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abash [ uh'-BASH ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : to disconcert, embarrass or make queasy USAGE EXAMPLE 1: I moved on, abashed, angry, and confused. Telegraph, Auld acquaintance or a new con trick? , By Michael Simkins , 02 Jan 2009
abate [ uh'-BEYT ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to decrease, lessen or diminish 2. (tr.v.) to end, nullify or terminate 3. (intr.v.) to decrease or reduce in intensity 4. (intr.v.) to become void USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The tide abated and the people stuck on the cove were rescued. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Traffic was flowing freely after the rush hour traffic had abated. CNN, How to combat drowsy driving, by Craig Howie, October 29, 2008.
abdicate [ AB-di-keyt ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (intr.v.) to resign, relinquish or renounce one's responsibility, office, power or authority 2. (tr.v.) to renounce, surrender or give up one's authority and power USAGE EXAMPLE 1: King Jigme Singye Wangchuck made a historic announcement two weeks ago to abdicate the throne and hand over power to the crown prince who would then become only a constitutional monarch. The Times of India, Bhutans 'uncertain future' in democracy, 30 Dec 2005.
abet [ uh'-BET ]
[verb] MEANING :
To assist, encourage or support an activity or plan esp. some wrongdoing USAGE EXAMPLE 1: We believe it is crucial to have an open discussion about whether it is legitimate to aid and abet criminal activities and the theft of data certainly qualifies as a criminal activity by using substantial public resources to purchase stolen goods from a thief. The Financial Times,Tax claims against this state are out of place, Otmar Hasler, February 19 2008
abeyance [ uh'-BEY-uh'ns ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. suspension, cessation or postponement 2. (Law) a condition or state where ownership of an estate isn't established or determined USAGE EXAMPLE 1: With Saturday's crucial match looming, both sides have put the dispute in abeyance for 48 hours. Telegraph, Wasps' players in contract stand-off, by Brendan Gallagher, 19 Dec 2008.
abhor [ ab-HAWR ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : to loathe, detest, abominate or hate USAGE EXAMPLE 1: There are little bands of pilgrims who not only abhor violence but form organisations like Dignity Foundation, join PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), learn karate for self-defence and lock doors with a double bolt at night. The Times of India, Are we insensitive to violence on the streets?, 25 Aug 2002.
ablution [ uh'-BLOO-shuh'n ]
[noun] MEANING : A washing or cleansing of the body, especially for religious reasons USAGE EXAMPLE 1: In the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, where thousands of devotees gathered to celebrate the birthday of one of the religion's most important gurus, there was not enough water available for the preprayer ablutions. CNN, Workers aim to restore power after massive India blackout, January 3, 2001
abnegate [ AB-ni-geyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1) To renounce or deny oneself 2) To give up or surrender USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The ATP and the WTA are too gutless to do anything about it, and the umpires almost totally abnegate any responsibility for enforcement. Guardian, Sharapova wins in variety show but slips on banana, Steve Bierley,September 11, 2006
abnegation [ AB-ni-gey-shuh'n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. (n) self denial in favour of the interests of others 2.the denial and rejection of a doctrine or belief; "abnegation of the Holy Trinity" USAGE EXAMPLE 1: First-half goals from Danny Invincibile and Gary Wales went unanswered and, in an abnegation of responsibility, home manager Valdas Ivanauskas refused to attend the post-match press conference. Telegraph, Novo notches a rare winner for weary Rangers, by Ewing Grahame, 23 Oct 2006.
abominate [ uh'-BOM-uh'-neyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : to abhor, detest, hate or loathe USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Her irrational behaviour showed that she abominated people of a different race. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Jeremy Paxman on the extraordinary achievement of Wilfred Owen, who abominated war yet died a great warrior. Telegraph, Wilfred Owen: The soldiers' poet, by Jeremy Paxman, 03 Nov 2007.
abomination [ uh'-bom-uh'-NEY-shuh'n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. Abhorrence, detestation or disgust 2. The cause of abhorrence or wickedness USAGE EXAMPLE 1: There was the abomination of rights-abusing countries such as Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia and Cuba gaining leadership positions on the Human Rights Commission. CNN, Bush should use recess appointment power carefully, Noah S. Leavitt, July 4, 2005
aboriginal [ ab-uh'-RIJ-uh'-nl ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) indigenous or inhabiting or native from the beginning 2. (adj.) relating or pertaining to the aborigines 3. (n.) Aborigine USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The aboriginal residents of the island were feared by the new settlers. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Aboriginal tribes believe their remains must be returned to their people. BBC, Museum returns Aboriginal skulls, 21 May 2009.
abortive [ uh'-BAWR-tiv ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. unsuccessful, fruitless or unable to succeed 2. imperfectly formed or developed 3. born prematurely USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Even with this new legislation, there are still costs involved and we do not want to carry out abortive work or needlessly spend money. BBC, Views sought on Stray cycle plan, 5 November 2008
abracadabra [ ab-ruh'-kuh'-DAB-ruh' ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a magical charm or incantation recited for the purpose of warding off disease or disaster 2. foolish or meaningless talk; gibberish; nonsense USAGE EXAMPLE 1: We hope the international community are finally realising that you can't just say 'Abracadabra' and produce peace out of a hat. Telegraph, Powell heads east to face Arab wrath, By David Wastell in Washington, Tom Gross in Jerusalem and Philip Smucker in Cairo, 20 Jun 2001 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The word, 'abracadabra' is a favourite among magicians.
abrade [ uh'-BREYD ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to wear away by scrubbing or rubbing 2. (tr.v.) wear down spiritually 3.(intr.v.) to scrape off USAGE EXAMPLE 1: At some point in the history of a bronze statue of Uma dated 1012, the face became abraded by the daily ritual of bathing and anointing, so the temple sent it back to the sculptor's workshop for renewal. Telegraph, Encounters with the divine, by Richard Dorment, 16 Nov 2006.
abrogate [ AB-ruh'-geyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : To abolish by formal or official means; annul by an authoritative act; repeal USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
Demanding unilateral changes and threatening to abrogate an agreement that has increased trade and prosperity is nothing more than retreating behind protectionist walls. CNN, McCain speech on relationship between U.S. and Canada, June 27, 2008
abscess [ AB-ses ]
[noun] MEANING : a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue which is frequently caused by bacteria USAGE EXAMPLE 1: If untreated, infected lymph nodes may progress to an abscess (pus collection) or spread bacteria to the overlying skin or into the bloodstream. CNN, How serious is a swollen lymph node?, January 19, 2009 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: If the wound is not cleaned in tie, it might result in an abscess.
abscond [ ab-SKOND ]
[intransitive verb] MEANING : to depart quickly in a sudden and secret manner; especially to avoid arrest or legal prosecution USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Police are hunting a prisoner who has absconded from Hollesley Bay open prison in Suffolk. BBC, Latest inmate absconds from jail, 10 December 2007 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: It is difficult to catch criminals who successfuly abscond from a high security prison.
abstemious [ ab-STEE-mee-uh's ]
[noun] MEANING : 1) Moderate or sparing esp. in eating and drinking 2) Characterised by abstinence USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Until recently you would associate gout with boozing and rich food, but there are plenty of other patients who are quite abstemious. This might be a genetic marker for gout risk. BBC News, Gene 'linked to higher gout risk'
abstinence [ AB-stuh'-nuh'ns ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. voluntary forbearance from any indulgence of appetite, particularly from the use of alcoholic beverages 2. any self-denial, forbearance or self-restraint
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: On each subsequent day, they were instructed to add an additional hour of abstinence and an additional piece of gum. abcNews, Chewing Through a Smoking Habit, By JOHN G. SPANGLER, M.D., Jan. 31, 2009 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Abstinence is often required to balance the body equilibrium.
abstruse [ ab-STROOS ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. recondite, ambiguous, esoteric or very difficult to understand or comprehend USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The assembly is often engaged in discussing fairly abstruse issues, then suddenly comes alive when a riveting personal testimony is made. The Herald, Riveting personal testimony lends life to assembly, RON FERGUSON, May 23 2007
abut [ uh'-BUHT ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to touch, be adjacent to, end at or border on 2. (tr.v.) to support 3. (intr.v.) to terminate, border or be adjacent to 4. (intr.v.) to lean on so as to get supported USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It will abut eight Albert Street to the annoyance of the occupants. Telegraph, Narrowest house in Britain will be just 9ft wide, By Sarah Knapton, 23 Dec 2008
abysmal [ uh'-BIZ-muh'l ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1.very bad, 2.severe or wretched unfathomable, profound or bottomless USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A leading Aslef official claimed trains travelling through the main line tunnel into Wales had to slow down, signals were worse and tracks were "abysmal". BBC, MPs told Severn Tunnel is 'hole', 25 November 2008
abyss [ uh'-BIS ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. an immeasurably deep chasm, space or cavity 2. the region of evil spirits; hell 3. anything infinite, unfathomable or profound USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Rather than presenting an obstacle, House Republicans intend to use the full force of our ideas to help Democrats produce a better package to help pull the country back from the economic abyss. CNN, Commentary: Big risk in Obama's economic stimulus plan, By Rep. Eric Cantor, January 18, 2009 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Severely depressed people often have a feeling of being trapped in a deep abyss.
accede [ ak-SEED ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to concede, assent or approve 2. to assume attain or take up a position or an office USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Even Romania and Bulgaria can be considered relatively successful since they are due to accede to the EU next year. CNN, Children of the revolution, By Paul Sussman for CNN, October 23, 2006
accessory [ ak-SES-uh'-ree ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (n.) A subordinate or supplementary item, object or the like used mainly for convenience, attractiveness, safety etc 2. (n.) something that is not essential but desirable that contributes to completeness, convenience, attractiveness 3. (adj.) One who aids or abets a lawbreaker in the commission of a crime but is not present at the time of the crime 4. (adj.) something that is supplementary, secondary or subordinate in function USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Trainers made from recycled bus seat covers and tyres have proved an unusual fashion accessory. BBC, Trainers made from old bus parts, 7 January 2009 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The mask is kept as an accessory rather than as principal prop.
acclaimed [ uh'-KLEYM ]
[adjective] MEANING : celebrated, acknowledged, renowned or praised USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He was an acclaimed writer who had won many prestigious awards. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A globally acclaimed folk artist from Northumberland is to be given a prestigious music award. BBC, Folk artist awarded Queen's Medal, 26 January 2009
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to adapt or get accustomed to 2. (intr.v.) to conform, adjust or adapt to USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Michelle Obama is bucking that mind-set in deciding to take time off from her career to focus on getting her children acclimated to life in the White House. CNN, Commentary: Michelle Obama is reinventing the stay-at-home mom, By Jolene Ivey, November 25, 2008
accomplice [ uh'-KOM-plis ]
[noun] MEANING : a person who knowingly helps another in wrongdoing, either as a principal or an accessory USAGE EXAMPLE 1: In 1829, George Wilson and an accomplice received death sentences for murder and robbing mail trains. CNN, 11 notable presidential pardons, By Ethan Trex, January 5, 2009 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: An accomplice who is an accessory to murder often receives a lesser sentence than the main accused.
accouter [ uh'-KOO-ter ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : to equip furnish or outfit esp. with military ammunition USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The property was accoutered with a variety of celebrity paraphernalia. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: One look around neighboring Teton Mountain Lodge and you know that DesLauriers used his
experience as a world ski traveler to accouter the place. CNN, Where Now: Jackson Hole, Wyoming, By Chris Solomon, March 19, 2004
accretion [ uh'-KREE-shuh'n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. growth or increase in size by gradual external addition 2. slow increase to land by action of natural forces 3. something contributing to this process USAGE EXAMPLE 1: In the core accretion model, planets form little by little, as material slowly congeals within the disc over millions of years. BBC, Water pours on young star system, 30 August 2007.
accrue [ uh'-KROO ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (intr.v.) to increase or accumulate as a result or outcome of growth 2. (intr.v.) to become legally enforceable as a claim 3. (intr.v.) to result due to increment 4. (tr.v.) to accumulate or collect over time USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His wealth had accrued as a result of careful investments. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Employees on long-term sick leave are entitled to take all holiday they have accrued when they return to work, the European Court of Justice has ruled. BBC, Sick leave staff win holiday case, 20 January 2009.
acerbity [ uh'-SUR-bi-tee ]
[noun] MEANING : Harshness of speech, expression or temper USAGE EXAMPLE 1: But ultimately House of Cards is chez Richardson, with his wit, acerbity and slyness making this an ideal political thriller, even for those left cold by politics. BBC, House of cards, Paul Seed, BBC TV, 1990
acidulous [ uh'-SIJ-uh'-luh's ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. somewhat sour in taste or manner 2. moderately tart or caustic USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The Nose is a blast of acidulous fun, with a superb libretto (Gogol's story), begging for a British staging. Telegraph, London dances to Russia's tunes, Ismene Brown, 14 Jul 2006
acolyte [ AK-uh'-lahyt ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a devoted follower or attendant of an important person 2. one who assists a member of the clergy in liturgical rites by performing minor functions
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: An acolyte of the historian and political philosopher Michael Oakeshott, Jack Greenleaf (as he was known to all) was Professor of Political Theory and Government at University College, Swansea, from 1967 to 1982. Telegraph, Professor WH Greenleaf, 12 Jun 2008 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The minister is often accompanied by an entourage of acolytes when he sees to his official duties.
acoustics [ uh'-KOO-stiks ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. the characteristics or quality of a room to reflect sound waves in such a way as to produce distinct learning 2. the branch of physics that deals with the production, control, transmission, reception and effects of sound USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Although considered an architectural masterpiece, the Sydney Opera House has been criticized for poor acoustics in the Concert Hall and a lack of performance and backstage space in the Opera Theater. abcNews, Sydney Opera House Designer Joern Utzon Dies at 90, By JAN M. OLSEN Associated Press Writer, November 29, 2008 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: It was a pleasure to listen to the London Philharmonic Orchestra on aaccount of the superb acoustics of the Opera house
acquiesce [ ak-wee-ES ]
[verb] MEANING : To agree without protest; to consent or comply tacitly USAGE EXAMPLE 1: At times, it is of essence to acquiesce to be able to fight another day.
acquiescent [ ak-wee-ES-uh'nt ]
[adjective] MEANING : willing to consent and carry out the orders or wishes of another without protest USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The changed composition of the House will also mean that Bush will no longer have an acquiescent Congress to work with. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: An acquiescent proletariat is often downtrodden and taken advantage of by the gentry. The Times of India, House Repair, 9 Nov 2006
acrid [ AK-rid ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. bitterly pungent, irritating or stinging to inhale or taste 2. caustic, bitter or acrimonious USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Another eyewitness David Buik, who was watching the blaze from his offices in Canary Wharf, said the fire was producing acrid smoke. CNN, Olympic site blaze clouds London, November 12, 2007
acrimonious [ ak-ruh'-MOH-nee-uh's ]
[adjective] MEANING : Bitter, caustic, or sharply resentful in language, behaviour or nature USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The prolonged and often acrimonious discussions over Barry's move are still developing on Wednesday. CNN, Goalkeeper Cavalieri on way to Liverpool, July 9, 2008
acronym [ AK-ruh'-nim ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a word formed from the initial letters or groups of letters of a name in a set phrase or series of words 2. an acrostic USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The initials are the acronym for the movement he leads - Tanora malaGasy Vonona (Young Malagasies Determined). BBC, Madagascar's 'militant mayor', By Jonny Hogg, 3 February 2009 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Acronyms are often used because they are convenient and easy to remember.
activism [ AK-tuh'-viz-uh'm ]
[noun] MEANING : the use of direct, often confrontational action such as demonstrations or strikes as a means of achieving political or social goals USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Mr Obama, who was elected on a slogan of "change" and whose campaign was built on grassroots activism, will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Telegraph, Barack Obama inauguration: President-Elect invokes spirit of Martin Luther King , By Toby Harnden in Washington, 20 Jan 2009 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Activism is often the sought after tool of change during times of hardships.
actuarial [ AK-choo-AIR-ee-uh'l ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. of or relating to the work of an actuary 2. relating to statistical calculations of life expectancy USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Spaniards also know that the social-security system has been saved from actuarial insolvency by the contributions of young immigrants. Economist, A cooler welcome, Nov 6th 2008.
actuate [ AK-choo-eyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to bring about, incite, induce or activate 2. to start or set into action USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
The Radio Authority, which has recently repeated its opposition to religious broadcasting, cannot possibly be actuated by such fears. Telegraph, For heaven's sake, why do they ban Christian radio?, By Boris Johnson, 23 Aug 2001
acuity [ uh'-KYOO-i-tee ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. to be sharp, acute or keen especially of thought or perception 2. acuteness or keenness of vision USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Rees's quick mind and financial acuity made him a handy Treasury and trade minister. Telegraph, Lord Rees, Pugnacious Chief Secretary to the Treasury who drove down public spending in the 1980s, 02 Dec 2008.
adage [ AD-ij ]
[noun] MEANING : a saying often in metaphorical form that speaks of a general truth and that has gained credibility through long use USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
A new national poll appears to validate the adage that time heals all wounds, at least when it comes to two former presidents of the United States. CNN, Views soften on 2 former presidents, CNN poll finds, By Paul Steinhauser , USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Adages often serve as warnings to help prevent repeating past mistakes.
addle [ AD-l ]
[adjective,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (adj.) rotten, mentally confused 2. (tr.v.) to muddle or confuse 3. (intr.v.) to become confused, to become rotten, as eggs USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Decision should not be made when your mind is addled. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: For those times when your mind is addled, and your center is shaky -- open this little black bag of cures and find your beautiful balance! CNN, Seven ways to restart your day, By Kathryn Matthews, December 24, 2007
adipose [ AD-uh'-pohs ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) composed of, or relating to animal fat 2. (n.) the animal fat stored in adipose tissue USAGE EXAMPLE 2: If fat isn't stored in the adipose tissue, it ends up in the liver and muscles. abcNews, Obesity Doesn't Always Equal Diabetes, By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter, Mar. 23 USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The animal fat stored in adipose tissues is often considered unhealthy for consumption.
adjunct [ AJ-uh'ngkt ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (n.) an appendage or one that is added as an auxiliary or secondary addition 2. (n.) an assistant, subordinate or a person in a secondary or auxiliary position 3. (n.) a secondary or auxiliary word 4. (adj.) attached, joined or connected in an auxiliary or secondary manner USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Food should be part and parcel of education and not just an adjunct to it BBC, School meals 'task force' created, 11 December 2008.
admonish [ ad-MON-ish ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to caution, warn or gently reprove 2. to counsel or gently advise against something 3. to remind or urge to fulfil a duty USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Narayana reportedly used to admonish Ravi, an idler and alcoholic. The Times of India, Murderer played the innocent, 23 Jan 2008.
adorn [ uh'-DAWRN ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to beautify, ornament, embellish or add beauty to 2. to decorate or enhance with ornaments USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Her room was adorned with fresh flowers in various colours and settings. USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
Wealthy ancient Romans were the first to adorn their homes and public buildings with coloured marbles. BBC, Roman 'marbles' go on display, By David Willey Rome correspondent, 3 October, 2002
adroit [ uh'-DROIT ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1) Dextrous; agile 2) Skilful; resourceful USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Mr Sullivan become the third Spitzer boss to fall, joining two lawyers, Mr Prince and Mr Cherkasky, both of whom were considerably less adroit at running companies than they were at cosying up to Mr Spitzer. The Economist, Trigger-happy boards, Jun 17th 2008
adulteration [ uh'-duhl-tuh'-REY-shuh'n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. the process of making something impure by adding something inferior or extraneous or spurious to it 2. one that is impure or adulterated USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Adulteration of food products is a punishable offence. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The U.S. attorney's office announced Robert Ray Courtney, 48, of Kansas City, and the pharmacy he owns, Research Medical Tower Pharmacy, were each charged with eight counts of tampering with consumer products, six counts of adulteration of a drug and six counts of misbranding of a drug. CNN, Pharmacist faces 20 counts of drug tampering, By Terry Frieden CNN Washington Bureau, August 24, 2001
with work seeping into life and life into work, the whole concept of work hours will break down." BBC, My One Day In History - 0600-2359, by Paul Mason, 17 Oct 06.
advent [ AD-vent ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. the arrival or coming 2. the period before Christmas, that includes four Sundays preceding it, which is considered by Christians as a time to pray and fast 3. the coming or birth of Jesus Christ at the Incarnation USAGE EXAMPLE 1: In all the days of advent until Christmas day and from then on until 12th night - the season wherein his birth is celebrated - I have been giving him, and will yet give him, much thought. says Clive James BBC, Lest we forget, Jesus the man, 26 December 2008.
adversary [ AD-ver-ser-ee ]
[noun] MEANING : a person or group that is an opponent or enemy in a contest USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He reportedly views his Israeli counterpart with suspicion, seeing him still as a military adversary rather than a negotiating partner. BBC, Adversaries fail to bond, By Richard Miron in Jerusalem, 18 July, 2000 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Past adversaries can be future friends to serve mutual commitments.
aegis [ EE-jis ]
[noun] MEANING : 1) protection; support: under the imperial aegis 2) Classical Mythology. the shield or breastplate of Zeus or Athena, bearing at its centre the head of the Gorgon. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Kirsti Paakkanen, a stalwart of Finland's advertising world, was persuaded out of retirement to buy Marimekko from Amer for a song and under her aegis the company prospered, tapping new export markets. The Independent, How to dress like Jackie O, Susie Mesure, 23 March 2008
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He was the astronaut in the original Planet of the Apes (1968) who discovers that the gorilladominated world in which he has landed is actually Earth aeons after a nuclear holocaust. Telegraph, Charlton Heston, 07 Apr 2008 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Mythological stories often span aeons during which the plot thickens and evolves.
affable [ AF-uh'-buh' l ]
[adjective] MEANING : Approachable; friendly; pleasant and polite USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The affable host thrives on the adrenaline rush of anything-can-happen live TV and he can handle anything that comes his way. ABC News, Reality Sets in for Seacrest, Bergeron, Others, By ERIN CARLSON, Associated Press Writer, July 18, 2008
affectation [ af-ek-TEY-shuh'n ]
[noun] MEANING : behaviour that is artificial rather than natural; an effort to attract notice by pretence or any assumed peculiarity USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It seems a growing awareness of the damage caused by the sun has helped make an old-fashioned affectation hip again. abcNews, Sun Block: Parasols As Modern Accessory, By SAMANTHA CRITCHELL AP Fashion Writer, April 7, 2008 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Affectations are often employed by people in social gatherings.
The college in our town is affiliated to the biggest university in the country.
affinity [ uh'-FIN-i-tee ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a natural attraction to a person, thing, idea etc 2. an inherent likeness or agreement between persons and things 3. relationship by marriage or by other ties USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Obama demonstrates an easy affinity with pop culture that suggests music is actually important to him. Telegraph, Barack Obama had all the best tunes, 06 Nov 2008 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: He had an affinity towards people who shared his love for antique hunting.
affray [ uh'-FREY ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a public fray, brawl or fight 2. (tr.v.) to scare or frighten USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Police have registered a case under IPC section 160, which refers to affray, a public fight that causes disturbance. The Times of India,Family claims black magic used on them, 12 Jan 2009.
affront [ uh'-FRUHNT ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to insult intentionally and openly 2. (n.) an offence to one's dignity USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The judge said Nifong's withholding of DNA evidence from defense attorneys was an affront to the integrity of the judicial system. CNN, Nifong held in criminal contempt by judge, sentenced to day in jail USAGE EXAMPLE 2: It does not take much to be affronted by the vicious gossip that is being spread around.
MEANING : an enthusiastic admirer of a sport or interest; a fan USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Bayh, a sports aficionado just like his sons, is planning on hitting some tennis balls with them before returning home later today, where he will find the lost bag safe and sound. abcNews, Bayh's Drive-By Gym Bag Drop-Off Incident, August 20, 2008 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Celebrities are often hounded by aficionados for autographs.
aggravate [ AG-ruh'-veyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to make matters worse or more troublesome 2. to rouse to anger or exasperation USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Major loss of land and other property would aggravate poverty and hardship in the region. National Geographic, Melting Himalayan Glaciers May Doom Towns, Pallava Bagla, May 7, 2002 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A thoughtless word or action aggravates a potentially volatile situation.
agnostic [ ag-NOS-tik ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (n.) a person who believes it is impossible to know whether there is a God 2. (n.) one who is doubtful or noncommittal about ultimate knowledge in some area of study 3. (adj.) pertaining to agnostics 4. (adj.) doubtful and uncertain of all claims to knowledge USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Darwin himself quietly renounced Christianity during his middle age, and later described himself as an agnostic. National Geographic, Was Darwin Wrong?, By David Quammen USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Agnostics form a minor percentage of the world population.
agog [ uh'-GOG ]
[adjective,adverb] MEANING : 1. (adj.) highly excited or eager 2. (adv.) in a state of keen desire; excitedly USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Winehouse had not walked the red carpet at the start of the evening and journalists were later agog as the singer, wearing a denim pinafore, walked up to collect her prize. BBC, MTV awards feel Winehouse effect, By Emma Jones, 2 November 2007 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: His agog chatter soon became annoying.
agoraphobia [ ag-er-uh'-FOH-bee-uh' ]
[noun]
MEANING : an abnormal fear of crowds, public places or open areas USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It has the potential to be useful for people whose first language is not English and it's good for particular things such as agoraphobia. BBC, Can online therapy ease depression?, By Emma Wilkinson, 5 April 2007 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: People who suffer from agoraphobia require clinical intervention to live a full life.
aisle [ ahyl ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a passageway between or along sections of seats in a theater, auditorium, airplane or the like 2. longitudinal divisions in a church USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Their reactions are putting pressure on Congress and benefiting watchdog groups on both sides of the political aisle. CNN, Unhappy voters jam Capitol Hill phone lines, By Lisa Desjardins, February 4, 2009 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Passengers were outraged to learn that the airline had reduced the width of aisles in long distance airplanes.
akimbo [ uh'-KIM-boh ]
[adjective,adverb] MEANING : (adv.) In a position in which the hands are on the hips and elbows extend outwards (adj.) Placed in a way such that the hands are on the hips and the elbows extend outward USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Sitting in his small house near Mann's compound on the town's outskirts, annu devotedly dips his hands into the mound of clay as he shapes out various postures of Ganesha --standing with hands akimbo, nataraja-style and what not. The Times of India, Creating god is their job, 9 Aug 2001, TNN
alacrity [ uh'-LAK-ri-tee ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. promptness, eagerness or cheerful readiness 2. briskness, celerity or liveliness USAGE EXAMPLE 1: America's long-drawn-out presidential contest, diplomats believe, has given Putin an opportunity he has seized with alacrity. CNN, Putin seeks a role on world stage, By Robin Oakley, European political editor, November 29, 2000
alchemy [ AL-kuh'-mee ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy having as its aims, transmuting baser metals into gold, the discovery of a universal cure for disease and an elixir of longevity 2. any magical power or process by which a common substance can be transmuted into a substance of great value USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
Obama was elected as a visionary, presenting voters with a somewhat mysterious but winning alchemy of youth, fresh ideas, modernity and the promise of a new era. abcNews, Analysis: Team Obama Preoccupied With Bush, USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The art of alchemy was subtle and often misunderstood.
alcove [ AL-kohv ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a nook, niche or partly enclosed or recession section of a room 2. a summerhouse USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The wardrobe had been fitted into an alcove. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The 100-year-old statue of St Methodius had been in an alcove on the outside of Exeter Cathedral. BBC, Vandals target cathedral statue, 21 August 2008
ale [ eyl ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a beverage like beer that is made by fermenting malt and hops with yeast 2. an English country festival where ale is served as the primary beverage USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He preferred ale to beer. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: According to TNS, a market-research firm, the volume of real-ale sales has grown by 3% over the past year, whereas total beer sales were flat. Economist, Live liquid, Aug 14th 2008
alias [ EY-lee-uh' s ]
[noun,adverb] MEANING : 1. (n.) an assumed name used to conceal one's identity 2. (adv.) otherwise known as; also known as USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Disney first flew over central Florida in an airplane chartered under an alias to keep his mission secret. National Geographic, Beyond Disney, By T. D. Allman, March 2007 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: An alias is used by spies to protect their true identity.
alibi [ AL-uh'-bahy ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. A form of defence where a person attempts to prove that he or she was elsewhere when the crime in question was committed 2. explanation given to avoid blame or justify an action; an excuse. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A lawyer who provided a 'serious criminal' with a false alibi for his High Court trial has been jailed for five years. The Herald, False alibi lawyer jailed for five years
alimony [ AL-uh'-moh-nee ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. money paid to a spouse as support or maintenance the another pending or after divorce as suggested by a court of law 2. maintenance or means of livelihood USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The alimony amounted to a few million dollars. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Terms of the divorce, including alimony, were not made public, according to Spears' attorney, Laura Wasser. CNN, Police investigated possible threat against Federline, September 18, 2007.
allay [ uh'-LEY ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to end or lay to rest or to make quiet 2. (tr.v.) to relieve, alleviate or mitigate 3. (intr.v.) to subside USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Sheila Bair, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., sought to allay those worries Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press. abcNews, As Banks Teeter Again, Wall St. Looks for Answers, By STEVENSON JACOBS AP Business Writer, January 21, 2009
allege [ uh'-LEJ ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to assert or declare without any proof 2. to offer or cite as a reason or excuse 3. (archaic) to quote or cite in confirmation as an authority USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Police did not allege a motive. abcNews, Australian Charged With Daughter's Death Plunge, By DENNIS PASSA Associated Press Writer, January 29, 2009
allegiance [ uh'-LEE-juh' ns ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a vassal, feudal lord, sovereign or country 2. loyalty or devotion to a person or cause USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He promised allegiance to the Nawab. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: School-leavers should be encouraged to swear an oath of allegiance to Queen and country, says a report commissioned by Gordon Brown on British citizenship. BBC, Pupils 'to take allegiance oath', 11 March 2008
[noun] MEANING : 1. figurative representation of an abstract idea by means of concrete characters, events or symbols 2. an emblem or symbolic representation USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The environment is merely an allegory for how the U.S. will achieve this revival. CNN, Green pragmatism from Thomas Friedman, By Constance Cheng, December 19, 2008
allergic [ uh'-LUR-jik ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. having an aversion or dislike to 2. of, characterized by, pertaining to allergy USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Mrs Mitchell, a grandmother, suffered a serious allergic reaction to the bite and within seconds she was gasping for breath and losing consciousness. Telegraph, False widow spider spreading across Britain puts woman in intensive care, By Nigel Bunyan, 28 Jan 2009 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: An allergic reaction should be treated as soon as possible to prevent it turning fatal.
alleviate [ uh'-LEE-vee-eyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : to relieve, assuage or mitigate esp. pain USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Headaches are alleviated by painkillers. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A therapy that boosts the creation of neurons may alleviate some memory problems. CNN, How memories form, fade, and persist over time, By Elizabeth Landau CNN, January 28, 2009
alliteration [ uh'-lit-uh'-REY-shuh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a repetition of the same sounds or syllables in neighbouring words 2. an instance of two or more neighbouring words in a sentence beginning with the same letter USAGE EXAMPLE 1: That album title is beginning to seem less like a clever piece of alliteration and more like a mission statement. BBC, Pussycats, where have you been?, By Mark Savage, 29 July 2008
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The nickel-tungsten alloy can be extremely bright and shiny, and even made to become harder than chrome. Economist, Shine on me, Jun 4th 2009
allude [ uh'-LOOD ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to refer to indirectly or casually 2. to contain an indirect or casual reference to something USAGE EXAMPLE 1: As in Philadelphia, Obama alluded to, but did not name, the president who inspired his train journey. CNN, Obama to crowds: 'I love you back', January 17, 2009
allusion [ uh'-LOO-zhuh'n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. of passing or casual reference, an instance of implied or indirect reference 2. the act of alluding or hinting at something USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Love songs predominate, with themes of unrequited love and frequent allusion to the Leyla and Majnoon story being very important. National Geographic, Afghanistan,
aloof [ uh'-LOOF ]
[adjective,adverb] MEANING : 1. (adj.) reticent, reserved, remote or distant 2. (adv.) apart or at a distance USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Her aloof attitude did not make conversation easy. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Many people think of scientists as an aloof bunch, but get them talking about their subject and you can see their eyes light up. Telegraph, Let's inspire the next generation of scientists, By Maggie Aderin-Pocock, 13 Mar 2009
altercation [ awl-ter-KEY-shuh' n ]
[noun] MEANING :
a heated or noisy argument USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Frazer Wright said yesterday he believes his controversial altercation with Shunsuke Nakamura has been made to appear more serious than it actually was. The Herald, Wright: slap was blown out of proportion, MARTIN McMILLAN, October 04 2008 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: An altercation between friends can strain their relationship and lead to distrust.
