privy to her innermost thoughts"
synonyms:
aware of · acquainted with · in on · informed of · advised of · apprised of · [more]
NOUN
a toilet located in a small shed outside a house or other building; an outhouse.
law
a person having a part or interest in any action, matter, or thing.
---
poignant
[ˈpoin(y)ənt]

ADJECTIVE
evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret.
"a poignant reminder of the passing of time"
synonyms:
touching · moving · sad · saddening · affecting · pitiful · piteous · pitiable · pathetic · sorrowful · mournful · tearful · wretched · miserable · bitter · painful · distressing · [more]
archaic
sharp or pungent in taste or smell.
"the poignant scent of her powder"
---
incredulous
[inˈkrejələs]

ADJECTIVE
(of a person or their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something.
"an incredulous gasp"
synonyms:
disbelieving · unbelieving · doubtful · dubious · unconvinced · distrustful · distrusting · mistrustful · mistrusting · suspicious · questioning · lacking trust · cynical · [more]
---
belligerence
[bəˈlij(ə)rəns]

NOUN
aggressive or warlike behavior.
"the reaction ranged from wild enthusiasm to outright belligerence"
synonyms:
will to resist · power to resist · resistance · morale · spirit · courage · pluck · pluckiness · gameness · will to win · strength · backbone · spine · mettle · [more]
---
contempt
[kənˈtem(p)t]

NOUN
the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn.
"he showed his contempt for his job by doing it very badly"
synonyms:
scorn · disdain · disrespect · deprecation · disparagement · denigration · opprobrium · odium · obloquy · scornfulness · derision · mockery · ridicule · disgust · loathing · [more]
disregard for something that should be taken into account.
"this action displays an arrogant contempt for the wishes of the majority"
synonyms:
disrespect · disregard · slighting · neglect · contumacy
the offense of being disobedient to or disrespectful of a court of law and its officers.
"when he was found to have lied to the House this was a contempt" · [more]
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physiological
[ˌfizēəˈläjək(ə)l]

ADJECTIVE
relating to the branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts.
"physiological research on the causes of violent behavior"
relating to the way in which a living organism or bodily part functions.
"slow down your body's physiological response to anger by breathing deeply"
---
The phrase “As Cool as a Cucumber” means to be very calm, with no worries. Someone who is not affected by pressure.
---
impute
[imˈpyo͞ot]

VERB
represent (something, especially something undesirable) as being done, caused, or possessed by someone; attribute.
"the crimes imputed to Richard"
synonyms:
attribute · ascribe · assign · credit · accredit · chalk up · connect with · associate with · lay on · lay at the door of · pin on · stick on
finance
assign (a value) to something by inference from the value of the products or processes to which it contributes.
"by imputing the interest rates they potentially introduce a measurement error"
theology
ascribe (righteousness, guilt, etc.) to someone by virtue of a similar quality in another.
"Christ's righteousness has been imputed to us"
---
wait on someone hand and foot
phrase of hand
attend to all someone's needs or requests, especially when this is regarded as unreasonable.
"I was wallowing in the luxury of the hotel, being waited on hand and foot"
---
when it rains it pours

DEFINITION
proverb
misfortunes or difficult situations tend to follow each other in rapid succession or to arrive all at the same time.
---

hog
[hôɡ, häɡ]

VERB
hogging (present participle)
informal
keep or use all of (something) for oneself in an unfair or selfish way.
"he never hogged the limelight"
synonyms:
monopolize · keep to oneself · dominate · take over · corner · control · bogart
(with reference to a ship) bend or become bent convex upward along its length as a result either of the hull being supported in the middle and not at the ends (as in a heavy sea) or the vessel's being loaded more heavily at the ends.Compare with sag.
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legwork
[ˈleɡˌwərk]

NOUN
work that involves much traveling to collect information, especially when such work is difficult but boring.
"why don't we just hire a flunky and get him to do the legwork for us?"
synonyms:
preliminary work · preliminaries · preparations · preparatory measures · basic work · spadework · hard work · donkey work · hack work · planning · arrangements · [more]
---
barb
[bärb]

NOUN
barbs (plural noun)
a sharp projection near the end of an arrow, fishhook, or similar item, angled away from the main point so as to make extraction difficult.
synonyms:
spike · prong · point · projection · spur · thorn · needle · prickle · spine · [more]
a fleshy filament at the mouth of some fish, such as barbel and catfish.
a freshwater fish that typically has barbels around the mouth, popular in aquariums.
---
bolster
[ˈbōlstər]

NOUN
a long, thick pillow that is placed under other pillows for support.
synonyms:
pillow · cushion · pad · support · rest
VERB
support or strengthen; prop up.
"the fall in interest rates is starting to bolster confidence" · [more]
synonyms:
strengthen · support · reinforce · make stronger · boost · fortify · [more]
---
stave
[stāv]

NOUN
a vertical wooden post or plank in a building or other structure.
synonyms:
post · pole · stick · spike · upright · support · prop · strut · pale · paling · [more]
music
BRITISH
another term for staff.
a verse or stanza of a poem.
synonyms:
stanza · strophe · canto · couplet · distich · triplet · tercet · tetrastich · part · [more]
VERB
(stave something in)
break something by forcing it inward or piercing it roughly.
"the door was staved in"
synonyms:
break in · smash in · put a hole in · push in · kick in · cave in · splinter · [more]
(stave something off)
avert or delay something bad or dangerous.
"a reassuring presence can stave off a panic attack"
synonyms:
avert · prevent · avoid · preclude · rule out · counter · forestall · [more]

---

contempt
[kənˈtem(p)t]

NOUN
contempt of court (noun)
the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn.
"he showed his contempt for his job by doing it very badly"
synonyms:
scorn · disdain · disrespect · deprecation · disparagement · denigration · opprobrium · odium · obloquy · scornfulness · derision · mockery · ridicule · disgust · loathing · [more]
disregard for something that should be taken into account.
"this action displays an arrogant contempt for the wishes of the majority"
synonyms:
disrespect · disregard · slighting · neglect · contumacy
the offense of being disobedient to or disrespectful of a court of law and its officers.
"when he was found to have lied to the House this was a contempt" · [more]

---

objectively
[əbˈjektivlē, äbˈjektivlē]

ADVERB
in a way that is not influenced by personal feelings or opinions.
"events should be reported objectively" · [more]
in a way that is not dependent on the mind for existence; actually.
"the physical world we think of as objectively true"
---
apathetic
[ˌapəˈTHedik]

ADJECTIVE
showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
"apathetic slackers who don't vote"
synonyms:
uninterested · indifferent · unconcerned · unmoved · unresponsive · impassive · passive · detached · uninvolved · disinterested · unfeeling · unemotional · emotionless · [more]
---
ineptitude
[iˈneptəˌt(y)o͞od]

NOUN
lack of skill or ability.
"the officials displayed remarkable ineptitude" · [more]
---
perilous
[ˈperələs]

ADJECTIVE
full of danger or risk.
"a perilous journey south"
synonyms:
dangerous · fraught with danger · hazardous · risky · unsafe · treacherous · precarious · vulnerable · uncertain · insecure · critical · desperate · exposed · at risk · [more]
exposed to imminent risk of disaster or ruin.
"the economy is in a perilous state"
synonyms:
dangerous · risky · hazardous · precarious · life-threatening · high-risk · treacherous · insecure · unsound · vulnerable · exposed · defenseless · destructive · [more]
---
poignant
/ˈpɔɪnjənt/
[ˈpoin(y)ənt]

---
gotten
/ˈɡɒt(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
NORTH AMERICAN
past participle of get.

---

predicament
[prəˈdikəmənt]

NOUN
a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation.
"the club's financial predicament"
synonyms:
difficult situation · awkward situation · mess · difficulty · problematic situation · [more]
(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.

---

whacko
[ˈwakō]

EXCLAMATION
BRITISH
informal
dated
used to express delight and enthusiasm.
"Home on Friday. Whacko!"

---

howl
[houl]

VERB
howled (past tense) · howled (past participle)
make a howling sound.
"he howled in agony" · [more]
synonyms:
bay · cry · yowl · bark · yelp · laugh · guffaw · roar · laugh loudly · roar with laughter · dissolve into laughter · be creased up · be doubled up · split one's sides · [more]
weep and cry out loudly.
"a baby started to howl"
synonyms:
wail · cry · yell · yelp · yowl · bawl · bellow · roar · shout · shriek · scream · screech · caterwaul · holler · ululate
(howl someone down)
shout in disapproval in order to prevent a speaker from being heard.
"they howled me down and called me a chauvinist"

---

prosody
[ˈpräsədē]

NOUN
the patterns of rhythm and sound used in poetry.
"the translator is not obliged to reproduce the prosody of the original"
the theory or study of prosody.
the patterns of stress and intonation in a language.
"the salience of prosody in child language acquisition"

---

indignantly
[inˈdiɡnəntlē]

ADVERB
in a manner indicating anger or annoyance at something perceived as unfair.
"he indignantly rejected the claim" · [more]

---

scum
[skəm]

NOUN
a layer of dirt or froth on the surface of a liquid.
"green scum found on stagnant pools"
VERB
(of a liquid) become covered with a layer of dirt or froth.
"the lagoon scummed over"

---
askew
[əˈskyo͞o]

ADJECTIVE
not in a straight or level position.
"her hat was slightly askew" · [more]
synonyms:
crooked · lopsided · tilted · angled · oblique · skew · skewed · slanted · aslant · awry · uneven · asymmetrical · unsymmetrical · squint · thrawn · cock-eyed · skew-whiff · [more]
wrong; awry.
"the plan went sadly askew" · [more]
---
wariness
[ˈwerēnəs]

NOUN
caution about possible dangers or problems.
"her mother's wariness of computers"
synonyms:
caution · carefulness · care · circumspection · prudence · guardedness · alertness · attention · heed · heedfulness · watchfulness · vigilance · observance · awareness · [more]
lack of trust; suspicion.
"they had all regarded her with wariness"
synonyms:
suspicion · distrust · mistrust · caution · unease · skepticism · doubt · chariness · caginess
---
walrus mustache
[walrus mustache]

NOUN
walrus moustache (noun)
a long, thick, drooping mustache.
---
truculent
[ˈtrəkyələnt]

ADJECTIVE
eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant.
"his days of truculent defiance were over"
synonyms:
defiant · aggressive · antagonistic · belligerent · pugnacious · bellicose · combative · confrontational · ready for a fight · hostile · obstreperous · argumentative · [more]
---
milieu
[milˈyo͞o, milˈyə(r)]

NOUN
a person's social environment.
"he grew up in a military milieu"
synonyms:
environment · background · backdrop · setting · context · atmosphere · scene · location · locale · conditions · surroundings · habitat · environs · sphere · world · territory · [more]
---
augur
[ˈôɡər]

VERB
augurs (third person present)
(of an event or circumstance) portend a good or bad outcome.
"the end of the cold war seemed to augur well" · [more]
synonyms:
bode · portend · herald · be a sign of · be an indication of · be a warning of · [more]
NOUN
augurs (plural noun)
(in ancient Rome) a religious official who observed natural signs, especially the behavior of birds, interpreting these as an indication of divine approval or disapproval of a proposed action.
synonyms:
seer · soothsayer · fortune teller · crystal gazer · clairvoyant · psychic · [more]
---
portend
[pôrˈtend]

VERB
be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen.
"the eclipses portend some major events"
synonyms:
presage · augur · foreshadow · foretell · prophesy · be a sign of · be a warning of · warn of · be an omen of · be an indication of · be a harbinger of · indicate · herald · [more]
---
demur
[dəˈmər]

VERB
demurring (present participle)
raise doubts or objections or show reluctance.
"normally she would have accepted the challenge, but she demurred"
synonyms:
raise objections · object · take exception · take issue · protest · lodge a protest · cavil · dissent · raise doubts · express doubt · express reluctance · express reservations · [more]
law
dated
put forward a demurrer.
---
hurrah
[həˈrä]

VERB
hurrahed (past tense) · hurrahed (past participle)
shout “hurrah.”.
"we waved our swords and hurrahed"
synonyms:
acclaim · praise · applaud · commend · rave about · extol · eulogize · vaunt · hymn · lionize · express approval of · express admiration for · pay tribute to · [more]
---
realpolitik
[rāˈälpōliˌtēk]

NOUN
a system of politics or principles based on practical rather than moral or ideological considerations.
"commercial realpolitik had won the day"
synonyms:
power struggle · manipulation · machination(s) · maneuvering · jockeying for position · wheeler-dealing · machiavellianism · opportunism

---
belie
[bəˈlī]

VERB
belied (past tense) · belied (past participle)
(of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict.
"his lively, alert manner belied his years"
synonyms:
contradict · be at odds with · call into question · give the lie to · [more]
fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation); betray.
"the notebooks belie Darwin's later recollection"
---
meander
[mēˈandər]

VERB
meandered (past tense) · meandered (past participle)
(of a river or road) follow a winding course.
"a river that meandered gently through a meadow"
synonyms:
zigzag · wind · twist · turn · curve · curl · bend · snake
(of a person) wander at random.
"kids meandered in and out"
synonyms:
stroll · saunter · amble · wander · roam · ramble · rove · drift · maunder · stray · straggle · stravaig · streel · mosey · tootle · bimble · vagabond
(of a speaker or text) proceed aimlessly or with little purpose.
"a stylish offbeat thriller which occasionally meanders"
synonyms:
ramble · prattle · maunder · prate · blather · blether · blither · drivel · chatter · rattle · drift · witter · waffle · rabbit · natter
---
scruff
[skrəf]

NOUN
the back of a person's or animal's neck.
"he grabbed him by the scruff of his neck"
---
diffident
[ˈdifəd(ə)nt]

ADJECTIVE
modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence.
"a diffident youth"
synonyms:
shy · bashful · modest · self-effacing · unassuming · unpresuming · humble · meek · unconfident · unassertive · timid · timorous · shrinking · reserved · withdrawn · [more]
---
mumbling
[ˈməmb(ə)liNG]

ADJECTIVE
speaking or spoken in a quiet and indistinct way.
"inarticulate, mumbling speeches" · [more]
---
bustle
[ˈbəsəl]

VERB
move in an energetic or noisy manner.
"people clutching clipboards bustled about"
synonyms:
rush · dash · scurry · scuttle · scamper · scramble · flutter · fuss · hurry · [more]
NOUN
excited activity and movement.
"all the noise and the traffic and the bustle"
synonyms:
activity · hustle and bustle · animation · commotion · flurry · tumult · hubbub · [more]
---
counterpoint
[ˈkoun(t)ərˌpoint]

VERB
counterpointed (past tense) · counterpointed (past participle)
music
add counterpoint to (a melody).
"the orchestra counterpoints the vocal part"
emphasize by contrast.
"the cream walls and maple floors are counterpointed by black accents"
compensate for.
"the story's fanciful excesses are counterpointed with some sharp and unsentimental dialogue"
---
sizzle
[ˈsizəl]

VERB
(of food) make a hissing sound when frying or cooking.
"the bacon began to sizzle in the pan"
synonyms:
crackle · frizzle · sputter · hiss · spit · fry
NOUN
a hissing sound, as of food frying or cooking.
"the sizzle of hot dogs"
---
tincture
[ˈtiNG(k)(t)SHər]

NOUN
a medicine made by dissolving a drug in alcohol.
"the remedies can be administered in the form of tinctures" · [more]
synonyms:
solution · suspension · infusion · potion · elixir · extract · essence · [more]
a slight trace of something.
"she could not keep a tincture of bitterness out of her voice"
synonyms:
trace · note · tinge · touch · dash · suggestion · hint · bit · scintilla · [more]
heraldry
any of the conventional colors (including the metals and stains, and often the furs) used in coats of arms.
VERB
(be tinctured)
be tinged, flavored, or imbued with a slight amount of.
"Arthur's affability was tinctured with faint sarcasm"
---
douse
[dous]

VERB
pour a liquid over; drench.
"he doused the car with gasoline and set it on fire"
synonyms:
drench · soak · souse · saturate · drown · flood · inundate · deluge · wet · splash · slosh · hose down
extinguish (a fire or light).
"stewards appeared and the fire was doused" · [more]
synonyms:
extinguish · put out · quench · stamp out · smother · beat out · dampen down · blow out · snuff out · dout
sailing
lower (a sail) quickly.
---
stoked
[stōkt]

ADJECTIVE
informal
NORTH AMERICAN
excited or euphoric.
"when they told me I was on the team, I was stoked"
---
unselfconscious
[ˌənˌselfˈkänSHəs]

ADJECTIVE
not suffering from or exhibiting self-consciousness; not shy or embarrassed.
"his behavior was natural and unselfconscious"
synonyms:
uninhibited · liberated · extrovert · outgoing · unrestrained · expressive · open · affable · talkative · effusive · demonstrative · unconstrained · bold · communicative · [more]
---
purveyor
[pərˈvāər]

NOUN
purveyors (plural noun)
a person who sells or deals in particular goods.
"a purveyor of large luxury vehicles"
synonyms:
seller · vendor · trader · retailer · supplier · provider · stockist · tout · trafficker · pedlar · hawker
a person or group that spreads or promotes an idea, view, etc..
"a purveyor of traditional Christian values"
---
shoehorn
[ˈSHo͞oˌhôrn]

VERB
shoehorned (past tense) · shoehorned (past participle)
force into an inadequate space.
"people were shoehorned into cramped corners"
---
straitjacket
[ˈstrātˌjakət]

NOUN
a strong garment with long sleeves which can be tied together to confine the arms of a violent prisoner or mental patient.
VERB
restrain with a straitjacket.
---
predilection
[ˌpredlˈekSH(ə)n, ˌprēdlˈekSH(ə)n]

NOUN
predilections (plural noun)
a preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something.
"my predilection for Asian food"
synonyms:
liking · fondness · preference · partiality · taste · penchant · weakness · soft spot · fancy · inclination · leaning · bias · propensity · bent · proclivity · proneness · [more]
---
burnish
[ˈbərniSH]

VERB
polish (something, especially metal) by rubbing.
"to burnish copper, I would probably use a drill with a pad attached to the end"
synonyms:
polish (up) · shine · brighten · rub up/down · buff (up) · smooth · glaze · furbish
NOUN
the shine on a highly polished surface.
synonyms:
shine · sheen · luster · gleam · patina · shininess · glossiness · brightness · [more]
---
suffuse
[səˈfyo͞oz]

VERB
suffused (past tense) · suffused (past participle)
gradually spread through or over.
"her cheeks were suffused with color" · [more]
synonyms:
permeate · spread over · spread throughout · cover · bathe · pervade · wash · saturate · imbue · fill · load · charge · impregnate · inform · steep · color · mantle
---
eventuate
[əˈven(t)SHəˌwāt]

VERB
eventuating (present participle)
occur as a result.
"you never know what might eventuate"
synonyms:
happen · occur · take place · chance to happen · arise · emerge · come about · transpire · materialize · appear · surface · crop up · spring up · present itself · ensue · [more]
(eventuate in)
lead to as a result.
"circumstances that eventuate in crime"
---
resumption
[rəˈzəm(p)SH(ə)n]

NOUN
the action of beginning something again after a pause or interruption.
"a resumption of meaningful negotiation"
synonyms:
restart · restarting · recommencement · reopening · reinstitution · continuation · carrying on · taking up again · renewal · return to
---
wherewithal
[ˈ(h)werwiT͟Hˌôl, ˈ(h)werwiTHˌôl]

NOUN
(the wherewithal)
the money or other means needed for a particular purpose.
"they lacked the wherewithal to pay"
synonyms:
money · ready money · cash · capital · finance(s) · resources · funds · reserves · means · ability · capability · dough · bread · loot · shekels · moolah · the necessary · [more]
---

hankering
[ˈhaNGkəriNG]

NOUN
a strong desire to have or do something.
"a hankering for family life" · [more]
---
dispensation
[ˌdispənˈsāSH(ə)n, ˌdispenˈsāSH(ə)n]

NOUN
exemption from a rule or usual requirement.
"although she was too young, she was given special dispensation to play two matches" · [more]
synonyms:
exemption · immunity · exception · exclusion · exoneration · freedom · [more]
permission to be exempted from the laws or observances of the Church.
"he received papal dispensation to hold a number of benefices"
a system of order, government, or organization of a nation, community, etc., especially as existing at a particular time.
"scholarship is conveyed to a wider audience than under the old dispensation"
synonyms:
system · order · scheme · plan · arrangement · organization
(in Christian theology) a divinely ordained order prevailing at a particular period of history.
"the Mosaic dispensation"
the action of distributing or supplying something.
"regulations controlling dispensation of medications"
synonyms:
distribution · provision · providing · supply · supplying · issue · issuing · [more]
---
anachronism
[əˈnakrəˌnizəm]

NOUN
a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned.
"everything was as it would have appeared in centuries past apart from one anachronism, a bright yellow construction crane"
an act of attributing a custom, event, or object to a period to which it does not belong.
"it is anachronism to suppose that the official morality of the age was mere window dressing"
---
hefty
[ˈheftē]

ADJECTIVE
large, heavy, and powerful.
"a hefty young chap"
synonyms:
burly · heavy · sturdy · strapping · bulky · brawny · husky · strong · muscular · large · big · massive · weighty · solid · well built · solidly built · powerfully built · portly · [more]
(of a number or amount) impressively large.
"a hefty 10 million" · [more]
synonyms:
substantial · sizeable · considerable · stiff · high-cost · extortionate · inflated · large · huge · excessive · colossal · over the odds · steep · astronomical · [more]
---
All Mouth and no trousers meaning
All mouth and no trousers. The "no trousers" version implies lack of trouser furniture - no contents to trousers and the "mouth and trousers" version simply suggests that the bulge is only material with no meaty substance. Whichever version you use, the meaning is the same : empty boasting.
---
muddling
[ˈməd(ə)liNG]

NOUN
the action or process of bringing something into a disordered or confusing state.
"the muddling of fact and fiction is a tried-and-true tactic of totalitarian regimes" · [more]
the action or process of mixing a drink or stirring an ingredient into a drink.
"the muddling helps ensure that all the flavors are well blended"
ADJECTIVE
confusing.
"the map is a muddling haze, with place names in German, Russian, Polish, and Lithuanian"
---
obsequious
[əbˈsēkwēəs]

ADJECTIVE
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.
"they were served by obsequious waiters"
synonyms:
servile · ingratiating · unctuous · sycophantic · fawning · toadying · oily · oleaginous · greasy · groveling · cringing · toadyish · sycophantish · subservient · submissive · [more]
---
revisionist
[rəˈviZH(ə)nəst]

NOUN
a supporter of a policy of revision or modification.
"the revisionists who sought to replace it were long denied"
ADJECTIVE
advocating a policy of revision or modification.
"a radically revisionist republican strategy"
---
moot
[mo͞ot]

VERB
mooted (past tense) · mooted (past participle)
raise (a question or topic) for discussion; suggest (an idea or possibility).
"Sylvia needed a vacation, and a trip to Ireland had been mooted"
synonyms:
raise · bring up · broach · mention · put forward · introduce · advance · present · propose · suggest · submit · propound · air · ventilate
---
tardy
[ˈtärdē]

ADJECTIVE
delaying or delayed beyond the right or expected time; late.
"please forgive this tardy reply"
synonyms:
behind time · behind schedule · behind · behindhand · not on time · unpunctual · running late · overdue · long-overdue · delayed · long-delayed · belated · slow · dilatory
slow in action or response; sluggish.
"this makes the car feel tardy in quick maneuvers"
synonyms:
slow · unhurried · unpunctual · lax · slack · sluggish · sluggardly · snail-like · tortoise-like · lazy · idle · indolent · slothful · lollygagging
---
clout
[klout]

NOUN
informal
a heavy blow with the hand or a hard object.
"a clout on the ear"
synonyms:
smack · slap · thump · punch · blow · hit · knock · bang · cuff · box · [more]
informal
influence or power, especially in politics or business.
"I knew he carried a lot of clout"
synonyms:
influence · power · pull · weight · sway · leverage · control · say · mastery · [more]
archaic
a piece of cloth or clothing, especially one used as a patch.
archery
a target used in long-distance shooting, placed flat on the ground with a flag marking its center.
VERB
informal
hit hard with the hand or a hard object.
"I clouted him on the head"
synonyms:
hit · strike · punch · smack · slap · cuff · thump · beat · batter · pound · [more]
archaic
mend with a patch.
"he helps the women clout their pans"
synonyms:
repair · fix · put back together · piece together · patch up · restore · sew (up) · [more]
---
pusillanimity
[ˌpyo͞osələˈnimədē]

NOUN
lack of courage or determination; timidity.
"the pusillanimity of his answer surprised me"
---
spendthrift
[ˈspen(d)ˌTHrift]

NOUN
a person who spends money in an extravagant, irresponsible way.
"Putt was a spendthrift and a heavy gambler" · [more]
synonyms:
profligate · prodigal · squanderer · waster · big spender · wastrel · improvident · thriftless · wasteful · extravagant · free-spending · squandering · irresponsible
---
noting a commercial product that is low in calories or low in any substance considered undesirable, as compared with a product of the same type: used especially in labeling or advertising commercial products: lite beer.
---
elucidate
[ēˈlo͞osəˌdāt]

VERB
elucidated (past tense) · elucidated (past participle)
make (something) clear; explain.
"work such as theirs will help to elucidate this matter" · [more]
synonyms:
explain · make clear · make plain · illuminate · throw/shed light on · clarify · comment on · interpret · explicate · expound on · gloss · annotate · spell out · clear up · [more]
---
bonhomie
[ˌbänəˈmē, ˈbänəmē]

NOUN
cheerful friendliness; geniality.
"he exuded good humor and bonhomie"
synonyms:
geniality · congeniality · conviviality · cordiality · affability · amiability · sociability · friendliness · warmth · warm-heartedness · good nature · good humor · joviality · [more]
---
penchant
[ˈpen(t)SH(ə)nt]

NOUN
a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something.
"he has a penchant for adopting stray dogs"
synonyms:
flavor · savor · relish · tang · smack

late 17th century: from French, ‘leaning, inclining’, present participle of the verb pencher .
---

cue
[kyo͞o]

VERB
cueing (present participle)
give a cue to or for.
"curious pedestrians are cued by the arrival of stretch limousines"
act as a prompt or reminder.
"have a list of needs and questions on paper to cue you"
set a piece of audio or video equipment in readiness to play (a particular part of the recorded material).
"features make it easier to cue up a tape for editing"
---
impetuous
[imˈpeCH(o͞o)əs]

ADJECTIVE
acting or done quickly and without thought or care.
"her friend was headstrong and impetuous"
synonyms:
impulsive · rash · hasty · overhasty · reckless · heedless · foolhardy · incautious · imprudent · injudicious · ill-conceived · ill-considered · unplanned · unreasoned · [more]
moving forcefully or rapidly.
"an impetuous but controlled flow of water"
synonyms:
torrential · powerful · forceful · vigorous · violent · raging · rampant · relentless · unrestrained · uncontrolled · unbridled · rapid · fast · fast-flowing · rushing
---
confabulate
[kənˈfabyəˌlāt]

VERB
confabulating (present participle)
formal
engage in conversation; talk.
"she could be heard on the telephone confabulating with someone"
synonyms:
talk · speak · chat · have a conversation · have a talk · have a discussion · [more]
psychiatry
fabricate imaginary experiences as compensation for loss of memory.
"she has lapses in attention and concentration—she may be confabulating a little"
---
Jefe Maximo meaning

Image: historiamexicanablog.wordpress.com
Maximato. The Maximato was a period in the historical and political development of Mexico from 1928 to 1934. Named after former president Plutarco Elías Calles 's sobriquet el Jefe Máximo (the maximum leader), the Maximato was the period when Calles continued to exercise power, but did not hold the presidential office.
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flinty
[ˈflin(t)ē]

ADJECTIVE
of, containing, or reminiscent of flint.
"flinty soil"
synonyms:
stern · forbidding · uninviting · unapproachable · aloof · distant · formidable · strict · dour · harsh · steely · stony · fierce · ferocious · threatening · menacing · [more]
(of a person or their expression) very hard and unyielding.
"a flinty stare"
synonyms:
firm · solid · dense · rigid · stiff · resistant · unbreakable · inflexible · unpliable · impenetrable · unyielding · solidified · hardened · compact · compacted · [more]
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hegemonic
/ˌhɛdʒɪˈmɒnɪk,ˌhɛɡɪˈmɒnɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
ruling or dominant in a political or social context.
"the bourgeoisie constituted the hegemonic class"
---
hegemony
/hɪˈdʒɛməni,hɪˈɡɛməni/
Learn to pronounce
noun
leadership or dominance, especially by one state or social group over others.
"Germany was united under Prussian hegemony after 1871"
---
verily
/ˈvɛrɪli/
Learn to pronounce
adverbARCHAIC
adverb: verily
truly; certainly.
"verily these men are mad"
Origin
---
contentious
/kənˈtɛnʃəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: contentious
causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.
"a contentious issue"
Similar:
controversial
disputable
debatable
disputed
contended
open to question/debate
moot
vexed
ambivalent
equivocal
unsure
uncertain
unresolved
undecided
unsettled
borderline
controvertible
Opposite:
uncontroversial
involving heated argument.
"the socio-economic plan had been the subject of contentious debate"
Similar:
heated
vehement
fierce
violent
intense
impassioned
committed
Opposite:
calm
(of a person) given to provoking argument.
Similar:
argumentative
quarrelsome
disputatious
disputative
confrontational
captious
factious
cavilling
pugnacious
combative
ready for a fight
defiant
hostile
antagonistic
bellicose
belligerent
militant
warring
fighting
battling
threatening
litigious
irascible
cantankerous
irritable
petulant
truculent
fiery
quick-tempered
hot-tempered
ill-tempered
bad-tempered
choleric
bickering
wrangling
stroppy
scrappy
Opposite:
peaceable
LAW
relating to or involving differences between contending parties.
---
Tianxia is a Chinese term for an ancient Chinese cultural concept that denoted either the entire geographical world or the metaphysical realm of mortals, and later became associated with political sovereignty.
---
hegemon
/ˈhɛdʒɪmɒn/
noun
a supreme leader.
---
cohort
/ˈkəʊhɔːt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: cohort; plural noun: cohorts
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"
a group of people with a common statistical characteristic.
"the 1940–4 birth cohort of women"
Similar:
group
grouping
category
categorization
grade
grading
classification
class
set
section
division
order
batch
list
age group
generation
3.
DEROGATORY
a supporter or companion.
"young Jack arrived with three of his cohorts"
Origin
---
fructify
/ˈfrʌktɪfʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verbFORMAL
verb: fructify; 3rd person present: fructifies; past tense: fructified; past participle: fructified; gerund or present participle: fructifying
make (something) fruitful or productive.
"they were sacrificed in order that their blood might fructify the crops"
bear fruit or become productive.
"it fructified like vegetation in steamy heat"
Origin
---
faux pas
/fəʊ ˈpɑː,French fo pa/
noun
noun: faux pas; plural noun: faux pas
an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation.
"‘I was suddenly sick in the back of their car’—it was years before he could confess his faux pas to them"
Similar:
gaffe
blunder
mistake

French, literally ‘false step’
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chieftain
/ˈtʃiːft(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: chieftains
the leader of a people or clan.
"powerful feudal chieftains"
INFORMAL
a powerful member of an organization.
"an elite composed of corporate chieftains"
Origin
---
boorish
/ˈbɔːrɪʃ,ˈbʊərɪʃ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: boorish
rough and bad-mannered; coarse.
"boorish behaviour"
Similar:
coarse
uncouth
rude
discourteous
impolite
ungentlemanly
unladylike

---
braggadocio
/ˌbraɡəˈdəʊtʃɪəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: braggadocio
boastful or arrogant behaviour.
Origin

late 16th century (denoting a boaster): from Braggadocchio, the name of a braggart in Spenser's The Faerie Queene, from brag or braggart + the Italian suffix -occio, denoting something large of its kind.
---
portend
/pɔːˈtɛnd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: portend; 3rd person present: portends; past tense: portended; past participle: portended; gerund or present participle: portending
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
warn of
be an omen of
be an indication of
be a harbinger of
indicate
herald
signal
bode
announce
promise
threaten
point to
mean
signify
spell
denote
betoken
foretoken
forebode
harbinger
Origin
---
antipathy
/anˈtɪpəθi/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: antipathy; plural noun: antipathies
a deep-seated feeling of aversion.
"his fundamental antipathy to capitalism"
Similar:
hostility
antagonism
animosity
aversion
animus
opposition

---
embolden
/ɪmˈbəʊld(ə)n,ɛmˈbəʊld(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: emboldened; past participle: emboldened
1.
give (someone) the courage or confidence to do something.
"emboldened by the claret, he pressed his knee against hers"
Similar:
give courage
make brave/braver
encourage
hearten
strengthen
fortify
stiffen the resolve of
lift the morale of
rouse
stir
stimulate
cheer
rally
give confidence
brace
fire
inflame
animate
motivate
invigorate
vitalize
buck up
inspirit
Opposite:
dishearten
discourage
2.
cause (a piece of text) to appear in a bold typeface.
"centre, embolden, and underline the heading"
---
supplant
/səˈplɑːnt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: supplant; 3rd person present: supplants; past tense: supplanted; past participle: supplanted; gerund or present participle: supplanting
supersede and replace.
"domestic production has been supplanted by imports and jobs have been lost"
Similar:
replace
displace
supersede
take the place of
take over from
substitute for
undermine
override
oust
usurp
overthrow
remove
topple
unseat
depose
dethrone
eject
dispel
succeed
come after
step into the shoes of
fill someone's boots
crowd out
defenestrate
Origin
---
machismo
/məˈtʃɪzməʊ,məˈkɪzməʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: machismo
strong or aggressive masculine pride.
"the exaggerated machismo displayed in the tango"
Similar:
(aggressive) masculinity
macho
toughness
chauvinism
---
tart1
/tɑːt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: tart; plural noun: tarts
an open pastry case containing a sweet or savoury filling.
"an apple tart"
Similar:
pastry
flan
tartlet
quiche
strudel
pie
patty
pasty

Origin

late Middle English (denoting a savoury pie): from Old French tarte or medieval Latin tarta, of unknown origin.

tart2
/tɑːt/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL•BRITISH
nounDEROGATORY
a woman who dresses or behaves in a way that is considered tasteless and sexually provocative.
"she wears skirts this short all the time—she's such a tart"
DATED
a prostitute.
noun: tart; plural noun: tarts
"the tarts were touting for trade"
Similar:
prostitute
sex worker
call girl
male prostitute
rent boy
call boy
gigolo
model
escort
masseuse
tom
fille de joie
sporting girl/woman/lady
pro
moll
tail
brass nail
woman on the game
working girl
renter
toy boy
hooker
hustler
grande horizontale
streetwalker
woman of the streets
lady/woman of the night
scarlet woman
cocotte
courtesan
strumpet
harlot
trollop
wanton
woman of ill repute
lady of pleasure
Cyprian
doxy
drab
quean
trull
wench
sing-song girl
succubus
derogatorywhore
ho
chippy
puta
vulgar slangbumboy
verb
verb: tart; 3rd person present: tarts; past tense: tarted; past participle: tarted; gerund or present participle: tarting
1.
dress or make oneself up in order to look attractive.
"she came back only to tart herself up for the next evening"
Similar:
dress oneself up
make oneself up
smarten oneself up
preen oneself
beautify oneself
groom oneself
doll oneself up
titivate oneself
improve the appearance of something, typically in a way regarded as flashy or superficial.
"the page layouts have been tarted up with cartoons"
Similar:
decorate
renovate
refurbish
redecorate
retouch
modernize
smarten up
do up
do over
fix up
give something a facelift
2.
(especially of a girl or woman) behave in a provocative or flamboyant way.
"she tarted around the room in one of Georgie's dresses"
Origin

mid 19th century: probably an abbreviation of sweetheart.
tart3
/tɑːt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: tart; comparative adjective: tarter; superlative adjective: tartest
sharp or acid in taste.
"a tart apple"
Similar:
sour
sharp
sharp-tasting
tangy
bitter
acid
acidic
zesty
piquant
pungent
strong
harsh
unsweetened
vinegary
lemony
citrus
burning
acrid
acetic
acidulous
acetous
Opposite:
sweet
(of a remark or tone of voice) cutting, bitter, or sarcastic.
"a tart reply"
Similar:
acerbic
sharp
biting
cutting
keen
stinging
mordant
astringent
caustic
trenchant
incisive
pointed
piercing
bitter
barbed
scathing
sarcastic
sardonic
acrimonious
nasty
rude
vicious
spiteful
venomous
wounding
Opposite:
kind
Origin

Old English teart ‘harsh, severe’, of unknown origin.
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disaffection
/dɪsəˈfɛkʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: disaffection
a state or feeling of being dissatisfied, especially with people in authority or a system of control.
"there is growing disaffection with large corporations"
---
discontent
/dɪskənˈtɛnt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: discontent; plural noun: discontents
dissatisfaction with one's circumstances; lack of contentment.
"voters voiced discontent with both parties"
Similar:
dissatisfaction
disaffection
discontentment
discontentedness
disgruntlement
grievances
unhappiness
displeasure
bad feelings
resentment
envy
restlessness
unrest
uneasiness
unease
disquiet
fretfulness
frustration
impatience
irritation
chagrin
annoyance
pique
a chip on one's shoulder
Opposite:
contentment
satisfaction
a person who is dissatisfied, typically with the prevailing social or political situation.
"the cause attracted a motley crew of discontents and zealots"
adjective
adjective: discontent
dissatisfied.
"he was discontent with his wages"
---
nativist
/ˈneɪtɪvɪst/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: nativist
1.
US
relating to or supporting the policy of protecting the interests of native-born or established inhabitants against those of immigrants.
"he has made his nativist beliefs known through his divisive comments about immigrants"
2.
PHILOSOPHY
relating to or supporting the theory that concepts, mental capacities, and mental structures are innate rather than acquired by learning.
"individual philosophers typically adopted either a nativist or empiricist position"
noun
noun: nativist; plural noun: nativists
1.
US
an advocate or supporter of nativist policies.
"they have had to fend off suspicion and occasional hostility from nativists who see them as an unwelcome import"
2.
PHILOSOPHY
a person who advocates the theory that concepts, mental capacities, and mental structures are innate rather than acquired by learning.
"extreme views were put forward by nativists on the one hand and by empiricists on the other"
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laggard
/ˈlaɡəd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: laggard; plural noun: laggards
a person who makes slow progress and falls behind others.
"staff were under enormous pressure and there was no time for laggards"
Similar:
straggler
loiterer
lingerer
dawdler
sluggard
slug
snail
delayer
idler
loafer
lounger
shirker
layabout
lagger
lazybones
skiver
do-nothing
waster
slacker
slowcoach
slowpoke
wastrel
fainéant
adjective
adjective: laggard
slower than desired or expected.
"a bell to summon laggard children to school"
Origin

early 18th century (as an adjective): from lag1.
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onerous
/ˈəʊn(ə)rəs,ˈɒn(ə)rəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: onerous
(of a task or responsibility) involving a great deal of effort, trouble, or difficulty.
"he found his duties increasingly onerous"
Similar:
burdensome
heavy
inconvenient
troublesome
awkward
crushing
back-breaking
oppressive
weighty
arduous
strenuous
uphill
difficult
hard
severe
formidable
laborious
Herculean
exhausting
tiring
taxing
demanding
punishing
gruelling
exacting
wearing
stiff
stressful
wearisome
fatiguing
toilsome
exigent
Opposite:
easy
effortless
LAW
involving heavy obligations.
"an onerous lease"
Origin
---
headway
/ˈhɛdweɪ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: headway; noun: make headway; plural noun: make headways
1.
forward movement or progress, especially when this is slow or difficult.
"the ship was making very little headway against heavy seas"
Similar:
make progress
make strides
gain ground

Opposite:
retrogress
stagnate
2.
the average interval between trains or buses on a regular service.
"a six-minute headway"
---
leeway
/ˈliːweɪ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: leeway
1.
the amount of freedom to move or act that is available.
"the government had greater leeway to introduce reforms"
"there is little leeway if anything goes wrong"
2.
the sideways drift of a ship to leeward of the desired course.
"the leeway is only about 2°"

Phrases
make up leeway — struggle out of a bad position, especially by recovering lost time.
"he never made up the leeway and was five lengths down at the finish"
---
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"
---
germane
/dʒəːˈmeɪn/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: germane
relevant to a subject under consideration.
"that is not germane to our theme"
Similar:
relevant
pertinent
applicable
apposite
material
apropos
to the point
to the purpose
admissible
appropriate
apt
fitting
suitable
suited
proper
felicitous
connected
related
linked
akin
allied
analogous
ad rem
appurtenant
Opposite:
irrelevant
Origin

early 17th century: variant of german, with which it was synonymous from Middle English. The current sense has arisen from a usage in Shakespeare's Hamlet .
---
strident
/ˈstrʌɪd(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: strident
1.
(of a sound) loud and harsh; grating.
"his voice had become increasingly strident"
Similar:
harsh
raucous
rough
grating
rasping
jarring
loud
stentorian
shrill
screeching
piercing
ear-piercing
unmelodious
unmusical
discordant
dissonant
unharmonious
stridulous
stridulant
stridulatory
stentorious
Opposite:
soft
dulcet
PHONETICS
another term for sibilant.
2.
presenting a point of view, especially a controversial one, in an excessively forceful way.
"public pronouncements on the crisis became less strident"
Origin
---
yank
/jaŋk/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
verb
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
Origin

late 18th century (as a Scots word in the sense ‘sudden sharp blow’): of unknown origin.
---

mercantile
/ˈməːk(ə)ntʌɪl/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: mercantile
relating to trade or commerce; commercial.
"the shift of wealth to the mercantile classes"
Similar:
commercial
trade
trading
business
merchant
sales
profit-oriented
money-oriented
profit-making
for-profit
mercenary
capitalistic
worldly
greedy
materialistic
Opposite:
idealistic
unworldly
Origin

mid 17th century: from French, from Italian, from mercante ‘merchant’.
---
excoriate
/ɪkˈskɔːrɪeɪt,ɛkˈskɔːrɪeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: excoriate; 3rd person present: excoriates; past tense: excoriated; past participle: excoriated; gerund or present participle: excoriating
1.
MEDICINE
damage or remove part of the surface of (the skin).
"the discharge is acrid and excoriates the skin of the nose"
Similar:
abrade
rub away
rub off
rub raw
scrape
decorticate

2.
FORMAL
criticize (someone) severely.
"he excoriated the government for censorship"
Similar:
criticize
find fault with
censure
denounce
condemn
run down
give a bad press to
Origin

late Middle English: from Latin excoriat- ‘skinned’, from the verb excoriare, from ex- ‘out, from’ + corium ‘skin, hide’.
---
Marion Anne Perrine "Marine" Le Pen is a French politician and lawyer serving as President of the National Rally political party since 2011, with a brief interruption in 2017. She has been the member of the National Assembly for Pas-de-Calais's 11th constituency since 18 June 2017. Wikipedia
Born: 5 August 1968 (age 51 years), Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
Party: National Rally
Partner: Louis Aliot (2009–)
Nieces: Marion Maréchal, Nolwenn Olivier
Children: Jehanne Chauffroy, Mathilde Chauffroy, Louis Chauffroy
Spouse: Eric Lorio (m. 2002–2006), Franck Chauffroy (m. 1997–2000)

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upend
/ʌpˈɛnd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: upend; 3rd person present: upends; past tense: upended; past participle: upended; gerund or present participle: upending
set or turn (something) on its end or upside down.
"she upended a can of soup over the portions"
(of a swimming duck or other waterbird) submerge the head and foreparts in order to feed, so that the tail is raised in the air.
"a pair of swans were feeding by upending"

---
swerve
/swəːv/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: swerved; past participle: swerved
change or cause to change direction abruptly.
"a lorry swerved across her path"
Similar:
veer
change direction
go off course
deviate
skew
diverge
sheer
curve
twist
weave
zigzag
turn aside
branch off
sidetrack
tack
divagate
Origin

Old English sweorfan ‘depart, leave, turn aside’, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch swerven ‘to stray’.
---
haul
/hɔːl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: hauled; past participle: hauled
1.
(of a person) pull or drag with effort or force.
"he hauled his bike out of the shed"
Similar:
drag
pull
tug
heave
hump
trail
draw
tow
manhandle
lug
schlep
hale
Opposite:
push
propel or pull oneself with difficulty.
"he hauled himself along the cliff face"
INFORMAL
force (someone) to appear for reprimand or trial.
"he is to be hauled before the Press Council"
2.
(of a vehicle) pull (an attached trailer or carriage) behind it.
"the engine hauls the overnight sleeper from London Euston"
transport in a lorry or cart.
"he made a living hauling coal"
Similar:
transport
convey
cart
carry
ship
ferry
move
shift
take
3.
NAUTICAL
(especially of a sailing ship) make an abrupt change of course.
"my plan was to haul offshore, well clear of the land"
Origin
---
Treat with kid gloves

To handle with very gentle care, often to the point of coddling. Kid gloves are very soft leather gloves, typically made from the skin of a young goat (a "kid").
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TPP is an acronym for the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal, a proposed agreement between 12 Pacific Rim countries and the US. ... The rest of the countries in the deal have forged ahead with the trade terms under the name Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

What countries are in TPP?
The TPP countries are Australia, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, Canada and Mexico.

