Word Meanings 20200112


remittance
/rɪˈmɪt(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a sum of money sent in payment or as a gift.
"complete your booking form and send it together with your remittance"
Similar:
payment
settlement
money
fee
cheque
money order
transfer of funds
negotiable instrument
monies
allowance
sum of money
consideration
the action of sending money in payment or as a gift.
"remittance may be made by credit card"

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Ad hominem (Latin for "to the person"), short for argumentum ad hominem, typically refers to a fallacious argumentative strategy whereby genuine discussion of the topic at hand is avoided by instead attacking the character, motive, or other attribute of the person making the argument, or persons associated with the argument, rather than attacking the substance of the argument itself. The terms ad mulierem and ad feminam have been used specifically when the person receiving the criticism is female.

Example: such as the attacks on the character of Greta Thunberg by Donald Trump (US president) and Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron (France president).

Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg (born 3 January 2003) is a Swedish environmental activist on climate change whose campaigning has gained international recognition. Thunberg is known for her straightforward speaking manner, both in public and to political leaders and assemblies, in which she urges immediate action to address what she describes as the climate crisis. 

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The President of France, officially the President of the French Republic (French: président de la République française, French pronunciation: ​[pʁezidɑ̃ də la ʁepyblik fʁɑ̃sɛːz]), is the executive head of state of France in the French Fifth Republic. In French terms, the presidency is the supreme magistracy of the country. 

The powers, functions and duties of prior presidential offices, as well as their relation with the Prime Minister and Government of France, have over time differed with the various constitutional documents since the French Second Republic. The President of the French Republic is also the ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, Grand Master of the Legion of Honour and of the National Order of Merit. The officeholder is also honorary proto-canon of the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome (although some have rejected the title in the past). 
The current President of the French Republic is Emmanuel Macron, who succeeded François Hollande on 14 May 2017.

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hold someone's feet to the fire
Also, keep someone's feet to the fire. Pressure someone to consent to or undertake something, as in The only way you'll get him to agree is to hold his feet to the fire. This idiom alludes to an ancient test of courage or form of torture in which a person's feet were so placed. It began to be used figuratively in the second half of the 1900s. Also see hold a gun to someone's head.

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in-your-face
/ɪnjəˈfeɪs/
adjectiveINFORMAL
blatantly aggressive or provocative; impossible to ignore or avoid.
"hard-boiled, in-your-face action thrillers"

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winnow
/ˈwɪnəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: winnow; 3rd person present: winnows; past tense: winnowed; past participle: winnowed; gerund or present participle: winnowing; verb: win-now; 3rd person present: win-nows; past tense: win-nowed; past participle: win-nowed; gerund or present participle: win-nowing
1.
blow a current of air through (grain) in order to remove the chaff.
"a combine cuts, threshes, and winnows the grain in one operation"
remove (chaff) from grain.
"women winnow the chaff from piles of unhusked rice"
Similar:
separate
divide
sort out
remove
get rid of
remove (people or things) from a group until only the best ones are left.
"guidelines that would help winnow out those not fit to be soldiers"
find or identify (a valuable or useful part of something).
"amidst this welter of confusing signals, it's difficult to winnow out the truth"
Similar:
separate out
sift out
filter out
isolate
sort out
find
identify
ferret out
2.
LITERARY
(of the wind) blow.
"the autumn wind winnowing its way through the grass"
(of a bird) fan (the air) with its wings.
"the emperors of the sky winnowing the air"
Origin


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cookie cutter
nounNORTH AMERICAN
noun: cookie cutter; plural noun: cookie cutters
a device with sharp edges for cutting biscuit dough into a particular shape.




denoting something mass-produced or lacking any distinguishing characteristics.
modifier noun: cookie-cutter
"a cookie-cutter apartment in a high-rise building"

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precinct
/ˈpriːsɪŋ(k)t/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: precinct; plural noun: precincts
1.
the area within the walls or perceived boundaries of a particular building or place.
"a former MP who still works in the precincts of the House"
Similar:
bounds
boundaries
limits
confines
surrounding area
environs
surroundings
purlieus
surrounds
neighbourhood
vicinity
locality
an enclosed or clearly defined area of ground around a cathedral, church, or college.
"the precincts of the abbey church"
Similar:
enclosure
close
quadrangle
court
courtyard
quad
2.
BRITISH
an area in a town designated for specific or restricted use, especially one which is closed to traffic.
"a pedestrian precinct"
Similar:
area
zone
sector
district
section
quarter
region
3.
NORTH AMERICAN
a district of a city or town as defined for policing purposes.
the police station situated in a precinct.
"at the precinct a desk sergeant ran through her ID"
an electoral district of a city or town served by a single polling station.
"with 35 per cent of the precincts declaring, he had 51 per cent of the vote"
Origin

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burglarize
/ˈbəːɡlərʌɪz/
verb
verb: burglarize; 3rd person present: burglarizes; past tense: burglarized; past participle: burglarized; gerund or present participle: burglarizing; verb: burglarise; 3rd person present: burglarises; past tense: burglarised; past participle: burglarised; gerund or present participle: burglarising
enter (a building) illegally with intent to commit a crime, especially theft; burgle.
"our summer house has been burglarized"

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burgle
/ˈbəːɡ(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verbBRITISH
verb: burgle; 3rd person present: burgles; past tense: burgled; past participle: burgled; gerund or present participle: burgling
enter (a building) illegally with intent to commit a crime, especially theft.
"our house in London has been burgled"
Similar:
break into
force (an) entry into
force one's way into
steal from
rob
loot
plunder
rifle
sack
ransack
pillage
do
Origin

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stalemate
/ˈsteɪlmeɪt/

noun CHESS
1.
a position counting as a draw, in which a player is not in check but cannot move except into check.
"last time I played him it ended up in stalemate"

2.
a situation in which further action or progress by opposing or competing parties seems impossible.
plural noun: stalemates
"the war had again reached stalemate"
Similar:
deadlock
impasse
standstill
dead end
stand-off
draw
tie
dead heat
verb
verb: stalemate; 3rd person present: stalemates; past tense: stalemated; past participle: stalemated; gerund or present participle: stalemating
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.

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cohort
/ˈkəʊhɔːt/

noun
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
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harrow
/ˈharəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
an implement consisting of a heavy frame set with teeth or tines which is dragged over ploughed land to break up clods, remove weeds, and cover seed.




verb
1.
draw a harrow over (land).
"they ploughed and harrowed the heavy clay"
2.
cause distress to.
"Todd could take it, whereas I'm harrowed by it"
Similar:
distress
trouble
afflict
grieve
torment
torture
crucify
rack

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phenomenological
/fəˌnɒmɪnəˈlɒdʒɪk(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjectivePHILOSOPHY
adjective: phenomenological
relating to the science of phenomena as distinct from that of the nature of being.
"phenomenological parameters"
denoting or relating to an approach that concentrates on the study of consciousness and the objects of direct experience.
"the phenomenological approach's reliance solely on personal experience"

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high fidelity
noun
noun: high fidelity; modifier noun: high-fidelity
the reproduction of sound with little distortion, giving a result very similar to the original.
"high-fidelity speakers"

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prudish
/ˈpruːdɪʃ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
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
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snafu
/snaˈfuː,ˈsnafuː/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
noun
a confused or chaotic state; a mess.
"an enormous amount of my time was devoted to untangling snafus"
adjective
in utter confusion or chaos.
"our refrigeration plant is snafu"
verb
throw (a situation) into chaos.
"you ignored his orders and snafued everything"
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befuddle
/bɪˈfʌd(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: befuddled; past participle: befuddled
cause to become unable to think clearly.
"even in my befuddled state I could see that they meant trouble"
Similar:
confused
muddled
addled
bewildered
disoriented

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haggle
/ˈhaɡ(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: haggling
dispute or bargain persistently, especially over the cost of something.
"the two sides are haggling over television rights"
Similar:
barter
bargain
negotiate
discuss terms
quibble
wrangle
beat someone down
drive a hard bargain
deal
wheel and deal
trade
traffic
dicker
treat
chaffer
palter
Origin

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isopraxism / mirroring:

An impulsive tendency to, e.g., a. stand and clap as audience members nearby stand and applaud, or b. wear the same style of jewelry, clothing, or shoes. Usage I: Isopraxism explains why we dress like our colleagues and adopt the beliefs, customs, and mannerisms of the people we admire.

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uncannily
/ʌnˈkanɪli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
in a strange or mysterious way, especially one that is unsettling.
"Bobby looks uncannily like his father"

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plough
/plaʊ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: plowed; past participle: plowed
1.
turn up the earth of (an area of land) with a plough, especially before sowing.
"the fields had all been ploughed up"
Similar:
cultivate
till
work
furrow
harrow
ridge
break up
turn up
cut (a furrow or line) with or as if with a plough.
"icebergs have ploughed furrows on the seabed"
(of a ship or boat) travel through (an area of water).
"cruise liners plough the long-sailed routes"
unearth something while using a plough.
"some day someone will plough up the bomb and lose a leg"
2.
(especially of a vehicle) move in a fast and uncontrolled manner.
"the car ploughed into the side of a van"
Similar:
career
plunge
crash
smash
bulldoze
hurtle
cannon
lurch
drive
run
careen
barrel
crash into
smash into
collide with
be in collision with
hit
strike
ram
smack into
slam into
bang into
meet head-on
run into
drive into
bump into
crack into/against
dash against
impact
advance or progress laboriously or forcibly.
"they ploughed their way through deep snow"
Similar:
trudge
plod
toil
clump
push one's way
wade
flounder
press
move laboriously
slog
trog
persevere
persist
continue
carry on
go on
keep at it
keep on
keep going
keep it up
not give up
be persistent
be determined
see/follow something through
show determination
press on/ahead
plod on
stay with something
not take no for an answer
be tenacious
be pertinacious
insist
be patient
be diligent
stand one's ground
stand fast/firm
hold on
hold out
go the distance
stay the course
grind away
struggle on
hammer away
stop at nothing
leave no stone unturned
plug away
peg away
stick at it
soldier on
hang on
stick to one's guns
stick it out
hang in there
bash on
continue steadily despite difficulties or warnings to stop.
"he ploughed on, trying to outline his plans"
3.
NORTH AMERICAN
clear snow from (a road) using a snowplough.
"he could use the car only in summer because the roads weren't ploughed in winter"
4.
INFORMAL•DATED
fail (an examination).
"not many people plough Greats and become a professor of Latin"
Origin

late Old English plōh, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch ploeg and German Pflug . The spelling plough became common in England in the 18th century; earlier (16th–17th centuries) the noun was normally spelled plough, the verb plow .
ploughed
/plaʊd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: plowed
1.
(of an area of land) having had the earth turned up with a plough, especially before sowing.
"a ploughed field"
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
(of a road) having been cleared of snow using a snowplough.
"we remained on the town's ploughed streets rather than venturing onto the country roads"

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burrowing
/ˈbʌrəʊɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: burrowing
denoting an animal that makes holes or tunnels, typically for use as a dwelling.
"burrowing earthworms"
burrow
/ˈbʌrəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: burrowing
(of an animal) make a hole or tunnel, typically for use as a dwelling.
"moles burrowing away underground"
Similar:
tunnel
dig (out)
excavate
grub
mine
bore
drill
channel
hollow out
gouge out
scoop out
cut out
delve
dig into or through something solid.
"worms that burrow through dead wood"
hide underneath or press close to something.
"the child burrowed deeper into the bed"
make a thorough inquiry; investigate.
"journalists are burrowing into the prime minister's business affairs"
Origin

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simmer
/ˈsɪmə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: simmer; 3rd person present: simmers; past tense: simmered; past participle: simmered; gerund or present participle: simmering
(of water or food that is being heated) stay just below boiling point while bubbling gently.
"the goulash was simmering slowly in the oven"
Similar:
boil gently
not quite boil
cook gently
stew
poach
bubble
seethe
keep (food) just below boiling point when cooking or heating it.
"simmer the sauce gently until thickened"
exist in a suppressed state.
"the disagreement simmered for years and eventually boiled over"
show or feel barely suppressed anger or other strong emotion.
"she was simmering with resentment"
Similar:
be furious
be enraged
be angry
be incensed
be infuriated
be beside oneself
have lost one's temper
have a fit
boil
seethe
be boiling over
chafe
rage
be in a rage
rant
rave
rant and rave
storm
fume
smoulder
spit
breathe fire
burn
be livid
be wild
jump up and down
froth/foam at the mouth
be steamed up
be hot under the collar
do one's head/nut in
become calmer and quieter.
"she gave him time to simmer down after their argument"
Similar:
become less angry
cool off
cool down
be placated
contain oneself
control oneself
become calmer
calm down
become quieter
quieten down
loosen up
settle (down)
Opposite:
get steamed up
noun
noun: simmer; plural noun: simmers
a state or temperature just below boiling point.
"bring the water to a simmer"
Origin

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baffle
/ˈbaf(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: baffled; past participle: baffled
1.
totally bewilder or perplex.
"an unexplained occurrence that baffled everyone"
Similar:
perplex
puzzle
bewilder
mystify
bemuse
confuse
confound
nonplus
disconcert
throw
set someone thinking
flummox
discombobulate
faze
stump
beat
fox
be all Greek to
floor
fog
buffalo
wilder
gravel
maze
cause to be at a stand
pose
obfuscate
puzzling
bewildering
perplexing
mystifying
bemusing
confusing
unclear
difficult/hard to understand
beyond one
above one's head
mysterious
enigmatic
obscure
abstruse
unfathomable
inexplicable
incomprehensible
impenetrable
cryptic
opaque
wildering
Opposite:
enlighten
clear
comprehensible
2.
restrain or regulate (a fluid, sound, etc.).
"to baffle the noise further, I pad the gunwales"
Similar:
thwart
frustrate
foil
balk
check
block
hinder
obstruct
bar
prevent
deflect
divert
Opposite:
further
Origin

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fangled 

1 : a fashion especially when foppish or silly —used with new and usually derogatorily. 2 obsolete : a silly or fantastic contrivance : gewgaw, gaud. fangle.

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stupor
/ˈstjuːpə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility.
"a drunken stupor"
Similar:
daze
state of stupefaction
state of senselessness

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coriander / धनिया
/ˌkɒrɪˈandə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: coriander
an aromatic Mediterranean plant of the parsley family, the leaves and seeds of which are used as culinary herbs.

Origin

Middle English: from Old French coriandre, from Latin coriandrum, from Greek koriannon .

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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"

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harbinger
/ˈhɑːbɪn(d)ʒə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: harbinger; plural noun: harbingers
a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another.
"witch hazels are the harbingers of spring"
Similar:
herald
sign
indicator
indication
signal
prelude
portent
omen
augury
forewarning
presage
announcer
forerunner
precursor
messenger
usher
avant-courier
foretoken
a forerunner of something.
"these works were not yet opera but they were the most important harbinger of opera"
Origin

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desolate
adjective
adjective: desolate
/ˈdɛs(ə)lət/
1.
(of a place) uninhabited and giving an impression of bleak emptiness.
"a desolate Pennine moor"
Similar:
barren
bleak
stark
bare
dismal
grim
desert
waste
arid
sterile
wild
windswept
inhospitable
exposed
deserted
uninhabited
unoccupied
depopulated
forsaken
godforsaken
abandoned
unpeopled
untenanted
evacuated
empty
vacated
vacant
unfrequented
unvisited
solitary
lonely
secluded
isolated
remote
Opposite:
fertile
populous
2.
feeling or showing great unhappiness or loneliness.
"I suddenly felt desolate and bereft"
Similar:
miserable
sad
unhappy
melancholy
gloomy
glum
despondent
comfortless
depressed
mournful
disconsolate
broken-hearted
heavy-hearted
grief-stricken
wretched
downcast
cast down
dejected
downhearted
dispirited
devastated
despairing
inconsolable
anguished
crushed
forlorn
crestfallen
upset
distressed
grieving
woebegone
bereft
in low spirits
blue
down
cut up
Opposite:
joyful
verb
verb: desolate; 3rd person present: desolates; past tense: desolated; past participle: desolated; gerund or present participle: desolating
/ˈdɛsəleɪt/
1.
make (a place) appear bleakly empty.
"the droughts that desolated the dry plains"
Similar:
devastate
ravage
ruin
make/leave desolate
leave in ruins
destroy
wreck
lay waste to
wreak havoc on
level
raze
demolish
wipe out
obliterate
annihilate
gut
depopulate
empty
depredate
spoliate
2.
make (someone) feel utterly wretched and unhappy.
"he was desolated by the deaths of his treasured friends"
Similar:
dishearten
dispirit
daunt
distress
depress
make sad/unhappy
sadden
cast down
deject
make miserable
make gloomy/despondent
weigh down
oppress
shatter
floor
Opposite:
cheer
Origin

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ingratiate
/ɪnˈɡreɪʃɪeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: ingratiate; 3rd person present: ingratiates; past tense: ingratiated; past participle: ingratiated; gerund or present participle: ingratiating
bring oneself into favour with someone by flattering or trying to please them.
"a sycophantic attempt to ingratiate herself with the local aristocracy"
Similar:
curry favour with
find the favour of
cultivate
win over
get on the good side of
get in someone's good books
toady to
crawl to
grovel to
fawn over
be obsequious towards
kowtow to
bow and scrape to
play up to
truckle to
pander to
be a yes man/woman to
be a sycophant to
flatter
court
dance attendance on
keep someone sweet
suck up to
rub up the right way
lick someone's boots
Origin

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cadence
/ˈkeɪd(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: cadence; 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

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fawning
/ˈfɔːnɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: fawning
displaying exaggerated flattery or affection; obsequious.
"fawning adoration"
fawn1
/fɔːn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: fawning
(of a deer) produce young.
"the forest was closed for hunting when the does were fawning"
Origin

late Middle English: from Old French faon, based on Latin fetus ‘offspring’; compare with fetus.
fawn2
/fɔːn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: fawning
(of a person) give a servile display of exaggerated flattery or affection, typically in order to gain favour.
"congressmen fawn over the President"
Similar:
be obsequious to
be sycophantic to
be servile to
curry favour with
pay court to
play up to
crawl to
creep to
ingratiate oneself with
dance attendance on
fall over oneself for
kowtow to
toady to
truckle to
bow and scrape before
grovel before
cringe before
abase oneself before
flatter
praise
sing the praises of
praise to the skies
praise to excess
eulogize
sweet-talk
soft-soap
brown-nose
suck up to
make up to
smarm around
be all over
fall all over
butter up
lick someone's boots
rub up the right way
lay it on thick
lay it on with a trowel
smoodge to
obsequious
servile
sycophantic
flattering
ingratiating
unctuous
oleaginous
oily
toadyish
slavish
bowing and scraping
grovelling
abject
crawling
creeping
cringing
prostrate
Uriah Heepish
bootlicking
smarmy
slimy
sucky
soapy
brown-nosing
saponaceous
vulgar slangkiss someone's arse
arse-kissing
bum-sucking
kiss-ass
ass-kissing
suckholing
(of a dog) show slavish devotion, especially by rubbing against someone.
"the dogs started fawning on me"
Origin

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grumbly
/ˈɡrʌmbli/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
1.
inclined to complain.
"he's been getting very grumbly and difficult lately"
2.
making a low rumbling sound.
"a grumbly bass"

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concur
/kənˈkəː/
Learn to pronounce
verb
1.
be of the same opinion; agree.
"the authors concurred with the majority"
Similar:
agree
be in agreement
be in accord
be in accordance
accord
go along
fall in
be in harmony
be in sympathy
see eye to eye
be of the same mind
be of the same opinion
Opposite:
disagree
2.
happen or occur at the same time; coincide.
"in tests, cytogenetic determination has been found to concur with enzymatic determination"
Similar:
coincide
happen/occur together
happen/occur simultaneously
happen/occur at the same time
be simultaneous
be concurrent
synchronize
coexist
clash
Tip
Similar-sounding words
concur is sometimes confused with conquer

---

garrison
/ˈɡarɪs(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: garrison; plural noun: garrisons
a group of troops stationed in a fortress or town to defend it.
"the entire garrison was mustered on the parade ground"
Similar:
armed force
force
military detachment
military unit
unit
platoon
brigade
regiment
squadron
battalion
company
legion
corps
troops
militia
soldiers





the building occupied by a garrison.
"forces from these garrisons have been used against governments"
Similar:
fortress
fort
fortification
stronghold
blockhouse
citadel
camp
encampment
cantonment
command post
base
station
barracks
billet
quarters
casern
verb
verb: garrison; 3rd person present: garrisons; past tense: garrisoned; past participle: garrisoned; gerund or present participle: garrisoning
provide (a place) with a group of troops.
"air reconnaissance showed the Germans had not garrisoned the island"
Similar:
defend
guard
protect
preserve
fortify
barricade
shield
secure
man
occupy
supply with troops
station (troops) in a particular place.
"French troops were garrisoned at Phillipsburg"
Similar:
station
post
put on duty
assign
billet
deploy
install
base
site
place
position
locate
situate
Origin

---

cede
/siːd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: cede; 3rd person present: cedes; past tense: ceded; past participle: ceded; gerund or present participle: ceding
give up (power or territory).
"in 1874, the islands were ceded to Britain"
Similar:
surrender
concede
relinquish
yield
part with
give up
hand over
deliver up
turn over
give over
make over
transfer
bequeath
grant
remit
renounce
resign
abandon
forgo
sacrifice
waive
forsake
Opposite:
keep
gain
Origin

---

wunderkind
/ˈvʊndəkɪnd/
noun
noun: wunderkind; plural noun: wunderkinds; plural noun: wunderkinder
a person who achieves great success when relatively young.
"the economics wunderkind who was a tenured professor at 29"
Origin

late 19th century: from German, from Wunder ‘wonder’ + Kind ‘child’.

---
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

---

plough
/plaʊ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: plowing
1.
turn up the earth of (an area of land) with a plough, especially before sowing.
"the fields had all been ploughed up"
Similar:
cultivate
till
work
furrow
harrow
ridge
break up
turn up
cut (a furrow or line) with or as if with a plough.
"icebergs have ploughed furrows on the seabed"
(of a ship or boat) travel through (an area of water).
"cruise liners plough the long-sailed routes"
unearth something while using a plough.
"some day someone will plough up the bomb and lose a leg"
2.
(especially of a vehicle) move in a fast and uncontrolled manner.
"the car ploughed into the side of a van"
Similar:
career
plunge
crash
smash
bulldoze
hurtle
cannon
lurch
drive
run
careen
barrel
crash into
smash into
collide with
be in collision with
hit
strike
ram
smack into
slam into
bang into
meet head-on
run into
drive into
bump into
crack into/against
dash against
impact
advance or progress laboriously or forcibly.
"they ploughed their way through deep snow"
Similar:
trudge
plod
toil
clump
push one's way
wade
flounder
press
move laboriously
slog
trog
persevere
persist
continue
carry on
go on
keep at it
keep on
keep going
keep it up
not give up
be persistent
be determined
see/follow something through
show determination
press on/ahead
plod on
stay with something
not take no for an answer
be tenacious
be pertinacious
insist
be patient
be diligent
stand one's ground
stand fast/firm
hold on
hold out
go the distance
stay the course
grind away
struggle on
hammer away
stop at nothing
leave no stone unturned
plug away
peg away
stick at it
soldier on
hang on
stick to one's guns
stick it out
hang in there
bash on
continue steadily despite difficulties or warnings to stop.
"he ploughed on, trying to outline his plans"
3.
NORTH AMERICAN
clear snow from (a road) using a snowplough.
"he could use the car only in summer because the roads weren't ploughed in winter"
4.
INFORMAL•DATED
fail (an examination).
"not many people plough Greats and become a professor of Latin"
Origin

late Old English plōh, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch ploeg and German Pflug . The spelling plough became common in England in the 18th century; earlier (16th–17th centuries) the noun was normally spelled plough, the verb plow .

---
deflated
/dɪˈfleɪtɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: deflated
1.
having been emptied of air or gas.
"a deflated balloon"
2.
having suddenly lost confidence or optimism.
"the news left him feeling utterly deflated"
deflate
/dɪˈfleɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: deflated; past participle: deflated
1.
let air or gas out of (a tyre, balloon, or similar object).
"he deflated one of the tyres"
Similar:
let down
empty the air out of
collapse
flatten
void
puncture
Opposite:
inflate
blow up
be emptied of air or gas.
"the balloon deflated"
Similar:
go down
collapse
shrink
contract
flatten
Opposite:
inflate
expand
2.
make (someone) suddenly lose confidence or feel dispirited.
"his response deflated me"
Similar:
subdue
humble
cow
humiliate
mortify
chasten
chagrin
dispirit
dismay
discourage
dishearten
squash
crush
flatten
bring down
bring low
take down a peg or two
cut down to size
knock the stuffing out of
put down
Opposite:
aggrandize
reduce the level of (an emotion or feeling).
"her anger was deflated"
3.
ECONOMICS
bring about a general reduction of price levels in (an economy).
"the budget deflated the economy"
Similar:
reduce
slow down
make less active
diminish
lessen
lower
devalue
depreciate
depress
Opposite:
inflate
Origin

---

aghast
/əˈɡɑːst/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: aghast
filled with horror or shock.
"she winced, aghast at his cruelty"
Similar:
horrified
appalled
astounded
amazed
dismayed
thunderstruck
stunned
shocked
shell-shocked
in shock
flabbergasted
staggered
taken aback
speechless
awestruck
open-mouthed
wide-eyed
floored
gobsmacked
Origin

---
green light
verb
past participle: greenlighted
NORTH AMERICAN
give permission to go ahead with (a project).
"they refused to green-light his script until he did a major rewrite"

---

jettison
/ˈdʒɛtɪs(ə)n,ˈdʒɛtɪz(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: jettisoned; past participle: jettisoned
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

---

fatuous
/ˈfatjʊəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: fatuous
silly and pointless.
"a fatuous comment"
Similar:
silly
foolish
stupid
inane
nonsensical
childish
puerile
infantile
idiotic
brainless
mindless
vacuous
imbecilic
asinine
witless
empty-headed
hare-brained
pointless
senseless
ridiculous
ludicrous
absurd
preposterous
laughable
risible
daft
moronic
cretinous
dumb
gormless
Opposite:
intelligent
sensible
Origin

---

rangy
/ˈreɪn(d)ʒi/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: rangy; comparative adjective: rangier; superlative adjective: rangiest
1.
(of a person) tall and slim with long, slender limbs.
"a pale, rangy boy in his late teens"
Similar:
long-legged
long-limbed
leggy
tall
slender
slim
lean
thin
gangling
gangly
lanky
spindly
skinny
size-zero
spare
scrawny
bony
gaunt
Opposite:
stocky
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
(of a place) having room for ranging; expansive or spacious.
"rangy pasture filled with horses and cattle"

---

pedantic
/pɪˈdantɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: pedantic
excessively concerned with minor details or rules; overscrupulous.
"his analyses are careful and even painstaking, but never pedantic"
Similar:
overscrupulous
scrupulous
precise
exact
over-exacting

---

colossus
/kəˈlɒsəs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: colossus; plural noun: colossi; plural noun: colossuses
a statue that is much bigger than life size.
"two statues known as the Colossi of Memnon"
a person or thing of enormous size, importance, or ability.
"the Russian Empire was the colossus of European politics"
Phrases
bestride something like a colossus — totally dominate a place or area of activity.
"he bestrode French cinema like a colossus"
Origin

---

delve
/dɛlv/
Learn to pronounce
verb
1.
reach inside a receptacle and search for something.
"she delved in her pocket"
Similar:
search (through)
hunt through
scrabble about/around in
root about/around in
ferret (about/around) in
fish about/around in
poke about/around in
dig in
grub about/around in
go through
burrow in
rifle through
scour
ransack
turn upside down
turn inside out
rootle around in
fossick through
roust around in
2.
ARCHAIC
dig; excavate.
"when Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?"

---

ineptitude
/ɪˈnɛptɪtjuːd/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: ineptitude; plural noun: ineptitudes
lack of skill or ability.
"the officials displayed remarkable ineptitude"

---
disingenuous
/ˌdɪsɪnˈdʒɛnjʊəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: disingenuous
not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does.
"this journalist was being somewhat disingenuous as well as cynical"
Similar:
dishonest
deceitful
underhand
underhanded
duplicitous
double-dealing

---
oasis
/əʊˈeɪsɪs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: oasis; plural noun: oases; noun: Oasis
1.
a fertile spot in a desert, where water is found.
"a country of oases and burning desert sands"
Similar:
watering hole
watering place
water hole
spring
gnamma
claypan




a pleasant or peaceful area or period in the midst of a difficult or hectic place or situation.
"the park is an oasis of calm in the centre of the city"
Similar:
refuge
haven
safe haven
retreat
sanctuary
sanctum
shelter
resting place
hiding place
harbour
asylum
hideaway
hideout
2.
TRADEMARK
a type of rigid foam into which the stems of flowers can be secured in flower arranging.
"cover the ball of Oasis with leaves and moss"
Origin

---
fetishize
/ˈfɛtɪʃʌɪz/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: fetishized; past participle: fetishized
make (something) the object of a sexual fetish.
"women's bodies are so intensely fetishized"
have an excessive and irrational commitment to (something).
"an author who fetishizes privacy"

---

fetish
/ˈfɛtɪʃ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: fetish; plural noun: fetishes
1.
a form of sexual desire in which gratification is linked to an abnormal degree to a particular object, item of clothing, part of the body, etc.
"a man with a fetish for surgical masks"
Similar:
fixation
sexual fixation
obsession
compulsion
mania
weakness
fancy
taste
fascination
craze
fad
idée fixe
thing
hang-up
an excessive and irrational devotion or commitment to a particular thing.
"the western fetish for all things North African"
2.
an inanimate object worshipped for its supposed magical powers or because it is considered to be inhabited by a spirit.
Similar:
juju
talisman
charm
amulet
totem
icon
idol
image
effigy
doll
statue
figure
figurine
periapt
Origin

---

vituperative
/vɪˈtjuːp(ə)rətɪv,vʌɪˈtjuːp(ə)rətɪv/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
bitter and abusive.
"a vituperative outburst"

---

despondent
/dɪˈspɒnd(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.
"she grew more and more despondent"
Similar:
disheartened
discouraged
dispirited
downhearted
low-spirited

---

lurid
/ˈl(j)ʊərɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: lurid
unpleasantly bright in colour, especially so as to create a harsh or unnatural effect.
"lurid food colourings"
Similar:
brightly coloured
bright
over-bright
brilliant
glaring
fluorescent
flaming
dazzling
vivid
intense
showy
gaudy
loud
Opposite:
muted
subtle
presented in vividly shocking or sensational terms.
"the more lurid details of the massacre were too frightening for the children"
Similar:
sensational
sensationalist
melodramatic
exaggerated
overdramatized
extravagant
colourful
trashy
rubbishy
cheap
pulp
tasteless
kitschy
salacious
graphic
explicit
unrestrained
prurient
ribald
suggestive
shocking
startling
dirty
filthy
gruesome
gory
grisly
macabre
repugnant
revolting
disgusting
ghastly
morbid
unearthly
grotesque
hideous
horrifying
appalling
tacky
shock-horror
juicy
full-frontal
Opposite:
restrained
discreet
Origin

---

lucid
/ˈluːsɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: lucid
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
showing or having the ability to think clearly, especially in intervals between periods of confusion or insanity.
"he has a few lucid moments every now and then"
Similar:
rational
sane
in one's right mind
of sound mind
able to think clearly
normal
balanced
well balanced
sensible
clear-headed
right-minded
sober
compos mentis
all there
with all one's marbles
Opposite:
muddled
PSYCHOLOGY
(of a dream) experienced with the dreamer feeling awake, aware of dreaming, and able to control events consciously.
2.
LITERARY
bright or luminous.
"birds dipped their wings in the lucid flow of air"
Similar:
bright
shining
gleaming
luminous
radiant
brilliant
glowing
dazzling
lustrous
luminescent
phosphorescent
lucent
lambent
effulgent
refulgent
Opposite:
dark
dull
Origin

---

hassle
/ˈhas(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
noun
plural noun: hassles
irritating inconvenience.
"the hassle of child care"
Similar:
inconvenience
bother
nuisance
problem
struggle
difficulty
annoyance
irritation
thorn in one's flesh/side
bane of one's life
trials and tribulations
fuss
trouble
aggravation
aggro
stress
headache
pain
pain in the neck/backside
pain in the butt
vulgar slang: pain in the arse
verb
3rd person present: hassles
harass; pester.
"you want to sit and relax and not get hassled"
Similar:
harass
pester
nag
go on at
keep on at
keep after

---

entomology
/ˌɛntəˈmɒlədʒi/
Learn to pronounce
noun
the branch of zoology concerned with the study of insects.
Tip
Similar-sounding words
entomology is sometimes confused with etymology

---

dapper
/ˈdapə/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: dapper; superlative adjective: dapperest
(of a man) neat and trim in dress and appearance.
"he looked very dapper in a dark silk suit"
Similar:
smart
spruce
trim
debonair
neat
tidy
neat and tidy
crisp
well dressed
besuited
well groomed
well turned out
smartly dressed
elegant
chic
dashing
soigné
snazzy
snappy
natty
sharp
nifty
sassy
spiffy
fly
kicky
swagger
trig
Opposite:
scruffy
Origin

---
the gift of the gab
phrase of gab
the ability to speak with eloquence and fluency.
"my friend had the gift of the gab and gradually defused the situation"
synonyms: eloquence, fluency, clarity of speech, expressiveness, articulateness, articulacy, good command of the language; More
---
punch above your weight

engage in an activity or contest perceived as being beyond your capacity or abilities. This is a metaphor from boxing, in which contests are arranged between opponents of nearly equal weight.

---
coloring outside the lines:
Used other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see color,‎ outside,‎ lines. (intransitive) To behave in creative or unconventional ways, to break the rules.

---

commutative
/kəˈmjuːtətɪv,ˈkɒmjʊˌtətɪv/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: commutative
1.
MATHEMATICS
involving the condition that a group of quantities connected by operators gives the same result whatever the order of the quantities involved, e.g. a × b = b × a.
2.
RARE
relating to or involving substitution or exchange.

---

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

mid 17th century: from French, from ramifier ‘form branches’ (see ramify).