altruism [ AL-troo-iz-uh' m ]
[noun] MEANING : Unselfish regard or devotion to the welfare of others; selflessness. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Recent research includes work on gestures and language as well as selfishness versus altruism in chimpanzees. National Geographic, The Thinking Chimp: How to Help, March 2008 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Altruism may not always be well received.
amalgamate [ uh'-MAL-guh'-meyt ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to mix, combine or blend together 2. (tr.v.) to mix with mercury 3. (intr.v.) to coalesce, merge or unite USAGE EXAMPLE 1: All data has to be amalgamated then studied to reach a valid conclusion. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The Australian institute has just completed an atlas of sea temperatures over the past decade and amalgamated it with historical data to show 2002 was the warmest year for water temperatures off northeast Australia since 1870. CNN, Global warming threat to Barrier Reef, July 25, 2002
ambidextrous [ am-bi-DEK-struh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1) Able to skilfully use both hands 2) Unusually skilful; versatile; adroit 3) Double-dealing; hypocritical or deceitful USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He's also pianistically ambidextrous these days, a big deal for a brilliant artist who lost the use of his right hand in 1965 and only regained it - to a limited degree - about 10 years ago. The Sun, Fleisher celebrates 80 years of music, By Tim Smith, Sun Music Critic, July 20, 2008
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The ambience of the restaurant is designed to make it more welcoming and cozy.
ambiguous [ am-BIG-yoo-uh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. open to various interpretations 2. vague, inexplicable or uncertain USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The psychologist showed ambiguous pictures and asked some questions. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Mozart's lighter instrumental pieces are an ambiguous and varied group of works. The Herald, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Great Hall, Stirling Castle, ROWENA SMITH, June 10 2008
ambivalence [ am-BIV-uh'-luh' ns ]
[noun] MEANING : simultaneously desire or feel two conflicting emotions at the same time USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Investors' ambivalence about earnings reports gave Wall Street a mixed performance Friday. abcNews, Dow struggles with weak profits, but Google lifts tech, By Stephen Bernard And Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer, USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The ambivalence often experienced by people leads to indecision.
ambivalent [ am-BIV-uh'-luh' nt ]
[adjective] MEANING : exhibiting simultaneous, contradictory emotions, attitudes or feelings USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Her ambivalent reactions confused everyone. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The Russian president Dmitry Medvedev had given ambivalent indications about his country's intentions at the G8 summit in Japan earlier this week. Telegraph, Zimbabwe: China justifies sanctions veto, By Sebastian Berger in Johannesburg, 12 Jul 2008
ambrosial [ am-BROH-zhuh' l ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. divine or fit or worthy of the Gods 2. extremely pleasant, delicious or fragrant USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The critics praised the ambrosial food. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Go and plunge yourself into the calm sea of spiritual solitude, and wash your soul in the nectar of ambrosial meditation. The Times of India, SACRED SPACE: Spiritual Solace, 24 Mar 2005.
amicable [ AM-i-kuh'-buh' l ]
[adjective] MEANING : characterized by goodwill or friendliness USAGE EXAMPLE 1: President Lee Myung-bak has been at pains to present an amicable face to foreign business since his election. Economist, A game of patience, Jul 31st 2008 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Amicable relations with one's neighbours are of essence to improve international relations.
amiss [ uh'-MIS ]
[adjective,adverb] MEANING : 1. (adj.) out of order, faulty, improper or imperfect 2. (adv.) wrongly, faultily, imperfectly or in a mistaken manner USAGE EXAMPLE 1: There were ample warnings that something was amiss, a long time before the banks collapsed. BBC, Waking up to reality in Iceland, By Jon Danielsson, 26 January 2009
amity [ AM-i-tee ]
[noun] MEANING : friendship, accord, harmony or peaceful relations esp. between nations or countries USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The issue cited by Sheng and other Chinese officials most dangerous to Sino-American amity is the
amorous [ AM-er-uh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. strongly disposed, attracted to or fond of love esp. making love 2. enamored or being in love 3. suggestive of, indicating or expressing love 4. associated with or pertaining to love USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A group that helps hundreds of amorous toads to cross busy roads in the New Forest is appealing for volunteers. BBC, Appeal for toad patrol volunteers, 10 February 2008
amphibian [ am-FIB-ee-uh' n ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (n.) an organism belonging to class Amphibia which consists of cold-blooded vertebrates that can live on land as well as in water 2. (n.) a vehicle which can be used on the land as well as in water 3. (adj.) pertaining to or an organism of class Amphibia USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A team of Indian and UK based zoologists has discovered a rare amphibian in Maharashtra that does not lay eggs, but actually gives birth to young ones. The Times of India, Rare Amphibian found in state, 13 September, 2008
amplify [ AM-pluh'-fahy ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to enlarge, extend or increase 2. (tr.v.) to develop, exaggerate or expand with illustrations and ideas 3. (tr.v.) (electronics) to boost the amplitude of a signal4. (intr.v.) to expand or expatiate one's thoughts with illustrations USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Hedge funds are mostly not to blame for the mess of the markets but their access to leverage (surely a thing of the past now) has amplified the problem. Telegraph, Fresh ideas in investment analysis include finding 'known unknowns', By Tim Steer, 27 Nov 2008
amuck [ uh'-muh'k ]
[adjective,adverb] MEANING : 1. (adv.) in a murderously violent or frenzied manner 2. (adj.) crazed, mad or possessed with a violent or murderous frenzy USAGE EXAMPLE 2: In an instance of a family feud that went out of control at New Perungalathur (near Tambaram) on Saturday night, one person ran amuck, injuring three of his relatives with a knife. The Times of India, Man runs amuck, injures his relatives, by Sibi Arasu, 24 Nov 2008 USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The stable hand ran amuck through the pastures disturbing the grazing cows.
anachronism [ uh'-NAK-ruh'-niz-uh' m ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. an error in chronology when a person or event in history is placed at a wrong period of time 2. something that is incorrect in a historical or chronological order USAGE EXAMPLE 1: UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has dismissed the old policy as an "anachronism" based on an "outdated concept". The Times of India, India & the Tibet card, Shobhana Saxena, 23 November, 2008
anarchist [ AN-er-kist ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. an advocate of anarchy or anarchism 2. a rebel, renegade or one who can cause an upheaval or revolt
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Young Israelis, some of them self-described anarchists, also take part in the protests. CNN, Palestinian despair deepens ahead of elections, February 10, 2009 USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The anarchist succeeded in his aim to lead the labourers to revolt against the land lords.
anchorite [ ang-kuh'-rahyt ]
[noun] MEANING : A person who has retired to a secluded place for religious reasons USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The earliest form of Christian monasticism was, probably, that of the anchorites or hermits; a later development is found in the pillar saints, called Stylites, who spent most of their time on the tops of pillars in order to separate themselves from the world and to mortify the flesh. MNS encarta, Monasticism
anecdote [ AN-ik-doht ]
[noun] MEANING : a usually short narrative of a particular incident or event of an interesting or amusing nature, often biographical. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Mankind becomes a mere anecdote against that staggering canvas; we see ourselves as we really arebound to the natural world around us. National Geographic, Through the Eyes of the Condor, By Marie Arana USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Comedians should be in possession of an assortment of anecdotes.
angst [ ahngkst ]
[noun] MEANING : a feeling of dread, anxiety or apprehension USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Cup competitions have been a particular source of angst to the Rangers attacker. The Herald, Naismith hopes for change of fortunes in cup competition, DARRYL BROADFOOT, Chief Football Writer, January 27 2009 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Feelings of angst are a common occurrence during teenage years.
anguish [ ANG-gwish ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) intense suffering or pain 2. (tr.v.) to inflict with or cause distress or extreme pain 3. (intr.v.) to suffer from or endure intense sorrow or pain USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The mental anguish suffered by the POWs continued even after their release. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: New Delhi has warned the Australian government of the "deep anguish" over the attacks, and stated that the lucrative Indian education market could suffer. Telegraph, Bollywood star turns down honorary degree after attacks, By Barney Henderson in Mumbai, 31 May 2009
angular [ ANG-gyuh'-ler ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. having, consisting of or forming an angle 2. bony, gaunt or lean 3. stiff, unyielding or rigid USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Tall and angular, dressed in purple and red checks and armed with simple spears, the Maasai warriors of the Ngorongoro highlands maintain a steady gaze as we slow past them in the Land Cruiser. Telegraph, Year of Discovery competition: walking with the Maasai, By Stuart Heaver, 19 Dec 2008
animosity [ an-uh'-MOS-i-tee ]
[noun] MEANING : enmity, hostility or bitter hatred USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The animosity between the two warring clans has cost the lives of many people. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Traditional animosity towards ethnic Vietnamese has reached fever pitch during Cambodia's election campaign. BBC, Playing the Vietnamese card, 25 July, 1998
animus [ AN-uh'-muh' s ]
[noun]
MEANING : 1. hatred, enmity or animosity 2. intention, disposition, animating spirit or purpose 3. (as per psychology of G.C. Jung) the masculine component that is present in a female's personality USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A personal animus between Putin and Saakashvili is believed to have contributed to increasing tension that erupted into war between Russia and Georgia in August. abcNEWS, Putin Makes Crude Outburst About Georgian Leader, December 4, 2008. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The animus seen throughout the novel between the major characters is nerve racking.
annals [ AN-lz ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. yearly chronological record of events 2. chronicles or historical account or record 3. record or journal that contains reports of the activities transpiring in an organisation USAGE EXAMPLE 2: January 30 1972 - forever Bloody Sunday in the annals of the Troubles in Northern Ireland - was not the bloodiest day, but perhaps the most significant in helping to decide the direction and progress of the bitter conflict in the decades that followed. BBC, Long wait for Bloody Sunday report, by John Thorne, 7 November 2008. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The annals of the war were very well documented.
annihilate [ uh'-NAHY-uh'-leyt ]
[verb] MEANING : To do away with something; destroy completely USAGE EXAMPLE 1: You must use missiles and annihilate them. BBC News, Rabbi calls for annihilation of Arabs, Tuesday, 10 April, 2001
anomaly [ uh'-NOM-uh'-lee ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. divergence or deviation from a rule or form 2. something that is strange odd or peculiar 3. (astronomy) the angular deviation of a planet orbiting the sun from its perihelion (as observed from the sun) USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The Ten Thousand Things model remains something of an anomaly in the theater world a wellrespected organization, staffed by a rotating cast of professional actors, that eschews traditional stages altogether. abcNEWS, Theater for an unlikely audience, By Matthew Shaer
The likelihood of recovery from anosmia depends on what has caused it, as well as any treatment. BBC News, Sense and scent ability, By Claire Heald
antecedent [ an-tuh'-SEED-nt ]
[noun] MEANING : Preceding events that affect later developments USAGE EXAMPLE 1: When I heard it yesterday, while trolling for Carlin fodder, I realized that this is a clear antecedent to The Googlenope, a concept I created. The Washington Post, Chatological Humor, Gene Weingarten, Washington Post Staff Writer, Tuesday, June 24, 2008
antediluvian [ an-tee-di-LOO-vee-uh' n ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : (adj.) 1) Of or pertaining to the era before the biblical Flood 2) Antiquated; very old or primitive; belonging to an earlier time (n.) 1) A person who lived before the Flood 2) A very old person; a person or a thing who is very old-fashioned USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It now appears likely that this version of the king-list tradition also contains the name of nine antediluvian kings and a narrative account of the flood, although only a few hints of it remain in the very fragmentary text. Prologue to History: The Yahwist as Historian in Genesis, By John Van Seters
antidote [ AN-ti-doht ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a remedy that can be used to counteract or neutralize the harmful effects of poison 2. (n.) one that relieves or neutralizes the harmful effects of another 3. (tr.v.) to counteract or neutralise by means of an antidote USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Bezoar is considered to be an antidote to most poisons. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: People's lives are so complicated, driven and busy; gardens are an excellent antidote and should be celebrated as such. Telegraph, Garden visiting does us all a power of good., Ursula Buchan, 02 Jun 2009
apathetic [ ap-uh'-THET-ik ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1) Having or showing a lack of emotion 2) Having or showing a lack of interest or concern USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Most all of them were dull and apathetic, went to sleep no matter where they were -- on litters while being carried into the hospital, on chairs, or in doorjambs, before being put to bed. The Sun, View from Fort McHenry, Memoirs from head nurse show suffering of soldiers at Fort McHenry
apiary [ EY-pee-er-ee ]
[noun] MEANING : A place in which bees or bee hives are kept and raised for honey USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The honey in their popular Pooh Beer is from a bee keeper whose apiary is just up the road from them in Ridge Lane. BBC, Nuneaton brewery rises to the taste challenge, 10 February 2003
apocalyptic [ uh'-pok-uh'-LIP-tik ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) pertaining to or of an apocalypse 2. (adj.) prophetic, revelatory or ominous or suggestive of a disastrous outcome 3. (adj.) pertaining to or suggestive of a final doom or turbulent end of the world 4. (n.) a system where it is believed that the world will end or be doomed in a violent or disastrous way USAGE EXAMPLE 2: I thought it was kind of apocalyptic, like it was the end of the world, said Shogren abcNEWS, Old-Timers Brace for Possible Eruption, by RACHEL D'ORO, February 3, 2009. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The apocalyptic vision of Nostradamus has managed to scare people for centuries.
apocryphal [ uh'-POK-ruh'-fuh' l ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1) spurious; of doubtful authenticity 2) (often capitalised) Of or pertaining to the Apocrypha USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The story may or may not be apocryphal but it reminds us that countries are created in the hearts and minds of men and women.
apogee [ Ap-uh'-jee ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. the point in the orbit of the moon or of an artificial satellite at which it is farthest from the earth 2. the farthest or highest point, the apex USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Chinese tea culture has reached its apogee. National Geographic, Sky Show Friday: Biggest, Brightest Full Moon of 2008, Andrew Fazekas, December 11, 2008
apoplexy [ AP-uh'-plek-see ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a stroke or cerebral accident 2. haemorrhage or sudden effusion of blood into a tissue or organ 3. an impairment or loss of bodily esp. neurological function caused by the breakage or rupture of a blood vessel USAGE EXAMPLE 2: If the replacement of the old cast iron columns with what David derides as "motorway lights" was not galling in itself, the fate of the removed lights is enough to propel him into apoplexy. BBC, 'Stop nicking my street furniture', by Finlo Rohrer, 27 June 2008 USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Losing his temper caused him to suffer an apoplexy.
apothegm [ AP-uh'-them ]
[noun] MEANING : a pithy or short saying that is instructive in nature USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The acquittal of Manu Sharma proves the apothegm, 'the rich and powerful can get away with murder.' The Times of India, Hometown shuns Manu, his nightclub, Jaspreet Nijher & Ankur Batra, TNN, 27 Feb 2006
1. deification or elevation or exaltation to a divine stature 2. quintessence, epitome or glorified example USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Their love story became the apotheosis for generations to come. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The policy reached its apotheosis in the scandal that became known as the Iran-Contra affair. BBC, Critics question Reagan legacy, By Richard Allen Greene BBC News Online, 9 June, 2004
appal [ uh'-PAWL ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to horrify, dismay, shock or scandalize 2. (intr.v.) to enfeeble, fail or weaken USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The entire experience was extremely disappointing, and I am utterly disgusted and appalled at the organization and preparation of this event CNN, Disappointed inaugural ticket holders turned away, January 22, 2009 USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The news about the shooting has appalled the country as a whole.
apparition [ ap-uh'-RISH-uh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a spectre, wraith, phantom or supernatural appearance 2. a manifestation or sudden appearance 3. an unusual appearance or sight USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The faithful insist that miracles really do happen in the French mountains of Lourdes on the spot where, 150 years ago, a local girl called Bernadette said she saw an apparition in a cave. abcNEWS, Miracle in the Mountains, by NICK WATT, June 24, 2008. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The ghostly apparition appeared only at midnight.
appease [ uh'-PEEZ ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to pacify, soothe or calm by giving in to one's demands 2. to assuage, allay, satisfy or relieve 3. to concede in a conciliatory effort USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He appeased his boss by working on weekends. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Congress is slightly more focused on rural and social issues, but both are constrained by the need to appease local interests. Telegraph, India's election delivers investors much needed stability, By Una Galani, breakingviews.com, 18 May 2009
appellation [ ap-uh'-LEY-shuh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. title, name, designation or an identifier 2. an instance or act of naming
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Up to one-third of wines marketed under France's regional "appellation" system do not deserve the label, a leading French consumer group says. BBC, Doubt over quality of French wine,5 September 2007. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The appellation was befitting his rank.
appraise [ uh'-PREYZ ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to evaluate or estimate the worth or value of 2. to estimate or judge the quality or nature of USAGE EXAMPLE 1: SPACE.com asked prominent leaders in various space fields to appraise Bigelow's down payment on the future. CNN, Bigelow gambles on private space station, By Leonard David, July 26, 2006
apprehensive [ ap-ri-HEN-siv ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. anxious, afraid, uneasy or fearful 2. discerning or cognizant 3. quick to understand, learn or apprehend USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She was an apprehensive child, prone to panic attacks. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The first anniversary of 11th September finds many New Yorkers feeling apprehensive. BBC, New York's mixed emotions, By Peter Gould, BBC News Online in New York, 10 September, 2002
apprise [ uh'-PRAHYZ ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : to inform, tell, notify or advise USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He was apprised about the developing political crisis. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: ICE spokeswoman Nicole Navas said in an e-mail to the Associated Press, "We have contacted interested members of Congress to apprise them of the reinstituted removals". abcNEWS, Deportations to Storm-Crippled Haiti Resume, by KELLI KENNEDY, December 8, 2008.
approbation [ ap-ruh'-BEY-shuh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : approval, commendation or praise USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His approbation was necessary for the wedding to take place. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Meeting with top members of President Barack Obama's Cabinet, Biden warned that he plans to use "the moral approbation of this office" to make sure the huge fund of stimulus money is put to use creating jobs and rebuilding the nation's infrastructure. abcNews, Biden: Use Stimulus Money Wisely or Lose It, By STEVEN R. HURST Associated Press Writer, February 25, 2009
apropos [ ap-ruh'-POH ]
[adjective,adverb] MEANING : 1. (adj.) apt, appropriate, opportune or relevant 2. (adv.) opportunely, seasonably or at the appropriate or right time 3. (adv.) incidentally or by the way USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The coup must be timed at the apropos juncture. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: I saw one where the D had been painted over and the message seemed more apropos. abcNews, Heat, Flat Tires and Bullets in Iraq, By MIKE TUGGLE, June 28, 2006
apt [ apt ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. prone, likely or inclined 2. appropriate, suitable or fitting 3. intelligent or quick to understand, apprehend or learn USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It is an apt conclusion to the crisis. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The Wat Pa Laung Ta Bua Yannasampanno Forest Monastary, also known by the apt nickname Tiger Temple, in Kanchanburi, Thailand, is home to 34 tigers. abcNEWS, Tiger Temple of Thailand, December 17, 2008.
arabesque [ ar-uh'-BESK ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (n.) a posture in ballet where the dancer bends forward with one arm and leg extended forward and the other arm and leg extended backwards
2. (n.) an ornate, complex design with intricate geometric, floral and foliate figures 3. (n.) a whimsical, fanciful musical piece esp. one for the piano 4. (adj.) elaborate or like or characterised by an arabesque USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The ballerina was asked to finish the ballet with an arabesque. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The second album with then new guitar virtuoso Mick Taylor, Sticky Fingers absolutely soars with bricklayer-beat drums, arabesque leads and a tight rhythm and bass that holds it all together. The Times of India, For those about to rock..., 30 Jul 2007.
arable [ AR-uh'-buh' l ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) cultivable, fit to grow crops or capable of being used for farming 2. (n.) land that is fit for agriculture USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Growing the plant does not create pressure on supplies of arable land and water in the way that agricultural crop biofuels does. Telegraph, Scientists to investigate how to make green fuel from seaweed, By Simon Johnson, 17 Dec 2008
arbiter [ AHR-bi-ter ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. umpire, judge or arbitrator 2. one with an authoritative and absolute power to judge USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The judgment subjected parliamentary action to judicial review and held that the Supreme Court was the final arbiter for testing the legality of any action The Times of India, Judicial activism a need of the hour, by Umesh Kumar Singh, 9 Apr 2007. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The President is the chief arbiter of justice with the power of issuing pardons to criminals facing death rows.
archetype [ AHR-ki-tahyp ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. prototype or original model 2. quintessence or ideal representative USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
The comedy comes from the interaction of the three archetypes though they all like to play the drums. Telegraph, Blue Man Group: the whole world gets the blue, by Jasper Rees, 28 Jan 2009. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It was of essence to get the archetype right to avoid further complications.
ardor [ AHR-der ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. passion, fervour or fiery intensity 2. zeal or enthusiasm 3. fiery glow USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The ardor of the UEFA fans is unmatched. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Los Angeles is historically friendly to incumbents, but Hahn's supporters have less ardor than his opponents, so a high turn-out election should benefit them, not him. abcNews, The Note: 'Both Hopeful and Precarious', By MARK HALPERIN, MARC AMBINDER and LISA TODOROVICH, March 8, 2005
armistice [ AHR-muh'-stis ]
[noun] MEANING : A mutual decision to stop fighting temporarily USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The Koreas are still formally at war because their 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. The Morning Call, SKorean president says North Korea mountain tour to be suspended until Pyongyang allows probe, By HYUNG-JIN KIM, Associated Press Writer, July 16, 2008
arrant [ AR-uh' nt ]
[adjective] MEANING : without moderation, unmitigated, extreme USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Nicola Sturgeon, the deputy first minister, rejected the Treasury's claims as "arrant nonsense" Telegraph, Experts warn Alex Salmond over tax, by Simon Johnson, 14 Apr 2008.
array [ uh'-REY ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to marshal, arrange or place in a desired manner 2. (tr.v.) to adorn, deck up or clothe with ornamental or showy garments 3. (n.) an ordered arrangement, distribution or grouping 4. (n.) finery or splendid attire USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Funded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the finished array will have 350 six-metre antennas and will be one of the world's largest. BBC, Skies to be swept for alien life, 12 October 2007. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The general arrayed his troops for battle.
arrogance [ AR-uh'-guh' ns ]
[noun] MEANING : self-importance or overbearing pride USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His arrogance lost him his employee's respect. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has accused Spain's King Juan Carlos of "arrogance" after he told Mr Chavez to shut up during a summit in Chile. BBC, Spain king 'arrogant' says Chavez, 14 November 2007. Accessed: 11th June 2009
arroyo [ uh'-ROI-oh ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a dry gulch, gully or channel esp. in an arid region 2. a creek, stream, rivulet or brook
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: There are 80 miles [129 kilometers] of singletrack running through Cottonwood Valley and many more miles of trail in the surrounding purlieus, but this little arroyo is among the most interesting sections. National Geographic, destination - Vegas Rocks, by Steve Casimiro. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The hard push sent him sprawling face down into the arroyo.
artifact [ AHR-tuh'-fakt ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. an object made by humans that could be of historical interest 2. an article or structure that has been archaeologically excavated 3. an object that reflects contemporary culture 4. something that becomes apparent after extraneous (esp. human) activity USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The artifacts were part of a dagger buried with a warrior chief, near Stonehenge, nearly 4,000 years ago. Telegraph, Britain's 'most important archeological' discovery found in desk drawer, By Urmee Khan, 23 Oct 2008
artifice [ AHR-tuh-fis ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. wile, stratagem, or a sly trick 2. trickery, cunningness or craftiness 3. ingenuity, skill or inventiveness USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The world is already full of visual artifice, and we aren't running the International Photography Contest to add to it. National Geographic, A message from the Director of Photography of National Geographic. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The high school drama was his directional debut, full of artifice and panache.
ascend [ uh'-SEND ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING :
1. 2. 3. 4.
(tr.v.) to move upwards, rise or mount (tr.v.) to rise or move upwards to a higher level or degree (intr.v.) to climb or go up (intr.v.) to succeed, assume or occupy
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The climber ascended to a height of 10,000 feet. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A memorial service has been held in Edinburgh to remember the life of a veteran climber who died while trying to ascend Mount Everest. BBC, Service remembers Everest climber, 20 June, 2005 Accessed: 11th June 2009
ascertain [ as-er-TEYN ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to determine, find out or discover with utmost certainty 2. (archaic) to make certain or precise USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It has been ascertained that the death was caused by a blow to the head by a blunt object. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Brit Insurance swung between gains and losses as traders tried to ascertain whether the Lloyd's of London insurer is going to tap shareholders for fresh funds to finance a bid for Chaucer. Telegraph, Market report: China trade sanction fears drive down BHP, By Ben Harrington, 11 Jun 2009
ascetic [ uh'-SET-ik ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (n.) a person who, in order to achieve spiritual discipline, forgoes material comforts and leads a life of rigorous self-denial and contemplation 2. (adj.) austere or self-denying USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He gave up everyday comforts to live life as an ascetic. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Mr Chamlong - an ascetic Buddhist and retired military general - urged supporters not to abandon the site if he were arrested. BBC, Thailand PM vows not to use force, 28 August 2008 Accessed: 11th June 2009
ascribe [ uh'-SKRAHYB ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to attribute, credit, assign or impute 2. to attribute someone or something as a source USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The entire success of the project was ascribed to his efforts. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Fewer Democrats ascribe positive qualities to Obama than they did so a month ago, with white working-class Democrats, in particular, expressing more skeptical views of the Illinois senator. CNN, Analysis: The Wright effect on presidential race, By John King CNN Chief National Correspondent, May 3, 2008. Accessed: 11th June 2009
MEANING : 1. (adj.) sterile or free of pathogenic microbes 2. (adj.) lacking, warmth, animation or emotion 3. (n.) a commodity sold in an aseptic container USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The culled birds are buried in pits with lime, potassium permanganate and ordinary salt for creating aseptic conditions The Times of India, Bird flu: 80,000 birds to be culled today, 21 Feb 2006. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Aseptic conditions are important in a medicinal laboratory.
asinine [ AS-uh'-nahyn ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. Foolish, silly or stupid 2. Pertaining to an ass USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Well, that's why he's not going to win, because everybody understands that's an asinine attitude. CNN, Prison pointer for Traficant: Go quietly, August 1, 2002
askance [ uh'-SKANS ]
[adverb] MEANING : 1. glance obliquely or sideways 2. to observe suspiciously USAGE EXAMPLE 1: No longer does society look askance at single parents who might be so as they never married, or are divorced or lost a partner. The Times Of India, Parent Parochialism, 19 Sep 2008
asperity [ uh'-SPER-i-tee ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. ruggedness, harshness or roughness 2. difficulty, rigor or hardship 3. rudeness or acrimony USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The caption notes with some asperity that they thought it was closing but the information turned out to be "a stunt" by a rival party. BBC, Something new to say, By Mark Mardell, 5 April, 2005
assail [ uh'-SEYL ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to assault or attack using violent blows 2. to attacks with words, abuse or criticism 3. to beset or impinge upon USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The accused was assailed by the angry crowd as soon as he stepped out of the court room. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Senator John Kerry has assailed the president over the issue, citing it as evidence of the Bush administration's poor handling of the war. BBC, Weapons row: Who said what, 29 October, 2004. Accessed: 11th June 2009
assiduous [ uh'-SIJ-oo-uh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : Showing constant attention and application; persistent USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He is always assiduous in preparation and is simply never casual in his approach to anything to with work and that is the same for his chat show too. BBC, Michael Parkinson - Journalist and Broadcaster, 19th February 2008
astringent [ uh'-STRIN-juh' nt ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) styptic or constrictive 2. (adj.) caustic or pungent 3. (adj.) austere or severe 4. (n.) a substance like alum that is an astringent and helps constrict body tissues in order to stop
blood flow USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She hated the astringent like odour normally associated with hospitals. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The crunchy beans squeak with freshness, although the astringent pickle of the mushrooms puckers and ultimately overwhelms. Telegraph, Are you ready to order? This week: Le Cercle, Jan Moir, 08 May 2004
athwart [ uh'-THWAWRT ]
[adverb] MEANING : 1. (adv.) To oppose or obstruct perversely or wrongly 2. (adv.) from side to side, crosswise or transversely 3. (pre.) across 4. (pre.) contrary to USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The Pinedale mesa not only sits athwart the migration corridor but also overlies the Pinedale anticline, a sandstone formation containing trillions of cubic feet of natural gas. National Geographical, Demand for natural gas and the resulting land-use pressures are pitting America's Old West against the New, by John G. Mitchell.
atonement [ uh-TOHN-muhnt ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. amends, satisfaction or reparation for offence 2. reconciliation between God and man that was brought about by the redemptive life and death of Jesus Christ USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The atonement of his sins was to correct the wrongs that he had done.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The five Sikh high priests pronounced religious atonement upon Mahant Jagmohan Singh Sewapanthi of Dera Nischal Singh , Yamunanagar for reciting Garud Puran at their dera, refusing to appear before Akal Takht , breaking promise of meeting Singh Sahib and using objectionable language against high priests. The Times of India, Priests pronounce religious atonement, Yudhvir Rana TNN, 17 Jan 2004 Accessed: 19 June 2009
audacious [ aw-DEY-shuh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. adventurous, fearless, rash or bold 2. brazen, insolent or unrestrained by shame 3. inventive or original USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His audacious behaviour caused a lot of embarrassment to his family. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: In the first century B.C., a self-absorbed kind named Antiochus I, ruler of the ancient land of Commagene, built an audacious tomb and monument to himself on top of a 7,000-foot-high (2,134-meter-high) mountain called Nemrud Dagh. National Geographic, AnatoliaA History Forged by Disaster, Republished from the pages of National Geographic magazine, Written by Rick Gore, July 2000. Accessed: 11th June 2009
augury [ AW-gyuh'-ree ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. divination or a rite performed while divinating
2. an indication or omen USAGE EXAMPLE 1: BBC business editor Robert Peston warned that the 70% fall in profits was a worrying possible augury of the problems other UK banks may disclose as they report their results. BBC, Sharp profit fall for Lloyds TSB, 30 July 2008
auspicious [ aw-SPISH-uh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. propitious, favourable or of good omen 2. fortunate, successful or prosperous USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Today is considered as an auspicious day. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The acting secretary general of the New Politics Party (NPP), Suriyasai Katasila, said the registration papers were submitted to the Election Commission at 0909 Thursday - nine being considered an auspicious number in Thailand. BBC, Thai 'yellow shirts' form party, 4 June 2009. Accessed: 11th June 2009
austere [ aw-STEER ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. stern, strict or ascetic 2. grave or serious 3. bare or unadorned USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His austere appearance managed to scare the new students. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Photographer Samantha Appleton treks through the adventure travel classic to experience the austere natural beauty coexisting with the harsh political reality. National Geographic, Nepal on the Brink, By Rachel Scheer. Accessed: 11th June 2009
autocrat [ AW-tuh'-krat ]
[noun] MEANING : a monarch who has absolute power or authority, a despot or dictator USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Members see the head of their church as a servant leader who puts his lives at the disposal of others. Outsiders see him as an autocrat. BBC, Religion & Ethics - Christainity, Leadership
avenge [ uh'-VENJ ]
[verb] MEANING : To inflict punishment in return for some offence or injury USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Colin Dalgleish, the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team captain, hopes to be given the chance to avenge the 121/2-111/2 defeat at Royal County Down in the 2009 match at Merion, Pennsylvania. The Herald, Dalgleish has revenge on his mind, DOUGLAS LOWE, Golf Correspondent, September 11 2007
aver [ uh'-VUR ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to assert, declare, state or affirm as the truth or fact 2. (law) to declare or state formally USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Now, there will be some who will aver that there is a "Scottish dimension" to the issue of compulsory ID cards. Telegraph, Scottish Parliament must do the math before its next ID cards crisis, By Alan Cochrane, 19 Dec 2008
1. a deep repugnance, dislike or antipathy 2. the cause of repugnance or dislike 3. an evasion or dodging of something unpleasant USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Kids like that have extreme aversion to any changes. CNN, Looking for hope in the ashes, By Madison Park, November 19, 2008
aviary [ EY-vee-er-ee ]
[noun] MEANING : a place, cage or enclosure that is used to confine birds USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The thieves climbed over a wall into the victim's back garden and disabled the special alarm on the aviary by cutting its wires. BBC, Parrots stolen from garden aviary, 11 September 2007
avid [ AV-id ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. ardent, fervent or enthusiastic 2. greedy or having a keen desire USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He was an avid reader and had a wide range of interests which included Machiavelli and Blyton. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Obama, an avid basketball player who enjoys the occasional round of golf, will fulfill the role when the biennial team competition takes place at San Francisco's Harding Park Golf Course from October 8-11. abcNews, Obama to Serve as Honorary Cup Chairman, June 1, 2009 Accessed: 19 June 2009
avow [ uh'VOU ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : to boldly acknowledge, own up, confess or admit USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He avowed that he was not the best captain but would strive in the future to be so. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Critics from the left have complained about its merchandising; critics from the right disliked its avowed commitment to diversity. CNN, How do you get to 'Sesame Street'? Todd Leopold, 11 February 2009.
avuncular [ uh'-vuhng-kyuh'-ler ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1) Of or something related to an uncle 2) Having the characteristics of an uncle USAGE EXAMPLE 1: According to Sigurur Arnalds, the spokesman for Landsvirkjun, the national power companyan avuncular engineer everyone calls Siggi, whose hooded eyes and white-fringed balding head give him the same soft appeal as Mr. Magoothe grand idea was to export electrical power on ships in the form of aluminum. National Geographical, Iceland-Power struggle, March 2008
azure [ AZH-er ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) sky-blue or like the tinge of the sky when it is unclouded 2. (n.) the light, purplish blue tinge that is characteristic of an unclouded sky USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Police say the stolen azure blue Nissan and the dark-coloured Mondeo were seen heading towards junction one of the M55 motorway. BBC, Police hunt fake crash carjackers, 1 September 2008. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The beauty of the azure blue skies is often mentioned in Wordsworth's poetry.