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counterpoise
/ˈkaʊntəpɔɪz/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a factor or force that balances or neutralizes another.
"the organization sees the power of Brussels as a counterpoise to that of London"
verb
have an opposing and balancing effect on.
"they make a delightful couple, his gentle intellectuality counterpoised by her firm practicality"
---
imperil
/ɪmˈpɛrɪl,ɪmˈpɛr(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: imperilling
put at risk of being harmed, injured, or destroyed.
"they advised against tax increases for fear of imperilling the recovery"
Similar:
endanger
jeopardize
risk
put at risk
put in danger
expose to danger
put in jeopardy
expose
leave vulnerable
put someone's life on the line
threaten
pose a threat to
be a danger to
be detrimental to
damage
injure
harm
do harm to
peril
Origin
---
sacralize
/ˈseɪkrəlʌɪz/
verbNORTH AMERICAN
verb: sacralize; 3rd person present: sacralizes; past tense: sacralized; past participle: sacralized; gerund or present participle: sacralizing; verb: sacralise; 3rd person present: sacralises; past tense: sacralised; past participle: sacralised; gerund or present participle: sacralising
imbue with or treat as having a sacred character or quality.
"rural images that sacralize country life"

---
helm1
/hɛlm/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: helming
steer (a boat or ship).
"he helmed a sailing vessel"
manage (an organization).
"the magazine he helmed in the late eighties"
NORTH AMERICAN
direct (a film).
Origin
---
discomfiture
/dɪsˈkʌmfɪtʃə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: discomfiture; plural noun: discomfitures
a feeling of unease or embarrassment; awkwardness.
"many MPs are secretly enjoying his discomfiture"
---
abjure
/əbˈdʒʊə,əbˈdʒɔː/
Learn to pronounce
verbFORMAL
past tense: abjured; past participle: abjured
solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim).
"MPs were urged to abjure their Jacobite allegiance"
---
solemnly
/ˈsɒləmli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: solemnly
1.
in a formal and dignified manner.
"the new Queen was solemnly crowned by the Bishop of Rheims"
in a serious manner.
"several men nodded solemnly in agreement"
2.
with deep sincerity.
"I solemnly swear it will never happen again"
---
rectitude
/ˈrɛktɪtjuːd/
Learn to pronounce
nounFORMAL
noun: rectitude; plural noun: rectitudes
morally correct behaviour or thinking; righteousness.
"Mattie is a model of rectitude"
Similar:
righteousness
goodness
virtue
moral virtue
morality
honour
honourableness
integrity
principle
probity
honesty
right-mindedness
trustworthiness
truthfulness
uprightness
upstandingness
good character
scrupulousness
decency
fairness
equity
justice
principles
ethics
Opposite:
infamy
dishonesty
Origin
---
backstory
/ˈbakstɔːri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: backstory; plural noun: backstories; noun: back-story; plural noun: back-stories
a history or background created for a fictional character in a film or television programme.
"a brief prologue detailing our hero's backstory"
---
autarchy
/ˈɔːtɑːki/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: autarchy; plural noun: autarchies
1.
another term for autocracy.
2.
variant spelling of autarky.
Origin
---
autarky
/ˈɔːtɑːki/
noun
noun: autarky; noun: autarchy
economic independence or self-sufficiency.
"rural community autarchy is a Utopian dream"
a country, state, or society which is economically independent.
plural noun: autarkies; plural noun: autarchies
Origin
---
rejig
/riːˈdʒɪɡ/
Learn to pronounce
BRITISH
verb
gerund or present participle: rejigging
1.
organize (something) differently; rearrange.
"the organizers scrambled frantically to rejig schedules"
2.
DATED
re-equip with machinery; refit.
"Britain will send experts to help rejig French factories"
---
extenso:
adjective
1. extensive
2. vast
---
dribs and drabs
/drɪbz (ə)n ˈdrabz/
nounINFORMAL
in small scattered or sporadic amounts.
"more folk followed in dribs and drabs"
---
aver
/əˈvəː/
Learn to pronounce
verbFORMAL
past tense: averred; past participle: averred
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
---
en passant
/ɒ̃ paˈsɑːnt,ɒ̃ ˈpasɒ̃/
adverb
adverb: en passant
1.
by the way; incidentally.
"the singular distinction of being mentioned, en passant, in an Act of Parliament"
Similar:
in passing
incidentally
by the way
parenthetically
while on the subject
apropos
2.
CHESS
by the en passant rule.
Phrases
en passant rule — the rule that a pawn making a first move of two squares instead of one may nevertheless be immediately captured by an opposing pawn on the fifth rank.
Origin

early 17th century: French, literally ‘in passing’.
---
moot
/muːt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: mooted; past participle: mooted
raise (a question or topic) for discussion; suggest (an idea or possibility).
"the scheme was first mooted last October"
Similar:
raise
bring up
broach
mention
put forward
introduce
advance
present
propose
suggest
submit
propound
air
ventilate
Origin
---
moratorium
/ˌmɒrəˈtɔːrɪəm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: moratorium; plural noun: moratoria; plural noun: moratoriums
a temporary prohibition of an activity.
"a moratorium on the use of drift nets"
Similar:
embargo
ban
prohibition
suspension
postponement
stay
stoppage
halt
freeze
standstill
respite
hiatus
delay
deferment
deferral
adjournment
LAW
a legal authorization to debtors to postpone payment.
"the debt was to be subject to a five-year moratorium"
Origin
late 19th century: modern Latin, neuter (used as a noun) of late Latin moratorius ‘delaying’, from Latin morat- ‘delayed’, from the verb morari, from mora ‘delay’.
---
apprehend
/aprɪˈhɛnd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: apprehended; past participle: apprehended
1.
arrest (someone) for a crime.
"a warrant was issued but he has not been apprehended"
Similar:
arrest
catch
capture
seize
take prisoner
take into custody
detain
put in jail
throw in jail
put behind bars
imprison
incarcerate
collar
nab
nail
run in
pinch
bust
pick up
pull in
haul in
do
feel someone's collar
nick
2.
understand or perceive.
"we enter a field of vision we could not otherwise apprehend"
Similar:
understand
comprehend
realize
recognize
appreciate
discern
perceive
fathom
penetrate
catch
follow
grasp
make out
take in
get the drift of
get the hang of
make head or tail of
get the picture
have an aha moment
twig
suss (out)
ARCHAIC
anticipate (something) with uneasiness or fear.
"he is a man that apprehends death no more dreadfully but as a drunken sleep"
Origin
---
forbearance
/fɔːˈbɛːr(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: forbearance
patient self-control; restraint and tolerance.
"his unfailing courtesy and forbearance under great provocation"
Similar:
tolerance
toleration
patience
resignation
endurance
fortitude
stoicism
long-sufferingness
leniency
lenity
clemency
indulgence
restraint
self-restraint
self-control
moderation
temperance
mildness
LAW
the action of refraining from exercising a legal right, especially enforcing the payment of a debt.
---
tantamount
/ˈtantəmaʊnt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: tantamount
equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as.
"the resignations were tantamount to an admission of guilt"
Similar:
equivalent to
equal to
amounting to
as good as
more or less
synonymous with
virtually the same as
much the same as
comparable to
on a par with
commensurate with
along the lines of
as serious as
identical to
Origin

mid 17th century: from the earlier verb tantamount ‘amount to as much’, from Italian tanto montare .
---

abnegation
/abnɪˈɡeɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: abnegation; plural noun: abnegations
the action of renouncing or rejecting something.
"abnegation of political power"
Similar:
renunciation
rejection
refusal
abandonment
abdication
surrender
giving up
relinquishment
abjuration
repudiation
denial
eschewal
disavowal
casting aside
Opposite:
acceptance
self-denial.
"people are capable of abnegation and unselfishness"
Similar:
self-denial
self-sacrifice
abstinence
temperance
continence
asceticism
abstemiousness
austerity
renunciation
resignation
Opposite:
self-indulgence
Origin
---
fount1
/faʊnt/
noun
noun: fount; plural noun: founts
1.
a source of a desirable quality or commodity.
"our courier was a fount of knowledge"
2.
LITERARY
a spring or fountain.
Origin

late 16th century: back-formation from fountain, on the pattern of the pair mountain, mount .
---
ministration
/mɪnɪˈstreɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: ministrations
1.
FORMAL•HUMOROUS
the provision of assistance or care.
"a kitchen made spotless by the ministrations of a cleaning lady"
Similar:
attention
treatment
help
assistance
aid
care
services
succour
relief
support
2.
the services of a minister of religion or of a religious institution.
"the ministrations of Father Martin"
the action of administering the sacrament.
"the celebration and ministration of the sacraments"
Origin
...
bum·fuz·zle. transitive verb. bum·fuz·zled, bum·fuz·zling, bum·fuz·zles Chiefly Southern US. To confuse: “The American people must be totally bumfuzzled; [we] keep announcing surpluses and we keep having budget fights” ( Bill Clinton ) Origin of bumfuzzle.

---
aberration
/ˌabəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically an unwelcome one.
"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.
"colour aberrations"
Similar:
disorder
defect
disease
irregularity
instability
derangement
vagary
OPTICS
the failure of rays to converge at one focus because of a defect in a lens or mirror.
---
Alpha male:
‘Maybe the . . . human alpha male is a combination of disgruntled male wish fulfilment and borderlinepseudoscientific justification for resorting to bullying, intimidation and generally all-round unpleasant behaviour by men hoping to impose their will on a world they find too complex and unnerving so revert to their baser instincts to get what they want, despite knowing deep down they don’t deserve it and shouldn’t have it’ — Dean Burnett, neuroscientist

Usage:
But Modi’s friendly hug at the July 2017 G20 Summit in Hamburg elicited something else altogether with Macron reciprocating warmly (in contrast to his predecessor Francois Hollande’s manifest discomfort with Modi’s embrace). This spectacle of international meetings as physical contests between leaders—obvious alpha male behaviour—is not entirely alien to the political sensibility in the subcontinent. Recall that just after India’s nuclear tests in May 1998, the then BJP chief minister of Delhi Madan Lal Khurana, in a fit of braggadocio, had challenged Pakistan to step into the akhada (wrestling pit)!

---
apparatchik
/ˌapəˈratʃɪk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: apparatchiks
HISTORICAL
a member of a Communist Party apparat.
"old apparatchiks have given way to the Russian government's young reformers"
DEROGATORY•HUMOROUS
an official in a large political organization.
"Tory apparatchiks"
Origin

1940s: Russian, from apparat (see apparat).
---
teeter
/ˈtiːtə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
3rd person present: teeters
move or balance unsteadily; sway back and forth.
"she teetered after him in her high-heeled sandals"
Similar:
totter
walk unsteadily
wobble
toddle
sway
rock
try to keep one's balance
stagger
stumble
reel
roll
lurch
pitch
stot
be unable to decide between different courses; waver.
"she teetered between tears and anger"
Similar:
see-saw
veer
fluctuate
oscillate
swing
yo-yo
alternate
waver
wobble
teeter-totter
Origin

mid 19th century: variant of dialect titter, from Old Norse titra ‘shake, shiver’.
---
heft
/hɛft/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: heft; 3rd person present: hefts; past tense: hefted; past participle: hefted; gerund or present participle: hefting
lift or carry (something heavy).
"he lifted crates and hefted boxes"
Similar:
lift
lift up
raise
raise up
heave
hoist
haul
manhandle
carry
cart
lug
tote
hump
yank
upheave
Opposite:
put down
lift or hold (something) in order to test its weight.
"Anne hefted the gun in her hand"
nounNORTH AMERICAN
noun: heft
the weight of someone or something.
"he was buckle-kneed from the heft of his staggering load"
ability or influence.
"they lacked the political heft to get the formulation banned"
Origin
---
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’.
---
consternation
/kɒnstəˈneɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: consternation
a feeling of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected.
"to her consternation her car wouldn't start"
Similar:
dismay
perturbation
anxiety
distress
disquiet
disquietude
discomposure
angst
trepidation
surprise
amazement
astonishment
stupefaction
alarm
panic
hysteria
fear
fearfulness
fright
shock
Opposite:
satisfaction
Origin

early 17th century: from Latin consternatio(n- ), from the verb consternare ‘lay prostrate, terrify’ (see consternate).
---
sweepstake
/ˈswiːpsteɪk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: sweepstakes
a form of gambling, especially on horse races, in which all the stakes are divided among the winners.
"a sweepstake ticket"
a race or gambling game in which the winnings comprise all the money that has been staked.
a prize or prizes won in a sweepstake.
---
chivvy
/ˈtʃɪvi/
Learn to pronounce
verbBRITISH
verb: chivvy; 3rd person present: chivvies; past tense: chivvied; past participle: chivvied; gerund or present participle: chivvying; verb: chivy; 3rd person present: chivies; past tense: chivied; past participle: chivied; gerund or present participle: chivying
tell (someone) repeatedly to do something.
"an association which chivvies government into action"
Similar:
nag
badger
hound
harass
harry
keep after
keep on at
go on at
pester
plague
torment
persecute
goad
annoy
bother
urge
prod
pressure
pressurize
hassle
bug
breathe down someone's neck
get on someone's case
mither
ride
heavy
Origin
late 18th century: probably from the ballad Chevy Chase, celebrating a skirmish (probably the battle of Otterburn, 1388) on the Scottish border. Originally a noun denoting a hunting cry, the term later meant ‘a pursuit’, hence the verb ‘to chase, worry’ (mid 19th century).
---
ken
/kɛn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: ken
one's range of knowledge or understanding.
"politics are beyond my ken"
Similar:
knowledge
awareness
perception
understanding
grasp
comprehension
realization
apprehension
appreciation
consciousness
recognition
notice
verbSCOTTISH•NORTHERN ENGLISH
verb: ken; 3rd person present: kens; past tense: kenned; past participle: kenned; past tense: kent; past participle: kent; gerund or present participle: kenning
know.
"d'ye ken anyone who can boast of that?"
recognize; identify.
"that's him—d'ye ken him?"
Origin
---
GDP:
Gross domestic product (GDP) is the market value of all final goods and services from a nation in a given year. Countries are sorted by nominal GDP estimates from financial and statistical institutions, which are calculated at market or government official exchange rates. Nominal GDP does not take into account differences in the cost of living in different countries, and the results can vary greatly from one year to another based on fluctuations in the exchange rates of the country's currency. Such fluctuations may change a country's ranking from one year to the next, even though they often make little or no difference in the standard of living of its population.
---
Gross domestic product per capita at nominal values. This is the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year, converted at market exchange rates to current U.S. dollars, divided by the average population for the same year.
---
polemic
/pəˈlɛmɪk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: polemic; plural noun: polemics
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
"his polemic against the cultural relativism of the Sixties"
Similar:
critical
hostile
bitter
polemical
virulent
vitriolic
venomous
waspish
corrosive
biting
caustic
trenchant
cutting
acerbic
sardonic
sarcastic
scathing
acid
sharp
keen
tart
pungent
stinging
astringent
incisive
devastating
piercing
acidulous
mordacious
diatribe
invective
denunciation
denouncement
rant
tirade
broadside
attack
harangue
verbal onslaught
condemnation
brickbats
criticism
admonishment
admonition
abuse
stream of abuse
stricture
tongue-lashing
castigation
reprimand
rebuke
reproof
reproval
upbraiding
knocking
blast
slating
philippic
argumentation
argument
debate
contention
dispute
disputation
discussion
controversy
altercation
faction
wrangling
contestation

the practice of engaging in controversial debate or dispute.
noun: polemics
"the history of science has become embroiled in religious polemics"
adjective
adjective: polemic
another term for polemical.
Origin

mid 17th century: via medieval Latin from Greek polemikos, from polemos ‘war’.
--
undertow
/ˈʌndətəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: undertow; plural noun: undertows
a current of water below the surface and moving in a different direction from any surface current.
"I was swept away by the undertow"
an implicit quality, emotion, or influence underlying the superficial aspects of something and leaving a particular impression.
"there's a dark undertow of loss that links the novel with earlier works"
--
pooh-pooh
/ˈpuːpuː,puːˈpuː/
verbINFORMAL
verb: pooh-pooh; 3rd person present: pooh-poohs; past tense: pooh-poohed; past participle: pooh-poohed; gerund or present participle: pooh-poohing
dismiss (an idea or suggestion) as being foolish or impractical.
"until recently, this idea was pooh-poohed by the scientific community"
Similar:
dismiss
reject
brush aside
play down
spurn
rebuff
repudiate
disregard
discount
wave aside
make light of
make little of
belittle
treat with contempt
ridicule
deride
mock
hold up to scorn
scoff at
sneer at
slam-dunk
wipe
Origin

late 18th century: reduplication of pooh.
--
qua
/kweɪ,kwɑː/
conjunctionFORMAL
conjunction: qua
in the capacity of; as being.
"shareholders qua members may be under obligations to the company"
Origin

Latin, ablative feminine singular of qui ‘who’.
--
leitmotif
/ˈlʌɪtməʊˌtiːf/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: leitmotif; plural noun: leitmotifs; noun: leitmotiv; plural noun: leitmotivs
a recurrent theme throughout a musical or literary composition, associated with a particular person, idea, or situation.
"there are two leitmotifs in his score marking the heroine and her Fairy Godmother"
Origin
--
genus
/ˈdʒiːnəs,ˈdʒɛnəs/
Learn to pronounce
nounBIOLOGY
noun: genus; plural noun: genera
a principal taxonomic category that ranks above species and below family, and is denoted by a capitalized Latin name, e.g. Leo.
Similar:
group
subdivision
subfamily

(in philosophical and general use) a class of things that have common characteristics and that can be divided into subordinate kinds.
--
whence
/wɛns/
Learn to pronounce
FORMAL•ARCHAIC
adverb
adverb: whence; adverb: from whence
from what place or source.
"whence does Parliament derive this power?"
adverb
adverb: whence; adverb: from whence
from which; from where.
"the Ural mountains, whence the ore is procured"
to the place from which.
"he will be sent back whence he came"
as a consequence of which.
"whence it followed that the strategies were obsolete"
Origin
Middle English whennes, from earlier whenne (from Old English hwanon, of Germanic origin) + -s3 (later respelled -ce to denote the unvoiced sound).
--
extant
/ɪkˈstant,ɛkˈstant,ˈɛkst(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: extant
still in existence; surviving.
"an extant letter"
Similar:
still existing
in existence
surviving
remaining
abiding

---
consort1
verb
gerund or present participle: consorting
/kənˈsɔːt/
habitually associate with (someone), typically with the disapproval of others.
"you chose to consort with the enemy"
Similar:
associate
keep company
mix
mingle
go around
spend time
socialize
fraternize
have dealings
rub shoulders
rub elbows
hobnob
run around
hang around/round
hang out
knock about/around
pal around
chum around
be thick
hang about
ARCHAIC
agree or be in harmony with.
"it did not consort with his idea of scientific government"
Origin
---
juxtapose
/ˌdʒʌkstəˈpəʊz/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: juxtaposing
place or deal with close together for contrasting effect.
"black-and-white photos of slums were starkly juxtaposed with colour images"
Similar:
place/set side by side
place/set close to one another
mix
compare
contrast
place/set against one another
collocate
colligate
Origin
---
secessionist
/sɪˈsɛʃənɪst/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: secessionist; plural noun: secessionists
a person who favours formal withdrawal from membership of a federation or body, especially a political state.
"an ardent secessionist"
adjective
adjective: secessionist
favouring formal withdrawal from membership of a federation or body, especially a political state.
"the leader of a secessionist movement"

---
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
---
rabid
/ˈrabɪd,ˈreɪbɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: rabid
1.
having or proceeding from an extreme or fanatical support of or belief in something.
"the show's small but rabid fan base"
Similar:
extreme
fanatical
overzealous
over-enthusiastic
extremist
violent
maniacal
wild
passionate
fervent
diehard
uncompromising
intolerant
unreasonable
illiberal
bigoted
prejudiced
biased
partisan
one-sided
raving
gung-ho
swivel-eyed
perfervid
Opposite:
moderate
liberal
half-hearted
2.
(of an animal) affected with rabies.
"her mother was bitten by a rabid dog"
Similar:
rabies-infected
mad
foaming at the mouth
hydrophobic
of or connected with rabies.
Origin
---
roil
/rɔɪl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: roiling
1.
LITERARY
make (a liquid) turbid or muddy by disturbing the sediment.
"winds roil these waters"
(of a liquid) move in a turbulent, swirling manner.
"the sea roiled below her"
2.
US
make (someone) annoyed or irritated.
Originally

---
anathema
/əˈnaθəmə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: anathema; plural noun: anathemas
1.
something or someone that one vehemently dislikes.
"racial hatred was anathema to her"
Similar:
abhorrent
hateful
odious
repugnant
repellent
offensive
abomination
abhorrence
aversion
monstrosity
outrage
evil
disgrace
bane
bugbear
bête noire
pariah
2.
a formal curse by a pope or a council of the Church, excommunicating a person or denouncing a doctrine.
"the Pope laid special emphasis on the second of these anathemas"
Similar:
curse
ban
excommunication
damnation
proscription
debarment
denunciation
malediction
execration
imprecation
LITERARY
a strong curse.
"the sergeant clutched the ruined communicator, muttering anathemas"
Origin

---
bailiwick
/ˈbeɪlɪwɪk/
noun
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"
---
littoral
/ˈlɪt(ə)r(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: littorals
a region lying along a shore.
"irrigated regions of the Mediterranean littoral"

ECOLOGY
the littoral zone.
Origin

mid 17th century: from Latin littoralis, from litus, litor- ‘shore’.
---
Tianxia is a Chinese term for an ancient Chinese cultural concept that denoted either the entire geographical world or the metaphysical realm of mortals, and later became associated with political sovereignty.
---
tenuous
/ˈtɛnjʊəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
very weak or slight.
"the tenuous link between interest rates and investment"
Similar:
slight
insubstantial
flimsy
negligible
weak
fragile
shaky
sketchy
doubtful
dubious
questionable
suspect
vague
nebulous
hazy
unspecific
indefinite
indeterminate
Opposite:
convincing
substantial
strong
very slender or fine; insubstantial.
"a tenuous cloud"
Similar:
fine
thin
slender
attenuated
delicate
gossamer
fragile
Opposite:

---
congeries
/kɒnˈdʒɪəriːz,ˈkɒndʒərɪz/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: congeries; plural noun: congeries
a disorderly collection; a jumble.
"a congeries of European states"
Origin
---
enamour
/ɪˈnamə,ɛˈnamə/
verb
past participle: enamoured
be filled with love for.
"it is not difficult to see why Edward is enamoured of her"
Similar:
in love with
infatuated with
besotted with
smitten with
love-struck by
captivated by
charmed by
enchanted by
fascinated by
bewitched by
beguiled by
enthralled by
entranced by
enraptured by
keen on
taken with
head over heels for
under the spell of
consumed with desire for
mad about
crazy about
wild about
nuts about
potty about
dotty about
bowled over by
hot for
gone on
hooked on
stuck on
struck on
sweet on
soft on
hung up on
carrying a torch for
daft about
twitterpated by
ensorcelled by
Opposite:
indifferent to
have a liking or admiration for.
"she was truly enamoured of New York"
Origin
---
hark
/hɑːk/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: harking
LITERARY
listen.
"Hark! He knocks"
Similar:
listen
lend an ear
pay attention
pay heed
attend
mark
note
notice
hearken
give ear
INFORMAL•BRITISH
used to draw attention to someone who has said or done something considered to be foolish or silly.
"just hark at you, speaking all lah-de-dah!"
Origin
---
lore1
/lɔː/
noun
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

---
scintilla
/sɪnˈtɪlə/
noun
noun: scintilla; plural noun: scintillae; plural noun: scintillas
a tiny trace or spark of a specified quality or feeling.
"a scintilla of doubt"
Similar:
particle
iota
jot
whit
atom
speck
bit
trace
ounce
shred
crumb
morsel
fragment
grain
drop
spot
mite
tittle
jot or tittle
modicum
hint
touch
suggestion
whisper
suspicion
smidgen
smidge
tad
stim
scantling
scruple
Originally

---
contrafactual
/kɒntrəˈfaktʃʊəl/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: contrafactual; adjective: contra-factual
another term for counterfactual.

counterfactual
/ˌkaʊntəˈfaktʃʊəl/
Learn to pronounce
PHILOSOPHY
adjective
adjective: counterfactual; adjective: counter-factual
relating to or expressing what has not happened or is not the case.
noun
noun: counterfactual; plural noun: counterfactuals; noun: counter-factual; plural noun: counter-factuals
a counterfactual conditional statement (e.g. If kangaroos had no tails, they would topple over ).

---
prognosis
/prɒɡˈnəʊsɪs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: prognosis; plural noun: prognoses
the likely course of a medical condition.
"the disease has a poor prognosis"
an opinion, based on medical experience, of the likely course of a medical condition.
"it is very difficult to make an accurate prognosis"
a forecast of the likely outcome of a situation.
"gloomy prognoses about overpopulation"
Similar:
forecast
prediction
projection
prognostication
prophecy
prognostic
Origin
---
traipse
/treɪps/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: traipsing
walk or move wearily or reluctantly.
"students had to traipse all over London to attend lectures"
Similar:
trudge
trek
tramp
trail
hike
plod
shuffle
slouch
drag oneself
drag one's feet
clump
slog
wade
footslog
traik
walk about casually or needlessly.
"there's people traipsing in and out all the time"
Origin
late 16th century (as a verb): of unknown origin. The noun is first recorded in traipse (sense 2 of the noun) in the late 17th century.
---
enervate
verb
past tense: enervated; past participle: enervated
/ˈɛnəveɪt/
make (someone) feel drained of energy or vitality.
"enervating heat"
Similar:
exhaust
tire
fatigue
weary
wear out
devitalize
drain
sap
weaken
make weak
make feeble
enfeeble
debilitate
incapacitate
indispose
prostrate
immobilize
lay low
put out of action
knock out
do in
take it out of one
shatter
poop
frazzle
wear to a frazzle
fag out
knacker
torpefy
Opposite:
invigorate
Origin
---
stalwart
/ˈstɔːlwət,ˈstɒlwət/
Learn to pronounce
noun
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
---
soirée
/ˈswɑːreɪ/
noun
plural noun: soirées; plural noun: soirees
an evening party or gathering, typically in a private house, for conversation or music.
Origin

French, from soir ‘evening’
---
dead wood
noun
noun: deadwood
parts of a tree or branch which are dead.
people or things that are no longer useful or productive.
"a lot of the company's dead wood was removed by voluntary redundancy"

---
decrepit
/dɪˈkrɛpɪt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: decrepit
worn out or ruined because of age or neglect.
"a row of decrepit houses"
Similar:
dilapidated
rickety
run down
broken-down
tumbledown
ramshackle
worn out
derelict
in ruins
ruined
falling apart
falling to pieces
in (a state of) disrepair
creaky
creaking
gone to rack and ruin
on its last legs
battered
decayed
decaying
crumbling
deteriorated
deteriorating
antiquated
superannuated
the worse for wear
rumpty
Opposite:
sound
(of a person) elderly and infirm.
"a rather decrepit old man"
Similar:
feeble
enfeebled
infirm
weak
weakened
weakly
frail
debilitated
incapacitated
wasted
doddering
tottering
out of shape
in bad shape
old
elderly
aged
ancient
in one's dotage
long in the tooth
senile
superannuated
senescent
past it
over the hill
no spring chicken
Opposite:
strong
fit
Origin
---
verily
/ˈvɛrɪli/
Learn to pronounce
adverbARCHAIC
adverb: verily
truly; certainly.
"verily these men are mad"
Origin

Middle English: from very + -ly2, suggested by Old French verrai(e)ment .
---
milieu
/ˈmiːljəː,mɪˈljəː/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: milieu; plural noun: milieux; plural noun: milieus
a person's social environment.
"Gregory came from the same aristocratic milieu as Sidonius"
Similar:
environment
background
backdrop
setting
context
atmosphere
scene
location
locale
conditions
surroundings
habitat
environs
sphere
world
territory
home
domain
preserve
province
circle
element
Origin

mid 19th century: French, from mi ‘mid’ + lieu ‘place’.
---
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"
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
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
---
dominatrix
/ˌdɒmɪˈneɪtrɪks/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: dominatrix; plural noun: dominatrices; plural noun: dominatrixes
a dominating woman, especially one who takes the sadistic role in sadomasochistic sexual activities.
Origin

mid 16th century (rare before the late 20th century): from Latin, feminine of dominator, from dominat- ‘ruled’, from the verb dominari (see dominate).
---
thespian
/ˈθɛspɪən/
Learn to pronounce
FORMAL•HUMOROUS
adjective
adjective: thespian
relating to drama and the theatre.
"thespian talents"
noun
noun: thespian; plural noun: thespians
an actor or actress.
"an ageing thespian"
Origin
---

beguile
/bɪˈɡʌɪl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: beguile; 3rd person present: beguiles; past tense: beguiled; past participle: beguiled; gerund or present participle: beguiling
1.
charm or enchant (someone), often in a deceptive way.
"he beguiled the voters with his good looks"
Similar:
charm
attract
enchant
entrance
win over
woo
captivate
bewitch
spellbind
dazzle
blind
hypnotize
mesmerize
seduce
tempt
lead on
lure
entice
ensnare
entrap
deceive
mislead
take in
trick
inveigle
dupe
fool
double-cross
hoodwink
take advantage of
tickle someone's fancy
float someone's boat
butter up
sweet-talk
soft-soap
bamboozle
con
diddle
shaft
pull a fast one on
put one over on
take for a ride
string along
lead up the garden path
sucker
snooker
pull a swifty on
charming
attractive
appealing
pleasing
pleasant
lovely
delightful
enchanting
entrancing
charismatic
captivating
bewitching
spellbinding
hypnotizing
mesmerizing
magnetic
alluring
enticing
tempting
inviting
seductive
irresistible
dreamy
heavenly
gorgeous
come-hither
Opposite:
repel
be straight with
unappealing
trick (someone) into doing something.
"they were beguiled into signing a peace treaty"
2.
LITERARY
help (time) pass pleasantly.
"to beguile some of the time they went to the cinema"
Similar:
entertain
amuse
delight
please
occupy
absorb
engage
distract
divert
interest
fascinate
enthral
engross
preoccupy
hold the attention of
while away
pass
spend
use up
take up
kill
waste
fritter
dissipate
Opposite:
bore
Origin
---
pamphleteer
/pamfləˈtɪə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: pamphleteering
write and issue political pamphlets.
"there was relatively little controversial pamphleteering at this time"
---
escutcheon
/ɪˈskʌtʃ(ə)n,ɛˈskʌtʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: escutcheon; plural noun: escutcheons; noun: escutcheon plate; plural noun: escutcheon plates
1.
a shield or emblem bearing a coat of arms.

2.
a flat piece of metal for protection and often ornamentation, around a keyhole, door handle, or light switch.
---
anoint
/əˈnɔɪnt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: anointed; past participle: anointed
smear or rub with oil, typically as part of a religious ceremony.
"high priests were anointed with oil"
Similar:
smear with oil
rub with oil
apply oil to
spread oil over
anele
smear or rub something with (any other substance).
"Kuna Indians anoint the tips of their arrows with poison"
ceremonially confer divine or holy office upon (a priest or monarch) by smearing or rubbing with oil.
"Samuel anointed him king"
Similar:
consecrate
sanctify
bless
ordain
hallow
nominate or choose (someone) as successor to or leading candidate for a position.
"he was anointed as the organizational candidate of the party"
Origin
---
minutiae
/mɪˈnjuːʃɪiː,mʌɪˈnjuːʃɪiː,mɪˈnjuːʃɪʌɪ,mʌɪˈnjuːʃɪʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: minutiae; plural noun: minutia
the small, precise, or trivial details of something.
"the minutiae of everyday life"
Similar:
details
niceties
subtleties
finer points
particulars
specifics
trivia
trivialities
trifles
technicalities
non-essentials
deets
Origin

mid 18th century: Latin, literally ‘trifles’, from minutia ‘smallness’, from minutus (see minute2).
---
aggrandize
/əˈɡrandʌɪz/
verb
past tense: aggrandized; past participle: aggrandized
increase the power, status, or wealth of.
"an action intended to aggrandize the Frankish dynasty"
enhance the reputation of (someone) beyond what is justified by the facts.
"he hoped to aggrandize himself by dying a hero's death"
Origin

---
amok
/əˈmɒk/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: amok; adverb: amuck
behave uncontrollably and disruptively.
"stone-throwing anarchists were running amok"
Similar:
go berserk
get out of control
rampage
run riot
riot
rush wildly/madly about
go on the rampage
storm
charge
behave like a maniac
behave wildly
behave uncontrollably
become violent
become destructive
go mad
go crazy
go insane
steam
raise hell
go postal
Origin

mid 17th century: via Portuguese amouco, from Malay amok ‘rushing in a frenzy’. Early use was as a noun denoting a Malay in a homicidal frenzy.
---

erudite
/ˈɛrʊdʌɪt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: erudite
having or showing great knowledge or learning.
"Ken could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion"
Similar:
learned
scholarly
well educated
knowledgeable
well read
widely read
well versed
well informed
lettered
cultured
cultivated
civilized
intellectual
intelligent
clever
academic
literary
bookish
highbrow
studious
sage
wise
sagacious
discerning
donnish
cerebral
enlightened
illuminated
sophisticated
pedantic
esoteric
obscure
recondite
brainy
genius
sapient
Opposite:
ignorant
ill-educated
Origin

---
by and large
phrase of by
on the whole; everything considered.
"mammals have, by and large, bigger brains than reptiles"
Similar:
largely
mostly
mainly
to a large extent
to a great extent
to a great degree

---
phenotype
/ˈfiːnə(ʊ)tʌɪp/
Learn to pronounce
nounBIOLOGY
plural noun: phenotypes
the set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.

Origin

early 20th century: from German Phaenotypus (see pheno-, type).
---
imponderable
/ɪmˈpɒnd(ə)rəb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: imponderables
a factor that is difficult or impossible to estimate or assess.
"there are too many imponderables for an overall prediction"
---
sartorial
/sɑːˈtɔːrɪəl/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: sartorial
relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress.
"sartorial elegance"
Origin
---
fastidious
/faˈstɪdɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: fastidious
very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
"she dressed with fastidious care"
Similar:
scrupulous
punctilious
painstaking
meticulous
assiduous
sedulous
perfectionist
fussy
finicky
dainty
over-particular
critical
overcritical
hypercritical
pedantic
precise
exact
hair-splitting
exacting
demanding
pass-remarkable
pernickety
nitpicking
choosy
picky
persnickety
nice
overnice
Opposite:
easy-going
sloppy
very concerned about matters of cleanliness.
"the child seemed fastidious about getting her fingers dirty"
Origin
---
lop1
/lɒp/
verb
gerund or present participle: lopping
cut off (a branch, limb, or twig) from the main body of a tree.
"they lopped off more branches to save the tree"
remove branches from (a tree).
"they had lopped some trees without permission"
Similar:
cut
chop
hack
saw
hew
slice
pare
prune
sever
clip
trim
snip
dock
crop
remove
detach
excise
INFORMAL
remove (something regarded as unnecessary or burdensome).
"the new rail link lops an hour off journey times"
Similar:
remove
cut
slash
axe
take
trim
prune
dock
truncate
eliminate
Origin
late Middle English (as a noun): of unknown origin.
lop2
/lɒp/
verbARCHAIC•NORTH AMERICAN
gerund or present participle: lopping
hang loosely or limply; droop.
"a stomach that lopped over his belt"
move in a loping or slouching way.
"he lopped towards the plane"
Origin
late 16th century: probably symbolic of limpness; compare with lob.
---
emasculate
/ɪˈmaskjʊleɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: emasculating
1.
deprive (a man) of his male role or identity.
"in his mind, her success emasculated him"
2.
make (someone or something) weaker or less effective.
"the refusal to allow them to testify effectively emasculated the committee"
Similar:
weaken
make feeble/feebler
debilitate
enfeeble
enervate
dilute

---
brook1
/brʊk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: brook; plural noun: brooks
a small stream.
"the Lake District boasts lovely lakes and babbling brooks"
Similar:
stream
small river
streamlet
rivulet
rill
brooklet
runnel
runlet
freshet
gill
beck
bourn
billabong
burn
creek
Origin

Old English brōc, of unknown origin; related to Dutch broek and German Bruch ‘marsh’.
brook2
/brʊk/
Learn to pronounce
verbFORMAL
verb: brook; 3rd person present: brooks; past tense: brooked; past participle: brooked; gerund or present participle: brooking
tolerate or allow (something, typically dissent or opposition).
"Jenny would brook no criticism of Matthew"
Similar:
tolerate
allow
stand
bear
abide
stomach
swallow
put up with
go along with
endure
suffer
withstand
cope with
accept
permit
admit of
countenance
thole
stand for
stick
hack
Origin
---

abstemious
/əbˈstiːmɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: abstemious
indulging only very moderately in something, especially food and drink.
"‘We only had a bottle.’ ‘Very abstemious of you.’"
Similar:
temperate
abstinent
austere
moderate
self-disciplined
self-denying
restrained
self-restrained
non-indulgent
sober
ascetic
puritanical
spartan
strict
severe
self-abnegating
hair-shirt
Opposite:
self-indulgent
intemperate
Origin

---
unbidden
/ʌnˈbɪd(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: unbidden
without having been commanded or invited.
"unbidden guests"
Similar:
uninvited
unasked
unrequested
unsolicited
unwanted
unwelcome
(especially of a thought or feeling) arising without conscious effort.
"unbidden tears came to his eyes"
Similar:
spontaneous
unprompted
voluntary
unforced
uncompelled
unplanned
unpremeditated
spur-of-the-moment
off-the-cuff

---

corollary
/kəˈrɒləri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: corollary; plural noun: corollaries
a proposition that follows from (and is often appended to) one already proved.
a direct or natural consequence or result.
"the huge increases in unemployment were the corollary of expenditure cuts"
Similar:
consequence
result
upshot
outcome
out-turn
effect
repercussion
reverberations
sequel
product
by-product
spin-off
conclusion
end
end result
accompaniment
concomitant
correlate
externality
knock-on effect
Opposite:
cause
origin
adjective
adjective: corollary
forming a proposition that follows from one already proved.
associated or supplementary.
"the court did not answer a corollary question"
Origin

---
nous
/naʊs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: nous
1.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
common sense; practical intelligence.
"if he had any nous at all, he'd sell the film rights"
2.
PHILOSOPHY
the mind or intellect.
Origin
---
cerebral
/ˈsɛrɪbr(ə)l,səˈriːbr(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: cerebral
1.
of the cerebrum of the brain.
"a cerebral haemorrhage"
intellectual rather than emotional or physical.
"she excelled in cerebral pursuits"
2.
PHONETICS
another term for retroflex.
Origin
---
phlegmatic
/flɛɡˈmatɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: phlegmatic
(of a person) having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition.
"the phlegmatic British character"
Similar:
self-controlled
calm
cool
composed
and collected
cool-headed
controlled
serene
tranquil
placid
impassive
self-possessed
self-confident
self-assured
stolid
imperturbable
unruffled
poised
level-headed
dispassionate
philosophical
unflappable
equanimous
Opposite:
excitable
quick-tempered
Origin
---
vehemently
/ˈviːəməntli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: vehemently
in a forceful, passionate, or intense manner; with great feeling.
"he vehemently denied any suggestion of improper conduct"
---
fraught
/frɔːt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: fraught
1.
(of a situation or course of action) filled with or likely to result in (something undesirable).
"marketing any new product is fraught with danger"
Similar:
full of
filled with
swarming with
rife with
thick with
bristling with
charged with
loaded with
brimful of
brimming with
attended by
accompanied by
2.
causing or affected by anxiety or stress.
"there was a fraught silence"
Similar:
anxious
worried
upset
distraught
overwrought
agitated
distressed
distracted
desperate
frantic
panic-stricken
panic-struck
panicky
beside oneself
at one's wits' end
at the end of one's tether
out of one's mind
stressed
hassled
wound up
worked up
in a state
in a flap
in a cold sweat
tearing one's hair out
having kittens
in a flat spin
stressy
Opposite:
calm
Origin

late Middle English, ‘laden, equipped’, past participle of obsolete fraught ‘load with cargo’, from Middle Dutch vrachten, from vracht ‘ship's cargo’. Compare with freight.
---
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.
---
verve
/vəːv/
Learn to pronounce
noun
vigour and spirit or enthusiasm.
"Kollo sings with supreme verve and flexibility"
Similar:
enthusiasm
vigour
energy
pep
dynamism
go
elan
vitality

---
lackey
/ˈlaki/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: lackeys
1.
a servant, especially a liveried footman or manservant.
"lackeys were waiting to help them from the carriage"
Similar:
servant
flunkey
footman
manservant
valet
liveried servant
steward
butler
equerry
retainer
vassal
page
attendant
houseboy
domestic
drudge
factotum
skivvy
scullion
DEROGATORY
a person who is obsequiously willing to obey or serve another person.
"he denied that he was the lackey of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury"
Similar:
toady
flunkey
sycophant
flatterer
minion
doormat
dogsbody
spaniel
stooge
hanger-on
lickspittle
parasite
tool
puppet
instrument
pawn
subordinate
underling
creature
cat's paw
yes-man
bootlicker
suck-up
2.
a brownish European moth of woods and hedgerows, the caterpillars of which live communally in a silken tent on the food tree.
verbARCHAIC
3rd person present: lackeys
behave servilely towards; wait on as a lackey.
"he had lackeyed and flattered Walpole"
---
sinecure
/ˈsʌɪnɪkjʊə,ˈsɪnɪkjʊə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: sinecures
a position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit.
"political sinecures for the supporters of ministers"
Similar:
easy job
soft option
cushy number
money for old rope
money for jam
picnic
doddle
walk in the park
cinch
gravy train
bludge
Origin

mid 17th century: from Latin sine cura ‘without care’.
---
cavil
/ˈkav(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: cavilled; past participle: cavilled
make petty or unnecessary objections.
"they cavilled at the cost"
Similar:
complain
carp
grumble
moan
grouse
grouch
whine
bleat
find fault with
quibble about
niggle about
criticize
censure
denounce
condemn
decry
mither
twine
gripe
beef
bellyache
bitch
nitpick
pick holes in
split hairs
sound off
kick up a fuss
knock
whinge
chunter
create
kvetch about
Origin

mid 16th century: from French caviller, from Latin cavillari, from cavilla ‘mockery’.
---
cleave (1)
/kliːv/

verb
verb: cleave; 3rd person present: cleaves; past tense: clove; past tense: cleft; past tense: cleaved; gerund or present participle: cleaving; past participle: cloven
split or sever (something), especially along a natural line or grain.
"the large axe his father used to cleave wood for the fire"
Similar:
crack open
lay open
divide
splinter
cut (up)
hew
hack
chop up
slice up
halve
bisect
quarter
rend
sunder
rive
split (a molecule) by breaking a particular chemical bond.
BIOLOGY
(of a cell) divide.
"the egg cleaves to form a mulberry-shaped cluster of cells"
make a way through (something) forcefully, as if by splitting it apart.
"they watched a coot cleave the smooth water"
Similar:
plough
drive
bulldoze
cut
carve
make
Origin

Old English clēofan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch klieven and German klieben .
cleave2
/kliːv/
Learn to pronounce
verbLITERARY
verb: cleave; 3rd person present: cleaves; past tense: cleaved; past participle: cleaved; gerund or present participle: cleaving
stick fast to.
"Rose's mouth was dry, her tongue cleaving to the roof of her mouth"
Similar:
stick to
stick fast to
be stuck to
adhere to
cohere to
be attached to
bond to
adhere strongly to (a particular pursuit or belief).
"part of why we cleave to sports is that excellence is so measurable"
Similar:
adhere to
hold to
cling to
stand by
abide by
be loyal to
be faithful to
remain true to
become very strongly involved with or emotionally attached to (someone).
"it was his choice to cleave to the Brownings"
Similar:
adhere to
hold to
cling to
stand by
abide by
be loyal to
be faithful to
remain true to
Origin

Old English cleofian, clifian, clīfan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch kleven and German kleben, also to clay and climb.
---
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
match
fit
be in agreement
conform
equate
harmonize
fall in
be in tune
correlate
correspond
tally
square
jibe
quadrate
Translate dovetail to
---
abrogation
/abrəˈɡeɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
nounFORMAL
noun: abrogation; plural noun: abrogations
the repeal or abolition of a law, right, or agreement.
Similar:
repudiation
revocation
repeal
rescinding
rescindment
---
inimical
/ɪˈnɪmɪk(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: inimical
tending to obstruct or harm.
"the policy was inimical to Britain's real interests"
Similar:
harmful
injurious
detrimental
deleterious
pernicious
damaging
hurtful
dangerous
destructive
ruinous
calamitous
antagonistic
contrary
antipathetic
unfavourable
adverse
opposed
hostile
at odds
not conducive
prejudicial
malefic
maleficent
Opposite:
helpful
advantageous
unfriendly; hostile.
"an inimical alien power"
Similar:
hostile
unfriendly
antagonistic
ill-disposed
unkind
unsympathetic
malevolent
malign
inhospitable
unwelcoming
cold
icy
frosty
glacial
Opposite:
friendly
warm
Origin
---
prudish
/ˈpruːdɪʃ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: prudish
having or revealing a tendency to be easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity; excessively concerned with sexual propriety.
"the prudish moral climate of the late 19th century"
Similar:
puritanical
puritan
priggish
prim
prim and proper
formal
moralistic

---
mien
/miːn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: mien; plural noun: miens
a person's appearance or manner, especially as an indication of their character or mood.
"he has a cautious, academic mien"
Similar:
appearance
look
expression
countenance
face
front
aspect
aura
demeanour
comportment
attitude
air
presence
manner
bearing
carriage
deportment
stance
Origin

early 16th century: probably from French mine ‘expression’, influenced by obsolete demean ‘bearing, demeanour’ (from demean2).
Mien
/mjɛn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: Mien; plural noun: Miens
another term for Yao2.
---
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"

---
Byzantine
/bɪˈzantʌɪn,bʌɪˈzantʌɪn/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: Byzantine
1.
relating to Byzantium (now Istanbul), the Byzantine Empire, or the Eastern Orthodox Church.
of an ornate artistic and architectural style which developed in the Byzantine Empire and spread to Italy, Russia, and elsewhere. The art is typified by religious wall paintings and icons and the architecture by many-domed churches.
2.
(of a system or situation) excessively complicated, and typically involving a great deal of administrative detail.
"Byzantine insurance regulations"
characterized by deviousness or underhand procedure.
adjective: byzantine
"he has the most Byzantine mind in politics"
noun
noun: Byzantine; plural noun: Byzantines
a citizen of Byzantium or the Byzantine Empire.
Origin

late 16th century: from Latin Byzantinus, from Byzantium.

---
fief
/fiːf/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fief; plural noun: fiefs
1.
HISTORICAL•LAW
an estate of land, especially one held on condition of feudal service; a fee.