---

sartorial
/sɑːˈtɔːrɪəl/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress.
"sartorial elegance"

---

nuance
/ˈnjuːɑːns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.
"he was familiar with the nuances of the local dialect"
Similar:
fine distinction
subtle distinction/difference
shade
shading
gradation
variation
modulation
degree
subtlety
nicety
refinement
overtone
verb
give nuances to.
"the effect of the music is nuanced by the social situation of listeners"

---


avid
/ˈavɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something.
"an avid reader of science fiction"
Similar:
keen
eager
enthusiastic
ardent
passionate
devoted
dedicated
fervent
fervid
zealous
fanatical
voracious
insatiable
wholehearted
earnest
as keen as mustard
Opposite:
apathetic
half-hearted
having an eager desire for.
"she was avid for information about the murder inquiry"

---

ineffable
/ɪnˈɛfəb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.
"the ineffable mysteries of the soul"
Similar:
inexpressible
indescribable
beyond words
beyond description
beggaring description
undefinable
unutterable
untold
unheard of
unthought of
unimaginable
overwhelming
marvellous
wonderful
breathtaking
staggering
astounding
amazing
astonishing
fantastic
fabulous
not to be uttered
not to be spoken
not to be said
unmentionable
taboo
forbidden
off limits
out of bounds
no go
not to be uttered.
"the ineffable Hebrew name that gentiles write as Jehovah"

---

symbiotic
/ˌsɪmbɪˈɒtɪk/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveBIOLOGY
adjective: symbiotic
involving interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association.
"the fungi form symbiotic associations with the roots of plant species"
denoting a mutually beneficial relationship between different people or groups.
"the reader can have a symbiotic relationship with the writer"

---

marasmus
/məˈrazməs/
nounMEDICINE
undernourishment causing a child's weight to be significantly low for their age.

---

disequilibrium
/dɪsiːkwɪˈlɪbrɪəm,ˌdɪsɛkwɪˈlɪbrɪəm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: disequilibrium; plural noun: disequilibria
a loss or lack of equilibrium or stability, especially in relation to supply, demand, and prices.

---

preconscious
/priːˈkɒnʃəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjectivePSYCHOANALYSIS
adjective: preconscious; adjective: pre-conscious
of or associated with a part of the mind below the level of immediate conscious awareness, from which memories and emotions that have not been repressed can be recalled.
"beliefs and values which are on a preconscious level"
nounPSYCHOLOGY
noun: preconscious; noun: pre-conscious
the part of the mind in which preconscious thoughts or memories reside.

---

plume
/pluːm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
a long, soft feather or arrangement of feathers used by a bird for display or worn by a person for ornament.
"a hat with a jaunty ostrich plume"
Similar:
feather
crest
quill
plumule
pinion
2.
a long cloud of smoke or vapour resembling a feather as it spreads from its point of origin.
"as he spoke, the word was accompanied by a white plume of breath"
verb
1.
spread out in a shape resembling a feather.
"smoke plumed from the chimneys"
2.
ARCHAIC
(of a bird) preen itself.

---

ruminate
/ˈruːmɪneɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: ruminating
1.
think deeply about something.
"we sat ruminating on the nature of existence"
Similar:
think about
contemplate
consider
give thought to
give consideration to
mull over
meditate on
muse on
ponder on/over
deliberate about/on
cogitate about/on
dwell on
brood on/over
agonize over
worry about
chew over
puzzle over
turn over in one's mind
pore on
2.
(of a ruminant) chew the cud.
"goats ruminated nonchalantly around them"
Similar:
chew the cud
Origin

---

impetuous
/ɪmˈpɛtjʊəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
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

---

haughty
/ˈhɔːti/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
arrogantly superior and disdainful.
"a look of haughty disdain"
Similar:
proud
vain
arrogant
conceited
snobbish
stuck-up
pompous

---

inoculate
/ɪˈnɒkjʊleɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: inoculated; past participle: inoculated
treat with a vaccine to produce immunity against a disease; vaccinate.
"he inoculated his tenants against smallpox"
Similar:
immunize
vaccinate
inject
protect from
shield from
safeguard from
give someone a jab
give someone a shot
introduce (an infective agent) into an organism.
"the microorganism can be inoculated into laboratory animals"
introduce (cells or organisms) into a culture medium.
"0.5 ml of the specimen was inoculated into each tissue culture flask"
Origin

---

Anglophile
/ˈaŋɡlə(ʊ)fʌɪl/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: Anglophile; plural noun: Anglophiles
a person who is fond of or greatly admires England or Britain.
adjective
adjective: Anglophile
fond or greatly admiring England or Britain.
"the Anglophile General Marshall"

---

chauvinist
/ˈʃəʊv(ɪ)nɪst/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: chauvinist; plural noun: chauvinists
a person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism.
a person displaying excessive or prejudiced support for their own cause, group, or sex.
"we don't want to lay ourselves open to charges that we're chauvinists"
Similar:
sexist
male chauvinist
misogynist
woman-hater
anti-feminist
male supremacist
male chauvinist pig
MCP
adjective
adjective: chauvinist
relating to or characteristic of a chauvinist.
"a chauvinist rejection of foreign interference"
Similar:
jingoistic
chauvinistic
excessively patriotic

---
precocious
/prɪˈkəʊʃəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: precocious
(of a child) having developed certain abilities or inclinations at an earlier age than is usual or expected.
"a precocious, solitary boy"
Similar:
advanced
old beyond one's years
forward
ahead of one's peers
mature
prematurely developed
ahead
gifted
talented
clever
intelligent
quick
smart
rathe-ripe
Opposite:
backward
slow
(of behaviour or ability) having developed at an earlier age than is usual or expected.
"a precocious talent for computing"
(of a plant) flowering or fruiting earlier than usual.
Origin

---

flaky
/ˈfleɪki/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
1.
breaking or separating easily into flakes.
"she ate flaky rolls spread with cherry jam"
Similar:
flaking
peeling
cracking
scaly
blistering
scabrous
desquamative
exfoliative
furfuraceous
2.
INFORMAL
liable to act in an unconventional or eccentric way.
"a game-show host with a penchant for flaky blondes"

---

reverberate
/rɪˈvəːbəreɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
1.
(of a loud noise) be repeated several times as an echo.
"her deep booming laugh reverberated around the room"
Similar:
resound
echo
re-echo
repeat
resonate
pulsate
vibrate
ring
peal
boom
rumble
roll
pound
thump
drum
thrum
2.
have continuing and serious effects.
"the statements by the professor reverberated through the Capitol"

---

divulge
/dʌɪˈvʌldʒ,dɪˈvʌldʒ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: divulge; 3rd person present: divulges; past tense: divulged; past participle: divulged; gerund or present participle: divulging
make known (private or sensitive information).
"I do not want to divulge my plans at the moment"
Similar:
disclose
reveal
make known
tell
impart
communicate
pass on
publish
broadcast
proclaim
promulgate
declare
expose
uncover
make public
go public with
bring into the open
give away
let slip
let drop
blurt out
leak
confess
betray
admit
come out with
spill the beans about
let on about
tell all about
blow the lid off
squeal about
blow the gaff on
discover
unbosom
Opposite:
conceal
Origin

---


propaganda
/prɒpəˈɡandə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: propaganda; noun: Propaganda
1.
information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view.
"he was charged with distributing enemy propaganda"
Similar:
information
promotion
advertising
advertisement
publicity
advocacy
spin
newspeak
agitprop
disinformation
counter-information
brainwashing
indoctrination
the big lie
info
hype
plugging
the dissemination of propaganda as a political strategy.
"the party's leaders believed that a long period of education and propaganda would be necessary"
2.
a committee of cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church responsible for foreign missions, founded in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV.
Origin

---

dogma
/ˈdɒɡmə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: dogmas
a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true.
"the dogmas of faith"
Similar:
teaching
belief
conviction
tenet
principle
ethic
precept

---

emancipated
/ɪˈmansɪpeɪtɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: emancipated
free from legal, social, or political restrictions; liberated.
"emancipated young women"
emancipate
/ɪˈmansɪpeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: emancipated; past participle: emancipated
set free, especially from legal, social, or political restrictions.
"the citizen must be emancipated from the obsessive secrecy of government"
Similar:
liberated
independent
unconstrained
unrepressed
uninhibited
free and easy
free
free-spirited
LAW
set (a child) free from the authority of its parents.
"the plaintiffs had not been entirely emancipated from their father's control"
free (someone) from slavery.
"it is estimated that he emancipated 8,000 slaves"
Similar:
free
liberate
set free
release
let loose/out
set loose/free
discharge
unchain
unfetter
unshackle
untie
unyoke
uncage
unbridle
give rights to
manumit
disenthral
Opposite:
enslave
Origin

---

regurgitate
/rɪˈɡəːdʒɪteɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: regurgitating
1.
bring (swallowed food) up again to the mouth.
"gulls regurgitate food for the chicks"
Similar:
vomit
bring up
disgorge
regorge
MEDICINE
(of a fluid) flow through a vessel or valve in the body in a direction opposite to normal.
"an incompetent mitral valve allows blood to regurgitate into the left atrium throughout ventricular contraction"
2.
repeat (information) without analysing or comprehending it.
"facts which can then be regurgitated at examinations"
Similar:
repeat
say again
restate
recapitulate
iterate
reiterate
recite
rehearse
parrot
trot out
Origin

---

primeval
/prʌɪˈmiːv(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: primeval; adjective: primaeval
of the earliest time in history.
"mile after mile of primeval forest"
Similar:
ancient
earliest
first
prehistoric
antediluvian
antique
primordial
primitive
primal
pristine
original
untouched by humans
aboriginal
indigenous
autochthonous
autochthonic
primigenial
Opposite:
modern
(of emotion or behaviour) strongly instinctive and unreasoning.
"a primeval desire"
Similar:
instinctive
primitive
basic
primal
primordial
intuitive
intuitional
involuntary
inborn
innate
inherent
inbred
natural
congenital
hereditary
inherited
in the blood
ingrained
Origin

---

nebula
/ˈnɛbjʊlə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: nebula; plural noun: nebulae; plural noun: nebulas
1.
ASTRONOMY
a cloud of gas and dust in outer space, visible in the night sky either as an indistinct bright patch or as a dark silhouette against other luminous matter.



DATED
a galaxy.
2.
MEDICINE
a clouded spot on the cornea causing defective vision.
Origin

mid 17th century (as a medical term): from Latin, literally ‘mist’.

---

horrified
/ˈhɒrɪfʌɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: horrified
filled with horror; extremely shocked.
"the horrified spectators"
horrify
/ˈhɒrɪfʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: horrified; past participle: horrified
fill with horror; shock greatly.
"they were horrified by the very idea"
Similar:
frighten
scare
terrify
petrify
alarm
panic
terrorize
scare stiff
scare/frighten to death
fill with fear
throw into a panic
make someone's blood run cold
scare the pants off
make someone's hair curl
throw into a blue funk
put the wind up
scare the bejesus out of
spook
affright
shock
appal
outrage
scandalize
offend
dismay
throw off balance
disgust
revolt
repel
nauseate
sicken
rattle
faze
knock sideways
knock for six
pother
scare shitless
scare the shit out of
Opposite:
please
Origin

---
wringing
/ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: wringing
extremely wet; soaked.
"he was wringing with sweat"
wring
/rɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: wringing
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
extract (liquid) by squeezing and twisting something.
"I wrung out the excess water"
squeeze (someone's hand) tightly, especially with sincere emotion.
"he fervently wrung Rose's hand"
obtain (something) with difficulty or effort.
"few concessions were wrung from the government"
Similar:
extract
elicit
force
coerce
exact
extort
wrest
wrench
screw
squeeze
milk
bleed
2.
break (an animal's neck) by twisting it forcibly.
"the chicken shrieked as one of the women wrung its neck"
3.
cause pain or distress to.
"the letter must have wrung her heart"
Similar:
rend
tear at
harrow
pierce
stab
wound
lacerate
rack
distress
pain
hurt
torment
torture
Origin

Old English wringan (verb), of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch wringen, also to wrong.

---

tenement
/ˈtɛnəm(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: tenement; plural noun: tenements
1.
(especially in Scotland or the US) a room or a set of rooms forming a separate residence within a house or block of flats.
a house divided into and let as separate residences.
noun: tenement house; plural noun: tenement houses
2.
a piece of land held by an owner.
LAW
any kind of permanent property, e.g. lands or rents, held from a superior.
Origin

---

regale
/rɪˈɡeɪl/
Learn to pronounce
verb
entertain or amuse (someone) with talk.
"he regaled her with a colourful account of that afternoon's meeting"
Similar:
entertain
amuse
divert
delight
fascinate
captivate
beguile
treat to
lavishly supply (someone) with food or drink.
"he was regaled with excellent home cooking"
Similar:
supply lavishly
entertain lavishly/sumptuously
ply
wine and dine

---
bemoan
/bɪˈməʊn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
3rd person present: bemoans
express discontent or sorrow over (something).
"it was no use bemoaning her lot"
Similar:
lament
bewail
deplore
complain about
express regret about
mourn
grieve over
express sorrow about
sorrow for
sigh over
cry over
weep over
shed tears over
wail over
keen over
beat one's breast about
plain over
Opposite:
applaud
Origin

---

facile
/ˈfasʌɪl,ˈfasɪl/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: facile
1.
ignoring the true complexities of an issue; superficial.
"facile generalizations"
Similar:
simplistic
superficial
oversimple
oversimplified
schematic
black and white
shallow
pat
glib
slick
jejune
naive
dime-store
bubblegum
Opposite:
thorough
profound
(of a person) having a superficial or simplistic knowledge or approach.
"a man of facile and shallow intellect"
2.
(especially of success in sport) easily achieved; effortless.
"a facile seven-lengths victory"
Similar:
effortless
easy
undemanding
unexacting
painless
trouble-free
unchallenged
leisurely
simple
uncomplicated
straightforward
elementary
easy-peasy
as easy as pie
as easy as falling off a log
as easy as ABC
a piece of cake
child's play
kids' stuff
a cinch
no sweat
a doddle
a breeze
a pushover
money for old rope
money for jam
duck soup
a snap
a bludge
Opposite:
hard-won
Origin

---

pastime
/ˈpɑːstʌɪm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: pastime; plural noun: pastimes
an activity that someone does regularly for enjoyment rather than work; a hobby.
"his favourite pastimes were shooting and golf"
Similar:
hobby
leisure activity/pursuit
sport
game
recreation
amusement
avocation
diversion
divertissement
distraction
relaxation
pleasure
entertainment
fun
interest
sideline
enthusiasm
passion
fad
craze
mania
obsession
bug
thing
Origin

---

upholstery
/ʌpˈhəʊlst(ə)ri,ʌpˈhɒlst(ə)ri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: upholstery
soft, padded textile covering that is fixed to furniture such as armchairs and sofas.
"leather upholstery"
the art or practice of upholstering furniture.


---

blight
/blʌɪt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: blight; plural noun: blights
1.
a plant disease, typically one caused by fungi such as mildews, rusts, and smuts.
"the vines suffered blight and disease"
Similar:
disease
canker
infestation
fungus
mildew
mould
rot
decay
2.
a thing that spoils or damages something.
"the vacant properties are a blight on the neighbourhood"
Similar:
affliction
scourge
bane
curse
plague
menace
evil
misfortune
woe
calamity
trouble
ordeal
thorn in one's flesh/side
trial
tribulation
visitation
nuisance
pest
pollution
contamination
cancer
canker
Opposite:
blessing
an ugly, neglected, or rundown condition of an urban area.
"the city's high-rise social housing had become synonymous with urban blight"
verb
verb: blight; 3rd person present: blights; past tense: blighted; past participle: blighted; gerund or present participle: blighting
1.
have a severely detrimental effect on.
"the scandal blighted the careers of several leading politicians"
Similar:
ruin
wreck
spoil
disrupt
undo
mar
play havoc with
make a mess of
put an end to
end
bring to an end
put a stop to
prevent
frustrate
crush
quell
quash
dash
destroy
scotch
shatter
devastate
demolish
sabotage
mess up
screw up
louse up
foul up
make a hash of
do in
put paid to
put the lid on
put the kibosh on
stymie
queer
nix
banjax
blow a hole in
scupper
dish
euchre
cruel
bring to naught
2.
infect (plants) with blight.
"a peach tree blighted by leaf curl"
Similar:
infect
wither
shrivel
blast
mildew
nip in the bud
kill
destroy
Origin

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transference
/ˈtransf(ə)r(ə)ns,ˈtrɑːnsf(ə)r(ə)ns,ˈtranzf(ə)r(ə)ns,ˈtrɑːnzf(ə)r(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: transference
the action of transferring something or the process of being transferred.
"education involves the transference of knowledge"
PSYCHOANALYSIS
the redirection to a substitute, usually a therapist, of emotions that were originally felt in childhood (in a phase of analysis called transference neurosis ).
noun: transference neurosis
"therapy is aided by the patient's transference to the analyst as mother"

---

homicide
/ˈhɒmɪsʌɪd/
Learn to pronounce
nounNORTH AMERICAN
noun: homicide; plural noun: homicides
the killing of one person by another.
"he was charged with homicide"
Similar:
murder
killing
assassination
liquidation
extermination
execution
slaughter
butchery
massacre
manslaughter
patricide
matricide
parricide
fratricide
sororicide
filicide
infanticide
uxoricide
regicide
slaying
the police department that deals with the crime of murder.
noun: Homicide
"a man from Homicide"
DATED
a murderer.
Similar:
murderer
killer
liquidator
terminator
slaughterer
slayer
Origin

---
canonize
/ˈkanənʌɪz/
verb
3rd person present: canonizes
1.
(in the Roman Catholic Church) officially declare (a dead person) to be a saint.
"he was the last English saint to be canonized prior to the Reformation"
Similar:
beatify
declare to be a saint
treat or regard as being above reproach or of great significance.
"the former president was canonized by the Republican Party"
2.
place in or regard as belonging to a canon of literary or artistic works.
"they have become cult classics, canonized in American literature by many critics"
3.
sanction by Church authority.
Origin

---

refract
/rɪˈfrakt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: refracted; past participle: refracted
(of water, air, or glass) make (a ray of light) change direction when it enters at an angle.
"the rays of light are refracted by the material of the lens"
measure the focusing characteristics of (an eye) or of the eyes of (someone).
"when refracting patients an ophthalmologist relies on verbal reports"
Origin

early 17th century: from Latin refract- ‘broken up’, from the verb refringere, from re- ‘back’ + frangere ‘to break’.

---

malevolent
/məˈlɛv(ə)l(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: malevolent
having or showing a wish to do evil to others.
"the glint of dark, malevolent eyes"
Similar:
malicious
spiteful
hostile
evil-minded
baleful
bitter
evil-intentioned
poisonous
venomous
evil
malign
malignant
rancorous
vicious
vindictive
revengeful
vengeful
pernicious
cruel
fierce
nasty
unfriendly
unkind
ill-natured
malefic
maleficent
Opposite:
benevolent
Origin

---

perfunctory
/pəˈfʌŋ(k)t(ə)ri/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: perfunctory
(of an action) carried out without real interest, feeling, or effort.
"he gave a perfunctory nod"
Similar:
cursory
desultory
quick
brief
hasty
hurried
rapid
passing
fleeting
summary
token
casual
superficial
uninterested
careless
half-hearted
unthinking
sketchy
mechanical
automatic
routine
offhand
indifferent
inattentive
dismissive
Opposite:
careful
thorough
Origin

---

complicity
/kəmˈplɪsɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: complicity
the fact or condition of being involved with others in an activity that is unlawful or morally wrong.
"they were accused of complicity in the attempt to overthrow the government"
Similar:
collusion
involvement
collaboration
connivance
abetment
conspiracy
being in cahoots
Opposite:
ignorance
Origin

---

rear2
/rɪə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: rearing
1.
bring up and care for (a child) until they are fully grown.
"Nigel was born and reared in Bath"
Similar:
bring up
care for
look after
nurture
parent
educate
train
instruct
raise
(of an animal) care for (its young) until they are fully grown.
breed and raise (animals).
"the calves are reared for beef"
Similar:
breed
raise
keep
tend
grow or cultivate (plants).
adjective: -reared
"laboratory-reared plantlets"
Similar:
grow
cultivate
2.
(of a horse or other animal) raise itself upright on its hind legs.
"the horse reared in terror"
(of a building, mountain, etc.) extend or appear to extend to a great height.
"houses reared up on either side"
Similar:
rise
rise up
tower
soar
loom
(of a person) show anger or irritation.
"if anyone said the wrong thing, I used to rear up"
ARCHAIC
set upright.
"at once the mast we rear, at once unbind the spacious sheet"
Origin

---

boisterous
/ˈbɔɪst(ə)rəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: boisterous
noisy, energetic, and cheerful.
"a group of boisterous lads"
Similar:
lively
active
animated
exuberant
spirited
bouncy
frisky
excited
overexcited
in high spirits
high-spirited
ebullient
vibrant
rowdy
unruly
wild
uproarious
unrestrained
undisciplined
uninhibited
uncontrolled
abandoned
rough
romping
rollicking
disorderly
knockabout
riotous
rip-roaring
rumbustious
roistering
tumultuous
noisy
loud
clamorous
clangorous
Opposite:
quiet
restrained
(of weather or water) wild or stormy.
"the boisterous wind was lulled"
Similar:
blustery
gusting
gusty
breezy
windy
stormy
wild
squally
rough
choppy
turbulent
tempestuous
howling
roaring
raging
furious
blowy
Opposite:
calm
quiet
Origin

---

para1
/ˈparə/
INFORMAL
noun
noun: para; plural noun: paras
1.
a paratrooper.
2.
a paragraph.
para2
/ˈpɑːrə/
noun
noun: para; plural noun: para; plural noun: paras
a monetary unit of Serbia, equal to one hundredth of a dinar.
Origin

Turkish, from Persian pāra ‘piece, portion’.
para-1
/ˈparə/
prefix
prefix: para-; prefix: par-
1.
beside; adjacent to.
"parataxis"
beyond or distinct from, but analogous to.
"paramilitary"
2.
CHEMISTRY
denoting substitution at diametrically opposite carbon atoms in a benzene ring, e.g. in 1,4 positions.
"paradichlorobenzene"
Origin

from Greek para ‘beside’; in combinations often meaning ‘amiss, irregular’ and denoting alteration or modification.
para-2
/ˈparə/
prefix
prefix: para-
denoting something that protects or wards off.
"parachute"
Origin

from French, from the Italian imperative singular of parare ‘defend, shield’ (originally meaning ‘prepare’, from Latin parare ).
par.
abbreviation
symbol: para.
paragraph.
"see par. 3.1 above"

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transference
/ˈtransf(ə)r(ə)ns,ˈtrɑːnsf(ə)r(ə)ns,ˈtranzf(ə)r(ə)ns,ˈtrɑːnzf(ə)r(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: transference
the action of transferring something or the process of being transferred.
"education involves the transference of knowledge"
PSYCHOANALYSIS
the redirection to a substitute, usually a therapist, of emotions that were originally felt in childhood (in a phase of analysis called transference neurosis ).
noun: transference neurosis
"therapy is aided by the patient's transference to the analyst as mother"

---

recumbent
/rɪˈkʌmb(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: recumbent
(especially of a person or effigy) lying down.
"recumbent statues"
Similar:
lying
flat
horizontal
stretched out
sprawled
spreadeagled
reclining
resting
lounging
prone
prostrate
supine
lying down
lying flat
(flat) on one's back
on one's stomach/front
(flat) on one's face
procumbent
Opposite:
erect
standing
upright
(of a plant) growing close to the ground.
"recumbent shrubs"
noun
noun: recumbent; plural noun: recumbents
a type of bicycle designed to be ridden lying almost flat on one's back.
Origin

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abdicate
/ˈabdɪkeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: abdicate; 3rd person present: abdicates; past tense: abdicated; past participle: abdicated; gerund or present participle: abdicating
1.
(of a monarch) renounce one's throne.
"in 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated as German emperor"
Similar:
resign
retire
quit
stand down
step down
bow out
renounce the throne
demit
resign from
relinquish
renounce
give up
hand over
turn over
deliver up
surrender
vacate
forswear
abjure
cede
disclaim
Opposite:
be crowned
accede to
2.
fail to fulfil or undertake (a responsibility or duty).
"the government was accused of abdicating its responsibility"
Similar:
disown
turn down
spurn
reject
renounce
give up
avoid
refuse
abnegate
relinquish
abjure
repudiate
waive
yield
forgo
abandon
surrender
deliver up
disgorge
cast aside
drop
turn one's back on
wash one's hands of
shirk
forsake
Opposite:
accept
take on
Origin

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gleefully
/ˈɡliːf(ə)li/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: gleefully
in an exuberantly or triumphantly joyful manner.
"audiences laughed gleefully"

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Landed gentry
DescriptionThe landed gentry, or simply the gentry, is a largely historical British social class consisting in theory of landowners who could live entirely from rental income, or at least had a country estate.

---

subversive
/səbˈvəːsɪv/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
seeking or intended to subvert an established system or institution.
"subversive literature"
Similar:
disruptive
troublemaking
inflammatory
insurgent
insurrectionary
insurrectionist
agitational
rabble-rousing
seditious
revolutionary
treasonous
treacherous
mutinous
rebellious
rebel
renegade
unpatriotic
dissident
disloyal
perfidious
insubordinate
underground
undermining
corrupting
discrediting
destructive
harmful

noun
a subversive person.
"the government claimed we were subversives or terrorists"
Similar:
troublemaker
dissident
agitator
revolutionary
revolutionist
insurgent

---

congratulatory
/kənɡratʃʊˈleɪtəri,kənˈɡratʃələt(ə)ri/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
conveying good wishes or praise to someone in response to an achievement or special occasion.
"as well as a congratulatory message from the Queen, Elsie received many cards and flowers"

---

dynamo
/ˈdʌɪnəməʊ/
Learn to pronounce
nounBRITISH
a machine for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, typically by means of rotating coils of copper wire in a magnetic field.




INFORMAL
an extremely energetic person.
"she was a dynamo in London politics"

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vagrant
/ˈveɪɡr(ə)nt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging.
Similar:
tramp
drifter
down-and-out
derelict
beggar
itinerant
wanderer
nomad
wayfarer
traveller
gypsy
rover
vagabond
transient
migrant
homeless person
beachcomber
knight of the road
bird of passage
rolling stone
hobo
bagman
knockabout
overlander
sundowner
whaler
streety
bag lady
bum
bindlestiff
outie
derro


adjective
relating to or living the life of a vagrant.
"vagrant beggars"


Similar:
homeless
drifting
transient
roving
roaming
floating
unsettled

---

groundwork
/ˈɡraʊn(d)wəːk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
preliminary or basic work.
"the inquiry's findings are expected to lay the groundwork for a complete overhaul of the system"
Similar:
preliminary work
preliminaries
preparations
preparatory measures
basic work

---

conferred
brass
camo pants
faction
forebears
sterling
snarl
lobbing
commiserated
predicament
weary
stealth
unmanly
tout

---

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"

---

glossary
/ˈɡlɒs(ə)ri/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: glossary; plural noun: glossaries
an alphabetical list of words relating to a specific subject, text, or dialect, with explanations; a brief dictionary.
"a glossary of Inuktitut words"
Origin

late Middle English: from Latin glossarium, from glossa (see gloss2).

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demarcation
/diːmɑːˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
the action of fixing the boundary or limits of something.
"the demarcation of the maritime border"
Similar:
separation
distinction
differentiation
division
delimitation
marking off
definition
a dividing line.
plural noun: demarcations
"a horizontal band that produces a distinct demarcation two inches from the top"
Similar:
boundary
border
borderline
frontier
bound
limit
dividing line
line
divide
BRITISH
the practice of requiring that specific jobs be assigned to members of particular trade unions.
"strikes over job demarcation"

---

ironclad
adjective
/ʌɪənˈklad/
covered or protected with iron.
nounHISTORICAL
/ˈʌɪənklad/
a 19th-century warship with armour plating.

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conform
/kənˈfɔːm/
Learn to pronounce
verb
3rd person present: conforms
comply with rules, standards, or laws.
"the kitchen does not conform to hygiene regulations"
Similar:
comply with
abide by
obey
observe
follow
keep to
hold to
adhere to
satisfy
match up to
meet
fulfil
be in accordance with
stick to
stand by
act in accordance with
uphold
heed
pay attention to
agree to/with
consent to
accede to
accept
acquiesce in
go along with
fall in with
adapt to
accommodate to
adjust to
acknowledge
respect
defer to
Opposite:
flout
(of a person) behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards.
"the pressure to conform"
Similar:
follow convention
be conventional
follow tradition
follow custom
fit in
adapt
adjust
follow the crowd
run with the pack
swim with the stream
comply
acquiesce
do what one is told
toe the line
obey the rules
comply with the rules
observe the rules
abide by the rules
adhere to the rules
follow the rules
keep to the rules
stick to the rules
submit
yield
play it by the book
play by the rules
keep in step
go with the flow
Opposite:
rebel
be similar in form or type; agree.
"the countryside should conform to a certain idea of the picturesque"
Similar:
match
fit
suit
answer
agree with
be like
be similar to

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revelatory
/ˌrɛvəˈleɪt(ə)ri,ˈrɛv(ə)lət(ə)ri/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: revelatory
revealing something hitherto unknown.
"a revelatory experience"
---
staple1
/ˈsteɪp(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: staple; plural noun: staples
a piece of thin wire with two short right-angled end pieces which are driven by a stapler through sheets of paper to fasten them together.
a U-shaped metal bar with pointed ends for driving into wood to hold things such as wires in place.
verb
verb: staple; 3rd person present: staples; past tense: stapled; past participle: stapled; gerund or present participle: stapling
attach or secure with a staple or staples.
"Merrill stapled a batch of papers together"
Origin

Old English stapol, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch stapel ‘pillar’ (a sense reflected in English in early use).
staple2
/ˈsteɪp(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: staple; plural noun: staples
1.
a main or important element of something.
"bread, milk, and other staples"
a main item of trade or production.
"rubber became the staple of the Malayan economy"
2.
the fibre of cotton or wool considered with regard to its length and degree of fineness.
"jackets made from long-staple Egyptian cotton"
3.
HISTORICAL
a centre of trade, especially in a specified commodity.
"proposals were made for a wool staple at Pisa"
adjective
adjective: staple
main or important, especially in terms of consumption.
"the staple foods of the poor"
Similar:
main
principal
chief
major
primary
leading
foremost
first
most important
predominant
dominant
(most) prominent
key
crucial
vital
indispensable
essential
basic
fundamental
standard
critical
pivotal
prime
central
premier
number-one
most important in terms of trade or production.
"rice was the staple crop grown in most villages"
Similar:
main
principal
chief
major
primary
leading
foremost
first
most important
predominant
dominant
(most) prominent
key
crucial
vital
indispensable
essential
basic
fundamental
standard
critical
pivotal
prime
central
premier
number-one
Origin

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swindle
/ˈswɪnd(ə)l/
verb
past tense: swindled; past participle: swindled
use deception to deprive (someone) of money or possessions.
"a businessman swindled investors out of millions of pounds"
obtain (money) fraudulently.
"he was said to have swindled £62.5 million from the state-owned cement industry"
Similar:
defraud
cheat
trick
fleece
dupe
deceive
exploit
squeeze
milk
bleed
fool
take advantage of
mislead
delude
hoax
hoodwink
bamboozle
string along
embezzle
do
con
sting
diddle
fiddle
rook
swizzle
swizz
rip off
take for a ride
pull a fast one on
put one over on
sell a pup to
take to the cleaners
bilk
gull
finagle
gazump
stiff
euchre
bunco
hornswoggle
cozen
sharp
mulct
Origin
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essence
/ˈɛs(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: essence
1.
the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, which determines its character.
"conflict is the essence of drama"
Similar:
quintessence
soul
spirit
ethos
nature
life
lifeblood
core
heart
centre
crux
nub
nucleus
kernel
marrow
meat
pith
gist
substance
principle
central part
fundamental quality
basic quality
essential part
intrinsic nature
sum and substance
reality
actuality
quiddity
esse
nitty-gritty
PHILOSOPHY
a property or group of properties of something without which it would not exist or be what it is.
plural noun: essences
"Locke's scepticism about our ability to penetrate to the real essences of things"
2.
an extract or concentrate obtained from a plant or other matter and used for flavouring or scent.
"vanilla essence"
Similar:
extract
concentrate
concentration
quintessence
distillate
elixir
abstraction
decoction
juice
tincture
solution
suspension
dilution
scent
perfume
Phrases
in essence
basically and without regard for peripheral details; fundamentally. "in detail the class system is complex but in essence it is simple"
of the essence
critically important. "time will be of the essence during negotiations"
Origin

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naivety
/nʌɪˈiːvti,nɑːˈiːvti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: naiveté; noun: naivete; noun: naïveté
lack of experience, wisdom, or judgement.
"his appalling naivety in going to the press"
Similar:
innocence
lack of sophistication
lack of experience
ingenuousness
guilelessness
lack of guile
unworldliness
childlikeness
trustfulness
simplicity
naturalness
gullibility
credulousness
credulity
over-trustfulness
lack of suspicion
blind faith
immaturity
callowness
greenness
ignorance
Opposite:
sophistication
innocence or unsophistication.
"the charm and naivety of the early to mid fifties"
a naive act.
plural noun: naiveties; plural noun: naïvetés
Origin

late 17th century: from French naïveté, from naïf, -ive (see naive).

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impasse
/amˈpɑːs,ˈampɑːs/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: impasse; plural noun: impasses
a situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement; a deadlock.
"the current political impasse"
Similar:
deadlock
dead end
stalemate
checkmate
stand-off
standstill
halt
stop
stoppage
full stop
Origin

mid 19th century: from French, from im- (expressing negation) + the stem of passer ‘to pass’.