B
badger [ BAJ-er ] [noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a burrowing mammal like a bandicoot or its fur 2. (tr.v.) to pester, urge or nag someone USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The American badger is one of the prairie dogs toughest enemies. National Geographic, American badgers. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His face resembled that of a badger. bagasse [ buh'-GAS ] [noun] MEANING : Plant residue or refuse that is left after the produce is extracted from it.
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Biomass includes specially-grown crops like willow, and material like bagasse, sugar-cane waste, which power stations can burn. BBC, What to use when the oil runs out, By Alex Kirby, 22 April, 2004 bagatelle [ bag-uh'-TEL ] [noun] MEANING : 1. a trifle or something unimportant or trivial 2. a played game that involves rolling balls into holes 3. a short composition of music that is especially played on the piano
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: If you drastically lower your expectations, you can enjoy this bagatelle as the witty and fluffy fare it's intended to be. CNN, EW review: Amy Tan disappoints, by Jennifer Reese, October 21, 2005.
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The entire ceremony was reduced to a bagatelle due to this atrocious behaviour. bailiwick [ BEY-luh'-wik ] [noun] MEANING : 1) The area or district of jurisdiction of a bailiff or a bailie 2) One's area of specialization, interest or authority
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: As we neared Chawton (the home of Austen), a compelling signpost dramatically proclaimed the bailiwick as Jane Austen's country. The Hindu, Magazine Columns, Literary trail balderdash [ BAWL-der-dash ] [noun] MEANING : Nonsense; stupid, senseless talk or writing
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The Foreign Ministry called the State Department report an "arrogant and self-justified document" in which the U.S. "let loose a spate of balderdash" against North Korea. ABC News, North Korea Questions US Stance on Nuclear Issue, By KELLY OLSEN , SEOUL, South Korea May 31, 2008 (AP) baleful [ BEYL-fuh' l ] [adjective] MEANING : 1. pernicious, malignant or harmful 2. ominous or sinister
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The baleful handling of the situation has made matters worse. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Kathleen Byron, who died on January 18 aged 88, was an English actress of distinctive but somewhat baleful features which seemed to limit her to playing neurotics, murderesses and the spiteful.
Telegraph, Kathleen Byron, 20 Jan 2009 balk [ bawk ] [noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to thwart, obstruct or hinder 2. (intr.v.) to stop, hinder or be an obstacle 3. (n.) defeat, obstruction or hindrance 4. (n.) a strip of land that has not been ploughed
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He balked at the thought of taking on more responsibility. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: China's growing middle class certainly won't balk at the modest extra expense, but the tax's greatest value could lie in environmental education. National Geographic, Chopsticks Tax to Target China's Hunger for Timber, Brian Handwerk, for National Geographic News, March 22, 2006. Accessed: 11th June 2009 banal [ buh'-NAL, -NAHL, BEYN-l ] [adjective] MEANING : 1) Lacking originality or novelty 2) Commonplace; petty
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: In a series of leisurely-paced scenes, Suleiman shows the banal realties of petrol bomb attacks and army checkpoint searches, combining them with dreamlike sequences. BBC, Palestinian film shows life with conflict, Wednesday, 29 January, 2003 bandy [ BAN-dee ] [adjective,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to trade, exchange, give and take or pass back and forth 2. (tr.v.) to hit, throw or pass back and forth 3. (adj.) bowed, bent or outwardly curved 4. (n.) a old game that resembled field hockey
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Yahoo's search operations to Microsoft - an alternative deal that has been bandied about for the past eight months. Telegraph, Yahoo! fourth-quarter loss beats forecasts, 28 Jan 2009. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The debate was of an intense nature with repartees being bandied across the dais. baneful [ BEYN-fuh'l ] [adjective] MEANING : deadly, harmful or baleful
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The villagers claimed that the accidents were caused by the baneful witchs evil eye. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: This is the baneful role being forced on the Arts Council by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, whose prime concern appears to be the Government's policy of "social inclusion" and Treasury efficiency targets. The Telegraph, The arts column: the funding quagmire, By Rupert Christiansen, 9 Mar 2005. banter [ BAN-ter ] [noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to playfully ridicule or tease 2. (intr.v.) to tease playfully 3. (n.) a playful exchange of teasing remarks
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: "I don't mind a bit of the friendly banter going on but I've said right from the start that I don't like, and won't like, any personal barrages towards anyone." Pointing said. The Times of India, Ponting sees sledging as friendly banter, 5 Jun 2002 bard [ bahrd ] [noun,transitive verb]
MEANING : 1. (n.) a Celtic poet who played the lyre or harp while reciting poems 2. (n.) a poet 3. (n.) a piece of armour that is placed on the back of a horse 4. (tr.v.) to place bards on a horse
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Bards are at once entertainers, philosophers, and historians. National Geographic, Central Asian Bardic Music. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A bard was called forth to entertain the assembled guests. baroque [ buh'-ROHK; Fr. ba-R*AWK ] [noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) characteristic of a style in architecture or art prevalent during the 17th century that had bold ornamentation and complex forms 2. (adj.) characteristic of a 17th century style of European music that was marked by elaborate ornamentation 3. (adj.) having an irregular shape 4. (adj.) flamboyant, florid, grotesque or extravagantly ornamental 5. (n.) one esp. a pearl that has an irregular shape
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: There is a revival of music of the baroque era in Europe, explains Thierry. The Times of India, The enchanting sound of music, by Lekha Menon, 4 Sep 2004 USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Remnants of the architecture of the baroque era are flamboyant in nature. barrage [ BAR-ahz*h; buh'-RAHZ*H; BAHR-ij ] [noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) an artificial barrier or obstruction made by humans to increase the depth of a water body or divert its flow 2. (n.) a concentrated or heavy outpouring esp. of words 3. (n.) (military) a barrier of artillery made to stop the advancement of enemy troops or in order to protect one's retreating troops
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A barrage is a good means to divert water in order to reduce the number of floods. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: An international seminar starts in Bangladesh on Sunday to examine how best to construct a barrage on the river Ganges. BBC, Despatches, Frances Harrison Dhaka, March 7, 1998. Accessed: 11th June 2009 barren [ BAR-uhn ] [noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) sterile or incapable of reproduction 2. (adj.) unyielding or unproductive 3. (adj.) devoid, lacking or empty 4. (n.) land that is unproductive
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He cursed the barren existence which was the result of his careless youth. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Mosses once grew and insects crawled in what are now barren valleys in Antarctica, according to scientists who have recovered remains of life from that frozen continent. abcNews, Ancient Moss, Insects Found in Antarctica, By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID AP Science Writer, August 4, 2008 Accessed: 19 June 2009 bask [ bask, bahsk ] [intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (intr.v.) to lie or relax in the warmth of the sun 2. (intr.v.) to enjoy or derive pleasure in 3. (tr.v.) to warm or expose to heat
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The team noticed that when the tree frogs bask in the sun, their skin reflectivity changes to appear almost metallic.
National Geographic, Sun-Loving Frogs Get Skin Check With Eye Doctor's Tool, by Anne Minard, November 30, 2007. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Felines like basking on sunny days. bated [ beytd ] [adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) diminished or moderated
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: We await the next with bated breath. Telegraph, Jobless from Henley-on-Thames: Part II, By Julie Salt, 19 Nov 2008 bauble [ BAW-buh' l ] [noun] MEANING : A tiny showy ornament which has little value
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The bauble was once owned by William Pitt, the English prime minister, who sold it to the Duke of Orleans, the regent of France (hence, The Regent). The Times of India, The sword that Mallya bought, 25 Apr 2004, INDIASPORA/CHIDANAND RAJGHATTA beatific [ bee-uh'-Tif-ik ] [adjective] MEANING : 1) Bestowing or imparting bliss or blessings 2) Having a saintly or blissful appearance
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Shouted comments and piercing wolf-whistles were all welcomed with a beatific smile. Times Online, k. d. lang, David Sinclair at the Hammersmith Apollo beatify [ bee-AT-uh'-fahy ] [transitive verb]
MEANING : 1. to make blessedly, supremely or blissfully happy 2. to pronounce one who has deceased to be blessed and thus worthy of being venerated
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: They were beatified as per the decision taken by the Vatican. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Cardinal John Henry Newman, the most famous British convert to Catholicism, could be beatified this year, the Vatican has said, setting him on a path to become the first British saint for 40 years. Telegraph, Vatican to make Cardinal Newman a saint, By Malcolm Moore in Rome, 10 Jan 2008 beatitude [ bee-AT-i-tood, -tyood ] [noun] MEANING : 1. utmost bliss, happiness or blessedness 2. any of the declarations of bliss or blessedness that were pronounced by Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: In some way, Sonny was a living beatitude, said Gingrich. CNN, Farewell to Bono awash in laughter, tears, January 9, 1998. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Their marriage was one of beatitude. bedizen [ bi-DAHY-zuh n, -DIZ-uh n ] [transitive verb] MEANING : to adorn, ornament or dress in a gaudy or showy manner
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She bedizened herself in the hope that she would be mistaken for a princess. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The Sixties and Seventies were far better than the times of today, and an amalgamation of both decades, bedizened with space imagery and
Sixties "space" iconography, will dominate and define the ethos of the approaching new culture. BBC, Back to the Futurists, Lawrence Pollard, 20 February 2009. bedlam [ BED-luh' m ] [noun] MEANING : A state, place or scene of utter confusion and uproar
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: "The bomb went off and it was absolute bedlam - it was the biggest bang I've ever heard in my life," he said. BBC News, Teacher on Saudi blast 'bedlam' befuddle [ bi-FUHD-l ] [transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to confuse or perplex, as with glib statements or arguments 2. to stupefy or muddle with or as if with alcoholic drink
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: French, Italian and African names with apostrophes can befuddle computer systems, too. abcNews, Computers have loads o' trouble with apostrophes, By Sean Odriscoll, Associated Press, begrudge [ bi-GRUHJ ] [transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to feel envy, resentment or displeasure at another's possessions or good fortune 2. to concede allow or grant reluctantly
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Wallace, a generous-spirited man, comfortable with his own strengths and limits, didn't begrudge that. National Geographic, Alfred Russel Wallace, by David Quammen, December 2008. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He begrudged the Patel's their wealth.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: China has provided the Western world with one more reason to feel beholden to it despite uneasiness over a variety of issues including human rights. The Times of India, China to invest in foreign markets, by Saibal Dasgupta, 4 Jun 2007. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He was a proud man, a man beholden to no one. behoove [ bi-HOOV ] [intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to be necessary or proper for 2. (intr.v.) to be necessary, advantageous or proper
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: If you decide to take tomorrow off, it behooves you to tell the truth. CNN, One-third of workers play hooky, By Jason Ferrara, January 26, 2009 belabour [ bi-LEY-ber ] [transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to beat, hit or hit excessive 2. to repeatedly assault verbally 3. to harp on, explain or insist on excessively
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The farmer belaboured the ass with his staff in order to get it to carry the heavy load up the slope. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Ministers have belaboured their "guarantee" of no further selection by ability. BBC, MPs question point of new schools, Gary Eason, 27 January 2006.
beleaguer [ bi-LEE-ger ] [verb] MEANING : 1)To annoy frequently; to harass 2) To besiege; surround by troops
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Tensions run high as McNeil's vices start to beleaguer his fellow detectives. BBC, BBC Choice acquires Denis Learys new comedy series: The Job, TV Entertainment, 25 April, 2002 bellicose [ BEL-i-kohs ] [adjective] MEANING : Inclined or favoured to fighting; aggressively hostile
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: There were about two hundred men in the camp and the English NCO in charge was a very bellicose Tyneside Scottish sergeant major who was continually at war with the German commandant through his long suffering interpreter, an Irish sergeant named Jerome O'Connor. BBC, Laurie Dorins' Story: Part 9 - LONG AUTUMN 1942 by CSV Media NI, 21 October, 2005 belligerent [ buh'-LIJ-er-uh' nt ] [noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) waging war or warlike 2. (adj.) inclined towards hostility or combativeness 3. (n.) a nation or group that is in a state of war or warlike condition
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His belligerent attitude did not win him many friends. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Analysts suggest that North Korea is adopting a belligerent attitude to force both the US and South Korea to offer greater economic and diplomatic concessions in return for nuclear disarmament. BBC, Q&A: North Korea nuclear test, 25 May 2009. Accessed: 11th June 2009
benefactor [ BEN-uh-fak-ter, BEN-uh-fak- ] [noun] MEANING : a patron, helper or one who provides help esp. financially
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The benefactor of the program was honoured last night. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Venezuela and its socialist President Hugo Chavez, who has become Cuba's chief economic benefactor since the collapse of the Soviet Union, send the island 92,000 barrels of oil a day in exchange for social programs such Cuban doctors who provide free care. abcNews, Cuba Sounds Summer Energy Alarm, Plans Blackouts, By ANDREA RODRIGUEZ Associated Press Writer, May 26, 2009 Accessed: 19 June 2009 benevolence [ buh-NEV-uh-luh ns ] [noun] MEANING : 1. charitableness, goodwill or kindliness 2. beneficence or a kind, charitable act 3. a tax levied forcefully by some of the English Kings without the parliament's consent
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His benevolence and generosity made him famous. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: San Francisco's reputation for benevolence was affirmed by a recent city controller's report, which found that the city far outstrips its California counterparts in per capita spending on public health and social services. abcNews, Plagued by Budget Woes, San Francisco Enters Uncharacteristic Era of Frugality, By CHRISTOPHER D. COOK, April 12, 2009 Accessed: 19 June 2009 benighted [ bi-NAHY-tid ] [adjective] MEANING : 1. in a state of moral, intellectual or social darkness or ignorance 2. overtaken or caught by night or darkness
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: French Enlightenment thinkers such Voltaire, Diderot and Montesquieu regarded religion as divisive, benighted and intolerant. BBC, The deep roots of French secularism, By Henri Astier, 1 September, 2004 benign [ bi-NAHYN ] [adjective] MEANING : 1) Of a mild, gentle disposition 2) Characterised by gentleness or kindness 3) Favourable 4) Harmless; non-malignant
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The persecution in Smyrna would, then, have taken place under that most benign of emperors, Antonius Pius, who, it is said (by Melito quoted by Eusebius), had forbidden popular attacks on Christians Chronicles Magazine, African Democracy, by Thomas Fleming benignant [ bi-NIG-nuh' nt ] [adjective] MEANING : 1. kind and gracious, especially to inferiors 2. beneficial or benign
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It is natural to think in polarities, so we think of plants as good or bad, benignant or malignant. Telegraph, Country notebook: continuing controversy, By Germaine Greer, 03 Mar 2003 benison [ Ben-uh'-zuh' n, -suh' n ] [noun] MEANING : a blessing or benediction
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: First of all, the sheer absence of oppressive heat is a benison. The Times of India, Thanda funda, Jug Suraiya, 31 December, 2006
bequest [ bi-KWEST ] [noun] MEANING : 1. an act of passing something on to someone in a will 2. a legacy
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She received the money as a part of the bequest made in her name. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The grant was awarded by the Social Care Trust and follows a bequest by Tilda Goldberg OBE, who the university described as a "social work pioneer". BBC, Social work centre awarded 1.1m, 28 May 2009. Accessed: 11th June 2009 berate [ bi-REYT ] [transitive verb] MEANING : to scold, reproach or rebuke in a very severe manner
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He was berated even though he was innocent. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Residents in Buner expressed relief at the operation and said Taliban fighters had been stealing cattle for meat, berating men without beards and recruiting teenagers into their ranks. Telegraph, Pakistani fighter jets bomb Taliban, By Dean Nelson and Emal Khan in Peshawar, 28 Apr 2009 bereft [ bi-REFT ] [adjective,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (adj.) deprived of, lacking, devoid of or robbed of something 2. (adj.) bereaved 3. (tr.v.) past participle and past tense of bereave
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: It is a pointless gesture and suggests, somewhat worryingly, that the Government is bereft of ideas.
Telegraph, Government must act to prevent deeper recession, 08 Jan 2009. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His character is the book was depicted to be bereft of all happiness. beset [ bi-SET ] [transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to stud 2. to assail, surround, hem in or attack 3. to harass or trouble
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: China has been beset by a series of food- and product-scares in recent years. abcNEWS, China Names "Western Liquors" in New Health Scare, January 16, 2009. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: As the news of their engagement spread, they were beset with wellwishers. besmirch [ bi-SMURCH ] [transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to dirty, soil or tarnish 2. to dishonour, stain or sully
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Apart from the Algerian fans, there has been little trouble to besmirch the organizers' reputations -- save for the wrong national anthem being played twice, to the annoyance of Zimbabwe and Nigeria. CNN, Tunisia goes cup final crazy, by Graham Jones, February 13, 2004. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His favourite tactics are to besmirch the name of his adversary. bete noire [ beyt NWAHR; Fr. bet NWAR* ] [noun] MEANING :
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Kadhafi, who for years was Washington's bete noire, underscored what he said was the "need to give an historic world opportunity to President Obama and the new America ... to permit the new America to be a state that is loving of peoples and freedom." The Times of India, Libya's Kadhafi says Obama means a 'new America', 22 January 2009 betrothal [ bi-TROH-th uh' l, -TRAW-thuh' l ] [noun] MEANING : 1. the act or state of being betrothed; engagement 2. a mutual promise to marry
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Raven Queen tells the story of Lady Jane Grey, from her parents plans for her betrothal to Edward VI, to her execution in 1554. Telegraph, Reader notes: Raven Queen, 02 Mar 2007 bibulous [ BIB-yuh'-luh' s ] [adjective] MEANING : 1. fond of or addicted to alcoholic beverages 2. highly absorbent, as paper or soil
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The potbellied male, ridiculously outsize nose hanging from his face like a ripe fruit, is so ugly he's endearing, in a kind of bibulous-old-uncle way. National Geographic, Borneo, By Mel White bicameral [ bahy-KAM-er-uh' l ] [adjective] MEANING : having or composed of two legislative branches or houses
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The moderate republicans struck back and, in 1794-5, established a new
executive (the Directoire) under a new constitution and a bicameral legislature. Telegraph, Children of the Revolution: the French 1799-1914, by Donald Sassoon, 08 Aug 2008. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The newly democratic country decided to have a bicameral legislature. bifurcated [ BAHY-fer-keyt-ed, bahy-FUR-keyt-ed ] [adjective,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) divided or forked into two parts 2. (intr.v.) forked or separated into two parts or branches 3. (adj.) forked or having two braches
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: By creating Karsog district, the present Mandi district will be bifurcated into two and if Sundarnagar is also made into a district, it will be trifurcated. The Times of India, Himachal to create four new districts, Jagdish Bhatt, TNN, 4 Aug 2002 bigot [ BIG-uh t ] [noun] MEANING : one who is prejudiced and is intolerant towards those who differ in creed, caste or opinion
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His speeches made it clear that he was a bigot who had no tolerance for those who did not share his views. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Campaign ads during the presidential campaign portrayed Wright as a bigot and asked why Obama would listen to him for so many years. abcNews, Wright: Obama Shows Blacks Shouldn't Accept Limits, By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press Writer, January 18, 2009 Accessed: 19 June 2009 bigotry [ BIG-uh-tree ] [noun] MEANING :
1. obtuse or complete intolerance of any other race or religion 2. the attitude, beliefs, prejudices of a bigot
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Perhaps we can overcome the difficult history of bigotry that scars this nation. CNN, Colorado political leaders make American history, By Jim Spellman, January 7, 2009 bivouac [ biv-oo-ak, biv-wak ] [noun,intransitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a temporary military encampment having practically no shelter 2. (n.) the place that is used to set up such camps 3. (intr.v.) to encamp or take shelter in a bivouac 4. (tr.v.) to provide with shelter temporarily
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: At 12:30 on the morning of May 23, we decide to bivouac until dawn. Barry said. National Geographic, "How We Climbed Everest", by Barry Bishop. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The troops decided to vacate the bivouacs after facing heavy enemy fire. blanch [ blanch, blahnch ] [intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to whiten or bleach 2. (tr.v.) to make pale or devoid of colour 3. (tr.v.) to scald in order to remove skin or prepare for freezing 4. (intr.v.) to turn or become pale or white
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: When the plants are about 30cm (12in) tall, tie the stems loosely and gradually earth them up as they grow to blanch them. BBC, Gardening, Plant finder results. blandishment [ BLAN-dish-muh' nt ] [noun]
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Perhaps the 14 years he managed Ipswich Town, winning the FA Cup, UEFA Cup and supervising the creative mischief of captain Terry Butcher, grounded him so thoroughly that no amount of blandishment nor brickbat could corrupt him. Telegraph, Generation gap working in Robson's favour, By Sue Mott, 22/02/2002 blandness [ bland-nis ] [noun] MEANING : 1. emotionless or lacking concern 2. insipidity or the quality or state of being unappetizing 3. suaveness or smoothness
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The blandness of her response to the news alarmed everyone. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The prospect of high tide just before sunset made the blandness seem like a hidden promise. Telegraph, Saltwater fishing: The lure of the sea, By Chris Yates, 16 Aug 2008. Accessed: 12th June 2009 blas [ blah-ZEY, BLAH-zey; Fr. bla*-ZEY ] [adjective] MEANING : 1. apathetic to, indifferent to or bored with worldly pleasures 2. sophisticated 3. nonchalant or unconcerned
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Ranjit's less blas when talking about the animals under his care. The Times of India, The lion king, by Priya Pathiyan, 22 Jun 2003. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: After being fired from his job his attitude towards life turned blas.
blasphemous [ BLAS-fuh'-muh' s ] [adjective] MEANING : 1. impiously irreverent; profane 2. speaking, containing or exhibiting blasphemy
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Leading Thai politicians have called for The Beach to be banned, claiming the film is blasphemous and portrays their country as a drugs paradise. BBC, Thai MPs call for Beach ban, 9 March, 2000 blatant [ BLEYT-nt ] [adjective] MEANING : 1. brazen, obvious or flagrant 2. clamorous or vociferously loud and offensive 3. obtrusive or obviously conspicuous
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It's really on everybody's mind this blatant consumerism and this hole we've been digging for ourselves by spending and buying," said Craft Magazine Editor-in-Chief Tina Barseghian. abcNews, Low on Cash, DIYers Go Handmade for the Holidays, By ASHLEY M. HEHER AP Retail Writer, November 12, 2008 blazon [ BLEY-zuh' n ] [noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to depict a coat of arms with proper form and colour 2. (tr.v.) to adorn or embellish showily 3. (n.) a coat of arms 4. (n.) ostentatious display
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Blazoned on his door was his coat of arms which read, 'S' Rioghal mo dhream'. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Blazoned day-by-day in the local media, it is the world's highest battlefield, with troops stationed higher than most North American, European or African mountains.
CNN, Siachen: The world's highest cold war, By Nick Easen, September 17, 2003 blithe [ blahyth', blahyth ] [noun] MEANING : 1. happy, merry or lighthearted 2. carefree, casual or lacking concern
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: GOP presidential candidate John McCain is abandoning old positions and adopting new ones with both an impressive tactical nimbleness and a blithe disregard for his long legislative and political record. ABCNews, Maverick to Candidate: Evolution of the New John McCain, TERRY MORAN, Sept. 18, 2008 bludgeon [ BLUHJ-uh' n ] [noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. a club that is used as a weapon and whose one side is more loaded than the other 2. (tr.v.) to attack, hit or strike someone 3. (tr.v.) to coerce, bully or force someone into something
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: "I was able to clear my mind after that and the sixes at the end were very natural free-flowing shots, not trying to bludgeon the ball over the ropes." Gilchrist said The Times of India, Gilchrist savours sweet sixes success, 18 Nov 2007 bode [ bohd ] [intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) foretell, presage, portend or be an omen of 2. (intr.v.) to portend or predict
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Some observers say the future of tribes still living in the jungle in Paraguay and elsewhere, particularly Brazil, does not bode well. CNN, Legal battle over forest is victory for Paraguayan Indians, by Arthur Brice, November 14, 2008.
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His friends constantly warned him that his risk taking behaviour did not bode well. bogus [ BOH-guh' s ] [adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) spurious, counterfeit, fake or forged
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Wasteful public spending subsidises an army of bogus welfare claimants. Economist, Looking nice but doing nothing, Jun 19th 2008. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Bogus products are often sold at half the price of their original counterparts in these bazaars. boisterous [ BOI-ster-uh' s, -struh' s ] [adjective] MEANING : 1) Rough, noisy; rowdy; very jolly or high spirited 2) (of waves) Stormy and rough
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The work of British sculptor Raymond Mason, it depicts a crowd of boisterous market porters bearing fruit and vegetables and pushing laden handcarts. CNN, Central Paris treasure awaits discovery,By Mark Tungate, July 17, 2008 bolster [ BHOL-ster ] [noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a pillow or a cushion 2. (n.) a pad or something used as a support 3. (tr.v.) to support, uphold or prop up 4. (tr.v.) to hearten or cheer up
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Now that they have the explicit backing of the authorities, it should help
to bolster the housing market which has been the source of so many of the US's economic problems. BBC, US rescues giant mortgage lenders, By Greg Wood, 8 September 2008 boorish [ BOO' R-ish ] [adjective] MEANING : 1. crude, unmannered or not sensitive
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His boorish manners caused people to shun him. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: For Christie, the man who had a nation punching the air in 1992 when he won the Olympic 100 metres gold in Barcelona and in '93, when he won the world championship title, is labelled "boorish" by Coe, twice Olympic 1500m champion and 11 times world record-breaker. BBC, Linford Christie: Polishing his pride, 17 February, 2001. Accessed: 11th June 2009 bountiful [ BOUN-tuh-fuh' l ] [adjective] MEANING : 1. abundant, plentiful or ample 2. liberal or generous in bestowing favors or gifts
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: For years, the "carry trade" was a bountiful source of cheap international credit. Telegraph, Yen surge stokes stability fears as 'Aussie' slides, By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, 27 Oct 2008 brackish [ BRAK-ish ] [adjective] MEANING : 1. salty, saline or briny 2. nauseating, repulsive or distasteful
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The resident of seasonal brackish and freshwater ponds was found in just
one pool in the New Forest until it was discovered at Caerlaverock four years ago during a particularly wet August. Telegraph, Tadpole shrimp, the oldest living species, re-emerges after wet summer, 28 Aug 2008. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The brackish nature of the water made it impossible to drink. braggadocio [ brag-uh'-DOH-shee-oh ] [noun] MEANING : 1) Empty boasting; bragging 2) A person who boasts; braggart
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: "It's the hottest thing on television," Trump proclaimed to reporters Thursday, a bit of vintage braggadocio dating back to his meteoric rise in the '80s. CNN, Donald Trump is back and riding high brash [ brash ] [noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) tactless or impudent 2. (adj.) hasty, rash or impudent 3. (adj.) zealous or zesty 4. (n.) a pile or mass of fragments or debris
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His brash comments made everyone realize that he would make a poor politician. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: In Las Vegas, a city famed for brash exhibitionism, fast living and long odds, consumer electronics manufacturers are about to make a very important throw of the dice. Telegraph, CES 2009 preview: economic gloom raises the stakes for technology companies, By Claudine Beaumont, 30 Dec 2008 brass [ bras, brahs ] [noun,adjective] MEANING :
1. (n.) an alloy of zinc and copper 2. (n.) utensils, musical instruments or other articles made of brass 3. (adj.) pertaining to or composed of brass
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Brass is not a precious metal like gold. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Cuttack's colorful bazaars are wonderful places to wander around at leisure, with little shops selling everything from silk saris to brass horns. National Geographic Traveller, Jewels of the East, by Sarina Singh Accessed: 19 June 2009 brazen [ BREY-zuh' n ] [adjective,transitive verb] MEANING : (adj.) 1)Audacious; shameless or insolent 2) Of or similar to brass in colour, strength, sound 3)Made of brass (tr. v.) To face with boldness or defiance; to face with impudence
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Robert Mugabe's brazen power grab in Zimbabwe's election saga has left cracks in one of African leaders' unspoken rules: Never turn on one of your own. Washingtonpost, Dissent over Zimbabwe cracks African unity, By MICHELLE FAUL, The Associated Press, July 13, 2008 breach [ breech ] [noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) rupture or an act or instance of breaking 2. (n.) violation or infraction of a promise or law 3. (tr.v.) to violate a promise or law 4. (tr.v.) to break or rupture 5. (intr.v.) (of a whale) to leap or jump out of water
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The breach in the external wall has to be repaired to avoid further damage.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Bottlenose dolphins have been observed to breach up to 16 feet (4.9 meters) out of the water, landing with a splash on their back or side. National Geographic, Bottlenose Dolphin, Accessed: 11th June 2009 bric-a-brac [ BRIK-uh'-brak ] [noun] MEANING : An assortment of small articles collected chiefly for decoration or sentimental value
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Need to dust that collection of glass animals or other delicate items? Put on some fabric gloves -- the softer the better -- to clean your bric-a-brac thoroughly. Reader's Digest, Dusting , From Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things brittle [ BRIT-l ] [noun,adjective,intransitive verb] MEANING : 1. (adj.) frail, fragile or easy to break or damage 2. (adj.) cold, aloof or lacking warmth and sensitivity 3. (adj.) evanescent, mortal or perishable 4. (n.) candy or confectionery made with nuts and caramelized sugar 5. (intr.v.) to crumble or become brittle
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It is due to its brittle nature that it has to be handled with care. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The dusty scrublands of Zomba West have been brittle dry since April, when the rainy season ended. BBC, Fish farming in Malawi's dustbowl, By James Morgan Environment reporter, BBC News, 22 October 2008. Accessed: 11th June 2009 broach [ brohch ] [noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to mention or announce for the first time 2. (tr.v.) to tap or make a hole by piercing
3.(n.) a tapered, elongated and serrated tool for cutting which is used to shape or enlarge holes 4. (intr.v.) to emerge from the sea
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Every one present was surprised when she broached such a taboo topic. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The media in Saudi Arabia has begun to broach topics such as religious extremism, women's rights and unemployment that were once strictly off limits. BBC, Pressures build on Saudi media, By Sebastian Usher, World media correspondent, BBC News, 9 June 2006 Accessed: 18 June 2009 brook [ broo' k ] [noun] MEANING : a creek or stream of water
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The brook flowing down the hill added to the appeal of the scenery. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Baffled residents were surprised to see a brook in Oxfordshire turn fluorescent green overnight. BBC, Dye turns brook green overnight, 24 April 2008 Accessed: 19 June 2009 bruit [ broot ] [noun,transitive verb] MEANING : (n.) 1) (Medicine) Any general abnormal sound heard on auscultation (the act of listening, either directly or through a stethoscope or other instrument, to sounds within the body as a method of diagnosis). 2) (Archaic) Rumour; report 3) (Archaic) Noise; din; clamour (tr. v.) To spread rumour; repeat
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Using a stethoscope to listen to your carotid arteries, your doctor can detect a noise, called a 'bruit', made by turbulent blood flow through a
narrowed artery. BBC, Strokes, 11th May 2001 bucolic [ byoo-KOL-ik ] [noun,adjective] MEANING : (adj.) 1) Relating to or suggestive of typical rural life 2) Of or pertaining to herdsmen or shepherds; pastoral (n.) (Archaic) 1) A country person; peasant; a rustic 2) A pastoral poem
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Tucked away quietly in the middle of the Alps, this immensely rich and powerful nation still manages to portray itself as the perfect bucolic idyll. BBC, Swiss shaken by row of disasters, 25 October, 2001 bullion [ BOO' L-yuh' n ] [noun] MEANING : 1) Gold or silver considered in mass rather than value 2) Gold or silver bars, ingots, or plates 3) Embroidery or lace trimming worked with fine threads of gold or silver
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The target was 40m worth of gold bullion and between 30-40m in cash, stored at the Swissport Cargo Warehouse at Heathrow Airport. BBC, Flying Squad foils 80m robbery, 18 May, 2004 bulwark [ BOO' L-werk, -wawrk, BUHL- ] [noun,transitive verb] MEANING : (n.) 1) A solid wall built for defence; a rampart 2) Something serving as a strong support or protection 3) Breakwater 4) (usu. plural) The side of a ship above the upper deck (tr. v.) To fortify or protect with a bulwark
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Clinton hopes Texas will serve as a bulwark against Obama's wave of growing political support. CNN, Obama faces fire from Clinton, McCain, 14 February, 2008
bumptious [ BUHMP-shuh' s ] [adjective] MEANING : 1. crudely or loudly assertive; pushy 2. offensively self-conceited
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The bumptious fool often spoke without thinking. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Playing the part with a convincing mixture of bumptious charm and desperate vulnerability, Steve Coogan is a pretty good character actor if you can ever forget that this is Steve Coogan. Telegraph, Credit-crunch television that waves goodbye to greed, By Stephen Pile, 12 Dec 2008 bungle [ BUHNG-guh' l ] [noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : (intr. v.) To work clumsily or awkwardly (tr.v.) To handle or perform clumsily (n.) To botch; a work that is done ineptly or clumsily
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Junior doctors are meeting in London just days after the latest bungle involving the new system for assigning specialist training posts. The Herald, Junior doctors furious over recruitment shambles, HELEN PUTTICK, Health Correspondent, April 28 2007 buoyant [ BOI-uh' nt, BOO-yuh' nt ] [adjective] MEANING : 1) Tending or ability to float 2) Cheerful; lively
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A buoyant Colin Montgomerie yesterday regarded world No.1 Tiger Woods as beatable and declared himself a contender for next week's Open Championship at Carnoustie. The Herald, Monty plans to prove hes a major contender again, DOUGLAS LOWE, Golf Correspondent,12 July 2007
burgeon [ BUR-juh n ] [noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to grow or develop quickly; flourish 2. (intr.v.) to flourish or blossom 3. (n.) a bud
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He has burgeoned into a confident young man. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The private equity firm had wanted to capitalise on the potential for Samsonite to grow in India and China, where the burgeoning middle classes were finding travel increasingly affordable. Telegraph, Samsonite bags debt- for-equity rescue deal, By Helia Ebrahimi, 30 May 2009 Accessed: 18 June 2009 burlesque [ ber-LESK ] [noun,verb] MEANING : (n.) 1) A dramatic or literary work that tries to mock or ridicule through grotesque comical exaggeration 2) A grotesque theatrical entertainment which features obscene songs, slapstick humour, and sometimes striptease (v.) To imitate or mock in humorous way
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His comedic schooling came from vaudeville, burlesque and nightclubs. CNN, Comedian Joey Bishop dies, October 18, 2007 burnish [ BUR-nish ] [noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to burnish or make shiny by rubbing 2. (n.) polish, gloss or shine
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The last vestiges of sunlight gild and burnish the pink walls. National Geographic, On Lake Powell, Kayaking a Reemerging Canyon, Gretchen Reynolds, August 12, 2003
buxom [ BUHK-suh' m ] [adjective] MEANING : 1. (of a woman) Healthily plump and ample of figure 2. (of a woman) full bosomed
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Jayaram Jayalalitha, India: To her fans, she's the "Mother Goddess of the World," a buxom former starlet turned politician who has the ability to bring down the national government. abcNews, Actor-Politicians Across the World, By Leela Jacinto, Feb. 23
C
cabal [ kuh-BAL ]
[noun,intransitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a faction of secret, conspiratorial plotters 2. (n.) an intrigue or plot 3. (intr.v.) to conspire USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Every member of the cabal was sworn to secrecy. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The weak commitments angered the cabal of environment and development agencies, who variously described the outcomes as "frighteningly timid", "lacking in leadership" and "a failure of political will". BBC, Climate talks a tricky business, By Richard Black, Environment correspondent, BBC News website, Nairobi, 18 November 2006 Accessed: 18 June 2009
cache [ kash ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a place to conceal food, supplies and ammunition 2. (n.) one that is hidden or stored in a cache 3. (n.) computer memory used for quick access to frequently accessed data and instructions 4. (tr.v.) to hide or conceal ammunition and supplies in a cache USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Security forces have recovered a cache of arms and explosives in Poonch district, officials said here on Tuesday. The Times of India, Arms cache recovered in J&K, 5 Dec 2006. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The terrorists carried with them a cache of arms and grenades which they hoped to used to inflict maximum damage.