2.
a person's sphere of operation or control.
Origin

early 17th century: from French (see fee).
---
wield
/wiːld/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: wielded; past participle: wielded
hold and use (a weapon or tool).
"a masked raider wielding a handgun"
Similar:
brandish
flourish
wave
twirl
display
flaunt
hold aloft
show off
swing
shake
use
put to use
employ
handle
ply
manipulate
operate
have and be able to use (power or influence).
"faction leaders wielded enormous influence within the party"
Similar:
exercise
exert
be possessed of
have
have at one's disposal
hold
maintain
command
control
manage
be in charge of
Origin
---
clout
/klaʊt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: clout; plural noun: clouts
1.
INFORMAL
a heavy blow with the hand or a hard object.
"a clout round the ear"
Similar:
smack
slap
thump
punch
blow
hit
knock
bang
cuff
box
spanking
spank
tap
clip
whack
wallop
clobbering
sock

2.
INFORMAL
influence or power, especially in politics or business.
"I knew she carried a lot of clout"
Similar:
influence
power
pull
weight
sway
leverage
control
say
mastery
dominance
domination
advantage
authority
prestige
standing
stature
rank
teeth
beef
muscle
3.
ARCHAIC
a piece of cloth or article of clothing.
4.
ARCHERY
a target twelve times the usual size, placed flat on the ground with a flag marking its centre and used in long-distance shooting.
a long-distance shot that hits a clout.
5.
short for clout nail.
verb
verb: clout; 3rd person present: clouts; past tense: clouted; past participle: clouted; gerund or present participle: clouting
1.
INFORMAL
hit (someone or something) hard.
"I clouted him round the head"
Similar:
hit
strike
punch
smack
slap
cuff
thump
beat
batter
pound
pummel
thrash
rap
spank
buffet
hammer
bang
knock
box someone's ears
wallop
belt
whack
clobber
sock
clip
bop
biff
swipe
tan
lay one on
2.
ARCHAIC
mend with a patch.
"he helps the women clout their pans"
Phrases
ne'er cast a clout till May be out — do not discard your winter clothes until summer has fully arrived.
Origin
---
pecking order
noun
noun: pecking order; plural noun: pecking orders; noun: peck order; plural noun: peck orders
a hierarchy of status seen among members of a group of people or animals, originally as observed among hens.
"the luxurious office accentuated the manager's position in the pecking order"
---
caboodle
/kəˈbuːd(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
nounINFORMAL
noun: whole caboodle; noun: whole kaboodle; noun: caboodle; plural noun: caboodles; noun: kaboodle; plural noun: kaboodles; noun: whole kit and caboodle; noun: whole kit and kaboodle
the whole number or quantity of people or things in question.
"sort out your best snaps, complete the entry form, and pop the whole caboodle into an envelope addressed to us"
Origin
---
fiat
/ˈfiːat,ˈfʌɪat/
noun
noun: fiat; plural noun: fiats
a formal authorization or proposition; a decree.
"the reforms left most prices fixed by government fiat"
Similar:
decree
edict
order
command
commandment
injunction
proclamation
mandate
dictum
diktat
promulgation
precept
ukase
pronunciamento
rescript
firman
decretal
irade
an arbitrary order.
Origin

late Middle English: from Latin, ‘let it be done’, from fieri ‘be done or made’.
---
proffer
/ˈprɒfə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: proffered; past participle: proffered
hold out or put forward (something) to someone for acceptance.
"she proffered a glass of wine"
Similar:
offer
tender
present
extend
give
submit
volunteer
suggest
propose
put forward
hold out
Opposite:
refuse
withdraw
Origin

Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French proffrir, from Latin pro- ‘before’ + offerre ‘to offer’.
---
insofar
/ɪnsə(ʊ)ˈfɑː/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: insofar; adverb: in so far
to the extent that.
"the tool is able to cater to almost any need insofar as graphs are concerned"
---
fecund
/ˈfɛk(ə)nd,ˈfiːk(ə)nd/
adjective
adjective: fecund
producing or capable of producing an abundance of offspring or new growth; highly fertile.
"a lush and fecund garden"
Similar:
fertile
fruitful
productive
high-yielding
prolific
proliferating
propagative
generative
rich
lush
flourishing
thriving
fructuous
Opposite:
barren
producing many new ideas.
"her fecund imagination"
TECHNICAL
capable of bearing children.
Origin
---
nugget
/ˈnʌɡɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: nuggets
a small lump of gold or other precious metal found ready-formed in the earth.
a small chunk or lump of another substance.
"nuggets of meat"
Similar:
lump
chunk
small piece
hunk
mass
clump
wad
gobbet
globule
dod
wodge
gob
nub
a valuable idea or fact.
"nuggets of information"
Origin
---
factoid
/ˈfaktɔɪd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: factoids
an item of unreliable information that is reported and repeated so often that it becomes accepted as fact.
"he addresses the facts and factoids which have buttressed the film's legend"
NORTH AMERICAN
a brief or trivial item of news or information.
"how does the brain retain factoids that you remember from a history test at school?"
---
peregrinate
/ˈpɛrɪɡrɪˌneɪt/
verbARCHAIC•HUMOROUS
gerund or present participle: peregrinating
travel or wander from place to place.
"we peregrinated over Stanmore, and visited the Castles of Bowes and Brougham"
Origin
---
congeal
/kənˈdʒiːl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: congealing
become semi-solid, especially on cooling.
"the blood had congealed into blobs"
Similar:
coagulate
clot
cake
set
solidify
harden
thicken
stiffen
dry
gel
concentrate
fix
inspissate
Opposite:
soften
liquefy
take shape or coalesce, especially to form a satisfying whole.
"the ballet failed to congeal as a single oeuvre"
Origin
---
advisorate in British English. (ədˈvaɪzərɪt) formal. an advisory body or group. Collins English Dictionary.
---
brook1
/brʊk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a small stream.
"the Lake District boasts lovely lakes and babbling brooks"
Similar:
stream
small river
streamlet
rivulet
rill
brooklet
runnel
runlet
freshet
gill
beck
bourn
billabong
burn

---
arch1
/ɑːtʃ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: arch; plural noun: arches
a curved symmetrical structure spanning an opening and typically supporting the weight of a bridge, roof, or wall above it.
Similar:
archway
vault
span
dome
bridge

an arch forming a monument or ornamental feature.
"a triumphal arch"
a shape resembling an arch.
"the delicate arch of his eyebrows"
Similar:
curve
bow
bend
arc
semicircle
sweep
curvature
convexity
curving
curling
bending
flex
hunch
crook
the inner side of the foot.
"the muscles in the arch of my right foot suddenly seized up"
verb
verb: arch; 3rd person present: arches; past tense: arched; past participle: arched; gerund or present participle: arching
have the curved shape of an arch.
"a beautiful bridge that arched over a canal"
form or cause to form the curved shape of an arch.
"her eyebrows arched in surprise"
Similar:
curve
bow
bend
arc
curl
Origin

Middle English: from Old French arche, based on Latin arcus ‘bow’.
arch2
/ɑːtʃ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: arch; comparative adjective: archer; superlative adjective: archest
deliberately or affectedly playful and teasing.
"a somewhat arch tone of voice"
Similar:
knowing
playful
mischievous
puckish
roguish
impish
elfin
devilish
naughty
wicked
cheeky
teasing
saucy
flippant
tongue-in-cheek
artful
sly
cunning
affected
frolicsome
Origin

mid 17th century: from arch-, by association with the sense ‘rogue’ in combinations such as arch-scoundrel .
arch-
/ɑːtʃ/
Learn to pronounce
combining form
prefix: arch-
chief; principal.
"archbishop"
Similar:
chief
principal
foremost
leading
main
pre-eminent
cardinal
major
prime
premier
elite
star
outstanding
ultra-
super-
top
highest
greatest
best
first
head
out-and-out
complete
utter
total
number-one
numero uno
Opposite:
minor
pseudo-
(in an unfavourable sense) pre-eminent of its kind; out-and-out.
"arch-enemy"
Origin

via Latin from Greek arkhi-, from arkhos ‘chief’.
-arch
/ɑːk/
Learn to pronounce
combining form
suffix: -arch
(forming nouns) denoting a ruler or leader.
"monarch"
Origin

Greek arkhos ‘ruling’, from arkhein ‘to rule’.

---
establishmentarian
/ɪˌstablɪʃm(ə)nˈtɛːrɪən/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: establishmentarian
adhering to, advocating, or relating to the principle of an established Church.
"establishmentarian politics"
noun
noun: establishmentarian; plural noun: establishmentarians
a person adhering to or advocating the principle of an established Church.

---
statist
/ˈsteɪtɪst/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: statist; plural noun: statists
an advocate of a political system in which the state has substantial centralized control over social and economic affairs.
"this is one issue which unites statists of all persuasions"
adjective
adjective: statist
relating to or characteristic of a political system in which the state has substantial centralized control over social and economic affairs.
"a statist approach to healthcare"

---
antipathy
/anˈtɪpəθi/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: antipathy; plural noun: antipathies
a deep-seated feeling of aversion.
"his fundamental antipathy to capitalism"
Similar:
hostility
antagonism
animosity

---
fillip
/ˈfɪlɪp/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fillip; plural noun: fillips
1.
something which acts as a stimulus or boost to an activity.
"the halving of car tax would provide a fillip to sales"
Similar:
stimulus
stimulation
stimulant
boost
encouragement
incitement
incentive
impetus
inducement
motivation
tonic
uplift
lift
reviver
spur
goad
prod
push
prompt
aid
help
shot in the arm
pick-me-up
Opposite:
curb
2.
ARCHAIC
a movement made by bending the last joint of the finger against the thumb and suddenly releasing it; a flick of the finger.
a slight smart stroke or tap inflicted with a flick of the finger.
verbARCHAIC
verb: fillip; 3rd person present: fillips; past tense: filliped; past participle: filliped; gerund or present participle: filliping
propel (a small object) with a flick of the fingers.
strike slightly and smartly.
"he filliped him over the nose"
Origin
---
nostrum
/ˈnɒstrəm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: nostrums
a medicine prepared by an unqualified person, especially one that is not considered effective.
"a charlatan who sells nostrums"
Similar:
patent medicine
quack remedy
potion
elixir
panacea
cure-all
cure for all ills
universal remedy
sovereign remedy
wonder drug
magic bullet
catholicon
diacatholicon
panpharmacon
a scheme or remedy for bringing about some social or political reform or improvement.
"during tough times, populist nostrums gain favour"
Similar:
remedy
cure
prescription
answer
magic formula
recipe
recipe for success
Origin

early 17th century: from Latin, used in the sense ‘(something) of our own making’, neuter of noster ‘our’.
---
fringe
/frɪn(d)ʒ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fringe; plural noun: fringes; plural noun: the fringes
1.
an ornamental border of threads left loose or formed into tassels or twists, used to edge clothing or material.
"a long grey skirt with a fringe"
Similar:
edging
edge
border
hem
trimming
frill
flounce
ruffle
tassels
purfle

2.
BRITISH
the front part of a person's hair cut so as to hang over the forehead.
"she smiled as she pushed her fringe back out of her eyes"

a natural border of hair or fibres in an animal or plant.
"a long fringe of hair on the tail"
3.
the outer, marginal, or extreme part of an area, group, or sphere of activity.
"his uncles were on the fringes of crooked activity"
Similar:
unconventional
unorthodox
offbeat
alternative
avant-garde
experimental
innovative
innovatory
radical
extreme
peripheral
unofficial
left-field
off Broadway
way out
perimeter
periphery
border
borderline
margin
rim
outer edge
edge
extremity
limit
outer limits
limits
borders
bounds
outskirts
marches
marge
bourn
skirt
ambit
Opposite:
mainstream
middle
a secondary festival on the periphery of the Edinburgh Festival.
noun: Fringe; noun: the Fringe
"she became noted for her work on the Fringe"
4.
a band of contrasting brightness or darkness produced by diffraction or interference of light.
a strip of false colour in an optical image.
5.
NORTH AMERICAN
short for fringe benefit.
"we offer the highest salary and fringes in the country"
verb
verb: fringe; 3rd person present: fringes; past tense: fringed; past participle: fringed; gerund or present participle: fringing
decorate (clothing or material) with a fringe.
"a rich robe of gold, fringed with black velvet"
Similar:
trim
hem
edge
border
rim
bind
braid
tassel
decorate
adorn
ornament
embellish
finish
purfle
befringe
befrill
form a border around (something).
"the sea is fringed by palm trees"
Similar:
border
edge
bound
skirt
line
hem
flank
verge
surround
enclose
encircle
circle
encompass
ring
circumscribe
gird
girdle
engird
compass
environ
(of a plant or animal) having a border of hair or fibre.
adjective: fringed
"the fringed green leaves"
Origin

Middle English: from Old French frenge, based on late Latin fimbria, earlier a plural noun meaning ‘fibres, shreds’.

---
lumpen
/ˈlʌmpən/
adjective
adjective: lumpen
1.
(in Marxist contexts) uninterested in revolutionary advancement.
"the lumpen public is enveloped in a culture of dependency"
boorish and stupid.
"the growing ranks of lumpen, uninhibited, denim-clad youth"
2.
BRITISH
lumpy and misshapen; ugly and ponderous.
"her own body was lumpen and awkward"
noun
plural noun: lumpen
the lumpenproletariat.
Origin
---
adduce
/əˈdjuːs/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: adduced; past participle: adduced
cite as evidence.
"a number of factors are adduced to explain the situation"
Similar:
cite
quote
name
mention
instance
specify
identify
give
point out
call attention to
refer to
make reference to
put forward
bring forward
present
offer
advance
propose
proffer
put up
moot
table
suggest
raise
come up with
Origin

late Middle English: from Latin adducere, from ad- ‘towards’ + ducere ‘to lead’.

---
conch
/kɒŋk,kɒn(t)ʃ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: conch; plural noun: conches; plural noun: conchs; noun: conch shell; plural noun: conch shells
1.
a tropical marine mollusc with a robust spiral shell which may bear long projections and have a flared lip.
a conch shell blown like a trumpet to produce a hollow-sounding musical note, often depicted as played by Tritons.
2.
ARCHITECTURE
the roof of a semicircular apse, shaped like half a dome.
3.
another term for concha.
Origin

late Middle English: from Latin concha ‘shellfish, shell’, from Greek konkhē ‘mussel, cockle, or shell-like cavity’.
---
transmogrify
/tranzˈmɒɡrɪfʌɪ,trɑːnzˈmɒɡrɪfʌɪ,transˈmɒɡrɪfʌɪ,trɑːnsˈmɒɡrɪfʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verbHUMOROUS
past tense: transmogrified; past participle: transmogrified
transform in a surprising or magical manner.
"his home was transmogrified into a hippy crash pad"
Origin
mid 17th century: of unknown origin.

---
beset
/bɪˈsɛt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: besetting
1.
(of a problem or difficulty) trouble (someone or something) persistently.
"the social problems that beset the UK"
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"
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"
Origin
---
millstone
/ˈmɪlstəʊn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: millstone; plural noun: millstones; noun: mill stone; plural noun: mill stones
each of two circular stones used for grinding grain.
Phrases
a millstone round someone's neck — a heavy and inescapable responsibility.
"the massive pension fund is going be a millstone round the company's neck for decades"

---

visceral
/ˈvɪs(ə)r(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: visceral
1.
relating to the viscera.
"the visceral nervous system"
2.
relating to deep inward feelings rather than to the intellect.
"the voters' visceral fear of change"

---

rancorous
/ˈraŋk(ə)rəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: rancorous
characterized by bitterness or resentment.
"sixteen miserable months of rancorous disputes"
Similar:
bitter
spiteful
hateful
resentful
acrimonious
malicious
malevolent
malign
malignant
hostile
antipathetic
venomous
poisonous
vindictive
evil-intentioned
ill-natured
baleful
vengeful
vitriolic
virulent
pernicious
mean
nasty
bitchy
catty
malefic
maleficent
Opposite:
amicable
Translate rancorous to

---

cobbled
/ˈkɒbld/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: cobbled
(of an area or roadway) paved with cobbles.
"a cobbled courtyard"
cobble2
/ˈkɒb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: cobbled; past participle: cobbled
1.
roughly assemble or produce something from available parts or elements.
"the film was imperfectly cobbled together from two separate stories"
Similar:
prepare roughly/hastily
make roughly/hastily
put together roughly/hastily
scribble
improvise
devise
contrive
rig (up)
patch together
jerry-build
throw together
whip up
fix
rustle up
knock up
2.
DATED
repair (shoes).
"it had a tarnished brass knocker showing a pixie cobbling shoes"
Origin

---

---
tepid
/ˈtɛpɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: tepid
1.
(especially of a liquid) only slightly warm; lukewarm.
"she soaked a flannel in the tepid water"
Similar:
lukewarm
warmish
slightly warm
at room temperature
chambré
Opposite:
hot
cold
2.
showing little enthusiasm.
"the applause was tepid"
Similar:
unenthusiastic
apathetic
half-hearted
indifferent
cool
lukewarm
uninterested
unconcerned
offhand
perfunctory
desultory
limp
listless
unenthused
vulgar slanghalf-arsed
Opposite:
enthusiastic
passionate
Origin

late Middle English: from Latin tepidus, from tepere ‘be warm’.
---

rubric
/ˈruːbrɪk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
a heading on a document.
2.
a set of instructions or rules.

---
flurry
/ˈflʌri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: flurry; plural noun: flurries
a small swirling mass of something, especially snow or leaves, moved by sudden gusts of wind.
"a flurry of snow"
Similar:
swirl
whirl
eddy
billow
shower
gust
rush
burst
gale
squall
storm
a sudden short period of activity or excitement.
"there was a brief flurry of activity in the hall"
Similar:
burst
outbreak
spurt
fit
spell
bout
rash
blaze
eruption
spot
fluster
fuss
bustle
whirl
stir
ferment
hubbub
commotion
hustle
tumult
agitation
disturbance
furore
perturbation
state of anxiety
panic
to-do
flap
pother
a number of things arriving or happening suddenly and during the same period.
"a flurry of editorials hostile to the government"
Similar:
spate
wave
flood
deluge
torrent
stream
tide
avalanche
storm
shower
cascade
series
succession
string
barrage
volley
battery
outbreak
rash
explosion
run
rush
Opposite:
dearth
trickle
verb
verb: flurry; 3rd person present: flurries; past tense: flurried; past participle: flurried; gerund or present participle: flurrying
(especially of snow or leaves) be moved in small swirling masses by sudden gusts of wind.
"gusts of snow flurried through the door"
Similar:
swirl
whirl
eddy
billow
gust
blast
blow
rush
wind
churn
swish
spin
twist
spurt
surge
seethe
stream
flow
puff
squall
squirt
boil
(of a person) move quickly in a busy or agitated way.
"the waiter flurried between them"
Origin

---
newspeak
/ˈnjuːspiːk/
noun
noun: newspeak
ambiguous euphemistic language used chiefly in political propaganda.
"‘deterrence’ is just Newspeak for plain old threatening"
Origin

1949: the name of an artificial official language in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four .

---
subservience
/səbˈsəːvɪəns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: subservience; noun: subserviency
willingness to obey others unquestioningly.
"he demonstrated his complete subservience to his masters"
the condition of being less important than something else.
"is it a case of the subservience of the divine to political beliefs?"

---
gunboat
/ˈɡʌnbəʊt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: gunboat; plural noun: gunboats; noun: gun-boat; plural noun: gun-boats
a small fast ship with guns mounted on it, for use in shallow coastal waters and rivers.

---

ingress
elan
careen
bedfellowship
befuddled
galling
twiddles
deterrence
reticence
pugnacity
impending
interregnum
subserve
embellishing.
states-qua-balance
denigrating
moats
ipso facto
equipoise
aegis
mofussil
quotidian
provenance,
straddling
sotto voce
pirouetted
enunciation
autarchic
vide
onerous
co-opted
vis-à-vis
approbation
germane
trellis
preternaturally
pacifistic
moralpolitik
realpolitik—
surreptitiously
askance
wherewithal
Janus-faced’
frittered
petrified
abject
Nehruvian
bombast
apocalyptically
atypical
ballyhooing
calculi,
Risibly
deigned
hobbled
gladdened
subjugate
billets
adamantine
backstop.
perorations
nary
hankers
interlocuters
pliable
egregious
forestall
centrifuges
afoul
fulsomely
applecarts
bridgehead
provocateur,
cadged
largesse
minuscule
tocsin
largesse’
revelatory.
largesse’
nuanced
sieve
conduit’
howitzers.
trellis
surmise
proffered
flog,
Trojan Horse
culpable
behest
wonk
finessed
guise
jauntily
fillip
snide
littoral
beaver
ceding
twinned
decant
ilk
Damocles’s sword
burgeoning
hohum
sackcloth
Strategique
scourge.
salience
belied
vacuous
sly
perfidy,
twain
whence
Quetta shura
inimical
monies
cavalier
indigenous
foresworn
guinea pig
infructuous
candour,
trundled
evinced
ballyhooing
---
wring
/rɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
1.
squeeze and twist (something) to force liquid from it.
"she wrung the cloth out in the sink"
Similar:
twist
squeeze
screw
scrunch
knead
press
mangle
dry
squeeze dry
screw the water out of
2.
break (an animal's neck) by twisting it forcibly.
"the chicken shrieked as one of the women wrung its neck"
noun
an act of squeezing or twisting something.
Tip
Similar-sounding words
wring is sometimes confused with ring
---
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
enlighten

--
stalemated
/ˈsteɪlmeɪtɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: stalemated
having reached a situation in which further action or progress by opposing or competing parties seems impossible.
"the currently stalemated peace talks"
stalemate
/ˈsteɪlmeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: stalemated; past participle: stalemated
bring to or cause to reach stalemate.
"the group played a key role in stalemating the negotiations"
Origin
mid 18th century: from obsolete stale (from Anglo-Norman French estale ‘position’, from estaler ‘be placed’) + mate2.
--
jettison
/ˈdʒɛtɪs(ə)n,ˈdʒɛtɪz(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
verb
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
Origin
--
Buenos Aires is Argentina’s big, cosmopolitan capital city. Its center is the Plaza de Mayo, lined with stately 19th-century buildings including Casa Rosada, the iconic, balconied presidential palace. Other major attractions include Teatro Colón, a grand 1908 opera house with nearly 2,500 seats, and the modern MALBA museum, displaying Latin American art.

--
multilateralism
/ˌmʌltɪˈlat(ə)r(ə)lɪz(ə)m/
Learn to pronounce
noun
the principle of participation by three or more parties, especially by the governments of different countries.
"the president affirmed his commitment to multilateralism"
--
appellate
/əˈpɛlət/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveLAW
adjective: appellate
(especially of a court) concerned with or dealing with applications for decisions to be reversed.
"courts of appellate jurisdiction"
Origin
--
rile
/rʌɪl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: riled; past participle: riled
1.
INFORMAL
make (someone) annoyed or irritated.
"he has been riled by suggestions that his Arsenal future is in doubt"
Similar:
irritate
annoy
bother
vex
provoke
displease
upset
offend
affront
anger
exasperate
infuriate
gall
irk
get/put someone's back up
disgruntle
pique
rankle with
nettle
needle
ruffle
get on someone's nerves
ruffle someone's feathers
make someone's hackles rise
raise someone's hackles
rub up the wrong way
peeve
aggravate
miff
get
get to
bug
get under someone's skin
get in someone's hair
get up someone's nose
hack off
get someone's goat
nark
get on someone's wick
give someone the hump
wind up
get across
tick off
rankle
ride
gravel
bum out
rark
exacerbate
hump
rasp
vulgar slangpiss off
get on someone's tits
Opposite:
conciliate
soothe
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
make (water) turbulent or muddy.
"he'd been drinking sweet, clear water from a well, and now that water had been muddied and riled"
Origin
--
burgeon
/ˈbəːdʒ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: burgeoning
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.
Origin

--
roughshod
/ˈrʌfʃɒd/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveARCHAIC
adjective: roughshod
(of a horse) having shoes with nail heads projecting to prevent slipping.

--
gratuitously
/ɡrəˈtʃuːɪtəsli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: gratuitously
1.
without good reason; unjustifiably.
"artefacts were gratuitously destroyed"
2.
free of charge.
"his care was provided gratuitously"

--
amiss
/əˈmɪs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: amiss
not quite right; inappropriate or out of place.
"there was something amiss about his calculations"
Similar:
wrong
awry
faulty
out of order
defective
unsatisfactory
incorrect
untoward
adrift
astray
inappropriate
improper
unsuitable
Opposite:
right
in order
adverb
adverb: amiss
wrongly or inappropriately.
"the prime minister may have constructed his cabinet a little amiss"
Phrases
take something amiss
be offended by something that is said, especially through misinterpreting the intentions behind it. "don't take this amiss, it's all good-humoured teasing"
something would not go amiss
the specified thing would be welcome and useful. "you look as if a good meal wouldn't go amiss"
Origin
--
iniquitous
/ɪˈnɪkwɪtəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: iniquitous
grossly unfair and morally wrong.
"an iniquitous tax"
Similar:
wicked
sinful
evil
immoral
improper
villainous
criminal
heinous
nefarious
vile
foul
base
odious
abominable
execrable
atrocious
dreadful
egregious
malicious
outrageous
monstrous
obscene
intolerable
shocking
scandalous
reprehensible
unjust
unfair
malfeasant
dastardly
facinorous
dishonourable
unprincipled
lawless
degenerate
corrupt
reprobate
dissolute
devilish
diabolical
fiendish
crooked
blackguardly
Opposite:
good
virtuous

tack1
/tak/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: tack; plural noun: tacks
1.
a small, sharp broad-headed nail.
"tacks held the remaining rags of carpet to the floor"
Similar:
pin
drawing pin
nail
tin tack
staple
spike
rivet
stud
thumb tack
NORTH AMERICAN
a drawing pin.
"here are some tacks—put up a notice"
2.
a long stitch used to fasten fabrics together temporarily, prior to permanent sewing.
3.
a method of dealing with a situation or problem; a course of action or policy.
"as she could not stop him going she tried another tack and insisted on going with him"
Similar:
approach
way
method
process
policy
procedure
technique
tactic
plan
strategy
stratagem
programme
line of attack
course of action
line of action
path
line
angle
direction
course
4.
SAILING
an act of changing course by turning a boat's head into and through the wind, so as to bring the wind on the opposite side.
a boat's course relative to the direction of the wind.
"the brig bowled past on the opposite tack"
Similar:
heading
bearing
direction
course
track
path
line
a distance sailed between tacks.
"it's a shame to see a yacht drop her sails and start the diesel just because she has to make a few short tacks"
5.
SAILING
a rope for securing the corner of certain sails.
the corner to which a rope is fastened.
6.
the quality of being sticky.
"cooking the sugar to caramel gives tack to the texture"
verb
verb: tack; 3rd person present: tacks; past tense: tacked; past participle: tacked; 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
Phrases
on the port tack — with the wind coming from the port (or starboard) side of the boat.
"as soon as the yacht is established on the starboard tack, the jib sheet is let fly"
Origin

Middle English (in the general sense ‘something that fastens one thing to another’): probably related to Old French tache ‘clasp, large nail’.
tack2
/tak/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: tack
equipment used in horse riding, including the saddle and bridle.
Origin

late 18th century (originally dialect in the general sense ‘apparatus, equipment’): contraction of tackle. The current sense dates from the 1920s.
tack3
/tak/
Learn to pronounce
nounINFORMAL
noun: tack
cheap, shoddy, or tasteless material.
"this pop will never trivialize itself and be described as cheap tack"
Origin

1980s: back-formation from tacky2.
Translate tack to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
tack is sometimes confused with tache
--
dubious
/ˈdjuːbɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: dubious
1.
hesitating or doubting.
"I was rather dubious about the whole idea"
Similar:
doubtful
uncertain
unsure
in doubt
hesitant
undecided
unsettled
unconfirmed
undetermined
indefinite
unresolved
up in the air
wavering
vacillating
irresolute
in a quandary
in a dilemma
on the horns of a dilemma
sceptical
suspicious
iffy
Opposite:
certain
definite
2.
not to be relied upon; suspect.
"extremely dubious assumptions"
Similar:
suspicious
suspect
under suspicion
untrustworthy
unreliable
undependable
questionable
shady
fishy
funny
not kosher
dodgy
equivocal
ambiguous
indeterminate
indefinite
unclear
vague
imprecise
hazy
puzzling
enigmatic
cryptic
open to question
debatable
Opposite:
trustworthy
decisive
clear
definite
morally suspect.
"timeshare has been brought into disrepute by dubious sales methods"
Similar:
suspicious
suspect
under suspicion
untrustworthy
unreliable
undependable
questionable
shady
fishy
funny
not kosher
dodgy
Opposite:
trustworthy
of questionable value.
"he holds the dubious distinction of being relegated with every club he has played for"
Similar:
equivocal
ambiguous
indeterminate
indefinite
unclear
vague
imprecise
hazy
puzzling
enigmatic
cryptic
open to question
debatable
questionable
Opposite:
decisive
clear
definite
Origin

mid 16th century (in dubious (sense 2)): from Latin dubiosus, from dubium ‘a doubt’, neuter of dubius ‘doubtful’.
--
scuttle2
/ˈskʌt(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: scuttling
run hurriedly or furtively with short quick steps.
"a mouse scuttled across the floor"
Similar:
scamper
scurry
scramble
bustle
skip
trot
hurry
hasten
make haste
rush
race
dash
run
sprint
scutter
scoot
beetle
Origin
late 15th century: compare with dialect scuddle, frequentative of scud1.
scuttle3
/ˈskʌt(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: scuttling
1.
sink (one's own ship) deliberately by holing it or opening its seacocks to let water in.
"the ship was scuttled by its German prize crew, who took to the boats"
2.
deliberately cause (a scheme) to fail.
"some of the stockholders are threatening to scuttle the deal"
Origin
--
mite1
/mʌɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: mite; plural noun: mites
a minute arachnid which has four pairs of legs when adult, related to the ticks. Many kinds live in the soil and a number are parasitic on plants or animals.

Origin

Old English mīte, of Germanic origin.
mite2
/mʌɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: mite; plural noun: mites
1.
a small child or animal, especially when regarded as an object of sympathy.
"the poor little mite looks half-starved"
2.
a very small amount.
"his teacher thought he needed a mite of discipline"
HISTORICAL
a small coin, in particular a small Flemish copper coin of very low face value.
adverbINFORMAL
adverb: mite
a little; slightly.
"I haven't eaten yet and I'm feeling a mite peckish"
Origin

late Middle English (denoting a small Flemish copper coin): from Middle Dutch mīte ; probably from the same Germanic word as mite1.
--

truism
/ˈtruːɪz(ə)m/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: truisms
a statement that is obviously true and says nothing new or interesting.
"the truism that you get what you pay for"
Similar:
platitude
commonplace
cliché
stock phrase
banality
old chestnut
bromide
maxim
axiom
saw
LOGIC
a proposition that states nothing beyond what is implied by any of its terms.

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

Middle English (as a verb): from Old French eskirmiss-, lengthened stem of eskirmir, from a Germanic verb meaning ‘defend’.

--
paraphernalia
/ˌparəfəˈneɪlɪə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: paraphernalia
miscellaneous articles, especially the equipment needed for a particular activity.
"drills, saws, and other paraphernalia necessary for home improvements"
Similar:
equipment
stuff
things
apparatus
tackle
kit
implements
tools
utensils
material(s)
appliances
rig
outfit
accoutrements
appurtenances
impedimenta
miscellaneous articles
odds and ends
bits and pieces
bits and bobs
trappings
accessories
gear
junk
rubbish
the necessary
traps
clobber
gubbins
odds and sods
dunnage
equipage
trappings associated with a particular institution or activity that are regarded as superfluous.
"the rituals and paraphernalia of government"
Origin
mid 17th century (denoting property owned by a married woman): from medieval Latin, based on Greek parapherna ‘property apart from a dowry’, from para ‘distinct from’ + pherna (from phernē ‘dower’).

aflutter
/əˈflʌtə/
adjective
adjective: aflutter
in a state of tremulous excitement.
"he has the physique that could send a thousand female hearts aflutter"
---

tremulous
/ˈtrɛmjʊləs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: tremulous
shaking or quivering slightly.
"Barbara's voice was tremulous"
Similar:
shaky
trembling
shaking
unsteady
quavering
wavering
quivering
quivery
quaking
nervous
weak
trembly
all of a tremble
Opposite:
steady
timid; nervous.
"he gave a tremulous smile"
Similar:
timid
diffident
shy
hesitant
uncertain
timorous
unconfident
fearful
frightened
scared
nervous
anxious
apprehensive
Opposite:
confident
Origin

--
oxymoron
/ˌɒksɪˈmɔːrɒn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: oxymoron; plural noun: oxymorons
a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (e.g. faith unfaithful kept him falsely true ).
Origin

mid 17th century: from Greek oxumōron, neuter (used as a noun) of oxumōros ‘pointedly foolish’, from oxus ‘sharp’ + mōros ‘foolish’.

--
nodal
/ˈnəʊd(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: nodal
1.
TECHNICAL
denoting a point in a network or diagram at which lines or pathways intersect or branch.
"pencil lines overlap at some nodal points"
2.
BOTANY
relating to the part of a plant stem from which one or more leaves emerge, often forming a slight swelling.
"the nodal roots develop about an inch above the seed"
3.
ANATOMY
relating to or characterized by a lymph node or other structure consisting of a small mass of differentiated tissue.
"nodal lymphoma"
--
innocuous
/ɪˈnɒkjʊəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: innocuous
not harmful or offensive.
"it was an innocuous question"
Similar:
harmless
safe
non-dangerous
non-poisonous
non-toxic
non-irritant
non-injurious
innocent
edible
eatable
wholesome
innoxious
inoffensive
unobjectionable
unexceptionable
unoffending
mild
peaceful
gentle
tame
insipid
anodyne
bland
unremarkable
commonplace
run-of-the-mill
Opposite:
harmful
obnoxious
Origin
--

People's Liberation Army
Armed force
DescriptionThe Chinese People's Liberation Army is the armed forces of the People's Republic of China and of its founding and ruling political party, the Communist Party of China. The PLA consists of five professional service branches: the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, and the Strategic Support Force.

---
wield
/wiːld/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: wielding
hold and use (a weapon or tool).
"a masked raider wielding a handgun"
Similar:
brandish
flourish
wave
twirl
display
flaunt
hold aloft
show off
swing
shake
use
put to use
employ
handle
ply
manipulate
operate
have and be able to use (power or influence).
"faction leaders wielded enormous influence within the party"
Similar:
exercise
exert
be possessed of
have
have at one's disposal
hold
maintain
command
control
manage

--
extort
/ɪkˈstɔːt,ɛkˈstɔːt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: extort; 3rd person present: extorts; past tense: extorted; past participle: extorted; gerund or present participle: extorting
obtain (something) by force, threats, or other unfair means.
"he attempted to extort money from the company"
Similar:
force
obtain by force
obtain by threat(s)
blackmail someone for
extract
exact
coerce
wring
wrest
screw
squeeze
milk
worm something out of someone
put the bite on someone for
rack
Origin

--
bravura
/brəˈv(j)ʊərə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: bravura
great technical skill and brilliance shown in a performance or activity.
"the recital ended with a blazing display of bravura"
Similar:
virtuoso
magnificent
outstanding
exceptional
exceptionally good
excellent
superb
brilliant
dazzling
first-class
masterly
expert
out of this world
mean
ace
stellar
crack
A1
vulgar slangshit-hot
the display of great daring.
"the show of bravura hid a guilty timidity"
Origin

mid 18th century: from Italian, from bravo ‘bold’.
--
armoury
/ˈɑːməri/
noun
noun: armoury; plural noun: armouries; noun: armory; plural noun: armories
1.
a place where weapons are kept.
Similar:
arsenal
arms depot
arms cache
ordnance depot
magazine
ammunition dump
a supply of weapons.
"Britain's nuclear armoury expanded"
US
a place where weapons are manufactured.
2.
an array of resources available for a particular purpose.
"his armoury of comic routines"
3.
NORTH AMERICAN
a place where militia units drill and train.
Origin

plenitude
/ˈplɛnɪtjuːd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: plenitude; plural noun: plenitudes
an abundance.
"an ancient Celtic god thought to bring a plenitude of wealth or food"
Similar:
abundance
lot
large number
wealth
profusion
quantity
cornucopia
plethora
superabundance
load
heap
mass
stack
ton
shedload
slew
swag
the condition of being full or complete.
"the plenitude of the Pope's powers"
Origin

exchequer
/ɪksˈtʃɛkə,ɛksˈtʃɛkə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: exchequer; plural noun: exchequers
a royal or national treasury.
"an important source of revenue to the sultan's exchequer"
BRITISH
the account at the Bank of England in which is held the Consolidated Fund, into which tax receipts and other public monies are paid.
noun: Exchequer
"each of the protesters will be liable to a fixed fine, which could raise £200m for the Exchequer"
HISTORICAL•BRITISH
the former government office responsible for collecting revenue and making payments on behalf of the sovereign, auditing official accounts, and trying legal cases relating to revenue.
noun: Exchequer
Origin

--
steamroller
/ˈstiːmrəʊlə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a heavy, slow-moving vehicle with a roller, used to flatten the surfaces of roads during construction.
"after each truckload of earth fell, a steamroller flattened it"
verb
(of a government or other authority) forcibly pass (a measure) by restricting debate or otherwise overriding opposition.
"the government's trying to steamroller a law through"

--
trice
/trʌɪs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: trice
in a moment; very quickly.
"in a trice, she had flown up the stairs"
Similar:
in a moment
in a minute
in a second
shortly
any minute
any minute now
in a short time
(very) soon
in an instant
in the twinkling of an eye
in a flash
in (less than) no time
in no time at all
before you know it
before long
very quickly
swiftly
without delay
at once
straight away
right away
directly
momentarily
in a jiffy
in a nanosecond
in two shakes
in two shakes of a lamb's tail
in the blink of an eye
in a blink
in the wink of an eye
in a wink
before you can say knife
in a tick
in two ticks
in a mo
in a snap
Origin

aplomb
/əˈplɒm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: aplomb
self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation.
"Diana passed the test with aplomb"
Similar:
poise
self-assurance
assurance
self-possession
self-confidence
calmness
composure
collectedness
presence of mind
level-headedness
sangfroid
equilibrium
equanimity
nerve
nonchalance
savoir faire
savoir vivre
cool
unflappability
Opposite:
gaucheness

Origin

late 18th century (in the sense ‘perpendicularity, steadiness’): from French, from à plomb ‘according to a plumb line’.

--
vociferous
/və(ʊ)ˈsɪf(ə)rəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: vociferous
expressing or characterized by vehement opinions; loud and forceful.
"he was a vociferous opponent of the takeover"
Similar:
vehement
outspoken
vocal
forthright
plain-spoken
frank
candid
open
uninhibited
direct
earnest
eager
enthusiastic
full-throated
vigorous
insistent
emphatic
demanding
clamorous
strident
loud
loud-mouthed
raucous
noisy
rowdy
Opposite:
silent
quiet

gambit
/ˈɡambɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: gambit; plural noun: gambits
1.
an act or remark that is calculated to gain an advantage, especially at the outset of a situation.
"his resignation was a tactical gambit"
Similar:
stratagem
machination
scheme
plan
tactic
manoeuvre
move
course of action
line of action
device
operation
ruse
trick
ploy
artifice
wheeze
wangle
2.
(in chess) an opening move in which a player makes a sacrifice, typically of a pawn, for the sake of a compensating advantage.
"he tried the dubious Budapest gambit"
Origin

mid 17th century: originally gambett, from Italian gambetto, literally ‘tripping up’, from gamba ‘leg’.

inducement
/ɪnˈdjuːsm(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: inducements
a thing that persuades or leads someone to do something.
"companies were prepared to build only in return for massive inducements"
Similar:
incentive
attraction
encouragement
temptation
incitement
stimulation
stimulus
bait
lure
pull
draw
spur
goad
impetus
motive
motivation
provocation
bribe
reward
carrot
come-on
sweetener
perk
douceur
Opposite:
deterrent
a bribe.
"it is claimed that she was offered an inducement to plead guilty"
--
aegis
/ˈiːdʒɪs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: aegis; plural noun: aegises
1.
the protection, backing, or support of a particular person or organization.
"the negotiations were conducted under the aegis of the UN"
Similar:
patronage
sponsorship
backing
protection
shelter
umbrella
charge
keeping
care
supervision
guidance
guardianship
trusteeship
support
agency
safeguarding
defence
protectorship
championship
aid
assistance
guaranty
auspices
ward
2.
(in classical art and mythology) an attribute of Zeus and Athene (or their Roman counterparts Jupiter and Minerva) usually represented as a goatskin shield.
Origin

trellis
/ˈtrɛlɪs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: trellis; plural noun: trellises
a framework of light wooden or metal bars used as a support for fruit trees or creepers, typically fastened against a wall.
Similar:
lattice
framework
open framework
espalier
network
mesh
tracery
grille
grid
grating
latticework
trelliswork
reticulation

verb
verb: trellis; 3rd person present: trellises; past tense: trellised; past participle: trellised; gerund or present participle: trellising
provide with or enclose in a trellis.
"a trellised archway"
support (a climbing plant) with a trellis.
Origin

late Middle English (denoting any latticed screen): from Old French trelis, from Latin trilix ‘three-ply’, from tri- ‘three’ + licium ‘warp thread’. Current senses date from the early 16th century.

--
riposte
/rɪˈpɒst/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
a quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism.
Similar:
retort
counter
rejoinder
sally
return
retaliation
answer
reply
response
comeback
clapback
2.
a quick return thrust in fencing.

verb
1.
make a quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism.
"‘You've got a strange sense of honour,’ Grant riposted"
Similar:
retort
counter
rejoin
return
retaliate
hurl back
fling back
snap back
answer
reply
respond
say in response
round on someone
come back
2.
make a quick return thrust in fencing.

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
late 15th century (as the past participle repryed ): from Anglo-Norman French repris, past participle of reprendre, from Latin re- ‘back’ + prehendere ‘seize’. The insertion of -v- (16th century) remains unexplained. Sense development has undergone a reversal, from the early meaning ‘send back to prison’, via ‘postpone a legal process’, to the current sense ‘rescue from impending punishment’.

--
puny
/ˈpjuːni/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: puny; comparative adjective: punier; superlative adjective: puniest
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"
Origin

mid 16th century (as a noun denoting a younger or more junior person): phonetic spelling of puisne.

piddling
/ˈpɪd(ə)lɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveINFORMAL
adjective: piddling; adjective: piddly
pathetically trivial; trifling.
"piddling little questions"
Similar:
trivial
trifling
petty
footling
slight
small
insignificant
unimportant
inconsequential
inconsiderable
of little account
peripheral
subsidiary
negligible
worthless
useless
meagre
inadequate
insufficient
paltry
scant
scanty
derisory
pitiful
pitiable
miserable
sorry
wretched
puny
niggardly
beggarly
mean
ungenerous
inappreciable
mere
measly
pathetic
piffling
mingy
poxy
nickel-and-dime
dinky
exiguous
Opposite:
significant
piddle
/ˈpɪd(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
verb
gerund or present participle: piddling
urinate.
Origin

mid 16th century: probably from a blend of piss and puddle.

reimposition
/riːɪmpəˈzɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: reimposition; noun: re-imposition
the action of imposing something, especially a law or regulation, again after a lapse.
"any reimposition of sanctions will doom talks"

sucker
/ˈsʌkə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: suckered; past participle: suckered
1.
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
fool or trick (someone).
"they got suckered into accepting responsibility"
2.
BOTANY
(of a plant) produce suckers.
"it spread rapidly after being left undisturbed to sucker"

--
sinker
/ˈsɪŋkə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: sinker; plural noun: sinkers; noun: sinker ball; plural noun: sinker balls
1.
a weight used to sink a fishing line or sounding line.
2.
BASEBALL
a pitch which drops markedly as it nears home plate.
"he throws a sinker as hard as 92 mph"
3.
a type of windsurfing board of insufficient buoyancy to support its crew unless moving fast.
4.
US
a doughnut.

atrophy
/ˈatrəfi/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: atrophy; 3rd person present: atrophies; past tense: atrophied; past participle: atrophied; gerund or present participle: atrophying
1.
(of body tissue or an organ) waste away, especially as a result of the degeneration of cells, or become vestigial during evolution.
"the calf muscles will atrophy"
Similar:
waste away
waste
become emaciated
wither
shrivel
shrivel up
shrink
become shrunken
dry up
decay
wilt
decline
deteriorate
degenerate
grow weak
weaken
become debilitated
become enfeebled
Opposite:
strengthen
2.
gradually decline in effectiveness or vigour due to underuse or neglect.
"the imagination can atrophy from lack of use"
Similar:
peter out
taper off
tail off
dwindle
deteriorate
decline
wane
fade
fade away
fade out
give in
give up
give way
crumble
disintegrate
collapse
slump
go downhill
draw to a close
subside
be neglected
be abandoned
be disregarded
be forgotten
Opposite:
flourish
noun
noun: atrophy
the process of atrophying or state of having atrophied.
"gastric atrophy"
Similar:
wasting
wasting away
emaciation
withering
shrivelling
shrivelling up
shrinking
drying up
wilting
decaying
decay
declining
deteriorating
deterioration
degenerating
degeneration
weakening
debilitation
enfeeblement
Opposite:
strengthening
Origin
late 16th century: from French atrophier (verb), atrophie (noun), from late Latin atrophia, from Greek, ‘lack of food’, from atrophos ‘poorly nourished’, from a- ‘without’ + trophē ‘food’.

debility
/dɪˈbɪlɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: debility; plural noun: debilities
physical weakness, especially as a result of illness.
"most of the cases presented with general debility, muscle weakness, and weight loss"
Similar:
frailty
weakness
feebleness
enfeeblement
enervation
devitalization
lack of energy
lack of vitality
lassitude
exhaustion
weariness
tiredness
overtiredness
fatigue
prostration
incapacity
impairment
indisposition
infirmity
illness
sickness
sickliness
decrepitude
malaise
weediness
asthenia
Origin

enfeeble
/ɪnˈfiːb(ə)l,ɛnˈfiːb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: enfeebled; past participle: enfeebled
make weak or feeble.
"trade unions are in an enfeebled state"
Similar:
weaken
make weak
make feeble
debilitate
incapacitate
indispose
prostrate
immobilize
lay low
disable
handicap
cripple
paralyse
drain
sap
exhaust
tire
fatigue
devitalize
knock out
do in
shatter
knacker
torpefy
Opposite:
strengthen
Origin

buttress
/ˈbʌtrɪs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: buttress; plural noun: buttresses
1.
a structure of stone or brick built against a wall to strengthen or support it.
"the cathedral's massive buttresses"
Similar:
prop
support
abutment
shore
pier
reinforcement
stanchion
stay
strut

a projecting portion of a hill or mountain.
2.
a source of defence or support.
"the political police were the main buttress of the regime"
verb
verb: buttress; 3rd person present: buttresses; past tense: buttressed; past participle: buttressed; gerund or present participle: buttressing
1.
provide (a building or structure) with buttresses.
"we buttressed the wall as it was showing signs of cracking and collapse"
2.
increase the strength of or justification for; reinforce.
"authority was buttressed by religious belief"
Similar:
strengthen
reinforce
fortify
support
prop up
bolster up
shore up
underpin
cement
brace
uphold
confirm
defend
maintain
back up
buoy up
Originally

wilt1
/wɪlt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: wilt; 3rd person present: wilts; past tense: wilted; past participle: wilted; gerund or present participle: wilting
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.
noun
noun: wilt
any of a number of fungal or bacterial diseases of plants characterized by wilting of the foliage.
"these varieties are more resistant to aphids and wilt"
Origin

late 17th century (originally dialect): perhaps an alteration of dialect welk ‘lose freshness’, of Low German origin.
wilt2
/wɪlt/
Learn to pronounce
archaic second person singular of will1.