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suffice
/səˈfʌɪs/
Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: suffice; 3rd person present: suffices; past tense: sufficed; past participle: sufficed; gerund or present participle: sufficing
be enough or adequate.
"a quick look should suffice"
Similar:
be enough
be sufficient
be adequate
do
serve
meet requirements
satisfy demands
answer/fulfil/meet one's needs
answer/serve the purpose
pass muster
fit/fill the bill
make the grade
cut the mustard
hit the spot
meet the needs of.
"simple mediocrity cannot suffice them"
Phrases
suffice to say — used to indicate that one is saying enough to make one's meaning clear while withholding something for reasons of discretion or brevity.
"suffice it to say that they were not considered suitable for this project"

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bogeyman
/ˈbəʊɡɪman/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: bogeymen
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"

---
self-inflicted
adjective
adjective: self-inflicted
(of a wound or other harm) inflicted on oneself.
"self-inflicted injuries"

---

antagonist
/anˈtaɡ(ə)nɪst/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary.
"he turned to confront his antagonist"
Similar:
adversary
opponent
enemy
foe
nemesis
rival
competitor
contender
opposition
competition
the other side
corrival
Opposite:
ally
friend
supporter
2.
BIOCHEMISTRY
a substance which interferes with or inhibits the physiological action of another.
"LSD is a serotonin antagonist"

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peril
/ˈpɛrɪl,ˈpɛr(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
serious and immediate danger.
"you could well place us both in peril"
Similar:
danger
jeopardy
risk
riskiness
hazard
insecurity
uncertainty
menace
threat
perilousness
pitfall
problem
Opposite:
safety
security
verbARCHAIC
expose to danger; threaten.
"Jonathon perilled his life for love of David"
---
peculiar
/pɪˈkjuːlɪə/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: peculiar
1.
different to what is normal or expected; strange.
"he gave her some very peculiar looks"
Similar:
strange
unusual
odd
funny
curious
bizarre
weird
uncanny
queer
unexpected
unfamiliar
abnormal
atypical
anomalous
untypical
different
out of the ordinary
out of the way
exceptional
rare
extraordinary
remarkable
puzzling
mystifying
mysterious
perplexing
baffling
unaccountable
incongruous
uncommon
irregular
singular
deviant
aberrant
freak
freakish
suspicious
dubious
questionable
eerie
unnatural
unco
outré
fishy
creepy
spooky
rum
bizarro
backasswards
eccentric
idiosyncratic
unconventional
outlandish
offbeat
quirky
quaint
droll
zany
off-centre
wacky
freaky
kooky
screwy
kinky
oddball
cranky
off the wall
wacko
dilly
Opposite:
normal
ordinary
INFORMAL
slightly and indefinably unwell.
"I felt a little peculiar for a while"
Similar:
unwell
ill
poorly
bad
out of sorts
indisposed
not oneself
sick
queasy
nauseous
nauseated
peaky
liverish
green about the gills
run down
washed out
off
off colour
under the weather
below par
not up to par
funny
rough
lousy
rotten
awful
terrible
dreadful
crummy
seedy
grotty
ropy
wabbit
peely-wally
crook
peaked
peakish
vulgar slangcrappy
2.
particular; special.
"any attempt to explicate the theme is bound to run into peculiar difficulties"
Similar:
distinctive
characteristic
distinct
different
individual
individualistic
distinguishing
typical
special
specific
representative
unique
idiosyncratic
personal
private
essential
natural
identifiable
unmistakable
conspicuous
notable
remarkable
singular
belonging exclusively to.
"some languages are peculiar to one region"
Similar:
characteristic of
typical of
representative of
belonging to
indicative of
symptomatic of
suggestive of
exclusive to
like
in character with
nounBRITISH
noun: peculiar; plural noun: peculiars
a parish or church exempt from the jurisdiction of the diocese in which it lies, and subject to the direct jurisdiction of the monarch or an archbishop.
"deans and canons of royal peculiars, notably Westminster Abbey and Windsor"
Origin

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Capuchin
/ˈkapʊtʃɪn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: Capuchin; plural noun: Capuchins; noun: capuchin; plural noun: capuchins; noun: capuchin monkey; plural noun: capuchin monkeys; noun: brown capuchin; plural noun: brown capuchins
1.
a friar belonging to a branch of the Franciscan order that observes a strict rule drawn up in 1529.
2.
a cloak and hood formerly worn by women.
3.
a South American monkey with a cap of hair on the head which has the appearance of a cowl.





4.
a pigeon of a breed with head and neck feathers resembling a cowl.
Origin

late 16th century: from obsolete French, earlier form of capucin, from Italian cappuccino, from cappuccio ‘hood, cowl’, from cappa (see cape1), the friars being so named because of their sharp-pointed hoods.

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derisory
/dɪˈrʌɪs(ə)ri,dɪˈrʌɪz(ə)ri/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: derisory
1.
ridiculously small or inadequate.
"they were given a derisory pay rise"
Similar:
inadequate
insufficient
tiny
small
minimal
trifling
paltry
pitiful
miserly
miserable
negligible
token
nominal
ridiculous
laughable
ludicrous
risible
preposterous
absurd
insulting
contemptible
outrageous
measly
stingy
lousy
pathetic
piddling
piffling
mingy
poxy
nickel-and-dime
2.
another term for derisive.
"his derisory gaze swept over her"
Similar:
mocking
ridiculing
jeering
scoffing
jibing
pillorying
teasing
derisive
snide
disdainful
disparaging
denigratory
dismissive
slighting
detracting
contemptuous
sneering
scornful
taunting
insulting
caustic
scathing
sarcastic
satirical
lampooning
snidey
sarky
contumelious
Opposite:
respectful
praising
Origin

---
pariah
/pəˈrʌɪə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: pariah; plural noun: pariahs
1.
an outcast.
"they were treated as social pariahs"
Similar:
outcast
persona non grata
leper
reject
untouchable
undesirable
unperson



2.
HISTORICAL
a member of an indigenous people of southern India originally functioning as ceremonial drummers but later having a low caste.
Origin

early 17th century: from Tamil paṛaiyar, plural of paṛaiyan ‘(hereditary) drummer’, from paṛai ‘a drum’.

---
clandestinely
/klanˈdɛstɪnli/
Learn to pronounce
adverb
adverb: clandestinely
in a secretive and illicit way.
"traffickers operate clandestinely"

---

bust1
/bʌst/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: bust; plural noun: busts
1.
a woman's chest as measured around her breasts.
"a 36-inch bust"
Similar:
chest
bosom
breasts
mammary glands
mammae
boobs
boobies
tits
titties
knockers
bazookas
melons
jubblies
bubbies
orbs
globes
jugs
bristols
charlies
baps
bazooms
casabas
chi-chis
hooters
norks
dugs
paps
embonpoint
a woman's breasts, especially considered in terms of their size.
"a woman with big hips and a big bust"
Similar:
chest
bosom
breasts
mammary glands
mammae
boobs
boobies
tits
titties
knockers
bazookas
melons
jubblies
bubbies
orbs
globes
jugs
bristols
charlies
baps
bazooms
casabas
chi-chis
hooters
norks
dugs
paps
embonpoint
2.
a sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and chest.
Similar:
sculpture
carving
effigy
statue
torso
head


Origin

mid 17th century (denoting the upper part or torso of a large sculpture): from French buste, from Italian busto, from Latin bustum ‘tomb, sepulchral monument’.
bust2
/bʌst/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
verb
verb: bust; 3rd person present: busts; past tense: bust; past participle: bust; past tense: busted; past participle: busted; gerund or present participle: busting
1.
break, split, or burst.
"they bust the tunnel wide open"
Similar:
break
crack
snap
fracture
shatter
smash
smash to smithereens
fragment
splinter
disintegrate
fall to bits
fall to pieces
split
burst
rupture
tear
rend
sever
separate
divide
shiver
(of a group or couple) separate, typically after a quarrel.
"now they've bust up, she won't inherit the house"
violently disrupt.
"men hired to bust up union rallies"
NORTH AMERICAN
strike violently.
"Tamara bust him in the eye"
escape.
"she busted out of prison"
(in blackjack and similar card games) exceed the score of 21, so losing one's stake.
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
(of the police) raid or search (premises where illegal activity is suspected).
"my flat got busted"
Similar:
raid
search
make a search of
swoop on
make a raid on
do over
arrest.
"two roadies were busted for drugs"
Similar:
arrest
apprehend
take into custody
seize
take in
take prisoner
detain
put in jail
throw in jail
pick up
run in
pull in
haul in
pinch
cop
nab
nail
do
collar
feel someone's collar
nick
Opposite:
release
be caught in the act of doing something wrong.
"I sneaked up on them and told them they were busted"
US
reduce (a soldier) to a lower rank; demote.
"he was busted to private"
noun
noun: bust; plural noun: busts
1.
a period of economic difficulty or depression.
"the boom was followed by the present bust"
2.
a raid or arrest by the police.
"a drug bust"
3.
a worthless thing.
"cynics remain convinced the political process is a bust"
4.
NORTH AMERICAN
a violent blow.
"a bust on the snout"
adjective
adjective: bust
1.
BRITISH
damaged or broken.
"the vacuum cleaner's bust"
2.
bankrupt.
"six of their sponsors have gone bust"
Similar:
fail
collapse
crash
fold (up)
go under
founder
be ruined
cave in
go bankrupt
become insolvent
cease trading
go into receivership
go into liquidation
be liquidated
be wound up
be closed (down)
be shut (down)
go broke
go bump
go to the wall
go belly up
come a cropper
flop
flatline
Phrases
— or bust — used to indicate that a supreme effort will be made to achieve the stated goal, with utter failure as the only alternative.
"it's gold medal or bust for both of our basketball teams"

---
nefarious
/nɪˈfɛːrɪəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: nefarious
(typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal.
"the nefarious activities of the organized-crime syndicates"
Similar:
wicked
evil
sinful
iniquitous
villainous
criminal
heinous
atrocious
appalling
abhorrent
vile
foul
base
abominable
odious
depraved
corrupt
shameful
scandalous
monstrous
fiendish
diabolical
devilish
unholy
ungodly
infernal
satanic
dark
unspeakable
despicable
outrageous
shocking
disgraceful
knavish
dastardly
egregious
flagitious
Opposite:
good
admirable
Origin

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Faux leather is one of several names given to artificial or synthetic leather. These names are often used to describe specific end uses of synthetic leather products such as faux leather (sofa, chair and headboard upholstery), leatherette (auto upholstery, clothing), and koskin (consumer goods).


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abrogate
/ˈabrəɡeɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verbFORMAL
1.
repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement).
"a proposal to abrogate temporarily the right to strike"
Similar:
repudiate
revoke
repeal
rescind
overturn
overrule
override
do away with
annul
cancel
break off
invalidate
nullify
void
negate
dissolve
countermand
veto
declare null and void
discontinue
renege on
go back on
backtrack on
reverse
retract
remove
withdraw
abolish
put an end to
get rid of
suspend
end
stop
quash
scrap
disaffirm
avoid
vacate
vitiate
axe
ditch
dump
chop
give something the chop
knock something on the head
deracinate
Opposite:
institute
introduce
2.
evade (a responsibility or duty).
"we believe the board is abrogating its responsibilities to its shareholders"
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Representatives and Senators are both congresspeople.

The US congress consists of two effectively co-equal chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are a few functional differences: Senators serve for six year terms, representatives have to run for election every two years. There are two senators from each state, but representatives are based on population (California has 53 representatives, Wyoming has one). But both chambers have to pass a bill in order for it to become a law, which is the primary function of congress.

Traditionally, the Senate is thought of as the loftier, more deliberative, more elite body. Once upon a time, Senators were appointed by the state legislature, to keep some separation from the popular vote. Nowadays, though, Senators are directly elected. The main difference is that representatives have specific districts that elect them, while Senators are elected by the state as a whole.
Because being a Senator is somewhat more prestigious, Senators are usually referred to as such, though they're technically congresspeople. Representatives are usually referred to as "congressman" or "congresswoman". But the only distinction is which part of congress they're in.

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teeter-totter
ˈtiːtətɒtə/
North Americandialect
noun
noun: teeter-totter; plural noun: teeter-totters
1. 
a see-saw.
"a playground with swings and teeter-totters"
verb
verb: teeter-totter; 3rd person present: teeter-totters; past tense: teeter-tottered; past participle: teeter-tottered; gerund or present participle: teeter-tottering
1. 
teeter; waver.
"between ego and object, we teeter-totter"
Origin

late 19th century: reduplication of teeter or totter1.

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Pauperism is a term meaning poverty or generally the state of being poor, but in English usage particularly the condition of being a "pauper", i.e. in receipt of relief administered under the English Poor Laws.

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kindred
ˈkɪndrɪd/Submit
noun
1.
one's family and relations.
synonyms: family, relatives, relations, kin, family members, connections, kith and kin, one's own flesh and blood, clan, tribe, house, lineage; More
adjective
1.
similar in kind; related.
"books on kindred subjects"
synonyms: related, allied, connected, closely connected/related, comparable, similar, like, alike, parallel, associated, corresponding, cognate, analogous, interconnected, affiliated
"the centre collects works on industrial relations and kindred subjects"
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wherefore
ˈwɛːfɔː/Submit
archaic
adverb
adverb: wherefore
1.
for what reason.
"she took an ill turn, but wherefore I cannot say"
adverb & conjunction
conjunction: wherefore
1.
as a result of which.
"truly he cared for me, wherefore I title him with all respect"
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partake
pɑːˈteɪk/Submit
verbformal
verb: partake; 3rd person present: partakes; past tense: partook; gerund or present participle: partaking; past participle: partaken
1.
eat or drink (something).
"he partook of a well-earned drink"
synonyms: consume, have, eat, drink, take, devour, polish off, ingest; More
2.
join in (an activity).
"visitors can partake in golfing or clay pigeon shooting"
synonyms: participate in, take part in, engage in, enter into, join in, get involved in, share in, play a part in, contribute to, have a hand in, have something to do with
"video conferencing allows executives to partake in negotiations abroad"
3.
be characterized by (a quality).
"the birth of twins became an event which partook of the mythic"
synonyms: have the qualities/attributes of, suggest, evoke, be characterized by, hint at, evince, manifest
"Bohemia is where eastern and western Europe meet, partaking of both, part of neither"
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conjure
ˈkʌndʒə/Submit
verb
verb: conjure; 3rd person present: conjures; past tense: conjured; past participle: conjured; gerund or present participle: conjuring
1.
cause (a spirit or ghost) to appear by means of a magic ritual.
"they hoped to conjure up the spirit of their dead friend"
make (something) appear unexpectedly or seemingly from nowhere.
"Anne conjured up a delicious home-made hotpot"
synonyms: make something appear, produce, materialize, magic, summon, generate; whip up
"he conjured another cigarette out of the air"
call (an image) to the mind.
"she had forgotten how to conjure up the image of her mother's face"
synonyms: bring to mind, call to mind, put one in mind of, call up, evoke, summon up, recall, recreate; More
(of a word, sound, smell, etc.) cause someone to think of (something).
"a special tune that conjures up a particular time and place"
2.
archaic
implore (someone) to do something.
"she conjured him to return"
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peril
ˈpɛrɪl,ˈpɛr(ə)l/Submit
noun
noun: peril; plural noun: perils
1.
serious and immediate danger.
"you could well place us both in peril"
synonyms: danger, jeopardy, risk, riskiness, hazard, insecurity, uncertainty, menace, threat, perilousness; More
antonyms: safety, security
the risks or difficulties that arise from a particular situation or activity.
"she first witnessed the perils of pop stardom a decade ago"
verbarchaic
verb: peril; 3rd person present: perils; past tense: perilled; past participle: perilled; past tense: periled; past participle: periled; gerund or present participle: perilling; gerund or present participle: periling
1.
expose to danger; threaten.
"Jonathon perilled his life for love of David"
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inter
ɪnˈtəː/Submit
verb
past tense: interred; past participle: interred
place (a corpse) in a grave or tomb, typically with funeral rites.
"he was interred with the military honours due to him"
synonyms: bury, lay to rest, consign to the grave, entomb, inurn; More
antonyms: exhume
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hosier
ˈhəʊzɪə/Submit
noun
noun: hosier; plural noun: hosiers
a manufacturer or seller of hosiery.
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hosiery
ˈhəʊzɪəri,ˈhəʊʒəri/Submit
noun
noun: hosiery
stockings, socks, and tights collectively.
synonyms: stockings, tights, stay-ups, nylons; More
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wheelbarrow
ˈwiːlbarəʊ/Submit
noun
noun: wheelbarrow; plural noun: wheelbarrows
a small cart with a single wheel at the front and two supporting legs and two handles at the rear, used typically for carrying loads in building work or gardening.
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preferment
prɪˈfəːm(ə)nt/Submit
noun
noun: preferment; plural noun: preferments
promotion or appointment to a position or office.
"after ordination, preferment was fast"
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gouge
ɡaʊdʒ,ɡuːdʒ/Submit
noun
noun: gouge; plural noun: gouges
1.
a chisel with a concave blade, used in carpentry, sculpture, and surgery.
2.
an indentation or groove made by gouging.
verb
verb: gouge; 3rd person present: gouges; past tense: gouged; past participle: gouged; gerund or present participle: gouging
1.
make (a groove, hole, or indentation) with or as if with a gouge.
"the channel had been gouged out by the ebbing water"
synonyms: scoop out, burrow (out), hollow out, excavate; More
make a rough hole or indentation in (a surface), especially so as to mar or disfigure it.
"he had wielded the blade inexpertly, gouging the grass in several places"
cut or force something out roughly or brutally.
"one of the young man's eyes had been gouged out"
AUSTRALIAN
dig for minerals, especially opal.
"he was gouging for ore"
2.
NORTH AMERICANinformal
overcharge or swindle (someone).
"drugs sold by the same manufacturers who are gouging patients in this country"
obtain money by swindling or extortion.
"he'd gouged wads out of Morty"
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assiduously
əˈsɪdjʊəsli/Submit
adverb
adverb: assiduously
with great care and perseverance.
"leaders worked assiduously to hammer out an action plan"
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diligently
ˈdɪlɪdʒ(ə)ntli/Submit
adverb
adverb: diligently
in a way that shows care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.
"he spends his nights diligently working on his dissertation"
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acquit
əˈkwɪt/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: acquitting
1.
free (someone) from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty.
"she was acquitted on all counts"
synonyms: absolve, clear, exonerate, exculpate, declare innocent, find innocent, pronounce not guilty; More
antonyms: convict
2.
conduct oneself or perform in a specified way.
"the goalkeeper acquitted himself well"
synonyms: conduct oneself, bear oneself; More
archaic
discharge (a duty or responsibility).
"they acquitted themselves of their charge with vigilance"
synonyms: discharge, execute, perform, do, carry out, effect, implement, bring about, bring off, accomplish, achieve, fulfil, complete; More
Origin
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crest
krɛst/Submit
noun
noun: crest; plural noun: crests
1.
a comb or tuft of feathers, fur, or skin on the head of a bird or other animal.
"a large game bird with a conspicuous erect red crest"
synonyms: comb, plume, tuft, topknot, mane; More
a plume of feathers on a helmet.
2.
the top of a mountain or hill.
"she reached the crest of the hill"
synonyms: summit, peak, highest point, top, mountaintop, tip, pinnacle, brow, crown, head, cap, brink, apex, vertex, apogee, zenith; More
antonyms: bottom
ANATOMY
a ridge along the surface of a bone.
"biopsy specimens of the iliac crest were obtained under local anaesthesia"
the upper line of the neck of a horse or other mammal.
"take hold of the mane halfway up the horse's crest"
3.
the curling foamy top of a wave.
"a high wave formed by the meeting of two crests"
4.
HERALDRY
a distinctive device representing a family or corporate body, borne above the shield of a coat of arms (originally as worn on a helmet) or separately reproduced, for example on writing paper.
synonyms: insignia, regalia, badge, emblem, ensign, device, heraldic device, coat of arms, arms, armorial bearing, escutcheon, shield; More
verb
verb: crest; 3rd person present: crests; past tense: crested; past participle: crested; gerund or present participle: cresting
1.
reach the top of (a hill or wave).
"she crested a hill and saw the valley spread out before her"
US
(of a river, flood, etc.) rise to its highest level.
2.
(of a wave) form a curling foamy top.
"the swell begins to curl and crest"
3.
have attached at the top.
"his helmet was crested with a fan of spikes"
Origin
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pickaxe
ˈpɪkaks/Submit
noun
noun: pickaxe; plural noun: pickaxes; noun: pickax; noun: pick-axe; plural noun: pick-axes; noun: pick-ax
1.
another term for pick2 (sense 1).
verb
verb: pickaxe; 3rd person present: pickaxes; past tense: pickaxed; past participle: pickaxed; gerund or present participle: pickaxing; verb: pickax; verb: pick-axe; 3rd person present: pick-axes; past tense: pick-axed; past participle: pick-axed; gerund or present participle: pick-axing; verb: pick-ax
1.
break or strike with a pickaxe.
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heraldry
ˈhɛr(ə)ldri/Submit
noun
noun: heraldry
the system by which coats of arms and other armorial bearings are devised, described, and regulated.
"the use of the rose in heraldry"
armorial bearings or other heraldic symbols.
"the monument shows the heraldry of William Paget"
colourful ceremony.
"all the pomp and heraldry provided a splendid pageant"
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stout
staʊt/Submit
adjective
adjective: stout; comparative adjective: stouter; superlative adjective: stoutest
1.
(of a person) rather fat or of heavy build.
"stout middle-aged men"
synonyms: fat, fattish, plump, portly, rotund, roly-poly, pot-bellied, round, dumpy, chunky, broad in the beam, overweight, fleshy, paunchy, corpulent; More
antonyms: thin, slender
2.
(of an object) strong and thick.
"Billy had armed himself with a stout stick"
synonyms: strong, sturdy, heavy, solid, substantial, robust, tough, strongly made, durable, hard-wearing; thick
"Billy had armed himself with a stout stick"
antonyms: flimsy, fragile
3.
having or showing courage and determination.
"he put up a stout defence in court"
synonyms: determined, full of determination, vigorous, forceful, spirited, stout-hearted; More
antonyms: half-hearted, feeble, cowardly
noun
noun: stout; plural noun: stouts
1.
a kind of strong, dark beer brewed with roasted malt or barley.
"microbreweries specialize in ales and stouts"
Origin
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alacrity
əˈlakrɪti/Submit
noun
noun: alacrity
brisk and cheerful readiness.
"she accepted the invitation with alacrity"
synonyms: eagerness, willingness, readiness; More
antonyms: apathy
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swerve
swəːv/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: swerving
change or cause to change direction abruptly.
"a lorry swerved across her path"
synonyms: veer, change direction, go off course, deviate, skew, diverge, sheer, curve, twist, weave, zigzag, turn aside, branch off, sidetrack; More
Origin
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desultory
ˈdɛs(ə)lt(ə)ri,ˈdɛz(ə)lt(ə)ri/Submit
adjective
adjective: desultory
lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.
"a few people were left, dancing in a desultory fashion"
synonyms: casual, half-hearted, lukewarm, cursory, superficial, token, perfunctory, passing, incidental, sketchy, haphazard, random, aimless, rambling, erratic, unmethodical, unsystematic, automatic, unthinking, capricious, mechanical, offhand, chaotic, inconsistent, irregular, intermittent, occasional, sporadic, inconstant, fitful More
antonyms: keen, systematic, lasting
(of conversation or speech) going from one subject to another in a half-hearted way.
"the desultory conversation faded"
occurring randomly or occasionally.
"desultory passengers were appearing"
Origin
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intrepid
ɪnˈtrɛpɪd/Submit
adjective
adjective: intrepid
fearless; adventurous (often used for rhetorical or humorous effect).
"our intrepid reporter"
synonyms: fearless, unafraid, undaunted, dauntless, undismayed, unalarmed, unflinching, unshrinking, unblenching, unabashed, bold, daring, audacious, adventurous, dashing, heroic, dynamic, spirited, mettlesome, confident, indomitable; More
antonyms: fearful, cowardly
Origin
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cohort
ˈkəʊhɔːt/Submit
noun
plural noun: cohorts
1.
an ancient Roman military unit, comprising six centuries, equal to one tenth of a legion.
synonyms: unit, outfit, force; More
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"
synonyms: group, grouping, category, categorization, grade, grading, classification, class, set, section, division, order, batch, list; More
3.
derogatory
a supporter or companion.
"young Jack arrived with three of his cohorts"
Origin
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detest
dɪˈtɛst/Submit
verb
past tense: detested; past participle: detested
dislike intensely.
"she really did detest his mockery"
synonyms: abhor, hate, loathe, despise, abominate, execrate, regard with disgust, feel disgust for, feel repugnance towards, feel distaste for, shrink from, recoil from, shudder at, be unable to bear, be unable to abide, feel hostility to, feel aversion to, feel animosity to, find intolerable, dislike, disdain, have an aversion to; archaicdisrelish
"I do detest social climbers"
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vexation
vɛkˈseɪʃ(ə)n/Submit
noun
the state of being annoyed, frustrated, or worried.
"Jenna bit her lip in vexation"
synonyms: annoyance, irritation, irritability, exasperation, anger, rage, fury, temper, bad temper, hot temper, wrath, spleen, chagrin, pique, crossness, indignation, displeasure, discontent, dissatisfaction, disgruntlement, ill humour, peevishness, petulance, testiness, tetchiness, gall, resentment, umbrage; More
a cause of annoyance, frustration, or worry.
plural noun: vexations
"the vexations of life under canvas"
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avarice
ˈav(ə)rɪs/Submit
noun
noun: avarice
extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
"he was rich beyond the dreams of avarice"
synonyms: greed, acquisitiveness, cupidity, covetousness, avariciousness, rapacity, rapaciousness, graspingness, materialism, mercenariness; More
antonyms: generosity

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lassitude
ˈlasɪtjuːd/Submit
noun
noun: lassitude
a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy.
"she was overcome by lassitude and retired to bed"
synonyms: lethargy, listlessness, weariness, languor, sluggishness, enervation, tiredness, exhaustion, fatigue, sleepiness, drowsiness, torpor, torpidity, ennui, lifelessness, sloth, apathy
"prolonged periods of lassitude which she ascribed to the heat"
antonyms: vigour, energy
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dawdle
ˈdɔːd(ə)l/Submit
verb
past tense: dawdled; past participle: dawdled
waste time; be slow.
"she mustn't dawdle—she had to make the call now"
synonyms: linger, dally, take one's time, drag one's feet, be slow, waste time, kill time, fritter time away, idle; More
antonyms: hurry
move slowly and idly in a particular direction.
"Ruth dawdled back through the wood"
synonyms: amble, stroll, go/walk slowly, loiter (along), move at a snail's pace, not keep pace, hold back, lag behind, fall behind, trail behind; More
antonyms: speed
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sully
ˈsʌli/Submit
verbliterary
past tense: sullied; past participle: sullied
damage the purity or integrity of.
"they were outraged that anyone should sully their good name"
synonyms: taint, defile, soil, tarnish, stain, blemish, besmirch, befoul, contaminate, pollute, spoil, mar, spot, make impure, disgrace, dishonour, injure, damage
"he never sullied his lips with swear words"
antonyms: purify
make dirty.
"she wondered if she dared sully the gleaming sink"
Origin
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vicissitude
vɪˈsɪsɪtjuːd,vʌɪˈsɪsɪtjuːd/Submit
noun
plural noun: vicissitudes
1.
a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.
"her husband's sharp vicissitudes of fortune"
synonyms: change, alteration, alternation, transformation, metamorphosis, transmutation, mutation, modification, transition, development, shift, switch, turn; More
2.
literary
alternation between opposite or contrasting things.
"the vicissitude of the seasons"
Origin
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temerity
tɪˈmɛrɪti/Submit
noun
noun: temerity
excessive confidence or boldness; audacity.
"no one had the temerity to question his conclusions"
synonyms: audacity, boldness, audaciousness, nerve, effrontery, impudence, impertinence, cheek, barefaced cheek, gall, presumption, presumptuousness, brazenness, forwardness, front, rashness; More
antonyms: shyness, bashfulness
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chevalier
ˌʃɛvəˈlɪə/Submit
nounhistorical
noun: chevalier; plural noun: chevaliers
a knight.
a member of certain orders of knighthood or of modern French orders such as the Legion of Honour.
BRITISHhistorical
a title of the Old and Young Pretenders.
noun: Chevalier; plural noun: Chevaliers
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besiege
bɪˈsiːdʒ/Submit
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"
synonyms: lay siege to, beleaguer, blockade, surround; More
surround and harass.
"she spent the whole day besieged by newsmen"
synonyms: surround, mob, crowd round, swarm round, throng round, ring round, encircle; More
be inundated by large numbers of requests or complaints.
"the television station was besieged with calls"
synonyms: overwhelm, inundate, deluge, flood, swamp, snow under; bombard
"the television station was besieged with calls from worried homeowners"
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ostensibly
ɒˈstɛnsɪbli/Submit
adverb
adverb: ostensibly
as appears or is stated to be true, though not necessarily so; apparently.
"the party secretary resigned, ostensibly from ill health"
synonyms: apparently, seemingly, on the face of it, to all appearances, on the surface, to all intents and purposes, outwardly, superficially, allegedly, professedly, supposedly, purportedly; More
antonyms: genuinely, really, truly
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bayonet
ˈbeɪənɪt/Submit
noun
plural noun: bayonets
1.
a sword-like stabbing blade which may be fixed to the muzzle of a rifle for use in hand-to-hand fighting.
synonyms: blade, knife, sword, spear, lance, pike, javelin, shaft, harpoon
"a man armed with a bayonet"
2.
denoting a fitting for a light bulb, camera lens, etc. which is engaged by being pushed into a socket and then twisted to lock it in place.
"a bayonet fitting"
verb
3rd person present: bayonets
1.
stab (someone) with a bayonet.
"stragglers were bayoneted where they fell"
synonyms: stab, pierce, spear, knife, gore, spike, stick, impale, run through, transfix, prick, puncture, gash, slash
"stragglers were bayoneted where they fell"
Origin

late 17th century (denoting a kind of short dagger): from French baïonnette, from Bayonne, the name of a town in SW France, where they were first made.
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aver
əˈvəː/Submit
verbformal
verb: aver; 3rd person present: avers; past tense: averred; past participle: averred; gerund or present participle: averring
state or assert to be the case.
"he averred that he was innocent of the allegations"
LAW
allege as a fact in support of a plea.
"the defendant does not aver any performance by himself"
Origin
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inure
ɪˈnjʊə,ɪˈnjɔː/Submit
verb
past tense: inured; past participle: inured
1.
accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant.
"these children have been inured to violence"
synonyms: harden, toughen, season, temper, condition; More
antonyms: sensitize
2.
LAW
variant spelling of enure (sense 1).
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cassock
ˈkasək/Submit
noun
noun: cassock; plural noun: cassocks
a full-length garment worn by certain Christian clergy, members of church choirs, and others having an office or role in a church.
Origin
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assuage
əˈsweɪdʒ/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: assuaging
make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense.
"the letter assuaged the fears of most members"
synonyms: relieve, ease, alleviate, soothe, mitigate, dampen, allay, calm, palliate, abate, lull, temper, suppress, smother, stifle, subdue, tranquillize, mollify, moderate, modify, tone down, attenuate, dilute, lessen, diminish, decrease, reduce, lower; More
antonyms: aggravate
satisfy (an appetite or desire).
"an opportunity occurred to assuage her desire for knowledge"
synonyms: satisfy, fulfil, gratify, appease, indulge, relieve, slake, sate, satiate, quench, quell, overcome, check, keep in check, dull, blunt, allay, take the edge off, diminish
"her physical hunger could be quickly assuaged"
antonyms: intensify
Origin
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ransack
ˈransak/Submit
verb
past tense: ransacked; past participle: ransacked
go through (a place) stealing things and causing damage.
"burglars ransacked her home"
synonyms: plunder, pillage, steal from, raid, rob, loot, rifle, sack, strip, denude; More
search (a place or receptacle) thoroughly, especially in such a way as to cause harm.
"man has ransacked the planet for fuel"
synonyms: rummage through, hunt through, search (through), rake through, scour, rifle, look all round, go through, comb, scrabble around in, poke around in, rummage around in, hunt around in, explore, turn inside out, turn over
"she ransacked the wardrobe for something to wear"

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malt
mɔːlt,mɒlt/Submit
noun
noun: malt
1.
barley or other grain that has been steeped, germinated, and dried, used for brewing or distilling and vinegar-making.
short for malt whisky.
plural noun: malts
NORTH AMERICAN
short for malted milk.
verb
verb: malt; 3rd person present: malts; past tense: malted; past participle: malted; gerund or present participle: malting
1.
convert (grain) into malt.
"barley is grown for malting"
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mason
ˈmeɪs(ə)n/Submit
noun
noun: mason; plural noun: masons; noun: Mason; plural noun: Masons
1.
a person skilled in cutting, dressing, and laying stone in buildings.
"the chief mason at Westminster Abbey"
2.
a Freemason.
"a Mason's handshake"
verb
verb: mason; 3rd person present: masons; past tense: masoned; past participle: masoned; gerund or present participle: masoning
1.
build from or strengthen with stone.
"the other building was masoned up out of hewn limestone"
cut or dress (stone).
"one course of massive stones, roughly masoned"
Origin
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thrifty
ˈθrɪfti/Submit
adjective
adjective: thrifty; comparative adjective: thriftier; superlative adjective: thriftiest
1.
using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully.
"he had been brought up to be thrifty and careful"
synonyms: careful with money, provident, prudent, canny, economical, frugal, energy-efficient, energy-saving, fuel-efficient, fuel-saving, sparing, scrimping, abstemious, parsimonious, penny-pinching, miserly; forehanded
"Gran brought me up to be thrifty and never to get into debt"
antonyms: profligate, extravagant
2.
archaicdialect
(of livestock or plants) strong and healthy.
"the sheep are vigorous and thrifty"
archaic
prosperous.
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probity
ˈprəʊbɪti,ˈprɒbɪti/Submit
nounformal
noun: probity
the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.
"financial probity"
synonyms: integrity, honesty, uprightness, decency, morality, rectitude, goodness, virtue, right-mindedness, trustworthiness, truthfulness, honour, honourableness, justice, fairness, equity; More
antonyms: untrustworthiness

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pro forma
prəʊ ˈfɔːmə/Submit
adjective
adjective: proforma
1.
done or produced as a matter of form.
"pro forma reports"
denoting a standard document or form, especially an invoice sent in advance of or with goods supplied.
"a pro forma invoice"
(of a financial statement) showing potential or expected income, costs, assets, or liabilities, especially in relation to some planned act or situation.
"revenues in excess of 35 million dollars on a pro forma basis"
adverb
adverb: proforma
1.
as a matter of form or politeness.
"he nodded to him pro forma"
noun
noun: proforma
1.
a pro forma document or form.
"please return the enclosed pro forma"