cadaverous [ kuh-DAV-er-uh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. corpselike, haggard, ghastly or gaunt 2. Pallid or livid USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Todays forests stand in cadaverous contrast. abcNEWS, Ecologists Yielding to Nature's Fire Logic, by Joseph Verrengia, Aug. 18. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The sighting of the cadaverous form managed to scare off everyone in the castle
cadge [ kaj ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to sponge or beg
2. (intr.v.) to obtain by sponging or begging USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She cadged the judge to absolve her brother. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: AT THE Feria Internacional del Libro (FIL), the largest Spanish-language publishing event, held a few weeks ago in Guadalajara, in Mexico, an eager teenager cadged your correspondent's badge at the exit. Economist, Spanish-language publishing, Jan 17th 2008 Accessed: 19 June 2009
cajole [ kuh'-JOHL ]
[verb] MEANING : To persuade with flattery USAGE EXAMPLE 1: If not, then you'll need to cajole a nearby geek to install the card and speakers for you. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, By Paul McFedries
callow [ KAL-oh ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) immature or lacking experience 2. (adj.) (pertaining to a young bird) unfledged or featherless 3. (n.) a worker ant that has been hatched recently USAGE EXAMPLE 2: People love the legend of Owen as the handsome, slightly callow young writer whose talent was forged in the furnace of war but that is partly a myth, says Mr Hibberd. BBC, Myth and magic of Wilfred Owen, by Vincent Dowd, 4 November 2008. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The callow youth was not held responsible for his actions.
candid [ KAN-did ]
[noun,adjective]
MEANING : 1. (adj.) frank, sincere and straightforward 2. (adj.) not rehearsed or posed 3. blunt or honest 4. (n.) a photograph taken without the subject posing USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She put forward her version of the story in a candid interview. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told the House of Commons on Monday the inquiry into the war would hear evidence in private so witnesses can be "as candid as possible." CNN, Anti-war campaigners slam 'secret' Iraq probe, By Peter Wilkinson CNN, June 15, 2009 Accessed: 18 June 2009
canine [ KEY-nahyn ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) pertaining to or characteristic of a dog 2. (n.) a dog 3. (n.) a cuspid or canine tooth USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Malaysia sought to form the world's first permanent canine anti-piracy unit after borrowing two dogs Lucky and Flo from the U.S. Motion Picture Association. abcNEWS, DVD-Sniffing Anti-Piracy Dog Dies in Malaysia, by JULIA ZAPPEI, June 9, 2008. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The canine unit is invaluable in the drug enforcement agency.
canker [ KANG-ker ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) Ulceration, especially in the mouth and lips 2.(n.) any of various disorders in animals marked by chronic inflammatory changes 3. (n.) a source of corruption or decay 4. (tr.v.) to corrupt; destroy slowly 5. (intr.v.) to become infected with or as if with canker USAGE EXAMPLE 1: One of the region's MEPs has called for EU-funded research into the canker. BBC, Blight-hit horse chestnuts dying, 21 September 2006
canny [ KAN-ee ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. prudent, shrewd or cautious 2. thrifty, careful or steady 3. snug, quiet or cozy USAGE EXAMPLE 1: I suspect that Indian businessmen are canny enough to make the transition with minimal damage. The Times of India, Getting around job quotas, by SWAMINOMICS/SWAMINATHAN S ANKLESARIA AIYAR, 24 Oct 2004
cantankerous [ kan-TANG-ker-uh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING :
Ill tempered or quarrelsome person USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A cantankerous iconoclast with bulging hazel eyes, scraggly salt-and-pepper beard, and wild locks flowing from beneath a floppy camouflage jungle hat, Possuelo, 63, is widely considered one of the Amazon's last great wilderness scouts and the leading authority on Brazil's remaining pockets of isolated Indians. National Geographic, Into the Amazon, By Scott Wallace, August 2003
canvass [ KAN-vuh s ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to scrutinize, examine or debate 2. (intr.v.) to scrutinize 3. (intr.v.) to amass or solicit votes 4. (n.) scrutiny or examination 5. (n.) a solicitation or imploration for votes USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Every detail regarding the election process was closely canvassed by the election commission. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A town in Berkshire is to impose strict limits on how and when charity collectors can canvass people on its streets for donations. BBC, Town to limit charity collections, 10 October 2008 Accessed: 18 June 2009
caprice [ kuh'-PREES ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. An impulsive change of mind 2. an inclination to change one's mind impulsively 3. a sudden, unpredictable action, change or series of actions or changes USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It is quite a selfish thing to do really, I suppose, to engage in this sort of activity out of caprice abcNews, British Matador Coming out of Retirement in Spain, By DANIEL WOOLLS Associated Press Writer, August 15, 2008
captious [ KAP-shuh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. fault-finding, critical or difficult to please 2. intended to ensnare, entrap, confuse or perplex in an argument USAGE EXAMPLE 2: They could also be absolutely as critical as the most captious guys today, but they could also sing songs.Deford says. CNN, The ruffian and the college boy, by Todd Leopold, April 26, 2005. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His captious remarks earned him the displeasure of his friends.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A carafe of Greek white wine and a Mythos beer for Mr Smith. Telegraph, Mykonos Grace, Mykonos: full review, 15 Dec 2008. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The carafe was placed on the central table so that everyone had an easy access to it.
cardinal [ KAHR-dn-l ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) chief, principal, paramount or of great importance 2. (adj.) having a vivid or bright red tinge 3. (n.) a rank among priests of the Roman Catholic church that is second only to the pope 4. (n.) a deep, vivid, bright and rich red colour USAGE EXAMPLE 2: To many observers, the big banks broke one of Wall Street's cardinal rules: Be greedy, but be greedy over the long term. abcNEWS, The Rise and (almost) Fall of America's Banks, by STEVENSON JACOBS and ERIN McCLAM, February 8, 2009. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It is of cardinal significance to pay attention to one's mentors.
carnal [ KAHR-nl ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. sensual, bodily or of the flesh 2. worldly or corporeal USAGE EXAMPLE 1: There can be no room for carnal impulses. The Times of India, Such endeavours require sublimation of desire, 10 May 2004
carp [ kahrp ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to unreasonably criticize or complain 2. (n.) an irritable, peevish or fretful complaint 3. (n.) An Asian fresh-water fish that is often breeded for food USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Public information officers may carp about the burgeoning number of applications that land on their desks every day, but the fact remains that the Right to Information Act is sadly underutilised. The Times of India, Keep a watch on govt with Rs 10, Seema Kamdar, 27 December 2004
carrion [ KAR-ee-uh' n ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (n.) putrefying or decaying flesh 2. (n.) one that is decaying or rotting 3. (adj.) pertaining to or like decaying flesh 4. (adj.) feeding on putrefying or decaying flesh USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Buzzards are known to be lazy carrion feeders and normally hunt on open land, eating worms, beetles, small mammals or carcasses. Telegraph, Buzzard snatches and kills rare bird, by Richard Savill, 15 Jan 2009. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Vultures feed on carrion which is often remains from a carcass.
cartography [ kahr-TOG-ruh'-fee ]
[noun] MEANING : The technique or art of creating maps or charts USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Mapmaking, or cartography, has been greatly assisted by technological advancements since World War II. Maps - MSN Encarta
castigate [ KAS-ti-geyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : to punish, criticize, or admonish severely USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Newspapers in the Arab world castigate Israel for the assault on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Ramallah headquarters. BBC, Arab press rails at Sharon, 31 March, 2002
castigation [ KAS-ti-geyt-shuhn ]
[noun] MEANING : reprehension, reproval or reprimand USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The castigation she received made her decide to quit films.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Director Chris Columbus remained faithful to the book and so avoided castigation from millions of Potter fans around the world. BBC, British film classics: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 21 February, 2003 Accessed: 19 June 2009
casuistry [ KAZH-oo-uh'-stree ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. subtle but dubious and fallacious reasoning used with the intention of misguiding or misleading 2. the application of general ethical principles in order to solve specific problems of right and wrong in conduct USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The casuistry that it produces may be a long way from morality and even justice. Telegraph, The lawfare of warfare, 02 Nov 2007.
cataclysm [ KAT-uh'-kliz-uh' m ]
[noun] MEANING : 1) A violent upheaval of a social or political nature 2) A violent physical action that causes changes in the surface of Earth. 3) A devastating flood or famine USAGE EXAMPLE 1: 1) Changes in food habits signal more portentous cataclysm. 2) A cataclysm, 50 million years ago, changed the face of the planet from the Hawaiian Islands to Antarctica, a new study by Australian researchers from the University of Sydney, has revealed. 1) The Times of India, Wok on the Wild Side, 19 Jun 2005 2) The Times of India, 50 mn-yr-old calamity changed Earth, 25 Oct 2007, ANI
catalyst [ KAT-l-ist ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. something that acts as the stimulus in an activity without itself being affected in any way 2. (Chemistry) a substance that hastens a reaction or process without itself reacting with any other substance or undergoing any chemical change USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It's no surprise that the main catalyst for the transformation is the economy. abcNews, The year of holiday thrift, By Ron Scherer
catechism [ KAT-i-kiz-uh' m ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. an elementary book giving a brief summary of the principles of Christianity in the form of questions and answers 2. a similar manual giving basic instructions in a subject, usually by rote or repetition 3. a close questioning or examination, as to political candidates, to bring out their views USAGE EXAMPLE 1: That is a kind of catechism for pragmatists. BBC, Texas reflects on economic changes, By Kevin Connolly, 27 November 2008
cathartic [ kuh'-THAHR-tik ]
[noun,adjective]
MEANING : 1. (adj.) something that pertains to or induces catharsis 2. (n.) a purgative or laxative USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Music can unlock emotional problems. It is particularly helpful with grief where people can find music very cathartic. BBC, 'My music helps healing', 29 December, 2002
caustic [ KAW-stik ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) corrosive, scathing or acrid 2. (adj.) causing a stinging or burning sensation 3. (n.) one that corrodes USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She was disliked by the community because of her caustic retorts. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Long identified with corruption, abuse and political repression, China's police are facing an increased outpouring of public anger that has led to mob attacks, caustic Internet postings and displays of sympathy for a convicted cop-killer. abcNews, Police Arrests Highlight Anger With Force in China, By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN Associated Press Writer, November 19, 2008 Accessed: 19 June 2009
cauterise [ KAW-tuh'-rahyz ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to burn, sear or freeze by means of a caustic agent 2. to deaden or render senseless or insensitive USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The traditional method, which heats tissue to cauterise wounds, can affect the ability to eat and drink for days. BBC, 'Less pain' tonsil ops developed, 21 December, 2003
National Geographic, Powerful Pollinators, Wild Bees May Favor Eco-Farms, by Ben Harder, October 28, 2004
celerity [ suh'-LER-i-tee ]
[noun] MEANING : speed or swiftness USAGE EXAMPLE 1: After raiding the firm only a week ago, they arrested Mr Horie on January 23rd with unprecedented celerity. Economist, Livedoor, Jan 26th 2006
censure [ SEN-sher ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) harsh or sever criticism or reprimand 2. (n.) official condemnation or reprimand 3. (tr.v.) to severely or harshly rebuke or criticize USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The censure she received made her cry. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been charged with improper conduct by the FA, just four days after being fined 10,000 ($19,660) and severely censured by English football's governing body. CNN, Manager Wenger charged by FA again, December 18, 2006 Accessed: 18 June 2009
centaur [ SEN-tawr ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. one of a race of monsters having the head, trunks, and arms of a man, and the body and legs of a horse 2. a skilful horseman or horsewoman 3. A group of icy bodies similar to asteroids and comets, orbiting the sun in elliptical paths, mostly in the region between Saturn and Neptune USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Centaur is a creature of Greek mythology having the head, trunk, and arms of a man, and two legs (or the trunk and four legs) of a horse. Reader's Digest, Monsters and Mythological Creatures. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The centaurs are mythological creatures said to have the power of seeing into the future.
centripetal [ sen-TRIP-i-tl ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. directed or proceeding towards a centre 2. (physiology) afferent 3. (botany) progressioning inward or directed towards an axis or centre 4. tending or directed towards unification or centralization 5. acted upon by or working using centripetal force USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Gravity provides the centripetal force needed to keep objects in orbit. BBC, Science, Exploring our solar system
cerebration [ SER-uh-brey-shuh'n ]
[noun,intransitive verb] MEANING : 1. (intr.v.) to use the power of reason, think or think about 2. (n.) the process of using your mind to consider something carefully USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The country is simply so much better at celebration than cerebration. Telegraph, Fear walks the streets in the home of the brave, By Jeff Randall, 15 Feb 2003
cession [ SESH-uh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. an act of surrendering, yielding or giving up 2. one or something that is given up or surrendered USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The commissioner Fantozzi can now proceed to the cession of the assets within the first of December CNN, Alitalia sale approved, From CNN's Alessio Vinci and Hada Messia, November 19, 2008
chafe [ cheyf ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to vex, irritate or annoy 2. (tr.v.) to rub (esp. hands) and make warm 3. (tr.v.) to abrade or make sore by rubbing 4. (intr.v.) to wear away or become sore as a result of rubbing 5. (intr.v.) to irritate, annoy or vex 5. (n.) annoyance, vexation or irritation 6. (n.) soreness or warmth due to friction USAGE EXAMPLE 1: They continue to chafe under the inefficiency, corruption and red tape of their unusual system of government. BBC, Libyans mark Gaddafi anniversary, By Roger Hardy , 2 March 2007
3. (n.) trivial or worthless matter 4. (n.) strips of metal, foil or glass fibers, and having varying frequency responses, ejected into the air for reflecting radar waves- as a radar countermeasure 5. (v.) to tease in a good natured way, banter USAGE EXAMPLE 1: As such, its getting progressively more difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak. BBC, Sybarite Placement Issues, by Olli Siebelt, 20 November 2002
chagrin [ shuh'-GRIN ]
[noun,verb] MEANING : (n.) A feeling of mental unease or embarrassment due to failure (v.) To cause embarrassment USAGE EXAMPLE 1: These two malcontents were chagrined at the raid by the FBI upon the headquarters of David Koresh's Branch Davidian religious cult two years earlier; more than 70 people died in a fire that began during the raid. BBC, Chemical Cock-Ups: The 1921 Oppau Disater and its Aftermath, 20th July, 2006
chalice [ CHAL-is ]
[noun] MEANING : 1) A cup or goblet for drinking 2) A cup for the consecrated wine USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The deacon put the chalice in a safe placeand perhaps even sent it to Spainbefore being killed. National Geographic, What's Inside Rome's Ancient Catacombs?, By Maria Cristina Valsecchi
chaotic [ key-OT-ik ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. in a totally confused, disordered or erratic state or condition 2. of or pertaining to the dynamics and theories of mathematical chaos USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Upon arrival in Cairo, even the most weary business traveler will find it difficult to resist the chaotic charms of this ancient and charismatic city. Telegraph, Cairo, 27 Nov 2008
charlatan [ SHAHR-luh'-tn ]
[noun] MEANING : a person who pretends to more knowledge or skill than he or she possesses
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He is an authentic legend in a game that now breeds herds of the charlatan variety. The Herald, Rush: Scots have what it takes to reach finals, HUGH MacDONALD, September 06 2008
chaste [ cheyst ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. virginal, virtuous or not indulging in sexual intercourse 2. celibate or sexually abstinent 3. clean, stainless or spotless 4. pure, austere or simple USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Quoting Pablo Picasso, the judge drew a distinction between artistic freedom and obscenity: "Art is never chaste - where it is chaste, it is not art." Quoting Pablo Picasso, the judge drew a distinction between artistic freedom and obscenity: "Art is never chaste - where it is chaste, it is not art."
chasten [ CHEY-suh' n ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. chastise, discipline or punish with the intention of improving 2. to subdue, refine or restrain 3. to purify or make chaste USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The floor supervisor was chastened after an accident took place during his duty. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Big European retailers who previously had placed the bulk of their orders with Northern Ireland meat plants had been chastened by negative consumer reaction to the BSE crisis. BBC, Lifting of beef ban highlight of year, By Martin Cassidy Rural affairs correspondent, 28 December 2006
chattel [ CHAT-l ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a slave or bondman 2. an object or article among one's movable personal property USAGE EXAMPLE 1: They had occupied his people's land, and in his words made them a "race of no rights beyond those of chattel." CNN, Mugabe: Africa's 'lasting connection'?, By CNN's Charlayne Hunter-Gault, March 13, 2002
chide [ chahyd ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr. v.) to scold, reproach or reprimand 2. (intr. v.) to voice one''s disapproval USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The agent behind the wheel has recently moved down from Oklahoma, and she chides him for not knowing the history of this little stretch of the border. The Economist, The Border: Fighting the fence, EL CALABOZ, Jun 12th 2008
chisel [ CHIZ-uh l ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a metallic tool that is driven by a hammer and used to shape wood, stone, etc. 2. (tr.v.) to shape by using a chisel 3. (intr.v.) to cut with the help of a chisel USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He was presented with a gold chisel as a token of appreciation for his work. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural address is one of the most anticipated speeches in decades, with many expecting his words to be chiseled into marble some day. CNN, Monumental expectations for Obama's inauguration address, January 19, 2009 Accessed: 18 June 2009
churl [ churl ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a boorish, ill-bred or rude person 2. ceorl 3. a rustic or peasant USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
All the guests were dressed like gentlemen but some behaved like churls. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: It would take a churl of the most dour, misanthropic bent not to respond gladly to such outpourings of sheer human happiness. The Herald, Wishing Kosovo well while fearing for the future,Harry Reid, 21 February 2008.
churlish [ CHUR-lish ]
[adjective] MEANING : Mean and impolite USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Leading academician Zamiruddin told the Hindustan Times that the decision was "churlish and thoughtless" unless the government replaced the rhymes with equally popular and easy-to-learn Indian ones. BBC, Humpty Dumpty ruled 'too Western' , 14 June 2006
cipher [ SAHY-fer ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) zero 2. (n.) a coded or coded message 3. (n.) a nonentity or one having no importance or value 4. (n.) a number or figure in Arabic 5. (intr.v.) to encode 6. (intr.v.) to calculate arithmetically 7. (tr.v.) to encipher or encode 8. (tr.v.) to compute or calculate arithmetically USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Three German ciphers unsolved since World War II are finally being cracked, helped by thousands of home computers. BBC, Online amateurs crack Nazi codes, By Adam Blenford , 2 March 2006
clairvoyant [ klair-VOI-uh' nt ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) having a perception of events and things far beyond that of a normal human being 2. (adj.) pertaining to, of or related to clairvoyance 3. (n.) one who is clairvoyant and claims to perceive the future USAGE EXAMPLE 1: We are not talking Cannes but Tenby and those in the running for prizes are not film stars but psychics, mediums and clairvoyants. BBC, Spiritualists gather for awards, By Nick Parry, 17 May 2008
clamour [ KLAM-er ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : (n.) Loud uproar or protest from a crowd (v.) To protest or demand loudly USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Theres a huge clamour for club membership these days with people willing to shell out as much as Rs 15 lakh for it. The Times of India, Club memberships top list of must-haves, 15 Jul 2003, Roshni Olivera,TNN
cleft [ kleft ]
[noun,verb,adjective] MEANING : 1. (n.) crevice, fissure, crack or split 2. (n.) an indentation or hollow between two parts esp. in case of a chin 3. (adj.) divided or split 4. (v.) a past tense and past participle of cleave USAGE EXAMPLE 1: May be its the twinkling eyes or the abysmal cleft on his chin, but theres something starry about Rahul Bhatt. The Times of India, No ifs for this Bhatt, Geetanjali Patole, 19 March 2002.
clinch [ klinch ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to secure something by bending or flattening its rear, protruding end 2. (tr.v.) to settle or make irrefutable 3. (intr.v.) (boxing) to hold the opponent with both arms in order to prevent blows or punches 4. (n.) one that clinches USAGE EXAMPLE 1: They clinched the championship with a spectacular finish.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Brazil need just three more points to clinch qualification for the 2010 World Cup after beating former South American Group leaders Paraguay on Wednesday, but Argentina's hopes suffered a big blow. CNN, Brazil march on as Maradona's Argentina crash, June 11, 2009 Accessed: 18 June 2009
cling [ kling ]
[noun,intransitive verb] MEANING : 1. (intr.v.) to adhere to or stick to something 2. (intr.v.) to resist separation or be emotionally attached to something 3. (n.) attachment USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The scared children clung to their parents. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Sticky foods like raisins and cookies that tend to stay in the mouth longer and/or cling to teeth can be a significant source of dental cavities. abcNews, Pepsi's First Statement to ABC News, Feb. 11, 2009 Accessed: 19 June 2009
clot [ klot ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a viscous lump of coagulated liquid like blood or a substance like clay 2. (n.) a group that is compact 3. (intr.v.) to coagulate 4. (tr.v.) to cause to coagulate 5. (tr.v.) to obscure or block USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The blood clot caused his skin to turn bluish black. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A scheme operating in Nottingham to highlight blood clots caused by routine surgery has been hailed a success. BBC, Blood clot campaign 'a success', 10 May 2009
cloture [ KLOH-cher ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a procedure of the parliament in which the debate over an ongoing matter is closed and the matter is subjected to an immediate vote 2. (tr.v.) to apply cloture to USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Since consensus was unlikely despite an extended debate a motion for cloture was adopted after a
majority vote was obtained. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: With 60 votes, a united Democratic Party can obtain cloture and end attempted Republican filibusters. CNN, Commentary: Democrats should act now, Julian E. Zelizer, 6 July 2009
cloven [ Kloh-vuh' n ]
[verb,adjective] MEANING : 1. (v.) a past participle of cleave 2. (adj.) divided or split USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Foot-and-mouth disease affects animals with cloven hooves, like cows, sheep and pigs, but is harmless to humans. CNN, Europe steps up foot-and-mouth battle, February 28, 2001
coagulation [ koh-AG-yuh-ley-shuhn ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. congealing, clotting or the process of transformation from a liquid into a solid or gel by a succession of chemical reactions USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The autopsy revealed that the coagulation of blood in the arteries was caused by poison which was administered to the victim intravenously. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Blood coagulation is triggered by blood cells called platelets which, through a series of chemical reactions, produce a substance called thrombin. BBC, Thursday, Anti-coagulants, 26 October, 2000.
coalescing [ koh-uh-LES ]
[adjective] MEANING : fusing, blending, combined or united USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The coalescing liquids produced a magenta colour. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: On 9 August 1956 thousands of women assembled in Pretoria despite a ban on unauthorised gatherings, eventually coalescing in a 20,000-strong protest outside the Union Buildings. BBC, Women re-enact South Africa march, 9 August 2006
coax [ kohks ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to cajole, wheedle or persuade by using flattery 2. (tr.v.) to manipulate and gain by means of flattery 3. (intr.v.) to persuade or urge by flattery 4. (n.) coaxial cable USAGE EXAMPLE 1: They coaxed her to come to the movies with them. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: US scientists have coaxed strands of DNA, the molecule that holds the "code of life", to take up a shape that resembles the Americas. BBC, Nanotech discovers the Americas, 15 March 2006
coddle [ KOD-l ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to pamper or treat gently and tenderly 2. to cook in water at a temperature that is below its boiling point USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She coddled the doll in her sleep. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: IMF staff in Washington are famously coddled, enjoying tax-free salaries and use of an elite country club. Telegraph, Fund to sell gold reserves to plug budget deficit, By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, 09 Apr 2008
coerce [ KOH-urs ]
[verb] MEANING : To force by using authority USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Scientists have found a way to coerce computers into doing science without the consent of their owners. BBC, Doing science by stealth, 29 August 2001
coeval [ koh-EE-vuh' l ]
[adjective] MEANING : Belonging to the same age or period USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The statues, revealed by the excavations, were of a type that was coeval physically. BBC, Slippery Stage, By Tim Bearder
cogent [ KOH-juh nt ]
[adjective] MEANING : believable, valid or convincing USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He did not have a cogent explanation about his whereabouts. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: BBC North America editor Justin Webb: You watch Obama making his speech - cogent and
thoughtful and, to many Americans, profoundly moving. BBC, As it happened: How the results came in, By Jude Sheerin,
cogitate [ KOJ-i-teyt ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to meditate, think over or ponder 2. (intr.v.) to contemplate or meditate deeply USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Italian journalists like to cogitate at length on tactical nuances. Telegraph, Inter Milan beat Juventus, by Ben Findon, 24 Nov 2008. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Philosophers cogitate over every minuscule observation prior to framing of a hypothesis.
cohere [ koh-HEER ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (intr.v.) to be united or stick together 2. (intr.v.) to be consistent or congruous in a logical manner 3. (tr.v.) to be united consistently and logically USAGE EXAMPLE 1: African players need to go through some research and self-assessment in order to ascertain whether or not their physical and mental attributes cohere with the club in question. BBC, Best league for African players?, 14 August, 2001. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: All parts of the story must cohere for it to be logically consistent.
cohort [ KOH-hawrt ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a company, group or band 2. a supporter, companion, colleague or associate 3. a group of warriors or soldiers USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Maccarinelli hailed his cohort as "the best British fighter ever produced". Telegraph, Joe Calzaghe 'one of Britain's greatest', says Ricky Hatton, by Gareth A Davies, 06 Feb 2009. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Robin Hood and his band of cohorts called the merry men, gave the Sheriff of Nottingham a run for his money.
colossal [ kuh'-LOS-uh' l ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1) Of enormous size 2) Casual USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Through colossal blunders, Britain twice declared war on a Germany that had not attacked her and did not want war with her. Chronicles Magazine, Was the Holocaust Inevitable?, by Patrick J. Buchanan
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The Europeans and Americans are more concerned with getting the most out of their traditional combustion engines. BBC, Green cars get sexier, By Jim Reed, 23 May 2008
comely [ KUHM-lee ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. pleasing in appearance; attractive 2. suitable or proper; seemly USAGE EXAMPLE 1: We are in the Alps proper, mountains towering above comely valleys dotted variously with chalets and cows. Telegraph, Train travel: Exploring the French Alps, Anthony Peregrine, 31 Oct 2008
comestible [ kuh'-MES-tuh'-buh' l ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) edible; fit to be eaten; eatable 2. (n.) articles of food; something that can be eaten as food USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Deadly brew sugar-cane juice is the other comestible identified by the mcd as dangerous, and hence banned for the six summer months. The Times of India, Its time again for cool foods, illness,by Anuradha Mukherjee, 8 Apr 2002.
comeuppance [ kuhm-UHP-uh' ns ]
[noun] MEANING : a deserved punishment or penalty; just deserts USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Nixon, of course, got his comeuppance. CNN, Can politicians be trusted?, By CNN's Barry Neild, September 20, 2006
comity [ KOM-i-tee ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. Formal friendly courtesy, especially between different countries 2. voluntary recognition shown by one country for the laws, judicial decisions and institutions of the other USAGE EXAMPLE 1: In the Senate, an institution where comity and collegiality rule, McCain was not winning popularity contests. abcNews, McCain on the Defensive About Spending, By LIBBY QUAID Associated Press Writer, June 29, 2008
commemorate [ kuh-MEM-uh-reyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to honour one's memory by means of an observation or a ceremony 2. to serve as a memorial to USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
2nd October, a public holiday, commemorates the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The annual release of the top 10 new species list and State of Observed Species report commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Carolus Linnaeus, who initiated the modern system of plant and animal names and classifications. CNN, Tiny seahorse, world's longest insect among top new species, May 22, 2009
commodious [ kuh'-MOH-dee-uh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : Spacious and roomy USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Living in cheap and commodious housing, inhabitants of the larger settlement blocs close to the Green Line could enjoy a comfortable suburban lifestyle within an easy commute to jobs inside Israel itself. National Geographic, Lines in the Sand: Deadly Times in the West Bank and Gaza, By Andrew Cockburn, October 2002
commuter [ kuh-MYOO-ter ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (n.) a person who regularly travelling using a vehicle between home and office 2. (n.) an airline that carries passengers between short distances 3. (adj.) related to or of commuting or commuters USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Commuters disrupted the rail service in Mumbai by forming a human barricade across the tracks. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A strike by railway workers in France has brought disruption to commuter train services around Paris. BBC, Strike hits French rail commuters, 21 January, 2004
1. (n.) vanity or excessive appreciation of one's own opinions or virtues 2. (n.) imagination or a fanciful idea 3. (tr.v.) to flatter oneself or take a fancy to something USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She lost all her friends because of her conceit. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Mr Chomsky, one of America's foremost intellectuals, also said the failure of the US to get the Security Council to authorise the use of force under Article 51 of the UN charter projected an image of America as domineering and conceited. BBC, Chomsky: Afghan attacks unlawful, 27 February, 2002
Occurring or accompanying with something else esp. in a subordinate way; following an event or thing as a consequence USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The dollar has fallen so far that, even with the concomitant rise in fuel costs, American manufactured goods look cheap to customers in Europe. Chronicles Magazine, Whats Good for Rockford Acromatics, by Scott P. Richert
concordat [ kon-KAWR-dat ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a compact, formal agreement or covenant 2. an agreement between the pope and a government or sovereign in order to regulate ecclesiastical or church affairs USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A three-year council tax freeze was the keystone of a 'concordat' signed by Scottish ministers and Cosla. Telegraph, John Swinney promises Scotland council tax freeze, by Simon Johnson, 17 Oct 2008. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: No concordat was ever signed between Henry the VIII and the Pope.