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

skitter
/ˈskɪtə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: skittering
1.
move lightly and quickly or hurriedly.
"the girls skittered up the stairs"
2.
draw (bait) jerkily across the surface of the water as a technique in fishing.
Origin

--
besotted
/bɪˈsɒtɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: besotted
1.
strongly infatuated.
"he became besotted with a local barmaid"
Similar:
infatuated with
smitten with
in love with
love-struck by
head over heels in love with
hopelessly in love with
obsessed with
passionate about
consumed with desire for
devoted to
doting on
greatly enamoured of
very attracted to
very taken with
charmed by
captivated by
enchanted by
enthralled by
bewitched by
beguiled by
under someone's spell
hypnotized by
bowled over by
swept off one's feet by
struck on
crazy about
mad about
wild about
potty about
nuts about
very keen on
gone on
really into
hung up on
carrying a torch for
twitterpated by
ensorcelled by
Opposite:
indifferent
2.
ARCHAIC
intoxicated; drunk.
Origin

--
wherewithal
/ˈwɛːwɪðɔːl/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: wherewithal; plural noun: wherewithals
the money or other means needed for a particular purpose.
"they lacked the wherewithal to pay"
Similar:
money
ready money
cash
capital
finance(s)
resources
funds
reserves
means
ability
capability
dough
bread
loot
the ready
readies
shekels
moolah
the necessary
wad
boodle
dibs
gelt
ducats
rhino
gravy
scratch
stuff
oof
dosh
brass
lolly
spondulicks
wonga
ackers
dinero
greenbacks
simoleons
bucks
jack
mazuma
Oscar
splosh
green
tin
l.s.d.
kale
rocks
shinplasters
pelf
Translate wherewithal to

--
extant
/ɪkˈstant,ɛkˈstant,ˈɛkst(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: extant
still in existence; surviving.
"an extant letter"
Similar:
still existing
in existence
surviving
remaining
abiding
enduring
undestroyed
present
existent
living
alive
Opposite:
no longer existing
non-existent
dead
Origin

familial
/fəˈmɪljəl/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: familial
relating to or occurring in a family or its members.
"the familial Christmas dinner"
Origin
--

flail
/fleɪl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: flailing
1.
wave or swing wildly.
"his arms flailed as he sought to maintain his balance"
Similar:
wave
swing
thrash about
flap about
beat about
windmill
move erratically
flounder; struggle uselessly.
"I was flailing about in the water"
Similar:
flounder
struggle
thrash
thresh
squirm
wriggle
writhe
twist
splash
stumble
blunder
fumble
wiggle
twitch
2.
beat or flog (someone).
"he escorted them, flailing their shoulders with his cane"
Similar:
thrash
beat
strike
batter
drub
flog
whip
lash
scourge
flay
flagellate
strap
switch
tan
cane
tan/whip someone's hide
give someone a hiding
clout
welt
belabour
wallop
whack
lam
give someone a (good) hiding
larrup
BRITISH
cut (vegetation) with a flail.
"the modern practice of flailing hedges every year with mechanical cutters"
Origin

blithely
/ˈblʌɪðli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: blithely
in a way that shows a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper.
"her arrest order was blithely ignored by the police chief"
LITERARY
in a happy or carefree manner.
"the prince was wandering blithely out into the courtyard"

doldrums
/ˈdɒldrəmz/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: doldrums; noun: doldrum
1.
a state or period of stagnation or depression.
"the mortgage market has been in the doldrums for three years"
Similar:
depression
melancholy
gloom
gloominess
glumness
downheartedness
dejection
despondency
dispiritedness
heavy-heartedness
heartache
unhappiness
sadness
misery
woe
dismalness
despair
pessimism
hopelessness
inertia
apathy
listlessness
malaise
boredom
tedium
ennui
low spirits
blues
blahs
inactive
quiet
slow
slack
sluggish
subdued
stagnant
static
inert
flat
dull
Opposite:
happiness
busy
lively
2.
an equatorial region of the Atlantic Ocean with calms, sudden storms, and light unpredictable winds.
"Hurricane Verity had been born in the doldrums"
Origin

profligate
/ˈprɒflɪɡət/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: profligate
1.
recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources.
"profligate consumers of energy"
Similar:
wasteful
extravagant
spendthrift
improvident
prodigal
immoderate
excessive
thriftless
imprudent
reckless
irresponsible
Opposite:
thrifty
frugal
2.
licentious; dissolute.
"he succumbed to drink and a profligate lifestyle"
Similar:
dissolute
degenerate
dissipated
debauched
corrupt
depraved
reprobate
unprincipled
immoral
promiscuous
loose
wanton
licentious
lascivious
lecherous
libertine
lewd
decadent
rakish
shameless
abandoned
unrestrained
fast
fast-living
sybaritic
voluptuary
Opposite:
moral
upright
noun
noun: profligate; plural noun: profligates
a licentious, dissolute person.
"he is a drunkard and a profligate"
Similar:
libertine
debauchee
degenerate
reprobate
roué
lecher
rake
loose-liver
dissolute person
sybarite
voluptuary
sensualist
lech
rip
Origin

--
hegemonic
/ˌhɛdʒɪˈmɒnɪk,ˌhɛɡɪˈmɒnɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: hegemonic
ruling or dominant in a political or social context.
"the bourgeoisie constituted the hegemonic class"
Origin

proto-
/ˈprəʊtəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
combining form
prefix: proto-; prefix: prot-
original or primitive.
"prototherian"
first or earliest.
"protomartyr"
Origin

---

sinic definition: Adjective (not comparable) 1. Chinese. 2. influenced by Chinese culture. Origin From Medieval Latin Sinicus, from Sina (“China”),

---
realpolitik
/reɪˈɑːlpɒlɪˌtiːk/
noun
a system of politics or principles based on practical rather than moral or ideological considerations.
"commercial realpolitik had won the day"

---

belying
/bɪˈlʌɪɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
present participle of belie.
belie
/bɪˈlʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: belying
1.
(of an appearance) fail to give a true impression of (something).
"his lively, alert manner belied his years"
Similar:
contradict
be at odds with
call into question
give the lie to
show/prove to be false
disprove
debunk
discredit
explode
knock the bottom out of
shoot full of holes
shoot down (in flames)
controvert
confute
negative
conceal
cover
disguise
misrepresent
falsify
distort
warp
put a spin on
colour
give a false idea of
give a false account of
Opposite:
testify to
reveal
2.
fail to fulfil or justify (a claim or expectation).
"the quality of the music seems to belie the criticism"
Origin

Old English belēogan ‘deceive by lying’, from be- ‘about’ + lēogan ‘to lie’. Current senses date from the 17th century.

India’s foreign policy in the new century, strangely enough, is not dictated by its geography, belying Napoleon’s view that ‘If you know a country’s geography, you can understand and predict its foreign policy’.

embellish
/ɪmˈbɛlɪʃ,ɛmˈbɛlɪʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: embellished; past participle: embellished
make (something) more attractive by the addition of decorative details or features.
"blue silk embellished with golden embroidery"
Similar:
decorate
adorn
ornament
dress
dress up
furnish
beautify
enhance
enrich
grace
trim
garnish
gild
varnish
brighten up
ginger up
deck
bedeck
festoon
emblazon
bespangle
do up
do out
jazz up
zhoosh (up)
tart up
bejewel
bedizen
caparison
furbelow
befrill
make (a statement or story) more interesting by adding extra details that are often untrue.
"followers often embellish stories about their heroes"
Similar:
elaborate
embroider
colour
expand on
exaggerate
dress up
touch up
gild
catastrophize
Opposite:
simplify
Origin
late Middle English: from Old French embelliss-, lengthened stem of embellir, based on bel ‘handsome’, from Latin bellus .

populism
/ˈpɒpjʊlɪz(ə)m/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: populism
a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups.
"the question is whether he will tone down his fiery populism now that he has joined the political establishment"
support for populist politicians or policies.
"the government came to power on a wave of populism"
the quality of appealing to or being aimed at ordinary people.
"art museums did not gain bigger audiences through a new populism"

---

right wing
noun
noun: right wing; plural noun: right wings; noun: rightwing; plural noun: rightwings
1.
the conservative or reactionary section of a political party or system.
"a candidate from the right wing of the party"
2.
the right side of a team on the field in soccer, rugby, and field hockey.
"he reverted to his normal position on the right wing"
the right side of an army.
"at Austerlitz in 1805 he commanded the right wing of the Allied army"
adjective
adjective: right-wing; adjective: right wing; adjective: rightwing
conservative or reactionary.
"a right-wing Republican senator"
Similar:
conservative
rightist
ultra-conservative
ultra-right
alt-right

---
clamber
/ˈklambə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: clambering
climb or move in an awkward and laborious way, typically using both hands and feet.
"I clambered out of the trench"
Similar:
scramble
climb
scrabble
move awkwardly
claw one's way
shin
scale
ascend
mount
shinny
Origin
---

medley
/ˈmɛdli/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: medley; plural noun: medleys
a varied mixture of people or things.
"an interesting medley of flavours"
Similar:
assortment
miscellany
mixture
melange
blend
variety
mixed bag
mix
diversity
collection
selection
assemblage
combination
motley collection
pot-pourri
conglomeration
jumble
mess
confusion
mishmash
hotchpotch
hodgepodge
ragbag
pastiche
patchwork
farrago
hash
scissors-and-paste job
mash-up
gallimaufry
omnium gatherum
olio
salmagundi
macédoine
a collection of songs or other musical items performed as a continuous piece.
"a medley of Beatles songs"
a swimming race in which contestants swim sections in different strokes, either individually or in relay teams.
"the 400 m individual medley"
adjectiveARCHAIC
adjective: medley
mixed; motley.
"a medley range of vague and variable impressions"
verbARCHAIC
verb: medley; 3rd person present: medleys; past tense: medleyed; past participle: medleyed; past tense: medlied; past participle: medlied; gerund or present participle: medleying
make a medley of; intermix.
"the medlied establishments of the native chiefs"
Origin

Middle English (denoting hand-to-hand combat, also cloth made of variegated wool): from Old French medlee, variant of meslee ‘melee’, based on medieval Latin misculare ‘to mix’; compare with meddle.
Translate medley to
Use over time for: medley

---
crutch
/krʌtʃ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: crutch; plural noun: crutches
1.
a long stick with a crosspiece at the top, used as a support under the armpit by a lame person.

a thing used for support or reassurance.
"they use the Internet as a crutch for their loneliness"
2.
the crotch of the body or a garment.
"the water was up to my crutch"
Origin
---

bellicose
/ˈbɛlɪkəʊs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: bellicose
demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.
"a mood of bellicose jingoism"
Similar:
belligerent
aggressive
hostile
threatening
antagonistic
pugnacious
truculent
confrontational
argumentative
quarrelsome
disputatious
contentious
militant
combative
quick-tempered
hot-tempered
ill-tempered
bad-tempered
irascible
captious
spoiling for a fight
stroppy
bolshie
scrappy
oppugnant
Opposite:
peaceable
Origin

---

qua
/kweɪ,kwɑː/
conjunctionFORMAL
conjunction: qua
in the capacity of; as being.
"shareholders qua members may be under obligations to the company"
Origin

Latin, ablative feminine singular of qui ‘who’.

venturesome
/ˈvɛntʃəs(ə)m/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: venturesome
willing to take risks or embark on difficult or unusual courses of action.
"he took a venturesome approach to the standard operas"

--
beholden
/bɪˈhəʊld(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: beholden
owing thanks or having a duty to someone in return for help or a service.
"I don't like to be beholden to anybody"
Similar:
indebted
obligated
under an obligation
obliged
bound
duty-bound
honour-bound
owing a debt of gratitude
grateful
thankful
appreciative
in someone's debt
owing someone thanks
Origin
--
slipstream
/ˈslɪpstriːm/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: slipstreaming
(especially in motor racing) follow closely behind another vehicle, travelling in its slipstream and awaiting an opportunity to overtake.
"he then slipstreamed and overtook me again"

--
canter
/ˈkantə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: cantering
(of a horse) move at a canter in a particular direction.
"they cantered down into the village"
make (a horse) move at a canter.
"Katharine cantered Benji in a smaller and smaller circle"
Originally
--
myopia
/mʌɪˈəʊpɪə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: myopia
the quality of being short-sighted.
"he wore spectacles to correct a mild degree of myopia"
lack of foresight or intellectual insight.
"the company's corporate myopia"
Origin

--
aggrieved
/əˈɡriːvd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: aggrieved
feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated.
"they were aggrieved at the outcome"
Similar:
resentful
affronted
indignant
disgruntled
discontented
angry
distressed
unhappy
disturbed
anguished
hurt
pained
upset
offended
piqued
in high dudgeon
riled
nettled
vexed
irked
irritated
annoyed
put out
chagrined
peeved
miffed
in a huff
cheesed off
sore
steamed
vulgar slang: pissed off
pissed
Opposite:
pleased
Origin
--
blinder
/ˈblʌɪndə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: blinders
1.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
an excellent performance in a game or race.
"Marinello played a blinder in his first game"
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
blinkers on a horse's bridle.
--
bridle
/ˈbrʌɪd(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: bridle; plural noun: bridles
the headgear used to control a horse, consisting of buckled straps to which a bit and reins are attached.
"grooms came at once to take the bridles"

a line, rope, or device that is used to restrain or control the action or movement of something.
NAUTICAL
a mooring cable.
verb
verb: bridle; 3rd person present: bridles; past tense: bridled; past participle: bridled; gerund or present participle: bridling
1.
put a bridle on (a horse).
"five horses, saddled and bridled, were tied by the reins to branches of trees"
bring (something) under control; curb.
"the fact that he was their servant bridled his tongue"
Similar:
curb
restrain
hold back
bite back
control
keep control of
keep in check
check
keep a tight rein on
rein in/back
govern
master
repress
suppress
subdue
stifle
keep a/the lid on
2.
show one's resentment or anger, especially by throwing up one's head and drawing in one's chin.
"she bridled at his tone"
Similar:
bristle
be/become indignant
take offence
take umbrage
be affronted
be offended
get angry
draw oneself up
feel one's hackles rise
Origin

Old English brīdel (noun), brīdlian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch breidel (noun). bridle (sense 2 of the verb) use is from the action of a horse when reined in.
Translate bridle to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
bridle is sometimes confused with bridal
--

vantage
/ˈvɑːntɪdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: vantage point
a place or position affording a good view of something.
"from my vantage point I could see into the front garden"
Similar:
point of view
viewpoint
standpoint
stance
stand
view
opinion

dastardly
/ˈdastədli,ˈdɑːstədli/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveDATED•HUMOROUS
wicked and cruel.
"pirates and their dastardly deeds"
Similar:
wicked
evil
iniquitous
heinous
villainous
diabolical

---
leery
/ˈlɪəri/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveINFORMAL
adjective: leery; comparative adjective: leerier; superlative adjective: leeriest
cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions.
"a city leery of gang violence"
Similar:
wary
cautious
careful
guarded
chary
suspicious
distrustful
mistrusting
dubious
sceptical
worried
anxious
apprehensive
Opposite:
heedless
trustful
Origin

late 17th century: from obsolete leer ‘looking askance’, from leer1 + -y1.
--
tantamount
/ˈtantəmaʊnt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: tantamount
equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as.
"the resignations were tantamount to an admission of guilt"
Similar:
equivalent to
equal to
amounting to
as good as
more or less
synonymous with
virtually the same as
much the same as
comparable to
on a par with
commensurate with
along the lines of
as serious as
identical to
Origin

mid 17th century: from the earlier verb tantamount ‘amount to as much’, from Italian tanto montare .
--
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
--
A coup d'état (/ˌkuː deɪˈtɑː/ ( listen); French: [ku deta]), also known by its German name putsch (/pʊtʃ/), or simply as a coup, is the overthrow of an existing government by non-democratic means; typically, it is an illegal, unconstitutional seizure of power by a dictator, the military, or a political faction.
--

An archipelagic state is any internationally recognized state or country that comprises a series of islands that form an archipelago. The term is defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in order to define what borders such states should be allowed to claim.

--
atoll
/ˈatɒl,əˈtɒl/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: atolls
a ring-shaped reef, island, or chain of islands formed of coral.
--

modus operandi
/ˌməʊdəs ɒpəˈrandiː,ˌməʊdəs ɒpəˈrandʌɪ/
noun
noun: modus operandi; plural noun: modi operandi
a particular way or method of doing something.
"every killer has his own special modus operandi"
Similar:
method of working
method
way
MO
manner
technique
style
procedure
approach
course of action
plan of action
methodology
mode
fashion
process
means
strategy
plan
formula
recipe
practice
praxis
the way in which something operates or works.
"THC has a quite precise modus operandi that taps into a specific brain function"
Origin

Latin, literally ‘way of operating’.

To Make No Bones About Something. Meaning: To say clearly what you think or feel about something, however unpleasant or awkward it. To make no bones about something means to say something in a way that leaves no doubt, or to have no objection to it.

flotilla
/fləˈtɪlə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a small fleet of ships or boats.
"a flotilla of cargo boats"

--
frigate
/ˈfrɪɡət/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: frigate; plural noun: frigates
a warship with a mixed armament, generally lighter than a destroyer (in the US navy, heavier) and of a kind originally introduced for convoy escort work.

HISTORICAL
a sailing warship of a size and armament just below that of a ship of the line.
Origin

pusillanimity
/ˌpjuːsɪləˈnɪmɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: pusillanimity
lack of courage or determination; timidity.
"the pusillanimity of his answer surprised me"
Origin

late Middle English: via Old French from ecclesiastical Latin pusillanimitas, from pusillanimis (translating Greek oligopsukhos ), from pusillus ‘very small’ + animus ‘mind’, + -ity.

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"
--

insouciance
/ɪnˈsuːsɪəns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: insouciance
casual lack of concern; indifference.
"an impression of boyish insouciance"
Similar:
nonchalance
unconcern
lack of concern
indifference
heedlessness
relaxedness
calm
calmness
equanimity
coolness
composure
casualness
ease
easy-going attitude
airiness
carefreeness
frivolousness
carelessness
cool
Opposite:
anxiety
concern
Origin
--
sufferance
/ˈsʌf(ə)r(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: sufferance
1.
absence of objection rather than genuine approval; toleration.
"Charles was only here on sufferance"
LAW
the condition of the holder of an estate who continues to hold it after the title has ceased, without the express permission of the owner.
"an estate at sufferance"
ARCHAIC
patient endurance.
2.
ARCHAIC
the suffering or undergoing of something bad or unpleasant.
Origin

shopworn
/ˈʃɒpwɔːn/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveNORTH AMERICAN
adjective: shopworn; adjective: shop-worn
(of an article) made dirty or imperfect by being displayed or handled in a shop; shop-soiled.
"he brought out some shopworn lettuce"

dispensation
/dɪspɛnˈseɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: dispensation; plural noun: dispensations
1.
exemption from a rule or usual requirement.
"although she was too young, she was given special dispensation to play before her birthday"
Similar:
exemption
immunity
exception
exclusion
exoneration
freedom
release
relief
reprieve
remission
relaxation
absolution
impunity
a let-off
permission to be exempted from the laws or observances of the Church.
"he received papal dispensation to hold a number of benefices"
2.
a political, religious, or social system prevailing at a particular time.
"scholarship is conveyed to a wider audience than under the old dispensation"
Similar:
system
order
scheme
plan
arrangement
organization
(in Christian theology) a divinely ordained system prevailing at a particular period of history.
"the Mosaic dispensation"
ARCHAIC
an act of divine providence.
"the laws to which the creator in all his dispensations conforms"
3.
the action of distributing or supplying something.
"regulations controlling dispensation of medications"
Similar:
distribution
provision
providing
supply
supplying
issue
issuing
passing round
passing out
giving out
handing out
dealing out
doling out
sharing out
dividing out
parcelling out
division
allocation
allotment
apportionment
assignment
bestowal
conferment
disbursement
dishing out
Origin

fulsome
/ˈfʊls(ə)m/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: fulsome
1.
complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree.
"the press are embarrassingly fulsome in their appreciation"
Similar:
enthusiastic
ample
profuse
extensive
generous
liberal
lavish
glowing
gushing
gushy
excessive
extravagant
overdone
immoderate
inordinate
over-appreciative
fawning
ingratiating
adulatory
laudatory
acclamatory
eulogistic
rapturous
flattering
complimentary
effusive
cloying
unctuous
saccharine
sugary
honeyed
over the top
OTT
buttery
encomiastic
2.
of large size or quantity; generous or abundant.
"the fulsome details of the later legend"

undergird
/ʌndəˈɡəːd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: undergirding
secure or fasten from the underside, especially by a rope or chain passed underneath.
FORMAL
provide support or a firm basis for.
"that's a philosophy that needs to undergird retailers' business plans this year"

parlay
/ˈpɑːleɪ/
Learn to pronounce
NORTH AMERICAN
verb
gerund or present participle: parlaying
turn an initial stake or winnings from a previous bet into (a greater amount) by gambling.
"parlaying a small bankroll into big winnings"
INFORMAL
transform into (something greater or more valuable).
"a banker who parlayed a sizeable inheritance into a financial empire"
Origin

late 19th century: from French paroli, from Italian, from paro ‘like’, from Latin par ‘equal’.

enjoin
/ɪnˈdʒɔɪn,ɛnˈdʒɔɪn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: enjoining
instruct or urge (someone) to do something.
"the code enjoined members to trade fairly"
Similar:
urge
encourage
try to persuade
adjure
admonish
press
prompt
prod
goad
egg on
spur
push
pressure
put pressure on
use pressure on
pressurize
lean on
instruct
order
command
direct
give the order to
give the command to
tell
require
call on
demand
charge
warn
entreat
exhort
implore
appeal to
beg
beseech
plead with
nag
put the heat on
put the screws on
twist someone's arm
railroad into
bulldoze into
bid
prescribe (an action or attitude) to be performed or adopted.
"the charitable deeds enjoined on him by religion"
LAW
prohibit someone from performing (a particular action) by issuing an injunction.
"he was enjoined from using the patent"
Similar:
prohibit
ban
bar
prevent
inhibit
interdict
forbid to
restrain
Opposite:
compel
Origin

azimuth
/ˈazɪməθ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: azimuth; plural noun: azimuths
the direction of a celestial object from the observer, expressed as the angular distance from the north or south point of the horizon to the point at which a vertical circle passing through the object intersects the horizon.

gusto
/ˈɡʌstəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: gusto
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
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

rapprochement
/raˈprɒʃmɒ̃/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: rapprochement; plural noun: rapprochements
(especially in international affairs) an establishment or resumption of harmonious relations.
"there were signs of a growing rapprochement between the two countries"
Similar:
reconciliation
increased understanding
detente
restoration of harmony
agreement
cooperation
harmonization
softening
Origin

coddle
/ˈkɒd(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: coddle; 3rd person present: coddles; past tense: coddled; past participle: coddled; gerund or present participle: coddling
1.
treat (someone) in an indulgent or overprotective way.
"I was coddled and cosseted"
Similar:
pamper
cosset
mollycoddle
wait on someone hand and foot
cater to someone's every whim
spoil
indulge
overindulge
humour
pander to
spoon-feed
feather-bed
wrap in cotton wool
overparent
pet
baby
mother
nanny
cocker
Opposite:
neglect
treat harshly
be strict with
2.
cook (an egg) in water below boiling point.
"you may have your eggs scrambled, poached, coddled, or boiled"
Origin

bedevil
/bɪˈdɛv(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: bedevilled; past participle: bedevilled
(of something bad) cause great and continual trouble to.
"projects like this are bedevilled by a shortage of cash"
(of a person) torment or harass.
"he bedevilled them with petty practical jokes"
Similar:
afflict
torment
beset
assail
beleaguer
plague
blight
harrow

unrequited
/ʌnrɪˈkwʌɪtɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: unrequited
(of a feeling, especially love) not returned.
"he's been pining with unrequited love"

acquiesce
/ˌakwɪˈɛs/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: acquiescing
accept something reluctantly but without protest.
"Sara acquiesced in his decision"
Similar:
permit
consent to
agree to
allow
assent to
give one's consent to
accept
concur with
give one's assent to
give one's blessing to
say yes to
give the nod to
give one's approval to
comply with
conform to
abide by
respect
stand by
cooperate with
tolerate
brook
give in to
bow to
yield to
submit to
go along with
give the go-ahead to
give the thumbs up to
OK
okay
give the green light to
say the word
suffer
Opposite:
forbid
Origin

clandestine
/klanˈdɛstɪn,ˈklandɛstɪn/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: clandestine
kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit.
"she deserved better than these clandestine meetings"
Similar:
secret
covert
furtive
surreptitious
stealthy
cloak-and-dagger
hole-and-corner
hole-in-the-corner
closet
behind-the-scenes
backstairs
back-alley
under-the-table
hugger-mugger
concealed
hidden
private
sly
sneaky
underhand
undercover
underground
black
hush-hush
Opposite:
open
above board
Origin

thumb one's nose. To place a thumb upon the tip of the nose, typically with the fingers spread and while simultaneously wiggling one's fingers, in a gesture of disrespect. My brother thumbed his nose in reply to my snide remarks. (figuratively) To act disrespectfully, especially by flouting the object of disrespect.

statecraft
/ˈsteɪtkrɑːft/
noun
the skilful management of state affairs; statesmanship.
"issues of statecraft require great deliberation"

linchpin
/ˈlɪn(t)ʃpɪn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: linchpin; plural noun: linchpins; noun: lynchpin; plural noun: lynchpins; noun: lynch-pin; plural noun: lynch-pins
1.
a person or thing vital to an enterprise or organization.
"nurses are the linchpin of the National Health Service"
2.
a pin passed through the end of an axle to keep a wheel in position.

allude
/əˈl(j)uːd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: alluded; past participle: alluded
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

cadence
/ˈkeɪd(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: cadences
1.
a modulation or inflection of the voice.
"the measured cadences that he employed in the Senate"
Similar:
rhythm
tempo
metre
measure
rise and fall
beat
pulse
rhythmical flow/pattern
swing
lilt
cadency
intonation
modulation
inflection
speech pattern
a rhythmical effect in written text.
"the dry cadences of the essay"
a fall in pitch of the voice at the end of a phrase or sentence.
rhythm.
"the thumping cadence of the engines"
2.
a sequence of notes or chords comprising the close of a musical phrase.
"the final cadences of the Prelude"
Origin

minder
/ˈmʌɪndə/
Learn to pronounce
nounBRITISH
plural noun: minders
a person whose job it is to look after someone or something.
"a baby-minder"
INFORMAL
a bodyguard employed to protect a celebrity or criminal.
"he was accompanied by his personal minder"

globocop
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Contents
1 English
1.1 Etymology
1.2 Noun
1.2.1 Synonyms
English
Etymology
Blend of global +‎ Robocop, a 1987 film about a cyborg police officer.

Noun
globocop (plural globocops)

A political system or government with a foreign policy that engages in interventionism, intrusiveness or imperialism
Synonyms
world policeman

---

juncture
/ˈdʒʌŋ(k)tʃə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: juncture; plural noun: junctures
1.
a particular point in events or time.
"it is difficult to say at this juncture whether this upturn can be sustained"
Similar:
point
point in time
time
moment
moment in time
stage
period
phase
2.
a place where things join.
"the plane crashed at the juncture of two mountains"
Similar:
joint
junction
intersection
join
link
bond
weld
seam
coupling
connection
union
brace
bracket
hinge
commissure
suture
synapse
confluence
convergence
meeting
meeting point
conflux
watersmeet
sangam
3.
PHONETICS
the set of features in speech that enable a hearer to detect a word or phrase boundary (e.g. distinguishing I scream from ice cream ).
Origin
---
antacid
/anˈtasɪd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: antacids
an antacid medicine.

---

stroke
/strəʊk/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: stroked; past participle: stroked
1.
move one's hand with gentle pressure over (a surface), typically repeatedly; caress.
"he put his hand on her hair and stroked it"
Similar:
caress
fondle
pat
pet
touch
brush
rub
massage
knead
soothe
manipulate
finger
handle
feel
maul
tickle
paw
apply (something) to a surface using a gentle movement.
"she strokes blue eyeshadow on her eyelids"
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
reassure or flatter (someone), especially in order to gain their cooperation.
"production executives were expert at stroking stars and brokering talent"
2.
act as the stroke of (a boat or crew).
"he stroked the coxed four to victory"
3.
hit or kick (a ball) smoothly and deliberately.
"Markwick stroked the ball home"
Origin

---
realpolitik
/reɪˈɑːlpɒlɪˌtiːk/
noun
noun: realpolitik
a system of politics or principles based on practical rather than moral or ideological considerations.
"commercial realpolitik had won the day"
Origin

early 20th century: from German Realpolitik ‘practical politics’.

---

insofar
/ɪnsə(ʊ)ˈfɑː/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: insofar; adverb: in so far
to the extent that.
"the tool is able to cater to almost any need insofar as graphs are concerned"
---

bereft
/bɪˈrɛft/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: bereft
1.
deprived of or lacking (something).
"her room was stark and bereft of colour"
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"
--
helter-skelter
/ˌhɛltəˈskɛltə/
adjective · adverb
adjective: helter-skelter; adverb: helter-skelter
in disorderly haste or confusion.
"the helter-skelter dash to unity"
Similar:
headlong
pell-mell
hotfoot
post-haste
hastily
in a hurry
hurriedly
as fast as possible
as quickly as possible
at full speed
at full pelt
at full tilt
hell for leather
recklessly
precipitately
impetuously
impulsively
carelessly
heedlessly
wildly
like a bat out of hell
at a lick
like the wind
like greased lightning
like a bomb
like mad
like crazy
like blazes
like the clappers
at a rate of knots
like billy-o
lickety-split
apace
hurry-scurry
Opposite:
at moderate speed
noun
noun: helter-skelter; plural noun: helter-skelters
1.
BRITISH
a fairground amusement consisting of a tall spiral slide winding around a tower.
2.
disorder; confusion.
"the helter-skelter of a school day"
Origin
--
fluff
/flʌf/

noun
noun: fluff; plural noun: fluffs
1.
soft fibres from fabrics such as wool or cotton which accumulate in small light clumps.
"he brushed his sleeve to remove the fluff"
Similar:
fuzz
lint
dust
dustballs
dust bunnies
ooze
any soft downy substance, especially the fur or feathers of a young mammal or bird.
Similar:
down
soft/fine hair
soft fur
soft feathers
downiness
fuzz
floss
nap
pile
2.
entertainment or writing perceived as trivial or superficial.
"the film is a piece of typical Hollywood fluff"
3.
INFORMAL
a mistake made in speaking or playing music, or by an actor in delivering their lines.
Similar:
mistake
error
gaffe
blunder
fault
slip
slip of the tongue
solecism
indiscretion
oversight
inaccuracy
botch
faux pas
lapsus linguae
lapsus calami
slip-up
clanger
boner
boo-boo
howler
fail
boob
goof
blooper
bloop
bloomer
floater
verb
verb: fluff; 3rd person present: fluffs; past tense: fluffed; past participle: fluffed; gerund or present participle: fluffing
1.
make (something) appear fuller and softer by shaking or brushing it.
"I fluffed up the pillows"
2.
INFORMAL
fail to perform or accomplish (something) successfully or well.
"the extra fluffed his only line"
Similar:
bungle
deliver badly
muddle up
make a mess of
forget
mess up
foul up
screw up
cock up
fumble
miss
make a hash of
hash
muff
foozle
butcher
make a botch of
bitch up
blow
louse up
make a muck of
make a pig's ear of
make a Horlicks of
flub
goof up
bobble
vulgar slangfuck up
bugger up
balls up
bollix up
Opposite:
get right
succeed in
make a good job of
Origin

--
hutch
/hʌtʃ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: hutch; plural noun: hutches
1.
a box or cage, typically with a wire mesh front, for keeping rabbits or other small domesticated animals.
"a rabbit hutch"

2.
NORTH AMERICAN
a storage chest.
a cupboard or dresser.
Origin

Middle English: from Old French huche, from medieval Latin hutica, of unknown origin. The original sense was ‘storage chest’, surviving in North American usage (hutch (sense 2)).
--
fortuitously
/fɔːˈtʃuːɪtəsli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: fortuitously
by chance rather than intention.
"he fortuitously ended up in Detroit when his car broke down"
by a lucky chance; fortunately.
"my arrival appears to be fortuitously timed"
--
recoup
/rɪˈkuːp/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: recoup; 3rd person present: recoups; past tense: recouped; past participle: recouped; gerund or present participle: recouping
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"
LAW
deduct or keep back (part of a sum due).
"federal law allows them to recoup part of the damages"
Origin

lumpen
/ˈlʌmpən/
adjective
adjective: lumpen
1.
(in Marxist contexts) uninterested in revolutionary advancement.
"the lumpen public is enveloped in a culture of dependency"
boorish and stupid.
"the growing ranks of lumpen, uninhibited, denim-clad youth"
2.
BRITISH
lumpy and misshapen; ugly and ponderous.
"her own body was lumpen and awkward"
noun
plural noun: lumpen
the lumpenproletariat.
Origin

1940s: back-formation from lumpenproletariat; the sense ‘misshapen, ponderous’ is by association with lumpish.

--
prescient
/ˈprɛsɪənt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: prescient
having or showing knowledge of events before they take place.
"a prescient warning"
Similar:
prophetic
predictive
visionary
psychic
clairvoyant
far-seeing
far-sighted
with foresight
prognostic
divinatory
oracular
sibylline
apocalyptic
fateful
revelatory
insightful
intuitive
perceptive
percipient
foreknowing
previsional
vatic
mantic
vaticinal
vaticinatory
prognosticative
augural
adumbrative
fatidic
fatidical
haruspical
pythonic
Origin

--
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

Old English fagnian ‘make or be glad’, of Germanic origin; related to fain.

--
discomfit
/dɪsˈkʌmfɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: discomfiting
make (someone) feel uneasy or embarrassed.
"he was not noticeably discomfited by her tone"
Similar:
embarrass
make uncomfortable
make uneasy
abash
disconcert
nonplus
discompose
discomfort
take aback
unsettle
unnerve
put someone off their stroke
ruffle
confuse
fluster
agitate
disorientate
upset
disturb
perturb
distress
chagrin
mortify
faze
rattle
discombobulate
Opposite:
reassure
Origin
--

askance
/əˈskans,əˈskɑːns/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: askance; adverb: askant
with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval.
"the reformers looked askance at the mystical tradition"
Similar:
suspiciously
with suspicion
sceptically
with misgivings
cynically
mistrustfully
distrustfully
with distrust
doubtfully
dubiously
with doubt
disapprovingly
with disapproval
with disfavour
contemptuously
scornfully
disdainfully
suspect
mistrust
distrust
disapprove of
frown on
be hostile towards
Opposite:
welcomingly
approvingly
Origin
late 15th century: of unknown origin.

wrench
/rɛn(t)ʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
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.
Origin

late Old English wrencan ‘twist’, of unknown origin.

bantamweight
/ˈbantəmweɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: bantamweight
a weight in boxing and other sports intermediate between flyweight and featherweight. In the amateur boxing scale it ranges from 51 to 54 kg.
a bantamweight boxer or other competitor.
plural noun: bantamweights

pugnacious
/pʌɡˈneɪʃəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: pugnacious
eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.
"his public statements became increasingly pugnacious"
Similar:
combative
aggressive
antagonistic
belligerent
bellicose
warlike
quarrelsome
argumentative
contentious
disputatious
defiant
hostile
threatening
truculent
irascible
fiery
hot-tempered
ill-tempered
bad-tempered
rough
Opposite:
peaceable
friendly
Origin

zilch
/zɪltʃ/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
pronoun
pronoun: zilch
nothing.
"they knew absolutely zilch about rock 'n' roll"
determiner
determiner: zilch
not any; no.
"the character has zilch class"
Origin

1960s: origin uncertain; perhaps from a Mr Zilch, a character in the 1930s US humorous magazine Ballyhoo .

--
retribution
/rɛtrɪˈbjuːʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: retribution
punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act.
"employees asked not to be named, saying they feared retribution"
Similar:
punishment
penalty
nemesis
fate
doom
one's just deserts
due reward
just reward
wages
justice
retributive justice
poetic justice
judgement
reckoning
revenge
reprisal
requital
retaliation
payback
vengeance
tit for tat
measure for measure
redress
reparation
restitution
recompense
repayment
damages
satisfaction
remedy
comeback
atonement
amends
one's comeuppance
measure
Origin
late Middle English (also in the sense ‘recompense for merit or a service’): from late Latin retributio(n- ), from retribut- ‘assigned again’, from the verb retribuere, from re- ‘back’ + tribuere ‘assign’.

--
ramification
/ˌramɪfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: ramifications
a complex or unwelcome consequence of an action or event.
"any change is bound to have legal ramifications"
Similar:
consequence
result
aftermath
outcome
effect
upshot
issue
sequel
complication
development
implication
product
by-product
outgrowth
spin-off
a subdivision of a complex structure or process.
"an extended family with its ramifications of neighbouring in-laws"
FORMAL•TECHNICAL
the action of ramifying or the state of being ramified.
"a coronary angiogram showed ramification of the right coronary artery close to the ostium"
Origin

littoral
/ˈlɪt(ə)r(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: littoral
relating to or situated on the shore of the sea or a lake.
"the littoral states of the Indian Ocean"
ECOLOGY
relating to or denoting the zone of the seashore between high- and low-water marks, or the zone near a lake shore with rooted vegetation.
"limpets and other littoral molluscs"
noun
noun: littoral; plural noun: littorals
a region lying along a shore.
"irrigated regions of the Mediterranean littoral"

ECOLOGY
the littoral zone.
Origin

mid 17th century: from Latin littoralis, from litus, litor- ‘shore’.
Translate littoral to
Use over time for: littoral

--
putative
/ˈpjuːtətɪv/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: putative
generally considered or reputed to be.
"the putative author of the book"
Similar:
supposed
assumed
presumed
acknowledged
accepted
recognized
commonly believed
commonly regarded
presumptive
alleged
reputed
reported
rumoured
reputative
Origin

raison d'être
/ˌreɪzɒ̃ ˈdɛtrə,French ʀɛzɔ̃ dɛtʀ/
noun
unpunctuated: raison dêtre; noun: raison d'être; plural noun: raisons d'être
the most important reason or purpose for someone or something's existence.
"seeking to shock is the catwalk's raison d'être"
Origin

French, literally ‘reason for being’.

--
skein
/skeɪn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: skein; plural noun: skeins
1.
a length of thread or yarn, loosely coiled and knotted.
an element that forms part of a complex or complicated whole.
"he weaves together the skeins of philosophy, ecology, folklore, and history"
2.
a flock of wild geese or swans in flight, typically in a V-shaped formation.
Origin

Middle English: shortening of Old French escaigne, of unknown origin.

segue
/ˈsɛɡweɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: segue; 3rd person present: segues; past tense: segued; past participle: segued; gerund or present participle: segueing
(in music and film) move without interruption from one piece of music or scene to another.
"allow one song to segue into the next"
move or shift from one role, state, or condition to another.
"from the humour magazine, the New York-born artist segued into producing films"
noun
noun: segue; plural noun: segues
an uninterrupted transition from one piece of music or film scene to another.
a transition from one role, state, or condition to another.
"that's actually a perfect segue into my next question"
Origin

Italian, literally ‘follows’.

rive
/rʌɪv/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past participle: riven
LITERARY
split or tear apart violently.
"the party was riven by disagreements over Europe"
Similar:
torn apart
split
rent
ripped apart
ruptured
severed
cleft
torn asunder
ripped asunder
dissevered
ARCHAIC
split or crack (wood or stone).
"the wood was riven with deep cracks"
ARCHAIC
(of wood or stone) split or crack.
"I started to chop furiously, the dry wood riving and splintering under the axe"
Origin

Middle English: from Old Norse rífa, of unknown ultimate origin.

moot
/muːt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: mooted; past participle: mooted
raise (a question or topic) for discussion; suggest (an idea or possibility).
"the scheme was first mooted last October"
Similar:
raise
bring up
broach
mention
put forward
introduce
advance
present
propose
suggest
submit
propound
air
ventilate
Origin

spigot
/ˈspɪɡət/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: spigot; plural noun: spigots
1.
a small peg or plug, especially for insertion into the vent of a cask.
2.
US
a tap.
a device for controlling the flow of liquid in a tap.
3.
the plain end of a section of a pipe fitting into the socket of the next one.
Origin

behest
/bɪˈhɛst/
Learn to pronounce
nounLITERARY
noun: behest; plural noun: behests
a person's orders or command.
"they had assembled at his behest"
Similar:
instruction
bidding
request
requirement
wish
desire
command
order
decree
edict
rule
ruling
directive
direction
charge
will
dictate
demand
insistence
injunction
mandate
precept
say-so
rescript
Origin

bulwark
/ˈbʊlwək/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: bulwark; plural noun: bulwarks
1.
a defensive wall.
Similar:
wall
rampart
fortification
parapet
stockade
palisade
barricade
embankment
earthwork
breastwork
berm
vallum
circumvallation
a person or thing that acts as a defence.
"the security forces are a bulwark against the breakdown of society"
Similar:
protector
protection
guard
defence
defender
support
supporter
prop
buttress
mainstay
bastion
safeguard
stronghold
2.
an extension of a ship's sides above the level of the deck.
"the ships met, their crews lining the bulwarks"
Origin

ilk
/ɪlk/
noun
noun: ilk
a type of person or thing similar to one already referred to.
"the veiled suggestions that reporters of his ilk seem to be so good at"
Similar:
type
sort
class
category
group
set
bracket
genre
kidney
grain
species
race
strain
vintage
make
model
brand
stamp
variety
family
ARCHAIC•SCOTTISH
of the place or estate of the same name.
noun: of that ilk; plural noun: of that ilks
"Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk"
Origin

Purchasing power parity (PPP) is a theory that measures prices at different locations using a common good or goods to contrast the real purchasing power between different currencies. In that case, PPP produces an exchange rate that equals the price of the basket of goods at one location over the price of the basket of goods at a different location. The PPP exchange rate may be different from the market exchange rate because of transportation costs, tariffs, and other frictions. PPP exchange rates are widely used when comparing GDP from different countries.

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intransigence
/ɪnˈtranzɪdʒ(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: intransigence; noun: intransigency
refusal to change one's views or to agree about something.
"in the face of government intransigence, he resigned in disgust"

--
quibble
/ˈkwɪb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: quibbles
1.
a slight objection or criticism about a trivial matter.
"the only quibble about this book is the price"
Similar:
minor criticism
trivial objection
trivial complaint
adverse comment
protest
query
argument
exception
moan
grumble
grouse
cavil
twine
niggle
gripe
beef
grouch
nitpicking
pettifogging
evasion
dodge
avoidance
equivocation
prevarication
hedging
fudging
2.
ARCHAIC
a play on words; a pun.
verb
3rd person present: quibbles
argue or raise objections about a trivial matter.
"they are always quibbling about the amount they are prepared to pay"
Similar:
find fault with
raise trivial objections to
complain about
object to
cavil at
carp about
split hairs
chop logic
criticize
query
fault
pick
holes in
nitpick
pettifog
be evasive
equivocate
avoid the issue
prevaricate
hedge
fudge
be ambiguous
beat about the bush
Origin

abject
/ˈabdʒɛkt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: abject
1.
(of something bad) experienced or present to the maximum degree.
"his letter plunged her into abject misery"
(of a situation or condition) extremely unpleasant and degrading.
"the abject condition of the peasants"
Similar:
wretched
miserable
hopeless
pathetic
pitiful
pitiable
piteous
stark
sorry
forlorn
woeful
lamentable
degrading
appalling
atrocious
awful
2.
(of a person or their behaviour) completely without pride or dignity; self-abasing.
"an abject apology"
Similar:
obsequious
grovelling
crawling
creeping
fawning
toadyish
servile
cringing
snivelling
ingratiating
toadying
sycophantic
submissive
craven
humiliating
Opposite:
proud
Origin

enthuse
/ɪnˈθjuːz,ɛnˈθjuːz/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: enthused; past participle: enthused
express eager enjoyment, interest, or approval regarding something.
"they both enthused over my new look"
Similar:
rave
be enthusiastic
gush
wax lyrical
bubble over
effervesce
be effusive
rhapsodize
go into raptures
praise to the skies
heap praise on
make much of
throw bouquets at
eulogize
extol
acclaim
go wild/mad/crazy
get all worked up
go over the top
big someone/something up
ballyhoo
cry someone/something up
laud
panegyrize
make (someone) interested and eagerly appreciative.
"public art is a tonic that can enthuse alienated youth"
Similar:
motivate
inspire
stimulate
encourage
spur (on)
galvanize

contrivance
/kənˈtrʌɪv(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: contrivance; plural noun: contrivances
1.
the use of skill to create or bring about something, especially with a consequent effect of artificiality.
"the requirements of the system, by happy chance and some contrivance, can be summed up in an acronym"
Similar:
scheme
stratagem
tactic
manoeuvre
move
course/line of action
plan
ploy
gambit
device
wile
trick
ruse
plot
machination
subterfuge
artifice
expedient
wheeze
lurk
shift
fetch
2.
a device, especially in literary or artistic composition, which gives a sense of artificiality.
"the often tiresome contrivances of historical fiction"
a thing which is created skilfully and inventively to serve a particular purpose.
"an assortment of electronic equipment and mechanical contrivances"
Similar:
device
gadget
machine
appliance
contraption
apparatus

niggardly
/ˈnɪɡədli/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: niggardly
ungenerous with money, time, etc.; mean.
"he accused the Government of being unbelievably niggardly"
Similar:
mean
miserly
parsimonious
close-fisted
penny-pinching
cheese-paring
penurious
grasping
greedy
avaricious
Scrooge-like
ungenerous
illiberal
close
stingy
mingy
tight
tight-fisted
money-grubbing
money-grabbing
cheap
near
vulgar slangtight-arsed
Opposite:
generous
meagre and given grudgingly.
"niggardly allowances from the Treasury"
Similar:
meagre
inadequate
scanty
scant
paltry
limited
restricted
modest
insufficient
sparse
spare
deficient
negligible
insubstantial
skimpy
short
little
lean
small
slight
slender
poor
miserable
pitiful
puny
measly
stingy
pathetic
piddling
exiguous
Opposite:
lavish
abundant
adverbARCHAIC
adverb: niggardly
in a mean or meagre manner.
Origin

ameliorate
/əˈmiːlɪəreɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verbFORMAL
verb: ameliorate; 3rd person present: ameliorates; past tense: ameliorated; past participle: ameliorated; gerund or present participle: ameliorating
make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.
"the reform did much to ameliorate living standards"
Similar:
improve
make better
better
make improvements to
enhance
help
benefit
boost
raise
amend
refine
reform
relieve
ease
mitigate
retrieve
rectify
correct
right
put right
set right
put to rights
sort out
clear up
deal with
remedy
repair
fix
cure
heal
mend
make good
resolve
settle
redress
square
tweak
patch up
Opposite:
worsen
leave alone
Origin

--
What is the Kremlin?
noun. the Kremlin, the executive branch of the government of Russia or of the Soviet Union, especially in regard to its foreign affairs. the citadel of Moscow, including within its walls the chief offices of the Russian and, formerly, of the Soviet government.