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amenity
əˈmiːnɪti,əˈmɛnɪti/Submit
noun
plural noun: amenities
a desirable or useful feature or facility of a building or place.
"the property is situated in a convenient location, close to all local amenities"
synonyms: facility, service, convenience, resource, utility, system, appliance, aid, advantage, comfort, benefit, arrangement, opportunity; More
the pleasantness or attractiveness of a place.
"developments which would clash with amenity"
synonyms: pleasantness, agreeableness, pleasurableness, enjoyableness, niceness
"gravel working means lorries, dust, noise, and a general loss of amenity"
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ascendant
əˈsɛnd(ə)nt/Submit
adjective
adjective: ascendant; adjective: ascendent
1.
rising in power or influence.
"the newly ascendant liberal party"
synonyms: rising (in power), in the ascendant, on the up and up, on the way up, up-and-coming, on the rise, growing, increasing, flourishing, prospering, burgeoning, developing, budding
"by the late 1990s liberal ideas were ascendant in much of the developed world"
antonyms: declining
2.
ASTROLOGY
(of a planet, zodiacal degree, or sign) on or close to the intersection of the ecliptic with the eastern horizon.
nounASTROLOGY
noun: ascendant; plural noun: ascendants; noun: ascendent; plural noun: ascendents
1.
the point on the ecliptic at which it intersects the eastern horizon at a particular time, typically that of a person's birth.
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unscrupulous
ʌnˈskruːpjʊləs/Submit
adjective
adjective: unscrupulous
having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair.
"unscrupulous landlords might be tempted to harass existing tenants"
synonyms: unprincipled, unethical, immoral, amoral, conscienceless, untrustworthy, shameless, reprobate, exploitative, corrupt, corrupted, dishonest, fraudulent, cheating, dishonourable, deceitful, devious, underhand, guileful, cunning, furtive, sly, wrongdoing, unsavoury, disreputable, improper, bad, evil, wicked, villainous, roguish, sinful, ignoble, degenerate, venal; More
antonyms: ethical, honest

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shoddy
ˈʃɒdi/Submit
adjective
adjective: shoddy; comparative adjective: shoddier; superlative adjective: shoddiest
1.
badly made or done.
"we're not paying good money for shoddy goods"
synonyms: poor-quality, inferior, second-rate, third-rate, low-grade, cheap, cheapjack, tawdry, rubbishy, trashy, gimcrack, jerry-built, crude, tinny; More
antonyms: well made, careful
lacking moral principle; sordid.
"a shoddy misuse of the honours system"
noun
noun: shoddy; noun: shoddies
1.
an inferior quality yarn or fabric made from the shredded fibre of waste woollen cloth or clippings.
"the production of shoddy and mattress stuffing"
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cozen
ˈkʌz(ə)n/Submit
verbliterary
past tense: cozened; past participle: cozened
trick or deceive.
"do not think to cozen your contemporaries"
obtain by deception.
"he was able to cozen a profit"
Origin
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cutler
ˈkʌtlə/Submit
noun
noun: cutler; plural noun: cutlers
a person who makes or sells cutlery.
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cutlery
ˈkʌtləri/Submit
noun
noun: cutlery
knives, forks, and spoons used for eating or serving food.
NORTH AMERICAN
cutting utensils, especially knives.
Origin
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roguery
ˈrəʊɡ(ə)ri/Submit
noun
noun: roguery; plural noun: rogueries
conduct characteristic of a rogue, especially acts of dishonesty or playful mischief.
"there has always been roguery associated with horse dealing"
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manna
ˈmanə/Submit
noun
noun: manna
1.
(in the Bible) the substance miraculously supplied as food to the Israelites in the wilderness (Exod. 16).
something beneficial that appears or is provided unexpectedly or opportunely.
"a major aircraft accident is manna to lawyers"
(in Christian contexts) spiritual nourishment, especially the Eucharist.
2.
a sweet gum obtained from the manna ash or a similar plant, used as a mild laxative.
Origin
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outlay
ˈaʊtleɪ/Submit
noun
noun: outlay; plural noun: outlays
an amount of money spent on something.
"a modest outlay on local advertising"
synonyms: expenditure, expenses, spending, outgoings, money spent, cost, price, charge, payment, disbursement, investment, injection of capital
"the project involved comparatively little financial outlay"
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levity
ˈlɛvɪti/Submit
noun
noun: levity; plural noun: levities
the treatment of a serious matter with humour or lack of due respect.
"as an attempt to introduce a note of levity, the words were a disastrous flop"
synonyms: light-heartedness, carefreeness, light-mindedness, high spirits, vivacity, liveliness, conviviality, cheerfulness, cheeriness, humour, gaiety, fun, jocularity, hilarity, frivolity, frivolousness, amusement, mirth, laughter, merriment, glee, comedy, funniness, wit, wittiness, jollity, joviality, joking, drollery, good cheer, sportiveness, nonsense, irreverence, facetiousness, flippancy, blitheness, triviality, silliness, foolishness, childishness, giddiness, skittishness More
antonyms: seriousness, gravity, constancy

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bequeath
bɪˈkwiːð/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: bequeathing
leave (property) to a person or other beneficiary by a will.
"he bequeathed his art collection to the town"
synonyms: leave, leave in one's will, will, make over, pass on, hand on, hand down, cede, consign, commit, entrust, grant, transfer, convey; More
pass (something) on or leave (something) to someone else.
"he ditched the unpopular policies bequeathed to him"
synonyms: hand down, hand on, pass on, impart, transmit
"they bequeathed their expertise to those who built the railways"
Origin
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infidel
/ˈɪnfɪd(ə)l/
archaic
noun
noun: infidel; plural noun: infidels
1.
a person who has no religion or whose religion is not that of the majority.
"a crusade against infidels and heretics"
synonyms: unbeliever, disbeliever, non-believer, heathen, pagan, idolater, idolatress, heretic, agnostic, atheist, non-theist, nihilist, apostate, freethinker, libertine, dissenter, nonconformist; More
adjective
adjective: infidel
1.
adhering to a religion other than that of the majority.
"the infidel foe"
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durst
dəːst/Submit
archaic or regional past of dare.

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hustings
ˈhʌstɪŋz/Submit
noun
noun: hustings; plural noun: hustings
a meeting at which candidates in an election address potential voters.
"he could hold his own in an election hustings"
the campaigning associated with an election.
plural noun: the hustings
"I was out on the hustings, talking to people"
Origin
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prudence
ˈpruːd(ə)ns/Submit
noun
noun: prudence; plural noun: prudences
the quality of being prudent; cautiousness.
"we need to exercise prudence in such important matters"
synonyms: wisdom, judgement, good judgement, judiciousness, sagacity, shrewdness, advisability, common sense, sense More
antonyms: folly, recklessness
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penurious
pɪˈnjʊərɪəs/Submit
adjectiveformal
adjective: penurious
1.
extremely poor; poverty-stricken.
"a penurious old tramp"
synonyms: poor, as poor as a church mouse, poverty-stricken, destitute, necessitous, in penury, impecunious, impoverished, indigent, needy, in need/want, badly off, in reduced circumstances, in straitened circumstances, hard up, on one's beam-ends, unable to make ends meet, underprivileged, penniless, without a sou, moneyless, bankrupt, bust, insolvent; More
antonyms: wealthy
characterized by poverty.
"penurious years"
2.
unwilling to spend money; mean.
"his stingy and penurious wife"
synonyms: mean, miserly, niggardly, parsimonious, penny-pinching, close-fisted, cheese-paring, scrimping, grasping, greedy, avaricious, Scrooge-like, ungenerous, illiberal, close; More
antonyms: generous

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splendid
ˈsplɛndɪd/Submit
adjective
adjective: splendid
magnificent; very impressive.
"a splendid view of Windsor Castle"
synonyms: magnificent, sumptuous, grand, impressive, imposing, superb, spectacular, resplendent, opulent, luxurious, palatial, deluxe, rich, fine, costly, expensive, lavish, ornate, gorgeous, glorious, dazzling, elegant, handsome, beautiful; More
antonyms: modest, unimpressive, ordinary, undistinguished
informal
excellent; very good.
"a splendid fellow"
synonyms: excellent, wonderful, marvellous, magnificent, superb, glorious, sublime, lovely, delightful, first-class, first-rate; More
antonyms: dreadful, awful, horrible

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magnificent
maɡˈnɪfɪs(ə)nt/Submit
adjective
adjective: magnificent
1.
extremely beautiful, elaborate, or impressive.
"a dramatic landscape of magnificent mountains"
synonyms: splendid, spectacular, impressive, striking, glorious, superb, majestic, awesome, awe-inspiring, breathtaking More
antonyms: uninspiring, modest, tawdry, cheap
2.
very good; excellent.
"she paid tribute to their magnificent efforts"
synonyms: admirable, fine, great, wonderful, notable More
antonyms: feeble, weak, poor

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limpet
ˈlɪmpɪt/Submit
noun
a marine mollusc which has a shallow conical shell and a broad muscular foot, found clinging tightly to rocks.
used in comparisons to refer to people and things that cling tightly.
"the couples on the floor were clinging to each other like limpets"
Tip
Similar-sounding words
limpet is sometimes confused with limpid
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inculcate
ˈɪnkʌlkeɪt/Submit
verb
verb: inculcate; 3rd person present: inculcates; past tense: inculcated; past participle: inculcated; gerund or present participle: inculcating
instil (an idea, attitude, or habit) by persistent instruction.
"I tried to inculcate in my pupils an attitude of enquiry"
synonyms: instil, implant, fix, ingrain, infuse, impress, imprint, introduce; More
teach (someone) an attitude, idea, or habit by persistent instruction.
"they will try to inculcate you with a respect for culture"
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contrive
kənˈtrʌɪv/Submit
verb
verb: contrive; 3rd person present: contrives; past tense: contrived; past participle: contrived; gerund or present participle: contriving
create or bring about (an object or a situation) by deliberate use of skill and artifice.
"his opponents contrived a cabinet crisis"
synonyms: bring about, engineer, cause to happen, manufacture, orchestrate, stage-manage, create; More
manage to do something foolish or create an undesirable situation.
"he contrived to flood the flat three times"
synonyms: manage, find a way, engineer a way, arrange; More
Origin
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thriftless
ˈθrɪftləs/Submit
adjective
adjective: thriftless
(of a person or their behaviour) spending money in an extravagant and wasteful way.
synonyms: extravagant, profligate, spendthrift, unthrifty, improvident, wasteful, free-spending, prodigal, squandering, lavish; More
antonyms: thrifty

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prodigal
ˈprɒdɪɡ(ə)l/Submit
adjective
adjective: prodigal
1.
spending money or using resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.
"prodigal habits die hard"
synonyms: wasteful, extravagant, spendthrift, improvident, imprudent, immoderate, profligate, thriftless, excessive, intemperate, irresponsible, self-indulgent, reckless, wanton
"prodigal habits die hard"
antonyms: thrifty, economical, parsimonious
2.
having or giving something on a lavish scale.
"the dessert was prodigal with whipped cream"
synonyms: generous, lavish, liberal, unstinting, unsparing, bountiful; More
antonyms: mean
noun
noun: prodigal; plural noun: prodigals
1.
a person who spends money in a recklessly extravagant way.
"the government wished to clip the wings of the local authority prodigals"
a person who leaves home to lead a prodigal life but later makes a repentant return.
noun: prodigal daughter; plural noun: prodigal daughters; noun: prodigal son; plural noun: prodigal sons
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scrub1
skrʌb/Submit
verb
verb: scrub; 3rd person present: scrubs; past tense: scrubbed; past participle: scrubbed; gerund or present participle: scrubbing
1.
rub (someone or something) hard so as to clean them, typically with a brush and water.
"he had to scrub the floor"
synonyms: scour, rub, brush, sponge, swab, clean, cleanse, wash, wipe
"he scrubbed the kitchen floor"
remove dirt by rubbing hard.
"it took ages to scrub off the muck"
thoroughly clean one's hands and arms before performing surgery.
"the doctor scrubbed up and donned a protective gown"
BRITISHinformal
(of a person) have a smart and well-groomed appearance after making a deliberate effort.
"the band scrub up well to play weddings and parties"
2.
informal
cancel or abandon (something).
"the first two races had to be scrubbed because of blustery winds and rough seas"
synonyms: abolish, scrap, throw out, abandon, drop, do away with, give up, discontinue, take away, stop, put an end to, cancel, call off, eliminate, cut, jettison, discard, forget (about), abort; More
antonyms: keep, restore
3.
use water to remove impurities from (gas or vapour).
"the vapour is scrubbed by the condensate"
4.
MOTORSPORTS
(of a driver) allow (a tyre) to slide or scrape across the road surface so as to reduce speed.
"I usually only scrub the front tyre when I get into a turn too hot"
(of a driver) reduce (speed) by allowing the tyres to slide or scrape across the road surface.
"he slammed the bike down on the cases to scrub off speed"
5.
(of a rider) rub the arms and legs urgently on a horse's neck and flanks to urge it to move faster.
"by now the field was spreadeagled and scrubbing to keep in touch with the hounds"
noun
noun: scrub; plural noun: scrubs
1.
an act of scrubbing something or someone.
"give the floor a good scrub"
2.
a semi-abrasive cosmetic lotion applied to the face or body in order to cleanse the skin.
"don't use facial scrubs if your skin is sensitive"
3.
special hygienic clothing worn by surgeons during operations.
"Bill emerged from the delivery room in green scrubs"
Origin

late 16th century: probably from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch schrobben, schrubben .
scrub2
skrʌb/Submit
noun
noun: scrub; modifier noun: scrub
1.
vegetation consisting mainly of brushwood or stunted forest growth.
"a desert plain dotted with scrub"
synonyms: brush, brushwood, scrubland, undergrowth, coppice, copse, thicket
"there the buildings ended and the scrub began"
land covered with scrub vegetation.
plural noun: scrubs
"the wind tore across scrub and heathland"
synonyms: brush, brushwood, scrubland, undergrowth, coppice, copse, thicket
"there the buildings ended and the scrub began"
2.
denoting a shrubby or small form of a plant.
"scrub apple trees"
NORTH AMERICAN
denoting an animal of inferior breed or physique.
"a scrub bull"
3.
informal
an insignificant or contemptible person.
"you are a mean scrub"
NORTH AMERICAN
a sports team or player not among the best or most skilled.
"a former All-Star reduced to the role of scrub"
short for scrubber (sense 2).
4.
NORTH AMERICAN
an informal team game played by children in a public area.
"hardly anyone ever plays scrub these days"
Origin

late Middle English (in the sense ‘stunted tree’): variant of shrub1.
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tallow
ˈtaləʊ/Submit
noun
noun: tallow
1.
a hard fatty substance made from rendered animal fat, used (especially formerly) in making candles and soap.
verbarchaic
verb: tallow; 3rd person present: tallows; past tense: tallowed; past participle: tallowed; gerund or present participle: tallowing
1.
smear (something, especially the bottom of a boat) with tallow.
"I tallowed my boats with our candles"
Origin
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chandler
ˈtʃɑːndlə/Submit
noun
noun: chandler; plural noun: chandlers; noun: ship chandler; plural noun: ship chandlers
1.
a dealer in supplies and equipment for ships and boats.
2.
historical
a dealer in household items such as oil, soap, paint, and groceries.
a person who makes and sells candles.
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poignant
ˈpɔɪnjənt/Submit
adjective
adjective: poignant
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, disturbing, heart-rending, heartbreaking, tear-jerking, plaintive, upsetting, tragic
"the father of the murder victim bade a poignant farewell to his son"
archaic
sharp or pungent in taste or smell.
"the poignant scent of her powder"
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scrutinize
ˈskruːtɪnʌɪz/Submit
verb
verb: scrutinize; 3rd person present: scrutinizes; past tense: scrutinized; past participle: scrutinized; gerund or present participle: scrutinizing; verb: scrutinise; 3rd person present: scrutinises; past tense: scrutinised; past participle: scrutinised; gerund or present participle: scrutinising
examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.
"customers were warned to scrutinize the small print"
synonyms: examine carefully, inspect, survey, scan, study, look over, peruse; More
antonyms: glance at

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earl
əːl/Submit
noun
noun: earl; plural noun: earls
a British nobleman ranking above a viscount and below a marquess.
Origin
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mortify
ˈmɔːtɪfʌɪ/Submit
verb
past tense: mortified; past participle: mortified
1.
cause (someone) to feel very embarrassed or ashamed.
"she was mortified to see her wrinkles in the mirror"
synonyms: embarrass, humiliate, chagrin, shame, discomfit, abash, horrify, appal, crush
"I'd be mortified if my friends found out I was learning ballroom dancing"
antonyms: be pleased, be proud
2.
subdue (the body or its needs and desires) by self-denial or discipline.
"return to heaven by mortifying the flesh"
synonyms: subdue, suppress, subjugate, control, restrain, get under control; More
antonyms: indulge
3.
(of flesh) be affected by gangrene or necrosis.
"a scratch or cut in Henry's arm had mortified"
synonyms: become gangrenous, fester, putrefy, gangrene, rot, decay, decompose; More
antonyms: heal

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genteel
dʒɛnˈtiːl/Submit
adjective
adjective: genteel
characterized by exaggerated or affected politeness, refinement, or respectability.
"her genteel upbringing"
synonyms: refined, respectable, polished, decorous, proper, polite, correct, seemly, well mannered, well bred, cultivated, cultured, sophisticated, courteous, ladylike, gentlemanly, civil, elegant, stylish, urbane, civilized, courtly, dignified, gracious, punctilious; More
antonyms: uncouth
Origin
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hull (1)
hʌl/Submit
noun
plural noun: hulls
1.
the main body of a ship or other vessel, including the bottom, sides, and deck but not the masts, superstructure, rigging, engines, and other fittings.
synonyms: framework, body, frame, skeleton, shell, structure, basic structure; exterior
"the wooden hull of the ship"
verb
3rd person present: hulls
1.
hit and pierce the hull of (a ship) with a missile.
"the ship was being hulled and all would die"
Origin

Middle English: perhaps the same word as hull2, or related to hold2.
hull2
hʌl/Submit
noun
plural noun: hulls
1.
the outer covering of a fruit or seed, especially the pod of peas and beans, or the husk of grain.
synonyms: shell, husk, pod, case, casing, covering, seed case; More
the green calyx of a strawberry or raspberry.
verb
3rd person present: hulls
1.
remove the hulls from (fruit, seeds, or grain).
"a cup of hulled strawberries"
synonyms: shell, husk, peel, pare, skin; More
Origin
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reproach
rɪˈprəʊtʃ/Submit
verb
verb: reproach; 3rd person present: reproaches; past tense: reproached; past participle: reproached; gerund or present participle: reproaching
1.
express to (someone) one's disapproval of or disappointment in their actions.
"her friends reproached her for not thinking enough about her family"
accuse someone of.
"his wife reproached him with cowardice"
synonyms: rebuke, reprove, scold, chide, reprimand, admonish, chastise, upbraid, remonstrate with, berate, take to task, pull up, castigate, lambaste, read someone the Riot Act, give someone a piece of one's mind, haul over the coals, lecture, criticize, find fault with, censure, express disapproval of; More
antonyms: praise, commend
archaic
censure or rebuke (an offence).
noun
noun: reproach; plural noun: reproaches
1.
the expression of disapproval or disappointment.
"he gave her a look of reproach"
synonyms: rebuke, reproof, reproval, admonishment, admonition, scolding, reprimand, remonstration, lecture, upbraiding, castigation, lambasting, criticism, censure, disapproval, disapprobation; More
antonyms: praise, commendation
a thing that makes the failings of (someone or something else) more apparent.
"his elegance is a living reproach to our slovenly habits"
synonyms: disgrace, discredit, source of shame, outrage; More
antonyms: credit
(in the Roman Catholic Church) a set of antiphons and responses for Good Friday representing the reproaches of Christ to his people.
plural noun: Reproaches
Origin
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ignominious
ˌɪɡnəˈmɪnɪəs/Submit
adjective
adjective: ignominious
deserving or causing public disgrace or shame.
"no other party risked ignominious defeat"
synonyms: humiliating, undignified, embarrassing, mortifying, shameful, disgraceful, dishonourable, discreditable, ignoble, inglorious, abject, sorry, wretched, miserable, pitiful; More
antonyms: glorious, admirable

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callous
ˈkaləs/Submit
adjective
adjective: callous
1.
showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others.
"his callous comments about the murder made me shiver"
synonyms: heartless, unfeeling, uncaring, cold, cold-hearted, hard, as hard as nails, hard-hearted, with a heart of stone, stony-hearted, insensitive, lacking compassion, hard-bitten, cold-blooded, hardened, case-hardened, harsh, cruel, ruthless, brutal; More
antonyms: kind, compassionate
noun
noun: callous; plural noun: callouses
1.
variant spelling of callus.
Origin

late Middle English (in the Latin sense): from Latin callosus ‘hard-skinned’.
callus
ˈkaləs/Submit
noun
noun: callous
a thickened and hardened part of the skin or soft tissue, especially in an area that has been subjected to friction.
MEDICINE
the bony healing tissue which forms around the ends of broken bone.
BOTANY
a hard formation of tissue, especially new tissue formed over a wound.
"the exposed surface will quickly form healing callus"
Origin

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valiant
ˈvalɪənt/Submit
adjective
adjective: valiant
possessing or showing courage or determination.
"she made a valiant effort to hold her anger in check"
synonyms: brave, fearless, courageous, valorous, plucky, intrepid, heroic, stout-hearted, lionhearted, manly, manful, bold, daring, audacious, gallant, confident, spirited, stout, undaunted, dauntless, doughty, mettlesome, unalarmed, unflinching, unshrinking, unblenching, unabashed, undismayed; More
antonyms: cowardly, irresolute

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ordain
ɔːˈdeɪn/Submit
verb
past tense: ordained; past participle: ordained
1.
make (someone) a priest or minister; confer holy orders on.
"he was ordained a minister before entering Parliament"
synonyms: confer holy orders on, appoint, induct, install, invest, anoint, consecrate; archaicfrock
"the Church of England voted to ordain women"
2.
order (something) officially.
"equal punishment was ordained for the two crimes"
synonyms: decree, rule, order, command, enjoin, lay down, set down, establish, fix, enact, legislate, dictate, prescribe, pronounce
"it was ordained that anyone hunting in the forest without permission was to pay a fine"
(of God or fate) decide (something) in advance.
"the path ordained by God"
synonyms: predetermine, predestine, preordain, foreordain, destine, prescribe, fate, will, determine, designate
"the path ordained by God"

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drudgery
ˈdrʌdʒəri/Submit
noun
noun: drudgery
hard menial or dull work.
"domestic drudgery"
synonyms: hard work, menial work, donkey work, toil, toiling, labour, hard/sweated labour, chores, plodding; More
antonyms: relaxation

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foundry
ˈfaʊndri/Submit
noun
noun: foundry; plural noun: foundries
a workshop or factory for casting metal.
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sedulous
ˈsɛdjʊləs/Submit
adjective
(of a person or action) showing dedication and diligence.
"he watched himself with the most sedulous care"
synonyms: diligent, careful, meticulous, thorough, assiduous, attentive, industrious, laborious, hard-working, conscientious, ultra-careful, punctilious, scrupulous, painstaking, searching, close, elaborate, minute, studious, rigorous, particular; More

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hewer
ˈhjuːə/Submit
noundated
noun: hewer; plural noun: hewers
a person who cuts wood, stone, or other materials.
a miner who cuts coal from a seam.

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solace
ˈsɒlɪs/Submit
noun
1.
comfort or consolation in a time of great distress or sadness.
"she sought solace in her religion"
synonyms: comfort, consolation, cheer, support, relief
"they tried to find solace in pictures of their little girl as they wanted to remember her"
verb
1.
give solace to.
"the soundlessness of nature impressed and solaced her"
synonyms: comfort, give solace to, console, cheer, support, relieve, soothe, calm
"Miss Wharton was driven home to be solaced with tea and sympathy"

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glee
ɡliː/Submit
noun
plural noun: glees
1.
great delight, especially from one's own good fortune or another's misfortune.
"his face lit up with impish glee"
synonyms: delight, pleasure, happiness, joy, joyfulness, gladness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, cheerfulness, amusement, mirth, mirthfulness, merriment, joviality, jollity, jocularity; More
antonyms: gloom, disappointment
2.
a song for men's voices in three or more parts, usually unaccompanied, of a type popular especially c. 1750–1830.
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oboe
ˈəʊbəʊ/Submit
noun
noun: oboe; plural noun: oboes
a woodwind instrument with a double-reed mouthpiece, a slender tubular body, and holes stopped by keys.
an organ stop resembling an oboe in tone.
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oratorio
ˌɒrəˈtɔːrɪəʊ/Submit
noun
plural noun: oratorios
a large-scale, usually narrative musical work for orchestra and voices, typically on a sacred theme, performed without costume, scenery, or action. Well-known examples include Bach's Christmas Oratorio, Handel's Messiah, and Haydn's The Creation.
Origin
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derision
dɪˈrɪʒ(ə)n/Submit
noun
noun: derision
contemptuous ridicule or mockery.
"my stories were greeted with derision and disbelief"
synonyms: mockery, ridicule, jeering, jeers, sneers, scoffing, jibing, taunts; More
antonyms: respect, praise

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zest
zɛst/Submit
noun
noun: zest; plural noun: zests
1.
great enthusiasm and energy.
"they campaigned with zest and intelligence"
synonyms: enthusiasm, gusto, relish, zestfulness, appetite, eagerness, keenness, avidity, zeal, fervour, ardour, passion, love, enjoyment, joy, delight, excitement; More
antonyms: apathy, indifference, distaste
a quality of excitement and piquancy.
"I used to try to beat past records to add zest to my monotonous job"
synonyms: piquancy, tang, sharpness, tartness, flavour, flavouring, savour, taste, tastiness, pungency, spice, spiciness, relish, bite; More
antonyms: blandness
2.
the outer coloured part of the peel of citrus fruit, used as flavouring.
"add 3 tablespoons of lemon zest"
synonyms: rind, peel, skin, covering, outer layer; More
verb
verb: zest; 3rd person present: zests; past tense: zested; past participle: zested; gerund or present participle: zesting
1.
scrape off the outer coloured part of the peel of (a piece of citrus fruit) for use as flavouring.
"zest the orange and lemon, taking care to discard all of the white pith"
Origin
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contempt
 /kənˈtɛm(p)t/
 noun: contempt
 the feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or beneath consideration.
 "Pam stared at the girl with total contempt"
 synonyms: scorn, disdain, disrespect, deprecation, disparagement, denigration, opprobrium, odium, obloquy, scornfulness; More
 antonyms: respect
 disregard for something that should be considered.
 "this action displays an arrogant contempt for the wishes of the majority"
 synonyms: disrespect, disregard, slighting, neglect; contumacy
 "he is guilty of contempt of court"
 antonyms: respect
 the offence of being disobedient to or disrespectful of a court of law and its officers.
 plural noun: contempts; noun: contempt of court; plural noun: contempts of court
 "when he was found to have lied to the House this was a contempt"
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predilection
ˌpriːdɪˈlɛkʃ(ə)n/Submit
noun
noun: predilection; plural noun: predilections
a preference or special liking for something; a bias in favour of something.
"your predilection for pretty girls"
synonyms: liking, fondness, preference, partiality, taste, penchant, weakness, soft spot, fancy, inclination, leaning, bias, propensity, bent, proclivity, proneness, predisposition, tendency, affinity, appetite, love; archaicgusto
"her predilection for married men"
antonyms: dislike, disinclination

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sheltie
ˈʃɛlti/Submit
noun
noun: shelty
a Shetland pony or sheepdog.
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cottier
ˈkɒtɪə/Submit
noun
noun: cottier; plural noun: cottiers
1.
archaic
a rural labourer living in a cottage.
2.
historical
an Irish peasant holding land by cottier tenure.
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incredulity
ɪnkrəˈdjuːləti/Submit
noun
noun: incredulity
the state of being unwilling or unable to believe something.
"he stared down the street in incredulity"
synonyms: disbelief, incredulousness, lack of belief, unbelief, lack of credence, doubt, doubtfulness, dubiety, dubiousness, lack of conviction; More
antonyms: credulity, belief

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derision
dɪˈrɪʒ(ə)n/Submit
noun
noun: derision
contemptuous ridicule or mockery.
"my stories were greeted with derision and disbelief"
synonyms: mockery, ridicule, jeering, jeers, sneers, scoffing, jibing, taunts; More
antonyms: respect, praise
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baronet
 /ˈbar(ə)nɪt/
 noun
 noun: baronet; plural noun: baronets
 a member of the lowest hereditary titled British order, with the status of a commoner but able to use the prefix ‘Sir’.
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rouse
 /raʊz/
 verb
 past tense: roused; past participle: roused
 1.
 cause to stop sleeping.
 "she was roused from a deep sleep by a hand on her shoulder"
 synonyms: wake, wake up, awaken, waken, arouse; More
 cease to sleep or to be inactive; wake up.
 "she roused and looked around"
 synonyms: wake up, wake, awaken, come to, get up, get out of bed, rise, bestir oneself; formalarise
 "she roused and looked around"
 antonyms: go to sleep
 bring out of inactivity.
 "once the enemy camp was roused, they would move on the castle"
 startle (game) from a lair or cover.
 2.
 make angry or excited.
 "the crowds were roused to fever pitch by the drama of the race"
 synonyms: stir up, excite, galvanize, electrify, stimulate, inspire, move, fire up, fire the enthusiasm of, fire the imagination of, get going, whip up, inflame, agitate, goad, provoke; More
 antonyms: calm, pacify, appease
 give rise to (an emotion or feeling).
 "his evasiveness roused my curiosity"
 synonyms: arouse, awaken, give rise to, prompt, provoke, stimulate, pique, stir up, trigger, spark off, touch off, kindle, elicit; More
 antonyms: allay
 3.
 stir (a liquid, especially beer while brewing).
 "rouse the beer as the hops are introduced"

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inert
ɪˈnəːt/Submit
adjective
adjective: inert
1.
lacking the ability or strength to move.
"she lay inert in her bed"
synonyms: unmoving, motionless, immobile, still, stock-still, stationary, static, dormant, sleeping; More
antonyms: moving, active
lacking vigour.
"an inert political system"
2.
chemically inactive.
synonyms: chemically inactive
"the inert gases in meteorites"
Origin
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archbishop
ɑːtʃˈbɪʃəp,ˈɑːtʃbɪʃəp/Submit
noun
noun: archbishop; plural noun: archbishops
the chief bishop responsible for a large district.
"the Archbishop of York"
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appal
əˈpɔːl/Submit
verb
past tense: appalled; past participle: appalled
greatly dismay or horrify.
"bankers are appalled at the economic incompetence of some ministers"
synonyms: horrify, shock, dismay, distress greatly, outrage, scandalize, alarm; More
Origin
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totter1
ˈtɒtə/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: tottering
move in a feeble or unsteady way.
"a hunched figure tottering down the path"
synonyms: teeter, walk unsteadily, stagger, wobble, stumble, dodder, shuffle, shamble, falter, reel, toddle, hobble, sway, roll, lurch
"she tottered off on her four-inch heels"
(of a building) shake or rock as if about to collapse.
"tottering, gutted houses"
synonyms: shake, sway, tremble, quiver, teeter, shudder, judder, rock, quake, reel, lurch; More
be insecure or about to fail.
"the pharmaceutical industry has tottered from crisis to crisis"
synonyms: be unstable, be unsteady, be shaky, be insecure, be precarious, be on the point of collapse, falter; informalwobble
"the Habsburg Empire was tottering"
Origin
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exalt
ɪɡˈzɔːlt,ɛɡˈzɔːlt/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: exalting
1.
think or speak very highly of (someone or something).
"the party will continue to exalt their hero"
synonyms: glorify, extol, praise, acclaim, pay homage to, pay tribute to, revere, reverence, venerate, worship, hero-worship, lionize, idolize, deify, esteem, hold in high regard, hold in high esteem, hold in awe, look up to; More
antonyms: disparage, despise
2.
raise to a higher rank or position.
"this naturally exalts the peasant above his brethren in the same rank of society"
synonyms: elevate, promote, raise, advance, boost, upgrade, ennoble, dignify, aggrandize; More
antonyms: lower
make noble in character; dignify.
"romanticism liberated the imagination and exalted the emotions"
synonyms: elevate, promote, raise, advance, boost, upgrade, ennoble, dignify, aggrandize; More
antonyms: lower, depress
Origin
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sanguine
ˈsaŋɡwɪn/Submit
adjective
adjective: sanguine
1.
optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.
"he is sanguine about prospects for the global economy"
synonyms: optimistic, bullish, hopeful, buoyant, positive, disposed to look on the bright side, confident, cheerful, cheery, bright, assured; More
antonyms: pessimistic, gloomy
(in medieval science and medicine) of or having the constitution associated with the predominance of blood among the bodily humours, supposedly marked by a ruddy complexion and an optimistic disposition.
archaic
(of the complexion) florid or ruddy.
2.
HERALDRYliterary
blood-red.
3.
archaic
bloody or bloodthirsty.
noun
noun: sanguine
1.
a blood-red colour.
a deep red-brown crayon or pencil containing iron oxide.
HERALDRY
a blood-red stain used in blazoning.
Origin
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peculiar
pɪˈkjuːlɪə/Submit
adjective
adjective: peculiar
1.
different to what is normal or expected; strange.
"he gave her some very peculiar looks"
synonyms: strange, unusual, odd, funny, curious, bizarre, weird, uncanny, queer, unexpected, unfamiliar, abnormal, atypical, anomalous, untypical, different, out of the ordinary, out of the way; More
antonyms: normal, ordinary
informal
slightly and indefinably unwell.
"I felt a little peculiar for a while"
synonyms: unwell, ill, poorly, bad, out of sorts, indisposed, not oneself, sick, queasy, nauseous, nauseated, peaky, liverish, green about the gills, run down, washed out; More
2.
particular; special.
"any attempt to explicate the theme is bound to run into peculiar difficulties"
synonyms: distinctive, characteristic, distinct, different, individual, individualistic, distinguishing, typical, special, specific, representative, unique, idiosyncratic, personal, private, essential, natural; More
belonging exclusively to.
"some languages are peculiar to one region"
synonyms: characteristic of, typical of, representative of, belonging to, indicative of, symptomatic of, suggestive of, exclusive to, like, in character with
"attitudes and mannerisms peculiar to the islanders"
nounBRITISH
noun: peculiar; plural noun: peculiars
1.
a parish or church exempt from the jurisdiction of the diocese in which it lies, and subject to the direct jurisdiction of the monarch or an archbishop.
"deans and canons of royal peculiars, notably Westminster Abbey and Windsor"
Origin
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superfluous
suːˈpəːflʊəs/Submit
adjective
adjective: superfluous
unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.
"the purchaser should avoid asking for superfluous information"
synonyms: surplus, redundant, unneeded, not required, excess, extra, spare, to spare, remaining, unused, left over; More
antonyms: necessary, essential