3. (tr.v.) to transform a gas into a liquid 4. (intr.v.) to contract or become concentrated or dense USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The author realised that he could either condense his story or find a new publisher for his book. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Time-lapse camera technology allowed the filmmakers to condense a year's worth of seasonal changes into a seamless 30-second shot. CNN, 'Earth' takes viewers on 'breathtaking' global journey, Azadeh Ansari, 23 April 2009.
condescend [ KON-duh'-send ]
[intransitive verb] MEANING : 1. to descend, deign or stoop to a level that is considered lower than or inferior to oneself 2. to behave as though one is superior to another USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Sources said, "even after both sides condescend to portfolios sharing, the Congress biggest problem will be who to accommodate in the 8-10 member list while the JD(S) is ready with it." The Times of India, Now, race on for key portfolios, 3 June 2004 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The Duke was thought to been condescending by having agreed to dance with her.
condiment [ KON-duh'-muh' nt ]
[noun] MEANING : a relish or seasoning that is used to impart a special flavour to food or enhance its flavour USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Chief amongst the goods the ship was carrying were hundreds of jars of garum - a fish sauce which was a favourite condiment for rich Romans. BBC, Roman ship thrills archaeologists, 14 November 2006 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Condiments are widely used in Indian cuisine.
Condolences were offered by the Maj. General to the widows of army men.
conflagration [ kon-fluh'-GREY-shuh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : A huge and destructive fire USAGE EXAMPLE 1: In all there were three major earthquakes, several tsunamis, and a conflagration that consumed most of the Portuguese city of Lisbon on November 1, 1755All Saints Day. National Geographic, Earthquakes:Sunday surprise
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The gel slowly congealed and formed a solid impenetrable layer. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The planets were thought to congeal into cores over a million years or so, then gradually accumulate gas outer envelopes over another 1 million to 10 million years. CNN, Study: Big planets form in cosmic flash, By Richard Stenger CNN, November 28, 2002
connivance [ kuh'-NAHY-vuh' ns ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. knowledge of and tacit consent to wrongdoing by another 2. the act of conniving USAGE EXAMPLE 1: President Abdallahi is the victim of a coup concocted by the army with the connivance of lawmakers in parliament. abcNews, Mauritania Leader Ousted After Political Feuding, By AHMED MOHAMED and TODD PITMAN Associated Press Writers, August 6, 2008 (AP)
Every country has something special to offer, but many safari connoisseurs say the top overall choices are Kenya, Botswana, South Africa and Tanzania. CNN, Get the most out of your African safari, By Amy Syracuse Budget Travel, July 26
connotation [ kon-uh-TEY-shuh n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. implication, intension or meaning suggested by a given word other than what it literally means 2. denotation, undertone or essence USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His speech had the connotation that dissatisfied workers would be made redundant. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The traditional definition of "high art" -- referring to painting, sculpture, classical music, or opera -- descended from the eras of kings and aristocrats and carried connotations of wealth and elitism. CNN, Globalization, technology changing the art world, By Manav Tanneeru CNN, April 2, 2007
consanguinity [ kon-sang-GWIN-i-tee ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. blood relationship or kinship 2. a close relationship, affinity or connection USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Sometimes the Israelis and Palestinians are best left alone to try to sort out their tragic consanguinity. The Economist, Israel and the Palestinians, Jul 26th 2001
consequential [ kon-si-KWEN-shuh' l ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. resultant or following an outcome or effect 2. important or significant 3. pompous USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The current trend is consequential not only in coastal Louisiana but around the world. National Geographic, GeoSigns: The Big Thaw, By Daniel Glick
3. 4. 5. 6.
(n.) a partner or associate (tr.v.) to associate, unite or keep company (intr.v.) to agree or harmonise (intr.v.) to keep company or associate
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: When we consider time obligations to our in-boxes or out-trays, Ullerup is weighing up the Queen and the Prince Consort's commitments to Greenland or the Faroe islands. CNN, Lessons from monarchy management, By Nick Easen for CNN, February 2, 2004 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A lot of political decisions influenced the choosing of a monarch's consort in olden days.
consternation [ kon-ster-NEY-shuh n ]
[noun] MEANING : bewilderment, dismay or amazement USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She won the award much to their consternation. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The murder of Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh arouses consternation at home and abroad, and there is interest in the composition of the new European Commission after the withdrawal of another controversial nominee. BBC, European press review, 3 November, 2004
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to oblige, confine, compel or force 2. to restrain, hold back or limit by using bonds 3. to produce in a strained manner USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He was constrained to tell the truth by his peers who threatened him with dire consequences. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The president of Santa Cruz's civic committee, Branco Marincovick, said the tax is constraining regional development. CNN, Bolivians strike for share of natural gas profits, August 19, 2008
MEANING : 1. (adj.) conditional or dependent on something else 2. (adj.) accidental or fortuitous 3. (adj.) empirical or not necessarily true in the logical sense 4. (n.) contingency 5. (n.) a quota of delegates or troops 6. (n.) a delegation or representative group USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A large contingent of Northern Ireland riders are bound for the Southern 100 road races in Castletown on the Isle of Man next week. BBC, NI contingent Southern 100 bound, 4 July 2006 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: His acceptance of the job was dependent on contingent factors such as health and dental insurance.
[adjective] MEANING : rebellious, obstinate, insubordinate or disobedient USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Without the disciplining presence of the two heavyweights, contumacious councillors busied themselves with procedural obstruction and shouting corruption at each other Economist, Tehran's dirty municipal politics, Jan 23rd 2003.
conundrum [ kuh'-NUHN-druh' m ]
[noun] MEANING : 1) A riddle whose answer involves a play of words or is a pun 2) A difficult and intricate problem USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Fans' apparent apathy toward the dark side of sports, as reflected in their continued financial support, presents a conundrum for owners and officials: If the fans are still paying to see the games, why should we take any drastic measures to try to fix it? ABC News, State of Sports: More Cheaters, Dopers, Criminals -- and Fans -- Than Ever Before, By JON WIENER, July 10, 2008
coquette [ koh-KET ]
[noun] MEANING : A woman who is flirtatious USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She's flirtatious in her outrage: a stand-up coquette. CNN, 'Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic', Reviewed by Owen Gleiberman
he understood that the budget process would require compromise on all sides. CNN, Obama goes to Capitol to lobby Democrats on budget, March 25, 2009
cordon [ KAWR-dn ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a line of troops, police or military personnel that are guarding or enclosing an area 2. (n.) an ornamental braid or cord 3. (n.) a ribbon representing honorary or knightly order that is worn proudly diagonally across the breast 4. (tr.v.) to enclose, surround or encircle with a cordon to restrict movement in and out USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Many people were pleading with police to allow them out of the cordon as they were trapped between two lines of officers. Telegraph, Gaza protesters clash with police in London, by David Barrett, 11 Jan 2009. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A huge police cordon was sent to guard the priceless art on display at the museum.
cormorant [ KAWR-mer-uh' nt ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. any of various, dark- coloured, web-footed water birds of the genus Phalacrocorax having a long neck and a distensible throat pouch 2. a greedy, rapacious person USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Finally we arrived at Yangshuo and I saw a wizened old man holding a pole where two black birds called cormorants were perched. CNN, Finding China in Guilin, By Marianne Bray, April 5, 2006
corpulent [ KAWR-pyuh'-luh' nt ]
[adjective] MEANING : Fat; stout; having a large bulky body USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Catholics placed their own candidate, Sir John Everard, in the chair. Whereupon the Protestants placed their own candidate, the corpulent Sir John Davies, on his lap. BBC, A Short History of Ireland
corroboration [ kuh-rob-uh-REY-shuh n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. confirmation, verification or ratification 2. a statement or act that is corroboratory
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: After the corroboration of all the facts presented by the district attorney the jury was convinced that the accused was in fact guilty as charged. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Prosecutors dropped charges against Kenny Richey - who returned home to Scotland last January after being freed by a court in Ohio - because of a lack of corroboration. Telegraph, Death row Kenny Richey cleared of assault, Auslan Cramb, 5 March 2009.
coterie [ KOH-tuh'-ree ]
[noun] MEANING : a faction or group of people with a similar interest or purpose; a clique USAGE EXAMPLE 1: For, in the imaginations of a coterie of physicists, biologists and engineers, an alternative world is taking shape. The Economist, The future of energy, Jun 19th 2008
countenance [ KOUN-tn-uh ns ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) appearance, visage esp. one's facial expression 2. (n.) composure 3. (n.) sanction or approval 4. (tr.v.) to approve, allow or permit 5. (tr.v.) to encourage or support USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His countenance did not betray his feelings. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The Argentinian goalkeeper, best known for his penalty heroics against England in the 1998 World Cup, refused to countenance a new contract at Real Mallorca as the year 2000 approached because he believed the world was going to end and he needed to prepare. BBC, Why the fascination with the end of the world?, By Finlo Rohrer, BBC News Magazine, 8 September 2008
counterfeit [ KOUN-ter-fit ]
[noun,adjective,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (adj.) unreal, forged or not genuine 2. (n.) a forgery or imitation 3. (n.) to forge or fraudulently imitate USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Counterfeit notes were found by the police. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: An analytical chemist and assistant professor at Georgia Tech, Fernandez has spent the better part of the last decade fighting the global battle against counterfeit drugs. CNN, Fighting the growing menace of fake drugs, By Grace Wong For CNN,
countervail [ koun-ter-VEYL ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to counteract or avail against 2. (tr.v.) to offset or compensate 3. (intr.v.) to avail or match with equal force USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The ruling party came up with a novel procedure to effectively countervail the objections raised by the opposition. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: President Bush had built a working relationship with China, deepened alliances with Japan and Australia, and boosted collaboration with India - a 'Quadrilateral Initiative' to countervail China. BBC, 100 words on 100 days, Mahmud Ali, 23 April 2009.
Burns wouldn't comment when questioned about a magazine report this month suggesting President Bush had sought $400 million for covert operations inside Iran. CNN, Gates: Iran's test shows missile defense needed in Europe, July 9, 2008
covet [ KUHV-it ]
[verb] MEANING : 1) To desire keenly 2) To long for something that belongs to someone else USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Such credibility and accuracy is vital to cultivate the viewer's trust and elicit the emotional response filmmakers covet. Reader's Digest, Hollywood Goes to War, From smart bombs to terrorist plots, fiction gets eerily factual., By Robert F. Howe
covetous [ KUHV-i-tuh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. having a craving to acquire or possess 2. marked by excessive desire for wealth or possession or for another possessions USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Of all the wine-producing countries, New Zealand enjoys the highest average bottle price in the UK - currently 5.97 - and the Aussies have set their covetous eyes on this top spot. Telegraph, Victims of their own success, By Jonathan Ray, Wine Correspondent, 03 May 2007
cower [ KOU-er ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : to crouch, cringe or shrink in fear USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She cowered behind the house in fear. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Scientists at the University of Tokyo say they have used genetic engineering to successfully switch off a mouse's instinct to cower at the smell or presence of catsevidence that fear may be genetically hardwired and not learned through experience, as commonly believed. National Geographic, Genetically Engineered Mice Don't Fear Cats, Kaori Hitomi in Tokyo, December 13, 2007
coy [ koi ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. coquettish, shy or modest
2. reluctant or hesitant towards a commitment USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She wanted to portray the coy little girl look and so wore a dress that was grand but not flashy. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: In this country, we tend to be a bit coy about discussing matters of the wallet and the purse. The Herald, Our values are judged by how we spend, Ron Ferguson, 27 April 2009.
crass [ kras ]
[adjective] MEANING : gross, unrefined, stupid or crude USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His crass remarks made people dislike him. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Ian Clement, deputy mayor for external relations, admitted he made a "crass mistake" after he ran up about 2,300 on a corporate credit card. BBC, Mayoral aide quits over expenses, 22 June 2009.
cravat [ kruh'-VAT ]
[noun] MEANING : A scarf or a band of cloth worn esp. by men around the neck; a necktie USAGE EXAMPLE 1: To an observer standing out in the center of the road looking back toward the tables in the shade of the oak tree, he would have looked stern and uncomfortable in his black coat, the white dressing twisted about his neck like a tight cravat. CNN - Books, "Cold Mountain" By Charles Frazier, Atlantic Monthly, 1997
craven [ KREY-vuh n ]
[noun,adjective,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (adj.) cowardly, timid or fearful 2. (n.) a coward 3. (tr.v.) to make timid or cowardly USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Craven behaviour is not expected from soldiers. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Mr Grayling reserves special scorn for the craven willingness of the British government to legislate against causing offence to people with religious sensibilities. Economist, Paying the price, Jun 18th 2009.
crease [ krees ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a line, ridge, fold or mark caused by folding 2. (n.) an area marked by a line in sports 3. (tr.v.) to cause a line or fold 4. (intr.v.) to wrinkle or gather lines USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She ironed out the crease before she wore the clothes.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Helm sent the Red Wings back to the Stanley Cup finals for the fourth time in 12 seasons when he slammed home a loose puck as it trickled across the crease 3:58 into the extra session. abcNEWS, Red Wings Beat Chicago, Set up Stanley Cup Rematch, by Steve Keating, May 27, 2009.
credulous [ KREJ-uh'-luh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : Willing to believe too readily, without adequate evidence USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Reporters gave Burnstein and Colby's dubious claims so much credulous press coverage that politicians in Maine quickly banned food irradiation. Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity, John Stossel
crestfallen [ KREST-faw-luh' n ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. depressed, dejected or chagrined 2. having a drooping or slumped head or crest USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
Why are we getting so crestfallen about our lack of medals. Sir Croupier says BBC, Olympics day six as it happened, by Caroline Cheese, 14 August 2008.
crevice [ Krev-is ]
[noun] MEANING : a crack, fissure or cleft USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Dozens of brightly painted elves, birds and animals cavort and play in the crevices of the barkless old stump. Telegraph, A monumental journey through the capital, 30 Oct 2008.
crone [ krohn ]
[noun] MEANING : An old and withered woman USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Pip meets a mysterious aged crone who can help him escape from Britain's most terrifying school and the clutches of his evil guardian. BBC, Bleak Expectations Comedy Victorian adventure by Mark Evans, 16 January 2008
crotchet [ KROCH-it ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. an eccentric fancy or whimsical notion 2. a small hook-like process 3. a quarter note 4. a curved surgical instrument with a hook USAGE EXAMPLE 1: George de Mestral named his invention Velcro, a combination of "velour" and "crotchet," the French words for velvet and hook. abcNEWS, Velcro Marks 50th Anniversary With 1.5-Mile-Long R-R-R-Rip, by HOLLY RAMER, May 13, 2008 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: He was often ridiculed because of his crotchets.
cruet [ KROO-it ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a glass bottle that is usually used to hold vinegar or oil 2. a small vessel that is used to hold holy water or wine for the Eucharist USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The cruet was placed precariously on the table. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The development may lead to bar counters that take drinks to customers, or restaurant tables which automatically arrange cutlery, crockery and cruets into place settings. BBC, Table top tricks, By BBC News Online internet reporter Mark Ward, 6 October, 2000
crush [ kruhsh ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING :
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
(tr.v.) to deform by squeezing forcefully (tr.v.) to subdue or severely oppress (intr.v.) to get crushed (n.) an act or instance of crushing (n.) a mob or crowd
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He crushed the dried bread to make bread crumbs. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Chinas army crushed popular protests, killing hundreds. Economist, The week ahead, May 31st 2009.
cuisine [ kwi-ZEEN ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a manner, style or quality of preparing or cooking food 2. food that has been prepared USAGE EXAMPLE 1: In the tradition of Julia Child, another impressive voice for French cuisine wants to help home cooks pull off great food. abcNEWS, Joel Robuchon Brings French Cooking Home, By J.M. HIRSCH AP Food Editor, December 26, 2008
cull [ kuhl ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to pick or choose 2. (tr.v.) to gather, congregate or collect 3. (tr.v.) to discard or reject unwanted members from a herd or group 4. (n.) one that has been chosen esp. to be rejected USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew has said 7,000 cattle restricted on 10 Northern Ireland farms because of dioxin contamination should be culled. BBC, Cull announced for dioxin cattle, 15 January 2009.
culmination [ kuhl-muh'-NEY-shuh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. climax, highest degree, peak or acme
2. completion or end 3. an act or instance of culminating USAGE EXAMPLE 1: "It is the most amazing culmination to what has been quite a year for me." Hamilton said BBC, Hoy knighted in New Year honours, 31 December 2008
culvert [ KUHL-vert ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a sewer, drain or channel 2. a bridge or embankment over such a drain USAGE EXAMPLE 1: An estimated 80 per cent of houses have been badly damaged or destroyed and cars remain mired in slime or have half-disappeared into collapsed culverts. Telegraph, Devastated Haiti reels after unprecedented fourfold storm battering, by Philip Sherwell, 23 Sep 2008.
cumbersome [ KUHM-ber-suh m ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. troublesome or burdensome 2. unwieldy, awkward or clumsy USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He spent the whole night writing the cumbersome report. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: As we conducted our review of the company, it was clear that internationally, just as in the U.S., MySpace's staffing had become too big and cumbersome to be sustainable in current market conditions, Chief Executive Owen Van Natta said in a statement. abcNEWS, MySpace to Cut 300 International Positions, LOS ANGELES.
curmudgeon [ ker-MUHJ-uh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : A person who is ill tempered and irritable USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He said he regretted to report that age appeared to be mellowing him, and that people would have to stop referring to him as a curmudgeon. BBC, Catch 22 Author Dies, 14 December, 1999
curriculum [ kuh-RIK-yuh-luh m ]
[noun]
MEANING : 1. a set of study courses that are being offered by an educational institution 2. a set or group of courses that constitute an area or a field of specialization USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The curriculum was changed last year. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Primary schools in England are being given a new set of bullet points: the curriculum is being overhauled. BBC, Bullet points for primary schools, by Gary Eason, 1 May 2009.
cursory [ KUR-suh-ree ]
[adjective] MEANING : superficially and hastily done with little attention to detail USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He spared a cursory glance at the actor as she did not particularly like his acting. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Seventeen trees, 25 parties, 269 wreaths, 4,638 red ornament balls, 15,000 chocolate truffles, 20,000 Christmas cookies, and 45,000 guests...and that's just a cursory glance at the trappings of the White House's 2006 holiday season. abcNEWS, It's A Red White House, November 30
curtail [ ker-TEYL ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : to shorten, reduce, diminish or abridge USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His activities were curtailed as a part of his punishment. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: If approved by Congress, the bill will permit nicotine levels in cigarettes to be limited and will curtail tobacco advertising. BBC, US smoking curbs: Readers react, 12 June 2009.
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The prince, an avid gardener, is patron of the project. Its cynosure will be a simple 20ft tall, black granite sculpture, entitled Unity, designed by the Turner Prize-winning sculptor Anish Kapoor. The Telegraph, Royal couple start tour with tribute at Ground Zero, By Caroline Davies in New York
D
dainty [ DEYN-tee ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) exquisite or delicately charming 2. (adj.) squeamish or fastidious 3. (adj.) delicious or tasty 4. (n.) a delicacy USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Her dainty shoes were made of the finest glass. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: This is usually a woman, who holds her glass with dainty, splayed fingers and uses it in a provocative way. BBC, 'Glass hold' reveals personality, 29 May 2009.
dank [ dangk ]
[adjective] MEANING : Unpleasantly wet or damp; moist, and often chilly USAGE EXAMPLE 1: At the start of The Killer in Me, its Z-list celebrity cast was filmed standing in what looked like a dank, defunct prison cell or a long-abandoned Victorian asylum. The Herald, Cure for boredom: eat more fish, DAVID BELCHER, November 09 2007
dastardly [ DAS-terd-lee ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1) Cowardly 2) Malicious; characterised by underhanded treachery; sneaking USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The dastardly attacks on September 11, 2001 will be an indelible date in U.S. historyand, in their shared hour of agony on that fateful day, one more bond between two sister cities. National Geographic, Comment: Washington, New YorkBonded by History, Edward C. Smith, American University, October 5, 2001
daub [ dawb ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to cover or coat with soft adhesive matter such as plaster, grease or mud 2. (tr.v.) to apply colouring material unskilfully 3. (intr.v.) to apply colours crudely or unskilfully 4. (n.) a crude, amateurish painting 5. (n.) inferior material used for daubing walls USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Walls around the ground were daubed with slogans. Telegraph, Rose Davis, 03 Feb 2009
dawdle [ DAWD-l ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : (intr. v.) 1) To idle away; to waste time 2) To loiter or saunter; to move slowly (tr.v.) To spend fruitlessly; trifle away USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The scenery is great, the wildlife fantastic. However the proper way to appreciate it is not to dawdle along at 20mph (especially on 'A' roads, or around Loch Ness), find a place to stop and enjoy it properly. BBC, Countryside Etiquette, 29th August 2003
deadpan [ DED-pan ]
[noun,adjective,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (adj.) blank or expressionless 2. (n.) a face displaying no expression or emotion 3. (tr.v.) to express oneself without any expression or impassively USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The films he's written and directed, however, show the most inventive side of Albert Brooks -- his distinctive, neurotically deadpan sense of humor. CNN, The funniest man in most of the world, By Todd Leopold, January 19, 2006
dearth [ durth ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. scarcity, inadequacy or shortage 2. famine USAGE EXAMPLE 1: There was a dearth of intellectuals in the organization. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Mido was left out of the squad named on Thursday despite a dearth of attacking options. BBC, Mido dropped by Egypt, 22 May 2009.
debonair [ deb-uh-NAIR ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. suave, sophisticated, elegant or urbane 2. genial, sprightly or jaunty USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Dashing Spaniard Javier Bardem, sporting a debonair beard, picked up best supporting actor for his portrayal of sinister hitman Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men. BBC, Night of stars and absent friends, by Liam Allen, 11 February 2008.
The other is that they're noble and pure people uncorrupted by the decadence of modern society. National Geographic, Anthropologist on Living With a Remote Amazon Tribe, By Tom Foreman, May 21, 2003
decant [ di-KANT ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to pour or transfer (esp. wine) from one vessel to another without disturbing any of the sediments in the liquid 2. to pour or transfer from one vessel or container to another USAGE EXAMPLE 1: They were looking for containers, into which they could decant the Black Label and the cognac, leave the empties outside the door, get replenishments, decant those, and so on. The Times of India, The king and I, JUGULAR VEIN/JUG SURAIYA, 10 Apr 2005
decapitate [ di-KAP-i-teyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : To behead; to cut off the head of USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Police say the swan was held down "with some degree of force" before a knife was used to decapitate it. BBC, 1,000 reward after swan beheaded, 4 April 2007
declivity [ di-KLIV-i-tee ]
[noun] MEANING : a slope or inclination showing a downward trend USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Her keen eyes discern a slight darkening of the colour of the green crop in a declivity either side of it, a sign of where it would have run. Telegraph, Clues for landscape detectives, Jack Watkins, 03 Mar 2003
decree [ di-KREE ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) an authoritative oder that has the force of law 2. (n.) one that is foreordained 3. (tr.v.) to dictate or establish by decree 4. (intr.v.) to ordain
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Royal decrees cannot be ignored. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Last month, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah issued a royal decree naming the interior minister, Prince Nayef -- the powerful brother of the crown prince and half-brother to the king -- to the post of second deputy prime minster. CNN, Saudi crown prince's surgery raises questions, From Mohammed Jamjoom CNN, May 2, 2009
decrepit [ di-KREP-it ]
[adjective] MEANING : weakened, worn out, impaired, or broken down by old age, illness, or long use USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Why did it take an hour for decrepit fire engines to reach the blazing supermarket? Economist, Double trouble, Feb 5th 2009. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The decrepit house has been termed dangerous by the housing authority.
decry [ di-KRAHY ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. denounce, condemn or belittle openly 2. to depreciate by rumour or officially USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The actions were termed vile and decried the world over. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The crowd -- organized via the social-networking Web sites Facebook and Twitter -- largely decried government corruption in Iran. CNN, Atlanta protesters join others across U.S. angry about Iran, From William Brown and Sydney Wilmer CNN, June 17, 2009
deducible [ di-du-ci-ble ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to infer from a general principle 2. to reach a conclusion from something known or assumed 3. to trace the course of USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Applications to the theory are deducible only after understanding the theory. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The approximate age of a lobster can be deduced from its weight. BBC, NY eatery frees ancient lobster, 10 January 2009
defamation [ def-uh'-MEY-shuh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : slander, calumny, vilification or an injury to another's reputation or character USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A sessions judge on Tuesday struck off the name of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray from a list of accused in a criminal complaint filed for defamation in a Borivli metropolitan court. The Times of India, Thackeray name off defamation list, 22 March 2006.
defer [ di-FUR ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to postpone, delay or put off for later 2. (tr.v.) to delay a person's induction into military service 3. (intr.v.) to postpone or procrastinate USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He deferred his admission to the university. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Scottish Borders councillors have deferred their decision on plans for a wind farm in the Lammermuir Hills. BBC, Wind farm site decision deferred, 15 January 2007
deferential [ dif-uh-REN-shuh l ]
[adjective] MEANING : respectful, courteous, obedient or reverential USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The teacher praised the deferential student and asked the other students to follow his example. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: People are less deferential now and more inclined to think for themselves. BBC, Anti-euro campaign shuns 'political elite,' Brian Wheeler, 31 May, 2002
defiance [ di-FAHY-uh ns ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. bold resistance or opposition to authority 2. challenge USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
All of their defiance was proved useless as the rebellion was crushed. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The protests were held in open defiance of warnings issued Friday by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the country's Security Council. CNN, Chaos prevails as protesters, police clash in Iranian capital, June 21, 2009
defoliant [ dee-FOH-lee-uh' nt ]
[noun] MEANING : A chemical spray or dust applied on plants to make their leaves fall off before time USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Vietnamese victims have filed their first lawsuit against US companies that produced the toxic defoliant used by American forces during the Vietnam War. BBC, Vietnamese file Agent Orange suit, 4 February, 2004
defray [ di-FREY ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : to pay, take care of or bear all the expenses USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Today, several middle-class Punekars staying in joint families are taking the opportunity to purchase a house for the future and leasing them out to partially defray the home loan equated monthly instalments (EMIs). The Times of India, Reap rich returns, 29 Jan 2005
deify [ DEE-uh'-fahy ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to worship and revere as a God 2. to make a God of 3. to exalt or glorify as of supreme worth USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Hamilton is deified within the team, no doubt. Telegraph, Monaco GP win marks Lewis Hamilton out, By Kevin Garside, 23 Sep 2008
deign [ deyn ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : (intr. v.) To condescend; to think it fitting or appropriate to one's dignity (tr. v.) To condescend to grant or offer USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A Gillespie no-ball brings up England's 50 and a couple of people deign to clap in the stands. BBC, England v New Zealand as it happened, 16 January 2007
delectable [ di-LEK-tuh'-buh' l ]
[adjective] MEANING : Greatly enjoyable, delicious USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Opt for the delectable soup, which is full of duck flavour with preserved mustard greens and bits of Chinese celery.