Moscow Kremlin - Wikipedia

It is the best known of the kremlins (Russian citadels) and includes five palaces, four cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers. In addition, within this complex is the Grand Kremlin Palace that was formerly the Tsar's Moscow residence.
Location‎: ‎Moscow‎, Russia Area‎: ‎27.7 hectares (0.277 km2)
Designated‎: ‎1990 (14th session) Built‎: ‎1482–1495
‎Kremlin (fortification) · ‎Grand Kremlin Palace · ‎Moscow Kremlin Wall · ‎Kremlin stars

---

pally
/ˈpali/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveINFORMAL
adjective: pally; comparative adjective: pallier; superlative adjective: palliest
having a close, friendly relationship.
"I see you're getting quite pally with Carlos"
Similar:
friendly
on good terms
close
familiar
affectionate
intimate
as thick as thieves
thick
matey
buddy-buddy
palsy-walsy

hew
/hjuː/
verb
verb: hew; 3rd person present: hews; past tense: hewed; gerund or present participle: hewing; past participle: hewn
1.
chop or cut (something, especially wood or coal) with an axe, pick, or other tool.
"master carpenters would hew the logs with an axe"
Similar:
chop
hack
chop down
hack down
cut down
saw down
fell
lop
axe
cleave
make or shape by cutting a hard material such as wood.
"a seat hewn out of a fallen tree trunk"
Similar:
cut
carve
shape
fashion
form
chip
hammer
chisel
sculpt
sculpture
model
whittle
rough-hew
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
conform or adhere to.
"his administration would hew to high ethical standards"
Origin

apprehend
/aprɪˈhɛnd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
3rd person present: apprehends
1.
arrest (someone) for a crime.
"a warrant was issued but he has not been apprehended"
Similar:
arrest
catch
capture
seize
take prisoner
take into custody
detain
put in jail
throw in jail
put behind bars
imprison
incarcerate
collar
nab
nail
run in
pinch
bust
pick up
pull in
haul in
do
feel someone's collar
nick
2.
understand or perceive.
"we enter a field of vision we could not otherwise apprehend"
Similar:
understand
comprehend
realize
recognize
appreciate
discern
perceive
fathom
penetrate
catch
follow
grasp
make out
take in
get the drift of
get the hang of
make head or tail of
get the picture
have an aha moment
twig
suss (out)
ARCHAIC
anticipate (something) with uneasiness or fear.
"he is a man that apprehends death no more dreadfully but as a drunken sleep"
Origin

ply2
/plʌɪ/
verb
gerund or present participle: plying
1.
work steadily with (a tool).
"a tailor delicately plying his needle"
Similar:
use
wield
work
work with
employ
operate
utilize
manipulate
handle
work steadily at (one's business or trade).
"for three years he plied a profitable export trade between England and Australia"
Similar:
engage in
carry on
be engaged in
pursue
conduct
follow
practise
work at
occupy oneself with
busy oneself with
prosecute
2.
(of a vessel or vehicle) travel regularly over a route, typically for commercial purposes.
"ferries ply across a strait to the island"
Similar:
go regularly
travel regularly
make regular journeys
travel
go back and forth
shuttle
commute
regularly travel over (a route).
"the fleet has plied the Bristol Channel since Victorian times"
3.
provide someone with (food or drink) in a continuous or insistent way.
"she plied me with tea and scones"
Similar:
provide
supply
keep supplying
lavish
shower
regale
load
heap
direct (numerous questions) at someone.
"she plied him with questions about his visit"
Similar:
bombard
assail
besiege
beset
pester
plague
harass
importune
hassle
Origin

unravel
/ʌnˈrav(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: unravelling
1.
undo (twisted, knitted, or woven threads).
Similar:
untangle
disentangle
straighten out
separate out
unsnarl
unknot
unwind
untwist
undo
untie
unkink
unjumble
Opposite:
entangle
tangle
(of twisted, knitted or woven threads) become undone.
"part of the crew neck had unravelled"
Similar:
fall apart
come apart (at the seams)
fail
collapse
go wrong
Opposite:
succeed
(of an intricate process, system, or arrangement) disintegrate or be destroyed.
"his painstaking diplomacy of the last eight months could quickly unravel"
2.
investigate and solve or explain (something complicated or puzzling).
"they were attempting to unravel the cause of death"
Similar:
solve
resolve
work out
clear up
puzzle out
find an answer to
get to the bottom of
explain
elucidate
fathom
decipher
decode
crack
penetrate
untangle
unfold
settle
reveal
clarify
sort out
make head or tail of
figure out
suss (out)
Opposite:
complicate

impale
/ɪmˈpeɪl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: impale; 3rd person present: impales; past tense: impaled; past participle: impaled; gerund or present participle: impaling
1.
transfix or pierce with a sharp instrument.
"his head was impaled on a pike and exhibited for all to see"
Similar:
stick
skewer
spear
spike
pin
transfix
pierce
stab
run through
bayonet
harpoon
lance
gore
disembowel
puncture
perforate
transpierce
2.
HERALDRY
display (a coat of arms) side by side with another on the same shield, separated by a vertical line.
"the impaled arms of her husband and her father"
(of a coat of arms) adjoin (another coat of arms) on the same shield.
"the arms of the order are impaling those of the sovereign"
Origin

liaison
/lɪˈeɪz(ə)n,lɪˈeɪzɒn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: liaison
1.
communication or cooperation which facilitates a close working relationship between people or organizations.
"the head porter works in close liaison with the reception office"
Similar:
cooperation
contact
association
connection
collaboration
communication
interchange
affiliation
alliance
partnership
link
linkage
tie-up
hook-up
a person who acts as a link to assist communication or cooperation between people.
plural noun: liaisons
"he's our liaison with a number of interested parties"
Similar:
intermediary
mediator
middleman
contact
contact man/woman/person
link
linkman
linkwoman
linkperson
go-between
representative
agent
interceder
factor
a sexual relationship, especially one that is secret or illicit.
"I have been involved in an opportunistic sexual liaison with a work colleague"
Similar:
love affair
affair
relationship
romance
attachment
fling
intrigue
amour
affair of the heart
involvement
amorous entanglement
romantic entanglement
entanglement
flirtation
dalliance
hanky-panky
bit on the side
carry-on
2.
the binding or thickening agent of a sauce, often based on egg yolks.
3.
PHONETICS
(in French and other languages) the sounding of a consonant that is normally silent at the end of a word, because the next word begins with a vowel.
introduction of a consonant between a word that ends in a vowel and another that begins with a vowel, as in English law and order.
Origin

tandem
/ˈtandəm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: tandem; plural noun: tandems
a bicycle with seats and pedals for two riders, one behind the other.

a carriage driven by two animals harnessed one in front of the other.
a group of two people or machines working together.
"the Giants had the greatest pitching tandem in baseball history"
adverb
adverb: tandem
with two or more horses harnessed one behind another.
"I rode tandem to Paris"
alongside each other; together.
adjective
adjective: tandem
having two things arranged one in front of the other.
"a tandem trailer"
Phrases
in tandem — alongside each other.
"a tight fiscal policy working in tandem with a tight foreign exchange policy"
Origin

late 18th century: humorously from Latin, literally ‘at length’.

ambit
/ˈambɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: ambit; plural noun: ambits
the scope, extent, or bounds of something.
"a full discussion of this complex issue was beyond the ambit of one book"
Similar:
scope
extent
bounds
confines
limits
range
breadth
width
reach
sweep
purview
span
stretch
spread
horizon
terms of reference
field of reference
jurisdiction
remit
area
sphere
field
realm
compass
orbit
gamut
competence
Origin

punitive
/ˈpjuːnɪtɪv/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: punitive; adjective: punitory
inflicting or intended as punishment.
"he called for punitive measures against the Eastern bloc"
Similar:
penal
disciplinary
corrective
correctional
retributive
in retaliation
in reprisal
penitentiary
punitory
castigatory
(of a tax or other charge) extremely high.
"a current punitive interest rate of 31.3 per cent"
Similar:
harsh
severe
stiff
austere
cruel
savage
stringent
burdensome
demanding
draconian
drastic
swingeing
crushing
crippling
high
sky-high
inflated
exorbitant
extortionate
excessive
outrageous
inordinate
iniquitous
immoderate
unreasonable
Origin

accord
/əˈkɔːd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
3rd person present: accords
1.
give or grant someone (power, status, or recognition).
"the powers accorded to the head of state"
Similar:
give
grant
tender
present
award
hand
vouchsafe
concede
yield
cede
confer on
bestow on
vest in
put in someone's hands
invest with
endow with
entrust with
favour with
Opposite:
withhold
remove
2.
(of a concept or fact) be harmonious or consistent with.
"his views accorded well with those of Merivale"
Similar:
correspond
agree
tally
match up
concur
coincide
be in agreement
be consistent
equate
harmonize
be in harmony
be compatible
be consonant
be congruous
be in tune
dovetail
correlate
conform to
suit
fit
match
parallel
square
jibe
Opposite:
disagree
contrast
noun
plural noun: accords
an official agreement or treaty.
"opposition groups refused to sign the accord"
Similar:
pact
treaty
agreement
settlement
deal
entente
concordat
concord
protocol
compact
contract
convention
agreement or harmony.
"the government and the rebels are in accord on one point"
Similar:
agreement
consensus
unanimity
harmony
unison
unity
concord
concert
like-mindedness
rapport
conformity
congruence
settlement
Origin

fawn1
/fɔːn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: fawned; past participle: fawned
(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
past tense: fawned; past participle: fawned
(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

Old English fagnian ‘make or be glad’, of Germanic origin; related to fain.

fete
/feɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: fêted; past participle: fêted; past tense: feted; past participle: feted
honour or entertain (someone) lavishly.
"she was an instant celebrity, feted by the media"
Origin

late Middle English (in the sense ‘festival, fair’): from French, from Old French feste (see feast).

blandishment
/ˈblandɪʃm(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: blandishments
a flattering or pleasing statement or action used as a means of gently persuading someone to do something.
"the blandishments of the travel brochure"
Similar:
flattery
cajolery
coaxing
wheedling
honeyed words

subvention
/səbˈvɛnʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: subvention; plural noun: subventions
a grant of money, especially from a government.
"Ottawa has begun to cut federal subventions to the provinces"
Origin

late Middle English (in the sense ‘provision of help’): from Old French, from late Latin subventio(n- ), from Latin subvenire ‘assist’, from sub- ‘from below’ + venire ‘come’.

One-upmanship is the art or practice of successively outdoing a competitor by discomfiting him. The term has been extended to a generic, often punning extension, upmanship, used for any assertion of superiority: for instance, Photon upmanship, Native Upmanship, and so on.

sequestration
/ˌsiːkwəˈstreɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
the action of sequestrating or taking legal possession of assets.
"if such court injunctions are ignored, sequestration of trade union assets will follow"
2.
the action of chemically sequestering a substance.
"carbon sequestration"

--
sequestrate
/ˈsiːkwəstreɪt,ˈsiːkwɛstreɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: sequestrate; 3rd person present: sequestrates; past tense: sequestrated; past participle: sequestrated; gerund or present participle: sequestrating
take legal possession of (assets) until a debt has been paid or other claims have been met.
"the power of courts to sequestrate the assets of unions"
take forcible possession of (something); confiscate.
"in November 1956 the property was sequestrated by the authorities"
Similar:
confiscate
seize
take possession of
take
sequester
appropriate
expropriate
impound
commandeer
arrogate
distrain
attach
disseize
poind
legally place (the property of a bankrupt) in the hands of a trustee for division among the creditors.
"a trustee in a sequestrated estate"
declare (someone) bankrupt.
"two more poll tax rebels were sequestrated"
Origin

NATO
/ˈneɪtəʊ/
abbreviation
North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and European countries. The organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on 4 April 1949.
Chairman of the NATO Military Committee: Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach, Royal Air Force
Supreme Allied Commander Europe: General Tod D. Wolters, United States Air Force
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
Founded: 4 April 1949, Washington, D.C., United States
Secretary General: Jens Stoltenberg
Founders: United States, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, MORE

Why is the Atlantic Ocean called the Atlantic Ocean?
Atlantic Ocean, body of salt water covering approximately one-fifth of Earth's surface and separating the continents of Europe and Africa to the east from those of North and South America to the west. The ocean's name, derived from Greek mythology, means the “Sea of Atlas.”

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's oceans, with an area of about 106,460,000 square kilometers. It covers approximately 20 percent of Earth's surface and about 29 percent of its water surface area. It separates the "Old World" from the "New World". Wikipedia
Area: 106.5 million km²
Mean depth: 3,646 m
Max. depth: Puerto Rico Trench; 8,376 m (27,480 ft)
Coordinates: 0°N 25°W / 0°N 25°W Coordinates: 0°N 25°W / 0°N 25°W
Shore length1: 111,866 km (69,510 mi) including marginal seas
Islands: Ascension Island, Ireland, MORE

Mediterranean Sea
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DescriptionThe Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa and on the east by the Levant. Wikipedia
Area: 2.5 million km²
Mean depth: 1,500 m
Max. depth: 5,267 m (17,280 ft)
Basin countries: Abkhazia, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, MORE
Islands: Majorca, Ibiza, Santorini, Corfu, Minorca, Capri, Mykonos, MORE
Largest island: Sicily

concede
/kənˈsiːd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
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
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

tantamount
/ˈtantəmaʊnt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: tantamount
equivalent in seriousness to; virtually the same as.
"the resignations were tantamount to an admission of guilt"
Similar:
equivalent to
equal to
amounting to
as good as
more or less
synonymous with
virtually the same as
much the same as
comparable to
on a par with
commensurate with
along the lines of
as serious as
identical to
Origin

mid 17th century: from the earlier verb tantamount ‘amount to as much’, from Italian tanto montare .

notwithstanding
/nɒtwɪðˈstandɪŋ,nɒtwɪθˈstandɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
preposition
preposition: notwithstanding
in spite of.
"notwithstanding the evidence, the consensus is that the jury will not reach a verdict"
Similar:
in spite of
despite
regardless of
for all
adverb
adverb: notwithstanding
nevertheless; in spite of this.
"I didn't like it. Notwithstanding, I remained calm"
Similar:
nevertheless
nonetheless
even so
all the same
in spite of this/that
despite this/that
after everything
however
still
yet
be that as it may
having said that
that said
for all that
just the same
anyway
in any event
at any rate
at all events
when all is said and done
withal
howbeit
conjunction
conjunction: notwithstanding
although; in spite of the fact that.
"notwithstanding that the hall was packed with bullies, our champion played on steadily and patiently"
Similar:
although
in spite of the fact that
despite the fact that
even though
though
for all that
Origin

pliable
/ˈplʌɪəb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: pliable
1.
easily bent; flexible.
"quality leather is pliable and will not crack"
Similar:
flexible
easily bent
bendable
pliant
elastic
supple
stretchable
malleable
workable
plastic
whippy
springy
limber
ductile
tensile
bendy
flexile
Opposite:
rigid
2.
easily influenced.
"pliable teenage minds"
Similar:
malleable
easily influenced
impressionable
flexible
adaptable
pliant
compliant
docile
biddable
tractable
like putty in one's hands
yielding
manageable
governable
controllable
amenable
accommodating
susceptible
suggestible
influenceable
persuadable
manipulable
responsive
receptive
persuasible
suasible
susceptive
Opposite:
intractable
obdurate
Origin

The Mod Quad - The quadrilateral of India, US, Japan and Australia

ECOLOGY
the littoral zone.
Origin

rimland
/ˈrɪmland/
noun
noun: rimland; plural noun: rimlands
a peripheral region, especially one with political or strategic significance.
"a maritime power, able to project power more easily than before all around the rimland"

thrall
/θrɔːl/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: thrall; plural noun: thralls
1.
LITERARY
the state of being in someone's power, or of having great power over someone.
"the town in thrall to a villain"
Similar:
power
clutches
hands
control
grip
grasp
yoke
enslavement
bondage
slavery
subjection
subjugation
servitude
tyranny
oppression
domination
hegemony
supremacy
2.
ARCHAIC
a slave, servant, or captive.
Origin

Old English thrǣl ‘slave’, from Old Norse thræll .

corral
/kəˈrɑːl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: corral; 3rd person present: corrals; past tense: corralled; past participle: corralled; gerund or present participle: corralling
1.
gather together and confine (a group of people or things).
"the organizers were corralling the crowd into marching formation"
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
put or keep (livestock) in a corral.
"sheep and goats grazed the plains during the day but they were corralled at night"
Similar:
enclose
confine
lock up
shut up
shut in
fence in
pen (in)
rail in
wall in
cage (in)
coop up
mew in
kettle
HISTORICAL
form (wagons) into a corral.
"the wagons, in forming the encampment, were corralled"
nounNORTH AMERICAN
noun: corral; plural noun: corrals
a pen for livestock, especially cattle or horses, on a farm or ranch.
"he was galloping a pony very fast round a tiny corral"
Similar:
enclosure
pen
fold
compound
pound
stockade
paddock
parrock
kraal
potrero

HISTORICAL
a defensive enclosure formed of wagons in an encampment.
Origin

late 16th century: from Spanish and Old Portuguese (now curral ), perhaps based on Latin currere ‘to run’. Compare with kraal.
Translate corral to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
corral is sometimes confused with chorale
--

thermonuclear
/θəːməʊˈnjuːklɪə/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: thermonuclear; adjective: thermo-nuclear
relating to or using nuclear reactions that occur only at very high temperatures.
"thermonuclear fusion"
relating to or involving weapons in which explosive force is produced by thermonuclear reactions.
"thermonuclear war"

sortie
/ˈsɔːtiː/
noun
noun: sortie; plural noun: sorties
an attack made by troops coming out from a position of defence.
Similar:
foray
sally
charge
offensive
attack
raid
thrust
drive
assault
onset
inroad
onslaught
rush
onrush
blitzkrieg
razzia
an operational flight by a single military aircraft.
Similar:
raid
flight
operational flight
mission
operation
a short trip or journey.
"an early-morning sortie into the garden of our hotel"
an attempt to participate in a new activity or sphere.
"this latest book is the author's first sortie into non-fiction"
verb
verb: sortie; 3rd person present: sorties; past tense: sortied; past participle: sortied; gerund or present participle: sortieing
come out from a defensive position to make an attack.
"we'll soon know if they sortie"
Origin

late 18th century: from French, feminine past participle of sortir ‘go out’.

bogeyman
/ˈbəʊɡɪman/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: bogeyman; plural noun: bogeymen; noun: bogyman; plural noun: bogymen
an imaginary evil spirit or being, used to frighten children.
a person or thing that is widely regarded as an object of fear.
"nuclear power is the environmentalists' bogeyman"

Sino-
/ˈsʌɪnəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
combining form
prefix: Sino-
Chinese; Chinese and …
"Sino-American"
relating to China.
Origin

from late Latin Sinae (see Sinitic).

strait
/streɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: strait; plural noun: straits
1.
a narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two other large areas of water.
"the Straits of Gibraltar"
Similar:
channel
sound
narrows
inlet
stretch of water
arm of the sea
sea passage
neck
kyle

2.
used in reference to a situation characterized by a specified degree of trouble or difficulty.
"the economy is in dire straits"
Similar:
a bad/difficult situation
a sorry condition
difficulty
trouble
crisis
a mess
a predicament
a plight
a tight corner
a pretty/fine kettle of fish
hot water
deep water
a jam
a hole
a bind
a fix
a scrape
adjectiveARCHAIC
adjective: strait
(of a place) of limited spatial capacity; narrow or cramped.
"the road was so strait that a handful of men might have defended it"
close, strict, or rigorous.
"my captivity was strait as ever"
Origin

queasy
/ˈkwiːzi/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: queasy; comparative adjective: queasier; superlative adjective: queasiest
nauseous; feeling sick.
"in the morning he was still pale and queasy"
Similar:
nauseous
nauseated
bilious
sick
seasick
carsick
trainsick
airsick
travel-sick
suffering from motion sickness
ill
unwell
poorly
bad
out of sorts
dizzy
peaky
liverish
green about the gills
off
off colour
sick to one's stomach
funny
peculiar
rough
lousy
rotten
awful
terrible
dreadful
crummy
crook
peakish
vulgar slangcrappy
inducing a feeling of nausea.
"the queasy swell of the boat"
slightly nervous or worried about something.
Origin

--
People's Liberation Army (PLA)
Armed force

The Chinese People's Liberation Army is the armed forces of the People's Republic of China and of its founding and ruling political party, the Communist Party of China. The PLA consists of five professional service branches: the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, and the Strategic Support Force. Wikipedia
Military age: 20+
Ranks: Army ranks; Navy ranks; Air force ranks
Chief of the Joint Staff Department: General Li Zuocheng
Reserve personnel: 510,000 (2018)
Active personnel: 2,035,000 (2018) (ranked 1st)
Budget: 17,760 crores USD (ranked 2nd, 2019)

littoral
/ˈlɪt(ə)r(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
relating to or situated on the shore of the sea or a lake.
"the littoral states of the Indian Ocean"
noun
a region lying along a shore.
"irrigated regions of the Mediterranean littoral"

apologist
/əˈpɒlədʒɪst/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: apologist; plural noun: apologists
a person who offers an argument in defence of something controversial.
"an enthusiastic apologist for fascism in the 1920s"
Similar:
defender
supporter
upholder
advocate
proponent
exponent
propagandist
apostle
champion
backer
promoter
campaigner
spokesman
spokeswoman
spokesperson
speaker
arguer
enthusiast
Opposite:
critic
Origin

mid 17th century: from French apologiste, from Greek apologizesthai ‘give an account’ (see apologize).

arena
/əˈriːnə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: arenas
1.
a level area surrounded by seating, in which sports, entertainments, and other public events are held.
Similar:
stadium
amphitheatre
theatre
coliseum
ground
field
ring
rink
pitch
court
stage
platform
circus
hippodrome
bowl
park
cirque
2.
a place or scene of activity, debate, or conflict.
"he has re-entered the political arena"
Similar:
area
scene
sphere
realm
province
domain
sector
forum

nuanced
/ˈnjuːɑːnst/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: nuanced
characterized by subtle shades of meaning or expression.
"Lowe's work has gradually grown more nuanced"
Origin

early 20th century: from nuance + -ed1.
nuance
/ˈnjuːɑːns/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: nuanced; past participle: nuanced
give nuances to.
"the effect of the music is nuanced by the social situation of listeners"
Origin

befuddle
/bɪˈfʌd(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: befuddle; 3rd person present: befuddles; past tense: befuddled; past participle: befuddled; gerund or present participle: befuddling
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
disorientated
all at sea
mixed up
fazed
perplexed
stunned
dazed
dizzy
stupefied
groggy
foggy
fuzzy
fuddled
benumbed
numbed
numb
vague
discombobulated
bamboozled
dopey
woolly
woolly-headed
muzzy
woozy
out of it
Opposite:
clear
Translate befuddle to

paucity
/ˈpɔːsɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: paucity; plural noun: paucities
the presence of something in only small or insufficient quantities or amounts.
"a paucity of information"
Similar:
scarcity
sparseness
sparsity
dearth
shortage
rarity
rareness
poverty
insufficiency
deficiency
inadequacy
famine
lack
want
meagreness
limitedness
scantiness
skimpiness
paltriness
restrictedness
deficit
shortfall
exiguity
Opposite:
abundance
Origin

---

rankle
/ˈraŋk(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: rankle; 3rd person present: rankles; past tense: rankled; past participle: rankled; gerund or present participle: rankling
1.
(of a comment or fact) cause continuing annoyance or resentment.
"the casual manner of his dismissal still rankles"
annoy or irritate (someone).
"Lisa was rankled by his assertion"
Similar:
cause resentment to
cause annoyance to
annoy
upset
anger
irritate
offend
affront
displease
exasperate
infuriate
provoke
irk
vex
pique
nettle
gall
gnaw at
eat away at
grate on
fester
rile
miff
peeve
aggravate
hack off
nark
tick off
vulgar slangpiss off
2.
ARCHAIC
(of a wound or sore) continue to be painful; fester.
"the wound is but skinned over and rankles still at the bottom"
Origin
Middle English: from Old French rancler, from rancle, draoncle ‘festering sore’, from an alteration of medieval Latin dracunculus, diminutive of draco ‘serpent’.

germane
/dʒəːˈmeɪn/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: germane
relevant to a subject under consideration.
"that is not germane to our theme"
Similar:
relevant
pertinent
applicable
apposite
material
apropos
to the point
to the purpose
admissible
appropriate
apt
fitting
suitable
suited
proper
felicitous
connected
related
linked
akin
allied
analogous
ad rem
appurtenant
Opposite:
irrelevant
Origin

Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Intergovernmental organization
asean.org
DescriptionThe Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten countries in Southeast Asia, which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, ... Wikipedia
Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia
Founded: 8 August 1967
Filipino: Samahan ng mga Bansa sa Timog Silangang Asya
Vietnamese: Hiệp hội các quốc gia Đông Nam Á
Members: Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), Laos
Founders: Abdul Razak Hussein, Narciso Ramos, Adam Malik, S. Rajaratnam, Thanat Khoman

bristle
/ˈbrɪs(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a short, stiff hair on an animal's skin or a man's face.
Similar:
hair
whisker
stubble
designer stubble
five o'clock shadow
seta

verb
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
2.
be covered with or abundant in.
"the roof bristled with antennae"
Similar:
abound
swarm
teem
crawl
overflow
hum
be alive
be packed

--
artillery
/ɑːˈtɪləri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: artillery
large-calibre guns used in warfare on land.
"tanks and heavy artillery"
Similar:
(big) guns
ordnance
cannon(s)
cannonry
heavy weapons
heavy weaponry
battery

a military detachment or branch of the armed forces that uses large-calibre guns.
plural noun: artilleries
"each corps included two regiments of field artillery"
Origin
late Middle English: from Old French artillerie, from artiller, alteration of atillier ‘equip, arm’, probably a variant of atirier, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + tire ‘rank, order’.

extraneous
/ɪkˈstreɪnɪəs,ɛkˈstreɪnɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: extraneous
1.
irrelevant or unrelated to the subject being dealt with.
"one is obliged to wade through many pages of extraneous material"
Similar:
irrelevant
immaterial
beside the point
not to the point
neither here nor there
nothing to do with it
not pertinent
not germane
not to the purpose
off the subject
unrelated
unconnected
inapposite
inappropriate
inapplicable
inconsequential
incidental
pointless
out of place
wide of the mark
peripheral
tangential
Opposite:
material
2.
of external origin.
"when the transmitter pack is turned off no extraneous noise is heard"
Similar:
external
outside
exterior
extrinsic
outward
adventitious
alien
foreign
Opposite:
intrinsic
separate from the object to which it is attached.
"other insects attach extraneous objects or material to themselves"
Origin

discomfit
/dɪsˈkʌmfɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: discomfit; 3rd person present: discomfits; past tense: discomfited; past participle: discomfited; gerund or present participle: discomfiting
make (someone) feel uneasy or embarrassed.
"he was not noticeably discomfited by her tone"
Similar:
embarrass
make uncomfortable
make uneasy
abash
disconcert
nonplus
discompose
discomfort
take aback
unsettle
unnerve
put someone off their stroke
ruffle
confuse
fluster
agitate
disorientate
upset
disturb
perturb
distress
chagrin
mortify
faze
rattle
discombobulate
Opposite:
reassure
Originally
--

bridle
/ˈbrʌɪd(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: bridling
1.
put a bridle on (a horse).
"five horses, saddled and bridled, were tied by the reins to branches of trees"
bring (something) under control; curb.
"the fact that he was their servant bridled his tongue"
Similar:
curb
restrain
hold back
bite back
control
keep control of
keep in check
check
keep a tight rein on
rein in/back
govern
master
repress
suppress
subdue
stifle
keep a/the lid on
2.
show one's resentment or anger, especially by throwing up one's head and drawing in one's chin.
"she bridled at his tone"
Similar:
bristle
be/become indignant
take offence
take umbrage
be affronted
be offended
get angry
draw oneself up
feel one's hackles rise
Origin

expeditiously
/ˌɛkspɪˈdɪʃəsli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: expeditiously
with speed and efficiency.
"the directors will move expeditiously to reach a conclusion"

affray
/əˈfreɪ/
Learn to pronounce
nounDATED•LAW
noun: affray; plural noun: affrays
an instance of group fighting in a public place that disturbs the peace.
"Lowe was charged with causing an affray"
Similar:
fight
brawl
battle
engagement
encounter
confrontation
melee
clash
skirmish
scuffle
tussle
fracas
altercation
disturbance
commotion
breach of the peace
riot
scrap
dust-up
punch-up
set-to
shindy
shindig
free-for-all
afters
Origin

jettison
/ˈdʒɛtɪs(ə)n,ˈdʒɛtɪz(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
verb
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
Originally
--

banality
/bəˈnalɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: banalities
the fact or condition of being banal; unoriginality.
"there is an essential banality to the story he tells"
Similar:
triteness
platitudinousness
vapidity
pedestrianism
conventionality
predictability

engender
/ɪnˈdʒɛndə,ɛnˈdʒɛndə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition).
"the issue engendered continuing controversy"
synonyms: cause, be the cause of, give rise to, bring about, lead to, result in, produce, create, generate, arouse, rouse, provoke, incite, kindle, trigger, spark off, touch off, stir up, whip up, induce, inspire, instigate, foment, effect, occasion, promote, foster; More
ARCHAIC
(of a father) beget (offspring).

mirth
/məːθ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: mirth
amusement, especially as expressed in laughter.
"his six-foot frame shook with mirth"
synonyms: merriment, high spirits, mirthfulness, cheerfulness, cheeriness, cheer, hilarity, glee, laughter, jocularity, levity, gaiety, buoyancy, blitheness, euphoria, exhilaration, elation, light-heartedness, joviality, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, fun, enjoyment, amusement, pleasure, merrymaking, jollity, festivity, revelry, frolics, frolicsomeness; datedsport
"she giggled, making an effort to control her mirth"
antonyms: gloom, misery
Origin

Old English myrgth, of Germanic origin; related to merry.

Never mind that such a stance assists China and violates Machiavelli’s basic dictum that ‘the prince who contributes toward the advancement of another ruins his own’.

tardy
/ˈtɑːdi/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: tardy; comparative adjective: tardier; superlative adjective: tardiest
delaying or delayed beyond the right or expected time; late.
"please forgive this tardy reply"
synonyms: late, unpunctual, behind time, behind schedule, behind, behindhand, not on time, overdue, belated, delayed, running late; More
antonyms: punctual, early, on time
slow in action or response; sluggish.
"this makes the car feel tardy in quick manoeuvres"
Origin

castigate
/ˈkastɪɡeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verbFORMAL
verb: castigate; 3rd person present: castigates; past tense: castigated; past participle: castigated; gerund or present participle: castigating
reprimand (someone) severely.
"he was castigated for not setting a good example"
synonyms: reprimand, rebuke, admonish, chastise, chide, upbraid, reprove, reproach, scold, remonstrate with, berate, take to task, pull up, lambaste, read someone the Riot Act, give someone a piece of one's mind, haul over the coals, lecture, criticize, censure; More
antonyms: praise, commend
Origin

excoriate
/ɪkˈskɔːrɪeɪt,ɛkˈskɔːrɪeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: excoriated; past participle: excoriated
1.
MEDICINE
damage or remove part of the surface of (the skin).
"the discharge is acrid and excoriates the skin of the nose"
synonyms: abrade, rub away, rub off, rub raw, scrape, scratch, chafe, damage; More
2.
FORMAL
criticize (someone) severely.
"he excoriated the government for censorship"
synonyms: criticize, find fault with, censure, denounce, condemn, arraign, attack, lambaste, pillory, disapprove of, carp at, cavil at, rail against, inveigh against, cast aspersions on, pour scorn on, disparage, denigrate, deprecate, malign, vilify, besmirch, run down, give a bad press to; More
antonyms: praise, approve of
Origin

vociferously
/və(ʊ)ˈsɪf(ə)rəsli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: vociferously
in a loud and forceful manner.
"the country vociferously opposed the war"

languorous
/ˈlaŋɡərəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: languorous
1.
characterized by tiredness or inactivity, especially of a pleasurable kind.
"summer has a slow, languorous feel to it here"
2.
characterized by an oppressive stillness.
"the atmosphere is languorous and sultry"

vis-à-vis
/ˌviːzɑːˈviː,French vizavi/
preposition
preposition: vis-à-vis
in relation to; with regard to.
"many agencies now have a unit to deal with women's needs vis-à-vis employment"
as compared with; as opposed to.
"the advantage for US exports is the value of the dollar vis-à-vis other currencies"
adverbARCHAIC
adverb: vis-à-vis
in a position facing a specified or implied subject.
"he was there vis-à-vis with Miss Arundel"
noun
noun: vis-à-vis; plural noun: vis-à-vis
1.
a person or group occupying a corresponding position to that of another in a different sphere; a counterpart.
"his admiration for the US armed services extends to their vis-à-vis, the Russian military"
2.
a face-to-face meeting.
"the dreaded vis-à-vis with his boss"
Origin

mid 18th century: French, literally ‘face to face’, from Old French vis ‘face’.

---

expropriation
/ɛksprəʊprɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: expropriations
the action by the state or an authority of taking property from its owner for public use or benefit.
"the decree provided for the expropriation of church land and buildings"
the action of dispossessing someone of property.
"a popular movement aiming at the expropriation of the landowners and the overthrow of the autocracy"

entente
/ɒnˈtɒnt,ɒ̃ˈtɒ̃t/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: entente; plural noun: ententes; noun: entente cordiale; plural noun: entente cordiales
a friendly understanding or informal alliance between states or factions.
"the emperor hoped to bring about an entente with Russia"
synonyms: understanding, agreement, arrangement, entente cordiale, covenant, settlement; More
a group of states in an informal alliance.
"the unsuccessful scheme to lure Greece into the war on the side of the entente"
the understanding between Britain and France reached in 1904, forming the basis of Anglo-French cooperation in the First World War.
noun: Entente Cordiale; noun: the Entente Cordiale
Origin

mid 19th century: French entente (cordiale) ‘(friendly) understanding’.

untoward
/ʌntəˈwɔːd,ʌnˈtəʊəd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: untoward
unexpected and inappropriate or inconvenient.
"both tried to behave as if nothing untoward had happened"
synonyms: unexpected, unanticipated, unforeseen, unpredictable, unpredicted; More
antonyms: expected, timely, appropriate

scupper1
/ˈskʌpə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: scupper; plural noun: scuppers
a hole in a ship's side to carry water overboard from the deck.
an outlet in the side of a building for draining water.
Origin

late Middle English: perhaps via Anglo-Norman French from Old French escopir ‘to spit’; compare with German Speigatt, literally ‘spit hole’.
scupper2
/ˈskʌpə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: scupper; 3rd person present: scuppers; past tense: scuppered; past participle: scuppered; gerund or present participle: scuppering
1.
BRITISH
sink (a ship or its crew) deliberately.
"the ship was scuppered and seriously damaged"
synonyms: sink, scuttle, submerge, send to the bottom, open the seacocks in
"the captain decided to scupper the ship"
antonyms: float, raise
2.
INFORMAL
prevent from working or succeeding; thwart.
"plans for a bypass were scuppered by a public inquiry"
synonyms: ruin, wreck, destroy, devastate, wreak havoc on, damage, spoil, mar, injure, blast, blight, smash, shatter, dash, torpedo, scotch, mess up; More
antonyms: further, promote
Origin
late 19th century (as military slang in the sense ‘kill, especially in an ambush’): of unknown origin. The sense ‘sink’ dates from the 1970s.

timorous
/ˈtɪm(ə)rəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: timorous
showing or suffering from nervousness or a lack of confidence.
"a timorous voice"
synonyms: easily frightened, lacking courage, fearful, apprehensive, faint-hearted; More
antonyms: bold, forthcoming, brazen
Origin

late Middle English (in the sense ‘feeling fear’): from Old French temoreus, from medieval Latin timorosus, from Latin timor ‘fear’, from timere ‘to fear’.

pincer
/ˈpɪnsə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: pair of pincers; plural noun: pairs of pincers; plural noun: pincers; noun: pincer
1.
a tool made of two pieces of metal with blunt concave jaws that are arranged like the blades of scissors, used for gripping and pulling things.
2.
a hinged and sharply pointed organ used by an arthropod for feeding or defence, as the mandibles of an insect, or each of the chelae of a crab, lobster, or scorpion.
Origin

reed
/riːd/
noun
noun: reed; plural noun: reeds; noun: common reed; plural noun: common reeds
1.
a tall, slender-leaved plant of the grass family, which grows in water or on marshy ground.

used in names of plants similar to the reed and growing in wet habitats, e.g. bur reed.
a tall straight stalk of a reed plant, used especially as a material in making thatch or household items.
"a harvest of thatching reeds"
BRITISH
straw used for thatching.
LITERARY
a rustic musical pipe made from a reed or from straw.
"as if thy waves had only heard the shepherd's reed"
LITERARY
an arrow.
2.
a weak or impressionable person.
"the jurors were mere reeds in the wind"
3.
a piece of thin cane or metal, sometimes doubled, which vibrates in a current of air to produce the sound of various musical instruments, as in the mouthpiece of a clarinet or oboe or at the base of some organ pipes.
"a reed instrument"
a wind instrument played with a reed.
an organ stop with reed pipes.
4.
an electrical contact used in a magnetically operated switch or relay.
"the permanent magnet closes the reeds and contacts together"
5.
a comblike implement (originally made from reed or cane) used by a weaver to separate the threads of the warp and correctly position the weft.
6.
a set of semi-cylindrical adjacent mouldings like reeds laid together.
Phrases
a broken reed — a weak or ineffectual person.
"the superintendent of this building appears to be a broken reed"
Origin

Old English hrēod, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch riet and German Ried .
Translate reed to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
reed is sometimes confused with read and rede

contingent
/kənˈtɪndʒ(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: contingent
1.
subject to chance.
"the contingent nature of the job"
synonyms: chance, accidental, fortuitous, possible, unforeseen, unforeseeable, unexpected, unpredicted, unpredictable, unanticipated, unlooked-for; More
antonyms: predictable
(of losses, liabilities, etc.) that can be anticipated to arise if a particular event occurs.
PHILOSOPHY
true by virtue of the way things in fact are and not by logical necessity.
"that men are living creatures is a contingent fact"
2.
occurring or existing only if (certain circumstances) are the case; dependent on.
"his fees were contingent on the success of his search"
synonyms: dependent, conditional; More
noun
noun: contingent; plural noun: contingents
a group of people sharing a common feature, forming part of a larger group.
"a contingent of Japanese businessmen attending a conference"
synonyms: group, party, body, band, set; More
a body of troops or police sent to join a larger force.
"six warships were stationed off the coast with a contingent of 2,000 marines"
Origin

evince
/ɪˈvɪns/
Learn to pronounce
verbFORMAL
past tense: evinced; past participle: evinced
reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling); indicate.
"the news stories evinced the usual mixture of sympathy and satisfaction"
Similar:
reveal
show
make clear
make plain
make obvious
make manifest
manifest
indicate
display
exhibit
demonstrate
be evidence of
evidence
attest to
testify to
bear witness to
convey
communicate
proclaim
impart
bespeak
disclose
divulge
betray
give away
expose
lay bare
Opposite:
conceal
Origin

apprehension
/aprɪˈhɛnʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: apprehensions
1.
anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.
"he felt sick with apprehension"
Similar:
anxiety
angst
alarm
worry
uneasiness
unease
nervousness
misgiving
disquiet
concern
agitation
restlessness
edginess
fidgetiness
nerves
tension
trepidation
perturbation
consternation
panic
fearfulness
dread
fear
shock
horror
terror
foreboding
presentiment
butterflies in the stomach
the willies
the heebie-jeebies
Opposite:
confidence
2.
understanding; grasp.
"his first apprehension of such large issues"
Similar:
understanding
grasp
comprehension
realization
recognition
appreciation
discernment
perception
awareness
cognizance
consciousness
penetration
3.
the action of arresting someone.
"they acted with intent to prevent lawful apprehension"
Similar:
arrest
capture
seizure
catching
detention
imprisonment
incarceration
collaring
nabbing
nailing
pinching
bust
busting
nick
Origin

late Middle English (in the sense ‘learning, acquisition of knowledge’): from late Latin apprehensio(n- ), from apprehendere ‘seize, grasp’ (see apprehend).

hog-tie
verbNORTH AMERICAN
verb: hog-tie; 3rd person present: hog-ties; past tense: hog-tied; past participle: hog-tied; gerund or present participle: hog-tying; verb: hogtie; 3rd person present: hogties; past tense: hogtied; past participle: hogtied; gerund or present participle: hogtying
secure (a person or animal) by fastening the hands and feet or all four feet together.
"they gagged him and hog-tied him to the front pew"
impede or hinder greatly.
"the flood of regulations that are hog-tying our businesses"

jell
/dʒɛl/
Learn to pronounce
verbNORTH AMERICAN
past tense: jelled; past participle: jelled
1.
(of a liquid or semi-liquid substance) set or become more solid.
"she works at it all day but can't get the jelly to jell"
2.
(of a project or idea) take a definite form or begin to work well.
"he decided to do a different film that would jell at the box office"
(of people) work well together.
"we went out there and tried to win, but we just didn't jell"
Origin

behemoth
/bɪˈhiːmɒθ,ˈbiːhɪˌməʊθ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: behemoth; plural noun: behemoths
a huge or monstrous creature.
"behemoths like the brontosaurus"
something enormous, especially a large and powerful organization.
"shoppers are now more loyal to their local shops than to faceless behemoths"
Origin

--
maritime
/ˈmarɪtʌɪm/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: maritime
connected with the sea, especially in relation to seaborne trade or naval matters.
"a maritime museum"
Similar:
naval
marine
nautical
seafaring
seagoing
sea
ocean-going
living or found in or near the sea.
"dolphins and other maritime mammals"
Similar:
coastal
seaside
littoral
bordering on the sea.
"two species of Diptera occur in the maritime Antarctic"
(of climate) moist and temperate owing to the influence of the sea.
"native and exotic plants flourish in the mild maritime climate on the Lleyn Peninsula"
Origin

bifurcate
verb
past tense: bifurcated; past participle: bifurcated
/ˈbʌɪfəkeɪt/
divide into two branches or forks.
"just below Cairo the river bifurcates"
Origin
early 17th century: from medieval Latin bifurcat- ‘divided into two forks’, from the verb bifurcare, from Latin bifurcus ‘two-forked’, from bi- ‘having two’ + furca ‘a fork’.

tourniquet
/ˈtʊənɪkeɪ,ˈtɔːnɪkeɪ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: tourniquet; plural noun: tourniquets
a device for stopping the flow of blood through a vein or artery, typically by compressing a limb with a cord or tight bandage.

Origin

late 17th century: from French, probably from Old French tournicle ‘coat of mail’, influenced by tourner ‘to turn’.

succinctly
/səkˈsɪŋ(k)tli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: succinctly
in a brief and clearly expressed manner.
"one word succinctly describes the economy's performance: unbalanced"

tandem
/ˈtandəm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: tandem; plural noun: tandems
a bicycle with seats and pedals for two riders, one behind the other.

jaunt
/dʒɔːnt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: jaunt; plural noun: jaunts
a short excursion or journey made for pleasure.
"her regular jaunts to Europe"
Similar:
trip
pleasure trip
outing
excursion
expedition
day trip
day out
mini holiday
short break
tour
mystery tour
drive
ride
run
turn
cruise
sally
minibreak
junket
spin
tootle
joyride
tool
hurl
verb
verb: jaunt; 3rd person present: jaunts; past tense: jaunted; past participle: jaunted; gerund or present participle: jaunting
go on a short journey for pleasure.
"they went jaunting through Ireland"
Origin
late 16th century: of unknown origin. Originally depreciatory, early senses included ‘tire a horse out by riding it up and down’, ‘traipse about’, and (as a noun) ‘troublesome journey’. The current positive sense dates from the mid 17th century.

mid 17th century: originally gambett, from Italian gambetto, literally ‘tripping up’, from gamba ‘leg’.

strident
/ˈstrʌɪd(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: strident
1.
(of a sound) loud and harsh; grating.
"his voice had become increasingly strident"
Similar:
harsh
raucous
rough
grating
rasping
jarring
loud
stentorian
shrill
screeching
piercing
ear-piercing
unmelodious
unmusical
discordant
dissonant
unharmonious
stridulous
stridulant
stridulatory
stentorious
Opposite:
soft
dulcet
PHONETICS
another term for sibilant.
2.
presenting a point of view, especially a controversial one, in an excessively forceful way.
"public pronouncements on the crisis became less strident"
Origin

vide
/ˈvɪdeɪ,ˈviːdeɪ,ˈvʌɪdi/
verb
verb: vide
see; consult (used as an instruction in a text to refer the reader to a specified passage, book, author, etc., for further information).
"vide the comments cited in Schlosser"
Origin

Latin, ‘see!’, imperative of videre .

shabby
/ˈʃabi/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: shabby; comparative adjective: shabbier; superlative adjective: shabbiest
1.
in poor condition through long use or lack of care.
"a conscript in a shabby uniform saluted the car"
Similar:
run down
down at heel
scruffy
uncared-for
neglected
dilapidated
in disrepair
ramshackle
tumbledown
dingy
seedy
slummy
insalubrious
squalid
sordid
mean
wretched
miserable
crummy
scuzzy
tacky
grungy
shambly
beat-up
grotty
shacky
well worn
worn
old
worn out
threadbare
moth-eaten
mangy
ragged
frayed
tattered
battered
decrepit
having seen better days
falling apart at the seams
faded
dowdy
dirty
grubby
tatty
ratty
the worse for wear
raggedy
raggedy-ass
warby
out at elbows
Opposite:
smart
upmarket
new
in good condition
dressed in old or worn clothes.
"a shabby fellow in slippers and an undershirt"
Similar:
scruffy
well worn
worn
old
worn out
threadbare
moth-eaten
mangy
ragged
frayed
tattered
battered
decrepit
having seen better days
falling apart at the seams
faded
dowdy
dirty
grubby
tatty
ratty
the worse for wear
raggedy
raggedy-ass
warby
out at elbows
Opposite:
new
in good condition
2.
(of behaviour) mean and unfair.
"Snooping, was he? That's a shabby trick"
Similar:
contemptible
despicable
dishonourable
disreputable
discreditable
mean
mean-spirited
base
low
dirty
shameful
sorry
ignoble
unfair
unworthy
ungenerous
unkind
ungentlemanly
cheap
shoddy
unpleasant
nasty
rotten
low-down
hateful
beastly
scurvy
vulgar slangshitty
Opposite:
decent
honourable
Origin

mid 17th century: from dialect shab ‘scab’ (from a Germanic base meaning ‘itch’) + -y1.

inkling
/ˈɪŋklɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: inkling; plural noun: inklings
a slight knowledge or suspicion; a hint.
"the records give us an inkling of how people saw the world"
Similar:
idea
vague idea
notion
glimmering
sense
impression
suggestion
indication
whisper
suspicion
sneaking suspicion
fancy
hunch
knowledge
slight knowledge
hint
clue
intimation
sign
pointer
insinuation
innuendo
Origin

entente
/ɒnˈtɒnt,ɒ̃ˈtɒ̃t/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: entente; plural noun: ententes; noun: entente cordiale; plural noun: entente cordiales
a friendly understanding or informal alliance between states or factions.
"the emperor hoped to bring about an entente with Russia"
Similar:
understanding
agreement
arrangement
entente cordiale
covenant
settlement
deal
alliance
treaty
pact
accord
compact
concordat
protocol
convention
a group of states in an informal alliance.
"the unsuccessful scheme to lure Greece into the war on the side of the entente"
the understanding between Britain and France reached in 1904, forming the basis of Anglo-French cooperation in the First World War.
noun: Entente Cordiale; noun: the Entente Cordiale
Origin

mid 19th century: French entente (cordiale) ‘(friendly) understanding’.

gauntlet1
/ˈɡɔːntlət/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: gauntlet; plural noun: gauntlets
a strong glove with a long, loose wrist.