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gentry
ˈdʒɛntri/Submit
noun
noun: gentry
people of good social position, specifically the class of people next below the nobility in position and birth.
"a member of the landed gentry"
synonyms: the upper classes, the upper middle class, the privileged classes, the wealthy, the elite, high society, the establishment, the haut monde, the county set, the smart set; More
Origin
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plead
pliːd/Submit
verb
1.
make an emotional appeal.
"she pleaded with them not to gag the boy"
synonyms: beg, entreat, beseech, implore, appeal to, petition, supplicate, importune, pray to, request, ask earnestly, call on, adjure; More
2.
present and argue for (a position), especially in court or in another public context.
"the idea that in public relations work someone is paid to plead a special case is disliked"
synonyms: claim, use as an excuse, assert, allege; More
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wail
weɪl/Submit
noun
1.
a prolonged high-pitched cry of pain, grief, or anger.
"Christopher let out a wail"
synonyms: howl, bawl, yowl, keening; More
verb
1.
utter a wail.
"Tina ran off wailing"
synonyms: howl, weep, cry, sob, moan, groan, keen, lament, yowl, blubber, snivel, whimper, whine, squall, bawl, shriek, scream, yelp, caterwaul, waul; More
Tip
Similar-sounding words
wail is sometimes confused with wale
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perilous
ˈpɛrɪləs/Submit
adjective
adjective: perilous
full of danger or risk.
"a perilous journey south"
synonyms: dangerous, fraught with danger, hazardous, risky, unsafe, treacherous; More
antonyms: safe, secure
exposed to imminent risk of disaster or ruin.
"the economy is in a perilous state"
Origin
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solicitude
səˈlɪsɪtjuːd/Submit
noun
noun: solicitude
care or concern for someone or something.
"I was touched by his solicitude"
synonyms: concern, care, attentiveness, mindfulness, consideration, considerateness, thoughtfulness, solicitousness, carefulness; More
Origin
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beleaguer
bɪˈliːɡə/Submit
verb
past tense: beleaguered; past participle: beleaguered
lay siege to.
"he led a relief force to the aid of the beleaguered city"
synonyms: besieged, under siege, blockaded, surrounded, encircled, hemmed in, under attack
"English forces came to relieve the beleaguered garrison"
put in a very difficult situation.
"the board is supporting the beleaguered director"
synonyms: hard-pressed, troubled, in difficulties, under pressure, under stress, with one's back to the wall, in a tight corner, in a tight spot; More
Origin
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convoy
ˈkɒnvɔɪ/Submit
noun
noun: convoy; plural noun: convoys
1.
a group of ships or vehicles travelling together, typically one accompanied by armed troops, warships, or other vehicles for protection.
"a convoy of lorries"
synonyms: group, fleet, cavalcade, motorcade, cortège, caravan, company, line, train, procession; informalcrocodile
"the convoy of vehicles left at 11.30 p.m."
verb
verb: convoy; 3rd person present: convoys; past tense: convoyed; past participle: convoyed; gerund or present participle: convoying
1.
(of a warship or armed troops) accompany (a group of ships or vehicles) for protection.
"American destroyers helped to convoy much-needed supplies to Britain in 1917–18"
synonyms: escort, accompany, attend, flank; More
Origin
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scorch
skɔːtʃ/Submit
verb
past tense: scorched; past participle: scorched
1.
burn the surface of (something) with flame or heat.
"surrounding houses were scorched by heat from the blast"
synonyms: burn, sear, singe, char, blacken, discolour; raretorrefy
"the buildings around us were scorched by the fire"
become burnt when exposed to heat or a flame.
"the meat had scorched"
synonyms: dry up, desiccate, parch, wither, shrivel; More
(of the heat of the sun) cause (vegetation or a place) to become dried out and lifeless.
"a desolate, scorched landscape"
2.
INFORMAL
(of a person or vehicle) move very fast.
"a sports car scorching along the expressway"
synonyms: speed, zoom, whizz, blast; More
Origin
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obtrude
əbˈtruːd/Submit
verb
verb: obtrude; 3rd person present: obtrudes; past tense: obtruded; past participle: obtruded; gerund or present participle: obtruding
become noticeable in an unwelcome or intrusive way.
"a sound from the reception hall obtruded into his thoughts"
impose or force (something) on someone in an unwelcome or intrusive way.
"I felt unable to obtrude my private sorrow upon anyone"
Origin
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contemn
kənˈtɛm/Submit
verbarchaic
gerund or present participle: contemning
treat or regard with contempt.
"it lay in Deronda's nature usually to contemn the feeble"
synonyms: despise, scorn, treat with contempt, feel contempt for, look down on, disdain, slight, undervalue, disregard, deride, scoff/jeer at, mock, revile, spurn
"would he contemn her for forwardness?"
antonyms: value
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wont
wəʊnt/Submit
nounformalhumorous
noun: wont
1.
one's customary behaviour.
"Constance, as was her wont, had paid her little attention"
synonyms: custom, habit, way, practice, convention, routine, use, rule
"Paul, as was his wont, was driving far too fast"
adjectiveliterary
adjective: wont
1.
(of a person) in the habit of doing something; accustomed.
"he was wont to arise at 5.30 every morning"
synonyms: accustomed, used, given, inclined; in the habit of
"he was wont to arise at 5.30 every morning"
verbarchaic
verb: wont; 3rd person present: wonts; 3rd person present: wont; past tense: wont; past participle: wont; past tense: wonted; past participle: wonted; gerund or present participle: wonting
1.
make or be or become accustomed.
"wont thy heart to thoughts hereof"
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Bayard is a magic bay horse in the legends derived from the chansons de geste, renowned for his spirit, and possessed the supernatural ability to adjust his size to his riders. 
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archetype
ˈɑːkɪtʌɪp/Submit
noun
noun: archetype; plural noun: archetypes
1.
a very typical example of a certain person or thing.
"he was the archetype of the old-style football club chairman"
an original which has been imitated; a prototype.
"an instrument which was the archetype of the early flute"
synonyms: typification, type, prototype, representative, stereotype; More
2.
PSYCHOANALYSIS
(in Jungian theory) a primitive mental image inherited from the earliest human ancestors, and supposed to be present in the collective unconscious.
3.
a recurrent symbol or motif in literature, art, or mythology.
"mythological archetypes of good and evil"

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macrocosm
ˈmakrə(ʊ)kɒz(ə)m/Submit
noun
noun: macrocosm; plural noun: macrocosms
the whole of a complex structure, especially the world or the universe, contrasted with a small or representative part of it.
synonyms: universe, cosmos, world, wide world, globe, creation, solar system, galaxy, outer space More
antonyms: microcosm

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microcosm
ˈmʌɪkrə(ʊ)kɒz(ə)m/Submit
noun
noun: microcosm; plural noun: microcosms
a community, place, or situation regarded as encapsulating in miniature the characteristics of something much larger.
"the city is a microcosm of modern Malaysia"
humankind regarded as the representation in miniature of the universe.
"the belief in correspondences between the Universe and Man—between microcosm and macrocosm"

...

Macrocosm and microcosm refers to a vision of cosmos where the part (microcosm) reflects the whole (macrocosm) and vice versa. It is a feature "present in all esoteric schools of thinking", according to scholar Pierre A. Riffard.[2] It is closely associated with Hermeticism and underlies practices such as astrology, alchemy and sacred geometry with its premise of "As Above, So Below".[3]

Today, the concept of microcosm has been dominated by sociology to mean a small group of individuals whose behavior is typical of a larger social body encompassing it. A microcosm can be seen as a special kind of epitome. Conversely, a macrocosm is a social body made of smaller compounds. In physics, scale invariance describes the same phenomenon, although the universe as a whole is not physically scale invariant according to the modern understanding. However, scale invariance does appear in some physical systems, such as electrical breakdown.

This theory was initiated by Pythagoras who saw the cosmos and the body as a harmonious unity. He expressed this connection with his concept of microcosm and macrocosm.
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caduceus
kəˈdjuːsɪəs/Submit
noun
noun: caduceus; plural noun: caducei
an ancient Greek or Roman herald's wand, typically one with two serpents twined round it, carried by the messenger god Hermes or Mercury.
Origin

Latin, from Doric Greek karukeion from Greek kērux ‘herald’.

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herald
ˈhɛr(ə)ld/Submit
noun
noun: herald; plural noun: heralds
1.
an official employed to oversee state ceremonial, precedence, and the use of armorial bearings, and (historically) to make proclamations, carry official messages, and oversee tournaments.
synonyms: messenger, courier, bearer of tidings; More
(in the UK) an official of the College of Arms or the Lyon Court ranking above a pursuivant.
2.
a person or thing viewed as a sign that something is about to happen.
"they considered the first primroses as the herald of spring"
synonyms: harbinger, sign, indicator, indication, signal, prelude, portent, omen, augury, forewarning, presage, announcer; More
3.
a brown moth with dull orange markings, often hibernating in houses and old buildings.
verb
verb: herald; 3rd person present: heralds; past tense: heralded; past participle: heralded; gerund or present participle: heralding
1.
be a sign that (something) is about to happen.
"the speech heralded a change in policy"
synonyms: signal, indicate, announce, point to, spell, presage, augur, portend, promise, prefigure, foreshadow, foretell, usher in, show in, pave the way for, open the way for, be a harbinger of, be a forerunner, be a precursor of; More
acclaim.
"the band have been heralded as the great hope for the nineties"

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immaculate
ɪˈmakjʊlət/Submit
adjective
1.
perfectly clean, neat, or tidy.
"an immaculate white suit"
synonyms: clean, spotless, pristine, unsoiled, unstained, unsullied, speckless, ultra-clean; More
2.
BOTANY•ZOOLOGY
uniformly coloured without spots or other marks.

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spouse
spaʊz,spaʊs/Submit
noun
a husband or wife, considered in relation to their partner.
synonyms: husband, wife, partner, mate, consort; More

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contagion
kənˈteɪdʒ(ə)n/Submit
noun
the communication of disease from one person or organism to another by close contact.
"the rooms held no risk of contagion"
DATED
a disease spread by close contact.
plural noun: contagions
"through personal hygiene the spread of common contagions is discouraged"
synonyms: contamination, infection, disease, illness, infirmity, pestilence, plague, blight; More
FIGURATIVE
the spreading of a harmful idea or theory.
"the contagion of disgrace"

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Celestine or celestite is a mineral consisting of strontium sulfate. The mineral is named for its occasional delicate blue color. Celestine and the carbonate mineral strontianite are the principal sources of the element strontium, commonly used in fireworks and in various metal alloys.

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surreal
səˈrɪəl/Submit
adjective
having the qualities of surrealism; bizarre.
"a surreal mix of fact and fantasy"

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layover
ˈleɪəʊvə/Submit
nounNORTH AMERICAN
noun: layover; plural noun: layovers
a period of rest or waiting before a further stage in a journey.
"there was only a forty-eight minute layover"

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underpay
ʌndəˈpeɪ/Submit
verb
verb: underpay; 3rd person present: underpays; past tense: underpaid; past participle: underpaid; gerund or present participle: underpaying; verb: under-pay; 3rd person present: under-pays; past tense: under-paid; past participle: under-paid; gerund or present participle: under-paying
pay too little to (someone).
"many firms were illegally underpaying workers"
pay less than is due for (something).
"late or underpaid tax"
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cynically
ˈsɪnɪk(ə)li/Submit
adverb
adverb: cynically
1.
in a distrustful way that expresses a belief that people are motivated purely by self-interest.
"many cynically dismiss the way of peace as naive and impossible"
in a way that expresses doubt as to whether something will happen or whether it is worthwhile.
"the public has cynically disregarded the good news"
2.
in a way that is concerned only with one's own interests and disregards accepted standards in order to achieve them.
"he was accused of cynically exploiting a terrible tragedy"

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indignantly
ɪnˈdɪɡnəntli/Submit
adverb
adverb: indignantly
in a manner indicating anger or annoyance at something perceived as unfair.
"he indignantly rejected the claim"

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jolt
dʒəʊlt,dʒɒlt/Submit
verb
past tense: jolted; past participle: jolted
push or shake (someone or something) abruptly and roughly.
"a surge in the crowd behind him jolted him forwards"
synonyms: push, thrust; More
give a surprise or shock to (someone) in order to make them act or change.
"she tried to jolt him out of his depression"
synonyms: startle, surprise, shock, stun, shake, take aback; More
move with sudden lurches.
"the train jolted into motion"
synonyms: bump, bounce, jerk, rattle, lurch, shudder, vibrate; More

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petunia
pɪˈtjuːnɪə/Submit
noun
plural noun: petunias
a South American plant of the nightshade family which has white, purple, or red funnel-shaped flowers, with many ornamental varieties.

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begonia
bɪˈɡəʊnɪə/Submit
noun
plural noun: begonias
a herbaceous plant of warm climates, the flowers of which have brightly coloured sepals but no petals. Numerous cultivars are grown for their flowers or striking foliage.

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sepal
ˈsɛp(ə)l,ˈsiːp(ə)l/Submit
nounBOTANY
plural noun: sepals
each of the parts of the calyx of a flower, enclosing the petals and typically green and leaf-like.

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deputation
dɛpjʊˈteɪʃ(ə)n/Submit
noun
a group of people appointed to undertake a mission or take part in a formal process on behalf of a larger group.
"he had been a member of a deputation to Napoleon III"
synonyms: delegation, delegacy, legation, commission, committee, (diplomatic) mission; More

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apocryphal
əˈpɒkrɪf(ə)l/Submit
adjective
(of a story or statement) of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true.
"an apocryphal story about a former president"
synonyms: fictitious, made-up, untrue, fabricated, false, spurious; More
of or belonging to the Apocrypha.
"the apocryphal Gospel of Thomas"

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impropriety
ˌɪmprəˈprʌɪəti/Submit
noun
plural noun: improprieties
failure to observe standards of honesty or modesty; improper behaviour or character.
"she was scandalized at the impropriety of the question"
synonyms: wrongdoing, misconduct, dishonesty, corruption, unscrupulousness, illegitimacy, unprofessionalism, irregularity; More
antonyms: propriety

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papal
ˈpeɪp(ə)l/Submit
adjective
adjective: papal
relating to a pope or to the papacy.
"a papal visit"
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precarious
prɪˈkɛːrɪəs/Submit
adjective
adjective: precarious
not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse.
"a precarious ladder"
dependent on chance; uncertain.
"he made a precarious living as a painter"
synonyms: uncertain, insecure, unreliable, unsure, unpredictable, undependable, risky, hazardous, dangerous, unsafe, hanging by a thread, hanging in the balance, perilous, treacherous, on a slippery slope, on thin ice, touch-and-go, built on sand, doubtful, dubious, delicate, tricky, problematic; More
antonyms: safe, secure

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hail1
heɪl/Submit
verb
past tense: hailed; past participle: hailed
1.
hail falls.
"it hailed so hard we had to stop"
synonyms: beat, shower, rain, fall, pour, drop; More
2.
(of a large number of objects) fall or be hurled forcefully.
"missiles and bombs hail down from the sky"
Origin

Old English hagol, hægl (noun), hagalian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hagel and German Hagel .
hail2
heɪl/Submit
verb
past tense: hailed; past participle: hailed
1.
call out to (someone) to attract attention.
"I hailed her in English"
synonyms: greet, salute, address, halloo, speak to, call out to, shout to, say hello to, initiate a discussion with, talk to; More
antonyms: say goodbye to
signal (an approaching taxi) to stop.
"she raised her hand to hail a cab"
synonyms: flag down, wave down, signal to stop, gesture to stop, make a sign to; More
2.
praise (someone or something) enthusiastically.
"he has been hailed as the new James Dean"
synonyms: acclaim, praise, applaud, commend, rave about, extol, eulogize, vaunt, hymn, lionize, express approval of, express admiration for, pay tribute to, speak highly of, sing the praises of, make much of; More
antonyms: criticize, condemn
3.
have one's home or origins in (a place).
"they hail from Turkey"
synonyms: come from, be from, be a native of, have been born in, originate in, have one's roots in; More
Origin

Example, as in: "hailed a cab in the broadway"
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broadway
ˈbrɔːdweɪ/Submit
noun
noun: broadway; plural noun: broadways
a large open or main road.
"Fulham Broadway"
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twilight
ˈtwʌɪlʌɪt/Submit
noun
noun: twilight
1.
the soft glowing light from the sky when the sun is below the horizon, caused by the reflection of the sun's rays from the atmosphere.
"she looked out on the beautiful twilight"
synonyms: half-light, semi-darkness, dimness, gloom
"it was scarcely visible in the evening twilight"
the period of the evening when twilight is visible, between daylight and darkness.
"a pleasant walk in the woods at twilight"
synonyms: dusk, early evening, evening, close of day; More
antonyms: dawn, daybreak
2.
a period or state of obscurity, ambiguity, or gradual decline.
"he was in the twilight of his career"
synonyms: decline, waning, downturn, ebb; More
antonyms: peak, height

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demeanour
dɪˈmiːnə/Submit
noun
noun: demeanour; plural noun: demeanours; noun: demeanor; plural noun: demeanors
outward behaviour or bearing.
"his happy demeanour"
synonyms: manner, air, attitude, appearance, look, aspect, mien, cast; More
Origin

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musty
ˈmʌsti/Submit
adjective
adjective: musty; comparative adjective: mustier; superlative adjective: mustiest
having a stale, mouldy, or damp smell.
"a dark musty library"
synonyms: mouldy, stale, fusty, damp, dank, mildewed, mildewy, decayed, smelly, stuffy, airless, unventilated; More
antonyms: fresh, fragrant
having a stale taste.
"the beer tasted sour, thin, and musty"
lacking freshness or vitality; old-fashioned.
"the musty formalities of the occasion"
synonyms: unoriginal, uninspired, unimaginative, hackneyed, derivative, stale, flat, tired, banal, trite, clichéd, dry as dust, old-fashioned, antiquated, antediluvian, out of date, outdated, hoary, moth-eaten, worn out, threadbare, out of fashion, behind the times, obsolete; More
antonyms: fresh, modern
Origin

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Peru is a country in South America that's home to a section of Amazon rainforest and Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city high in the Andes mountains. The region around Machu Picchu, including the Sacred Valley, Inca Trail and colonial city of Cusco, is rich in archaeological sites. On Peru’s arid Pacific coast is Lima, the capital, with a preserved colonial center and important collections of pre-Columbian art.

Capital: Lima
Currency: Sol
Co-official languages: Quechua; Aymara
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arid
ˈarɪd/Submit
adjective
1.
(of land or a climate) having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation.
"the arid plains north of Cape Town"
synonyms: dry, dried up, waterless, as dry as a bone, moistureless, parched, scorched, baked, thirsty; More
2.
lacking in interest, excitement, or meaning.
"his arid years in suburbia"
synonyms: dreary, dull, drab, dry, sterile, banal, colourless, monochrome, unstimulating, uninspiring, flat, boring, uninteresting, monotonous, lifeless, tedious, vapid, jejune, soul-destroying
"this town has an arid, empty feel"

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satchel
ˈsatʃ(ə)l/Submit
noun
plural noun: satchels
a bag carried on the shoulder by a long strap and closed by a flap, used especially for school books.
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covertly
ˈkəʊvəːtli,kəʊˈvəːtli/Submit
adverb
adverb: covertly
without being openly acknowledged or displayed; secretly.
"a transcript of a covertly taped meeting"

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chime1
tʃʌɪm/Submit
verb
past tense: chimed; past participle: chimed
1.
(of a bell or clock) make melodious ringing sounds, typically to indicate the time.
"the clock chimed eight"
synonyms: ring, peal, toll, sound; More
2.
BRITISH
be in agreement with.
"his poem chimes with our modern experience of loss"
synonyms: accord, correspond, be consistent, be compatible, agree, be in agreement, be in accordance, fit in, be in harmony, harmonize, be in tune, be consonant, be similar; informalsquare
"some of his remarks chimed in with the ideas of Adam Smith"
Origin
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unduly
ʌnˈdjuːli/Submit
adverb
adverb: unduly
to an unwarranted degree; inordinately.
"there is no need to be unduly alarmed"
synonyms: excessively, immoderately, intemperately, disproportionately, out of all proportion, inordinately; More
antonyms: duly, appropriately

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donee
dəʊˈniː/Submit
noun
plural noun: donees
a person who receives a gift.
LAW
a person who is given a power of appointment

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purport
verb
verb: purport; 3rd person present: purports; past tense: purported; past participle: purported; gerund or present participle: purporting
pəˈpɔːt/Submit
1.
appear to be or do something, especially falsely.
"she is not the person she purports to be"
synonyms: claim, lay claim, profess, pretend; More
noun
noun: purport
ˈpəːpɔːt/Submit
1.
the meaning or sense of something, typically a document or speech.
"I do not understand the purport of your remarks"
synonyms: gist, substance, drift, implication, intention, meaning, significance, signification, sense, essence, import, tenor, thrust, message, spirit
"the purport of his remarks is already familiar"
the purpose or intention of something.
"the purport of existence"
synonyms: intention, purpose, intent, object, objective, aim, goal, target, end, plan, scheme, design, idea, ambition, desire, wish, hope
"the purport of the attack was to prove him wrong"
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ingenious
ɪnˈdʒiːnɪəs/Submit
adjective
adjective: ingenious
(of a person) clever, original, and inventive.
"he was ingenious enough to overcome the limited budget"
synonyms: inventive, creative, imaginative, original, innovative, resourceful, enterprising, insightful, inspired, perceptive, intuitive; More
antonyms: unimaginative
(of a machine or idea) cleverly and originally devised and well suited to its purpose.
"ingenious devices"
Origin

late Middle English: from French ingénieux or Latin ingeniosus, from ingenium ‘mind, intellect’; compare with engine.
Translate ingenious to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
ingenious is sometimes confused with ingenuous

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greenmail
ˈɡriːnmeɪl/Submit
nounSTOCK MARKET
noun: greenmail
the practice of buying enough shares in a company to threaten a takeover, forcing the owners to buy them back at a higher price in order to retain control.
Origin

1980s: blend of green and blackmail.
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outlay
ˈaʊtleɪ/Submit
noun
plural noun: outlays
an amount of money spent on something.
"a modest outlay on local advertising"
synonyms: expenditure, expenses, spending, outgoings, money spent, cost, price, charge, payment, disbursement, investment, injection of capital
"the project involved comparatively little financial outlay"
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lampoon
lamˈpuːn/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: lampooning
publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm.
"the actor was lampooned by the press"
synonyms: satirize, mock, ridicule, make fun of, poke fun at, caricature, burlesque, parody, take off, guy, make a fool of, rag, tease; More
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lucidity
luːˈsɪdɪti/Submit
noun
noun: lucidity
1.
clarity of expression; intelligibility.
"his lecture combined intellectual lucidity and passion"
the ability to think clearly, especially in intervals between periods of confusion or insanity.
"she had moments of lucidity"
2.
LITERARY
brightness; luminosity.
"the lucidity of his paintings"

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amortize
əˈmɔːtʌɪz/Submit
verb
past tense: amortized; past participle: amortized
gradually write off the initial cost of (an asset) over a period.
"the vessel's owners could not amortize her high capital costs"
reduce or pay off (a debt) with regular payments.
"eighty per cent of the proceeds has been used to amortize the public debt"
HISTORICAL
transfer (land) to a corporation in mortmain.
"lands amortized without licence"

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parochialism
pəˈrəʊkɪəlɪz(ə)m/Submit
noun
noun: parochialism
a limited or narrow outlook, especially focused on a local area; narrow-mindedness.
"accusations of parochialism"
synonyms: narrow-mindedness, localism, provincialism, insularity, narrowness, small-mindedness

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laconic
ləˈkɒnɪk/Submit
adjective
adjective: laconic
(of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words.
"his laconic reply suggested a lack of interest in the topic"
synonyms: brief, concise, terse, succinct, short, economical, elliptical, crisp, pithy, to the point, incisive, short and sweet, compendious; More
antonyms: verbose, long-winded, loquacious
Origin
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parochial
pəˈrəʊkɪəl/Submit
adjective
adjective: parochial
1.
relating to a Church parish.
"the parochial church council"
2.
having a limited or narrow outlook or scope.
"parochial attitudes"
synonyms: narrow-minded, small-minded, provincial, insular, narrow, small-town, inward-looking, limited, restricted, localist, conservative, conventional, short-sighted, petty, close-minded, blinkered, myopic, introverted, illiberal, hidebound, intolerant; More
antonyms: cosmopolitan, broad-minded, liberal
Origin

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liability
lʌɪəˈbɪlɪti/Submit
noun
noun: liability
1.
the state of being legally responsible for something.
"once you contact the card protection scheme your liability for any loss ends"
synonyms: accountability, responsibility, legal responsibility, answerability; More
antonyms: immunity
a thing for which someone is responsible, especially an amount of money owed.
plural noun: liabilities
"valuing the company's liabilities and assets"
synonyms: financial obligation, debt, indebtedness, debit; More
antonyms: asset
2.
a person or thing whose presence or behaviour is likely to put one at a disadvantage.
"she said the party had become a liability to green politics"
synonyms: hindrance, encumbrance, burden, handicap, nuisance, inconvenience; More
antonyms: asset, advantage

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leeway
ˈliːweɪ/Submit
noun
noun: leeway
1.
the amount of freedom to move or act that is available.
"the government had greater leeway to introduce reforms"
synonyms: freedom, scope, room to manoeuvre, latitude, elbow room, slack, space, room, liberty, room to spare, room to operate, scope for initiative, freedom of action, freedom from restriction, a free hand, flexibility, independence, licence, self-determination, free rein, free play, unrestrictedness, indulgence, margin, play, give, laxity, leisure; More
antonyms: constraint, restriction
margin of safety.
"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°"

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gospel
ˈɡɒsp(ə)l/Submit
noun
noun: gospel; noun: Gospel; plural noun: Gospels; noun: gospel music; plural noun: gospel musics
1.
the teaching or revelation of Christ.
"it is the Church's mission to preach the gospel"
synonyms: Christian teaching, Christ's teaching, the life of Christ, the word of God, the good news, Christian doctrine, the New Testament, the writings of the evangelists
"the Gospel was spread informally by missionaries"
a thing that is absolutely true.
noun: gospel truth; plural noun: gospel truths
"they say it's sold out, but don't take that as gospel"
synonyms: the truth, the whole truth, the naked truth, gospel truth, God's truth, the honest truth; More
antonyms: a lie
a set of principles or beliefs.
"the gospel of market economics"
synonyms: doctrine, dogma, teaching, principle, ethic, creed, credo, theory, thesis, ideology, idea, ideal, position; More
2.
the record of Christ's life and teaching in the first four books of the New Testament.
each of the first four books of the New Testament.
plural noun: gospels
a portion from one of the Gospels read at a church service.
3.
a fervent style of black American evangelical religious singing, developed from spirituals sung in Southern Baptist and Pentecostal Churches.
Origin

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lemming
ˈlɛmɪŋ/Submit
noun
noun: lemming; plural noun: lemmings; noun: Norway lemming; plural noun: Norway lemmings
a small, short-tailed, thickset rodent related to the voles, found in the Arctic tundra.
a person who unthinkingly joins a mass movement, especially a headlong rush to destruction.
Origin
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compendium
kəmˈpɛndɪəm/Submit
noun
noun: compendium; plural noun: compendia; plural noun: compendiums
a collection of concise but detailed information about a particular subject, especially in a book or other publication.
"an invaluable compendium of useful information about language"
synonyms: collection, compilation, anthology, treasury, digest; More
a collection or set of similar items.
"a compendium of tools"
a package of stationery for writing letters.
Origin
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cadence
ˈkeɪd(ə)ns/
noun
1.
a modulation or inflection of the voice.
"the measured cadences that he employed in the Senate"
synonyms: rhythm, tempo, metre, measure, rise and fall, beat, pulse, rhythmical flow/pattern, swing, lilt, cadency; More
2.
a sequence of notes or chords comprising the close of a musical phrase.
"the final cadences of the Prelude"

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restitution
ˌrɛstɪˈtjuːʃ(ə)n/Submit
noun
1.
the restoration of something lost or stolen to its proper owner.
"the ANC had demanded the restitution of land seized from blacks"
synonyms: return, restoration, handing back, replacement, surrender, yielding, recovery
"the claims were for restitution of land allegedly seized by the occupying power"
2.
recompense for injury or loss.
"he was ordered to pay £6,000 in restitution"
synonyms: compensation, recompense, reparation, damages, indemnification, indemnity, reimbursement, repayment, remuneration, reward, redress, satisfaction; More

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hapless
ˈhapləs/Submit
adjective
(especially of a person) unfortunate.
"the hapless victims of the disaster"
synonyms: unfortunate, unlucky, luckless, out of luck, ill-starred, ill-fated, jinxed, cursed, doomed; More

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unequivocal
ʌnɪˈkwɪvək(ə)l/Submit
adjective
leaving no doubt; unambiguous.
"an unequivocal answer"
synonyms: unambiguous, unmistakable, indisputable, incontrovertible, indubitable, undeniable; More

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money laundering
noun
the concealment of the origins of illegally obtained money, typically by means of transfers involving foreign banks or legitimate businesses.
"he was convicted of money laundering and tax evasion"

Money laundering is the act of concealing the transformation of profits from illegal activities and corruption into ostensibly "legitimate" assets. The dilemma of illicit activities is accounting for the origin of the proceeds of such activities without raising the suspicion of law enforcement agencies.
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incur
ɪnˈkəː/Submit
verb
3rd person present: incurs
become subject to (something unwelcome or unpleasant) as a result of one's own behaviour or actions.
"I will pay any expenses incurred"
synonyms: suffer, sustain, experience, bring upon oneself, expose oneself to, lay oneself open to; More
antonyms: avoid
Origin

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vacuous
ˈvakjʊəs/Submit
adjective
1.
having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless.
"a vacuous smile"
synonyms: blank, vacant, expressionless, deadpan, inscrutable, inexpressive, poker-faced, emotionless, impassive, absent, absent-minded, uninterested, empty, glassy, stony, wooden, motionless, lifeless, inanimate More
2.
ARCHAIC
empty.

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odious
ˈəʊdɪəs/Submit
adjective
adjective: odious
extremely unpleasant; repulsive.
"a pretty odious character"
synonyms: revolting, repulsive, repellent, repugnant, disgusting, offensive, objectionable, vile, foul, abhorrent, loathsome, nauseating, nauseous, sickening, hateful, detestable, execrable, abominable, monstrous, appalling, reprehensible, deplorable, insufferable, intolerable, unacceptable, despicable, contemptible, beyond the pale, unspeakable, poisonous, noxious, obscene, base, hideous, grisly, gruesome, horrendous, heinous, atrocious, awful, terrible, dreadful, frightful, obnoxious, unsavoury, unpalatable, unpleasant, disagreeable, nasty, distasteful, dislikeable, off-putting, displeasing; More
antonyms: delightful, pleasant, agreeable, charming
Origin

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egregious
ɪˈɡriːdʒəs/Submit
adjective
adjective: egregious
1.
outstandingly bad; shocking.
"egregious abuses of copyright"
2.
ARCHAIC
remarkably good.
Origin

mid 16th century (in sense 2): from Latin egregius ‘illustrious’, literally ‘standing out from the flock’, from ex- ‘out’ + grex, greg- ‘flock’. Sense 1 (late 16th century) probably arose as an ironic use.
Translate egregious to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
egregious is sometimes confused with gregarious

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gregarious
ɡrɪˈɡɛːrɪəs/Submit
adjective
adjective: gregarious
(of a person) fond of company; sociable.
"he was a popular and gregarious man"
synonyms: sociable, social, company-loving, companionable, convivial, clubbable; More
antonyms: unsociable, reserved
(of animals) living in flocks or loosely organized communities.
"gregarious species forage in flocks from colonies or roosts"
synonyms: social, organized, living in shoals/flocks/herds
"these fish are small and gregarious"
(of plants) growing in open clusters or in pure associations.
"in the wild, trees are usually gregarious plants"
Origin

mid 17th century: from Latin gregarius (from grex, greg- ‘a flock’) + -ous.
Translate gregarious to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
gregarious is sometimes confused with egregious

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unfettered
ʌnˈfɛtəd/Submit
adjective
adjective: unfettered
not confined or restricted.
"his imagination is unfettered by the laws of logic"
synonyms: unrestrained, unrestricted, unconstrained, free, unbridled, untrammelled, unchecked, unconfined, unimpeded, unhampered, uncontrolled, unbound, untied, unchained, unshackled, loose
"the choice between a planned economy and an unfettered market"
antonyms: restricted, fettered

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unfetter
ʌnˈfɛtə/Submit
verb
past tense: unfettered; past participle: unfettered
release from restraint or inhibition.
"his imagination is unfettered by the laws of logic"

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stifle1
ˈstʌɪf(ə)l/Submit
verb
past tense: stifled; past participle: stifled
1.
make (someone) unable to breathe properly; suffocate.
"those in the streets were stifled by the fumes"
synonyms: suffocate, choke, asphyxiate; More
antonyms: cold, chilly
2.
restrain (a reaction) or stop oneself acting on (an emotion).
"she stifled a giggle"
synonyms: suppress, smother, restrain, keep back, hold back, hold in, fight back, choke back, gulp back, withhold, check, keep in check, swallow, muffle, quench, curb, silence, contain, bottle up; More
antonyms: let out
prevent or constrain (an activity or idea).
"high taxes were stifling private enterprise"
synonyms: constrain, hinder, hamper, impede, hold back, curb, check, restrain, prevent, inhibit; More
antonyms: encourage
Origin

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recalcitrant
rɪˈkalsɪtr(ə)nt/Submit
adjective
adjective: recalcitrant
1.
having an obstinately uncooperative attitude towards authority or discipline.
"a class of recalcitrant fifteen-year-olds"
noun
noun: recalcitrant; plural noun: recalcitrants
1.
a person with a recalcitrant attitude.
"a stiff-necked recalcitrant and troublemaker"

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fervour
ˈfəːvə/Submit
noun
noun: fervor
1.
intense and passionate feeling.
"he talked with all the fervour of a new convert"
synonyms: 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; More
antonyms: apathy
2.
ARCHAIC
intense heat.