Financial Times, Restaurant review: Xinn Tien Di, Bangkok, By Ken Hom, Published: May 26
deleterious [ del-i-TEER-ee-uh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : harmful or detrimental to health USAGE EXAMPLE 1: "Patients with cystic fibrosis have a high risk for GER and gastric aspiration," he added, "and this seems to be associated with more cough and poorer lung function, which suggests a deleterious role of reflux on cystic fibrosis lung disease." abcNEWS, Reflex May Trigger Cough in Cystic Fibrosis Patients, By David Douglas, August 13, 2008
delineate [ di-LIN-ee-eyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to represent or depict pictorially 2. to describe by means of gestures and words 3. to sketch out or trace one's outline USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He delineated the dictionary to make it easier for young children to use it. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The government in Beirut is seeking to formally delineate the border between the two states. BBC, Syrian border barriers demolished, 16 May 2006
delirium [ di-LEER-ee-uh' m ]
[noun] MEANING : 1) A brief, temporary state of mental confusion characterised by hallucination, delusions, incoherent speech, caused by high fever, shock, intoxication or other causes 2) A state of uncontrolled and frenzied emotion USAGE EXAMPLE 1: On Wednesday, forensic pathologist Dr David Raus told the inquest that Excited Delirium (ED), a condition some doctors believe can lead to a heart attack, was responsible for Mr Sylvester's death. BBC, 'Syndrome killed custody man', By Cindi John, BBC News Online community affairs reporter, 24 September, 2003
delusion [ di-LOO-zhuh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a false belief or opinion 2. the state of being deluded USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He had the delusion he was in focus of concave mirrors which direct rays of light upon him from Peru BBC, Changing face of mental health , By Giancarlo Rinaldi , 10 October 2007
delve [ delv ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (intr.v.) to investigate, search or intensively research 2. (intr.v.) (archaic) to dig up or excavate 3. (tr.v.) (archaic) to use a spade to dig 4. (n.) (archaic) a hollow or cave USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Leeds Carnegie could delve into the loan market this week to ease their front-row injury problems. BBC, Leeds facing prop injury crisis, 9 February 2009.
demeanour [ di-MEE-ner ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. behaviour, bearing or conduct 2. facial expression USAGE EXAMPLE 1: I can see from your demeanour you are afraid of custody. Sheriff Liddle told Steven Finlayson. Telegraph, SNP plans to scrap prison sentences under six months condemned by sheriff, by Auslan Cramb, 23 Jan 2009.
demented [ di-MEN-tid ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. mad, insane or mentally ill or deranged 2. suffering from or showing symptoms of dementia USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The controversial statement, questioning the veracity of the battle spawned angry reactions with major-general Atma Singh (retd.) being derided as disloyal' and a 'demented mind'. The Times of India, Maj. Gen. Atma's remarks rapped, Vishal Sharma, 1 March 2008.
demur [ di-MUR ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to object, take exception or voice opposition 2. (tr.v.) to file or enter a demurrer 3. (n.) an objection USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The politician was furious and demurred strongly at the language used. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The Foreign Office demurred, arguing that it was focused on securing the return of two former British residents still detained at the US naval base in Cuba Binyam Mohamed and Shaker Aamer. Telegraph, Britain tells US it won't take Guantnamo prisoners unless rest of Europe does, By Alex Spillius in Washington, 09 Jan 2009
demure [ di-MYOO' R ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1) Reserved or modest in manner or behaviour 2) Coy; affected shyness or modesty USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The leading lady is usually demure and innocent and will wear a calf-length or full-length dress. BBC, The Costumes, 11th December 2006
denigrate [ DEN-i-greyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1) To malign or defame someone; to criticize in a derogatory way 2) To belittle; to disregard the importance or value of someone or something 3) Blacken; to make black USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Those two communities are trying to do things to improve the situation, so this isn't to denigrate them. National Geographic, World Summit Erred by Ignoring Tourism, Editor Says, By Robin R. Burfield, September 4, 2002
denizen [ DEN-uh-zuh' n ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING :
1. (n.) a resident, occupant, native or inhabitant 2. (n.) an alien who has been permitted residence in a country along with a few rights of citizenship 3. (n.) a habitue or one who frequents an area or place 4. (tr.v.) to naturalize or grant the right to reside USAGE EXAMPLE 1: An Agra denizen, Irfan Bedar, who also claimed to have descended from the Mughals is also seeking trusteeship of the monument. The Times of India, Tucys want to perform urs at Taj, Ch Sushil Rao, TNN, 15 Jul 2005
denouement [ dey-noo-MAHN ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. the final outcome, resolution or clarification esp. narrative or drama 2. the final result or outcome of a series or sequence of events USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The most likely denouement now is that Nottinghamshire will do enough against Hampshire at Trent Bridge to win the silverware for the second time in four summers. BBC, Sussex batsmen frustrate Durham, 19 September 2008.
deplete [ di-PLEET ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : to drain, exhaust or gradually lessen USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Food stocks were depleted due to a ban on imports. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Scientists in Norway say there is evidence that waste products from offshore oil exploration could seriously deplete stocks of cod in the North Sea. BBC, Norway sees oil threat to cod, 22 March, 2002
depose [ di-POHZ ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to dethrone, oust or remove from an office or powerful position 2. (tr.v.) to affirm or testify as a witness but out of court 3. (intr.v.) to testify or bear witness esp. in writing USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The Ridolfi Plot of 1571 went further by enlisting Spanish support to depose Elizabeth and place Mary on the throne. BBC, Elizabeth I: An Overview, By Alexandra Briscoe
deprecate [ DEP-ri-keyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to deplore or disapprove 2. to belittle, play down or depreciate USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The examiner deprecated the students essay saying that it was a rough and ready improvisation. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Even politicians who deprecate the emphasis placed on income adequacy by some parts of the poverty lobby are never prepared to argue for the massive investment in public collective resources, free at the point of receipt, which would be needed to make any impact on poverty as it is experienced. University of Oxford, Human dignity, social indicators and social inclusion, John Veit-Wilson, 11 September 2004.
depreciate [ di-PREE-shee-eyt ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to reduce or lower the worth or value of something 2. (tr.v.) to belittle or represent as being of hardly any value 3. (intr.v.) to diminish or fall in price or value USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The taxi owners and bus drivers are also worried that the value of their vehicles will depreciate. BBC, Zambian bus painting provokes anger, 26 February, 2001
depredation [ dep-ri-DEY-shuh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a pillage, robbery, plunder or ravage 2. a raid USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The dying river, once known as the lifeline of the capital, remains a mute witness to the depredation in the name of religion with no one taking responsibility to clean the mess. The Times of India, Yamuna reaps toxic harvest of immersed idols, 11 Oct 2008
deranged [ di-REYNJD ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. insane, mad or mentally disturbed 2. disordered, disarranged or unbalanced USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He hides when he sees the deranged Maxtible heading in the opposite direction. BBC, Doctor Who | Photonovels: The Evil of the Daleks - Episode Seven
derelict [ DER-uh-likt ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) deserted, run-down or abandoned esp. by the owner 2. (adj.) negligent or delinquent 3. (n.) a property that has been deserted or abandoned by its owner 4. (n.) a vagrant or homeless person 5. (n.) a nautical vessel esp. a ship that been abandoned in the open sea by the crew
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Plans to restore a derelict castle in Sunderland have been given a boost with a 20,000 grant from the city council. BBC, Grant to restore derelict castle, 18 January 2009.
dereliction [ der-uh-LIK-shuh n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. delinquency or neglection 2. a state or act of abandoning 3. recession of water resulting in dry land USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He was punished for dereliction of duty. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Britain's historic farm buildings are under threat from disuse, dereliction and "horror" conversions, English Heritage is warning. BBC, 'Horror' barn conversion warning, 16 November 2005
deride [ di-RAHYD ]
[verb] MEANING : To ridicule and make fun of USAGE EXAMPLE 1: 'There are some people who might try to deride this trip as a photo opportunity,' Perino said. The Times of India, Bush's secret trip to Iraq was 5-6 weeks in the planning, 4 Sep 2007, AP
derision [ di-RIZH-uh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. the use of scorn or ridicule to show contempt; jeering laughter 2. an object of ridicule USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It is unnecessary to add he was showered with derision and laughter. Telegraph, North Korea says George W Bush 'deserved shoe-throwing incident', 19 Dec 2008
derivative [ di-RIV-uh'-tiv ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (n.) one that has been derived from something else 2. (adj.) not original, copied or secondary USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Milan is losing money on the derivatives contract it took out with the banks, which allowed it to swap a fixed rate of interest on the bonds for a variable rate. Telegraph, Italian bond scandal could ensnare banks, By Katherine Griffiths, Financial Services Editor, 05 Jan 2009
The derogatory remarks shocked everyone. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Jolene Plomer, a former official for Portsmouth FC women's youth team, was fined 50 pounds for putting derogatory remarks about a league official on Facebook after one of the team's games. Telegraph, Football club official 'fined by FA for posting abusive comments on Facebook', 25 May 2009
descry [ di-SKRAHY ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to discover, find out or detect 2. (tr.v.) to discern or see 3. (n.) a discovery or finding USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Department of Transport vehicle examiner Christopher Ennea descried the lorry as "unroadworthy". BBC, Runaway lorry crushed teenager, 15 April, 2004
desiccant [ DES-i-kuh nt ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (n.) a substance like calcium chloride that has a great affinity for water and hence used as a drying agent 2. (adj.) drying USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A desiccant is recommended to be kept in the testing room to ensure a dry environment. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The desiccated remains were found in labelled plastic bags and unsealed hardboard coffins at the base near al-Zubayr in southern Iraq. BBC, Unnamed Iraqi graves found, 21 April, 2003
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The real desiderata are device specifications, the device-specific machine language that allows communication between driver software and device. CNN, Where are the Linux drivers?, by Eileen Cohen, March 9, 2000
despondent [ di-SPON-duh' nt ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. sad, hopeless or dejected 2. discouraged or disheartened USAGE EXAMPLE 1: At its worst, during late May and early June, dozens of despondent travelers were contacting me every day for help with their paperwork. CNN, Seven lessons learned from the summer of 2007, By Christopher Elliott , August 31, 2007
Nevertheless, General Bashir said the pardon was made at the request of the two priests and in a spirit of political dtente. BBC, Alleged Khartoum bombers pardoned, 6 December, 1999
deter [ di-TUR ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to prevent, arrest or inhibit 2. to restrain or restrict USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Arms race deterred the super power from starting a full-fledged war. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The man at the heart of the Aviemore development claimed that the "debacle" over the affair will deter business from Scotland. The Herald, Aviemore debacle will deter incoming business, ROBBIE DINWOODIE, Chief Scottish Political Correspondent, March 07 2008
detraction [ di-TRAK-shuh n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. disparagement, belittling or malicious criticism 2. detracting or an act of taking away USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The detraction was uncalled for. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The Middle East has its own oil use and therefore the detraction from the amount it can give to the rest of the world market has also gone up by 45%. BBC, Do speculators exploit the poor?, By Terry Messenger BBC Money Programme, 28 January 2009
deviance [ DEE-vee-uh ns ]
[noun] MEANING : aberration or deviant behaviour or state USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Guidance counsellors look out for deviance in the behaviour patterns of school children. USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
Of course we need to punish for deviance but what do we do with these women when they come back - if they are not well integrated then we find ourselves looking at repeat offenders. BBC, Hard return for Jamaica drugs mule, Lucy Ash, 19 January 2006.
devolve [ di-VOLV ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to pass on and transfer to another 2. (intr.v.) to be passed on or transferred to another 3. (intr.v.) to degenerate or deteriorate slowly or gradually USAGE EXAMPLE 1: In recent years the UK has taken steps to devolve powers to Scotland and Wales. BBC, Country profile: United Kingdom , 22 January 2009 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Elections ensure that governance is devolved as per the wishes of the voting class.
dexterity [ dek-STER-i-tee ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. agility, skill or adroitness 2. cleverness or mental skill USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He called magic using coins and cards a means to showcase finger dexterity. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Mental arithmetic has become as integral a part of Scotland's qualification campaign as mental dexterity. The Herald, After thrill of victory, manager dares to bring out calculator, DARRYL BROADFOOT, March 25 2007
diabolic [ dahy-uh'-BOL-ik ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1) Cruelly wicked or evil; fiendish 2) Of or like the devil; satanic USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Overwhelmed, Austrians will not find words strong enough to convey the monstrous and diabolic history which has played out in secret for three decades at Amstetten. BBC, Dungeon case stuns Europe's media, 29 April 2008
diadem [
[noun]
DAHY-uh'-dem
MEANING : 1. a crown 2. royal dignity or power USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Royal blue sapphires in ruffled petals studded in a dazzling diadem. The Times of India, 'I live in the moment', by Chitra Sanam, 29 Dec 2006. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The Ravenclaw diadem was suspected to be one of the horcrux in the Harry Potter series.
dialectic [ dahy-uh'-LEK-tik ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (n.) the practice or art of reasoning logically and determining the validity of statements 2. (n.) logical argumentation 3. (adj.) pertaining to, of or characterized by logical argumentation USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It is a sign of change in the traditional Venetian dialectic between doing and not doing. CNN, Venice to have modern makeover, By Craig Francis, CNN.com Europe writer, December 7, 2000
diaphanous [ dahy-AF-uh-nuh s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. translucent or transparent 2. airy or ethereal 3. vague, indistinct or insubstantial USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The diaphanous layer of tissue was peeled away to reveal a beautiful fabric. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The diaphanous images of the tiny fairies were first published by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the man who created Sherlock Holmes. BBC, UK Fairy tale enchants a new generation, February 18, 1998
didactic [ dahy-DAK-tik ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. instructive 2. having a disposition to teach 3. morally instructive USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The lecturers were lively but they choose a dull didactic subject which failed to catch the interest of the students. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: It really is hoped to raise issues about heart health, but not in a patronising, didactic lecturing way, but through a series of somewhat entertaining sketches. BBC, The dramatic approach to heart health, Jane Elliott, 8 March 2009.
diffidence [ DIF-i-duh' ns ]
[noun] MEANING : timidity, shyness or a lack of confidence
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Ms Merkel's diffidence arises from history: her country's and her own. Economist, Friends in high places, Mar 19th 2008
diffident [ DIF-i-duh' nt ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1) Lacking in self-confidence; timid; shy 2) Unassertive; reserved in manner or speech USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Bell put his successful return down to extra work not only on technique but also on his presence at the crease, after being described as diffident during the Ashes. BBC, Bell puts Pakistan before Ashes, 15 August 2006
a person with an insatiable craving for alcoholic beverages USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Peter was a true dipsomaniac, his love for daiquiris was unmatched. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Sean Palmer, Joshua Dallas and Ryan Molloy make a winning (if implausibly camp) trio of sailors, June Whitfield is quietly hilarious as a dipsomaniac singing teacher, and Rodney Clarke makes his mark in multiple small roles. Telegraph, Sheer escapist fun overcomes the niggles, Rupert Christiansen, 26 Apr 2007
dirge [ durj ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a poem, hymn or song played at a funeral to express grief or sorrow a sad or mournful piece of literary work that is musical in nature USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The funeral procession parades slowly through the streets, followed by a band playing a mournful dirge as it moves to the cemetery. CNN, Bush: 'We will do what it takes', September 15, 2005
disallow [ dis-uh-LOU ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to veto, reject or not allow 2. (tr.v.) to reject or deny as illegal or invalid USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The attorney for the defendant raised many objections which were disallowed by the Judge. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The notion that university educators should disallow films on campus until a full academic study has been completed sounds good, but really makes no sense. The Washington Post, Porn Movie Screening: Academic Freedom vs. Censorship? John Watson, 6 April 2009.
disapprobation [ dis-ap-ruh'-BEY-shuh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. condemnation 2. moral disapproval USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The Union government's disapprobation comes at a time when another child athlete Akash Mandal fainted after running 68 km in Mumbai on Sunday. The Times of India, Centre against under-16 running long distances, by Sandeep Mishra, 27 Sep 2006. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Disapprobation is the favourite weapon of the morally righteous.
disavowal [ dis-uh-VOU-uh' l ]
[noun] MEANING : to deny knowledge of, association with, or responsibility for USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His claims of disavowal regarding the money laundering were not believed by the court.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Democrats accused the administration of secretly reversing its public 2004 disavowal of the use of torture, but the White House said the documents were consistent with that pledge. CNN, Top GOP senator: Attorney general nomination 'at risk', October 31, 2007
discomfit [ dis-KUHM-fit ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to confuse, embarrass or disconcert 2. (tr.v.) to frustrate or thwart another's plans 3. (tr.v.) (archaic) to defeat, conquer or rout 4. (n.) a defeat USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Most discomfiting of all for the generals, Mr Gul is now their commander-in-chief. Economist, A new Turkish president, Aug 30th 2007
discordant [ dis-KAWR-dnt ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. disagreeing, contradicting or quarrelsome 2. harsh, dashing or cacophonous USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The exchange was one of the few discordant notes in a carefully controlled encounter. abcNews, China's President: Politics and Olympics Don't Mix, By CHARLES HUTZLER Associated Press Writer, August 1, 2008
discountenance [ dis-KOUN-tn-uh ns ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to embarrass or abash 2. (tr.v.) to express disapproval 3. (n.) disapproval or disfavour USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He discountenanced his children by talking about their childhood antics. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: This is partly, not unreasonably, because growing numbers of their pupils belong to other faiths; partly, less reasonably, because so many are poised to quarrel with any action alleged to discountenance non-Christians. Telegraph, Notebook, W F Deedes, 08 Dec 2003.
discredit [ dis-KRED-it ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to disbelieve or deny credibility 2. (tr.v.) to disgrace or damage reputation 3. (n.) disgrace or damage to reputation 4. (n.) doubt or disbelief USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The government discredited the findings of the reporting agency. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The U.S. government is taking advantage of these Westernized Iranians to create a basis for discrediting the Iranian election and the Iranian government. Chronicles magazine, Are You Ready for War With Demonized Iran?, by Paul Craig Roberts, June 16th, 2009
discreet [ di-SKREET ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. circumspect, prudent, diplomatic or judicious or wise in selection of words 2. modest or unpretentious USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A discreet look into her past brought out many disturbing facts.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A discreet approach to the North Koreans was rebuffed with a second nuclear weapons test. Telegraph, Barack Obama will pledge to heal rift with Islam, By Alex Spillius in Washington, 01 Jun 2009
discrete [ di-SKREET ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. separate or distinct 2. discontinuous USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A discrete agency is required to deal with these problems. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Any veteran in the UK who suffers from ill-health as a result of their service is compensated through the War Pensions and Armed Forces occupational pension scheme, regardless of the existence of Gulf War Syndrome as a discrete pathological entity. BBC, Help urged for Gulf War veterans, 17 November 2008
discretion [ di-SKRESH-uh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. prudence, circumspection or the quality of being discreet 2. authority, power, right or ability to make decisions or judgements 3. freedom or choice to decide or judge one's own USAGE EXAMPLE 1: One of those officials said Craig was "highly regarded" and trusted for his discretion by Obama. CNN, Obama and McCain set to meet in Chicago, November 16, 2008
discursive [ di-SKUR-siv ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. randomly digress from topic to topic 2. related to discourse 3. concluding by analysis and reasoning and not by intuition USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Instead, thinking, especially discursive thinking, is to be acknowledged but then put to one side so that the mind is not carried away by worries, anxieties, and endless hopes and fears. BBC, Zen Meditation
[noun] MEANING : 1. the state of being dressed partially or in a careless, disorderly manner 2. a deliberately careless manner USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A lot of people were in a state of dishabille as they ran out of the burning building. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: First there was Betty Boop, whose innocent wide eyes were somewhat at odds with her perpetual states of delightful dishabille. Telegraph, Thursday's TV and radio highlights, By Tessa Gibbs, Simon Horsford and Gillian Reynolds, 10 Dec 2008
disheveled [ di-SHEV-uh ld ]
[adjective] MEANING : unkempt or marked by disarray or disorder USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His disheveled appearance scared the children USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Tbilisi is an old, disheveled jewel of a city, squeezed into a narrow gorge in the shadow of the vast Caucasus mountain range. BBC, Foreigners beware in Georgia, By the BBC's Andrew Harding, 24 June, 2001
disingenuous [ dis-in-JEN-yoo-uh s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. calculating, not sincere or candid 2. sly or misleading USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His disingenuous dealings led him to be labelled a criminal. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: As befits a strategic initiative of profound consequence, the proposed Indo-US nuclear agreement had a tremendous sense of national involvement, even if some of the positions taken were disingenuous. The Times of India, Breach of trust, Swapan Dasgupta, 21 Oct 2007 Accessed: 6th July 2009
disinter [ dis-in-TUR ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to unearth, exhume or extract from a tomb or grave 2. to disclose bring to light or bring into prominence or perspective USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His human remains being disinterred was considered sacrilegious. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: He has gone to the Court of Session in Edinburgh to seek authority to disinter the remains of Margaret Black and Peter Butler. BBC, Court action over grave 'error', 14 July, 2000
1. impartial or unbiased 2. indifferent or uninterested USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Johnson said his goal in sending messages is to put a smile on the recipients' faces, and he can sense disinterest when they stop responding to messages. CNN, Stop and think before you hit 'send' on that wild, wacky e-mail, By Nicole Saidi, October 18, 2007
dislodge [ dis-LOJ ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to force out or drive out of place of hiding or dwelling 2. (intr.v.) to move from a former position USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The dislodged refugees had suffered through intense hardships. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A military operation is continuing in the Swat valley where the Pakistani army has made a number of gains in recent weeks as it attempts to dislodge Taliban insurgents from their strongholds in the area. BBC, Bin Laden 'is still in Pakistan', 12 June 2009
dismal [ DIZ-muh l ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. depressing, gloomy or dreary 2. miserable or depressed USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His dismal marks caused him tremendous embarrassment. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Low-margin businesses that periodically call for more cash from their investors, which they can only invest at a modest rate of return, are a dismal affair. Telegraph, How to invest like Warren Buffett, By John Train, 01 Jul 2009
disparage [ di-SPAR-ij ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1) To reduce in rank or reputation; to bring reproach upon 2) To speak or treat invidiously; belittle USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Wit, pointed humor often consisting of observations meant to disparage or attack, expressed in clever comparisons or contrasts and making heavy use of word-play. MSN Encarta, Encyclopedia Article: Wit
beneath the sea surface. National Geographic, Nudibranchs, By Emily Krieger, Jun 3, 2008
disproof [ dis-PROOF ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. an act or refuting 2. evidence that refutes or disproves USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The authenticity of the letter was a clear disproof to his statement. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: One storm or one flood in itself is not proof or disproof of global warming. CNN, No respite for flood victims, 2 November 2000.
dissemble [ di-SEM-buh l ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to disguise or conceal or hide behind a false appearance 2. (tr.v.) to feign or simulate 3. (intr.v.) to feign or hide behind a false appearance USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The boisterous behaviour of the youth was dissembled by his innocent face. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: It should be apparent that a regime which would declare the election to be free and fair is precisely the sort to string us along in fruitless negotiations and dissemble about its current behavior and future aspirations. The Washington Post, Tongue-Tied on Tehran, Howard Kurtz, 16 June 2009.
disseminate [ di-SEM-uh-neyt ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to scatter or spread, as though sowing 2. (tr.v.) to promulgate or disperse 3. (intr.v.) to spread or get dispersed USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Rumours disseminate faster than facts. USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
Internet law professor Michael Geist says the issue of free speech and the power of the net to disseminate comment is far from being resolved in law. BBC, Free speech, libel and the internet age, 31 July 2006
dissent [ di-SENT ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to disagree 2. (tr.v.) to withhold approval 3. (n.) disagreement 4. (n.) non-conformity USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The members dissented to ensure that no clear decision could be agreed upon. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Iran's regime has been unable to banish dissent within the highest levels of the Shia Muslim hierarchy over the outcome of the June 12 presidential election. Telegraph, Iran backing down over arrests as reporter freed, By Damien McElroy, 05 Jul 2009
dissertation [ dis-er-TEY-shuh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1) An extended, formal exposition in speech or writing 2) A thesis or treatise esp. written by a candidate for his or her doctorate USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Stanford first met Jackson when she was completing her doctoral dissertation on his foreign policy record. ABC News, Jesse Jackson's Ex-Mistress Has No Regrets, Aug. 17
dissimulate [ di-SIM-yuh'-leyt ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to conceal, disguise or hide one's true motives or feelings by using a false appearance 2. (intr.v.) to dissemble or conceal one's true motives by means of a pretence or disguise USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Those who know not how to dissimulate, know not how to rule. Telegraph, We are all liars and behave worse in private than we pretend in public, By Adam Nicolson, 28 Feb 2004
dissolution [ dis-uh-LOO-shuh n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. disintegration, decay or decomposition 2. death 3. liquefaction 4. termination or annulment USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Dissolution of the law is the need of the hour. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Many Cubans thought they'd left behind forever the grim, hungry days that were the norm just after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and, with it, the loss of billions of dollars in subsidies for the Communist state. CNN, Hurricanes sweep food shortages back into Cubans' lives, From Morgan Neill CNN Havana
dissuasion [ di-SWEY-zhuh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. persuading not to do or believe something, talking someone out of a belief or an intended course of action 2. the act or instance of dissuading USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Israel must react when it is fired upon, must re-establish its force of dissuasion and stop the rockets. BBC, Israeli leaders 'to topple Hamas', 22 December 2008
distraught [ di-STRAWT ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. agitated or troubled 2. insane or crazed USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The distraught mother feared for the lives of her children after the riots. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A Nepali ski racer, apparently distraught after the loss of team funding, has been found wandering in Paris after a Facebook campaign. BBC, 'Distraught' Nepali skier found, 12 May 2009
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: On the political front, lawmakers of both parties point to divergent polls that show the majority of Americans back their approaches. CNN, Partisan dispute divides Congress over energy legislation, From Ted Barrett, July 25, 2008 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Divergent strategies often help achieve the impossible.
divination [ div-uh'-NEY-shuh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. the act of foretelling future events or discovering hidden knowledge by occult or supernatural means 2. instinctive foresight; unusual insight USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The Oracle Book: Answers To Lifes Questions - mysterious book is a do-it-yourself divination tool. The Times of India, Answers To Lifes Questions, 14 Mar 2004. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The art of divination has faced ridicule through the ages.
docket [ DOK-it ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a brief written summary of the contents of a document 2. the book containing entries of the court proceedings of a legal case 3. a calendar of things to be done; an agenda USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena told Reuters news agency, "I understand the dockets are ready so the case should proceed any time". BBC, Police defend Zimbabwe travel ban, 19 March 2007 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Well prepared dockets help reduce the hassles frequently associated with legal proceedings.
doctrine [ DOK-trin ]
[noun] MEANING : 1) A principle, belief system, or policy that is taught or advocated 2) Something that is taught
3) A principle or rule of law that is established esp. by a precedent 4) A statement of government policy esp. concerned with international relations or military strategy USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The doctrine was written last year by the man who will command US forces in Iraq, Lieutenant General David Petraeus. BBC, The Bush plan and the Petraeus doctrine, Analysis, By Paul Reynolds, 11 January 2007
doddering [ dod-er-ing ]
[adjective] MEANING : mentally or physically infirm with age; tottering USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The doddering, old fool was thought to be a madman. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: He is the doddering uncle making rubbish gags at great embarrassment to mum and dad but a huge delight to the children. Telegraph, Basil Brush: The un-PC punchline that went boom boom, Bryony Gordon, 20 Mar 2008
Salmond's dogmatic opposition to nuclear power and the council's more pragmatic assessment of how Scotland should generate its energy. Telegraph, Alex Salmond's advisers tell him to 'think again about nuclear', By Simon Johnson, Scottish Political Editor, 29 Aug 2008
dolt [ dohlt ]
[noun] MEANING : a dunce or stupid person USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Then there's the other character, maybe you, who made a ton of money but ended up with considerably less than the dolt down the street. abcNEWS, You Don't Have to Be Smart to Be Rich, By LEE DYE, May 16, 2007.
domineer [ dom-uh'-NEER ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to dominate over, tyrannize, rule over or bully 2. (intr.v.) to tyrannize or arrogantly rule over USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The family Wittgenstein has been due a group biography for some time: of eight children to a domineering Viennese industrialist, most suffered psychological problems. Telegraph, Chistmas books: biography, by Tim Martin, 28 Nov 2008.
dormant [ DAWR-muh nt ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. inactive or sleeping 2. latent or inoperative 3. in a state or biological rest USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The dormant volcano was the biggest tourist attraction on the island. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Nurseries commonly sell "bare-root" plants--dormant trees, shrubs, cane berries and, sometimes, perennials with the soil removed from their roots--in winter and early spring. CNN, Think ugly when buying winter plants, By Warren Schultz, December 6, 2007
dorsal [ DAWR-suh' l ]
[adjective] MEANING : relating to the back or upper surface of an organ, part or animal USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Fishermen cap off the dorsal fins when the shark surfaces, saving them from having to dock the giants or using hold space to store them. CNN, UN body protects monster-sized sharks, By Michelle Pinch, November 26, 2002 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Dolphins have a prominent dorsal fin.
dotage [ DOH-tij ]
[noun] MEANING :
a mental decline associated with old age or senility USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It's a tribute to the school teacher's hold on us that many people can still remember the name of their class VI math teacher in their dotage, long after they have forgotten their algebra. The Times Of India, The power of the school teacher, 26 Dec 2005
dote [ doht ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to love or be extremely fond of 2. to be foolish or exhibit mental decline due to old age USAGE EXAMPLE 1: They were doted on by the entire family. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: US Weekly notes that Mrs Obama will not be hiring a nanny as her mother, Marian Robinson, 71, has moved into the White House to help look after the two grandchildren on whom she is said to dote. Telegraph, Michelle Obama bans daughters Malia and Sasha from mixing with celebrities, By Philip Sherwell in New York, 31 Jan 2009
douche [ doosh ]
[noun,verb] MEANING : (n.) 1) A stream or jet of water or medicinal solution that is applied to a body or bodily cavity for medical purposes 2) The instrument used to apply a douche 3) The administration of a douche(v.) To cleanse or treat with a douche USAGE EXAMPLE 1: If you wished for a quick back and sides followed by a cold douche it could be arranged without getting your hair wet. BBC, Else Happened And I Was In Uniform (Part 4), By Gloin F, 22 July 2005
doughty [ DOU-tee ]
[adjective] MEANING : valiant, courageous or brave USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The scant well-judged comment has come from editorials in three quality broadsheets and the doughty Financial Times. The Times of India, Gawp, Gandhis and Garam Dharam, Rashmee Z Ahmed, 2 May 2004.
ABC News,Chinese Cuisine Goes Global for Games,Audra Ang ,July 10, 2008
douse [ dous ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to plunge into water or the like 2. (tr.v.) wet thoroughly 3. (tr.v.) to extinguish 4. (intr.v.) to fall or be plunged into a liquid USAGE EXAMPLE 1: An event organizer who rushed to Seng's aid and tried to douse the flames was also injured, the hospital said. CNN, Man sets Singapore lawmaker on fire, January 12, 2009 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The fire brigade doused the flames in the nick of time.
dowdy [ DOU-dee ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. lacking in smartness or taste; shabby 2. old-fashioned or out of date USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Initially viewed as the ugly stepsister of airlines' frequent-flier plans, they have shed their dowdy image, and points have become highly desirable. CNN, Getting the most from hotel rewards, By Jane Levere, August 31, 2007 USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A dowdy image often results in a poor first impression.
drawl [ drawl ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (intr.v.) to speak slowly by prolonging vowels 2. (tr.v.) to utter slowly with drawn-out vowels 3. (n.) a way of speaking slowly by prolonging vowels USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The actors who were in a Western play drawled their vowels to increase of the play. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A southern-American-style drawl still marks out Liberians from other English-speaking Africans. BBC, Liberia: About to bounce back?, By Joseph Winter, BBC News website, 7 November 2005
droll [ drohl ]
[noun,adjective,intransitive verb] MEANING : 1. (adj.) whimsically or amusingly comical or odd 2. (n.) a buffoon 3. (intr.v.) to jest USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His droll rendition of the play was a hit. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Austin Horse talks about his collision with a taxi cab with the sort of droll indifference you might expect from a 24-year-old.
CNN, 'Young invincibles' OK with risk of no insurance, By Stephanie Smith CNN Medical Producer, March 20, 2009
drowsiness [ DROU-zee-nis ]
[noun] MEANING : somnolence or sleepiness USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The drowsiness she experienced was a result of the medication. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Trading standards officers warned consumption of the vodka could lead to abdominal pain, drowsiness, dizziness and even blindness. BBC, Danger warning over illegal vodka, 18 September 2006
drudgery [ DRUHJ-uh'-ree ]
[noun] MEANING : tedious, menial work that must be done USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The sheer drudgery of travelling long distances in often clapped-out buses is enough to put many passengers off travelling by train. Telegraph, Train passengers forced onto buses should be compensated, say Liberal Democrats, by Robert Winnett, 26 Dec 2008. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The drudgery of the life is aptly described in most of Dicken's novels
dud [ duhd ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (n.) a misfit or failure 2. (n.) a missile or bomb that has failed to detonate or explode 3. (adj.) useless or worthless USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The prototype was a dud. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: No one was at risk, said Kelly, the police commissioner, describing the explosive devices as duds created to dupe the suspects. CNN, Suspects in alleged New York bomb plot indicted, Susan Candiotti, 2 June 2009, accessed 9 July 2009.
dulcet [ DUHL-sit ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. melodious or pleasing to one's ears 2. agreeable or soothing 3. sweet USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Her dulcet tone made people want to listen to her. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The dulcet tones played by a quartet of celebrated musicians at President Obama's inauguration were recorded. The Washington Post, Taped Music Played at Inauguration, 23 January 2009, accessed 9 July 2009.
dwarf [ dwawrf ]
[noun,adjective,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a creature or plant that is smaller in stature than a typical creature of its kind 2. (n.) a star that has low luminosity and is relatively smaller in size and mass 3. (adj.) stunted, diminutive or undersized 4. (tr.v.) to cause to appear as diminished 5. (tr.v.) to check or arrest the natural development of something USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The seven dwarfs were called Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy and Sneezy. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Huge wooden sculptures of mythical figures dwarf walkers in the forest in Freiburg, Germany. BBC. Day in pictures, 29 May 2009, Accessed 8 July 2009.
dwindle [ DWIN-dl ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to gradually or steadily reduce, lessen or diminish 2. (intr.v.) steadily or gradually lessen, shrink or diminish USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The list of potential suitors for Royal Bank of Scotland's insurance division continues to dwindle, with German financial giant Allianz yesterday declaring that it had not made a bid for these operations. The Herald, Allianz out of running to buy RBS insurance division, IAN McCONNELL, Business Editor, August 08 2008
dynamo [ DAHY-nuh-moh ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a generator that, especially, is used to generate direct current 2. one who is dynamic, forceful and energetic USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Technicians have to been called to repair the dynamo, which seems to have stopped working. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: For decades people have been using dynamos on their bikes to power the front and rear lamps. BBC, A gym powered by sweat and tears, 2 January 2009, accessed 8 July 2009
dyspeptic [ dis-PEP-tik ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) having a gloomy, pessimistic or morose disposition 2. (adj.) of, pertaining to or having dyspepsia or indigestion 3. (n.) indigestion or a person suffering from indigestion or dyspepsia 4. (n.) ill humour or disgruntlement USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Duncan Fletcher's dyspeptic comments about Steve Harmison, Andrew Flintoff and Matthew Hoggard were further confirmation of his awkward relationship with England's bowlers. Telegraph, Duncan Fletcher's attack reveals his favourites, By Derek Pringle, 22 Apr 2008.