HISTORICAL
an armoured glove.
the part of a glove covering the wrist.
Phrases
take up the gauntlet — accept (or issue) a challenge.
"he threw down the gauntlet to cabinet colleagues"
Origin

late Middle English: from Old French gantelet, diminutive of gant ‘glove’, of Germanic origin.
gauntlet2
/ˈɡɔːntlət/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: gauntlet; noun: gantlet
1.
go through an intimidating or dangerous crowd or experience in order to reach a goal.
"she had to run the gauntlet of male autograph seekers"
2.
HISTORICAL
undergo the military punishment of receiving blows while running between two rows of men with sticks.
Origin

mid 17th century: alteration of gantlope (from Swedish gatlopp, from gata ‘lane’ + lopp ‘course’) by association with gauntlet1.
Translate gauntlet to
Use over time for: gauntlet

disinclination
/ˌdɪsɪnklɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: disinclination; plural noun: disinclinations
a reluctance or lack of enthusiasm.
"Lucy felt a strong disinclination to talk about her engagement"
Similar:
reluctance
unwillingness
lack of enthusiasm
indisposition
slowness
hesitancy
hesitance
diffidence
loathness
aversion
dislike
distaste
objection
demur
resistance
opposition
recalcitrance
disrelish
nolition
sweerness
Opposite:
inclination
enthusiasm
Translate disinclination to

fungible
/ˈfʌn(d)ʒɪb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveLAW
adjective: fungible
(of goods contracted for without an individual specimen being specified) replaceable by another identical item; mutually interchangeable.
"it is by no means the worlds only fungible commodity"
Origin

hegemony
/hɪˈdʒɛməni,hɪˈɡɛməni/
Learn to pronounce
noun
leadership or dominance, especially by one state or social group over others.
"Germany was united under Prussian hegemony after 1871"
Similar:
leadership
dominance
dominion
supremacy
ascendancy
predominance
primacy
authority
mastery
control
power
sway
rule
sovereignty
predomination
paramountcy
prepotence
prepotency
prepollency
Opposite:
self-government
Translations, word origin and more definitions

What Is the Trans-Pacific Partnership?
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a proposed free trade agreement among 11 Pacific Rim economies. The United States was included initially. In 2015, Congress gave Barack Obama fast-track authority to negotiate the deal and put it to an up-or-down vote without amendments; all 12 nations signed the agreement in February 2016. The following August, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said there would not be a vote on the deal before Obama left office.

Since both major-party nominees, Donald Trump, and Hillary Clinton, opposed the deal, it was considered to be dead on arrival. Trump's victory solidified that view, and on January 23, 2017 he signed a memo instructing the U.S. trade representative to withdraw the U.S. as a signatory to the deal and pursue bilateral negotiations instead.

SLOC:

Sea lines of communication (abbreviated as SLOC) is a term describing the primary maritime routes between ports, used for trade, logistics and naval forces. ... The importance of SLOCs in geopolitics was described in Nicholas J. Spykman's America's Strategy in World Politics published in 1942.

quicksilver
/ˈkwɪksɪlvə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
the liquid metal mercury.
moving or changing rapidly and unpredictably.
modifier noun: quicksilver
"his quicksilver wit"

--
go abegging:

to be unnoticed, unused, or unappreciated; find few supporters: New ideas often go abegging.

bugbear
/ˈbʌɡbɛː/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: bugbears
1.
a cause of obsessive fear, anxiety, or irritation.
"the biggest villain is that adman's bugbear, saturated fat"
Similar:
pet hate
hate
bane
irritant
irritation
dislike
anathema
aversion
vexation
thorn in one's flesh/side
bane of one's life
torment
nightmare
horror
dread
curse
bugaboo
bogey
bête noire
peeve
pet peeve
pain
pain in the neck
hang-up
2.
ARCHAIC
an imaginary being invoked to frighten children, typically a sort of hobgoblin supposed to devour them.

cadre
/ˈkɑːdə,ˈkɑːdr(ə),ˈkadri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: cadres
1.
a small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession.
"a cadre of professional managers"
Similar:
small group
body
team
corps
core
nucleus
key group
2.
a group of activists in a communist or other revolutionary organization.
"he was an activist in the cadre"
a member of an activist group.
"two young cadres were elected to the politburo"
Origin

mid 19th century: from French, from Italian quadro, from Latin quadrus ‘square’.

denouement
/deɪˈnuːmɒ̃/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: denouement; plural noun: denouements; noun: dénouement; plural noun: dénouements
the final part of a play, film, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.
"the film's denouement was unsatisfying and ambiguous"
Similar:
finale
final scene
final act
last act
epilogue
coda
end
ending
finish
close
culmination
climax
conclusion
resolution
solution
clarification
unravelling
wind-up
Opposite:
beginning
the outcome of a situation, when something is decided or made clear.
"I waited by the eighteenth green to see the denouement"
Similar:
outcome
upshot
consequence
result
end result
end
ending
termination
culmination
climax
pay-off
issue
success
Opposite:
origin
Origin

mid 18th century: French dénouement, from dénouer ‘unknot’.

impresario
/ˌɪmprɪˈsɑːrɪəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: impresario; plural noun: impresarios
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.
Origin

mid 18th century: from Italian, from impresa ‘undertaking’.

teeter
/ˈtiːtə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: teetering
move or balance unsteadily; sway back and forth.
"she teetered after him in her high-heeled sandals"
Similar:
totter
walk unsteadily
wobble
toddle
sway
rock
try to keep one's balance
stagger
stumble
reel
roll
lurch
pitch
stot
be unable to decide between different courses; waver.
"she teetered between tears and anger"
Similar:
see-saw
veer
fluctuate
oscillate
swing
yo-yo
alternate
waver
wobble
teeter-totter
Origin

mid 19th century: variant of dialect titter, from Old Norse titra ‘shake, shiver’.

meandering
/mɪˈandərɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: meandering
following a winding course.
"meandering rivers flow at vastly different rates"
Similar:
winding
windy
zigzag
zigzagging
twisting
turning
curving
serpentine
sinuous
snaking
snaky
twisty
tortuous
anfractuous
flexuous
meandrous
Opposite:
straight
proceeding in a convoluted or undirected fashion.
"a brilliant sample of meandering discourse"
Similar:
rambling
circuitous
roundabout
digressive
discursive
indirect
diffuse
tortuous
convoluted
anfractuous
Opposite:
succinct
noun
noun: meandering; plural noun: meanderings
an act of following a winding course.
"ox-bow lagoons left by the river's meanderings"
an act of wandering in a leisurely or aimless manner.
"in the course of his meanderings through the city"
convoluted or undirected thought or language.
"he has a penchant for obscure verbal meanderings"
meander
/mɪˈandə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: meandering
(of a river or road) follow a winding course.
"a river that meandered gently through a meadow"
Similar:
zigzag
wind
twist
turn
curve
curl
bend
snake
wander at random.
"kids meandered in and out"
Similar:
stroll
saunter
amble
wander
roam
ramble
rove
drift
maunder
stray
straggle
stravaig
streel
mosey
tootle
bimble
vagabond
(of language, thought, etc.) proceed aimlessly or with little purpose.
"a stylish offbeat thriller which occasionally meanders"
Similar:
ramble
prattle
maunder
prate
blather
blether
blither
drivel
chatter
rattle
drift
witter
waffle
rabbit
natter
Origin

late 16th century (as a noun): from Latin maeander, from Greek Maiandros, the name of a river (see Menderes).

flank
/flaŋk/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: flanking
be on each or on one side of.
"the three defendants stood in the dock, flanked by police officers"
Similar:
edge
bound
line
border
fringe
skirt
be situated along
surround
circle
ring
circumscribe
guard or strengthen (a military force or position) from the side.
"the southern gate of the fortress is flanked by towers"
attack down or from the sides, or rake with gunfire from the sides.
"the ship went straight through the enemy fleet and flanked them"
Origin

late Old English, from Old French flanc, of Germanic origin.

condone
/kənˈdəʊn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: condoning
accept (behaviour that is considered morally wrong or offensive).
"the college cannot condone any behaviour that involves illicit drugs"
Similar:
deliberately ignore
not take into consideration
disregard
take no notice of
take no account of
accept
allow
make allowances for
let pass
turn a blind eye to
overlook
forget
wink at
blink at
connive at
forgive
pardon
excuse
let someone off with
let go
sink
bury
let bygones be bygones
let something ride
Opposite:
condemn
punish
approve or sanction (something), especially with reluctance.
"those arrested were released and the exhibition was officially condoned a few weeks later"
Origin

ghetto
/ˈɡɛtəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: ghetto; plural noun: ghettoes; plural noun: ghettos
a part of a city, especially a slum area, occupied by a minority group or groups.
HISTORICAL
the Jewish quarter in a city.
"the Warsaw Ghetto"
an isolated or segregated group or area.
"a middle-class ghetto of prosperous professionals"
verb
verb: ghetto; 3rd person present: ghettoes; past tense: ghettoed; past participle: ghettoed; gerund or present participle: ghettoing
put in or restrict to an isolated or segregated area or group.
Origin

whence
/wɛns/
Learn to pronounce
FORMAL•ARCHAIC
adverb
adverb: whence; adverb: from whence
from what place or source.
"whence does Parliament derive this power?"
adverb
adverb: whence; adverb: from whence
from which; from where.
"the Ural mountains, whence the ore is procured"
to the place from which.
"he will be sent back whence he came"
as a consequence of which.
"whence it followed that the strategies were obsolete"
Origin
Middle English whennes, from earlier whenne (from Old English hwanon, of Germanic origin) + -s3 (later respelled -ce to denote the unvoiced sound).

snarky
/ˈsnɑːki/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveINFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
adjective: snarky; comparative adjective: snarkier; superlative adjective: snarkiest
snide and sharply critical.
"snarky remarks"
Origin

early 20th century: from dialect snark ‘snore, snort’, ‘find fault’ (see snark2).

Third World

The "three worlds" of the Cold War era, April – August 1975
1st World: Western Bloc led by the USA and its allies
2nd World: Eastern Bloc led by the USSR, China, and their allies
3rd World: Non-Aligned and neutral countries
During the Cold War, the term Third World referred to the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, the nations not aligned with either the First World or the Second World. This usage has become popular , mostly in the western countries, due to the ending of the Cold War.

In the decade following the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the term Third World was used interchangeably with developing countries, but the concept has become outdated as it no longer represents the current political or economic state of the world. The three-world model arose during the Cold War to define countries aligned with NATO (the First World), the Eastern Bloc (the Second World, although this term was less used), or neither (the Third World). Strictly speaking, "Third World" was a political, rather than an economic, grouping.

French demographer, anthropologist and historian Alfred Sauvy, in an article published in the French magazine L'Observateur, August 14, 1952, coined the term Third World (French: Tiers Monde), referring to countries that were unaligned with either the Communist Soviet bloc or the Capitalist NATO bloc during the Cold War.

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doleful
/ˈdəʊlfʊl,ˈdəʊlf(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
expressing sorrow; mournful.
"a doleful look"
Similar:
mournful
woeful
sorrowful
sad
unhappy
depressed
dismal
gloomy
morose
melancholy
miserable
forlorn
wretched
woebegone
despondent
dejected
disconsolate
downcast
crestfallen
downhearted
heartbroken
heavy-hearted
despairing
desolate
grief-stricken
tearful
teary
lachrymose
blue
down
down in the mouth
down in the dumps
weepy
dolorous
heartsick
heartsore
Opposite:
cheerful
causing grief or misfortune.
"he could be struck off, with doleful consequences"

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stoke
/stəʊk/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: stoke; 3rd person present: stokes; past tense: stoked; past participle: stoked; gerund or present participle: stoking
add coal or other solid fuel to (a fire, furnace, boiler, etc.).
"he stoked up the barbecue"
Similar:
add fuel to
mend
keep burning
tend
fuel
encourage or incite (a strong emotion or tendency).
"his composure had the effect of stoking her anger"
INFORMAL
consume a large quantity of food or drink to give one energy.
"Carol was at the coffee machine, stoking up for the day"
Origin

mid 17th century: back-formation from stoker.
--

beset
/bɪˈsɛt/

verb
gerund or present participle: besetting
1.
(of a problem or difficulty) trouble (someone or something) persistently.
"the social problems that beset the UK"
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"

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"
Origin

late 16th century: archaic past participle of bereave.

wallow
/ˈwɒləʊ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
3rd person present: wallows
1.
(chiefly of large mammals) roll about or lie in mud or water, especially to keep cool or avoid biting insects.
"there were watering places where buffalo liked to wallow"
Similar:
loll about/around
lie about/around
tumble about/around
splash about/around
slosh
wade
paddle
slop
squelch
welter
splosh
(of a boat or aircraft) roll from side to side.
"a ship wallowing in stormy seas"
Similar:
roll
lurch
toss (about)
plunge
reel
sway
rock
flounder
keel
list
labour
make heavy weather
2.
(of a person) indulge in an unrestrained way in (something that one finds pleasurable).
"I was wallowing in the luxury of the hotel"
Similar:
luxuriate
bask
take pleasure
take satisfaction
indulge (oneself)
delight
revel
glory
give oneself up to
take to
enjoy
like
love
relish
savour
rejoice in
exult in
get a kick/buzz out of
get a kick/buzz from
get a bang from
get a charge out of
Opposite:
eschew
noun
plural noun: wallows
1.
an act of wallowing.
"a wallow in nostalgia"
2.
a depression containing mud or shallow water, formed by the wallowing of large mammals.
"a buffalo wallow"
Origin

Old English walwian ‘to roll about’, of Germanic origin, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin volvere ‘to roll’.

shallow
/ˈʃaləʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: shallows
an area of the sea, a lake, or a river where the water is not very deep.
verb
3rd person present: shallows
(of the sea, a lake, or a river) become less deep over time or in a particular place.
"the boat ground to a halt where the water shallowed"
Origin

late Middle English: obscurely related to shoal2.

shrivelled
/ˈʃrɪvld/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: shrivelled; adjective: shriveled
wrinkled and shrunken, especially as a result of loss of moisture or old age.
"a handful of shrivelled leaves"
shrivel
/ˈʃrɪv(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: shrivelled; past participle: shrivelled
wrinkle and contract or cause to wrinkle and contract, especially due to loss of moisture.
"the flowers simply shrivelled up"
Similar:
wither
wrinkle
pucker up
shrink
wilt
dry up
desiccate
dehydrate
parch
frazzle
scorch
sear
burn
blast
exsiccate
withered
dry
dried up
desiccated
dehydrated
wrinkled
puckered
wizened
faded
parched
frazzled
scorched
seared
burnt
blasted
sere
exsiccated
Opposite:
plump up
fresh
plump
juicy
lose momentum, will, or desire.
"as American interest shrivelled, so did the government's"
cause to feel worthless or insignificant.
"she shrivelled him with one glance"
Origin

mid 16th century: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare with Swedish dialect skryvla ‘to wrinkle’.

hove
/həʊv/
Learn to pronounce
NAUTICAL
past of heave.
heave
/hiːv/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: hove; past participle: hove
1.
lift or haul (something heavy) with great effort.
"she heaved the sofa back into place"
Similar:
haul
pull
lug
manhandle
drag
draw
tug
lift
raise
hoist
heft
hump
yank
upheave
Opposite:
push
NAUTICAL
pull, raise, or move (a boat or ship) by hauling on a rope or ropes.
"Martin thought he might be able to heave the lifeboat in closer"
INFORMAL
throw (something heavy).
"she heaved half a brick at him"
Similar:
throw
fling
cast
toss
hurl
lob
pitch
send
dash
let fly
bung
chuck
sling
peg
hoy
bish
2.
produce (a sigh).
"he heaved a euphoric sigh of relief"
Similar:
let out
breathe
give
sigh
gasp
emit
utter
3.
rise and fall rhythmically or spasmodically.
"his shoulders heaved as he panted"
Similar:
rise and fall
roll
swell
surge
churn
boil
seethe
swirl
billow
make an effort to vomit; retch.
"my stomach heaved"
Similar:
vomit
retch
gag
bring up
cough up
be sick
get sick
throw up
puke
chunder
chuck up
hurl
spew
do the technicolor yawn
keck
honk
sick up
boke
spit up
barf
upchuck
toss one's cookies
blow chunks
Origin

brace
/breɪs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: brace; plural noun: braces; plural noun: brace
1.
a device fitted to something, in particular a weak or injured part of the body, to give support.
"a neck brace"
Similar:
support
caliper
truss
surgical appliance
a strengthening piece of iron or timber used in building or carpentry.
Similar:
prop
beam
joist
batten
rod
post
pole
column
strut
stay
support
truss
reinforcement
buttress
shore
stanchion
bracket
sprag
a wire device fitted in the mouth to straighten the teeth.
a drilling tool with a crank handle and a socket to hold a bit.
noun: brace and bit; plural noun: brace and bits
Similar:
drill
drilling tool
boring tool
rotary tool
a rope attached to the yard of a ship for trimming the sail.
2.
BRITISH
a pair of straps that pass over the shoulders and fasten to the top of trousers at the front and back to hold them up.
3.
a pair of something, typically of birds or mammals killed in hunting.
"thirty brace of grouse"
Similar:
pair
couple
duo
twosome
duology
two
duplet
dyad
duad
doubleton
4.
PRINTING
either of the two marks { and }, used either to indicate that two or more items on one side have the same relationship as each other to the single item to which the other side points, or in pairs to show that words between them are connected.
Similar:
bracket
parenthesis
MUSIC
a similar mark connecting staves to be performed at the same time.
verb
verb: brace; 3rd person present: braces; past tense: braced; past participle: braced; gerund or present participle: bracing
make (a structure) stronger or firmer with wood, iron, or other forms of support.
"the posts were braced by lengths of timber"
Similar:
support
shore up
prop up
hold up
buttress
carry
bear
underpin
strengthen
reinforce
fortify
underprop
press (one's body or part of one's body) firmly against something in order to stay balanced.
"she braced her feet against a projecting shelf"
Similar:
steady
secure
stabilize
fix
make fast
prop
poise
tense
tighten
stiffen
strain
prepare (someone) for something difficult or unpleasant.
"both stations are bracing themselves for job losses"
Similar:
prepare
get ready
make ready
gear up
nerve
steel
galvanize
gird
strengthen
fortify
bolster
buttress
psych oneself up
Phrases
brace up — be strong or courageous.
"she was about to tell him to brace up"
Origin
Middle English (as a verb meaning ‘clasp, fasten tightly’): from Old French bracier ‘embrace’, from brace ‘two arms’, from Latin bracchia, plural of bracchium ‘arm’, from Greek brakhiōn .

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expatriate
[expatriate]
NOUN
a person who lives outside their native country.
"American expatriates in London"
synonyms:
newcomer · settler · incomer · new arrival · migrant · emigrant · non-native · [more]
ADJECTIVE
denoting or relating to a person living outside their native country.
"expatriate workers"
synonyms:
emigrant · living abroad · working abroad · non-native · émigré · displaced · [more]
VERB
send (a person or money) abroad.
"we expatriated the prisoners of war immediately after the end of the war" · [more]
synonyms:
settle abroad · live abroad · relocate abroad

hinterland
[ˈhɪntəland]
NOUN
the remote areas of a country away from the coast or the banks of major rivers.
"the hinterland of southern Italy"
synonyms:
the back of beyond · the middle of nowhere · the backwoods · the wilds · [more]
the area around or beyond a major town or port.
"a market town serving its rich agricultural hinterland"
an area lying beyond what is visible or known.
"the strange hinterland where life begins and ends"

deter
[dɪˈtəː]
VERB
deterred (past tense) · deterred (past participle)
discourage (someone) from doing something by instilling doubt or fear of the consequences.
"only a health problem would deter him from seeking re-election"
synonyms:
put off · discourage · dissuade · scare off · warn · caution · dishearten · demoralize · daunt · make worried/nervous/anxious · frighten · unnerve · intimidate
prevent the occurrence of.
"strategists think not only about how to deter war, but about how war might occur"
synonyms:
prevent · stop · put a stop to · avert · nip in the bud · fend off · turn aside · stave off · ward off · head off · shut out · block · intercept · halt · arrest · check · stay · [more]

ingress
[ˈɪnɡrɛs]
NOUN
the action or fact of going in or entering; the capacity or right of entrance.
synonyms:
entry · entrance · access · means of entry · admittance · admission · way in · [more]
a place or means of access; an entrance.
synonyms:
entry · entrance · access · means of entry · admittance · admission · [more]
the unwanted introduction of water, foreign bodies, contaminants, etc.
synonyms:
seepage · leakage · inundation · inrush · intrusion · incursion · entry · entrance
astronomy
astrology
the arrival of the sun, moon, or a planet in a specified constellation or part of the sky.

rabid
[ˈrabɪd, ˈreɪbɪd]
ADJECTIVE
having or proceeding from an extreme or fanatical support of or belief in something.
"the show's small but rabid fan base" · [more]
synonyms:
extreme · fanatical · overzealous · over-enthusiastic · extremist · violent · [more]
(of an animal) affected with rabies.
"her mother was bitten by a rabid dog"
synonyms:
rabies-infected · mad · foaming at the mouth · hydrophobic
of or connected with rabies.

lax
[laks]
ADJECTIVE
not sufficiently strict, severe, or careful.
"lax security arrangements at the airport" · [more]
synonyms:
slack · slipshod · negligent · neglectful · remiss · careless · heedless · [more]
(of the limbs or muscles) relaxed.
"muscles have more potential energy when they are stretched than when they are lax"

Kalashnikov
[kəˈlaʃnɪkɒf]
NOUN
Kalashnikovs (plural noun)
a type of rifle or sub-machine gun made in Russia.
"a Kalashnikov rifle"

simpatico
[sɪmˈpatɪkəʊ]
ADJECTIVE
(of a person) likeable and easy to get on with.
"the inspector was a charming man, so simpatico" · [more]
synonyms:
pleasant · nice · friendly · agreeable · affable · amiable · genial · civil · personable · charming · popular · clubbable · good-natured · engaging · warm · pleasing · appealing · [more]
having or characterized by shared attributes or interests; compatible.
"a simpatico relationship"
synonyms:
endearing · adorable · lovable · appealing · engaging · charming · enchanting · captivating · winsome · winning · attractive · lovely · nice · pleasant · delightful · [more]

febrile
[ˈfiːbrʌɪl]
ADJECTIVE
having or showing the symptoms of a fever.
"a febrile illness"
synonyms:
feverish · fevered · hot · burning · burning up · fiery · flushed · sweating · [more]
characterized by a great deal of nervous excitement or energy.
"the febrile atmosphere of the city"
synonyms:
nervous · anxious · tense · on edge · edgy · strained · stressed · agitated · [more]

pariah
[pəˈrʌɪə]
NOUN
an outcast.
"they were treated as social pariahs"
synonyms:
outcast · persona non grata · leper · reject · untouchable · undesirable · unperson
historical
a member of an indigenous people of southern India originally functioning as ceremonial drummers but later having a low caste.

animus
[ˈanɪməs]
NOUN
hostility or ill feeling.
"the author's animus towards her"
synonyms:
hostility · animosity · antagonism · friction · antipathy · opposition · [more]
motivation to do something.
"the reformist animus came from within the Party"
psychoanalysis
(in Jungian psychology) the masculine part of a woman's personality.Often contrasted with anima.

--
ruse de guerre:

The French ruse de guerre, sometimes literally translated as ruse of war, is a non-uniform term; ... The term ruse de guerre is given legal meaning within the rules of war.

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squelch
/skwɛltʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: squelched; past participle: squelched
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"

frivolous
/ˈfrɪv(ə)ləs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: frivolous
not having any serious purpose or value.
"frivolous ribbons and lacy frills"
Similar:
flippant
glib
waggish
joking
jokey
light-hearted
facetious
fatuous
inane
shallow
superficial
senseless
thoughtless
ill-considered
non-serious
flip
daft
frolicsome
sportive
jocose
impractical
frothy
flimsy
insubstantial
time-wasting
trivial
trifling
minor
petty
lightweight
insignificant
unimportant
worthless
valueless
pointless
paltry
niggling
peripheral
Opposite:
serious
practical
important
(of a person) carefree and superficial.
"the frivolous, fun-loving flappers of the twenties"
Similar:
giddy
silly
foolish
facetious
zany
light-hearted
merry
superficial
shallow
lacking seriousness
non-serious
light-minded
whimsical
skittish
flighty
irresponsible
thoughtless
lacking in sense
feather-brained
empty-headed
pea-brained
birdbrained
vacuous
vapid
dizzy
dippy
dopey
batty
dotty
nutty
ditzy
Opposite:
sensible
serious
Origin

espy
/ɪˈspʌɪ,ɛˈspʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verbLITERARY
verb: espy; 3rd person present: espies; past tense: espied; past participle: espied; gerund or present participle: espying
catch sight of.
"she espied her daughter rounding the corner"
Similar:
catch sight of
glimpse
catch/get a glimpse of
see
spot
spy
notice
observe
make out
discern
perceive
pick out
sight
detect
have sight of
clap/lay/set eyes on
behold
descry
Opposite:
lose sight of
Origin

nettlesome
/ˈnɛtls(ə)m/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveUS
adjective: nettlesome
causing annoyance or difficulty.
"nettlesome regional disputes"

cockle1
/ˈkɒk(ə)l/
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noun
plural noun: cockles
1.
an edible burrowing bivalve mollusc with a strong ribbed shell.

2.
LITERARY
a small, shallow boat.
Origin

Middle English: from Old French coquille ‘shell’, based on Greek konkhulion, from konkhē ‘conch’.
cockle2
/ˈkɒk(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
3rd person present: cockles
(of paper) form wrinkles or puckers.
"thin or lightweight paper cockles and warps when subjected to watercolour"
Origin

mid 16th century: from French coquiller ‘blister (bread in cooking)’, from coquille ‘shell’ (see cockle1).

vicious
/ˈvɪʃəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: vicious
1.
deliberately cruel or violent.
"a vicious assault"
Similar:
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
beastly
fell
sanguinary
malicious
malevolent
malignant
malign
spiteful
vindictive
venomous
poisonous
baleful
virulent
pernicious
backbiting
rancorous
caustic
mean
bitter
acrimonious
hostile
hate-filled
menacing
nasty
unpleasant
evil
defamatory
slanderous
bitchy
catty
malefic
maleficent
Opposite:
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

Middle English (in the sense ‘characterized by immorality’): from Old French vicious or Latin vitiosus, from vitium ‘vice’.

harrumph
/həˈrʌmf/
verb
gerund or present participle: harrumphing
clear the throat noisily.
"he harrumphed and said, ‘I am deeply obliged.’"
grumpily express dissatisfaction or disapproval.
"sceptics tend to harrumph at case histories like this"
Origin
1930s: imitative.

grumpy
/ˈɡrʌmpi/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: grumpy; comparative adjective: grumpier; superlative adjective: grumpiest
bad-tempered and irritable.
"his performance as the grumpy gateman"
Similar:
bad-tempered
ill-tempered
short-tempered
crotchety
crabby
crabbed
tetchy
testy
waspish
prickly
peppery
touchy
irritable
irascible
crusty
cantankerous
curmudgeonly
bearish
surly
churlish
ill-natured
ill-humoured
peevish
cross
as cross as two sticks
fractious
disagreeable
pettish
grouchy
snappy
snappish
chippy
on a short fuse
short-fused
shirty
stroppy
narky
ratty
eggy
like a bear with a sore head
cranky
ornery
soreheaded
snaky
miffy
waxy
Opposite:
good-humoured
Translate grumpy to

beribboned
/bɪˈrɪb(ə)nd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: beribboned; adjective: be-ribboned
decorated with many ribbons.
"beribboned straw hats"

protectorate
/prəˈtɛkt(ə)rət/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: protectorate; plural noun: protectorates; noun: Protectorate
1.
a state that is controlled and protected by another.
"Panama was juridically a protectorate of the United States"

the relationship between a protectorate and the state that controls it.
"a French protectorate had been established over Tunis"
2.
HISTORICAL
the position or period of office of a Protector, especially that in England of Oliver and Richard Cromwell.

vis-à-vis
/ˌviːzɑːˈviː,French vizavi/
preposition
in relation to; with regard to.
"many agencies now have a unit to deal with women's needs vis-à-vis employment"
adverbARCHAIC
in a position facing a specified or implied subject.
"he was there vis-à-vis with Miss Arundel"
noun
1.
a person or group occupying a corresponding position to that of another in a different sphere; a counterpart.
"his admiration for the US armed services extends to their vis-à-vis, the Russian military"
2.
a face-to-face meeting.
"the dreaded vis-à-vis with his boss"

kerfuffle
/kəˈfʌf(ə)l/
nounINFORMAL•BRITISH
noun: kerfuffle; plural noun: kerfuffles
a commotion or fuss, especially one caused by conflicting views.
"there was a kerfuffle over the chairmanship"
Origin

endemic
/ɛnˈdɛmɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: endemic
1.
(of a disease or condition) regularly found among particular people or in a certain area.
"complacency is endemic in industry today"
(of an area) in which a particular disease is regularly found.
"the persistence of infection on pastures in endemic areas"
2.
(of a plant or animal) native and restricted to a certain place.
"a marsupial endemic to north-eastern Australia"
noun
noun: endemic; plural noun: endemics
an endemic plant or animal.
"there are three types of island endemics"
Origin

casus belli
/ˌkeɪsəs ˈbɛlʌɪ,ˌkɑːsʊs ˈbɛli/
noun
noun: casus belli; plural noun: casus belli
an act or situation that provokes or justifies a war.

Origin

Latin, from casus (see case1) and belli, genitive of bellum ‘war’.

malcontent
/ˈmalkəntɛnt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: malcontents
a person who is dissatisfied and rebellious.
"it was too late to stop the malcontents with a show of force"
Similar:
troublemaker
mischief-maker
agitator
dissentient
dissident
rebel
discontent
complainer
grumbler
moaner
fault-finder
carper
stirrer
grouch
grouser
griper
nitpicker
bellyacher
beefer
whinger
kvetch
Origin

fig leaf
noun
noun: fig leaf; plural noun: fig leaves; noun: figleaf; plural noun: figleaves
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"
Origin
early 16th century: with reference to the story of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:7).

abut
/əˈbʌt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: abutting
(of a building or an area of land) be next to or have a common boundary with.
"gardens abutting Great Prescott Street"
touch or lean on.
"masonry may crumble where a roof abuts it"
Similar:
adjoin
be adjacent to
border
butt up against/to
be next to
neighbour
verge on
join
touch
meet
reach
impinge on
be contiguous with
Origin

nub
/nʌb/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: nub; noun: the nub; plural noun: nubs
1.
the crux or central point of a matter.
"the nub of the problem lies elsewhere"
Similar:
crux
central point
main point
most important point
core
heart
heart of the matter
centre
nucleus
essence
essential part
quintessence
kernel
marrow
meat
pith
gist
substance
sum and substance
nitty-gritty
2.
a small lump or protuberance.
"he pressed down on the two nubs on top of the phone"
a small chunk or nugget of metal or rock.
"a nub of gold"
Origin

late 17th century: apparently a variant of dialect knub ‘protuberance’, from Middle Low German knubbe, knobbe ‘knob’.

monies
/ˈmʌnɪz/
Learn to pronounce
plural form of money, as used in financial contexts.
money
/ˈmʌni/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a current medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes; coins and banknotes collectively.
"I counted the money before putting it in my wallet"
Similar:
cash
hard cash
ready money
the means
the wherewithal
funds
capital
finances
(filthy) lucre
banknotes
notes
paper money
coins
change
coin
coinage
silver
copper
currency
legal tender
sterling
bills
roll
dough
bread
loot
the ready
readies
shekels
moolah
the necessary
wad
boodle
dibs
gelt
ducats
rhino
gravy
scratch
stuff
oof
folding money
dosh
brass
lolly
spondulicks
wonga
ackers
dinero
greenbacks
simoleons
bucks
jack
mazuma
Oscar
splosh
green
tin
l.s.d.
kale
rocks
shinplasters
specie
pelf
FORMAL
sums of money.
plural noun: monies
"a statement of all moneys paid into and out of the account"
Origin

Middle English: from Old French moneie, from Latin moneta ‘mint, money’, originally a title of the goddess Juno, in whose temple in Rome money was minted.

at sixes and sevens
phrase of six
in a state of total confusion or disarray.
"everything is at sixes and sevens here"
Similar:
chaotic
disorganized
disordered
disorderly
untidy
messy
jumbled

perilous
/ˈpɛrɪləs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: perilous
full of danger or risk.
"a perilous journey south"
Similar:
dangerous
fraught with danger
hazardous
risky
unsafe
treacherous
precarious
vulnerable
uncertain
insecure
critical
desperate
exposed
at risk
in jeopardy
in danger
touch-and-go
problematic
difficult
hairy
dicey
gnarly
parlous
Opposite:
safe
secure
exposed to imminent risk of disaster or ruin.
"the economy is in a perilous state"
Origin

debouch
/dɪˈbaʊtʃ,dɪˈbuːʃ/
verb
gerund or present participle: debouching
emerge from a confined space into a wide, open area.
"the stream finally debouches into a silent pool"
Origin

gumption
/ˈɡʌm(p)ʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
nounINFORMAL
noun: gumption
shrewd or spirited initiative and resourcefulness.
"the president would hire almost any young man who had the gumption to ask for a job"
Similar:
initiative
resourcefulness
enterprise
imagination
imaginativeness
ingenuity
inventiveness
cleverness
astuteness
shrewdness
acumen
discernment
understanding
reason
wisdom
sagacity
sense
common sense
wit
mother wit
native wit
native ability
practicality
spirit
forcefulness
backbone
pluck
mettle
nerve
courage
get-up-and-go
grit
spunk
oomph
nous
savvy
horse sense
loaf
common
smarts
Opposite:
stupidity
Origin

early 18th century (originally Scots): of unknown origin.

bogey1
/ˈbəʊɡi/
GOLF
noun
noun: bogey; plural noun: bogeys
a score of one stroke over par at a hole.
"he walked off the green with a bogey four"
old-fashioned term for par1 (sense 1 of the noun).
"with a handicap of 17, Jones receives an allowance against bogey of 13 strokes"
verb
verb: bogey; 3rd person present: bogeys; past tense: bogeyed; past participle: bogeyed; gerund or present participle: bogeying
play (a hole) in one stroke over par.
Origin

late 19th century: perhaps from Bogey, denoting the Devil (see bogey2), regarded as an imaginary player.
bogey2
/ˈbəʊɡi/
noun
noun: bogey; plural noun: bogeys; noun: bogy; plural noun: bogies
1.
an evil or mischievous spirit.
"bogeys and other unpleasant denizens of the night"
Similar:
evil spirit
bogle
ghost
spectre
phantom
hobgoblin
ogre
troll
demon
devil
fiend
sprite
witch
warlock
apparition
spook
a person or thing that causes fear or alarm.
"the bogey of recession"
Similar:
bugbear
pet hate
bane
anathema
abomination
nightmare
horror
dread
curse
thorn in one's flesh/side
bane of one's life
bugaboo
bête noire
peeve
pet peeve
MILITARY SLANG•US
an unidentified aircraft.
2.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
a piece of nasal mucus.
Origin

mid 19th century (as a proper name applied to the Devil): of unknown origin; probably related to bogle.
bogey3
/ˈbəʊɡi/
nounINFORMAL•AUSTRALIAN
noun: bogey; plural noun: bogeys
an act of swimming or bathing.
Origin

mid 19th century: from Dharuk bu-gi ‘to swim’.
Translate bogey to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
bogey is sometimes confused with bogie and boogie

shibboleth
/ˈʃɪbəlɛθ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
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.
"liberal shibboleths about education"
Origin

mid 17th century: from Hebrew šibbōleṯ ‘ear of corn’, used as a test of nationality by its difficult pronunciation (Judg. 12:6).

parlay
/ˈpɑːleɪ/
Learn to pronounce
NORTH AMERICAN
verb
3rd person present: parlays
turn an initial stake or winnings from a previous bet into (a greater amount) by gambling.
"parlaying a small bankroll into big winnings"
INFORMAL
transform into (something greater or more valuable).
"a banker who parlayed a sizeable inheritance into a financial empire"
noun
plural noun: parlays
a cumulative series of bets in which winnings accruing from each transaction are used as a stake for a further bet.
Origin

late 19th century: from French paroli, from Italian, from paro ‘like’, from Latin par ‘equal’.

begat
/bɪˈɡat/
Learn to pronounce
past of beget.
beget
/bɪˈɡɛt/
Learn to pronounce
verbLITERARY
past tense: begat
1.
(especially of a man) bring (a child) into existence by the process of reproduction.
"they hoped that the King might beget an heir by his new queen"
Similar:
father
sire
engender
generate
spawn
create
give life to
bring into being
bring into the world
have
procreate
reproduce
breed
2.
cause; bring about.
"killings beget more killings"
Similar:
cause
give rise to
lead to
result in
bring about
create
produce
generate
engender
spawn
occasion
effect
bring to pass
bring on
precipitate
prompt
provoke
kindle
trigger
spark off
touch off
stir up
whip up
induce
inspire
promote
foster
enkindle
effectuate
Origin

salvo
/ˈsalvəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: salvos
a simultaneous discharge of artillery or other guns in a battle.
"a deafening salvo of shots rang out"

a number of weapons released from one or more aircraft in quick succession.
a sudden, vigorous, or aggressive act or series of acts.
"the pardons provoked a salvo of accusations"
Origin

powwow
/ˈpaʊwaʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: pow-wow
1.
a North American Indian ceremony involving feasting, singing and dancing.
2.
a conference or meeting for discussion, especially among friends or colleagues.
verbINFORMAL
verb: pow-wow
hold a powwow; confer.
"news squads powwowed nervously"
Origin

early 17th century: from Narragansett powah, powwaw ‘magician’ (literally ‘he dreams’).

flank
/flaŋk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: flank; plural noun: flanks
1.
the side of a person's or animal's body between the ribs and the hip.
"leaning against his horse's flanks"
Similar:
side
haunch
loin
quarter
thigh
a cut of meat from the flank of an animal.
"a thick flank of beef"
the side of a large object or structure.
"the northern flank of the Rockies"
2.
the right or left side of a body of people such as an army, a naval force, or a soccer team.
"the left flank of the Russian Third Army"
Similar:
side
wing
face
aspect
facet
the right or left side of a gaming area such as a chessboard.
RUGBY
another term for wing forward.
noun: flank forward; plural noun: flank forwards
verb
verb: flank; 3rd person present: flanks; past tense: flanked; past participle: flanked; gerund or present participle: flanking
be on each or on one side of.
"the three defendants stood in the dock, flanked by police officers"
Similar:
edge
bound
line
border
fringe
skirt
be situated along
surround
circle
ring
circumscribe
guard or strengthen (a military force or position) from the side.
"the southern gate of the fortress is flanked by towers"
attack down or from the sides, or rake with gunfire from the sides.
"the ship went straight through the enemy fleet and flanked them"
Phrases
in flank — at the side.
"they were to hit the tail of the column in flank"

ruse
/ruːz/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: ruse; plural noun: ruses
an action intended to deceive someone; a trick.
"Emma tried to think of a ruse to get Paul out of the house"
Similar:
ploy
stratagem
tactic
move
device
scheme
trick
gambit
cunning plan
manoeuvre
contrivance
expedient
dodge
subterfuge
machination
game
wile
smokescreen
red herring
blind
the oldest trick in the book
wheeze
shift
Origin

late Middle English (as a hunting term): from Old French, from ruser ‘use trickery’, earlier ‘drive back’, perhaps based on Latin rursus ‘backwards’.
Translate ruse to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
ruse is sometimes confused with rouse

Old English thrǣl ‘slave’, from Old Norse thræll .

incubus
/ˈɪŋkjʊbəs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: incubus; plural noun: incubi
a male demon believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women.

a cause of difficulty or anxiety.
"debt is a big incubus in developing countries"
ARCHAIC
a nightmare.
Origin

Middle English: late Latin form of Latin incubo ‘nightmare’, from incubare ‘lie on’ (see incubate).

bona fides
/ˌbəʊnə ˈfʌɪdiːz,ˌbəʊnə ˈfiːdeɪz/
noun
noun: bonafides
a person's honesty and sincerity of intention.
"he went to great lengths to establish his liberal bona fides"
INFORMAL
documentary evidence showing that a person is what they claim to be; credentials.
plural noun: bona fides; plural noun: bonafides
"he set about checking Loretta's bona fides"
Origin

Latin, literally ‘good faith’.

stark
/stɑːk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
superlative adjective: starkest
1.
severe or bare in appearance or outline.
"the ridge formed a stark silhouette against the sky"
Similar:
sharply delineated
sharp
sharply defined
well focused
crisp
distinct
obvious
evident
clear
clear-cut
graphic
striking
desolate
bare
barren
arid
vacant
empty
forsaken
godforsaken
bleak
dreary
gloomy
sombre
depressing
cheerless
joyless
uninviting
miserable
grim
harsh
oppressive
merciless
drear
austere
severe
plain
simple
unadorned
unembellished
undecorated
uncomfortable
Opposite:
fuzzy
indistinct
pleasant
comfortable
ornate
unpleasantly or sharply clear.
"his position is in stark contrast to that of Curran"
Similar:
blunt
bald
bare
simple
straightforward
basic
plain
unadorned
unembellished
unvarnished
harsh
grim
Opposite:
disguised
2.
complete; sheer.
"he came running back in stark terror"
Similar:
sheer
utter
complete
absolute
total
pure
perfect
positive
downright
out-and-out
outright
thorough
thoroughgoing
through and through
consummate
surpassing
veritable
rank
unequivocal
undeniable
unqualified
unmitigated
unalloyed
unadulterated
unmixed
RARE
completely naked.
3.
ARCHAIC•LITERARY
stiff, rigid, or incapable of movement.
"a human body lying stiff and stark by the stream"
physically strong or powerful.
"the dragoons were stark fellows"
Origin

cantankerous
/kanˈtaŋk(ə)rəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: cantankerous
bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.
"he can be a cantankerous old fossil at times"
Similar:
bad-tempered
irascible
irritable
grumpy
grouchy
crotchety
tetchy
testy
crusty
curmudgeonly
ill-tempered
ill-natured
ill-humoured
peevish
cross
as cross as two sticks
fractious
disagreeable
pettish
crabbed
crabby
waspish
prickly
peppery
touchy
scratchy
splenetic
shrewish
short-tempered
hot-tempered
quick-tempered
dyspeptic
choleric
bilious
liverish
cross-grained
argumentative
quarrelsome
uncooperative
contrary
perverse
difficult
awkward
snappish
snappy
chippy
on a short fuse
short-fused
shirty
stroppy
narky
ratty
eggy
like a bear with a sore head
cranky
ornery
peckish
soreheaded
snaky
waxy
miffy
Opposite:
good-natured
affable
Origin

machination
/ˌmaʃɪˈneɪʃn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: machinations
a plot or scheme.
Similar:
schemes
plotting
plots
intrigues
conspiracies
designs
plans
devices
ploys
ruses
tricks
wiles
stratagems
tactics
manoeuvres
manoeuvring
contrivances
expedients
complots
Origin

intrigue
verb
3rd person present: intrigues
/ɪnˈtriːɡ/
1.
arouse the curiosity or interest of; fascinate.
"I was intrigued by your question"
Similar:
interest
be of interest to
fascinate
be a source of fascination to
arouse someone's curiosity
engage someone's attention
attract
draw
lure
tempt
tantalize
rivet
absorb
engross
charm
captivate
divert
titillate
interesting
fascinating
absorbing
compelling
gripping
riveting
captivating
engaging
enthralling
diverting
titillating
tantalizing
stimulating
thought-provoking
Opposite:
bore
2.
make secret plans to do something illicit or detrimental to someone.
"Henry and Louis intrigued with the local nobles"
Similar:
plot
hatch a plot
conspire
take part in a conspiracy
make secret plans
lay plans
scheme
manoeuvre
connive
collude
work hand in glove
complot
cabal
machinate
noun
/ɪnˈtriːɡ,ˈɪntriːɡ/
the secret planning of something illicit or detrimental.
"the cabinet was a nest of intrigue"
Similar:
plotting
planning
conspiracy
collusion
conniving
scheming
machination
palace intrigue
trickery
sharp practice
double-dealing
unscrupulousness
underhandedness
deviousness
subterfuge
plot
scheme
stratagem
ruse
wile
artifice
manoeuvre
dirty tricks
complot
cabal
covin
a secret love affair.
plural noun: intrigues
Similar:
secret love affair
affair
affair of the heart
liaison
amour
amorous entanglement
romantic entanglement
fling
flirtation
dalliance
adultery
infidelity
unfaithfulness
fooling around
playing around
playing away
hanky-panky
carryings-on
carry-on
bit on the side
Origin

squawk
/skwɔːk/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: squawk; 3rd person present: squawks; past tense: squawked; past participle: squawked; gerund or present participle: squawking
(of a bird) make a loud, harsh noise.
"the geese flew upriver, squawking"
Similar:
screech
squeal
shriek
scream
croak
crow
caw
cluck
clack
cackle
hoot
cry
call
(of a person) say something in a loud, discordant tone.
"‘What are you doing?’ she squawked"
complain or protest about something.
"he is well known for squawking about price-fixing at local gas pumps"
Similar:
complain
protest
object
express disapproval
raise objections
make/take a stand
put up a fight
kick
take exception
grouse
grouch
grumble
whine
wail
moan
carp
squeal
mither
twine
kick up a fuss
kick up a stink
gripe
bellyache
bitch
beef
whinge
noun
noun: squawk; plural noun: squawks
a loud, harsh, or discordant noise made by a bird or a person.
"with a startled squawk the rook flew off"
Similar:
screech
squeal
shriek
scream
croak
crow
caw
cluck
clack
cackle
hoot
cry
call
a complaint or protest.
"her plan provoked a loud squawk from her friends"
Similar:
complaint
protest
objection
fuss
grouse
grouch
grumble
whine
wail
moan
carp
squeal
stink
gripe
bellyache
bitch
beef
whinge
Origin

fettle
/ˈfɛt(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fettle; plural noun: fettles
condition.
"Marguerite was in fine fettle"
Similar:
shape
trim
fitness
physical fitness
health
state of health
condition
form
repair
state of repair
state
order
working order
way
kilter
nick
verb
verb: fettle; 3rd person present: fettles; past tense: fettled; past participle: fettled; gerund or present participle: fettling
trim or clean the rough edges of (a metal casting or a piece of pottery) before firing.
NORTHERN ENGLISH
make or repair (something).
Originally
--