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upturn
noun
plural noun: upturns
ˈʌptəːn/Submit
1.
an improvement or upward trend, especially in economic conditions or someone's fortunes.
"an upturn in the economy"
synonyms: increase, rise, jump, leap, surge, upswing, upsurge, boost, acceleration, escalation, soaring, step up More
antonyms: fall, slump, downturn
verb
3rd person present: upturns
ʌpˈtəːn/Submit
1.
turn (something) upwards or upside down.
"a sea of upturned faces"

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anaemic
əˈniːmɪk/Submit
adjective
adjective: anemic
suffering from anaemia.
"the doctor said you were a bit anaemic"
synonyms: colourless, bloodless, pale, pallid, wan, ashen, white, white as a ghost/sheet, grey, jaundiced, waxen, chalky, chalk-white, milky, pasty, pasty-faced, whey-faced, peaky, sickly, tired-looking, washed out, sallow, drained, drawn, sapped, ghostly, deathly, deathlike, bleached; rareetiolated
"his naturally anaemic face became even paler"
antonyms: ruddy
lacking in colour, spirit, or vitality.
"an anaemic aspidistra stood in the grate"
synonyms: feeble, weak, insipid, pallid, pale, wishy-washy, vapid, bland, poor, puny, flat, inadequate; More
antonyms: punchy

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surmise
səˈmʌɪz/Submit
verb
verb: surmise; 3rd person present: surmises; past tense: surmised; past participle: surmised; gerund or present participle: surmising
1.
suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it.
"he surmised that something must be wrong"
synonyms: guess, conjecture, suspect, deduce, infer, come to the conclusion, conclude, theorize, speculate, glean, divine; More
antonyms: know
noun
noun: surmise; plural noun: surmises
1.
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’.

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commensurate
kəˈmɛnʃ(ə)rət,kəˈmɛnʃ(ə)rət/Submit
adjective
adjective: commensurate
corresponding in size or degree; in proportion.
"salary will be commensurate with age and experience"
synonyms: equivalent, equal, corresponding, correspondent, comparable, proportionate, proportional; More
antonyms: disproportionate
Origin

mid 17th century: from late Latin commensuratus, from com- ‘together’ + mensuratus, past participle of mensurare ‘to measure’.
Translate commensurate to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
commensurate is sometimes confused with commiserate

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commiserate
kəˈmɪzəreɪt/Submit
verb
verb: commiserate; 3rd person present: commiserates; past tense: commiserated; past participle: commiserated; gerund or present participle: commiserating
express or feel sympathy or pity; sympathize.
"she went over to commiserate with Rose on her unfortunate circumstances"
synonyms: offer sympathy to, be sympathetic to, express sympathy for, send condolences to, offer condolences to, condole with, sympathize with, empathize with, feel pity for, feel sorry for, feel for, be moved by, mourn for, sorrow for, grieve for; More
ARCHAIC
feel or express pity for (someone).
"she did not exult in her rival's fall, but, on the contrary, commiserated her"

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sympathy
ˈsɪmpəθi/Submit
noun
noun: sympathy
1.
feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.
"they had great sympathy for the flood victims"
synonyms: commiseration, pity, condolence, consolation, comfort, solace, support, encouragement; More
antonyms: indifference
the formal expression of pity or sorrow for someone else's misfortune.
plural noun: sympathies; plural noun: one's sympathies
"all Tony's friends joined in sending their sympathies to his widow Jean"
2.
understanding between people; common feeling.
"the special sympathy between the two boys was obvious to all"
synonyms: rapport, fellow feeling, affinity, empathy, harmony, accord, compatibility; More
antonyms: hostility
support in the form of shared feelings or opinions.
plural noun: sympathies
"his sympathies lay with his constituents"
synonyms: agreement, harmony, favour, approval, approbation, support, encouragement, goodwill, commendation, partiality; More
antonyms: disapproval
agreement with or approval of an opinion or aim; a favourable attitude.
"I have some sympathy for this view"
relating harmoniously to something else; in keeping.
noun: in sympathy; plural noun: in sympathies
"repairs had to be in sympathy with the original structure"
3.
the state or fact of responding in a way similar or corresponding to an action elsewhere.
"the magnetic field oscillates in sympathy"

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incongruity
ˌɪnkɒŋˈɡruːɪti/Submit
noun
noun: incongruity; plural noun: incongruities
the state of being incongruous; incompatibility.
"the incongruity of his fleshy face and skinny body disturbed her"
synonyms: inappropriateness, incongruousness, unsuitability, lack of harmony, discordance, inharmoniousness, dissonance, incompatibility, inconsistency, difference, disparity, discrepancy, irreconcilability; More
antonyms: appropriateness

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deplore
dɪˈplɔː/Submit
verb
verb: deplore; 3rd person present: deplores; past tense: deplored; past participle: deplored; gerund or present participle: deploring
feel or express strong condemnation of (something).
"we deplore all violence"
synonyms: abhor, be shocked by, be offended by, be scandalized by, find unacceptable, be against, frown on; More
antonyms: admire, applaud

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unsolicited
ʌnsəˈlɪsɪtɪd/Submit
adjective
not asked for; given or done voluntarily.
"unsolicited junk mail"
synonyms: uninvited, unsought, unasked for, unrequested, undemanded, uncalled for, not required, unprompted, unbidden, unwelcome, gratuitous, volunteered, voluntary, spontaneous
"he did not take easily to unsolicited advice"

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lapse
laps/Submit
noun
noun: lapse; plural noun: lapses
1.
a brief or temporary failure of concentration, memory, or judgement.
"a lapse of concentration in the second set cost her the match"
synonyms: failure, failing, slip, error, mistake, blunder, fault, omission, oversight, negligence, dereliction; More
a decline from previously high standards.
"tracing his lapse into petty crime"
synonyms: decline, downturn, fall, falling, falling away, slipping, drop, deterioration, worsening, degeneration, dereliction, backsliding, regression, retrogression, decay, descent, sinking, slide, ebb, waning, corruption, debasement, tainting, corrosion, impairment
"his lapse into petty crime"
LAW
the termination of a right or privilege through disuse or failure to follow appropriate procedures.
2.
an interval or passage of time.
"there was a considerable lapse of time between the two events"
synonyms: interval, gap, pause, intermission, interlude, lull, hiatus, break; More
verb
verb: lapse; 3rd person present: lapses; past tense: lapsed; past participle: lapsed; gerund or present participle: lapsing
1.
(of a right, privilege, or agreement) become invalid because it is not used, claimed, or renewed; expire.
"he let his membership of CND lapse"
synonyms: expire, become void, become invalid, run out, terminate, become obsolete More
antonyms: current, valid
(of a state or activity) fail to be maintained; come to an end.
"if your diet has lapsed it's time you revived it"
synonyms: end, cease, come to an end, stop, terminate, vanish, disappear, pass, fade, fall away, dwindle, wilt, wither, die
"do not let friendships lapse"
cease to follow the rules and practices of a religion or doctrine.
"many Christians in Britain have lapsed"
synonyms: non-practising, lacking faith, backsliding, recidivist, apostate; formalquondam
"a lapsed Catholic"
antonyms: practising, devout
2.
pass gradually into (an inferior state or condition).
"the country has lapsed into chaos"
synonyms: deteriorate, decline, fall, fall off, drop, worsen, degenerate, decay, rot, backslide, regress, retrogress, get worse, sink, wane, slump, fail; More
antonyms: improve, strengthen
revert to (a previous or more familiar style of speaking or behaviour).
"the girls lapsed into French"
synonyms: revert, relapse, fall back; More
Origin

late Middle English: from Latin lapsus, from labi ‘to glide, slip, or fall’; the verb reinforced by Latin lapsare ‘to slip or stumble’.

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impropriety
ˌɪmprəˈprʌɪəti/Submit
noun
noun: impropriety; plural noun: improprieties
failure to observe standards of honesty or modesty; improper behaviour or character.
"she was scandalized at the impropriety of the question"
synonyms: wrongdoing, misconduct, dishonesty, corruption, unscrupulousness, illegitimacy, unprofessionalism, irregularity; More
antonyms: propriety

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facilitation
fəsɪlɪˈteɪʃn/Submit
noun
the action of facilitating something.
"third-party facilitation seeks to promote the resolution of conflict"
PHYSIOLOGY
the enhancement of the response of a neuron to a stimulus following prior stimulation.
"the response is dependent on the frequency of stimulation and on neuromuscular facilitation"

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Disgorgement is repayment of ill-gotten gains that is imposed on wrongdoers by the courts. Funds that were received through illegal or unethical business transactions are disgorged, or paid back, with interest to those affected by the action. Disgorgement is a remedial civil action, rather than a punitive civil action.

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diligence1
ˈdɪlɪdʒ(ə)ns/Submit
noun
noun: diligence
careful and persistent work or effort.
"few party members challenge his diligence as an MP"
synonyms: conscientiousness, assiduousness, assiduity, industriousness, rigour, rigorousness, punctiliousness, meticulousness, carefulness, thoroughness, sedulousness, attentiveness, heedfulness, earnestness, intentness, studiousness; More
antonyms: laziness, carelessness
Origin

Middle English (in the sense ‘close attention, caution’): via Old French from Latin diligentia, from diligent- ‘assiduous’ (see diligent).
diligence2
ˈdɪlɪdʒ(ə)ns/Submit
nounHISTORICAL
noun: diligence; plural noun: diligences
a public stagecoach.

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stagecoach
ˈsteɪdʒkəʊtʃ/Submit
noun
noun: stagecoach; plural noun: stagecoaches; noun: stage-coach; plural noun: stage-coaches
a large closed horse-drawn vehicle formerly used to carry passengers and often mail along a regular route between two places.

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pursuant
pəˈsjuːənt/Submit
adverbFORMAL
adverb: pursuant
1.
in accordance with (a law or a legal document or resolution).
"the local authority applied for care orders pursuant to section 31 of the Children Act 1989"
adjectiveARCHAIC
adjective: pursuant
1.
following; going in pursuit.
Origin

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trove
trəʊv/Submit
noun
noun: trove; plural noun: troves
a store of valuable or delightful things.
"the cellar contained a trove of rare wines"
Origin

late 19th century: from treasure trove.

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detriment
ˈdɛtrɪm(ə)nt/Submit
noun
the state of being harmed or damaged.
"he is engrossed in his work to the detriment of his married life"
a cause of harm or damage.
plural noun: detriments
"such tests are a detriment to good education"
synonyms: harm, damage, injury, hurt, impairment, loss, prejudice, disadvantage, disservice, ill, wrong, mischief; disbenefit
"some light industry can generally be carried out in a residential area without detriment to its amenities"

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sluggard
ˈslʌɡəd/Submit
noun
a lazy, sluggish person.
"I'm waiting for those sluggards to bring my steak"

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rhetoric
ˈrɛtərɪk/Submit
noun
noun: rhetoric
the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the exploitation of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.
"he is using a common figure of rhetoric, hyperbole"
synonyms: oratory, eloquence, power of speech, command of language, expression, way with words, delivery, diction
"he was considered to excel in this form of rhetoric"
language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect, but which is often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content.
"all we have from the Opposition is empty rhetoric"
synonyms: bombast, loftiness, turgidity, grandiloquence, magniloquence, ornateness, portentousness, pomposity, boastfulness, boasting, bragging, heroics, hyperbole, extravagant language, purple prose, pompousness, sonorousness; More
Origin

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pennant
ˈpɛnənt/Submit
noun
noun: pennant; plural noun: pennants
1.
a tapering flag on a ship, especially one flown at the masthead of a vessel in commission.
a long triangular or swallow-tailed flag, especially as the military ensign of lancer regiments.
synonyms: banner, banderole, streamer, flag, standard, ensign, jack, pennon, colour(s); More
NORTH AMERICAN
a flag denoting a sports championship or identifying a team.
2.
NAUTICAL
a short rope hanging from the head of a ship's mast; a pendant.
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bailiwick
ˈbeɪlɪwɪk/Submit
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"

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tailwind
ˈteɪlwɪnd/Submit
noun
plural noun: tailwinds
a wind blowing in the direction of travel of a vehicle or aircraft; a wind blowing from behind.

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capricious
kəˈprɪʃəs/Submit
adjective
adjective: capricious
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behaviour.
"a capricious and often brutal administration"
synonyms: fickle, inconstant, changeable, variable, unstable, mercurial, volatile, erratic, vacillating, irregular, inconsistent, fitful, arbitrary; More
antonyms: stable, consistent
changing according to no discernible rules; unpredictable.
"a capricious climate"

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idyllic
ɪˈdɪlɪk/Submit
adjective
adjective: idyllic
like an idyll; extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque.
"an attractive hotel in an idyllic setting"
synonyms: perfect, ideal, idealized, wonderful, blissful, halcyon, happy; More
antonyms: hellish

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idyll
ˈɪdɪl/Submit
noun
noun: idyll; plural noun: idylls; noun: idyl; plural noun: idyls
an extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque period or situation, typically an idealized or unsustainable one.
"the rural idyll remains strongly evocative in most industrialized societies"
synonyms: perfect time, ideal time, wonderful time, moment of bliss, honeymoon; More
antonyms: hell on earth
a short description in verse or prose of a picturesque scene or incident, especially in rustic life.
synonyms: pastoral, eclogue, georgic, rural poem
"the poem began as a two-part idyll"
Origin

late 16th century (in the Latin form): from Latin idyllium, from Greek eidullion, diminutive of eidos ‘form, picture’.
Translate idyll to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
idyll is sometimes confused with idle and idol

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ante
ˈanti/Submit
noun
noun: ante; plural noun: antes
1.
a stake put up by a player in poker or brag before receiving cards.
"the antes were at the $10,000–$20,000 level"
verb
verb: ante; 3rd person present: antes; past tense: anted; past participle: anted; gerund or present participle: anteing
1.
put up an amount as an ante in poker or brag and similar games.
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
pay an amount of money in advance.
"he anted up $925,000 of his own money"
Origin

early 19th century: from Latin, literally ‘before’.
ante-
ˈanti/
prefix
prefix: ante-
before; preceding.
"antechapel"
Origin

from Latin ante ‘before’.
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cushy
ˈkʊʃi/Submit
adjectiveINFORMAL
adjective: cushy; comparative adjective: cushier; superlative adjective: cushiest
1.
(of a job or situation) undemanding, easy, or secure.
"he doesn't have anything like the cushy life you professors have"
synonyms: easy, undemanding, untaxing; More
antonyms: difficult, demanding
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
(of furniture) comfortable.
"cushy chairs and couches"
Origin

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scrum
[skrəm]

NOUN
rugby
an ordered formation of players, used to restart play, in which the forwards of a team form up with arms interlocked and heads down, and push forward against a similar group from the opposing side. The ball is thrown into the scrum and the players try to gain possession of it by kicking it backward toward their own side.
a set of practices used in agile project management that emphasize daily communication and the flexible reassessment of plans that are carried out in short, iterative phases of work.
VERB
rugby
form or take part in a scrum.

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vet
[vet]

VERB
vetted (past tense) · vetted (past participle)
make a careful and critical examination of (something).
"proposals for vetting large takeover bids"
synonyms:
screen · assess · evaluate · appraise · weigh up · examine · look over · review · consider · scrutinize · study · inspect · investigate · censor · [more]
investigate (someone) thoroughly, especially in order to ensure that they are suitable for a job requiring secrecy, loyalty, or trustworthiness.
"each applicant will be vetted by police"
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nascent
ˈnas(ə)nt,ˈneɪs(ə)nt/Submit
adjective
adjective: nascent
(especially of a process or organization) just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential.
"the nascent space industry"
CHEMISTRY
(chiefly of hydrogen) freshly generated in a reactive form.
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pep
pɛp/Submit
INFORMAL
noun
1.
energy and high spirits; liveliness.
"he was an enthusiastic player, full of pep"
synonyms: dynamism, life, go, energy, spirit, liveliness, animation, bounce, sparkle, effervescence, fizz, verve, spiritedness, ebullience, high spirits, enthusiasm, initiative, vitality, vivacity, fire, dash, panache, elan, snap, zest, zeal, exuberance, vigour, gusto, drive, push, brio; More
verb
1.
make someone or something more lively or interesting.
"measures to pep up the economy"
synonyms: improve, enliven, animate, liven up, put some/new life into, invigorate, vitalize, revitalize, vivify, ginger up, energize, electrify, galvanize, put some spark into, stimulate, get something going, add zest to, perk up, brighten up, cheer up; More

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relegate
ˈrɛlɪɡeɪt/Submit
verb
past tense: relegated; past participle: relegated
assign an inferior rank or position to.
"they aim to prevent women from being relegated to a secondary role"
synonyms: downgrade, lower, lower in rank/status, put down, move down; More
BRITISH
transfer (a sports team) to a lower division of a league.
"United were relegated to division two"

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bezzle. Verb. (third-person singular simple present bezzles, present participle bezzling, simple past and past participle bezzled) (obsolete) To plunder; to lay waste to, in riot. (obsolete) To drink to excess; to revel.

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astutely
əˈstjuːtli/Submit
adverb
accurately assessing situations or people; perceptively.
"she astutely pointed out that usually you have to be dead to be a legend"

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erg1
əːɡ/Submit
nounPHYSICS
noun: erg; plural noun: ergs
a unit of work or energy, equal to the work done by a force of one dyne when its point of application moves one centimetre in the direction of action of the force.
Origin

late 19th century: from Greek ergon ‘work’.
erg2
əːɡ/Submit
noun
noun: erg; plural noun: ergs; plural noun: areg
an area of shifting sand dunes in the Sahara.

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roost1
ruːst/Submit
noun
noun: roost; plural noun: roosts
1.
a place where birds regularly settle or congregate to rest at night, or where bats congregate to rest in the day.
"birds were hurrying to their evening roosts"
verb
verb: roost; 3rd person present: roosts; past tense: roosted; past participle: roosted; gerund or present participle: roosting
1.
(of a bird or bat) settle or congregate for rest or sleep.
"migrating martins and swallows were settling to roost"
Origin

Old English hrōst, related to Dutch roest ; of unknown ultimate origin.
roost2
ruːst/Submit
noun
noun: roost; plural noun: roosts
(in the Orkneys and Shetlands) a tidal race.

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entourage
ˈɒntʊrɑːʒ,ˌɒntʊ(ə)ˈrɑːʒ/Submit
noun
noun: entourage; plural noun: entourages
a group of people attending or surrounding an important person.
"an entourage of loyal courtiers"
synonyms: retinue, escort, company, cortège, train, suite, court, staff, bodyguard; More
Origin

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egregious
ɪˈɡriːdʒəs/Submit
adjective
adjective: egregious
1.
outstandingly bad; shocking.
"egregious abuses of copyright"
2.
ARCHAIC
remarkably good.
Origin

mid 16th century (in sense 2): from Latin egregius ‘illustrious’, literally ‘standing out from the flock’, from ex- ‘out’ + grex, greg- ‘flock’. Sense 1 (late 16th century) probably arose as an ironic use.
Translate Egregious to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
Egregious is sometimes confused with gregarious
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metastasize
mɛˈtastəˌsʌɪz/Submit
verbMEDICINE
gerund or present participle: metastasizing
(of a cancer) spread to other sites in the body by metastasis.
"his cancer had metastasized to the liver"

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metastasis
mɪˈtastəsɪs/Submit
nounMEDICINE
noun: metastasis
the development of secondary malignant growths at a distance from a primary site of cancer.
"an increased risk of metastasis"
a metastatic growth.
plural noun: metastases
"the patient developed pleural and liver metastases"

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beguile
bɪˈɡʌɪl/Submit
verb
past tense: beguiled; past participle: beguiled
1.
charm or enchant (someone), often in a deceptive way.
"he beguiled the voters with his good looks"
synonyms: charm, attract, enchant, entrance, win over, woo, captivate, bewitch, spellbind, dazzle, blind, hypnotize, mesmerize, seduce, tempt, lead on, lure, entice, ensnare, entrap; More
antonyms: 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"
synonyms: entertain, amuse, delight, please, occupy, absorb, engage, distract, divert, interest, fascinate, enthral, engross, preoccupy, hold the attention of More
antonyms: bore


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portend
pɔːˈtɛnd/Submit
verb
past tense: portended; past participle: portended
be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen.
"the eclipses portend some major events"
synonyms: presage, augur, foreshadow, foretell, prophesy; More

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accrue
əˈkruː/Submit
verb
past tense: accrued; past participle: accrued
(of a benefit or sum of money) be received by someone in regular or increasing amounts over time.
"financial benefits will accrue from restructuring"
synonyms: result, arise, follow, ensue, emanate, stem, spring, flow; More
accumulate or receive (payments or benefits) over time.
"they accrue entitlements to holiday pay"
synonyms: accumulate, collect, gather, build up, mount up, amass, grow, increase, augment, be added
"interest is added to the account as it accrues"
make provision for (a charge) at the end of a financial period for work that has been done but not yet invoiced.
"at 31 December the amount due for the final quarter is accrued"

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Arrears (or arrearage) is a legal term for the part of a debt that is overdue after missing one or more required payments. The amount of the arrears is the amount accrued from the date on which the first missed payment was due.

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parlance
ˈpɑːl(ə)ns/Submit
noun
a particular way of speaking or using words, especially a way common to those with a particular job or interest.
"dated terms that were once in common parlance"

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bona fide
ˌbəʊnə ˈfʌɪdi/Submit
adjective
adjective: bonafide
1.
genuine; real.
"she was a bona fide expert"
synonyms: authentic, genuine, real, true, actual, sterling, sound, legal, legitimate, lawful, valid, unadulterated, unalloyed, proper, straight, fair and square; More
adverbLAW
adverb: bonafide
1.
without intention to deceive.
"the court will assume that they have acted bona fide"

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pragmatic
 /praɡˈmatɪk/
 adjective
 dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.
 "a pragmatic approach to politics"
 
 relating to philosophical or political pragmatism.
 
 LINGUISTICS
 relating to pragmatics.
 
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groufies:
 From selfies to groufies how the evolution of a trend what is definition meaning 'groufies'definition selfie in english by oxford dictionaries, merriam webster. Definition of groufie collins dictionary new word suggestion urban dictionary.

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Charles Thomas Munger is an American investor, businessman and philanthropist. He is vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate controlled by Warren Buffett; Buffett has described Munger as his partner. Munger served as chairman of Wesco Financial Corporation from 1984 through 2011. Wikipedia
Born: 1 January 1924 (age 94 years), Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Net worth: 180 crores USD (2018)
Salary: US$100,000
Books: Poor Charlie's Almanack, On Success
Children: Molly Munger, Wendy Munger, Charles T. Munger, Jr., Philip R. Munger, Barry A. Munger, Emilie Munger Ogden
Spouse: Nancy Barry (m. 1956–2010), Nancy Huggins (m. 1945–1953)

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Omaha is a city in the U.S. state of Nebraska, on the Missouri River close to the Iowa border. A stop on the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, it's known for its pioneer history, museums and cultural centers. The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium spearheads conservation work and features a big cat complex as well as indoor jungle, rainforest and desert habitats.
Area: 338.2 km²
Local time: Thursday, 1:09 AM
Weather: 4 °C, Wind NW at 24 km/h, 77% Humidity
ZIP codes: 68022, 68101–68164
Population: 4.47 lakhs (2016)
Area code: Area codes 402 and 531

Omaha travel guide
3-star hotel averaging ₹ 8,191
25 h 44 min flight, from ₹ 1,39,247
Did you know: Omaha is the most-populous city in Nebraska (408,958). wikipedia.org
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Preferred stock (also called preferred shares, preference shares or simply preferreds) is a type of stock which may have any combination of features not possessed by common stock including properties of both an equity and a debt instrument, and is generally considered a hybrid instrument.

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bane
beɪn/Submit
noun
1.
a cause of great distress or annoyance.
"the telephone was the bane of my life"
synonyms: scourge, ruin, death, plague, ruination, destruction; More
2.
ARCHAIC
something, especially poison, which causes death.

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albeit
ɔːlˈbiːɪt/Submit
conjunction
conjunction: albeit
though.
"he was making progress, albeit rather slowly"
Origin

late Middle English: from the phrase all be it ‘although it be (that’).
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progenitor
prə(ʊ)ˈdʒɛnɪtə/Submit
noun
noun: progenitor; plural noun: progenitors
a person or thing from which a person, animal, or plant is descended or originates; an ancestor or parent.
"his children were the progenitors of many of Scotland's noble families"
synonyms: ancestor, forefather, forebear, parent; More
a person who originates a cultural or intellectual movement.
"the progenitor of modern jazz"
synonyms: originator, founder, instigator, source; More
Origin
late Middle English: from Old French progeniteur, from Latin progenitor, from progenit- ‘begotten’, from the verb progignere, from pro- ‘forward’ + gignere ‘beget’.

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ersatz
ˈəːsats,ˈɛːsats/Submit
adjective
adjective: ersatz
(of a product) made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for something else.
"ersatz coffee"
synonyms: artificial, substitute, imitation, synthetic, fake, false, faux, mock, simulated; More
antonyms: genuine
not real or genuine.
"ersatz emotion"
Origin

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conscript
verb
past tense: conscripted; past participle: conscripted
kənˈskrɪpt/Submit
enlist (someone) compulsorily, typically into the armed services.
"they were conscripted into the army"
synonyms: call up, enlist, recruit, mobilize, raise, muster; More
Origin

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schizoid
ˈskɪtsɔɪd/Submit
adjective
adjective: schizoid
1.
PSYCHIATRY
denoting or having a personality type characterized by emotional aloofness and solitary habits.
INFORMAL
having inconsistent or contradictory elements; mad or crazy.
"it's a frenzied, schizoid place"
noun
noun: schizoid; plural noun: schizoids
1.
a schizoid person.

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proctor
ˈprɒktə/Submit
verbNORTH AMERICAN
past tense: proctored; past participle: proctored
invigilate (an examination).
"18% of the faculty reported that graduate assistants frequently proctored exams"

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communiqué
/kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪ/
noun
an official announcement or statement, especially one made to the media.
"the country's foreign ministry issued a communique"
synonyms: official communication, press release, bulletin, message, missive, dispatch, statement, report, news flash, notification, announcement, declaration, proclamation, pronouncement; More

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croupier
ˈkruːpɪə,ˈkruːpɪeɪ/Submit
noun
noun: croupier; plural noun: croupiers
1.
the person in charge of a gaming table, responsible for gathering in and paying out money or tokens.
2.
HISTORICAL
the assistant chairman at a public dinner, seated at the lower end of the table.

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forfeit
ˈfɔːfɪt/Submit
verb
verb: forfeit; 3rd person present: forfeits; past tense: forfeited; past participle: forfeited; gerund or present participle: forfeiting
1.
lose or be deprived of (property or a right or privilege) as a penalty for wrongdoing.
"those unable to meet their taxes were liable to forfeit their estates"
lose or give up (something) as a necessary consequence of something else.
"she didn't mind forfeiting an hour in bed to muck out the horses"
synonyms: surrender, relinquish, hand over, deliver up, part with, yield, sacrifice, give up, renounce, be stripped of/deprived of, lose; More
antonyms: retain
noun
noun: forfeit; plural noun: forfeits
1.
a fine or penalty for wrongdoing.
"the loser must pay a forfeit"
synonyms: penalty, financial penalty, fine, fee, charge, sanction, punitive action, penance; More
LAW
an item of property or a right or privilege lost as a legal penalty.
a game in which trivial penalties are exacted for minor misdemeanours.
the action of forfeiting something.
adjective
adjective: forfeit
1.
lost or surrendered as a penalty for wrongdoing.
"his possessions were declared forfeit"

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What is collusive and non collusive oligopoly?
Give the differences between collusive and non-collusive oligopoly. ... Collusive oligopoly is a form of market in which few firms form a mutual agreement to avoid competition. They form a cartel and fix the output quotas and the market price. Leading firm in the market is accepted by the cartel as a price leader.

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multitude
ˈmʌltɪtjuːd/Submit
noun
plural noun: multitudes
a large number of people or things.
"a multitude of medical conditions are due to being overweight"
synonyms: a lot, a great/large number, a great/large quantity, host, horde, mass, mountain, droves, swarm, army, legion, sea, abundance, profusion; More
the mass of ordinary people without power or influence.
noun: the multitude
"placing ultimate political power in the hands of the multitude"
synonyms: crowd, gathering, assembly, group, assemblage, congregation, flock, throng, horde, mob; More
ARCHAIC
the state of being numerous.
"they would swarm over the river in their multitude"

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en masse
ɒ̃ ˈmas/Submit
adverb
adverb: en masse; adverb: enmasse
in a group; all together.
"the cabinet immediately resigned en masse"
synonyms: (all) together, as a group, in a body, as one, as a whole, in a mass, wholesale; More
antonyms: singly
Origin

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endemic
ɛnˈdɛmɪk/Submit
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 or restricted to a certain place.
"a marsupial endemic to north-eastern Australia"
noun
noun: endemic; plural noun: endemics
1.
an endemic plant or animal.
"there are three types of island endemics"

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spurt
spəːt/Submit
verb
verb: spurt; 3rd person present: spurts; past tense: spurted; past participle: spurted; gerund or present participle: spurting
1.
gush out in a sudden and forceful stream.
"he cut his finger, and blood spurted over the sliced potatoes"
synonyms: squirt, shoot, spray, fountain, jet, erupt; More
cause to gush out suddenly.
"the kettle boiled and spurted scalding water"
2.
move with a sudden burst of speed.
"the other car had spurted to the top of the ramp"
noun
noun: spurt; plural noun: spurts
1.
a sudden gushing stream.
"a sudden spurt of blood gushed into her eyes"
synonyms: squirt, spray, fountain, jet, spout; More
2.
a sudden marked burst or increase of activity or speed.
"late in the race he put on a spurt and reached second place"
synonyms: burst of speed, turn of speed, increase of speed, burst of energy, sprint, rush
"Daisy put on a spurt to hurry down to the river"
Origin

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Salomon Brothers was an investment bank founded in 1910 by three American brothers (Arthur, Herbert and Percy) along with a clerk named Ben Levy, it remained a partnership until the early 1980s, when it was acquired by the commodity trading firm Phibro Corporation and became Salomon Inc. Eventually, Salomon (NYSE:SB) was acquired by Travelers Group in 1998; and, following the latter's merger with Citicorp that same year, Salomon became part of Citigroup. Although the Salomon name carried on as Salomon Smith Barney, which were the investment banking operations of Citigroup, the name was abandoned in October 2003 after a series of financial scandals that tarnished the bank's reputation.

Salomon Brothers
Former type: Acquired
Industry: Financial services
Fate: Acquired by Travelers Group in 1998
Successor: Salomon Smith Barney (1998-2004), Smith Barney (2003 - 2009), Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (2009-2012), Morgan Stanley Wealth Management (since 2012)
Founded: 1910
Founder: Arthur Salomon, Herbert Salomon, Percy Salomon
Defunct: 2003 (name dropped by Citigroup)
Headquarters: New York, US
Products: Investment banking
Revenue: Increase $4.018 billion (June 1997)[1]
Net income Increase: $443 million (June 1997)[1]
Number of employees: 7,100 (June 1997)[1]

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exhilarating
/ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪŋ,ɛɡˈzɪləreɪtɪŋ/
adjective
making one feel very happy, animated, or elated; thrilling.
"an exhilarating two-hour rafting experience"

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mesmerize
/ˈmɛzmərʌɪz/
verb
past tense: mesmerized; past participle: mesmerized
capture the complete attention of (someone); transfix.
"they were mesmerized by his story"
ARCHAIC
hypnotize (someone).
"he was mesmerized when at the point of death"
synonyms: enthral, spellbind, entrance, hold spellbound, dazzle, bewitch, charm, captivate, enrapture, enchant, fascinate, transfix, transport, grip, magnetize, hypnotize; informalget under someone's skin
"they were mesmerized by his performance"

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Dialectical behavior therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy designed to help people suffering from borderline personality disorder. It has also been used to treat mood disorders as well as those who need to change patterns of behavior that are not helpful, such as self-harm, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse.

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dialectical
dʌɪəˈlɛktɪk(ə)l/Submit
adjective
adjective: dialectical
1.
relating to the logical discussion of ideas and opinions.
"dialectical ingenuity"
2.
concerned with or acting through opposing forces.
"a dialectical opposition between social convention and individual libertarianism"

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rudder
ˈrʌdə/Submit
noun
noun: rudder; plural noun: rudders
a flat piece hinged vertically near the stern of a boat or ship for steering.
a vertical aerofoil pivoted from the tailplane of an aircraft, for controlling movement about the vertical axis.
application of a rudder in steering a boat, ship, or aircraft.
"bring the aircraft to a stall and apply full rudder"
Origin

Old English rōther ‘paddle, oar’, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch roer, German Ruder, also to the verb row2.


.....

A rudder is a primary control surface used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, hovercraft, aircraft, or other conveyance that moves through a fluid medium (generally air or water). On an aircraft the rudder is used primarily to counter adverse yaw and p-factor and is not the primary control used to turn the airplane. A rudder operates by redirecting the fluid past the hull (watercraft) or fuselage, thus imparting a turning or yawing motion to the craft. In basic form, a rudder is a flat plane or sheet of material attached with hinges to the craft's stern, tail, or after end. Often rudders are shaped so as to minimize hydrodynamic or aerodynamic drag.

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pit stop
noun
MOTORSPORTS
a stop at a pit for servicing and refuelling, especially during a race.
INFORMAL
a brief rest, especially during a journey.

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fellow
ˈfɛləʊ/Submit
noun
plural noun: fellows
1.
INFORMAL
a man or boy.
"he was an extremely obliging fellow"
synonyms: man, boy; More
2.
a person in the same position, involved in the same activity, or otherwise associated with another.
"he was learning with a rapidity unique among his fellows"
synonyms: companion, friend, crony, comrade, partner, associate, co-worker, colleague; More

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arbitrageur
ˌɑːbɪtraˈʒəː/Submit
noun
plural noun: arbitrageurs
a person who engages in arbitrage.

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A homily is a commentary that follows a reading of scripture.

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extol
ɪkˈstəʊl,ɛkˈstəʊl/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: extolling
praise enthusiastically.
"he extolled the virtues of the Russian peoples"
synonyms: praise enthusiastically, go into raptures about/over, wax lyrical about, sing the praises of, praise to the skies, heap praise on, eulogize, rhapsodize over, rave about, enthuse about/over, gush about/over, throw bouquets at, express delight over, acclaim; More

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sanatorium
ˌsanəˈtɔːrɪəm/Submit
noun
an establishment for the medical treatment of people who are convalescing or have a chronic illness.
synonyms: infirmary, clinic, sickbay, sickroom, medical centre, hospital, hospice, nursing home, convalescent home, rest home; More
BRITISH
a room or building for sick children in a boarding school.