E
earthenware [ ur-thuhn-wair ]
[noun] MEANING : stoneware, ceramic ware, crockery or pottery made of baked clay USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The earthenware was thought to be from the Mesopotamian era. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Researchers are now planning to look at whether the new dating technique can be applied to earthenware, bone china and porcelain. BBC, Ancient clay has internal clock, 20 May 2009, accessed 8 July 2009.
earthy [ UR-thee ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. of or pertaining to the earth or soil 2. worldly 3. practical, down to earth or realistic 4. crude, indecent or vulgar 5. simple, uninhibited, natural or unsophisticated USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Whether in the earthy, family-minded Mediterranean or the buttoned-up culture of the Teutonic world, men and women hesitate to contemplate the practical details of planning for a messy, protracted demise. Economist, Into the sunset, Jul 31st 2008
ecclesiastical [ i-klee-zee-AS-ti-kuh' l ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. churchly, clerical or pertaining to the church or clergy 2. appropriate or suitable for a church USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Ecclesiastical architecture was included into the building's interior design during refurbishment. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: In the application the former church building is described as illustrating a "significant aspect of Jersey's ecclesiastical and social history. BBC, Church could get protected status, 7 November 2008
echelon [ ESH-uh'-lon ]
[noun,verb] MEANING : (n.) 1) A formation of troops or military aircraft, or individuals wherein each unit is positioned somewhat to the right or left of the unit in front such that the entire formation appears like a series of stairs 2) One of several units of such an arrangement 3) Any group or unit that acts in an organised or disciplined way 4) A grade or level of authority 5) (Spectroscopy) A diffraction grating that consists of a series of plates arranged one after another in a stepwise manner (v.) To be a part of an echelon USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The first Echelon of 21 B.D. Sector embarked in five LCTs on June 2nd 44 at Portland where they remained in harbour till Sunday, June 4th 44. BBC, Report on the Landing in France of the First Echelon of 21 BD sector on D-day, 6 June 1944, by DavidHeathcote, 01 November 2003
An ecumenical service was held by a minister on horseback, followed by a parade round part of the Epsom Derby course. BBC, Rising costs halt riders' event, 5 July 2009, accessed 8 July 2009.
eddy [ ED-ee ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a whirlpool or a current of water that moves contrary to the main current 2. (n.) a drift from the main current 3. (tr.v.) to whirl, move or turn in eddies USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The eddy slowed their progress. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The current is an eddy of very deep, very warm water that moves north from the Caribbean Sea into the eastern Gulf of Mexico before turning southeast and exiting the Gulf via the Straits of Florida. National Geographic, Gustav Now Major Hurricane -- And Picking Up Steam, 9 July 2009, accessed 9 July 2009.
edible [ ED-uh'-buh'l ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) consumable, esculent or eatable 2. (n.) food or a substance that can be eaten USAGE EXAMPLE 1: They have released a list of edible items to avoid cases of food poisoning. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A Devon company designs an environmentally friendly edible Christmas card using food colouring instead of ink. BBC, Edible sprout Christmas card made, 18 December 2008, accessed 8 July 2009.
eerie [ EER-ee ]
[adjective] MEANING : uncanny, so as to cause supernatural fear; weird USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The eerie noise of the door opening and closing was very scary. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: We got there eventually but in the first half there was an eerie atmosphere about the place and
that surprised me BBC, Strachan happy with 'eerie' win, 2 January 2007
effete [ i-FEET ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1) Infertile; sterile; unable to produce 2) Depleted of all vitality, effectiveness, or strength 3) Characterised by decadence, self-indulgence or triviality 3) Over refined; soft due to a pampered upbringing USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The figure of Satan appears as a very effete character throughout the film, but not everybody will understand that. BBC, The Passion Of The Christ
efficacy [ EF-i-kuh'-see ]
[noun] MEANING : effectiveness or power to bring about a result USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His efficacy was unparalleled. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Many American conservatives share the Israeli states belief in the efficacy of power. Chronicles Magazine, What Became of Western Morality?by Paul Craig Roberts, 5 January 2009, accessed 9 July 2009.
effluvia [
i-FLOO-vee-uh ] [noun] MEANING : 1. exhaust or emanation of gas or vapour 2. aura USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Effluvia formed due to burning of plastic adds to the pollution in the city. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Clear plastic sleeves keep recipes free from splatters of oil, drips of tomato sauce, and other kitchen effluvia. CNN, Create a recipe notebook, 5 February 2008, accessed 9 July 2009.
effluvium [ i-FLOO-vee-uh' m ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. emanation or exhalation of invisible vapour having a noxious odour 2. a waste by-product 3. an aura or outflow of particles that are impalpable USAGE EXAMPLE 1: In recent months, many of Dr.Frank Harbinger's patients have entered surgery complaining of effluvium. Telegraph, End column, 04 May 2005
effrontery [ i-FRUHN-tuh-ree ]
[noun] MEANING :
temerity, audacity or brazen boldness USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The people were shocked at his effrontery. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: It is an effrontery for the House of Commons to make the deeply hypocritical move of exempting itself from a law that applies to every other public body in the country. BBC, Brown will not block secrecy bid, 18May 2007. accessed 9 July 2009.
effusion [ i-FYOO-zhuh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. an act or instance of pouring forth 2. one that is effused or poured forth 3. an unrestrained outburst of expressions and feelings USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The effusion of mass hysteria made the crowd dangerous and out of control. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: You might think that this does no harm, and I dare say that plenty of people sigh a pleasant little sentimental sigh when they read these effusions. Telegraph, Poet Laureate: does poetry need one?, By Rupert Christiansen, 02 Mar 2009
effusive [ i-FYOO-siv ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. extremely demonstrative, expressive or lacking restraint when showing emotions 2. overflowing, profuse esp. pertaining to flow of lava USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi were effusive in their praise for Somdev Devvarman, who defeated former world number one French Open champion Carlos Moya. The Times of India, Paes, Bhupathi heap praise on Somdev, 8 Jan 2009.
elation [ i-ley-shuh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : exhilaration, euphoria, joy or a feeling of pride USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It is a show of patriotism in a vicarious way,which leads to a sense of elation. The Times of India, Cricket offers respite from daily chores, Tina Parekh & Prathima Nandkumar, 16 March 2003
elegy [
EL-i-jee ] [noun] MEANING : 1. a poem in elegiac couplets 2. a lament or funeral song 3. a melancholic or pensive musical composition USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His elegy was well-known. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: After exposing Washington audiences to 10 days of contemporary music, the Kennedy Center's CrossCurrents Festival concluded on Sunday afternoon at the Terrace Theater with yet another elegy. The Washington Post, NSO Ends CrossCurrents Festival on a Contemporary High Note, Anne Midgette, 12 May 2009, accessed9 July 2009.
elicit [ i-LIS-it ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : to bring out, educe, evoke or arrive at USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Routine violence there exceeds anything seen in Bangkok, but it elicits barely a peep from the news media in the Thai capital. Economist, Surges that wont work, Sep 10th 2008
eloquence [ EL-uh-kwuh ns ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a discourse or speech that is forceful and persuasive in nature 2. fluent, articulate and apt use of a language 3. the quality of powerful, forceful or persuasive expression USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The Madison papers have very few moments of eloquence." abcNEWS, Lynne Cheney Plans James Madison Biography, December 16, 2008.
emanate [ EM-uh-neyt ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to give out or emit 2. (intr.v.) to flow out, issue as from a source or origin USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Suitably laid-back beats and bleeps emanate from the music system and a flattering afternoon sun completes the Photoshopped effect. Telegraph, Townhouse, Miami: full review, 15 Dec 2008. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A strange glow was said to have emanated from the unidentified flying craft.
embargo [ em-BAHR-goh ]
[noun,verb] MEANING : (n.) 1) A government ban on the movement of trade ships into or out of its ports
2) A government edict prohibiting trade with foreign nations 3) A prohibition; a ban (v.) To impose an embargo on USAGE EXAMPLE 1: In October 1962 the United States and the Soviet Union were on the brink of nuclear war after the Kennedy administration discovered that the Soviet Union was constructing missiles in Cuba. As a result the U.S. government banned U.S. tourist travel to Cuba, and that embargo remains today. National Geographic, Travel Editor: Off-Limits Cuba a Diamond in the Rough, by Sarah Mullin for National Geographic News, October 22, 2002
embellish [
em-BEL-ish ] [transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to add fanciful or fictitious details to 2. to decorate or adorn USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He embellished data on his loan application. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A CV is an advert; it is not a legal document, and as such it is not illegal to embellish it. BBC, The CV detectives, Tom Geoghegan, 2 August 2005, accessed 9July 2009.
embezzle [ em-BEZ-uh l ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : to fraudulently take away for one's own use by violating another's trust USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He embezzled money from many banks over a period of ten years. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A businessman who embezzled a million pounds to fund a champagne lifestyle was jailed yesterday for five years and three months. Telegraph, Jail for man who cheated his boss out of 1m, By Auslan Cramb, 21 March 2007, accessed 9July 2009.
emblazon [ em-BLEY-zuh' n ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to adorn, decorate or inscribe with prominent or heraldic bearings 2. to decorate or display with brilliant or bright colours 3. to extol, celebrate, praise or make illustrious USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The entrance to the castle was emblazoned by the royal coat of arms. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Residents in Seattle, Washington, the birthplace of Starbucks, can now see approximately 140 McDonald's billboards emblazoned with "large is the new grande" or "four bucks is dumb." CNN, Coffee war brews between McDonald's, Starbucks, From Aurore Ankarcrona, December 12, 2008
embryonic [ em-bree-ON-ik ]
[adjective] MEANING :
1. pertaining to, or like an embryo 2. undeveloped, incipient or rudimentary USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Embryonic stem cell research is banned in many countries. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Tests on the reprogrammed cell lines showed that they behaved exactly like embryonic stem cells. Telegraph, Breakthrough makes lab-produced stem cells 'safer for humans', By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent, 01 Mar 2009
emend [ i-mend ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to edit and remove errors 2. to change erroneous faults USAGE EXAMPLE 1: There is a perpetual succession of editions with augmented if not emended intelligence so as to secure for every post through which it is sent out the latest news from every source. Telegraph, Caring about the world of news, 24/05/2008
emeritus [ i-MER-i-tuh' s ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : (adj.) Retaining an honorary title of one's prior position or rank even after retirement (n.) A person who has retired yet retains an honorary title of prior position or rank that was held USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Fleming wrote numerous papers on bacteriology, immunology and chemotherapy. He was elected professor of the medical school in 1928 and emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of London in 1948. BBC, Historic Figures Alexander Fleming (1881 - 1955)
emetic [ uh'-MET-ik ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : (adj.) Causing vomiting (n.) A substance that causes vomiting USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Napoleon's doctors gave him large doses of purgatives including tarter emetic and, the day before his death, a massive dose of mercurous chloride, called calomel. National Geographic, Pick Your Poison - 12 Toxic Tales, by Cathy Newman, May 2005
emollient [ i-MOL-yuh' nt ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) having a softening, soothing or relaxing effect esp. on one's skin 2. (adj.) mollifying or reducing another's harshness 3. (n.) a lotion, or other agent that makes skin smooth 4. (n.) an agent that helps by mollifying or assuaging USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Topically, hydrogenated vegetable oil is an amazing skin-softener, emollient, and barrier ingredient. CNN, Nine weird ingredients in makeup, By Adrienne Crezo, July 18, 2008
emote [ i-MOHT ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to display emotion 2. to behave in a theatrical manner USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She could emote self-pity at the blink of an eye. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: On television, moist-eyed celebrities emote over their forgotten progenitors, now found to have ended their days either in the workhouse or on a throne. Telegraph, Genealogists are barking up the wrong tree, Jemima Lewis, 3 August 2008, accessed 9 July 2009.
empirical [ em-PIR-i-kuh l ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. derived from experience or by observation 2. verifiable by experiment 3. based on observation and experience only USAGE EXAMPLE 1: All hypotheses need to be supported by empirical data. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: In an empirical study, the team took 32 tiger pugmark tracings from two different substrates of four captive tigers in the Mysore zoo. National Geographic, Faulty Counts May Have Hurt India Tigers, Experts Say, Pallava Bagla, 7 August 2003, accesed 9 July 2009.
enamoured [ i-NAM-erd ]
[adjective] MEANING : charmed, captivated or marked or characterized by unreasoning, silly or foolish fondness USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He was a fool, enamoured with the idea of country living. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Renault's two-time world champion Fernando Alonso is another of those enamored of the greatest track left in F1. CNN, Raikkonen looks to rule majestic Spa again, Neale Graham, September 1, 2008
encomium [ en-KOH-mee-uh' m ]
[noun] MEANING : enthusiastic praise or laudation USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Mr Derrida himself disagreed with pretty much everything anyone said about him; but he may have let that encomium pass. Economist, Jacques Derrida, French intellectual, Oct 21st 2004
encumbrance [ en-KUHM-bruh ns ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a hindrance or burden 2. a dependent, like a child 3. (law) a mortgage or claim against property USAGE EXAMPLE 2: After he lost his job he was labelled an encumbrance by his friends. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Cohabiting allows you to road-test your potential victim without the encumbrance of life-long commitment. BBC, Katie Hopkins' guide to family life, 17 August 2007
endearing [ en-DEER-ing ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. causing or inspiring to make well-liked or dear 2. manifesting affection USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Her most endearing quality was her helpful nature. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The most endearing thing about Switzerland is that, away from the financial centres and the cities, Swiss life and Swiss people are unpretentious and uncomplicated. BBC, The cleansing power of Swiss peaks, By Emma Jane Kirby, BBC Geneva correspondent, 10 August, 2003 Accessed: 8th July 2009
endemic [ en-DEM-ik ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) native or prevalent in a particular region 2. (adj.) confined or restricted to a particular region 3. (n.) an endemic animal or plant 4. (n.) an endemic disease USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Swine flu is no longer an endemic concern. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Bullying and violence are endemic at Parkhurst jail and it is in many ways a "failing prison", chief inspector of prisons Dame Anne Owers has said. BBC, 'Violence rife at failing' prison, By Dominic Casciani BBC News, 20 May 2009 Accessed: 8th July 2009
endorse [ en-DAWRS ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to support, approve or sanction 2. to sign on the back of a cheque or instrument as the payee 2. to sign or write one's name on an instrument USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His nomination was endorsed by many industrialists thus proving that the business world supported him. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The Times without hesitation endorses Barack Obama for president. BBC, US election at-a-glance: 17 October 2008
engender [ en-JEN-der ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to give rise to or bring about 2. (tr.v.) to procreate or beget 3. (intr.v.) to originate or come into being USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The feeling of being betrayed was engendered by his speech. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: In every dictatorship, dissidents will tell you, there are particular sounds that engender fear. Telegraph, Turning the cameras on Burma, Adrian Blomfield, 11 July 2009
engrave [ en-GREYV ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to etch or carve into the surface of a material 2. to print from such an engraved surface 3. to deeply etch or impress in memory USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He engraved his vows on a tablet made of solid gold. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Mexico has captured its man with the golden gun - or to be more precise, its man with the customised gold-plated pistol with 'Versace' engraved on the handle. Telegraph, Mexico captures its 'man with the golden gun' in vicious drugs war, By Philip Sherwell in New York, 08 Nov 2008 Accessed: 9th July 2009
engross [ en-GROHS ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to absorb or completely occupy 2.to copy, transcribe or write in a clear, large hand 3. to monopolize, acquire, amass or collect the whole of something USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The author was engrossed in writing a synopsis of his new novel. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: As we come towards the final stages of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, we are engrossed in the hype surrounding new world records and gold medals galore. BBC, Students reflect on the Olympics, By Lewis and Alex from Comberton Village College, South Cambridgeshire, 20 August 2008
engrossing [ en-GROH-sing ]
[adjective] MEANING : absorbing or occupying complete attention USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The engrossing tale was recited to children by their parents for a number of years. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Distractions, such as having someone to talk to on the plane or focusing on an engrossing book, can also work to ease the tension. CNN, Seeing crash reports can worsen flying phobia, Shahreen Abedin, 13 February 2009
engulf [ en-GUHLF ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to swallow up or overwhelm 2. to immerse or submerge USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His sail-boat was engulfed and overturned by the waves. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A number of residents in the Riverside area of Stirling had to be rescued from their homes by raft as floodwater threatened to engulf their properties. BBC, Raft rescue as floodwaters rise, 14 December 2006 Accessed: 8th July 2009 Accessed: 8th July 2009
enigma [ uh-NIG-muh ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a mystery or riddle 2. an inexplicable or obscure person or matter USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The crime created shock-waves as it remained unsolved and was labelled an enigma. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: But scientists are hopeful that detailed analysis of the data, which is currently underway, should help them solve some of the moon's enigmas. BBC, Titan moon holds on to enigma, 5 November 2004
enjoin [ en-JOIN ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to prescribe or impose authoritatively 2. to prevent, prohibit or refrain by a judicial order USAGE EXAMPLE 1: I enjoin the media, the fans and players to give maximum support to the Super Eagles because that is what they need to succeed. BBC, Nigeria coach Amodu slams critics, By Oluwashina Okeleji, Sunday, 13 April 2008
enmity [ EN-mi-tee ]
[noun] MEANING : animosity, rancour, hostility or antagonism USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Their enmity has been ongoing for the past twenty years. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquillity of Muslims. Telegraph, Barack Obama's speech at Cairo University: Full text, 04 Jun 2009 Accessed: 9th July 2009
ensconce [ en-SKONS ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to conceal, hide or secure snugly 2. to settle or place in a snug or comfortable manner USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Appropriately enough, Brother Claus spent much of his life ensconced in an Alpine cave in solitary
entangle [ en-TANG-guh l ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to intertwine or interweave 2. to confuse, perplex or complicate 3. to involve in a troublesome or difficult situation USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The man had to cut loose after he entangled himself in a trap meant for animals. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Fire crews have rescued a seal that had become entangled in a football net and was lying injured on an Essex beach. BBC, Injured seal rescued from netting, 4 November 2008 Accessed: 8th July 2009
enthral [ en-THRAWL ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to enchant, charm or delight 2. to reduce to slavery USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The movie enthralled viewers of all ages. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: An exploration of the books full of fantastical worlds that enthral children. The Herald, Today's Picks, 14 July 2009
entice [ en-TAHYS ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : to allure, tempt or attract by exciting hope USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The offer of a special discount enticed her to join the club. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Members of a Native American group based in a remote part of Arizona are hoping to entice more tourists by inviting visitors to step off the edge of the Grand Canyon. National Geographic, Grand Canyon's Glass Walkway to Open Next March, Anne Minard in Grand Canyon West, Arizona for National Geographic News, December 15, 2006 Accessed: 9th July 2009
entity [ EN-ti-tee ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. one that is real or in existence 2. one that has a distinct individual identity 3. an organisation that has an identity which is independent of the identities of its members USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Spinning off Volvo into a separate entity may be a possibility, as both companies have already taken steps to allow Volvo to operate on a more standalone basis. abcNews, Ford Weighs Selling Volvo Amid Industry Downturn, By KIMBERLY S. JOHNSON and TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writers, December 1, 2008 (AP)
entreat [ en-TREET ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to plead, beg or earnestly request 2. (tr.v.) to implore or beseech 3. (intr.v.) to beg, plead or petition USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He entreated the Judge to release his son. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: On behalf of the House of Representatives, we entreat you to require that the Constitution reign supreme. CNN, Senate impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton -- Day 17, 9 February 1999
enunciate [ i-NUHN-see-eyt ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to announce, state or proclaim 2. (tr.v.) to articulate or pronounce 3. (intr.v.) to articulately pronounce words USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The genesis for the clip, he said, came from his daughter's ability to enunciate well at an early age. abcNews, Where A-List Comics and R-Rated Comedy Meet on the Internet, By CHRIS CONNELLY, Aug. 31, 2007
enzyme [
EN-zahym ] [noun] MEANING : Any of the various proteins or conjugated proteins that are produced by living organisms and functioning as catalysts for various biochemical reactions USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The enzyme, once released into the bloodstream, could cause death within an hour. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The fruit's juice blocked a key enzyme that normally breaks down ethinylestradiol, the form of oestrogen in the contraceptive. Telegraph, Grapefruit linked to blood clot risk, 03 Apr 2009 Accessed: 9th July 2009
epicure [ EP-i-kyoo' r ]
[noun]
MEANING : 1. a connoisseur of food and wine 2. one who enjoys sensual pleasure and living USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Proof that Montreal is an epicure's dream: Les Touilleurs (152 Ave. Laurier Ouest; 514/278-0008) in Mile End, where marble counters are piled with cooking implements, including Quebecer Tom Littledeer's maple spoons and spatulas. CNN, Montreal's moment, By Amy Farley, September 6, 2007
epigram [ EP-i-gram ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a paradoxical or satirical poem or saying USAGE EXAMPLE 1: This timeless epigram seems to have become a mantra for Hyderabad teens. The Times Of India, Return of the classics, RAJEEVA SATYAVADA,TNN, 10 Aug 2004
epiphany [ i-PIF-uh-nee ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. A Christian feast celebrated on January 6 to celebrate the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi 2. a manifestation of a divine being 3. a manifestation of the meaning or essence of something USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The celebrations concluded on epiphany with people being entertained by a display of fireworks. USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
The Conservative candidate in Glasgow East was advised by a Tory writer recently to come up with an "epiphany moment" for when she's asked why she became attracted to the party. The Herald, People here feel abandoned, ignored and taken for granted, Robbie Dinwoodie, 22 July 2008
epistle [
i-PIS-uh l ] [noun] MEANING : 1. a formal letter 2. (of the Bible) one of the letters in the New Testament USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He signed the epistle with a flourish. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The surviving manuscript concludes with two early Christian texts, an epistle ascribed to the Apostle Barnabas and 'The Shepherd' by Hermas. National Geographic, Oldest Bible Reunited Online, July 6, 2009 Accessed: 9th July 2009
epithet [ EP-uh-thet ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a term that is applied to characterize something or someone 2. a contemptuous or abusive word or phrase 3. a title or name used to describe someone USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She hated the epithet of being a beauty with no brains. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: She is an Oscar-winner, national treasure and role model for 'real women' everywhere, but Kate Winslet wonders why she is not known by another epithet: working class hero. Telegraph, Kate Winslet: Don't call me middle class, By Anita Singh, Showbusiness Editor, 29 Apr 2009 Accessed: 9th July 2009
epitome [ i-PIT-uh'-mee ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a brief account, summary or abstract 2. an example, representative or one that exemplifies the qualities of a group or class USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He is a man typical of the times, the epitome of how the world works today. The Herald, Demands for more protection and access when it comes to our unspoiled coastline
Telegraph, Lord Halifax wins approval in Germany - Oct 27, 1938, 24 Oct 2008
equestrian [ i-KWES-tree-uh' n ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) pertaining to or of horse-riders or horsemen 2. (adj.) composed of or pertaining to knights 3. (n.) a horseman or horse-rider USAGE EXAMPLE 1: One of Scotland's most famous police horses has died in retirement after clocking up the longest track record of any equestrian public servant. The Herald, A quiet farewell as Fergus ends life of service, DAMIEN HENDERSON, January 27 2007
MEANING : Of, related to, or resembling a horse USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A 15-year-old horse has died of complications from West Nile virus in Riverside County, City News Service reports, marking the first equine victim of the mosquito-borne disease in California this year. Los Angeles Times, Horse dies of complications of West Nile virus, June 25, 2008
equivocal [ i-KWIV-uh'-kuh' l ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. ambiguous or being open to multiple interpretations 2. having a doubtful or uncertain character 3. having a dubious, suspicious or questionable disposition USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The relatively equivocal statement differs from most human rights groups who have blamed ZanuPF party thugs for the vast majority of the violence. BBC, Tough call for Zimbabwe opposition, By Peter Greste, 2 May 2008
equivocate [ i-KWIV-uh-keyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to deceive or mislead by using equivocal or obscure terms or language 2. to deliberately be non-committal or avoid stating explicitly USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He equivocated readers by using technical jargon in his articles. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Their most prominent leaders, including the Muslim Council of Britain, which claims to be their main umbrella organisation, equivocate about the requirements of being British. Telegraph, Flying the flag is only the first step to victory, Charles Moore, 7 July 2009
eradicate [ i-RAD-i-keyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to uproot 2. to extirpate, eliminate or destroy USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Polio may be eradicated as a result of the initiatives of the government. USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
The results from the 11-month independent study at Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI), following similar tests at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, have raised hopes that superbugs could now be eradicated from hospitals. Telegraph, British scientists make key breakthrough in superbug fight, By Andrew Pierce, 27 Jun 2009 Accessed: 9th July 2009
errant [ ER-uh' nt ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1) Given to travelling; roving, esp. in search of an adventure 2) Straying from the proper course or accepted standards 3) Moving about without an aim or direction 4) Notorious; characterised by wrong behaviour USAGE EXAMPLE 1: When I nail into vulnerable areas like door jambs, I use shims to protect the trim from errant hammer marks. Reader's Digest,The Family Handyman, Protection Against Hammer Marks, Craig Gennesey, September 2000
erratic [ i-RAT-ik ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) queer or deviant from normal course or behaviour 2. (adj.) nomadic or wandering 3. (adj.) lacking uniformity or regularity USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Her erratic behaviour was the cause of general amusement. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Mars's blood-red color and seemingly erratic path through the sky led the ancients to link it with war and chaos. Mythology sprang up around the red planet. National Geographic, Mysterious Mars, By David A Lande, Oct 29, 2008 Accessed: 9th July 2009
eschew [ es-CHOO ]
[verb] MEANING : To avoid or keep away from, esp. from wrongdoings or evil; to shun USAGE EXAMPLE 1: If this was not enough, the PMO statement, talking about the meeting of Left leaders with PM, went to the extent of indirectly advising the Left parties to "eschew the temptation of politicising the misery of the people". This is the first time in four years that PMO has reacted so bitterly. The Times of India, Left fumes at PMO tough talk, 26 Apr 2008, TNN
esoteric [ es-uh'-TER-ik ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1) Understood by or designed for only a select few 2) Requiring or showcasing special knowledge that is revealed only to a small group 3) Private; confidential 4) Of a rare, special, or unusual interest USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The agenda featured esoteric items like a discussion of 19th-century social attitudes toward the germ theory and a detailed analysis of the inks that Galileo used in one of his manuscripts. The New York Times, Esoteric Wedge of Academia Is Roiled by Hunt for Bomber, WILLIAM J. BROAD, August 5, 1995
Fundamental or distinguishing character, disposition, beliefs or moral nature of a person, group, institution, etc. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: I can give them absolute reassurance, in terms of what they are concerned about, of maintaining the ethos and the character of their schools, they will not notice any difference. BBC, 'No threat to Catholic education', Thursday, 17 November 2005
eulogy [ YOO-luh'-jee ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a speech full of praise in honor of someone who has died recently 2. high praise, acclamation or commendation USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Prime Minister Gordon Brown's eulogy at the funeral yesterday of John MacDougall praised the Glenrothes MP as a "tireless fighter for social justice and endlessly loyal champion of decent values." The Herald, Premier lauds champion of decent values, ROBBIE DINWOODIE, Chief Scottish Political Correspondent, August 19 2008
euphonious [ yoo-FOH-nee-uh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : Having a pleasing sound; pleasant to the ear USAGE EXAMPLE 1: This was often referred to as "neo-liberalism", though a more correct if less euphonious title would have been "neo-economic-liberalism". BBC, Liberalism in the United Kingdom, Rodney Barker, Professor at Government Department of the London School of Economics writes for BBC Parliament
The Times of India, In a first, S Korea OKs euthanasia, AFP, 29 Nov 2008 Accessed: 9th July 2009
evasive [ i-VEY-siv ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. elusive, shifty or hard to grasp 2. equivocal, tending to evade or not straightforward USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His evasive answers caused the police to suspect him. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Advani had written to PM Manmohan Singh to which he claimed he had received an "evasive reply" from the finance ministry. The Times of India, CIC asks Advani why his office did not reply to RTI query, 26 May 2009 Accessed: 9th July 2009
evince [ i-VINS ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to prove, manifest, reveal or make evident 2. to demonstrate a trait or characteristic USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He evinced his theory by providing appropriate evidence in court. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Generally speaking, the policy of attacking, killing and forcibly displacing members of some tribes does not evince a specific intent to annihilate, in whole or in part, a group distinguished on racial, ethnic, national or religious grounds. CNN, U.N. report: Darfur not genocide, 1 February 2005
evoke [ i-VOHK ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to produce or summon 2. to call or conjure up by citing or suggesting 3. to re-create or create anew by means of one's imagination USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The act evoked feelings of hatred among the citizens.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The ancient oasis cities of Tashkent, Samarqand, and Bukhara all evoke the old Silk Road to China. National Geographic Traveler, Uzbekistan Accessed: 9th July 2009
excision [
ek-SIZH-uh' n, ik- ] [noun] MEANING : 1. an act, process or instance of removal 2. abscission or surgical removal USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He was terrified as the operation required an excision and 22 stitches. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: McCain, 65, was scheduled to return to the medical facility Tuesday to have skin from an adjacent area cover the area left by the excision. CNN, McCain has skin lesion removed, February 4, 2002
2. wound or injury 3. denouncement USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Application of the medication on the excoriation resulted in a burning sensation. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The authors regard their excoriation in the US press as a sign of the lobby's effectiveness, and point out that reviews abroad have been much more favourable. BBC, US storm over book on Israel lobby, Henri Astier, 22 November 2007
exegesis [ ek-si-JEE-sis ]
[noun] MEANING : explanation, interpretation or exposition esp. of the Holy Bible USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Mr. Bridges took it upon himself to distribute copies of exegesis of the commandments. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: He does give one purely technical reading of a poem, John Donne's "A Nocturnall upon St Lucies Day", and gives no exegesis or paraphrase of any kind. Telegraph, How poetry works, Nick Laird, 31 Jan 2008
exhaustive [ ig-ZAWS-tiv ]
[adjective] MEANING : thorough, detailed, comprehensive and not overlooking any aspects USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His exhaustive search failed to find the information he wanted. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Italian intellectual Magris's poetic river trip offers a portrait of Central Europe that's both exhaustive and energizing. National Geographic Traveler, Ultimate Travel LibraryEastern Europe Accessed: 9th July 2009
exhort [ ig-ZAWRT ]
[verb] MEANING : To warn or advise earnestly; to warn strongly and urgently USAGE EXAMPLE 1: On several occasions, Sampson flew to Athens to exhort the Greek military dictatorship to "take action" in Cyprus. The Telegraph, Nicos Sampson, 22 Nov 2001
[verb] MEANING : 1. to dig recover from a grave 2. to restore from obscurity USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Today, Spencer Wells says, "Phoenicians have become ghosts, a vanished civilization." Now he and Zalloua hope to use a different alphabet, the molecular letters of DNA, to exhume these ghosts. National Geographic, Who are the Phoenicians?, Rick Gore
exogenous [ ek-SOJ-uh'-nuh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1) Derived or developed externally 2) (Botany) Marked by adding woody tissue layers to the stem externally beneath the bark 3) (Pathology) Caused by external pathogens or conditions USAGE EXAMPLE 1: We are dealing with a substance which is both endogenous (produced within the body) and exogenous (originating outside the body), and the exogenous HGH is absolutely similar to what is produced by your body. BBC, New Drug Menace Stalks Sport, By Tom Fordyce, 27 July, 2003
exoneration [ ig-ZON-uh-rey-shuhn ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. vindication, clearing or justification from censure or blame 2. the condition of being relieved or freed USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His exoneration was a matter of national debate. USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
Pakistan Cricket Board may face a tough time in its efforts to defend the exoneration of fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif in a doping offence The Times of India, Dope issue: Tough time ahead for PCB, 22 Dec 2006 Accessed: 9th July 2009
exorbitant [ ig-ZAWR-bi-tuh nt ]
[adjective] MEANING : excessive or exceeding bounds of propriety or fairness USAGE EXAMPLE 1: People protested against the exorbitant salaries pulled by the management. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: BCCI feels that the ICC can administer the game globally without hiring people on exorbitant salaries. The Times of India, BCCI to raise ICC fee issue in Dubai, 3 Jun 2007 Accessed: 9th July 2009
exotic [ ig-ZOT-ik ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) of foreign origin or imported 2. (adj.) strange or unusual 3.(n.) 4. something that is imported or is of foreign origin (n.) a stripper USAGE EXAMPLE 1: There has been a real revolution in luxury chocolate, as there was with wine a few years ago. People are much more knowledgeable about it and there is a growing demand for these high quality, exotic products instead of a box of Milk Tray. Telegraph, Bacon flavoured chocolate bar is a sell out, By Urmee Khan, 24 Nov 2008
expatiate [ ik-SPEY-shee-eyt ]
[intransitive verb] MEANING : 1. to roam about or wander freely 2. to elaborate or explain in detail USAGE EXAMPLE 1: In other words, or variable words if you prefer, expatiated the Management Expert, you can't step into the same river twice. The Times of India, All vary well, Jug Suraiya, 14 September 2008
expedient [ ik-SPEE-dee-uh nt ]
[noun,adjective]
MEANING : 1. (adj.) appropriate or suitable to a purpose 2. (adj.) self-interested, politic, advantageous or convenient 3. (n.) one that can serve as a means to a desirable end 4. (n.) makeshift or resource USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The President announced that expedient action would be taken. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Politically many European integrationists also thought the move expedient, as it would defuse an emotive issue in the traditionally Eurosceptic UK. CNN, Britain can keep pints and miles, September 11, 2007, Accessed: 9th July 2009
expedite [ Ek-spi-dahyt ]
[verb] MEANING : 1) To speed up or hasten the progress of 2) To accomplish or execute promptly 3) To issue or dispatch, say, an official letter USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The messages request personal information that supposedly would expedite the turnaround time of either a tax refund or a stimulus rebate check. ABC News, IRS Warns of New Online Tax Scams: Protect Yourself, March 28, 2008