Canberra
Capital of Australia
DescriptionCanberra is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. Wikipedia
Weather: 11 °C, Wind W at 18 km/h, 43% Humidity
Local time: Monday, 10:55 pm
Population: 3.96 lakhs (2016) United Nations
Territory electorate(s): Brindabella; Ginninderra; Kurrajong; Murrumbidgee; Yerrabi

crimp
/krɪmp/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: crimping
1.
compress (something) into small folds or ridges.
"she crimped the edge of the pie"
Similar:
flute
pleat
corrugate
ruffle
furrow
groove
ridge
crease
wrinkle
crinkle
crumple
pucker
gather
pinch
press together
squeeze together
ruckle
2.
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
have a limiting or adverse effect on (something).
"his zeal about his career can crimp the rest of his life"

blandly
/ˈblandli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: blandly
in an uninteresting manner that lacks strong emotion, features, or characteristics.
"he smiled blandly at me"

pomp
/pɒmp/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: pomp
ceremony and splendid display.
"entertaining overseas visitors with the right degree of pomp"
Similar:
ceremony
ceremoniousness
ceremonial
solemnity
ritual
display
spectacle
pageantry
pageant
show
showiness
ostentation
splendour
grandeur
grandness
magnificence
majesty
stateliness
glory
gloriousness
sumptuousness
opulence
lavishness
richness
brilliance
radiance
dazzle
theatricality
drama
flourish
glitter
style
éclat
resplendence
splendidness
pizzazz
razzle-dazzle
razzmatazz
Opposite:
simplicity
ARCHAIC
vain and ostentatious display.
plural noun: pomps
"I perceived Captain Delmar, in all the pomp and pride of full uniform"
Origin

Middle English: from Old French pompe, via Latin from Greek pompē ‘procession, pomp’, from pempein ‘send’.

idle
/ˈʌɪd(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: idling
1.
spend time doing nothing.
"four men were idling outside the shop"
Similar:
do nothing
be inactive
vegetate
sit back
take it easy
rest on one's oars
mark time
kick one's heels
twiddle one's thumbs
kill time
languish
laze (around/about)
lounge (around/about)
loll (around/about)
loaf (around/about)
slouch (around/about)
go to seed
degenerate
moulder
stagnate
hang around
veg out
hang about
mooch about/around
slummock
bum around
bat around/about
lollygag
lay on one's oars
fritter
while
laze
loiter
pass
spend
use
employ
use up
occupy
take up
fill up
fill in
fill
beguile
expend
devote
waste
dissipate
kill
move aimlessly or lazily.
"Robert idled along the pavement"
Similar:
saunter
stroll
dawdle
drift
potter
amble
go/walk slowly
loiter
maunder
wander
straggle
mosey
tootle
pootle
mooch
swan
putter
NORTH AMERICAN
take out of use or employment.
"he will close the newspaper, idling 2,200 workers"
2.
(of an engine) run slowly while disconnected from a load or out of gear.
"Nadine kept the engine idling"
Similar:
tick over
run slowly in neutral
cause (an engine) to idle.
Origin

penchant
/ˈpɒ̃ʃɒ̃/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: penchant; plural noun: penchants
a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something.
"he has a penchant for adopting stray dogs"
Similar:
liking
fondness
preference
taste
relish
appetite
partiality
soft spot
love
passion
desire
fancy
whim
weakness
inclination
bent
bias
proclivity
predilection
predisposition
affinity
Origin

late 17th century: from French, ‘leaning, inclining’, present participle of the verb pencher .

tripwire
/ˈtrɪpwʌɪə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: tripwire; plural noun: tripwires; noun: trip-wire; plural noun: trip-wires
a wire stretched close to the ground, working a trap, explosion, or alarm when disturbed and serving to detect or prevent people or animals entering an area.
"he brushed some leaves aside to reveal a small tripwire stretched between two trees"
a comparatively weak military force employed as a first line of defence, engagement with which will trigger the intervention of stronger forces.
"if these peacekeeping efforts fail, they should have the function of a tripwire"

BrahMos

The BrahMos is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarine, ships, aircraft, or land. It is the fastest supersonic cruise missile in the world.
Speed: Mach 3 (3,700 km/h; 2,300 mph; 1.0 km/s)

Unit cost: US$2.75 million

Launch platform: Ship, submarine, aircraft (under testing), and land-based mobile launchers
Used by: Indian Army; Indian Navy; Indian Air Force
Accuracy: 1 m circular error probable
Manufacturer: BrahMos Aerospace Limited
Place of origin: India / Russia

annul
/əˈnʌl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: annulling
declare invalid (an official agreement, decision, or result).
"the elections were annulled by the general amid renewed protests"
Similar:
declare invalid
declare null and void
nullify
invalidate
void
repeal
reverse
rescind
revoke
set aside
cancel
abolish
undo
abrogate
countermand
dissolve
withdraw
cast aside
quash
vacate
disannul
negate
recall
Opposite:
restore
enact
declare (a marriage) to have had no legal existence.
"her first marriage was finally annulled by His Holiness"

entrepôt
/ˈɒntrəpəʊ/
noun
noun: entrepôt; plural noun: entrepôts
a port, city, or other centre to which goods are brought for import and export, and for collection and distribution.
"Hong Kong has long been an entrepôt between east and west"
Origin

early 18th century: French, from entreposer ‘to store’, from entre ‘among’ + poser ‘to place’.

Origin

late 17th century: from French, probably from Old French tournicle ‘coat of mail’, influenced by tourner ‘to turn’.

outflank
/aʊtˈflaŋk/
Learn to pronounce
verb
3rd person present: outflanks
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"

ECOLOGY
the littoral zone.
Origin

relent
/rɪˈlɛnt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: relent; 3rd person present: relents; past tense: relented; past participle: relented; gerund or present participle: relenting
abandon or mitigate a severe or harsh attitude, especially by finally yielding to a request.
"she was going to refuse his request, but relented"
Similar:
change one's mind
do a U-turn
back-pedal
back down
give way
give in
capitulate
yield
accede
come round
acquiesce
soften
melt
weaken
unbend
become merciful
become lenient
have/show pity
have/show mercy
give quarter
agree to something
allow something
concede something
admit something
do an about-turn
Opposite:
harden
become less severe or intense.
"the rain relented"
Similar:
ease off
slacken
let up
ease
ease up
relax
abate
drop
fall off
die down
lessen
decrease
diminish
moderate
subside
weaken
tail off
Opposite:
strengthen
worsen
Origin

unwavering
/ʌnˈweɪv(ə)rɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: unwavering
not wavering; steady or resolute.
"she fixed him with an unwavering stare"
Similar:
steady
fixed
resolute
resolved
firm
steadfast
decided
unswerving
unfluctuating
unhesitating
unfaltering
unvacillating
untiring
tireless
unflagging
indefatigable
persistent
unyielding
relentless
unremitting
unrelenting
sustained
inexorable
unshakeable
Opposite:
wavering
unsteady
Translate unwavering to

--
pusillanimity
/ˌpjuːsɪləˈnɪmɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: pusillanimity
lack of courage or determination; timidity.
"the pusillanimity of his answer surprised me"
Origin

----

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

late 17th century: apparently a variant of dialect knub ‘protuberance’, from Middle Low German knubbe, knobbe ‘knob’.

rigmarole
/ˈrɪɡmərəʊl/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: rigmarole; plural noun: rigmaroles
a lengthy and complicated procedure.
"he went through the rigmarole of securing the front door"
Similar:
lengthy process
fuss
fuss and bother
bother
commotion
trouble
folderol
ado
pother
palaver
song and dance
performance
to-do
carry-on
carrying-on
kerfuffle
hoo-ha
hullabaloo
ballyhoo
business
pantomime
hassle
hoopla
bobsy-die
a long, rambling story or statement.
"she went into a long rigmarole about the different jobs she'd had"
Similar:
lengthy story/explanation
saga
yarn
recitation
burble
burbling
maundering
shaggy-dog story
spiel
banging on
palaver
Origin

fief
/fiːf/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fief; plural noun: fiefs
1.
HISTORICAL•LAW
an estate of land, especially one held on condition of feudal service; a fee.

2.
a person's sphere of operation or control.
Origin

early 17th century: from French (see fee).

embark
/ɪmˈbɑːk,ɛmˈbɑːk/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: embarking
1.
go on board a ship or aircraft.
"he embarked for India in 1817"
Similar:
board ship
go on board
go aboard
climb aboard
step aboard
take ship
take off
hop on
jump on
Opposite:
disembark
land
put or take on board a ship or aircraft.
"the passengers were ready to be embarked"
2.
begin (a course of action).
"she embarked on a new career"
Similar:
begin
start
commence
undertake
set about
enter on
go into
take up
venture into
launch into
plunge into
turn one's hand to
engage in
settle down to
institute
initiate
tackle
have a go/crack/shot at
Origin

troupe
/truːp/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: troupe; plural noun: troupes
a group of dancers, actors, or other entertainers who tour to different venues.
"a dance troupe"
Similar:
group
company
band
ensemble
set
cast
Origin

early 19th century: from French, literally ‘troop’.

discursive
/dɪsˈkəːsɪv/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: discursive
1.
digressing from subject to subject.
"students often write dull, second-hand, discursive prose"
Similar:
rambling
digressive
meandering
wandering
maundering
diffuse
long
lengthy
circuitous
roundabout
circumlocutory
periphrastic
verbose
long-winded
prolix
wordy
waffly
pleonastic
logorrhoeic
ambagious
Opposite:
concise
(of a style of speech or writing) fluent and expansive.
"the short story is concentrated, whereas the novel is discursive"
Similar:
fluent
flowing
fluid
eloquent
articulate
elegant
expansive
Opposite:
terse
2.
relating to discourse or modes of discourse.
"the attempt to transform utterances from one discursive context to another"
3.
ARCHAIC•PHILOSOPHY
proceeding by argument or reasoning rather than by intuition.
Origin

abysmal
/əˈbɪzm(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: abysmal
1.
extremely bad; appalling.
"the quality of her work is abysmal"
Similar:
very bad
dreadful
awful
terrible
frightful
atrocious
disgraceful
deplorable
shameful
woeful
hopeless
lamentable
laughable
substandard
poor
inadequate
inferior
unsatisfactory
rotten
appalling
crummy
pathetic
pitiful
useless
lousy
shocking
dire
poxy
the pits
duff
chronic
a load of pants
pants
vulgar slangchickenshit
Opposite:
superb
2.
LITERARY
very deep.
"waterfalls that plunge into abysmal depths"
Similar:
profound
extreme
utter
complete
thorough
deep
endless
immeasurable
boundless
incalculable
unfathomable
bottomless
Origin

mid 17th century (used literally as in abysmal (sense 2)): from abysm. abysmal (sense 1) dates from the early 19th century.

obdurate
/ˈɒbdjʊrət/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.
"I argued this point with him, but he was obdurate"
Similar:
stubborn
obstinate
unyielding
unbending
inflexible
intransigent

frigate
/ˈfrɪɡət/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: frigates
a warship with a mixed armament, generally lighter than a destroyer (in the US navy, heavier) and of a kind originally introduced for convoy escort work.

HISTORICAL
a sailing warship of a size and armament just below that of a ship of the line.
Origin

late 16th century (denoting a light, fast boat which was rowed or sailed): from French frégate, from Italian fregata, of unknown origin.

turpitude
/ˈtəːpɪtjuːd/
Learn to pronounce
nounFORMAL
noun: turpitude
depraved or wicked behaviour or character.
"acts of moral turpitude"
Similar:
wickedness
immorality
depravity
corruption
corruptness
vice
degeneracy
evil
baseness
iniquity
sinfulness
vileness
nefariousness
flagitiousness
Opposite:
virtue
honour
Origin

amphibious
/amˈfɪbɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: amphibious
relating to, living in, or suited for both land and water.
"an amphibious vehicle"
(of a military operation) involving forces landed from the sea.
"an amphibious assault"
Origin

lump1
/lʌmp/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: lump; plural noun: lumps; noun: the lump
1.
a compact mass of a substance, especially one without a definite or regular shape.
"there was a lump of ice floating in the milk"
Similar:
chunk
wedge
hunk
piece
mass
block
slab
cake
nugget
ball
brick
cube
dab
pat
knob
clod
gobbet
dollop
wad
clump
cluster
mound
concentration
bit
segment
portion
gob
glob
a swelling under the skin, especially one caused by injury or disease.
"he was unhurt apart from a huge lump on his head"
Similar:
swelling
bump
bulge
protuberance
protrusion
growth
outgrowth
carbuncle
hump
tumour
wen
boil
blister
wart
corn
eruption
node
contusion
tumescence
a small cube of sugar.
INFORMAL
a heavy, ungainly, or slow-witted person.
"I won't stand a chance against a big lump like you"
2.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
the state of being self-employed and paid without deduction of tax, especially in the building industry.
"‘Working?’ ‘Only on the lump, here and there’"
verb
verb: lump; 3rd person present: lumps; past tense: lumped; past participle: lumped; gerund or present participle: lumping
1.
put in an indiscriminate mass or group; treat as alike without regard for particulars.
"Hong Kong and Bangkok tend to be lumped together in holiday brochures"
Similar:
combine
put
group
bunch
aggregate
unite
pool
mix
blend
merge
mass
join
fuse
conglomerate
coalesce
consolidate
collect
throw
consider together
(in taxonomy) classify plants or animals in relatively inclusive groups, disregarding minor variations.
"many arguments are based on one side lumping and the other splitting"
2.
BRITISH
carry (a heavy load) somewhere with difficulty.
"the coalman had to lump one-hundredweight sacks right through the house"
Phrases
a lump in the throat
a feeling of tightness or dryness in the throat caused by strong emotion, especially sadness. "there was a lump in her throat as she gazed down at her uncle's gaunt features"
take one's lumps
suffer punishment; be attacked or defeated. "Jason decided to lie doggo and let Faraday take his lumps"
Origin

Middle English: perhaps from a Germanic base meaning ‘shapeless piece’; compare with Danish lump ‘lump’, Norwegian and Swedish dialect lump ‘block, log’, and Dutch lomp ‘rag’.
lump2
/lʌmp/
Learn to pronounce
verbINFORMAL
verb: lump; 3rd person present: lumps; past tense: lumped; past participle: lumped; gerund or present participle: lumping
accept or tolerate a disagreeable situation whether one likes it or not.
"you can like it or lump it but I've got to work"
Similar:
put up with it
bear it
endure it
take it
tolerate it
suffer it
accept it
make allowances for it
abide it
brook it
weather it
countenance it
thole it
stick it
stomach it
stand it
swallow it
hack it
wear it
Origin
late 16th century (in the sense ‘look sulky’): symbolic of displeasure; compare with words such as dump and grump . The current sense dates from the early 19th century.

prelude
/ˈprɛljuːd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: prelude; plural noun: preludes
1.
an action or event serving as an introduction to something more important.
"a ceasefire had been agreed as a prelude to full peace negotiations"
Similar:
preliminary
overture
opening
preparation
introduction
start
beginning
curtain-raiser
lead-in
precursor
forerunner
harbinger
herald
opener
commencement
prolusion
2.
an introductory piece of music, most commonly an orchestral opening to an act of an opera, the first movement of a suite, or a piece preceding a fugue.
Similar:
overture
introductory movement
introduction
opening
voluntary
verset

a short piece of music of a style similar to a prelude, especially for the piano.
the introductory part of a poem or other literary work.
Similar:
introduction
preface
prologue
foreword
preamble
intro
proem
exordium
prolegomenon
prodrome
Opposite:
conclusion
postscript
verb
verb: prelude; 3rd person present: preludes; past tense: preluded; past participle: preluded; gerund or present participle: preluding
serve as a prelude or introduction to.
"the bombardment preluded an all-out final attack"
Origin

incommunicado
/ˌɪnkəmjuːnɪˈkɑːdəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: incommunicado
not able, wanting, or allowed to communicate with other people.
"they were separated and detained incommunicado"
Origin

mid 19th century: from Spanish incomunicado, past participle of incomunicar ‘deprive of communication’.

scorn
/skɔːn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: scorned; past participle: scorned
feel or express contempt or disdain for.
"the minister scorned Labour's attempt to woo voters"
Similar:
deride
be contemptuous about
hold in contempt
treat with contempt
pour/heap scorn on
be scornful about
look down on
look down one's nose at
disdain
curl one's lip at
mock
scoff at
sneer at
sniff at
jeer at
laugh at
laugh out of court
disparage
slight
dismiss
cock a snook at
spit in the eye/face of
spit on
thumb one's nose at
turn one's nose up at
blow raspberries at
give the Bronx cheer to
contemn
misprize
scout
vulgar slangpiss on/over
Opposite:
admire
respect
reject (something) in a contemptuous way.
"a letter scorning his offer of intimacy"
Similar:
spurn
rebuff
reject
ignore
shun
snub
refuse to do something because one is too proud.
"at her lowest ebb, she would have scorned to stoop to such tactics"
Similar:
refuse to
refrain from
not lower oneself to
be above
consider it beneath one
Origin

Middle English: shortening of Old French escarn (noun), escharnir (verb), of Germanic origin.

locus standi
/ˌləʊkəs ˈstandʌɪ,ˌlɒkəs ˈstandʌɪ/
nounLAW
noun: locus standi; plural noun: loci standi
the right or capacity to bring an action or to appear in a court.
"a foreign government which has not been recognized by the UK government has no locus standi in the English courts"
Origin

Latin, literally ‘place of standing’.

dhow
/daʊ/
noun
noun: dhow; plural noun: dhows
a lateen-rigged ship with one or two masts, used chiefly in the Arabian region.
Origin

late 18th century: from Arabic dāwa, probably related to Marathi dāw .

nix1
/nɪks/
INFORMAL
verbNORTH AMERICAN
past tense: nixed; past participle: nixed
put an end to; cancel.
"he nixed the deal just before it was to be signed"
Origin

late 18th century (as a noun): from German, colloquial variant of nichts ‘nothing’.

asinine
/ˈasɪnʌɪn/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: asinine
extremely stupid or foolish.
"Lydia ignored his asinine remark"
Similar:
stupid
foolish
pointless
brainless
mindless
senseless
doltish
idiotic
imbecilic
imbecile
insane
lunatic
ridiculous
ludicrous
absurd
preposterous
nonsensical
fatuous
silly
childish
infantile
puerile
immature
juvenile
inane
witless
half-baked
empty-headed
unintelligent
half-witted
slow-witted
weak-minded
crazy
dumb
cretinous
moronic
gormless
damfool
divvy
daft
glaikit
dumb-ass
chowderheaded
dof
dotish
Opposite:
intelligent
Origin

late 15th century: from Latin asininus, from asinus ‘ass’.

synoptic
/sɪˈnɒptɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: synoptic
1.
of or forming a general summary or synopsis.
"a synoptic outline of the contents"
taking or involving a comprehensive mental view.
"a synoptic model of higher education"
2.
relating to the Synoptic Gospels.
noun
plural noun: Synoptics; noun: synoptic; plural noun: synoptics
the Synoptic Gospels.
Origin

early 17th century: from Greek sunoptikos, from sunopsis (see synopsis).

(with) tongue in cheek
phrase of tongue
speaking or writing in an ironic or insincere way.
"one suspects that he is writing with tongue in cheek"

obstinate
/ˈɒbstɪnət/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: obstinate
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"
Origin

Middle English: from Latin obstinatus, past participle of obstinare ‘persist’.

spearhead
/ˈspɪəhɛd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: spearheading
lead (an attack or movement).
"he's spearheading a campaign to reduce the number of accidents at work"
Similar:
lead
head
front
be the driving force behind
be in the forefront of

hoary
/ˈhɔːri/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: hoary; comparative adjective: hoarier; superlative adjective: hoariest
1.
greyish white.
"hoary cobwebs"
Similar:
greyish white
grey
white
silver
silvery
frost-covered
frosty
rimy
(of a person) old and having grey or white hair.
"a hoary old fellow with a face of white stubble"
Similar:
elderly
aged
old
getting on
ancient
venerable
long in the tooth
of an advanced age
advanced in years
grey-haired
white-haired
silver-haired
silvery-haired
grizzled
grizzly
past it
over the hill
longevous
senescent
Opposite:
young
used in names of animals and plants covered with whitish fur or short hairs, e.g. hoary bat, hoary cress.
2.
overused and unoriginal; trite.
"the hoary old adage often used by Fleet Street editors"
Similar:
trite
hackneyed
clichéd
banal
platitudinous
vapid
ordinary
commonplace
common
stock
conventional
stereotyped
predictable
overused
overdone
overworked
stale
worn out
time-worn
tired
threadbare
hack
unimaginative
unoriginal
derivative
uninspired
prosaic
routine
pedestrian
run-of-the-mill
old hat
corny
hacky
played out
cornball
dime-store
truistic
bromidic
Opposite:
original
Translate hoary to

flotilla
/fləˈtɪlə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: flotillas
a small fleet of ships or boats.
"a flotilla of cargo boats"
Origin

early 18th century: from Spanish, diminutive of flota ‘fleet’.
Translate flotillas to

pilfer
/ˈpɪlfə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: pilfer; 3rd person present: pilfers; past tense: pilfered; past participle: pilfered; gerund or present participle: pilfering
steal (things of little value).
"she produced the handful of coins she had managed to pilfer"
Similar:
steal
thieve
rob
take
snatch
purloin
loot
rifle
abscond with
carry off
pillage
walk off/away with
run away/off with
swipe
nab
rip off
lift
`liberate'
`borrow'
filch
snaffle
snitch
pinch
half-inch
nick
whip
knock off
nobble
bone
heist
glom
snavel
tief
crib
hook
Origin

indigenous
/ɪnˈdɪdʒɪnəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: indigenous
originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.
"the indigenous peoples of Siberia"
Similar:
native
aboriginal
local
original
earliest
first
initial
ancient
primeval
primordial
autochthonous
autochthonic
Opposite:
expatriate
migrant
adventitious
Origin

apoplectic
/ˌapəˈplɛktɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: apoplectic
1.
INFORMAL
overcome with anger; furious.
"Mark was apoplectic with rage at the decision"
Similar:
furious
enraged
overcome with anger
infuriated
in a temper
incensed
raging
incandescent
wrathful
fuming
ranting
raving
seething
frenzied
in a frenzy
beside oneself
outraged
in high dudgeon
mad
hopping mad
wild
livid
as cross as two sticks
boiling
aerated
with all guns blazing
foaming at the mouth
fit to be tied
2.
DATED
relating to or denoting apoplexy (stroke).
"an apoplectic attack"
Origin

qua
/kweɪ,kwɑː/
conjunctionFORMAL
conjunction: qua
in the capacity of; as being.
"shareholders qua members may be under obligations to the company"
Origin

Latin, ablative feminine singular of qui ‘who’.

decry
/dɪˈkrʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: decrying
publicly denounce.
"they decried human rights abuses"
Similar:
denounce
condemn
criticize
censure
damn
attack
fulminate against
rail against
inveigh against
blame
carp at
cavil at
run down
pillory
rap
lambaste
deplore
disapprove of
vilify
execrate
revile
disparage
deprecate
discredit
derogate
cast aspersions on
slam
slate
blast
knock
snipe at
do a hatchet job on
hold forth against
come down on
pull to pieces
tear to shreds
excoriate
animadvert
asperse
Opposite:
praise
overrate
Origin

lacuna
/ləˈkjuːnə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: lacunae
1.
an unfilled space; a gap.
"the journal has filled a lacuna in Middle Eastern studies"
a missing portion in a book or manuscript.
2.
ANATOMY
a cavity or depression, especially in bone.
Origin

jaundiced
/ˈdʒɔːndɪst/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: jaundiced
1.
affected by jaundice, in particular unnaturally yellow in complexion.
2.
affected by bitterness, resentment, or cynicism.
"they looked on politicians with a jaundiced eye"
Similar:
bitter
resentful
cynical
soured
distorted
disenchanted
disillusioned

lance
/lɑːns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: lances
1.
a long weapon with a wooden shaft and a pointed steel head, formerly used by a horseman in charging.
"the warriors bore lances tipped with iron or steel"
Similar:
spear
pike
javelin
bayonet
shaft
harpoon

a weapon resembling a lance used in hunting fish or whales.
another term for lancer (sense 1).
2.
a metal pipe supplying a jet of oxygen to a furnace or to make a very hot flame for cutting.
3.
a rigid tube at the end of a hose for pumping or spraying liquid.
verbMEDICINE
3rd person present: lances
prick or cut open (an abscess or boil) with a lancet or other sharp instrument.
"abscesses should not be lanced until there is a soft spot in the centre"
pierce with or as if with a lance.
"the teenager had been lanced by a wooden splinter"
Similar:
cut
cut open
slit
incise
puncture
prick
nick
notch
pierce
stab
skewer
spike
move suddenly and quickly.
"he lanced through Harlequins' midfield to score Swansea's lone try"
ARCHAIC
throw; hurl.
"he affirms to have lanced darts at the sun"
Origin

Middle English: from Old French lance (noun), lancier (verb), from Latin lancea (noun).

romanticize
/rə(ʊ)ˈmantɪsʌɪz/
verb
gerund or present participle: romanticizing
deal with or describe in an idealized or unrealistic fashion; make (something) seem better or more appealing than it really is.
"the tendency to romanticize non-industrial societies"

--
piffling
/ˈpɪflɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveINFORMAL
adjective: piffling
trivial; unimportant.
"it was recorded in a basement for a piffling two grand"
Similar:
inadequate
insufficient
tiny
small
minimal
trifling
paltry
pitiful
miserly
miserable
negligible
token
nominal
insulting
derisory
contemptible
outrageous
ridiculous
laughable
ludicrous
risible
preposterous
absurd
measly
stingy
lousy
pathetic
piddling
mingy
poxy
nickel-and-dime
Translate piffling to

Zamorin of Calicut
DescriptionThe Zamorin of Calicut was the hereditary monarch of the kingdom of Kozhikode on the Malabar Coast of India. Kozhikode was one of the important trading ports on the south-western coast of India. At the peak of their reign, the Samoothiri's ruled over a region from Kollam to Panthalayini Kollam. Wikipedia
Today part of: India
Capital: Kozhikode
Common languages: Malayalam
Government: Feudal Monarchy
Status: Kingdom

muddle
/ˈmʌd(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
1.
bring into a disordered or confusing state.
"I fear he may have muddled the message"
Similar:
confuse
mix up
jumble
jumble up
disarrange
disorganize
disorder
disturb
throw into disorder
get into a tangle
scramble
mess up
jumbled
in a jumble
in a muddle
in a mess
chaotic
in disorder
in disarray
topsy-turvy
disorganized
disordered
disorderly
out of place
out of order
mixed up
upside-down
at sixes and sevens
untidy
messy
scrambled
tangled
higgledy-piggledy
Opposite:
be in (good) order
orderly
2.
mix (a drink) or stir (an ingredient) into a drink.
"muddle the kiwi slices with the sugar"
noun
an untidy and disorganized state or collection.
"the finances were in a muddle"

tranche
/trɑːnʃ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: tranche; plural noun: tranches
a portion of something, especially money.
"they released the first tranche of the loan"
Origin

late 15th century: from Old French, literally ‘slice’.

oxygenate
/ˈɒksɪdʒəneɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: oxygenating
supply, treat, charge, or enrich with oxygen.
"the lungs oxygenate the blood before it returns to the heart"
Origin

late 18th century: from French oxygéner ‘supply with oxygen’ + -ate3.

Mittelstand
/ˈmɪt(ə)lstand,German ˈmɪtlʃtant/
noun
noun: Mittelstand; plural noun: Mittelstands
the medium-sized companies in a country, viewed as an economic unit.
"there is a growing political consensus on the need to improve the flow of finance to the Mittelstand"
Origin

German, literally ‘middle group’.

Vikram processor

Main application of Vikram Processor is in the realisation of on-board computers for navigation, guidance and control processing in flight applications as well as for general purpose processing applications.

Scorpene is a conventional powered submarine weighing 1,500 tonnes and can go up to depths of 300m. It is built by DCNS of France.

--
howitzer
/ˈhaʊɪtsə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: howitzers
a short gun for firing shells on high trajectories at low velocities.

paltry
/ˈpɔːltri,ˈpɒltri/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: paltry; comparative adjective: paltrier; superlative adjective: paltriest
(of an amount) very small or meagre.
"she would earn a paltry £33 more a month"
Similar:
small
meagre
trifling
insignificant
negligible
inadequate
insufficient
scant
scanty
derisory
pitiful
pitiable
pathetic
miserable
sorry
wretched
puny
trivial
niggardly
beggarly
mean
ungenerous
inappreciable
mere
measly
piddling
piffling
mingy
poxy
dinky
exiguous
Opposite:
considerable
substantial
petty; trivial.
"naval glory struck him as paltry"
Similar:
worthless
petty
trivial
unimportant
insignificant
inconsequential
of little account/consequence
meaningless
negligible
nugatory
minor
footling
contemptible
penny-ante
twopenny
twopenny-halfpenny
nickel-and-dime
picayune
Opposite:
important
significant
valuable
Origin

mid 16th century: apparently based on dialect pelt ‘rubbish, especially rags’; compare with Low German paltrig ‘ragged’.

sass
/sas/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
verb
gerund or present participle: sassing
be cheeky or rude to (someone).
"we wouldn't have dreamed of sassing our parents"
Origin

compunction
/kəmˈpʌŋkʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: compunction
a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad.
"they used their tanks without compunction"
Similar:
scruples
misgivings
qualms
worries
unease
uneasiness
hesitation
hesitancy
doubts
reluctance
reservations
guilt
feelings of guilt
guilty conscience
pangs/twinges of conscience
remorse
regret
contrition
contriteness
self-reproach
repentance
penitence

Origin

Middle English: from Old French componction, from ecclesiastical Latin compunctio(n- ), from Latin compungere ‘prick sharply’, from com- (expressing intensive force) + pungere ‘to prick’.

paucity
/ˈpɔːsɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
the presence of something in only small or insufficient quantities or amounts.
"a paucity of information"
Similar:
scarcity
sparseness
sparsity
dearth
shortage
rarity
rareness
poverty
insufficiency
deficiency
inadequacy
famine
lack
want
meagreness
limitedness
scantiness
skimpiness
paltriness
restrictedness
deficit
shortfall
exiguity
Opposite:
abundance

Supercruise is sustained supersonic flight of a supersonic aircraft with a useful cargo, passenger, or weapons load performed efficiently, which typically precludes the use of highly inefficient afterburners or "reheat".

throttle
/ˈθrɒt(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: throttled; past participle: throttled
1.
attack or kill (someone) by choking or strangling them.
"she was sorely tempted to throttle him"
Similar:
choke
strangle
strangulate
garrotte
asphyxiate
smother
suffocate
stifle
suppress
inhibit
control
restrain
check
contain
put a/the lid on
crack down on
clamp down on
drive underground
stop
put an end to
bring to an end
end
stamp out
bring to a stop
halt
bring to a halt
put paid to
put the kibosh on
put the stopper on
do for
2.
control (an engine or vehicle) with a throttle.
"it has two engines that can be throttled"

late Middle English: perhaps via Anglo-Norman French from Old French escopir ‘to spit’; compare with German Speigatt, literally ‘spit hole’.
scupper2
/ˈskʌpə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: scupper; 3rd person present: scuppers; past tense: scuppered; past participle: scuppered; gerund or present participle: scuppering
1.
BRITISH
sink (a ship or its crew) deliberately.
"the ship was scuppered and seriously damaged"
Similar:
sink
scuttle
submerge
send to the bottom
open the seacocks in
Opposite:
float
raise
2.
INFORMAL
prevent from working or succeeding; thwart.
"plans for a bypass were scuppered by a public inquiry"
Similar:
ruin
wreck
destroy
devastate
wreak havoc on
damage
spoil
mar
injure
blast
blight
smash
shatter
dash
torpedo
scotch
mess up
sabotage
poison
louse up
screw up
foul up
put the kibosh on
banjax
do for
blow a hole in
nix
queer
cock up
dish
euchre
cruel
bring to naught
vulgar slangfuck up
Opposite:
further
promote
Origin
late 19th century (as military slang in the sense ‘kill, especially in an ambush’): of unknown origin. The sense ‘sink’ dates from the 1970s.

HAL Tejas
Multirole fighter

HAL Tejas is an Indian single-engine, delta wing, multirole light fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. It came from the Light Combat Aircraft programme, which began in the 1980s to replace India's ageing MiG-21 fighters. Wikipedia
Top speed: 2,205 km/h
Range: 3,000 km
Weight: 6,500 kg
Unit cost: 31,000,000–31,090,000 USD (2009)
Program cost: ₹7,399.69 crore (US$1 billion) (LCA total in 2015)
Engine types: Turbofan, General Electric F404

---

Life-cycle assessment (LCA, also known as life-cycle analysis, ecobalance, and cradle-to-grave analysis) is a technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, ...
‎Four main phases · ‎LCA uses · ‎Data analysis · ‎Variants

sore
/sɔː/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
1.
(of a part of one's body) painful or aching.
"she had a sore throat"
Similar:
painful
in pain
hurting
hurt
aching
throbbing
smarting
stinging
burning
irritating
irritated
agonizing
excruciating
inflamed
angry
red
reddened
sensitive
tender
delicate
chafed
raw
bruised
wounded
injured
Opposite:
healthy
2.
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
upset and angry.
"I didn't even know they were sore at us"
Similar:
upset
angry
annoyed
cross
angered
furious
enraged
in a temper
bothered
vexed
displeased
disgruntled
dissatisfied
indignant
exasperated
irritated
galled
irked
put out
aggrieved
offended
affronted
resentful
piqued
nettled
ruffled
in high dudgeon
aggravated
miffed
peeved
riled
hacked off
peed off
narked
eggy
cheesed off
browned off
brassed off
not best pleased
teed off
ticked off
steamed
vulgar slangpissed off
Opposite:
happy
noun
a raw or painful place on the body.
"all of us had sores and infections on our hands"
Similar:
inflammation
swelling
lesion
wound
scrape
abrasion
chafe
cut
laceration
graze
contusion
bruise
running sore
ulcer
ulceration
boil
abscess
carbuncle
canker
adverbARCHAIC
extremely; severely.
"they were sore afraid"

Tip
Similar-sounding words
sore is sometimes confused with soar

commodore
/ˈkɒmədɔː/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: commodore; plural noun: commodores
a naval rank above captain and below rear admiral, generally given temporarily to an officer commanding a squadron or division of a fleet.
the president of a yacht club.
the senior captain of a shipping line.
Origin

INS Vikrant
Aircraft carrier
Indian Naval Ship

INS Vikrant, also known as Indigenous Aircraft Carrier 1, is an aircraft carrier under construction by Cochin Shipyard in Kochi, Kerala for the Indian Navy. It is the first aircraft carrier to be built in India. The name Vikrant means "courageous". Wikipedia
Length: 262 m
Construction started: 28 February 2009
Launched: 12 August 2013
Draft: 8.4 m
Place built: Kochi
Builder: Cochin Shipyard

fortuitous
/fɔːˈtjuːɪtəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
happening by chance rather than intention.
"the similarity between the paintings may not be simply fortuitous"
Similar:
chance
unexpected
unanticipated
unpredictable
unforeseen
unlooked-for
serendipitous
casual
incidental
coincidental
haphazard
random
accidental
inadvertent
unintentional
unintended
unplanned
unpremeditated
Opposite:
predictable
happening by a lucky chance; fortunate.
"the ball went into the goal by a fortuitous ricochet"
Similar:
lucky
fortunate
providential
advantageous
timely

ab initio
/ˌab ɪˈnɪʃɪəʊ/
FORMAL•LAW
adverb
adverb: ab initio; adjective: ab initio
from the beginning.
"the agreement should be declared void ab initio"
Similar:
from the beginning
from the start
initially
originally
from first principles
to begin with
to start with
primarily
da capo
from scratch
from the word go
adjective
adjective: ab initio
starting from the beginning.
"he was instructing ab initio pilots"
Origin

Latin.

fuselage
/ˈfjuːzəlɑːʒ,ˈfjuːzəlɪdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fuselage; plural noun: fuselages
the main body of an aircraft.

Origin

early 20th century: from French, from fuseler ‘shape into a spindle’, from fuseau ‘spindle’.

loiter
/ˈlɔɪtə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: loiter; 3rd person present: loiters; past tense: loitered; past participle: loitered; gerund or present participle: loitering
stand or wait around without apparent purpose.
"she saw Mary loitering near the cloakrooms"
Similar:
linger
potter
wait
skulk
loaf
lounge
idle
laze
waste time
kill time
while away time
hang around/round
hang about
mooch about/around
tarry
walk slowly and with no apparent purpose; dawdle.
"the weather had tempted them to loiter along the banks of the Cherwell"
Similar:
dawdle
dally
stroll
saunter
loll
go slowly
take one's time
go/move at a snail's pace
drag one's feet
delay
dilly-dally
mosey
mooch
Phrases
loiter with intent — stand or wait around with the intention of committing an offence.
Origin

brass
/brɑːs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: brass; noun: top brass; plural noun: top brass
1.
a yellow alloy of copper and zinc.
"a brass plate on the door"
a decorative object made of brass.
plural noun: brasses
"shining brasses stood on the mantelpiece"
BRITISH
a round flat brass ornament for the harness of a draught horse.
noun: horse brass; plural noun: horse brasses
a memorial, typically a medieval one, consisting of a flat piece of inscribed brass, laid in the floor or set into the wall of a church.
"children do not appear on memorial brasses until the 1420s"
a brass block or die used for stamping a design on a book binding.
2.
MUSIC
brass wind instruments (including trumpet, horn, and trombone) forming a band or a section of an orchestra.
"the brass were consistently too loud"
3.
INFORMAL
people in authority or of high military rank.
"the top brass of the Jockey Club"
4.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
money.
"they wanted to spend their newly acquired brass"
Phrases
brassed off
exasperated. "I'm absolutely brassed off with all this talk about economic recovery"
a brass farthing
any money or assets at all. "she hasn't got two brass farthings to rub together"
brass neck
cheek or effrontery. "I didn't think that his mother would have the brass neck to come round here"
the brass ring
success or reward. "Willa went for the brass ring, joining the firm's San Francisco office at a whopping salary"
get down to brass tacks
start to consider the basic facts or practical details. "we've had a meeting as to the general terms, and now we're going to get down to brass tacks"
Origin

ordnance
/ˈɔːdnəns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: ordnance
1.
mounted guns; artillery.
"the gun was a brand new piece of ordnance"
Similar:
guns
cannon
artillery
weapons
arms
munitions
military supplies
materiel

US
munitions.
"unexploded ordnance"
2.
a branch of government service dealing especially with military stores and materials.
"the ordnance corps"
Origin

late Middle English: variant of ordinance.

galloping
/ˈɡaləpɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: galloping
1.
(of a horse) going at the pace of a gallop.
"the sound of galloping hooves"
2.
(of a process or event) progressing in a rapid and seemingly uncontrollable manner.
"galloping inflation"
gallop
/ˈɡaləp/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: galloping
1.
(of a horse) go at the pace of a gallop.
"we galloped along the sand"
Similar:
race
canter
run
rush
dash
tear
sprint
bolt
fly
shoot
dart
hurry
hasten
speed
streak
hurtle
career
hare
scamper
scurry
scud
go like lighting
go like the wind
lope
prance
frisk
zoom
pelt
scoot
hotfoot it
leg it
belt
zip
whip
go like a bat out of hell
bomb
Opposite:
amble
make (a horse) gallop.
"Fred galloped the horse off to the start"
(of a person) run fast.
"Leota galloped in from the halfway line"
2.
proceed at great speed.
"don't gallop through your speech"
(of a process or event) progress in a rapid and seemingly uncontrollable manner.
"his life gallops headlong towards disaster"
Origin

early 16th century: from Old French galop (noun), galoper, variants of Old Northern French walop, waloper (see wallop).

bad blood
noun
ill feeling.
"there has always been bad blood between these families"

limbo1
/ˈlɪmbəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: limbo
1.
(in some Christian beliefs) the supposed abode of the souls of unbaptized infants, and of the just who died before Christ's coming.
Similar:
oblivion
void
non-existence
neither heaven nor hell

2.
an uncertain period of awaiting a decision or resolution; an intermediate state or condition.
"the legal battle could leave the club in limbo until next year"
Similar:
in abeyance
unattended to
unfinished
incomplete
suspended
deferred
postponed
put off
pending
in a state of suspension
awaiting action
on ice
in cold storage
unresolved
undetermined
in a state of uncertainty
up in the air
in no man's land
betwixt and between
ongoing
outstanding
hanging fire
abandoned
forgotten
left out
neglected
on the back burner
on hold
Opposite:
in hand
under way
continuing
a state of neglect or oblivion.
"these prisoners are in limbo: no one is responsible for their welfare"
Similar:
in abeyance
unattended to
unfinished
incomplete
suspended
deferred
postponed
put off
pending
in a state of suspension
awaiting action
on ice
in cold storage
unresolved
undetermined
in a state of uncertainty
up in the air
in no man's land
betwixt and between
ongoing
outstanding
hanging fire
abandoned
forgotten
left out
neglected
on the back burner
on hold
Opposite:
in hand
under way
continuing
Origin

late Middle English: from the medieval Latin phrase in limbo, from limbus ‘hem, border, limbo’.
limbo2
/ˈlɪmbəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: limbo; plural noun: limbos
a West Indian dance in which the dancer bends backwards to pass under a horizontal bar which is progressively lowered to a position just above the ground.
verb
verb: limbo; 3rd person present: limbos; past tense: limboed; past participle: limboed; gerund or present participle: limboing
perform the limbo.
"the children limboed under the bar"
Origin

1950s: from limber1.

dodder1
/ˈdɒdə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: doddering
tremble or totter, typically because of old age.
"that doddering old fool"
Similar:
totter
teeter
toddle
hobble
shuffle
shamble
falter
walk haltingly
walk with difficulty
move falteringly
stumble
stagger
sway
lurch
reel
wobble
shake
tremble
quiver
hirple
doddle
tottering
tottery
teetering
doddery
staggering
shuffling
shambling
faltering
shaking
shaky
unsteady
wobbly
wobbling
trembling
trembly
quivering
feeble
frail
weak
weakly
infirm
decrepit
aged
old
elderly
long in the tooth
in one's dotage
senile
Opposite:
sprightly
Origin

early 17th century: variant of obsolete dialect dadder ; related to dither.

appellation1
/ˌapəˈleɪʃ(ə)n/
nounFORMAL
noun: appellation; plural noun: appellations
a name or title.
"the city fully justifies its appellation ‘the Pearl of the Orient’"
Similar:
name
title
designation
denomination
honorific
tag
epithet
label
sobriquet
byname
nickname
moniker
handle
cognomen
the action of giving a name to someone or something.
Origin

late Middle English: via Old French from Latin appellatio(n- ), from the verb appellare (see appeal).
appellation2
/ˌapəˈleɪʃ(ə)n,French apɛlasjɔ̃/
noun
noun: appellation; plural noun: appellations
an appellation contrôlée.
"about 20 per cent of French wines with an appellation come from Alsace"
a wine bearing an appellation contrôlée.
"the top appellations Saint-Émilion and Pomerol"
the district in which a wine bearing an appellation contrôlée is produced.
"the north-east corner of the appellation"
Origin

abbreviation of appellation (d'origine) contrôlée .

gobbledygook
/ˈɡɒb(ə)ldɪˌɡuːk/
Learn to pronounce
nounINFORMAL
language that is meaningless or is made unintelligible by excessive use of technical terms.
"reams of financial gobbledygook"
Similar:
jargon
unintelligible language
obscure language
gibberish
claptrap

paraphernalia
/ˌparəfəˈneɪlɪə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: paraphernalia
miscellaneous articles, especially the equipment needed for a particular activity.
"drills, saws, and other paraphernalia necessary for home improvements"
Similar:
equipment
stuff
things
apparatus
tackle
kit
implements
tools
utensils
material(s)
appliances
rig
outfit
accoutrements
appurtenances
impedimenta
miscellaneous articles
odds and ends
bits and pieces
bits and bobs
trappings
accessories
gear
junk
rubbish
the necessary
traps
clobber
gubbins
odds and sods
dunnage
equipage
trappings associated with a particular institution or activity that are regarded as superfluous.
"the rituals and paraphernalia of government"
Origin
mid 17th century (denoting property owned by a married woman): from medieval Latin, based on Greek parapherna ‘property apart from a dowry’, from para ‘distinct from’ + pherna (from phernē ‘dower’).

egregiously
/ɪˈɡriːdʒəsli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: egregiously
in an outstandingly bad way; shockingly.
"we've been misleading you most egregiously"

attaché
/əˈtaʃeɪ/
noun
noun: attaché; plural noun: attachés
1.
a person on the staff of an ambassador having a specialized area of responsibility.
"naval and air attachés"
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
short for attaché case.
Origin

early 19th century: from French, literally ‘attached’, past participle of attacher .

wryly
/ˈrʌɪli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: wryly
in a way that expresses dry, especially mocking, humour.
"he reflects wryly on his life and work"

apprise
/əˈprʌɪz/
verb
past tense: apprised; past participle: apprised
inform or tell (someone).
"I thought it right to apprise Chris of what had happened"
Similar:
inform
notify
tell
let know
advise
brief
intimate
make aware of
send word to
update
keep posted
keep up to date
keep up to speed
enlighten
clue in
fill in
put wise
tip off
put in the picture
Origin

avionics
/ˌeɪvɪˈɒnɪks/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: avionics
electronics as applied to aviation.
electronic equipment fitted in an aircraft.
plural noun: avionics
"ground training focuses on how to use the avionics"
Origin

statist
/ˈsteɪtɪst/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: statist; plural noun: statists
an advocate of a political system in which the state has substantial centralized control over social and economic affairs.
"this is one issue which unites statists of all persuasions"
adjective
adjective: statist
relating to or characteristic of a political system in which the state has substantial centralized control over social and economic affairs.
"a statist approach to healthcare"

maladroit
/ˌmaləˈdrɔɪt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: maladroit
inefficient or inept; clumsy.
"both men are unhappy about the maladroit way the matter has been handled"
Similar:
bungling
awkward
inept
clumsy
bumbling
incompetent
unskilful
heavy-handed
ungainly
inelegant
inexpert
graceless
ungraceful
gauche
unhandy
uncoordinated
gawky
cloddish
clodhopping
flat-footed
lumbering
like a bull in a china shop
tactless
insensitive
thoughtless
inconsiderate
undiplomatic
impolitic
injudicious
all fingers and thumbs
butterfingered
ham-fisted
ham-handed
cack-handed
lubberly
Opposite:
adroit
skilful
Origin

late 17th century: French.