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convalesce
ˌkɒnvəˈlɛs/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: convalescing
recover one's health and strength over a period of time after an illness or medical treatment.
"he spent eight months convalescing after the stroke"
synonyms: recuperate, get better, recover, get well, regain one's strength/health, get back on one's feet, get over something, get back to normal; More
antonyms: deteriorate

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clout
klaʊt/Submit
noun
1.
INFORMAL
a heavy blow with the hand or a hard object.
"a clout round the ear"
synonyms: smack, slap, thump, punch, blow, hit, knock, bang, cuff, box, spanking, spank, tap, clip; More
2.
INFORMAL
influence or power, especially in politics or business.
"I knew she carried a lot of clout"
synonyms: influence, power, pull, weight, sway, leverage, control, say, mastery, dominance, domination, advantage; More
verb
1.
INFORMAL
hit (someone or something) hard.
"I clouted him round the head"
synonyms: hit, strike, punch, smack, slap, cuff, thump, beat, batter, pound, pummel, thrash, rap, spank, buffet, hammer, bang, knock, box someone's ears; More
2.
ARCHAIC
mend with a patch.
"he helps the women clout their pans"

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BATNA is a term coined by Roger Fisher and William Ury in their 1981 bestseller, Getting to Yes: Negotiating Without Giving In.[1] It stands for "Best ALTERNATIVE TO a negotiated agreement."

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unduly
ʌnˈdjuːli/Submit
adverb
to an unwarranted degree; inordinately.
"there is no need to be unduly alarmed"
synonyms: excessively, immoderately, intemperately, disproportionately, out of all proportion, inordinately; More

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unequivocal
ʌnɪˈkwɪvək(ə)l/Submit
adjective
adjective: unequivocal
leaving no doubt; unambiguous.
"an unequivocal answer"
synonyms: unambiguous, unmistakable, indisputable, incontrovertible, indubitable, undeniable; More
antonyms: equivocal, ambiguous, vague

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ju-jitsu
dʒuːˈdʒɪtsuː/Submit
noun
noun: jujitsu
a Japanese system of unarmed combat and physical training.
Tip
Similar-sounding words
jujitsu is sometimes confused with jiujitsu

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ju-jitsu
dʒuːˈdʒɪtsuː/Submit
noun
noun: jiujitsu
a Japanese system of unarmed combat and physical training.
Origin

Japanese jūjutsu, from jū ‘gentle’ + jutsu ‘skill’.
Translate jiujitsu to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
jiujitsu is sometimes confused with jujitsu

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incredulously
ɪnˈkrɛdjʊləsli/Submit
adverb
adverb: incredulously
in a manner indicating disbelief.
""What ?" I asked incredulously"

----------
stipulation
ˌstɪpjʊˈleɪʃn/Submit
noun
noun: stipulation; plural noun: stipulations
a condition or requirement that is specified or demanded as part of an agreement.
"they donated their collection of prints with the stipulation that they never be publicly exhibited"
synonyms: condition, precondition, proviso, provision, prerequisite, requisite, specification; More

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ranch
rɑːn(t)ʃ/Submit
noun
noun: ranch; plural noun: ranches; noun: ranch dressing; plural noun: ranch dressings
1.
a large farm, especially in North America or Australia, where cattle or other animals are bred.
"a beef cattle ranch"
NORTH AMERICAN
a single-storey house.
noun: ranch house; plural noun: ranch houses
2.
TRADEMARK IN UK•NORTH AMERICAN
a type of thick white salad dressing made with sour cream.
verb
verb: ranch; 3rd person present: ranches; past tense: ranched; past participle: ranched; gerund or present participle: ranching
1.
run a ranch.
"cattle ranching"
breed (animals) on a ranch.
"ranched salmon"
use (land) as a ranch.
"we've ranched this area for almost two decades"
Origin

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Medical definition of gastrology: the art or science of caring for the stomach either medically or gastronomically.

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conciliatory
/kənˈsɪlɪətəri/Submit
adjective
intended or likely to placate or pacify.
"a conciliatory approach"
synonyms: propitiatory, placatory, appeasing, pacifying, pacific, mollifying, so as to pour oil on troubled waters, peacemaking, reconciliatory; More


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charade
/ʃəˈrɑːd/Submit
noun
noun: charade; plural noun: charades
an absurd pretence intended to create a pleasant or respectable appearance.
"talk of unity was nothing more than a charade"
synonyms: farce, pantomime, travesty, mockery, parody, pretence, act, masquerade, sham, fake, false display, show, front, facade; raresimulacrum
"the race for the presidential nomination has been a shameless charade"
a game in which players guess a word or phrase from a written or acted clue given for each syllable and for the whole item.
Origin

late 18th century: from French, from modern Provençal charrado ‘conversation’, from charra ‘chatter’, perhaps of imitative origin.
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passivity
/paˈsɪvɪti/Submit
noun
noun: passivity
1.
acceptance of what happens, without active response or resistance.
"the perceived passivity of the populace is deceptive"
2.
CHEMISTRY
the state of inactivity of a metal made unreactive by a thin inert surface layer of oxide.
"nickel increases the overall passivity of the iron"

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populace
/ˈpɒpjʊləs/Submit
noun
noun: populace; plural noun: populaces
the people living in a particular country or area.
"the party misjudged the mood of the populace"
synonyms: population, inhabitants, residents, natives, occupants, occupiers; More
Origin

late 16th century: from French, from Italian popolaccio ‘common people’, from popolo ‘people’ + the pejorative suffix -accio .
Translate populace to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
populace is sometimes confused with populous

---
linoleum
/lɪˈnəʊlɪəm/Submit
noun
noun: linoleum; plural noun: linoleums
a material consisting of a canvas backing thickly coated with a preparation of linseed oil and powdered cork, used especially as a floor covering.
Origin

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treble1
/ˈtrɛb(ə)l/Submit
adjective
adjective: treble
1.
consisting of three parts; threefold.
"the fish were caught with large treble hooks"
multiplied or occurring three times.
"she turned back to make a double and treble check"
(of a number) occurring three times in succession.
"call Kate on 0500 403 treble zero"
predeterminer
determiner: treble
1.
three times as much or as many.
"the tip was at least treble what she would normally have given"
noun
noun: treble; plural noun: trebles
1.
BRITISH
three sporting victories or championships in the same season, event, etc.
"the victory completed a treble for the horse's trainer"
2.
DARTS
a hit on the narrow ring enclosed by the two middle circles of a dartboard, scoring treble.
3.
BRITISH
a type of bet in which three selections are made, with any winnings from the first being transferred to the second and then (if successful) to the third.
4.
a threefold quantity or thing, in particular:
(in showjumping) a fence consisting of three elements.
"the mare failed to tuck her hind feet up quite high enough at the last bar of the treble"
a crochet stitch made with three loops of wool on the hook at a time.
a drink of spirits of three times the standard measure.
pronoun
pronoun: treble
1.
a number or amount which is three times as large as a contrasting or usual number or amount.
"by paying treble, he had a double room to himself"
verb
verb: treble; 3rd person present: trebles; past tense: trebled; past participle: trebled; gerund or present participle: trebling
1.
make or become three times as large or numerous.
"rents were doubled and probably trebled"
Origin

Middle English: via Old French from Latin triplus (see triple).
treble2
/ˈtrɛb(ə)l/Submit
noun
noun: treble; plural noun: trebles; modifier noun: treble
1.
a high-pitched voice, especially a boy's singing voice.
"the boy replied in a shrill treble"
a boy (or girl) with a high-pitched singing voice.
"we had sung together as trebles in the choir"
a part written for a high voice or an instrument of a high pitch.
"we have studied the treatment of melodic lines in treble and bass separately"
2.
denoting a relatively high-pitched member of a family of similar instruments.
"a treble viol"
the smallest and highest-pitched bell of a ring or set.
noun: treble bell; plural noun: treble bells
3.
the high-frequency output of a radio, or audio system, corresponding to the treble in music.
Origin

late Middle English: from treble1, because it was the highest part in a three-part contrapuntal composition.

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recess
/rɪˈsɛs,ˈriːsɛs/Submit
noun
noun: recess; plural noun: recesses
1.
a small space created by building part of a wall further back from the rest.
"a table set into a recess"
a hollow space inside something.
"the concrete block has a recess in its base"
synonyms: alcove, bay, niche, nook, corner, inglenook; More
a remote, secluded, or secret place.
"the recesses of the silent pine forest"
synonyms: innermost parts/reaches, remote/secret places, dark corners, heart, inner sanctum, interior; More
2.
a period of time when the proceedings of a parliament, committee, court of law, or other official body are temporarily suspended.
"talks resumed after a month's recess"
NORTH AMERICAN
a break between school classes.
"the mid-morning recess"
synonyms: adjournment, break, interlude, interval, rest, intermission, respite, temporary closure, temporary cessation of business; More
verb
verb: recess; 3rd person present: recesses; past tense: recessed; past participle: recessed; gerund or present participle: recessing
1.
attach (a fitment) by setting it back into the wall or surface to which it is fixed.
"recessed ceiling lights"
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
(of formal proceedings) be temporarily suspended.
"the talks recessed at 2.15"
suspend (formal proceedings) temporarily.
"the trial was recessed for the weekend"
(of an official body) suspend its proceedings for a period of time.
"Parliament recessed for the summer on Tuesday"
synonyms: adjourn, suspend proceedings, take a recess, break, stop, take a break; More
Origin

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fester
/ˈfɛstə/Submit
verb
verb: fester; 3rd person present: festers; past tense: festered; past participle: festered; gerund or present participle: festering
(of a wound or sore) become septic; suppurate.
"a festering abscess"
synonyms: suppurate, become septic, form pus, secrete pus, discharge, run, weep, ooze; More
(of food or rubbish) become rotten and offensive to the senses.
"piles of mouldy grey paper festered by the sink"
synonyms: rot, moulder, decay, decompose, putrefy, go bad, go off, perish, spoil, deteriorate, disintegrate, degrade, break down, break up; More
(of a negative feeling or a problem) become worse or more intense, especially through long-term neglect or indifference.
"below the surface, the old antagonisms festered"
synonyms: rankle, chafe, gnaw (at one's mind), eat away at one's mind, ferment, brew, smoulder; More
(of a person) deteriorate physically and mentally in isolated inactivity.
"remand prisoners are left to fester in our jails while they wait for trial"
Origin

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houseful 
 noun. 
 /ˈhaʊs.fʊl/ 
 a lot of people or things in your house: We've got a houseful of visitors at the moment. Measurements of volume: informal.

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womenfolk
/ˈwɪmɪnfəʊk/Submit
noun
the women of a particular family or community considered collectively.
"the men in the family never let their womenfolk down"

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genocide
/ˈdʒɛnəsʌɪd/Submit
noun
the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular nation or ethnic group.
"a campaign of genocide"
synonyms: racial killing, massacre, wholesale slaughter, mass slaughter, wholesale killing, indiscriminate killing; More


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stonewall
/ˈstəʊnwɔːl,stəʊnˈwɔːl/Submit
verb
past tense: stonewalled; past participle: stonewalled
delay or obstruct (a request, process, or person) by refusing to answer questions or by being evasive.
"she has also stonewalled queries about her love life"
CRICKET
bat extremely defensively.

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gamut
/ˈɡamət/Submit
noun
noun: gamut; plural noun: gamuts
1.
the complete range or scope of something.
"the whole gamut of human emotion"
synonyms: range, spectrum, span, sweep, compass, scope, area, breadth, width, reach, extent, catalogue, scale, sequence, series; variety
"the complete gamut of human emotion"
2.
MUSIC
a complete scale of musical notes; the range of a voice or instrument.
"the orchestral gamut"
HISTORICAL
a scale consisting of seven overlapping hexachords, containing all the recognized notes used in medieval music, covering almost three octaves from bass G to treble E.
HISTORICAL
the lowest note in the gamut scale.
Origin
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insure
/ɪnˈʃɔː,ɪnˈʃʊə/Submit
verb
verb: insure; 3rd person present: insures; past tense: insured; past participle: insured; gerund or present participle: insuring
1.
arrange for compensation in the event of damage to or loss of (property), or injury to or the death of (someone), in exchange for regular payments to a company or to the state.
"the table should be insured for £2,500"
secure the payment of (an amount in compensation) in this way.
"your new sum insured is shown on your renewal notice"
provide insurance cover in respect of.
"subsidiaries set up to insure the risks of a group of companies"
synonyms: protect, indemnify, cover, underwrite, assure, guarantee, warrant
"they had failed to insure the building against fire"
2.
secure or protect someone against (a possible contingency).
"by appeasing Celia they might insure themselves against further misfortune"
3.
another term for ensure.
Origin

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turnstile
/ˈtəːnstʌɪl/Submit
noun
a mechanical gate consisting of revolving horizontal arms fixed to a vertical post, allowing only one person at a time to pass through.

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Samaritan
/səˈmarɪt(ə)n/
noun
1.
a charitable or helpful person (with reference to Luke 10:33).
"suddenly, miraculously, a Good Samaritan leaned over and handed the cashier a dollar bill on my behalf"
2.
a member of a people inhabiting Samaria in biblical times, or of the modern community claiming descent from them, adhering to a form of Judaism accepting only its own ancient version of the Pentateuch as Scripture.
adjective
1.
relating to Samaria or the Samaritans.
"Jesus's words to the Samaritan woman"

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elude
/ɪˈl(j)uːd/Submit
verb
3rd person present: eludes
1.
escape from or avoid (a danger, enemy, or pursuer), typically in a skilful or cunning way.
"he tried to elude the security men by sneaking through a back door"
synonyms: evade, avoid, get away from, dodge, flee, escape (from), run (away) from; More
2.
(of an achievement or something desired) fail to be attained by (someone).
"sleep still eluded her"
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protracted
/prəˈtraktɪd/Submit
adjective
adjective: protracted
lasting for a long time or longer than expected or usual.
"a protracted and bitter dispute"
protract
/prəˈtrakt/Submit
verb
past tense: protracted; past participle: protracted
prolong.
"he had certainly taken his time, even protracting the process"

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arbitration
/ɑːbɪˈtreɪʃ(ə)n/Submit
noun
noun: arbitration; plural noun: arbitrations
the use of an arbitrator to settle a dispute.
"Tayside Regional Council called for arbitration to settle the dispute"
synonyms: adjudication, mediation, mediatorship, negotiation, conciliation, intervention, interceding, interposition, peacemaking; More
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arbitrator
/ˈɑːbɪtreɪtə/Submit
noun
noun: arbitrator; plural noun: arbitrators
an independent person or body officially appointed to settle a dispute.
"the facts of the case are put to an independent arbitrator"
synonyms: adjudicator, arbiter, judge, umpire, referee, assistant referee, linesman, line judge; More


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harrowing
/ˈharəʊɪŋ/Submit
adjective
adjective: harrowing
acutely distressing.
"a harrowing film about racism and violence"
harrow
/ˈharəʊ/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: harrowing
1.
draw a harrow over (land).
"they ploughed and harrowed the heavy clay"
2.
cause distress to.
"Todd could take it, whereas I'm harrowed by it"
synonyms: distress, trouble, afflict, grieve, torment, torture, crucify, rack, sear, pain, wound, mortify, cause agony to, cause suffering to; More
antonyms: calm, comfort, heartening

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acutely
/əˈkjuːtli/Submit
adverb
adverb: acutely
1.
(with reference to something unpleasant or unwelcome) intensely.
"the whole situation was acutely embarrassing"
synonyms: extremely, exceedingly, very, markedly, severely, intensely, in the extreme, deeply, profoundly, keenly, sharply, painfully, desperately, awfully, terribly, tremendously, enormously, thoroughly, heartily; More
antonyms: slightly
(in relation to illness) in a way that progresses rapidly but lasts for a short period.
"an acutely inflamed gall bladder"
2.
in a way that shows a perceptive understanding or insight.
"we are all acutely aware of the fragility of our world"

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polity
/ˈpɒlɪti/Submit
noun
a form or process of civil government or constitution.
"the civic humanist's polity"
an organized society; a state as a political entity.
"the period in which West Germany was a distinct polity"

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allure
/əˈljʊə,əˈljɔː/Submit
noun
1.
the quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating.
"people for whom gold holds no allure"
synonyms: attraction, lure, draw, pull, appeal, glamour, allurement, enticement, temptation, bewitchment, enchantment, charm, seduction, persuasion, fascination, magnetism
"the nostalgic allure of Paris in the fifties"
verb
1.
powerfully attract or charm; tempt.
"will sponsors really be allured by such opportunities?"
synonyms: attract, lure, entice, tempt, appeal to, whet the appetite of, make someone's mouth water, captivate, draw, beguile, bewitch, enchant, win over, charm, seduce, persuade, lead on, tantalize; More

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clamour
/ˈklamə/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: clamoring
(of a group of people) shout loudly and insistently.
"the surging crowds clamoured for attention"
synonyms: yell, shout loudly, bay, scream, shriek, roar
"the surging crowds clamoured for attention"
make a vehement protest or demand.
"scientists are clamouring for a ban on all chlorine substances"
synonyms: demand, call, bay; More

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vehement
/ˈviːɪm(ə)nt/Submit
adjective
adjective: vehement
showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense.
"her voice was low but vehement"
synonyms: passionate, forceful, ardent, impassioned, heated, spirited, urgent, fervent, fervid, strong, forcible, powerful, emphatic, vigorous, animated, intense, violent, fierce, earnest, eager, keen, enthusiastic, zealous, fanatical; More
antonyms: mild, apathetic

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apparition
/apəˈrɪʃ(ə)n/Submit
noun
noun: apparition; plural noun: apparitions
a ghost or ghostlike image of a person.
"a headless apparition"
synonyms: ghost, phantom, spectre, spirit, wraith, shadow, presence; More
a remarkable or unexpected appearance of someone or something.
"an apparition of the Virgin Mary"
synonyms: appearance, manifestation, materialization, emergence; More
Origin

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disconsolate
/dɪsˈkɒns(ə)lət/Submit
adjective
adjective: disconsolate
very unhappy and unable to be comforted.
"she left Fritz looking disconsolate"
synonyms: sad, unhappy, doleful, woebegone, dejected, downcast, downhearted, despondent, dispirited, crestfallen, cast down, depressed, fed up, disappointed, disheartened, discouraged, demoralized, crushed, desolate, heartbroken, broken-hearted, inconsolable, heavy-hearted, low-spirited, forlorn, in the doldrums, melancholy, miserable, long-faced, wretched, glum, gloomy, dismal; More
antonyms: cheerful, happy

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dictum
/ˈdɪktəm/Submit
noun
noun: dictum; plural noun: dicta; plural noun: dictums
a formal pronouncement from an authoritative source.
"the dicta of High Court Judges"
synonyms: pronouncement, proclamation, direction, injunction, assertion, statement; More
a short statement that expresses a general truth or principle.
"the old dictum ‘might is right’"
synonyms: saying, maxim, axiom, proverb, adage, aphorism, saw, precept, epigram, epigraph, motto, truism, platitude, commonplace; More
LAW
short for obiter dictum.

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whip
/wɪp/Submit
noun
noun: whip; plural noun: whips
1.
a strip of leather or length of cord fastened to a handle, used for flogging or beating a person or for urging on an animal.
synonyms: lash, scourge, thong, strap, belt; More
a blow with a whip or similar implement.
used to refer to something causing pain or acting as a stimulus to action.
"the team management had decided to crack the whip on player indiscipline"
2.
an official of a political party appointed to maintain parliamentary discipline among its members, especially so as to ensure attendance and voting in debates.
BRITISH
a written notice from a whip requesting attendance for voting.
BRITISH
membership of the group of MPs that form the official, elected representation of a particular political party, together with the duties or rights associated with such membership.
noun: the whip
"he resigned the Tory whip in protest at mine closures"
3.
a dessert consisting of cream or eggs beaten into a light fluffy mass with fruit, chocolate, or other ingredients.
4.
short for whipper-in.
5.
a slender, unbranched shoot or plant.
6.
NORTH AMERICAN
a scythe for cutting specified crops.
"a grass whip"
7.
a rope-and-pulley hoisting apparatus.
8.
INFORMAL•US
a car.
"I just got new wheels for my whip"
verb
verb: whip; 3rd person present: whips; past tense: whipped; past participle: whipped; gerund or present participle: whipping
1.
beat (a person or animal) with a whip or similar instrument, especially as a punishment or to urge them on.
"Lewis whipped the boy twenty times"
synonyms: flog, scourge, flagellate, lash, birch, switch, tan, strap, belt, cane, thrash, beat, leather, tan/whip someone's hide, give someone a hiding, beat the living daylights out of
"Lewis whipped the boy twenty times"
(of a flexible object or rain or wind) strike or beat violently.
"the wind whipped their faces"
INFORMAL
(of a player or team) defeat (a person or team) heavily in a sporting contest.
"he whipped the Brazilian 6-1, 6-2, 6-3"
2.
move fast or suddenly in a specified direction.
"he whipped round to face them"
take out or move (something) fast or suddenly.
"he whipped out his revolver and shot him"
synonyms: pull, whisk, snatch, pluck, tug, jerk, remove, take; More
3.
beat (cream, eggs, or other food) into a froth.
synonyms: whisk, beat, mix, stir
"whip the cream until it forms soft peaks"
4.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
steal (something).
"the escaper had whipped his overcoat"
5.
bind (something) with spirally wound twine.
"the side linings are whipped or hemmed"
sew or gather (something) with overcast stitches.
"she began whipping narrow lace along the top of the garment"
Origin

Middle English: probably from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch wippen ‘swing, leap, dance’, from a Germanic base meaning ‘move quickly’. The noun is partly from the verb, reinforced by Middle Low German wippe ‘quick movement’.

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miser
/ˈmʌɪzə/Submit
noun
a person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible.
"a typical miser, he hid his money in the house in various places"
synonyms: penny-pincher, pinchpenny, niggard, cheese-parer, Scrooge; More

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morsel
/ˈmɔːs(ə)l/Submit
noun
a small piece or amount of food; a mouthful.
"Juliet pushed a morsel of toast into her mouth"
synonyms: mouthful, bite, nibble, bit, small piece, soupçon, taste, sample, spoonful, forkful, crumb, grain, particle, fragment, fraction, scrap, sliver, shred, pinch, drop, dollop, whit, atom, granule, segment, spot, modicum, gobbet; More
a small piece or amount.
"there was a morsel of consolation for the British team"

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paraplegic
/parəˈpliːdʒɪk/Submit
adjective
1.
affected by or relating to paralysis of the legs and lower body.
"a paraplegic war veteran"
noun
1.
a person affected by paralysis of the legs and lower body.
"researchers hope the treatment might enable paraplegics to walk again"

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screech
/skriːtʃ/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: screeching
(of a person or animal) give a loud, harsh, piercing cry.
"she hit her brother, causing him to screech with pain"
synonyms: shriek, squeal, squawk, howl, shout, yell, bellow, bawl, cry out, call out, yawp, yelp, wail, squall, caterwaul, whoop; informalholler
"‘Look what you've made me do!’ she screeched"
make a loud, harsh, squealing sound.
"she brought the car to a screeching halt"
move rapidly with a loud, harsh, squealing sound.
"the van screeched round a bend at speed"

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domineer
/ˌdɒmɪˈnɪə/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: domineering
assert one's will over another in an arrogant way.
"Cathy had been a martyr to her gruff, domineering husband"
synonyms: browbeat, bully, intimidate, pressurize, menace, hector, boss (about/around), push around/about, order about/around, give orders to, lord it over, tyrannize, terrorize, persecute, oppress, dictate to, be overbearing, ride roughshod over, trample on, have under one's thumb, rule with an iron hand, rule with a rod of iron, use strong-arm tactics on, impose one's will on, bend to one's will, subjugate; More
antonyms: meek


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brusque
/brʊsk,bruːsk,brʌsk/Submit
adjective
adjective: brusque
abrupt or offhand in speech or manner.
"she could be brusque and impatient"
synonyms: curt, abrupt, blunt, short, sharp, terse, brisk, crisp, clipped, monosyllabic, peremptory, gruff, bluff; More
antonyms: polite, verbose

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acquiesce
/ˌakwɪˈɛs/Submit
verb
verb: acquiesce; 3rd person present: acquiesces; past tense: acquiesced; past participle: acquiesced; gerund or present participle: acquiescing
accept something reluctantly but without protest.
"Sara acquiesced in his decision"

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ornery
/ˈɔːnəri/Submit
adjectiveINFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
adjective: ornery
bad-tempered or difficult to deal with.
"an ornery old military man"

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admonition
/ˌadməˈnɪʃ(ə)n/Submit
noun
plural noun: admonitions
a firm warning or reprimand.
"he received numerous admonitions for his behaviour"
synonyms: reprimand, rebuke, reproof, remonstrance, reproach, admonishment, stricture, lecture, criticism, recrimination, tirade, diatribe, philippic, harangue, attack; More
antonyms: commendation, pat on the back, praise

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congenital
/kənˈdʒɛnɪt(ə)l/Submit
adjective
adjective: congenital
(of a disease or physical abnormality) present from birth.
"a congenital malformation of the heart"
synonyms: inborn, inherited, hereditary, in the blood, in the family, innate, inbred, constitutional, built-in, inbuilt, ingrown, natural, native, original, inherent, unlearned, instinctual, deep-rooted, deep-seated; More
antonyms: acquired
(of a person) having a particular trait from birth or by firmly established habit.
"a congenital liar"
synonyms: inveterate, compulsive, persistent, chronic, regular, pathological, established, long-established, long-standing, hardened, confirmed, committed, seasoned, habitual, obsessive, obsessional; More
Origin

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guerrilla
/ɡəˈrɪlə/Submit
noun
plural noun: guerrillas
a member of a small independent group taking part in irregular fighting, typically against larger regular forces.
"this town fell to the guerrillas"
synonyms: freedom fighter, underground fighter, irregular soldier, irregular, resistance fighter, member of the resistance, partisan; More
referring to actions or activities performed in an impromptu way, often without authorization.
adjective: guerrilla
"guerrilla gigs"
Origin

early 19th century (introduced during the Peninsular War): from Spanish, diminutive of guerra ‘war’.

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delirious
/dɪˈlɪrɪəs/Submit
adjective
in an acutely disturbed state of mind characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence; affected by delirium.
"he became delirious and couldn't recognize people"
synonyms: incoherent, raving, babbling, irrational, hysterical, wild, feverish, frenzied; More
in a state of wild excitement or ecstasy.
"there was a great roar from the delirious crowd"
synonyms: ecstatic, euphoric, elated, thrilled, overjoyed, beside oneself, walking on air, on cloud nine/seven, in seventh heaven, jumping for joy, in transports of delight, carried away, transported, rapturous, in raptures, exultant, jubilant, in a frenzy of delight, hysterical, wild with excitement, frenzied; More

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imminent
/ˈɪmɪnənt/Submit
adjective
adjective: imminent
1.
about to happen.
"they were in imminent danger of being swept away"
synonyms: impending, at hand, close, near, approaching, fast approaching, coming, forthcoming, on the way, about to happen, upon us, in store, in the offing, in the pipeline, on the horizon, in the air, in the wind, brewing, looming, looming large; More
antonyms: remote
2.
ARCHAIC
overhanging.
Origin

late Middle English: from Latin imminent- ‘overhanging, impending’, from the verb imminere, from in- ‘upon, towards’ + minere ‘to project’.
Translate imminent to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
imminent is sometimes confused with eminent and immanent

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Medical Definition of Distention. Distention: The state of being distended, enlarged, swollen from internal pressure. For example, on inhalation there is distention of the lungs due to the increased air pressure within the lungs. The word "distention" comes from a Latin root "tendere," to extend.

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acrimonious
/ˌakrɪˈməʊnɪəs/Submit
adjective
(typically of speech or discussion) angry and bitter.
"an acrimonious dispute about wages"
synonyms: bitter, rancorous, caustic, acerbic, scathing, sarcastic, acid, harsh, sharp, razor-edged, cutting, astringent, trenchant, mordant, virulent; More

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tensor
/ˈtɛnsə,ˈtɛnsɔː/Submit
noun
1.
MATHEMATICS
a mathematical object analogous to but more general than a vector, represented by an array of components that are functions of the coordinates of a space.
2.
ANATOMY
a muscle that tightens or stretches a part of the body.
"the tensor tympani muscle of the middle ear"

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Yanqui
/ˈjaŋki/Submit
noun
variant spelling of Yankee, typically used in Latin American contexts.

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fervent
/ˈfəːv(ə)nt/Submit
adjective
adjective: fervent
1.
having or displaying a passionate intensity.
"a fervent supporter of the revolution"
synonyms: impassioned, passionate, intense, vehement, ardent, sincere, feeling, profound, deep-seated, heartfelt, deeply felt, emotional, animated, spirited; More
antonyms: apathetic
2.
ARCHAIC
hot, burning, or glowing.
Origin

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coup d'état
/ˌkuː deɪˈtɑː,French ku deta/Submit
noun
unpunctuated: coup détat
another term for coup (sense 1).
synonyms: seizure of power, coup, overthrow, takeover, ousting, deposition, regime change; More
Origin

French, literally ‘blow of state’.
coup
/kuː/Submit
noun
noun: coup d'état
1.
a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government.
"he was overthrown in an army coup"
synonyms: seizure of power, overthrow, takeover, ousting, deposition, regime change; More
antonyms: election
2.
an instance of successfully achieving something difficult.
"it was a major coup to get such a prestigious contract"
synonyms: success, triumph, feat, successful manoeuvre, stunt, accomplishment, achievement, attainment, stroke, master stroke, stroke of genius; More
an unusual or unexpected but successful tactic in card play.
3.
BILLIARDS
a direct pocketing of the cue ball, which is a foul stroke.
4.
HISTORICAL
(among North American Indians) an act of touching an enemy, as a deed of bravery, or an act of first touching an item of the enemy's in order to claim it.
Origin

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condone
/kənˈdəʊn/Submit
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"
synonyms: 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; More
antonyms: condemn, punish
approve or sanction (something), especially with reluctance.
"those arrested were released and the exhibition was officially condoned a few weeks later"
Origin

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rappel
/raˈpɛl/Submit
noun & verb
gerund or present participle: rappelling
another term for abseil.
Origin

1930s: from French, literally ‘a recalling’, from rappeler in the sense ‘bring back to oneself’ (with reference to the rope manoeuvre).
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alpine
/ˈalpʌɪn/Submit
adjective
adjective: alpine
1.
relating to high mountains.
"alpine and subalpine habitats"
relating to the Alps.
adjective: Alpine
"Alpine guides"
SKIING
relating to or denoting skiing downhill.
"an alpine ski team"
noun
noun: alpine; plural noun: alpines
1.
a plant native to mountain districts, often suitable for growing in rock gardens.
"a collection of alpines and dwarf bulbs"
2.
a North American butterfly which has brownish-black wings with orange-red markings.
Origin

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enmesh
/ɪnˈmɛʃ,ɛnˈmɛʃ/Submit
verb
past tense: enmeshed; past participle: enmeshed
cause to become entangled in something.
"whales enmeshed in drift nets"
synonyms: entangle, ensnare, snare, trap, entrap, ensnarl, embroil, involve, catch up, mix up, bog down, mire; raretrammel
"the party became increasingly enmeshed in the parliamentary system"
involve (someone) in a difficult situation from which it is hard to escape.
"he is enmeshed in an adulterous affair"

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mice
/mʌɪs/
plural form of mouse.

mouse
/maʊs/
noun
plural noun: mice
1.
a small rodent that typically has a pointed snout, relatively large ears and eyes, and a long tail.
(in general use) any small mammal similar to a mouse, such as a shrew or vole.
a shy, timid, and quiet person.
"Jane may be a bit of a mouse, but she is very nosy"
a dull light brown colour reminiscent of a mouse's fur.
"her flaxen hair dulled to mouse"
2.
a small handheld device which is moved across a mat or flat surface to move the cursor on a computer screen.
"copy the file with a click of the mouse"
3.
INFORMAL
a lump or bruise on or near the eye.
"she touched the mouse under her eye"
Origin

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horrendous
/hɒˈrɛndəs/Submit
adjective
extremely unpleasant, horrifying, or terrible.
"she suffered horrendous injuries"
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palpable
/ˈpalpəb(ə)l/Submit
adjective
adjective: palpable
1.
(of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as to seem almost tangible.
"a palpable sense of loss"
synonyms: perceptible, perceivable, visible, noticeable, appreciable, discernible, detectable, observable, tangible, recognizable, notable, unmistakable, transparent, indisputable, self-evident, incontrovertible, incontestable, undeniable; More
antonyms: intangible, imperceptible
plain to see or comprehend.
"to talk of dawn raids in the circumstances is palpable nonsense"
2.
able to be touched or felt.
"the palpable bump at the bridge of the nose"
synonyms: tangible, touchable, noticeable, detectable, solid, concrete, material, substantial, real
"a palpable bump at the bridge of the nose"
Origin

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subversive
/səbˈvəːsɪv/Submit
adjective
adjective: subversive
1.
seeking or intended to subvert an established system or institution.
"subversive literature"
synonyms: disruptive, troublemaking, inflammatory, insurgent, insurrectionary, insurrectionist, rabble-rousing; More
noun
noun: subversive; plural noun: subversives
1.
a subversive person.
"the government claimed we were subversives or terrorists"
synonyms: troublemaker, dissident, agitator, revolutionary, revolutionist, insurgent, insurrectionist, insurrectionary, renegade, rebel, mutineer, traitor
"she was designated as a dangerous subversive"
Origin

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wistfully
/ˈwɪs(t)fʊli,ˈwɪs(t)f(ə)li/Submit
adverb
adverb: wistfully
with a feeling of vague or regretful longing.
"he smiled wistfully as he spoke of her"

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automaton
/ɔːˈtɒmət(ə)n/Submit
noun
plural noun: automatons
a moving mechanical device made in imitation of a human being.
"a collection of 19th century French automata: acrobats, clowns, and musicians"
a machine which performs a range of functions according to a predetermined set of coded instructions.
"sophisticated automatons continue to run factory assembly lines"
used in similes and comparisons to refer to a person who seems to act in a mechanical or unemotional way.
"like an automaton, she walked to the door"
Origin

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fratricidal
/ˌfratrɪˈsʌɪd(ə)l/Submit
adjective
adjective: fratricidal
relating to or denoting conflict within a single family or organization.
"the fratricidal strife within the Party"

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furlough
/ˈfəːləʊ/Submit
noun
noun: furlough; plural noun: furloughs
1.
leave of absence, especially that granted to a member of the services or a missionary.
"a civil servant home on furlough"
verbUS
verb: furlough; 3rd person present: furloughs; past tense: furloughed; past participle: furloughed; gerund or present participle: furloughing
1.
grant leave of absence to.
"furloughed workers"
Origin

early 17th century: from Dutch verlof, modelled on German Verlaub, of West Germanic origin and related to leave2.

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Noun. (plural pet projects) A project, activity or goal pursued as a personal favorite, rather than because it is generally accepted as necessary or important. Don't bother him about his pet project. You'll never tear him away from it.