---

cockeyed
/ˈkɒkʌɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveINFORMAL
adjective: cockeyed; adjective: cock-eyed
1.
crooked or askew; not level.
"cockeyed camera angles"
Similar:
crooked
awry
askew
lopsided
uneven
asymmetrical
to one side
off-centre
skewed
skew
misaligned
agley
squint
thrawn
skew-whiff
wonky
squiffy
absurd; impractical.
"do you expect us to believe a cockeyed story like that?"
Similar:
absurd
preposterous
ridiculous
ludicrous
farcical
laughable
risible
idiotic
stupid
foolish
silly
inane
fanciful
imbecilic
insane
wild
hare-brained
impractical
impracticable
unworkable
unfeasible
non-viable
impossible
unreasonable
irrational
illogical
nonsensical
pointless
senseless
outrageous
shocking
astonishing
monstrous
fantastic
incongruous
grotesque
unbelievable
incredible
unthinkable
implausible
improbable
half-baked
crazy
barmy
daft
DATED
drunk.
"I got cockeyed"
2.
(of a person or their eyes) having a squint.
Origin

bamboozle
/bamˈbuːz(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verbINFORMAL
past tense: bamboozled; past participle: bamboozled
cheat or fool.
"he bamboozled Canada's largest banks in a massive counterfeit scam"
Similar:
trick
deceive
delude
hoodwink
mislead
take in
dupe
fool
double-cross
cheat
defraud
swindle
outwit
outmanoeuvre
catch out
gull
hoax
beguile
entrap
con
bilk
diddle
rook
put one over on
pull a fast one on
take for a ride
lead up the garden path
spoof
shaft
do
have
gyp
flimflam
sucker
snooker
goldbrick
give someone a bum steer
pull a swifty on
cozen
chicane
sell
illude
Origin
early 18th century: of unknown origin.

hobble
/ˈhɒb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: hobbled; past participle: hobbled
1.
walk in an awkward way, typically because of pain from an injury.
"he was hobbling around on crutches"
Similar:
limp
walk with a limp
walk with difficulty
move unsteadily
walk unevenly
walk lamely
walk haltingly
shuffle
shamble
falter
totter
dodder
stagger
stumble
reel
lurch
hirple
Opposite:
stride
2.
tie or strap together (the legs of a horse or other animal) to prevent it from straying.
cause (a person or animal) to limp.
"Johnson was still hobbled slightly by an ankle injury"
restrict the activity or development of.
"the economy was hobbled by rising oil prices"
Origin

excoriate
/ɪkˈskɔːrɪeɪt,ɛkˈskɔːrɪeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
3rd person present: excoriates
1.
MEDICINE
damage or remove part of the surface of (the skin).
"the discharge is acrid and excoriates the skin of the nose"
Similar:
abrade
rub away
rub off
rub raw
scrape
scratch
chafe
damage
strip away
peel away
skin
decorticate
2.
FORMAL
criticize (someone) severely.
"he excoriated the government for censorship"
Similar:
criticize
find fault with
censure
denounce
condemn
arraign
attack
lambaste
pillory
disapprove of
carp at
cavil at
rail against
inveigh against
cast aspersions on
pour scorn on
disparage
denigrate
deprecate
malign
vilify
besmirch
run down
give a bad press to
slur
knock
pan
slam
hammer
blast
bad-mouth
nitpick about
throw brickbats at
give flak to
lay into
lace into
pull to pieces
pull apart
pick holes in
hit out at
maul
savage
roast
skewer
crucify
slag off
have a go at
give some stick to
monster
slate
rubbish
pummel
cut up
trash
bag on
bag
sledge
rate
slash
vituperate against
reprobate
animadvert on
objurgate
asperse
derogate
reprehend
Opposite:
praise
approve of
Originally

silo
/ˈsʌɪləʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: silo; plural noun: silos
1.
a tall tower or pit on a farm used to store grain.
a pit or other airtight structure in which green crops are compressed and stored as silage.
2.
an underground chamber in which a guided missile is kept ready for firing.
3.
a system, process, department, etc. that operates in isolation from others.
"it's vital that team members step out of their silos and start working together"
verb
verb: silo; 3rd person present: siloes; past tense: siloed; past participle: siloed; gerund or present participle: siloing
isolate (one system, process, department, etc.) from others.
"most companies have expensive IT systems they have developed over the years, but they are siloed"
Origin

mid 19th century: from Spanish, via Latin from Greek siros ‘corn pit’.

dotard
/ˈdəʊtəd/
noun
noun: dotard; plural noun: dotards
an old person, especially one who has become physically weak or whose mental faculties have declined.
Origin

late Middle English: from dote + -ard.

corral
/kəˈrɑːl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: corralling
1.
gather together and confine (a group of people or things).
"the organizers were corralling the crowd into marching formation"
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
put or keep (livestock) in a corral.
"sheep and goats grazed the plains during the day but they were corralled at night"
Similar:
enclose
confine
lock up
shut up
shut in
fence in
pen (in)
rail in
wall in
cage (in)
coop up
mew in
kettle
HISTORICAL
form (wagons) into a corral.
"the wagons, in forming the encampment, were corralled"
Origin

proliferate
/prəˈlɪfəreɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
increase rapidly in number; multiply.
"the science fiction magazines which proliferated in the 1920s"
Similar:
increase rapidly
grow rapidly
multiply
become more numerous
mushroom
snowball
burgeon
escalate
rocket
run riot
Opposite:
decrease
dwindle
(of a cell, structure, or organism) reproduce rapidly.
"cultured cells often proliferate indefinitely"
cause (cells, tissue, structures, etc.) to reproduce rapidly.
"electromagnetic radiation can only proliferate cancers already present"

bristle
/ˈbrɪs(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: bristle; plural noun: bristles
a short, stiff hair on an animal's skin or a man's face.
Similar:
hair
whisker
stubble
designer stubble
five o'clock shadow
seta

a stiff animal hair, or a man-made substitute, used to make a brush.
"a toothbrush with nylon bristles"
Similar:
prickle
spine
quill
thorn
barb
verb
verb: bristle; 3rd person present: bristles; past tense: bristled; past participle: bristled; 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

clandestine
/klanˈdɛstɪn,ˈklandɛstɪn/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit.
"she deserved better than these clandestine meetings"
Similar:
secret
covert
furtive
surreptitious
stealthy
cloak-and-dagger
hole-and-corner

foolhardy
/ˈfuːlhɑːdi/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: foolhardy; comparative adjective: foolhardier; superlative adjective: foolhardiest
recklessly bold or rash.
"it would be foolhardy to go into the scheme without support"
Similar:
reckless
rash
incautious
careless
heedless
unheeding
thoughtless
unwise
imprudent
irresponsible
injudicious
impulsive
hot-headed
impetuous
daredevil
devil-may-care
death-or-glory
madcap
hare-brained
precipitate
precipitous
desperate
hasty
overhasty
over-adventurous
over-venturesome
temerarious
Opposite:
wise
Originally

posturing
/ˈpɒstʃərɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
gerund or present participle: posturing
behaviour that is intended to impress or mislead.
"a masking of fear with macho posturing"
posture
/ˈpɒstʃə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: posturing
1.
behave in a way that is intended to impress or mislead.
"a billionaire posturing as a hero of the working class"
Similar:
pose
strike an attitude
put on airs
attitudinize
behave affectedly
strut
show off
cop an attitude
hot-dog
adopt (a particular attitude) so as to impress or mislead.
"the companies may posture regret, but they have a vested interest in increasing Third World sales"
2.
ARCHAIC
place (someone) in a particular attitude or pose.
"and still these two were postured motionless"
Origin

misfire
/mɪsˈfʌɪə/
verb
3rd person present: misfires
1.
(of a gun or missile) fail to discharge or fire properly.
"as she raised her pistol again, it misfired"
(of an internal combustion engine) undergo failure of the fuel to ignite correctly or at all.
"the car would misfire occasionally from the cold"
(of a nerve cell) fail to transmit an electrical impulse at an appropriate moment.
"as these nerves misfire and die, the muscles begin to shrink"
2.
(especially of a plan) fail to produce the intended result.
"he didn't know that his plan had misfired"
Similar:
go wrong
go awry
go amiss
be unsuccessful
fail
abort
be abortive
founder
come to nothing
come to grief
meet with disaster
fall through
be ruined
fall flat
boomerang
rebound
backfire
recoil
flop
bite the dust
go up in smoke
go phut
noun
plural noun: misfires
/ˈmɪsfʌɪə/
a failure of a gun or missile to fire correctly.
"the weapons are to be replaced because of problems with misfires"
a failure of fuel to ignite correctly in an internal combustion engine.
"he drove into the pits to have a misfire cured"

keel1
/kiːl/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: keel; plural noun: keels
1.
the lengthwise timber or steel structure along the base of a ship, supporting the framework of the whole, in some vessels extended downwards as a ridge to increase stability.
Similar:
base
bottom
bottom side
underside
LITERARY
a ship.
"to buy a new keel with my gold, And fill her with such things as she may hold"
2.
ZOOLOGY
a ridge along the breastbone of many birds to which the flight muscles are attached; the carina.
3.
BOTANY
a prow-shaped pair of petals present in flowers of the pea family.
verb
verb: keel; 3rd person present: keels; past tense: keeled; past participle: keeled; gerund or present participle: keeling
(of a boat or ship) turn over on its side; capsize.
"it's going to take more wind to make this boat keel over"
Similar:
capsize
turn turtle
turn upside down
turn topsy-turvy
founder
list
heel over
lean over
overbalance
topple over
overturn
turn over
tip over
fall over
cowp
INFORMAL
(of a person or thing) fall over; collapse.
"a wardrobe was about to keel over on top of him"
Similar:
collapse
faint
fall down in a faint
pass out
black out
lose consciousness
swoon
Origin

Middle English: from Old Norse kjǫlr, of Germanic origin.
keel2
/kiːl/
Learn to pronounce
nounBRITISH
noun: keel; plural noun: keels
a flat-bottomed boat of a kind formerly used on the Tyne and Wear Rivers for loading ships carrying coal.
Origin

Middle English: from Middle Low German kēl, Middle Dutch kiel ‘ship, boat’.

lug1
/lʌɡ/
verb
gerund or present participle: lugging
carry or drag (a heavy or bulky object) with great effort.
"she began to lug her suitcase down the stairs"
Similar:
carry
lift
bear
tote
heave
hoist
shoulder
manhandle
haul
drag
pull
tug
tow
transport
move
take
bring
convey
shift
fetch
hump
schlep
humph
be encumbered with.
"don't worry about lugging the kids to the salon with you"
Origin

late Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin: compare with Swedish lugga ‘pull a person's hair’ (from lugg ‘forelock’).

goad
/ɡəʊd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: goad; 3rd person present: goads; past tense: goaded; past participle: goaded; gerund or present participle: goading
1.
provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate an action or reaction.
"he was trying to goad her into a fight"
Similar:
provoke
spur
prick
sting
prod
egg on
hound
badger
incite
rouse
stir
move
stimulate
motivate
excite
inflame
work/fire up
impel
pressure
pressurize
dragoon
prompt
induce
encourage
urge
inspire
2.
drive (an animal) with a spiked stick.
"the cowboys goaded their cattle across the meadows"
noun
noun: goad; plural noun: goads
a spiked stick used for driving cattle.
Similar:
prod
spiked stick
spike
staff
crook
pole
rod
ankus
prick

a thing that stimulates someone into action.
"for him the visit was a goad to renewed effort"
Similar:
stimulus
incentive
encouragement
stimulant
stimulation
inducement
fillip
impetus
impulse
spur
prod
prompt
incitement
motive
motivation
kick in the pants
kick up the backside
shot in the arm
Origin

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

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"
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
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’.

heft
/hɛft/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: heft; 3rd person present: hefts; past tense: hefted; past participle: hefted; gerund or present participle: hefting
lift or carry (something heavy).
"he lifted crates and hefted boxes"
Similar:
lift
lift up
raise
raise up
heave
hoist
haul
manhandle
carry
cart
lug
tote
hump
yank
upheave
Opposite:
put down
lift or hold (something) in order to test its weight.
"Anne hefted the gun in her hand"
nounNORTH AMERICAN
noun: heft
the weight of someone or something.
"he was buckle-kneed from the heft of his staggering load"
ability or influence.
"they lacked the political heft to get the formulation banned"
Origin

frogman
/ˈfrɒɡmən/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: frogmen
a person who swims under water wearing a rubber suit, flippers, and an oxygen supply.
"an experienced police frogman"

saboteur
/ˌsabəˈtəː/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: saboteurs
a person who engages in sabotage.
Origin

1920s: French, from the verb saboter (see sabotage).

dyad
/ˈdʌɪad/
Learn to pronounce
nounTECHNICAL
noun: dyad; plural noun: dyads
something that consists of two elements or parts.
"the mother–child dyad"
MATHEMATICS
an operator which is a combination of two vectors.
Origin

buttressed
/ˈbʌtrəst/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: buttressed
(of a building or structure) strengthened or supported with a buttress.
"a buttressed wall"
buttress
/ˈbʌtrɪs/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: buttressed; past participle: buttressed
1.
provide (a building or structure) with buttresses.
"we buttressed the wall as it was showing signs of cracking and collapse"
2.
increase the strength of or justification for; reinforce.
"authority was buttressed by religious belief"
Similar:
strengthen
reinforce
fortify
support
prop up
bolster up
shore up
underpin
cement
brace
uphold
confirm
defend
maintain
back up
buoy up
Origin

kith and kin definition: people you are connected with, especially by family relationships.

envisage
/ɪnˈvɪzɪdʒ,ɛnˈvɪzɪdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
3rd person present: envisages
contemplate or conceive of as a possibility or a desirable future event.
"the Rome Treaty envisaged free movement across frontiers"
Similar:
foresee
predict
forecast
foretell
anticipate
expect
think likely
envision
intend
propose
mean
imagine
contemplate
visualize
picture
see in one's mind's eye
conceive of
think of
understand
grasp
appreciate
apprehend
ideate
form a mental picture of (something not yet existing or known).
"he knew what he liked but had difficulty envisaging it"

acreage
/ˈeɪk(ə)rɪdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: acreage; plural noun: acreages
an area of land, typically when used for agricultural purposes, but not necessarily measured in acres.
"a 35 per cent increase in net acreage"

besieged
/bɪˈsiːdʒd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: besieged
(of a place) surrounded by armed forces aiming to capture it or force surrender.
"the besieged city"
besiege
/bɪˈsiːdʒ/
Learn to pronounce
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
Origin

frenzied
/ˈfrɛnzɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: frenzied
wildly excited or uncontrolled.
"a frenzied attack"
Similar:
frantic
wild
frenetic
hectic
fraught
feverish
fevered
mad

helter-skelter
/ˌhɛltəˈskɛltə/
adjective · adverb
adjective: helter-skelter; adverb: helter-skelter
in disorderly haste or confusion.
"the helter-skelter dash to unity"
Similar:
headlong
pell-mell
hotfoot
post-haste
hastily
in a hurry
hurriedly
as fast as possible
as quickly as possible
at full speed
at full pelt
at full tilt
hell for leather
recklessly
precipitately
impetuously
impulsively
carelessly
heedlessly
wildly
like a bat out of hell
at a lick
like the wind
like greased lightning
like a bomb
like mad
like crazy
like blazes
like the clappers
at a rate of knots
like billy-o
lickety-split
apace
hurry-scurry
Opposite:
at moderate speed
noun
noun: helter-skelter; plural noun: helter-skelters
1.
BRITISH
a fairground amusement consisting of a tall spiral slide winding around a tower.
2.
disorder; confusion.
"the helter-skelter of a school day"
Originally

squeamish
/ˈskwiːmɪʃ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: squeamish
easily made to feel sick or disgusted.
"I've always been squeamish about bugs"
Similar:
easily nauseated
nervous
be put off by
cannot stand the sight of
… makes one feel sick
having fastidious moral views; scrupulous.
"she was not squeamish about using her social influence in support of her son"
Similar:
scrupulous
principled
conscientious
fastidious
particular
punctilious
finicky
fussy
prissy
prudish
strait-laced
honourable
upright
upstanding
high-minded
righteous
right-minded
moral
ethical
pernickety
Origin

abeyance
/əˈbeɪəns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: abeyance
a state of temporary disuse or suspension.
"matters were held in abeyance pending further enquiries"
Similar:
suspension
a state of suspension
a state of dormancy
a state of latency
a state of uncertainty
suspense
remission
reserve
pending
suspended
deferred
postponed
put off
put to one side
unattended
unfinished
incomplete
unresolved
undetermined
up in the air
betwixt and between
in cold storage
on ice
on the back burner
hanging fire
suspend
adjourn
interrupt
break off
postpone
delay
defer
shelve
arrest
intermit
prorogue
hold over
put aside
pigeonhole
reschedule
cut short
bring to an end
cease
discontinue
dissolve
disband
terminate
call a halt to
table
put on ice
put on the back burner
mothball
take a rain check on
Opposite:
in hand
under way
continuing
continue
resume
LAW
the position of being without, or of waiting for, an owner or claimant.
Origin

mettle
/ˈmɛt(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: mettle; plural noun: mettles
a person's ability to cope well with difficulties; spirit and resilience.
"the team showed their true mettle in the second half"
Similar:
spirit
fortitude
tenacity
strength of character
moral fibre
steel
determination
resolve
resolution
steadfastness
indomitability
backbone
hardihood
pluck
nerve
gameness
courage
courageousness
bravery
gallantry
valour
intrepidity
fearlessness
boldness
daring
audacity
Dunkirk spirit
guts
grit
spunk
bottle
calibre
character
disposition
nature
temperament
temper
personality
make-up
stamp
kind
sort
variety
mould
kidney
grain
Phrases
be on one's mettle
be ready or forced to do one's best in a demanding situation. "Saturday's game will be a tricky one and we'll have to be on our mettle from the start"
put someone on their mettle
(of a demanding situation) test someone's ability to face difficulties. "there were regular public meetings where local MPs were put on their mettle and remorselessly pilloried"

--
genus
/ˈdʒiːnəs,ˈdʒɛnəs/
Learn to pronounce
nounBIOLOGY
noun: genus; plural noun: genera
a principal taxonomic category that ranks above species and below family, and is denoted by a capitalized Latin name, e.g. Leo.
Similar:
group
subdivision
subfamily

(in philosophical and general use) a class of things that have common characteristics and that can be divided into subordinate kinds.
Similar:
type
sort
kind
genre
style
variety
category
class
species
breed
brand
make
model
family
stamp
cast
ilk
kidney
division
subdivision
section
department
compartment
Origin

diktat
/ˈdɪktat/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: diktat; plural noun: diktats
an order or decree imposed by someone in power without popular consent.
"a diktat from the Bundestag"
Origin

1930s: from German, from Latin dictatum ‘something dictated’, neuter past participle of dictare .

ensconce
/ɪnˈskɒns,ɛnˈskɒns/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: ensconced; past participle: ensconced
establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe place.
"Agnes ensconced herself in their bedroom"
Similar:
settle
install
establish
park
shut
plant
lodge
position
seat
entrench
shelter
screen
nestle
curl up
snuggle up
dig in
Origin

crunch
/krʌn(t)ʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: crunch; 3rd person present: crunches; past tense: crunched; past participle: crunched; gerund or present participle: crunching
1.
crush (a hard or brittle foodstuff) with the teeth, making a loud but muffled grinding sound.
"she paused to crunch a ginger biscuit"
Similar:
munch
chew noisily
chomp
champ
bite
gnaw
masticate
eat
devour
consume
chumble
make a crunching sound, especially when walking or driving over gravel or an icy surface.
"footsteps began to crunch across the frozen rock"
2.
(especially of a computer) process (large quantities of information).
"the program crunches data from 14,000 sensors to decipher evolving patterns"
noun
noun: crunch; plural noun: crunches; noun: the crunch
1.
a loud muffled grinding sound like that of something hard or brittle being crushed.
"Marco's fist struck Brian's nose with a crunch"
2.
INFORMAL
a crucial point or situation, typically one at which a decision with important consequences must be made.
"when it comes to the crunch you chicken out"
Similar:
moment of truth
critical point
crux
crisis
decision time
zero hour
point of no return
showdown
a severe shortage of money or credit.
"the agencies are facing a financial crunch"
3.
a physical exercise designed to strengthen the abdominal muscles; a sit-up.
Origin

belligerence
/bəˈlɪdʒ(ə)r(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: belligerence; noun: belligerency
aggressive or warlike behaviour.
"Mortimer was eyeing Guy with belligerence"

deterrence
/dɪˈtɛr(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: deterrence; plural noun: deterrences
the action of discouraging an action or event through instilling doubt or fear of the consequences.
"nuclear missiles remain the main deterrence against possible aggression"

finis
/ˈfiːnɪs,ˈfɪnɪs,ˈfʌɪnɪs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: finis
the end (printed at the end of a book or shown at the end of a film).
Origin

late Middle English: from Latin.

marshal
/ˈmɑːʃ(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: marshalling
1.
assemble and arrange (a group of people, especially troops) in order.
"the general marshalled his troops"
Similar:
gather
gather together
assemble
collect
muster
mass
amass
call together
draw up
line up
align
array
organize
group
set/put in order
set/put into position
arrange
deploy
position
order
dispose
rank
mobilize
rally
round up
triage
Opposite:
disperse
scatter
methodically assemble and arrange (facts, ideas, objects, etc.).
"she is one of those people who can marshal their thoughts quickly and articulate them clearly"
Similar:
usher
guide
escort
conduct
lead
shepherd
steer
take
correctly position or arrange (rolling stock).
direct the movement of (an aircraft) on the ground at an airport.
2.
HERALDRY
combine (coats of arms) to indicate marriage, descent, or the bearing of office.
"the quarters include those appearing on the Warwick Plate, but in addition there is marshalled that of Grey"
Origin

germinate
/ˈdʒəːmɪneɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: germinated; past participle: germinated
(of a seed or spore) begin to grow and put out shoots after a period of dormancy.
Similar:
sprout
put forth shoots
shoot
shoot up
bud
put forth buds
form/develop buds
develop
grow
spring up
swell
burgeon
vegetate
pullulate
cause (a seed or spore) to germinate.
come into existence and develop.
"the idea germinated and slowly grew into an obsession"
Similar:
develop
take root
grow
spring up
arise
emerge
evolve
mature
expand
enlarge
spread
advance
progress
Origin

mire
/mʌɪə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: mire; plural noun: mires
1.
a stretch of swampy or boggy ground.
"acres of land had been reduced to a mire"

soft mud or dirt.
"the roads retained their winter mire"
Similar:
mud
slime
sludge
dirt
filth
ooze
muck
clag
ECOLOGY
a wetland area or ecosystem based on peat.
Similar:
swamp
bog
morass
peat bog
quagmire
quag
slough
sump
quicksand
fen
fenland
swampland
marshland
wetland
salt marsh
saltings
salina
bayou
moor
2.
a complicated or unpleasant situation from which it is difficult to extricate oneself.
"the service is sinking in the mire of its own regulations"
verb
verb: mire; 3rd person present: mires; past tense: mired; past participle: mired; gerund or present participle: miring
cause to become stuck in mud.
"sometimes a heavy truck gets mired down"
Similar:
get bogged down
sink
sink down
stick in the mud
cover or spatter with mud.
"the horse waded through the red mud that mired it to its hocks"
Similar:
dirty
soil
muddy
begrime
spatter
smear
make muddy/dirty
cake with dirt/soil
involve someone or something in (a difficult situation).
"the economy is mired in its longest recession since the war"
Similar:
entangle
tangle up
embroil
enmesh
catch up
mix up
involve
bog down
Origin

jalopy
/dʒəˈlɒpi/
Learn to pronounce
nounINFORMAL
noun: jalopy; plural noun: jalopies
an old car in a dilapidated condition.
"his father got worried about him driving that old jalopy—it wasn't safe"
Origin

wariness
/ˈwɛːrɪnəs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: wariness
caution about possible dangers or problems.
"her mother's wariness of computers"
Similar:
caution
carefulness
care
circumspection
prudence
guardedness
alertness
attention
heed
heedfulness
watchfulness
vigilance
observance
awareness
mindfulness
canniness
hesitance
hesitancy
hesitation
timidness
timidity
timorousness
Opposite:
recklessness
lack of trust; suspicion.
"they had all regarded her with wariness"
Similar:
suspicion
distrust
mistrust
caution
unease
scepticism
doubt
chariness
caginess
Opposite:
trust

Saab JAS 39 Gripen
Multirole fighter aircraft

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. It was designed to replace the Saab 35 Draken and 37 Viggen in the Swedish Air Force. Wikipedia
Range: 3,250 km
Unit cost: 40,000,000–60,000,000 USD
Program cost: US$ 13.54 billion (2006)
Engine type: Turbofan
Primary users: Swedish Air Force; South African Air Force; Czech Air Force; Hungarian Air Force
Manufacturers: Saab AB, BAE Systems

au fait
/əʊ ˈfeɪ,French o ˈfɛ(t)/
adjective
having a good or detailed knowledge of.
"you should be au fait with the company and its products"
Similar:
familiar
acquainted
conversant
at home
up to date
up with
in touch

impetus
/ˈɪmpɪtəs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: impetus
the force or energy with which a body moves.
"hit the booster coil before the flywheel loses all its impetus"
Similar:
momentum
propulsion
impulsion
impelling force
motive force
driving force
drive
thrust
continuing motion
energy
force
power
push
steam
strength
something that makes a process or activity happen or happen more quickly.
plural noun: impetuses
"the ending of the Cold War gave new impetus to idealism"
Similar:
motivation
stimulus
incitement
incentive
inducement
inspiration
encouragement
boost
urging
pressing
goading
spurring
prodding
a shot in the arm
Origin

spiel
/ʃpiːl,spiːl/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
noun
plural noun: spiels
an elaborate or glib speech or story, typically one used by a salesperson.
"he delivers a breathless and effortless spiel in promotion of his new novel"
Similar:
speech
line
patter
pitch
sales pitch
monologue
rigmarole
story
saga
verb
3rd person present: spiels
reel off; recite.
"he solemnly spieled all he knew"
speak glibly or at length.
"the barman spiels on the phone to his girlfriends"
Origin

late 19th century: from German Spiel ‘a game’.

glib
/ɡlɪb/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: glib; comparative adjective: glibber; superlative adjective: glibbest
(of words or a speaker) fluent but insincere and shallow.
"the glib phrases soon roll off the tongue"
Similar:
slick
pat
neat
plausible
silky
smooth-talking
fast-talking
smooth
urbane
smooth-tongued
silver-tongued
smooth-spoken
fluent
voluble
loquacious
disingenuous
insincere
facile
shallow
superficial
simplistic
oversimplified
easy
ready
flippant
flip
sweet-talking
with the gift of the gab
Opposite:
sincere
thoughtful
inarticulate
Origin

--
pare
/pɛː/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: pare; 3rd person present: pares; past tense: pared; past participle: pared; gerund or present participle: paring
trim (something) by cutting away its outer edges.
"Carlo pared his thumbnails with his knife"
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"
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 pare to

emulate
/ˈɛmjʊleɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: emulate; 3rd person present: emulates; past tense: emulated; past participle: emulated; gerund or present participle: emulating
match or surpass (a person or achievement), typically by imitation.
"most rulers wished to emulate Alexander the Great"
Similar:
imitate
copy
reproduce
mimic
mirror
echo
follow
model oneself on
take as a model
take as an example
match
equal
parallel
be the equal of
be on a par with
be in the same league as
come near to
come close to
approximate
compete with
contend with
rival
vie with
surpass
imitate.
"hers is not a hairstyle I wish to emulate"
COMPUTING
reproduce the function or action of (a different computer, software system, etc.).
"the adaptor is factory set to emulate a Hercules graphics board"
Origin

fag1
/faɡ/
BRITISH
noun
noun: fag; plural noun: fags
1.
INFORMAL
a tiring or unwelcome task.
"it's too much of a fag to drive all the way there and back again"
Similar:
chore
slog
grind
drudgery
exertion
trouble
bother
pain
hardship
bore
sweat
2.
a junior pupil at a public school who does minor chores for a senior pupil.
"a fag at school who has suffered a well-earned beating"
verbINFORMAL
verb: fag; 3rd person present: fags; past tense: fagged; past participle: fagged; gerund or present participle: fagging
work hard, especially at a tedious task.
"he didn't have to fag away in a lab to get the right answer"
(of a public-school pupil) do minor chores for a senior pupil.
"the lower boys in each house fagged for members of the Library"
Origin
mid 16th century (as a verb in the sense ‘grow weary’): of unknown origin. Compare with flag4.
fag2
/faɡ/
nounINFORMAL•OFFENSIVE
noun: fag; plural noun: fags
a male homosexual.
Origin
1920s: short for faggot (sense 1 of the noun).
fag3
/faɡ/
nounINFORMAL•BRITISH
noun: fag; plural noun: fags
a cigarette.
"she's got a fag in her mouth, and she's squinting her eyes against the smoke"
Similar:
cigarette
cig
ciggy
tab
tube
smoke
cancer stick
coffin nail
snout
gasper
burn

Origin

late 19th century: elliptically from fag end.

fag end
nounINFORMAL•BRITISH
noun: fag end; plural noun: fag ends
a cigarette end.
the last part of something, especially when regarded as less important or interesting.
"the fag end of the Indian cricket season"
Origin

venal
/ˈviːn(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: venal
showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery; corrupt.
"local customs officers are notoriously venal"
Similar:
corrupt
corruptible
bribable
open to bribery
purchasable
buyable
grafting
dishonest
fraudulent
dishonourable
untrustworthy
unscrupulous
unprincipled
mercenary
avaricious
grasping
rapacious
bent
crooked
warped
shady
simoniacal
simoniac
Opposite:
honourable
honest
Origin

rapacious
/rəˈpeɪʃəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: rapacious
aggressively greedy or grasping.
"rapacious landlords"
Similar:
grasping
greedy
avaricious
acquisitive
covetous
mercenary
materialistic
insatiable
predatory
voracious
usurious
extortionate
money-grubbing
grabby
Opposite:
generous
Origin

lurch1
/ləːtʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: lurch; 3rd person present: lurches; past tense: lurched; past participle: lurched; gerund or present participle: lurching
make an abrupt, unsteady, uncontrolled movement or series of movements; stagger.
"the car lurched forward"
Similar:
stagger
stumble
sway
reel
roll
weave
totter
flounder
falter
wobble
slip
move clumsily
list
pitch
toss
keel
veer
labour
heel
swerve
make heavy weather
pitchpole
Opposite:
tiptoe
noun
noun: lurch; plural noun: lurches
an abrupt uncontrolled movement, especially an unsteady tilt or roll.
"the boat gave a violent lurch and he missed his footing"
Origin
late 17th century (as a noun denoting the sudden leaning of a ship to one side): of unknown origin.
lurch2
/ləːtʃ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: lurch
leave an associate or friend abruptly and without assistance or support when they are in a difficult situation.
"he left you in the lurch when you needed him most"
Similar:
leave in trouble
let down
leave helpless
leave stranded
leave high and dry
abandon
desert
betray
bail on
forsake
leave
turn one's back on
cast aside
break (up) with
jilt
strand
throw over
run/walk out on
dump
ditch
give someone the push
give someone the elbow
give someone the big E
bin off
Opposite:
help
support
come to the aid of
stick by
Origin

mid 16th century (denoting a state of discomfiture): from French lourche, the name of a game resembling backgammon, used in the phrase demeurer lourche ‘be discomfited’.

aver
/əˈvəː/
Learn to pronounce
verbFORMAL
3rd person present: avers
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

retroactive
/rɛtrəʊˈaktɪv/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: retroactive
(especially of legislation) taking effect from a date in the past.
"a big retroactive tax increase"

pander
/ˈpandə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: pandering
gratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire or taste or a person with such a desire or taste).
"newspapers are pandering to people's baser instincts"
Similar:
indulge
gratify
satisfy
cater to
give in to
fulfil
yield to
bow to
humour
please
accommodate
comply with
go along with
Origin

What does deification mean?
Deification is when a person is treated like a god. If you love your basketball coach so much that you build her an altar and bow whenever she walks by, that's deification. And a little weird. This word is a variation of deify which means to treat someone like a deity (a god).

sclerotic
/sklɪəˈrɒtɪk,skləˈrɒtɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
1.
MEDICINE
of or having sclerosis.
2.
becoming rigid and unresponsive; losing the ability to adapt.
"sclerotic management"
noun
another term for sclera.

fervour
/ˈfəːvə/
noun
noun: fervour; noun: fervor; plural noun: fervours; plural noun: fervors
1.
intense and passionate feeling.
"he talked with all the fervour of a new convert"
Similar:
passion
ardour
intensity
zeal
vehemence
vehemency
emotion
warmth
sincerity
earnestness
avidness
avidity
eagerness
keenness
enthusiasm
excitement
animation
vigour
energy
fire
fieriness
heat
spirit
zest
appetite
hunger
urgency
dedication
devoutness
assiduity
commitment
committedness
fervency
ardency
passionateness
Opposite:
apathy
2.
ARCHAIC
intense heat.

--
brook1
/brʊk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: brook; plural noun: brooks
a small stream.
"the Lake District boasts lovely lakes and babbling brooks"
Similar:
stream
small river
streamlet
rivulet
rill
brooklet
runnel
runlet
freshet
gill
beck
bourn
billabong
burn
creek
Origin

effeminate
/ɪˈfɛmɪnət/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveDEROGATORY
adjective: effeminate
(of a man) having characteristics regarded as typical of a woman; unmanly.
"he lisps and his handshake is effeminate"
Similar:
womanish
unmanly
effete
foppish
affected
niminy-piminy
mincing
posturing
campy
queeny
poncey
limp-wristed
pansyish
faggy
Opposite:
manly
Origin

congeal
/kənˈdʒiːl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: congealing
become semi-solid, especially on cooling.
"the blood had congealed into blobs"
Similar:
coagulate
clot
cake
set
solidify
harden
thicken
stiffen
dry
gel
concentrate
fix
inspissate
Opposite:
soften
liquefy
take shape or coalesce, especially to form a satisfying whole.
"the ballet failed to congeal as a single oeuvre"
Origin

sway
/sweɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: sway; 3rd person present: sways; past tense: swayed; past participle: swayed; gerund or present participle: swaying
1.
move or cause to move slowly or rhythmically backwards and forwards or from side to side.
"he swayed slightly on his feet"
Similar:
swing
shake
oscillate
rock
undulate
move from side to side
move to and fro
move back and forth
stagger
wobble
lurch
reel
roll
list
stumble
pitch
keel
veer
swerve
waver
fluctuate
vacillate
alternate
vary
see-saw
yo-yo
equivocate
hesitate
shilly-shally
hum and haw
blow hot and cold
2.
control or influence (a person or course of action).
"he's easily swayed by other people"
Similar:
influence
affect
bias
persuade
prevail on
bring round
talk round
win over
convert
manipulate
bend
mould
nobble
LITERARY
rule; govern.
"now let the Lord forever reign and sway us as he will"
Similar:
rule
govern
dominate
control
direct
guide
noun
noun: sway
1.
a rhythmical movement from side to side.
"the easy sway of her hips"
Similar:
swing
sweep
wave
roll
shake
movement
oscillation
undulation
2.
rule; control.
"the country was under the sway of rival warlords"
Similar:
jurisdiction
rule
government
sovereignty
dominion
control
command
power
authority
ascendancy
domination
mastery
supremacy
influence
leadership
direction
leverage
pull
clout
Phrases
hold sway — have great power or influence over a particular person, place, or domain.
"they had held sway in France for a quarter of a century"

slant
/slɑːnt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: slant; 3rd person present: slants; past tense: slanted; past participle: slanted; gerund or present participle: slanting
1.
slope or lean in a particular direction; diverge or cause to diverge from the vertical or horizontal.
"a ploughed field slanted up to the skyline"
Similar:
slope
tilt
incline
be at an angle
angle
tip
cant
be askew
skew
lean
dip
pitch
shelve
list
bank
heel
oblique
sloping
at an angle
angled
not straight
on an incline
inclined
tilting
tilted
atilt
slanted
aslant
slantwise
diagonal
canted
cambered
leaning
dipping
shelving
listing
crooked
askew
squint
cater-cornered
catty-cornered
kitty-corner
Opposite:
straight
(especially of light or shadow) fall in an oblique direction.
"the early sun slanted across the mountains"
2.
present or view (information) from a particular angle, especially in a biased or unfair way.
"slanted news coverage"
Similar:
bias
distort
twist
skew
colour
weight
spin
angle
orient
give a slant to
give a bias to
noun
noun: slant; plural noun: slants
1.
a sloping position.
"the hedge grew at a slant"
Similar:
slope
incline
tilt
ramp
gradient
pitch
angle
rake
cant
camber
skew
leaning
inclination
shelving
listing
2.
a particular point of view from which something is seen or presented.
"a new slant on science"
Similar:
point of view
viewpoint
standpoint
stance
angle
perspective
approach
view
opinion
attitude
position
frame of reference
bias
leaning
partiality
prejudice
twist
bent
spin
adjective
adjective: slant
sloping.
"slant pockets"
Origin

apologist
/əˈpɒlədʒɪst/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: apologists
a person who offers an argument in defence of something controversial.
"an enthusiastic apologist for fascism in the 1920s"
Similar:
defender
supporter
upholder
advocate
proponent
exponent
propagandist
apostle
champion
backer
promoter
campaigner
spokesman
spokeswoman
spokesperson
speaker
arguer
enthusiast
Opposite:
critic
Origin

mid 17th century: from French apologiste, from Greek apologizesthai ‘give an account’ (see apologize).

nimble
/ˈnɪmb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: nimble; comparative adjective: nimbler; superlative adjective: nimblest
quick and light in movement or action; agile.
"with a deft motion of her nimble fingers"
Similar:
agile
lithe
sprightly
acrobatic
light-footed
nimble-footed
light
light on one's feet
fleet-footed
spry
lively
active
quick
quick-moving
graceful
supple
limber
lissom
flexible
skilful
deft
dexterous
adroit
nippy
zippy
twinkle-toed
fleet
lightsome
Opposite:
stiff
clumsy
lumbering
(of the mind) able to think and understand quickly.
"her mind was so nimble and she was so quick to learn"
Similar:
quick-thinking
quick-witted
quick
nimble-witted
alert
alive
lively
wide awake
ready
quick off the mark
observant
astute
perceptive
perspicacious
penetrating
discerning
shrewd
sharp
sharp-witted
intelligent
bright
clever
gifted
able
brainy
brilliant
smart
on the ball
on one's toes
quick on the uptake
genius
whip-smart
Opposite:
dull
Origin

pithy
/ˈpɪθi/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: pithy; comparative adjective: pithier; superlative adjective: pithiest
1.
(of a fruit or plant) containing much pith.
2.
(of language or style) terse and vigorously expressive.
"his characteristically pithy comments"
Similar:
succinct
terse
concise
compact
short
short and sweet
brief

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. ... The proverb refers to the practice of evaluating the age of a horse by looking at its teeth. This practice is also the source of the expression “long in the tooth,” meaning old.

entrenched
/ɪnˈtrɛn(t)ʃt,ɛnˈtrɛn(t)ʃt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
(of an attitude, habit, or belief) firmly established and difficult or unlikely to change; ingrained.
"an entrenched resistance to change"

addle
/ˈad(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: addle; 3rd person present: addles; past tense: addled; past participle: addled; gerund or present participle: addling
1.
HUMOROUS
make (someone) unable to think clearly; confuse.
"being in love must have addled your brain"
Similar:
muddled
confused
fuddled
befuddled
bewildered
dazed
dizzy
disoriented
disorientated
stupefied
unbalanced
unhinged
demented
deranged
discombobulated
woolly
muzzy
woozy
dopey
not with it
bamboozled
fazed
2.
(of an egg) become rotten, producing no chick.
"the extremely hot and dry weather had caused the eggs to addle"
adjective
prefix: addle-; adjective: addle
1.
not clear or cogent; muddled.
"the film is addle-brained"
2.
ARCHAIC
(of an egg) rotten.
Origin

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
disorientated

decrepit
/dɪˈkrɛpɪt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: decrepit
worn out or ruined because of age or neglect.
"a row of decrepit houses"
Similar:
dilapidated
rickety
run down
broken-down
tumbledown
ramshackle
worn out
derelict
in ruins
ruined
falling apart
falling to pieces
in (a state of) disrepair
creaky
creaking
gone to rack and ruin
on its last legs
battered
decayed
decaying
crumbling
deteriorated
deteriorating
antiquated
superannuated
the worse for wear
rumpty
Opposite:
sound
(of a person) elderly and infirm.
"a rather decrepit old man"
Similar:
feeble
enfeebled
infirm
weak
weakened
weakly
frail
debilitated
incapacitated
wasted
doddering
tottering
out of shape
in bad shape
old
elderly
aged
ancient
in one's dotage
long in the tooth
senile
superannuated
senescent
past it
over the hill
no spring chicken
Opposite:
strong
fit
Origin

meld1
/mɛld/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: melded; past participle: melded
blend; combine.
"Australia's winemakers have melded modern science with traditional art"
Origin

1930s: perhaps a blend of melt and weld1.
meld2
/mɛld/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: melded; past participle: melded
(in rummy, canasta, and other card games) lay down or declare (a combination of cards) in order to score points.
"a player has melded four kings"
Origin

late 19th century (originally US): from German melden ‘announce’.
Translate melded to

subaltern
/ˈsʌb(ə)lt(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: subaltern; plural noun: subalterns
an officer in the British army below the rank of captain, especially a second lieutenant.
adjective
adjective: subaltern
1.
of lower status.
"the private tutor was a recognized subaltern part of the bourgeois family"
2.
DATED•LOGIC
(of a proposition) implied by another proposition (e.g. as a particular affirmative is by a universal one), but not implying it in return.
Origin

Bismarckian
/bɪzˈmɑːkɪən/
adjective
adjective: Bismarckian
relating to or characteristic of the Prussian statesman Otto von Bismarck or his policies.
"a typical product of the Bismarckian welfare state"

anachronism
/əˈnakrəˌnɪz(ə)m/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned.
"the town is a throwback to medieval times, an anachronism that has survived the passing years"

the action of attributing something to a period to which it does not belong.
"it is anachronism to suppose that the official morality of the age was mere window dressing"

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cutesy
/ˈkjuːtsi/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveINFORMAL
cute to a sentimental or mawkish extent.
"the film's cutesy shots of children playing in the streets"

mawkish
/ˈmɔːkɪʃ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: mawkish
sentimental in an exaggerated or false way.
"a mawkish ode to parenthood"
Similar:
sentimental
over-sentimental
overemotional
cloying
sickly
saccharine
sugary
syrupy
sickening
nauseating
maudlin
lachrymose
banal
trite
twee
mushy
slushy
sloppy
schmaltzy
weepy
cutesy
lovey-dovey
gooey
drippy
sloshy
soupy
treacly
cheesy
corny
icky
sick-making
toe-curling
soppy
cornball
sappy
hokey
three-hanky

Opposite:
cool, dry

ARCHAIC•DIALECT
having a faint sickly flavour.
"the mawkish smell of warm beer"
Origin

NATO
Intergovernmental Military Alliance

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and European countries.

Founded: Apr 04, 1949 · Washington, D.C., United States
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
Founders: United States · Belgium · France · Portugal · Luxembourg · United Kingdom · Netherlands · Iceland · Norway
Subsidiaries: Allied Command Transformation · NATO Parliamentary Assembly · Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic

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bistro
/ˈbiːstrəʊ,ˈbɪstrəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: bistro; plural noun: bistros
a small, inexpensive restaurant.

Origin

1920s: French; perhaps related to bistouille, a northern colloquial term meaning ‘bad alcohol’, perhaps from Russian bystro ‘rapidly’.

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the action of attributing something to a period to which it does not belong.
"it is anachronism to suppose that the official morality of the age was mere window dressing"

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Word Meanings 20191205

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