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crude
/kruːd/Submit
adjective
1.
in a natural or raw state; not yet processed or refined.
"crude oil"
synonyms: unrefined, unpurified, unprocessed, untreated; More
2.
constructed in a rudimentary or makeshift way.
"a relatively crude nuclear weapon"
synonyms: primitive, simple, basic, rudimentary, rough, rough and ready, rough-hewn, make-do, makeshift, improvised, cobbled together, thrown together, homespun, unfinished, unpolished, unformed, undeveloped; datedrude
"Prussian infantrymen lined the crude barricade"
noun
1.
natural mineral oil.
"the ship was carrying 80,000 tonnes of crude"

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implore
/ɪmˈplɔː/
verb
beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something.
"he implored her to change her mind"
synonyms: plead with, beg, entreat, beseech, appeal to, pray, ask, request, solicit, supplicate, importune, call on; More
ARCHAIC
beg earnestly for.
"I implore mercy"
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hapless
/ˈhapləs/Submit
adjective
(especially of a person) unfortunate.
"the hapless victims of the disaster"
synonyms: unfortunate, unlucky, luckless, out of luck, ill-starred, ill-fated, jinxed, cursed, doomed; More

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intransigent
/ɪnˈtransɪdʒ(ə)nt/Submit
adjective
adjective: intransigent
1.
unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something.
"her father had tried persuasion, but she was intransigent"
synonyms: uncompromising, inflexible, unbending, unyielding, unshakeable, unwavering, resolute, unpersuadable, unmalleable, unaccommodating, uncooperative, stubborn, obstinate, obdurate, pig-headed, bull-headed, single-minded, iron-willed, hard-line, hard and fast, diehard, immovable, unrelenting, inexorable, inveterate, rigid, tough, firm, determined, adamant, tenacious; More
antonyms: compliant, flexible
noun
noun: intransigent; plural noun: intransigents
1.
an intransigent person.
Origin
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disburse
/dɪsˈbəːs/Submit
verb
past tense: disbursed; past participle: disbursed
pay out (money from a fund).
"$67 million of the pledged aid had already been disbursed"
synonyms: pay out, lay out, spend, expend, dole out, hand out, part with, donate, give; More
antonyms: claim
Origin
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forgo
/fɔːˈɡəʊ,fəˈɡəʊ/Submit
verb
verb: forgo; 3rd person present: forgoes; past tense: forwent; gerund or present participle: forgoing; past participle: forgone; verb: forego; 3rd person present: foregoes; past tense: forewent; gerund or present participle: foregoing; past participle: foregone
go without (something desirable).
"she wanted to forgo the tea and leave while they could"
synonyms: do without, go without, give up, waive, renounce, surrender, disavow, relinquish, part with, drop, sacrifice, forswear, abjure, swear off, steer clear of, abandon, cede, yield, abstain from, refrain from, eschew, cut out; More
antonyms: keep
refrain from.
"we forgo any comparison between the two men"
Origin
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despotic
/dɪˈspɒtɪk/Submit
adjective
adjective: despotic
of or typical of a despot; tyrannical.
"a despotic regime"
synonyms: autocratic, dictatorial, totalitarian, authoritarian, absolute, absolutist, arbitrary, unconstitutional, undemocratic, anti-democratic, uncontrolled, unaccountable, summary; More
antonyms: democratic, accountable

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A madrassa is an Islamic religious school. Many of the Taliban were educated in Saudi-financed madrassas in Pakistan that teach Wahhabism, a particularly austere and rigid form of Islam which is rooted in Saudi Arabia.

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austere
/ɒˈstɪə,ɔːˈstɪə/Submit
adjective
severe or strict in manner or attitude.
"he was an austere man, with a rigidly puritanical outlook"
synonyms: severe, stern, strict, harsh, unfeeling, stony, steely, flinty, dour, grim, cold, frosty, frigid, icy, chilly, unemotional, unfriendly, formal, stiff, stuffy, reserved, remote, distant, aloof, forbidding, mean-looking, grave, solemn, serious, unsmiling, unsympathetic, unforgiving, uncharitable; More
(of living conditions or a way of life) having no comforts or luxuries.
"conditions in the prison could hardly be more austere"
synonyms: strict, self-denying, self-abnegating, moderate, temperate, sober, simple, frugal, spartan, restrained, self-restrained, self-disciplined, non-indulgent, ascetic, puritanical, self-sacrificing, hair-shirt, abstemious, abstinent, celibate, chaste, continent; More
having a plain and unadorned appearance.
"the cathedral is impressive in its austere simplicity"
synonyms: plain, simple, basic, functional, modest, unadorned, undecorated, unornamented, unembellished, unostentatious, unfurnished, uncluttered, unfussy, without frills, subdued, muted, restrained; More
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burgeon
/ˈbəːdʒ(ə)n/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: burgeoning
begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish.
"manufacturers are keen to cash in on the burgeoning demand"
synonyms: 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; More
antonyms: shrink
ARCHAIC•LITERARY
put forth young shoots; bud.
Origin
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In 2004, Maytag shut down the refrigerator factory that for decades was Galesburg’s largest employer and moved much of the work to Mexico. Barack Obama, then running to represent Illinois in the Senate, described the Maytag workers as victims of globalization in his famous speech that year at the Democratic National Convention.

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rhetoric
/ˈrɛtərɪk/Submit
noun
the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the exploitation of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.
"he is using a common figure of rhetoric, hyperbole"
synonyms: oratory, eloquence, power of speech, command of language, expression, way with words, delivery, diction
"he was considered to excel in this form of rhetoric"
language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect, but which is often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content.
"all we have from the Opposition is empty rhetoric"
synonyms: bombast, loftiness, turgidity, grandiloquence, magniloquence, ornateness, portentousness, pomposity, boastfulness, boasting, bragging, heroics, hyperbole, extravagant language, purple prose, pompousness, sonorousness; More
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patron
/ˈpeɪtr(ə)n/Submit
noun
noun: patron; plural noun: patrons
1.
a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, or cause.
"a celebrated patron of the arts"
synonyms: sponsor, backer, financier, subsidizer, underwriter, guarantor, benefactor/benefactress, contributor, subscriber, donor; More
a distinguished person who takes an honorary position in a charity.
"the Mental Health Foundation, of which Her Royal Highness is Patron"
2.
a customer of a shop, restaurant, etc., especially a regular one.
"we surveyed the plushness of the hotel and its sleek, well-dressed patrons"
synonyms: customer, client, frequenter; More
3.
ROMAN HISTORY
a patrician in relation to a client.
the former owner and (frequently) protector of a freed slave.
4.
HISTORICAL•BRITISH
a person or institution with the right to grant a benefice to a member of the clergy.
Origin
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perpetual
/pəˈpɛtʃʊəl/Submit
adjective
adjective: perpetual
1.
never ending or changing.
"deep caves in perpetual darkness"
synonyms: everlasting, never-ending, eternal, permanent, unending, endless, without end, lasting, long-lasting, constant, abiding, enduring, perennial, timeless, ageless, deathless, undying, immortal; More
antonyms: transitory, temporary, intermittent
denoting or having a position, job, or trophy held for life.
"a perpetual secretary of the society"
(of an investment) having no fixed maturity date; irredeemable.
"a perpetual bond"
2.
occurring repeatedly; so frequent as to seem endless and uninterrupted.
"their perpetual money worries"
synonyms: interminable, incessant, ceaseless, endless, without respite, relentless, unrelenting, persistent, frequent, continual, continuous, non-stop, never-ending, recurrent, repeated, unremitting, sustained, round-the-clock, always-on, habitual, chronic, unabating; informaleternal
"Clara could recall her mother's perpetual nagging at her father"
3.
(of a plant) blooming or fruiting several times in one season.
"he grows perpetual flowering carnations"
Origin
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vest
/vɛst/Submit
noun
1.
BRITISH
an undergarment worn on the upper part of the body, typically having no sleeves.
2.
a garment worn on the upper part of the body for a particular purpose.
"a running vest"
verb
1.
confer or bestow (power, authority, property, etc.) on someone.
"executive power is vested in the President"
synonyms: entrust to, invest in, bestow on, confer on, grant to, give to; More
2.
(of a chorister or member of the clergy) put on vestments.
"he approaches the altar to vest for Mass"
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behove
/bɪˈhəʊv/Submit
verbFORMAL
3rd person present: behooves
it is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something.
"it behoves the House to assure itself that there is no conceivable alternative"
synonyms: be incumbent on, be obligatory for, be required of, be appropriate for, be expected of, be advisable for, be sensible for, be wise for More
it is appropriate or suitable; it befits.
"it ill behoves Opposition Members to decry the sale of arms to friendly countries"
Origin
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Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information for 2019
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 67 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent in 2019.

The 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 62 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2019. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2018. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits.)

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morsel
/ˈmɔːs(ə)l/Submit
noun
noun: morsel; plural noun: morsels
a small piece or amount of food; a mouthful.
"Juliet pushed a morsel of toast into her mouth"
synonyms: mouthful, bite, nibble, bit, small piece, soupçon, taste, sample, spoonful, forkful, crumb, grain, particle, fragment, fraction, scrap, sliver, shred, pinch, drop, dollop, whit, atom, granule, segment, spot, modicum, gobbet; More
a small piece or amount.
"there was a morsel of consolation for the British team"
Origin
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delve
/dɛlv/Submit
verb
verb: delve; 3rd person present: delves; past tense: delved; past participle: delved; gerund or present participle: delving
1.
reach inside a receptacle and search for something.
"she delved in her pocket"
synonyms: rummage (about/around/round) in, search (through), hunt through, scrabble about/around in, root about/around in, ferret (about/around) in, fish about/around in, poke about/around in, dig in, grub about/around in, go through, burrow in; More
research or make painstaking enquiries into something.
"the society is determined to delve deeper into the matter"
synonyms: investigate, conduct investigations into, make enquiries into, enquire into, probe, examine, explore, research, study, look into, go into; try to get to the bottom of
"the society is determined to delve deeper into the matter"
2.
ARCHAIC
dig; excavate.
"when Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?"
Origin
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parlay
/ˈpɑːleɪ/Submit
NORTH AMERICAN
verb
verb: parlay; 3rd person present: parlays; past tense: parlayed; past participle: parlayed; gerund or present participle: parlaying
1.
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
noun: parlay; plural noun: parlays
1.
a cumulative series of bets in which winnings accruing from each transaction are used as a stake for a further bet.
Origin
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tripe
/trʌɪp/Submit
noun
noun: tripe
1.
the first or second stomach of a cow or other ruminant used as food.
2.
INFORMAL
nonsense; rubbish.
"you do talk tripe sometimes"
Origin

Middle English: from Old French, of unknown origin.
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plight1
/plʌɪt/Submit
noun
plural noun: plights
a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation.
"we must direct our efforts towards relieving the plight of children living in poverty"
Origin

Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French plit ‘fold’. The -gh- spelling is by association with plight2.
plight2
/plʌɪt/Submit
verbARCHAIC
3rd person present: plights
pledge or solemnly promise (one's faith or loyalty).
"men to plighted vows were faithful"
be engaged to be married to.
Origin

Old English plihtan ‘endanger’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch plicht and German Pflicht ‘duty’. The current sense is recorded only from Middle English, but is probably original, in view of the related Germanic words.
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gorge
/ɡɔːdʒ/Submit
noun
1.
a narrow valley between hills or mountains, typically with steep rocky walls and a stream running through it.
synonyms: ravine, canyon, gully, pass, defile, couloir, deep narrow valley; More
2.
ARCHAIC
the throat.
verb
1.
eat a large amount greedily; fill oneself with food.
"they gorged themselves on Cornish cream teas"
synonyms: stuff, cram, fill; More
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evangelical
/iːvanˈdʒɛlɪk(ə)l,ɛvanˈdʒɛlɪk(ə)l/Submit
adjective
adjective: evangelical
1.
of or according to the teaching of the gospel or the Christian religion.
synonyms: scriptural, biblical, Bible-believing, fundamentalist, orthodox
"evangelical Christianity"
of or denoting a tradition within Protestant Christianity emphasizing the authority of the Bible, personal conversion, and the doctrine of salvation by faith in the Atonement.
synonyms: evangelistic, evangelizing, missionary, crusading, propagandist, propagandizing, converting, proselytizing, televangelical; More
zealous in advocating or supporting a particular cause.
"she was evangelical about organic farming"
noun
noun: evangelical; plural noun: evangelicals
1.
a member of the evangelical tradition in the Christian Church.
Origin
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zealous
/ˈzɛləs/Submit
adjective
adjective: zealous
having or showing zeal.
"the council was extremely zealous in the application of the regulations"
synonyms: fervent, ardent, fervid, fiery, passionate, impassioned, devout, devoted; More
antonyms: apathetic, indifferent
Origin
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keep someone posted
phrase of post
keep someone informed of the latest developments or news.
"I'll keep you posted on his progress"
synonyms: keep informed, inform, keep up to date, keep in the picture, keep briefed, brief, give someone the latest information, update, fill in, let someone know, advise, notify, apprise, report to; More

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pandemic
/panˈdɛmɪk/Submit
noun
plural noun: pandemics
an outbreak of a pandemic disease.
"the AIDS pandemic"
Origin

mid 17th century: from Greek pandēmos (from pan ‘all’ + dēmos ‘people’) + -ic.
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wariness
/ˈwɛːrɪnəs/Submit
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, mindfulness, canniness; More
lack of trust; suspicion.
"they had all regarded her with wariness"
synonyms: suspicion, distrust, mistrust, caution, unease, scepticism, doubt, chariness; informalcaginess
"they have the same wariness of strangers as everyone else"

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befit
/bɪˈfɪt/Submit
verb
past tense: befitted; past participle: befitted
be appropriate for; suit.
"as befits a Quaker, he was a humane man"
synonyms: in keeping with, as befits, fitting, appropriate to, fit for, suitable for, suited to, apt for, proper to, right for, compatible with, consistent with, in character with; archaicmeet for
"the gowns were of good material, befitting the bride's status"
antonyms: out of keeping with

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republican
/rɪˈpʌblɪk(ə)n/Submit
adjective
adjective: republican; adjective: Republican
1.
(of a form of government, constitution, etc.) belonging to or characteristic of a republic.
"a republican government"
advocating republican government.
"the republican movement"
2.
(in the US) supporting the Republican Party.
noun
noun: republican; plural noun: republicans; noun: Republican; plural noun: Republicans
1.
an advocate of republican government.
"in the old days, the argument between radical-reform monarchists and the straight republicans was academic"
2.
(in the US) a member or supporter of the Republican Party.
3.
an advocate of a united Ireland.
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republic
/rɪˈpʌblɪk/Submit
noun
noun: republic; plural noun: republics
a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.
ARCHAIC
a group with a certain equality between its members.
"the community of scholars and the republic of learning"
-----------
Noun. dictatress (plural dictatresses) A female dictator.
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preordain
/ˌpriːɔːˈdeɪn/Submit
verb
past tense: preordained; past participle: preordained
decide or determine (an outcome or course of action) beforehand.
"you might think the company's success was preordained"
synonyms: predestine, destine, foreordain, ordain, fate, doom, foredoom, predetermine, determine, mark out, prescribe
"he believes that everything we do is preordained"

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archipelago
/ˌɑːkɪˈpɛləɡəʊ/Submit
noun
noun: archipelago; plural noun: archipelagoes; plural noun: archipelagos
an extensive group of islands.
"the Indonesian archipelago"
a sea or stretch of water having many islands.
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realpolitik
/reɪˈɑːlpɒlɪˌtiːk/Submit
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’.
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untenable
/ʌnˈtɛnəb(ə)l/Submit
adjective
adjective: untenable
(especially of a position or view) not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection.
"this argument is clearly untenable"
synonyms: indefensible, undefendable, unarguable, insupportable, refutable, unsustainable, unjustified, unwarranted, unjustifiable, inadmissible, unsound, ill-founded, flimsy, weak, shaky, flawed, defective, faulty, implausible, specious, groundless, unfounded, baseless, invalid, absurd, illogical, irrational, preposterous, senseless, unacceptable
"the Government's position is untenable"
antonyms: tenable, defensible

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hotbed
/ˈhɒtbɛd/Submit
noun
noun: hotbed; plural noun: hotbeds
1.
an environment promoting the growth of something, especially something unwelcome.
"the country was a hotbed of revolt and dissension"
synonyms: breeding ground, nursery, cradle, nest, den, seedbed, forcing house
"the country was a hotbed of revolt and dissension"
2.
a bed of earth heated by fermenting manure, for raising or forcing plants.
----
gangsterism. [gang-stuh-riz-uh m] noun. the methods or behavior of gangsters. the use of tactics associated with gangsters, as intimidation or violence, in order to achieve something.
---
idealism
/ʌɪˈdɪəlɪz(ə)m,ʌɪˈdiːəlɪz(ə)m/Submit
noun
1.
the unrealistic belief in or pursuit of perfection.
"the idealism of youth"
synonyms: utopianism, wishful thinking, romanticism, fantasizing, quixotism, daydreaming, impracticability More
2.
PHILOSOPHY
any of various systems of thought in which the objects of knowledge are held to be in some way dependent on the activity of mind.
--
hard-headed
/ˌhɑːdˈhɛdɪd/Submit
adjective
adjective: hardheaded
practical and realistic; not sentimental.
"a hard-headed businessman"
synonyms: unsentimental, practical, pragmatic, businesslike, realistic, sensible, rational, tough, clear-thinking, cool-headed, hard-bitten, down-to-earth, matter-of-fact, no-nonsense, with one's/both feet on the ground; More
antonyms: idealistic

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hubris
/ˈhjuːbrɪs/Submit
noun
noun: hubris
excessive pride or self-confidence.
"the self-assured hubris among economists was shaken in the late 1980s"
synonyms: arrogance, conceit, conceitedness, haughtiness, pride, vanity, self-importance, self-conceit, pomposity, superciliousness, feeling of superiority; More
antonyms: modesty
(in Greek tragedy) excessive pride towards or defiance of the gods, leading to nemesis.
Origin
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commode
/kəˈməʊd/Submit
noun
noun: commode; plural noun: commodes
1.
a piece of furniture containing a concealed chamber pot.
NORTH AMERICAN
a toilet.
HISTORICAL•NORTH AMERICAN
a movable washstand.
2.
a chest of drawers or chiffonier of a decorative type popular in the 18th century.
Origin

mid 18th century (in sense 2): from French, literally ‘convenient, suitable’, from Latin commodus . Sense 1 dates from the early 19th century.
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electioneer
/ɪˌlɛkʃəˈnɪə/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: electioneering
(of a politician or political campaigner) take part actively and energetically in a campaign to be elected to public office.
"the election will not be lost or won as the result of a few weeks of electioneering"
synonyms: campaign, canvass, go on the hustings, doorstep; informalgo out on the knocker
"he accused the opposition of electioneering by raising the issue"

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corps
/kɔː/Submit
noun
noun: corps; plural noun: corps
a main subdivision of an army in the field, consisting of two or more divisions.
"the 5th Army Corps"
a branch of an army assigned to a particular kind of work.
"the Royal Army Medical Corps"
a body of people engaged in a particular activity.
"at 9:30 a.m., the press corps was handed what looked to be a routine list of orders"
synonyms: unit, division, detachment, section, company, troop, contingent, squad, squadron, regiment, garrison, battalion, brigade, platoon, force; More
short for corps de ballet.
Origin

late 16th century: from French, from Latin corpus ‘body’.
Translate corps to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
corps is sometimes confused with core
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jingoism
/ˈdʒɪŋɡəʊɪz(ə)m/Submit
nounDEROGATORY
noun: jingoism
extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive or warlike foreign policy.
"the popular jingoism that swept the lower–middle classes"
synonyms: extreme patriotism, blind patriotism, chauvinism, extreme nationalism, flag-waving, excessive loyalty to one's country, xenophobia; More

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capricious
/kəˈprɪʃəs/Submit
adjective
adjective: capricious
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behaviour.
"a capricious and often brutal administration"
synonyms: fickle, inconstant, changeable, variable, unstable, mercurial, volatile, erratic, vacillating, irregular, inconsistent, fitful, arbitrary; More
antonyms: stable, consistent
changing according to no discernible rules; unpredictable.
"a capricious climate"
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rudderless
/ˈrʌdəlɪs/Submit
adjective
adjective: rudderless
lacking a rudder.
lacking a clear sense of one's aims or principles.
"today's leadership is rudderless"
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rudder
/ˈrʌdə/Submit
noun
noun: rudder; plural noun: rudders
a flat piece hinged vertically near the stern of a boat or ship for steering.
a vertical aerofoil pivoted from the tailplane of an aircraft, for controlling movement about the vertical axis.
application of a rudder in steering a boat, ship, or aircraft.
"bring the aircraft to a stall and apply full rudder"
Origin
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tawdry
/ˈtɔːdri/Submit
adjective
adjective: tawdry; comparative adjective: tawdrier; superlative adjective: tawdriest
1.
showy but cheap and of poor quality.
"tawdry jewellery"
synonyms: gaudy, flashy, showy, garish, loud; More
antonyms: tasteful, refined
sordid or unpleasant.
"the tawdry business of politics"
nounARCHAIC
noun: tawdry
1.
cheap and gaudy finery.
Origin
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communism
/ˈkɒmjʊnɪz(ə)m/Submit
noun
noun: communism
a theory or system of social organization in which all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs.
synonyms: collectivism, state ownership, socialism, radical socialism; More
Origin
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bolster1
/ˈbəʊlstə/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: bolstering
1.
support or strengthen.
"the fall in interest rates is starting to bolster confidence"
synonyms: strengthen, support, reinforce, make stronger, boost, fortify, give a boost to; More
antonyms: undermine
2.
provide (a seat) with padded support.
"I snuggled down into the heavily bolstered seat"
Origin
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fester
/ˈfɛstə/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: festering
(of a wound or sore) become septic; suppurate.
"a festering abscess"
synonyms: suppurate, become septic, form pus, secrete pus, discharge, run, weep, ooze; More
(of food or rubbish) become rotten and offensive to the senses.
"piles of mouldy grey paper festered by the sink"
synonyms: rot, moulder, decay, decompose, putrefy, go bad, go off, perish, spoil, deteriorate, disintegrate, degrade, break down, break up; More
(of a negative feeling or a problem) become worse or more intense, especially through long-term neglect or indifference.
"below the surface, the old antagonisms festered"
synonyms: rankle, chafe, gnaw (at one's mind), eat away at one's mind, ferment, brew, smoulder; More
(of a person) deteriorate physically and mentally in isolated inactivity.
"remand prisoners are left to fester in our jails while they wait for trial"
Origin
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overarching
/ˌəʊvərˈɑːtʃɪŋ/Submit
adjective
adjective: overarching; adjective: over-arching
comprehensive or all-embracing.
"a single overarching principle"
overarch
/əʊvərˈɑːtʃ/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: overarching
form an arch over.
"an old dirt road, overarched by forest"
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imperative
/ɪmˈpɛrətɪv/Submit
noun
plural noun: imperatives
1.
an essential or urgent thing.
"free movement of labour was an economic imperative"
a factor or influence making something necessary.
"the biological imperatives which guide male and female behaviour"
2.
GRAMMAR
a verb or phrase in the imperative mood.
the imperative mood.
noun: the imperative
Origin
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cargo
/ˈkɑːɡəʊ/Submit
noun
noun: cargo; plural noun: cargoes; plural noun: cargos
goods carried on a ship, aircraft, or motor vehicle.
"transportation of bulk cargo"
synonyms: freight, load, haul, consignment, delivery, shipment, contents, baggage, burden; More
Origin
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mandate
noun
/ˈmandeɪt/Submit
1.
an official order or commission to do something.
"a mandate to seek the release of political prisoners"
synonyms: instruction, directive, direction, decree, command, order, injunction, edict, charge, commission, bidding, warrant, ruling, ordinance, law, statute, fiat; More
2.
the authority to carry out a policy, regarded as given by the electorate to a party or candidate that wins an election.
"he called an election to seek a mandate for his policies"
synonyms: authority, approval, acceptance, ratification, endorsement; More
verb
/manˈdeɪt/Submit
1.
give (someone) authority to act in a certain way.
"the rightful king was mandated and sanctioned by God"
2.
HISTORICAL
(of territory) be assigned to (another power) under a mandate of the League of Nations.
"mandated territories"

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drop the ball
phrase of drop
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
make a mistake; mishandle things.
"I really dropped the ball on this one"

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In absentia, a legal term, is Latin for "in the absence" or "while absent". (In) absentia may also refer to: Award in absentia.

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arid
/ˈarɪd/Submit
adjective
1.
(of land or a climate) having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation.
"the arid plains north of Cape Town"
synonyms: dry, dried up, waterless, as dry as a bone, moistureless, parched, scorched, baked, thirsty; More
2.
lacking in interest, excitement, or meaning.
"his arid years in suburbia"
synonyms: dreary, dull, drab, dry, sterile, banal, colourless, monochrome, unstimulating, uninspiring, flat, boring, uninteresting, monotonous, lifeless, tedious, vapid, jejune, soul-destroying
"this town has an arid, empty feel"

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fierce
/fɪəs/Submit
adjective
superlative adjective: fiercest
having or displaying a violent or ferocious aggressiveness.
"fierce fighting continued throughout the day"
synonyms: ferocious, savage, vicious; More
antonyms: gentle, tame, mild
(of the weather or temperature) powerful and destructive.
"fierce storms lashed the country"
synonyms: powerful, strong, violent, forceful, bitter; More
antonyms: gentle
showing a heartfelt and powerful intensity.
"his fierce loyalty"
synonyms: aggressive, cut-throat, competitive; More
antonyms: mild
(of a mechanism) having a jolting and powerful abruptness of action.
"the fire door had a fierce pneumatic return"
Origin

Middle English: from Old French fiers ‘fierce, brave, proud’, from Latin ferus ‘untamed’.
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insurgency
/ɪnˈsəːdʒ(ə)nsi/Submit
noun
noun: insurgency; plural noun: insurgencies
an active revolt or uprising.
"rebels are waging an armed insurgency to topple the monarchy"
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raw
/rɔː/Submit
adjective
comparative adjective: rawer

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semblance
/ˈsɛmbləns/Submit
noun
noun: semblance; plural noun: semblances
the outward appearance or apparent form of something, especially when the reality is different.
"she tried to force her thoughts back into some semblance of order"
synonyms: appearance, outward appearance, approximation, show, air, guise, pretence, facade, front, veneer
"there remained at least a semblance of discipline"
ARCHAIC
resemblance; similarity.
"it bears some semblance to the thing I have in mind"
Origin
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dubious
/ˈdjuːbɪəs/Submit
adjective
adjective: dubious
1.
hesitating or doubting.
"I was rather dubious about the whole idea"
synonyms: doubtful, uncertain, unsure, in doubt, hesitant; More
antonyms: certain, definite
2.
not to be relied upon; suspect.
"extremely dubious assumptions"
synonyms: suspicious, suspect, under suspicion, untrustworthy, unreliable, undependable, questionable; More
antonyms: trustworthy, decisive, clear, definite
morally suspect.
"timeshare has been brought into disrepute by dubious sales methods"
synonyms: suspicious, suspect, under suspicion, untrustworthy, unreliable, undependable, questionable; More
antonyms: trustworthy
of questionable value.
"he holds the dubious distinction of being relegated with every club he has played for"
synonyms: equivocal, ambiguous, indeterminate, indefinite, unclear, vague, imprecise, hazy, puzzling, enigmatic, cryptic; More
antonyms: decisive, clear, definite
Origin
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backlash
/ˈbaklaʃ/Submit
noun
noun: backlash; plural noun: backlashes
1.
a strong negative reaction by a large number of people, especially to a social or political development.
"a public backlash against racism"
synonyms: adverse reaction/response, counteraction, counterblast, comeback, recoil; More
2.
recoil arising between parts of a mechanism.
degree of play between parts of a mechanism.
"typical gearbox backlash in these systems is 2°"
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alley2
/ˈali/Submit
noun
plural noun: allies
a toy marble made of marble, alabaster, or glass.
Origin
early 18th century: perhaps a diminutive of alabaster.
ally1
/ˈalʌɪ/Submit
noun
plural noun: allies
1.
a state formally cooperating with another for a military or other purpose.
"debate continued among NATO allies"
a person or organization that cooperates with or helps another in a particular activity.
"he was forced to dismiss his closest political ally"
synonyms: associate, colleague, friend, confederate, partner, supporter, accomplice, helper, accessory, abetter
"he was forced to dismiss his closest political ally"
antonyms: enemy, opponent
the countries that fought with Britain in the First and Second World Wars.
plural noun: Allies; plural noun: the Allies
"they were caught between the German army of occupation and the advancing Allies"
verb
3rd person present: allies
/ˈalʌɪ,əˈlʌɪ/Submit
1.
combine or unite a resource or commodity with (another) for mutual benefit.
"he allied his racing experience with his father's business acumen"
synonyms: combine, marry, couple, merge, amalgamate, join, pool, fuse, weld, knit
"he allied his racing experience with his father's business acumen"
antonyms: split
side with or support.
"he allied himself with the forces of change"
synonyms: unite, join, join up, join forces, band together, go into partnership, team up, combine, collaborate, side, align oneself, league, go into league, affiliate, confederate, form an alliance, throw in one's lot, make common cause
"the Catholic powers in France had allied with Philip II"
antonyms: split
Origin

Middle English (as a verb): from Old French alier, from Latin alligare ‘bind together’, from ad- ‘to’ + ligare ‘to bind’; the noun is partly via Old French alie ‘allied’. Compare with alloy.
ally2
noun
plural noun: allies
variant spelling of alley2.
Origin

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soviet
/ˈsəʊvɪət,ˈsɒvɪət/Submit
noun
noun: soviet; plural noun: soviets; noun: Soviet; plural noun: Soviets
1.
an elected local, district, or national council in the former Soviet Union.
a revolutionary council of workers or peasants in Russia before 1917.
2.
a citizen of the former Soviet Union.
adjective
adjective: Soviet
1.
of or concerning the former Soviet Union.
"the Soviet leader"
Origin

early 20th century: from Russian sovet ‘council’.
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indigenous
/ɪnˈdɪdʒɪnəs/Submit
adjective
adjective: indigenous
originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.
"the indigenous peoples of Siberia"
synonyms: native, aboriginal, local; More
antonyms: expatriate, migrant, adventitious
Origin

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reverberate
/rɪˈvəːbəreɪt/Submit
verb
verb: reverberate; 3rd person present: reverberates; past tense: reverberated; past participle: reverberated; gerund or present participle: reverberating
1.
(of a loud noise) be repeated several times as an echo.
"her deep booming laugh reverberated around the room"
synonyms: resound, echo, re-echo, repeat, resonate, pulsate, vibrate, ring, peal, boom, rumble, roll, pound, thump, drum, thrum
"her voice reverberated around the classroom"
(of a place) appear to vibrate because of a loud noise.
"the hall reverberated with laughter"
ARCHAIC
return or re-echo (a sound).
"oft did the cliffs reverberate the sound"
2.
have continuing and serious effects.
"the statements by the professor reverberated through the Capitol"
Origin
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pandemic
/panˈdɛmɪk/Submit
adjective
adjective: pandemic
1.
(of a disease) prevalent over a whole country or the world.
synonyms: widespread, prevalent, pervasive, rife, rampant, epidemic; More
noun
noun: pandemic; plural noun: pandemics
1.
an outbreak of a pandemic disease.
"the AIDS pandemic"
Origin
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communism
/ˈkɒmjʊnɪz(ə)m/Submit
noun
noun: communism
a theory or system of social organization in which all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs.
synonyms: collectivism, state ownership, socialism, radical socialism; More
Origin

mid 19th century: from French communisme, from commun (see common).
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unilateral
/juːnɪˈlat(ə)r(ə)l/Submit
adjective
adjective: unilateral
1.
(of an action or decision) performed by or affecting only one person, group, or country involved in a situation, without the agreement of another or the others.
"unilateral nuclear disarmament"
2.
relating to or affecting only one side of an organ, the body, or another structure.
"unilateral cerebral lesions"
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imperialism
/ɪmˈpɪərɪəlɪz(ə)m/Submit
noun
noun: imperialism
a policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means.
"the struggle against imperialism"
HISTORICAL
rule by an emperor.
"in Russia, imperialism had developed alongside a semi-feudal agrarian structure"
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freight
/freɪt/Submit
noun
noun: freight
1.
goods transported in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft.
"a decline in the amount of freight carried by rail"
synonyms: cargo, load, haul, consignment, delivery, shipment; More
the transport of bulk goods by truck, train, ship, or aircraft.
"the truck-based system can outperform air freight at distances of up to seven hundred miles"
synonyms: transportation, transport, conveyance, freightage, carriage, carrying, portage, haulage, distribution, delivery; traffic
"the Panama Canal has lost importance because of air freight"
a charge for transport by freight.
"a bill indicating that the freight has been paid"
verb
verb: freight; 3rd person present: freights; past tense: freighted; past participle: freighted; gerund or present participle: freighting
1.
transport (goods) in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft.
"the metals had been freighted from the city"
synonyms: transport, transport in bulk, convey, carry, ship, drive; More
2.
be laden or burdened with.
"each word was freighted with anger"
Origin
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genocide
/ˈdʒɛnəsʌɪd/Submit
noun
noun: genocide; plural noun: genocides
the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular nation or ethnic group.
"a campaign of genocide"
synonyms: racial killing, massacre, wholesale slaughter, mass slaughter, wholesale killing, indiscriminate killing; More
Origin
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obfuscate
/ˈɒbfʌskeɪt/Submit
verb
verb: obfuscate; 3rd person present: obfuscates; past tense: obfuscated; past participle: obfuscated; gerund or present participle: obfuscating
make obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.
"the spelling changes will deform some familiar words and obfuscate their etymological origins"
synonyms: obscure, confuse, make obscure/unclear, blur, muddle, jumble, complicate, garble, muddy, cloud, befog; muddy the waters
"the debate all too often obfuscates the issue"
antonyms: clarify
bewilder (someone).
"the new rule is more likely to obfuscate people than enlighten them"
synonyms: bewilder, mystify, puzzle, perplex, baffle, confound, bemuse, befuddle, nonplus; More
Origin

late Middle English: from late Latin obfuscat- ‘darkened’, from the verb obfuscare, based on Latin fuscus ‘dark’.
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aggravate
/ˈaɡrəveɪt/Submit
verb
gerund or present participle: aggravating
1.
make (a problem, injury, or offence) worse or more serious.
"military action would only aggravate the situation"
2.
INFORMAL
annoy or exasperate.
"she found him thoroughly aggravating and unprofessional"

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