expiate [ EK-spee-eyt ]
[verb] MEANING : To amend one's mistakes; to atone or extinguish the guilt incurred USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Pope Pius XII celebrated a special mass at St. Peter's basilica today "to expiate the crime of the enemies or God"--the Communists. Chicago Tribune, POPE SAYS MASS FOR EXPIATION OF RED CRIMES, Apr 4, 1949
expiation [ ek-SPEE-ey-shuh n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. an act of atonement or making amends 2. the means used in order to make amends or reparations USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Justice can only be said to prevail when expiation is made to the victim. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The murders of two soldiers and a policeman in Northern Ireland in recent weeks point to a bitter truth that it will take more than 10 or so years, a few meetings and public displays of expiation and regret to heal decades of sectarian division and hatred. Telegraph, Liam Neeson interview - on his role in 'Five Minutes of Heaven,' Craig McLean, 30 March 2009
expletive [ ek-spli-tiv ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (n.) a profane or exclamatory oath 2. (n.) a word or phrase that is used to fill out or balance a sentence without adding any meaning to it
3. used or added to fill or balance out a sentence USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Expletives are frowned upon in a politically correct world. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Reformed Hollywood badboy Mickey Rourke provided the only mild controversy of the night with a few expletives in his acceptance speech for the Best Actor award. CNN, 'Slumdog' scoops seven awards at wet BAFTAs, By Mairi Mackay,February 9, 2009
expostulate [ ik-SPOS-chuh-leyt ]
[intransitive verb] MEANING : to remonstrate, object or earnestly reason out with someone in order to dissuade USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She spent the night expostulating the fact that drag racing was a dangerous sport. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The property scout expostulated that he couldn't just land uninvited in someone's garden Telegraph, Dance floors, Susan Ryan, 30 October 2007
expropriate [ eks-proh-pree-eyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1) To deprive or take away from someone his possessions or ownership rights 2) To take something from someone else for one's own use USAGE EXAMPLE 1: An Argentine government secretary, Luis D'Ela, has lead recent efforts to expropriate Tompkins's holdings and publicly hinted that the environmentalist is working with the U.S. government to exert control over regional water supplies. National Geographic, "Not for Sale": S. America Natural Resources Going National, Kelly Hearn, October 31, 2006
expurgate [ EK-sper-geyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to remove obscene, objectionable or vulgar passages from a book 2. to purge, cleanse or rid of obscenities or morally offensive things USAGE EXAMPLE 1: They blamed the mounting frustrations on the failure of the entire political system and on ethical
flaws in need of being expurgated root and branch. CNN, A witness to history 'Years of Renewal', By Henry Kissinger, April 29, 1999
extemporaneous [ ik-stem-puh'-REY-nee-uh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. impromptu, spontaneous or delivered wit hardly any preparation 2. planned priorly but rendered without the use of notes 3. adapted, provided or made for the occasion USAGE EXAMPLE 1: While Palin is under pressure to present herself as an agile performer, Biden, too, must avoid the kind of extemporaneous remarks that have landed him in trouble before. abcNews, VP debate holds risk, promise, October 2, 2008
extempore [ ik-STEM-puh-ree ]
[adjective,adverb] MEANING : 1. (adv.) offhand or without any prior preparation 2. (adj.) impromptu USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Her speech was not prepared before-hand but rather was extempore. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The first prize for the extempore competition was bagged by Jubilee Hills-based Bharatiya Vidya Bhavans Kalpaka Manikyam. The Times of India, Extempore competition for teachers held, 14 Aug 2003 Accessed: 9th July 2009
extenuate [ ik-STEN-yoo-eyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to lessen the magnitude or seriousness of something 2. to make lean or thin 3. to underestimate USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He extenuated the serious atmosphere by cracking jokes. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A disaster of this scale will naturally extenuate that migratory tendency, and more Salvadorians will chance their luck in the perilous journey across the US southern borders. BBC, Eyewitness: El Salvador's grief, Mike Lanchin, 17 January 2001
extinct [ ik-STINGKT ]
[adjective,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (adj.) one that is no longer in existence or has died out 2. (adj.) superseded or defunct 3. (adj.) no longer burning or active 4. (tr.v.) (archaic) to extinguish USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His documentary focused on the extinct animals from the 19th century. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The bones of a huge extinct camel have been discovered in Syria, a joint Swiss-Syrian team announced last week. National Geographic, Extinct "Elephant Size" Camel Found in Syria, James Owen for National Geographic News, October 11, 2006 Accessed: 9th July 2009
extort [ ik-STAWRT ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : to wring or obtain money from another by means of intimidation, threat, torture or coercion USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He extorted money from the rich and gave to the poor. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Naxalism, which started off as a people's movement, has now become a nearly Rs 1500 crore organised extortion business in the form of 'levy', police and central security officials said. The Times of India, Naxalism: A Rs 1500 crore red corridor empire, 7 Jun 2009 Accessed: 9th July 2009
extradite [ EK-struh'-dahyt ]
[noun] MEANING : The surrender of a criminal or a fugitive from one country or authority to another USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Serbias foreign minister says it will not extradite a Serbian student wanted in New York on assault charges. The New York Times, Serbia Wont Extradite Assault Suspect, By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, July 22, 2008
extralegal [ ek-struh-LEE-guh l ]
[adjective] MEANING : beyond the authority of or not governed by law USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The authorities could not catch the smuggler because he escaped to an extralegal region. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Top speed for a car is often used as a proxy for how stable and capable a vehicle is. A car that is built to withstand the stresses of high, extra-legal speeds generally has better acceleration, handling and braking, making it more maneuverable and safer at legal speed limits. BBC, Europe diary: Your comments, Dan Sheridan, 7 June 2007
extrude [ ik-STROOD ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to expel, force, thrust or push out 2. (tr.v.) to shape or form by forcing through a die 3. (intr.v.) to project, protrude or be extruded USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The rocket was extruded into space and the loud bang accompanying it was heard for miles. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Generally, spiders will extrude a silk from abdominal structures known as spinnerets. BBC, Sticky feet help tarantulas climb, 28 September 2006
exuberance [
ig-ZOO-ber-uh ns ] [noun] MEANING : 1. enthusiasm or joyfulness 2. a state of luxuriance or great abundance USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His exuberance was contagious. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The Indian National Congress is the only party that combines experience and youth, wisdom and exuberance, achievement and ambition. The Times of India, Congress manifesto, 24 Mar 2009 Accessed: 9th July 2009
F
fabricate [ FAB-ri-keyt ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to invent, make up or construct 2. to manufacture or build skillfully 3. to forge or fake (esp. signatures) USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The work represents the first time researchers have reported that living plants form these gold micro-nuggets, opening "exciting new ways to fabricate nanoparticles," according to GardeaTorresdey, who heads the chemistry department at the University of Texas at El Paso. National Geographic, Researchers Spin Straw Into Gold, Peter N. Spotts, August 29, 2002
facet [ FAS-it ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a small, polished plane surface esp. of a cut gem 2. (n.) a phase, aspect or side 3. (tr.v.) to make or cut facets on USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Every facet of the diamond was glittering and eye catching. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The plan has a number of facets benefiting the bank and the government. CNN, RBS posts record $34 billion loss, February 27, 2009
facetious [ fuh-SEE-shuh s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. jocular, witty, waggish, bantering or humorous 2. not intended to be serious USAGE EXAMPLE 1: People invited him to their parties because of his facetious nature. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: After an earlier run-up in the bidding which went as high as $6.7 million, eBay officials disqualified several bids as facetious. CNN, 'General Lee' auction ends at almost $10M, Peter Valdes-Dapena, 4 May 2007
debut in this facile victory and drew comparisons with a famous namesake, albeit with a different spelling. 2) Some say there's absolutely no proof that our political views are embedded in our DNA. "These are very facile studies that make outrageous claims," says Evan Charney, a political scientist at Duke University. 1) The Herald, Livingston 4 - 0 Alloa Athletic, JAMES MORGAN, November 26 2007 2)CNN, Are your politics rooted in your genes?, By Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, February 11, 2008
facsimile [ fak-SIM-uh'-lee ]
[noun] MEANING : 1) An exact copy 2) A system or device for transmitting and reproducing exact replicas of documents, photographs, etc. by means of radio signals or through telephone lines USAGE EXAMPLE 1: 1) But there are many facsimile copies of the Lincoln documents that remain to be discovered in trunks, behind framed pictures, within the pages of a book or some other unusual place. 2) Taking advantage of the boom in the use of facsimile machines, the MCI Communications Corporation said yesterday that it would offer to business customers a special network for transmission of facsimile messages. 1) Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, Facsimile Documents 2) The New York Times, MCI Plans a Separate Facsimile Network, CALVIN SIMS, November 4, 1988
factious [ FAK-shuh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. seditious, dissentious or causing faction 2. related or pertaining to or characterized by faction USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It was his factious nature which infuriated his family. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: In 1997 many observers were astonished that a man with so little experience in the Politburo and with no military background could be chosen by Mr Deng and his fellow veterans to lead such a factious party. BBC, Analysis: Jiang's day of glory, By the BBC's Chinese Affairs Analyst James Miles in Beijing, 1 October, 1999
factitious [ fak-TISH-uh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. forced, spontaneous, artificial or not genuine 2. manufactured, made, contrived or not natural USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His factitious manner made him a social outcast. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Sufferers of factitious disorder fake illness to gain attention and sympathy, according to the medical handbook "The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders." CNN, Trial set for medical examiner accused of staging his own attack, By Jessica Su, February 9, 2005
factotum [ fak-TOH-tuh' m ]
[noun] MEANING :
1. a general servant, handyman or assistant 2. a person or official hired to handle varied responsibilities USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A factotum truly understands the value of multitasking. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: I wish he wouldn't do this, sighed Bob Rule, his mozo de espada - an official bullfighting factotum as he watched Mr Evans training. Telegraph, British pensioner bullfighter makes comeback in Spain after quadruple heart bypass, By Fiona Govan in Osuna, 14 Aug 2008
fallacious [ fuh-LEY-shuh s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. erroneous 2. misleading, fraudulent or deceptive USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The argument was deemed fallacious and stricken off the document. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The British Dental Association (BDA) rejected the report, describing it as a "completely fallacious argument". BBC, 20% of dental work 'unnecessary,' 17 April 2000
fallible [ FAL-uh-buh' l ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1) (of persons) Very likely to make a mistake or be misled 2) Likely to be erroneous, faulty or false USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The final Test in Adelaide (next week) will be a cliffhanger because the Indians have now smelt blood and know this Australian team is fallible. Khaleej Times, Controversies got to Aussies: Inzy, 20 January 2008
falter [ FAWL-ter ]
[noun,intransitive verb] MEANING : 1. (intr.v.) to stumble or move unsteadily 2. (intr.v.) to stammer or speak hesitantly 3. (intr.v.) to waver, be hesitant or lose confidence 4. (n.) unsteadiness 5. (n.) a faltering sound USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He faltered but recovered his balance before he fell over.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The financial crisis, brought about by mountains of bad mortgage-related assets, caused banks to falter or fail and lending to dry up and prompted Congress to pass a $700 billion bailout package. The Times of India, No curbs on Wall Street pay despite meltdown, 25 Oct 2008 Accessed: 9th July 2009
fatuous [ FACH-oo-uh s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. inane, silly, stupid or foolish 2. unreal or illusory USAGE EXAMPLE 1: People did not take him seriously owing to his fatuous nature. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: As usual this is a completely fatuous pollitical slant on what should be a non political argument. BBC, Coughing up to curb climate change, Peter Lilley, 25 November 2008
fawn [
fawn ] [noun,adjective,intransitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) an unweaned young deer 2. (n.) a yellowish, pale brown 3. (adj.) light yellowish-brown 4. (intr.v.) to attempt to please 5. (intr.v.) to gain favor by meabns of flattery USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He showed us the photograph of a fawn and told us he had taken the picture. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A six-legged fawn recovering at a clinic in Georgia (US) after sustaining minor injuries from two dogs.
The Times of India, A six-legged deer, 29 Jul 2008 Accessed: 9th July 2009
feckless [ FEK-lis ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. incompetent, feeble, futile or ineffective 2. irresponsible, worthless or careless USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He could not be a good warrior because of his feckless fighting style. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The extent of the carnage left many with the uneasy sense that the long-simmering hostility between the country's two main sects has at last boiled over -- and that the fragile, feckless institutions of authority in Iraq have no means of holding the anger back. CNN, Age-old hostilities boil over, 26, february 2006
feign [ feyn ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING :
1. (intr. v.) to pretend or to give a fake impression of 2. (tr. v.) to invent, fabricate or represent falsely USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The sympathy was not feigned: most European leaders know they would struggle to win a referendum on Lisbon. Economist, The unanimity problem, Jun 26th 2008
feint [ feynt ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a trick, wile or sham 2. (n.) a feigned blow to take one's opponent off his/her guard 3. (intr.v.) to make a feint 4. (tr.v.) to deceive, distract or lure with a feint 5. (tr.v.) to simulate or pretend USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A feint to the left, a jab from the right requires good coordination. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: But it was a feint, to distract attention from a helicopter borne landing by a battalion of the US 82nd Airborne Division from Task Force Fury to the north of the town Telegraph, NATO confirms control of Musa Qala, Sarah Radford, 11 December 2007
felicitous [ fi-LIS-i-tuh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. appropriate, apt or perfectly suited 2. pleasant or delightful 3. having a special quality of having a perfected suited expression or style USAGE EXAMPLE 1: This garden is much more intricate and richly planted than any real Mughal garden, but the result is a felicitous fusion of old India and old England. Telegraph, The world's 50 most beautiful gardens: Asia, Africa, Australasia, and the Americas, Tim Richardson, 10 Nov 2008
fell [ fel ]
[noun,adjective,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to strike or chop down 2. (adj.) lethal, fierce or savage 3. (n.) the amount or number of trees that have been struck down in one season 4. (n.) hide or skin USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Though KMDA officials promised compensatory plantation for all the trees felled for construction, none could give specific plans on the number of saplings to be planted and in what area. The Times of India, Trees felled to make way for VIP Rd flyover, Sumati Yengkhom, 13 November 2008,
felon [ FEL-uh'n ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (n.) one who has committed a grave crime or felony 2. (n.) (archaic) a villain 3. (adj.) evil, wicked or cruel
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: There was a man-hunt organised to arrest the felon who had escaped from prison. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Nationwide, four million former felons cannot take part in the election. BBC, The sound and the fury, 31 October 2000
ferocity [ fuh'-ROS-i-tee ]
[noun] MEANING : fierceness, vehemence or savageness USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Her ferocity was compared to a lioness defending her cubs. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Like Belfast in the 1970s, the ferocity of the violence that was unleashed last week was appalling. Telegraph, As China reels from 184 deaths in Urumqi riots, a beaten woman fears for her husband, David Eimer, 11 July 2009
ferret [ FER-it ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a domesticated descendant of the European polecat 2. (n.) a persistent or an avid searcher 3. (tr.v.) to rummage, search, discover or bring to light 4. (intr.v.) to intensively search about the place USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Draco Malfoy was turned into a ferret in the book, Harry Potter and the goblet of fire. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The ferret fans will take the car ferry across and bring them home, as soon as the animals are fit enough to travel. BBC, 1,000-mile trip to save ferrets, 13 January 2007
fervid [ FUR-vid ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1) Highly passionate or vehement; showing great fervour
2) Extremely hot USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Nationalist sentiment is often both fervid and genuine; but it is also sometimes channeled and manipulated by an adept Chinese government for political ends. International Herald Tribune, Nationalist fervor in China is backed by anger, By Ted Plafker, June 27, 2008
fervour [ FUR-ver ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. passion, warmth or earnestness 2. intense heat USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The fervour behind his words was acknowledged by everyone. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Few acting roles generate more public fervour than those of Doctor Who and Hamlet. Telegraph, David Tennant: from Doctor Who to Hamlet, by Vicki Reid, 23 Nov 2008
fester [ FES-ter ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (intr.v.) to suppurate, ulcerate or generate pus 2. (intr.v.) to decay, rot or putrefy 3. (tr.v.) to rankle or embitter 4. (n.) pustule, sore or ulcer USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The wound had festered and had to be cleaned and bandaged. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: One hundred years of conflict between Arabs and Jews has produced deep wounds that cannot be left to fester any longer, because the fever they produce can infect all of us. BBC, Bowen diary: Obama's challenge, 21 January 2009
festive [ FES-tiv ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. related to or pertaining to a feast or festival 2. joyous, happy, cheerful or merry USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The festive atmosphere was infectious in nature. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The sad state of the economy doesn't appear to be affecting the festive mood in New Orleans, Louisiana. CNN, Good times rolling on for Mardi Gras, By Marnie Hunter, February 20, 2009
The fete was attended by people from three counties. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The fete has always been staged at Grimsby's Peaks Lane Fire Station but the grounds have become waterlogged. BBC, Too much water dampens fire fete, 23 July 2007
fetter [ FET-er ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) shackle or chain for one's ankles or feet 2. (n.) one that is used to confine or restrain someone 3. (tr.v.) to restrain, contain or confine 4. (tr.v.) to bind or chain someone especially a prisoner USAGE EXAMPLE 1: There is no fetter on public debate about policy," attorney general Walter Woon said in court. abcNews, Singapore Says WSJ Wages Two-Decade Judicial Attack, By Melanie Lee, November 4, 2008
feud [ fyood ]
[noun,intransitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a blood feud or bitter, mutual enmity over generations between two clans or families 2. (intr.v.) to engage in or perpetuate a feud USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The bloody feud had been ongoing for a century. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: A High Court judge has sought to impose peace in a bitter feud between neighbours in a gated development over an access road, a wall and even a single screw in a fence. Telegraph, Judge imposes order in neighbourly feud over access lane, John Bingham, 8 July 2009
fickle [ FIK-uh' l ]
[adjective] MEANING : inconstant, changeable or lacking steadfastness USAGE EXAMPLE 1: That much of Eurostats predicted boom comes from immigration makes it even wobblier, since migration flows depend heavily on economic circumstances, as well as on fickle changes in politics and migration law. Economist, Multiplying and arriving, Aug 28th 2008
fidget [ FIJ-it ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a condition where one is restless, nervous and uneasy 2. (intr.v.) to move nervously or restlessly 3. (tr.v.) to cause another to behave more uneasily or restlessly USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He had a tendency to fidget whenever he was uncomfortable in a particular situation. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Children who fidget in class can be an annoyance for teachers. BBC, Fidgeting children 'learn more,' 12 April 2005
figurehead [ FIG-yer-hed ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. one who is only a nominal or titular head 2. a figure that has been carved on the bow of a ship that is sailing USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He was elected to power but only as a figurehead. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The celebrations are a reflection of how widely popular members of the royal family remain in the country as national figureheads. CNN, Background: The Dutch royal family, 2 May 2009
filch [ filch ]
[transitive verb]
MEANING : 1. to steal furtively 2. pilfer USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Likewise, if you have a dietary restriction and want to buy your food separately - do just that. Don't filch from your housemates thinking, 'Oh, they have plenty since they buy it in bulk'. BBC, Tips on How to Live in a Shared Household , 28th February 2003
filial [ FIL-ee-uh' l ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. pertaining to a child or offspring 2. pertaining to a series of generations succeeding the parental generation USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A good helping of poison, duels, betrayal, filial ruptures and spirits in the night was served up by this youthful cast, who being largely past or present students should be well versed in such things. BBC, SHOESTRING, by BBC South Yorkshire contributor Rory Dollard, November 2002
finesse [ fi-NESS ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. artisanship or delicacy of performance 2. tactful manoeuvring or diplomacy while handling 3. to accomplish by using finesse 4. to make or use finesse USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A high degree of finesse is required to achieve a level of mastery in any art form. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: So now that the script was commissioned, it was time to finesse the research. Telegraph, Endgame: new beginnings, Paula Milne, 28 April 2009
finical [ FIN-i-kuh'l ]
[adjective] MEANING : fussy, finicky or overly fastidious USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Her finical attitude caused her to find fault with every step of the procedure. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: However there is just one disparity between the two professions, some of us are not only regulated by the FSA but are able to take professional exams bestowing the confidence and trust that our clients deserve before they make any finical commitment. BBC, Estate agents 'breaking the law', 29 May 2003
finicky [ FIN-i-kee ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. fussy, meticulous, particular or fastidious 2. requiring precision USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Farmer was occasionally finicky. Economist, Pluck a flamingo, Dec 18th 2008
fission [ FISH-uh'n ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) division or splitting into parts 2. (n.) (physics) the splitting of a heavy nucleus into two or more smaller nuclei accompanied by the release of energy 3. (tr.v.) to cause to undergo the process of fission 4. (intr.v.) to undergo the process of fission USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The reaction causes a reaction very similar to that of a nuclear fission. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Nuclear power plants use fission -- the splitting of uranium atoms to release enormous energy -- to create power. The Washington Post, 5 Myths on Nuclear Power, Todd Tucker, 22 March 2009
fissure [ fish-er ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a crack, groove or cleft 2. (n.) a division, separation or schism 3. (tr.v.) to cause the formation of a crack (intr.v.) to split or cause cracking USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The combination of the lack of an obvious leader and the general political combustibility of the Republican Party will lead to a dangerous fissure that will plague it until the 2012 election cycle. CNN, 2009 political predictions: What will be the big story?, January 2, 2009.
fitful [ FIT-fuh' l ]
[adjective] MEANING : erratic, intermittent or irregular USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The hostile reaction to that plan seems to have reassured Mr Voronin that the Wests sometimes fitful support can still be relied on. Economist, Moldova looks for a deal, Nov 1st 2007
fixate [ FIK-seyt ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING :
1. (tr.v.) to make stationary or fixed 2. (tr.v.) to focus one's eyes at a point 3. (intr.v.) to become or get fixed USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He was fixated on winning the World Cup that year and put in a lot of time and effort to see his dream come true. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Teaching children how to knit and build brick walls might not sound like it would appeal to a Department of Education fixated on league table results. Telegraph, Steiner schools: learning - it is a wonder, William Little, 3 February 2009
flagrant [ FLEY-gruh' nt ]
[adjective] MEANING : Evidently unpleasant; shockingly bad USAGE EXAMPLE 1: "After years of being outraged at the Bush administration's flagrant disregard for FISA, Congress now is poised to give the president even greater powers to spy on our phone calls and emails," added Connell. CNBC News, ACLU of Illinois Urges Senator Obama to Vote No on FISA 'Deal', 07 Jul 2008
flail [ fleyl ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) an instrument or device that is used for threshing which contains a handle made of wood at one end and a stick that swings freely at the other 2. (tr.v.) to sing or whip freely as though with a flail 3. (tr.v.) to thresh by means of a flail 4. (intr.v.) to vigorously and erratically thrash about
USAGE EXAMPLE 1: A flail is termed as a weapon and carrying it on one's person is prohibited. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: He was also sentenced to 28 days for possessing an offensive weapon, a flail which he swung at a police officer and criminal damage during an incident at his brother's home in Luton. BBC, Chemist struck off for 'attacks' , 14 December 2005
flair [ flair ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a knack or natural aptitude 2. discernment, a tendency to be inclined towards or keenness 3. elegance or style USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Federer's victories are achieved with a combination of flair, fight and fire. The Times of India, Wimbledon 2007: It's poetry vs power, Prajwal Hegde, June 24, 2007
flak [ flak ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. criticism or opposition 2. antiaircraft fire or artillery USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The rule drew a lot of flak from right-wing hardliners. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Flak was intended to explode at the same height as the planes, throwing out shards of hot metal that could easily rip through the thin skins of the bombers. BBC, The Air War, and British Bomber Crews, in World War Two, Mark Fielder, 9 January 2001
flamboyant [ flam-BOI-uh' nt ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (adj.) ornate, showy or florid 2. (adj.) richly colourful, brilliant or flame like 3. (adj.) pertaining to the French Gothic architecture of the 15th and 16th century that had characteristic flame like forms and wavy lines 4.(n.) another name for the royal Poinciana tree USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Flamboyant costumes for this year's Notting Hill Carnival are being put on show at Alexandra Palace, north London. BBC, Carnival costumes go on display, 17 August 2008.
flaunt [ flawnt ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (intr.v.) to display or exhibit oneself boldly 2. (intr.v.) to flutter or wave conspicuously 3. (tr.v.) to display one's contempt or scorn 4. (tr.v.) to parade or exhibit oneself defiantly or boldly 5. (n.) an act or instance of flaunting USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The Assets Recovery Agency intends to crack down on these people and others who believe that
they can continue to flaunt the law. BBC, Agency targets paramilitaries, 24 February, 2003
flax [ flaks ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. A plant called Linum usitatissimum that is widely cultivated and has pale blue flowers, seeds yielding linseed oil, and thin, slender stems from which fibre is obtained. 2. yarn that is produced from such fibre 3. a pale, greyish yellow colour USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He particularly grew flax because of its seeds being in high demand. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Workers made flax for weavers for more than a century at the site. BBC, Public touring 18th Century mill, 20 August 2005
fledgling [ FLEJ-ling ]
[noun,adjective] MEANING : 1. (n.) a young, immature or inexperienced person 2. (n.) a young, just fledged, bird 3. (adj.) new, young, immature or having no experience USAGE EXAMPLE 1: On the other are those who say that giving in to Mr Bashirs blackmailby withholding an indictment in the hope that he will co-operate with UN and other peacekeeperswill undermine the fledgling courts credibility and encourage other murderous tyrants. Economist, Sudans leader is accused, but others can expect to follow, Jul 17th 2008
fleet [ fleet ]
[noun,adjective,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a group of warships or nautical vessels under a single command or functioning as one unit 2. (adj.) nimble, rapid or swift 3. (tr.v.) to move rapidly or swiftly USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The entire fleet took part in the naval exercise. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Japan's whaling fleet has failed to catch its quota, after being disrupted by clashes with antihunting activists. BBC, Japan fleet misses whaling target, 14 April 2008
flinch [ flinch ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to wince or to recoil from something unpleasant 2. (intr.v.) to wince or shrink 3. (n.) an act or instance of flinching USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He flinched before the doctor could administer the eye drops. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Sitting less than a metre away from a poisonous cobra, the children show no signs of fear and do not flinch when faced with one of the deadly snakes.
flop [ flop ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (intr.v.) to lie down or fall noisily 2. (intr.v.) to fail completely 3. (tr.v.) to fall or drop noisily 4. (n.) an instance or act of flopping USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She flopped down on the bench. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The Alamo has all the ingredients of a flop, that is "a film that fails at the box office, and with critics and audiences." BBC, What makes a film flop? Tom Bishop, 13, April 2004
flout [ flout ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to mock or treat with contempt 2. (intr.v.) to mock or be scornful 3. (n.) an insult or contemptuous remark USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Traffic signals are regularly flouted in the absence the traffic police. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Thousands of drivers are continuing to flout mobile phone laws, despite higher fines and penalty points on licences, according to police.
fluke [ flook ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a stroke of good fortune 2. a triangular blade that is at the end of an anchor's arm and is designed to catch in the ground 3. a flatfish USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She had not studied and therefore everyone believed she passed only by fluke. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The UK Independence Party claimed a political breakthrough as it pushed Labour in to third place in the European elections insisting it was "no fluke". Telegraph, European elections 2009: Ukip claims political breakthrough, Tom Whitehead, 8 June 2009
flummox [ FLUHM-uh' ks ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : Perplex; confound; confuse USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Benneteau, who reached the quarters here two years ago, repeated the trick in the second, breaking Federer's serve at 5-4 with a crosscourt backhand to flummox the advancing Swiss. ABC News, Federer Fends off Brave Benneteau Challenge, By Miles Evans, June 2, 2008
fluster [ FLUHS-ter ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to confuse, make tipsy or befuddle 2. (intr.v.) to cause confusion or get confused 3. (n.) a confused, agitated or excited state or condition USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The rain certainly doesnt fluster the mood of the partygoers in the city. The Times of India, Rain and Rannvijay... , 6 Jul 2008.
foible [ FOI-buh' l ]
[noun] MEANING : 1) A slight flaw or weakness in character 2) The weaker portion of a blade of a sword, from its middle to its tip. USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He'll tell you a version of events you won't read in the official history books one that doesn't spare the foibles and failings of the Philippines' various imperial overlords, from the Spanish to the Americans and the Japanese. News.com.au, Adelaide Now, Thriller in Manila for adventurous travellers, Brett Debritz, November 20, 2007
foil [ foil ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to frustrate, thwart or prevent from succeeding 2. (n.) a defeat
3. (n.) a thin sheet of metal that can be used to wrap food USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The police were unable to foil the robbery, which resulted in the demands for the resignation of the police inspector. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Police in Brazil have foiled a plot to smuggle mobile phones into a high-security prison using a remotely-controlled model helicopter. BBC, Police foil prison phone delivery, Gary Duffy, 26 May 2009
foist [ foist ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to insert or introduce fraudulently 2. to pass off something fake as something genuine 3. to impose without proper justification USAGE EXAMPLE 1: When he made it mandatory for all teachers and students of ABE schools to show up on the morning of August 15, a few teachers actually protested the decision with lawyers notices stating that Independence Day was a public holiday and the board could not foist them with flag hoisting. THE TIMES OF INDIA, Parents, teachers too want a holiday, 15 Aug 2008, Anahita Mukherji,TNN
foment [ foh-MENT ]
[transitive verb] MEANING : 1. to incite or foster or instigate 2. to treat (especially the skin) with warm water or by applying ointments USAGE EXAMPLE 1: During his announcement Saturday, Ortega also accused Washington of trying to foment a coup against Morales. abcNEWS, Nicaragua's Ortega Says No Meeting With Bush, MANAGUA, Nicaragua, September 14, 2008
foppish [ FOP-ish ]
[adjective] MEANING : dandified, elegant or pertaining to a fop USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He was ridiculed for his foppish appearance. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: It all reminded me a little of Bradford, but without any of the foppish glamour often associated with my Yorkshire birthplace. Telegraph, The bicycle diaries: impressions of Romania, Douglas Whitehead, 11 May 2009
Their forage for food was a failure as they returned empty-handed. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The chicks will then enter a 12-week school where they will learn how to forage for food, to avoid predators and to interact with other cranes. BBC, Crane chicks prepared for school, 18 June 2009
forbear [ fawr-BAIR ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to desist or abstain from 2. (tr.v.) to withhold 3. (intr.v.) to hold back or refrain from 4. (intr.v.) to be patient in the face of provocation USAGE EXAMPLE 1: You must forbear as retaliation will only serve to add fuel to the fire. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Now they are being used as launching sites for killing Israelis -- and the "international community" wants Israel to cease fire and forbear. CNN, Tyrrell: Bravo, Condi, R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr. 27 July 2006
forbearance [ fawr-BAIR-uh' ns ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. tolerance, patience or restraint from provocation 2. leniency or abstinence from enforcing a rule or law 3. an act or instance when a creditor extends the time for repayment of debt USAGE EXAMPLE 1: As truckers converge on London today, to protest about the price of fuel, what is most striking is the forbearance they have shown until now. Telegraph, The crippling cost of driving could be cut, 28 Dec 2008.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2: (Oxford was created at the location of the ford across the River Thames where oxen would cross) University of Oxford, Exhibition of childrens gargoyles at the Bodleian library, 2 January 2008
forfeit [ FAWR-fit ]
[noun,adjective,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) penalty or fine 2. (n.) 3. (tr.v.) to surrender or be deprived of a right due to an error or offense 4. (adj.) loss due to forfeiture USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The referee warned them that a forfeit was their option as they were five players short. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Any councillor caught following the cyclists' highway code of riding on the pavement and ignoring red traffic lights would forfeit a month's salary and expenses. The Herald, Get councillors on their bikes and potholes will be fixed in no time, Iain A D Mann, 17 July 2009
1. the act of producing an imitation or something counterfeit illegally 2. one that is forged USAGE EXAMPLE 1: While the investigation was still in progress, the nervous employee confessed to the bank's manager that he had committed the forgery. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Fifteen cases of suspected forgery during the recent European election in Northern Ireland have been passed to the police. BBC, Inquiry into Euro vote 'forgery', 24 June 2009
forswear [ fawr-SWAIR ]
[intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (tr.v.) to abjure or renounce or give up under oath 2. (tr.v.) to deny under oath 3. (intr.v.) to commit perjury or swear falsely USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Forswear beer and oily food if you want to reduce your paunch. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Next time the crusading chef is touring schools, urging pupils to forswear junk food, let's hope he also urges them to dispose of the junk it's packaged in. Telegraph, Keep Britain Tidy? Not likely..., Michael Deacon, 13 January 2009
accidentally lucky or fortunate USAGE EXAMPLE 1: It would be very difficult for us to afford to do it on our own. It this case, it's a fortuitous linkage of the commercial and the not-for-profit. abcNEWS, A Scarcity of New Plays Dominate B'way's Fall, By MICHAEL KUCHWARA AP Drama Writer, NEW YORK, September 2, 2008
fractious [ FRAK-shuh' s ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. unruly, troublesome or rebellious 2. irritable, quarrelsome or peevish USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Even in the fractious world of Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China relations, to fix a beauty pageant for patriotic reasons might be a first. Telegraph, Hong Kong TV station admits Miss Asia 2008 result altered, By Richard Spencer, 17 Dec 2008.
frantic [ FRAN-tik ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. frenzied, desperate or wild with excitement 2. marked by rapid and disordered activity USAGE EXAMPLE 1: As the sun began to set, the search for the missing girl became increasingly frantic. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The Liverpool end of the pitch resembled a casualty station with frantic efforts being made to treat the injured and save lives while others wandered aimlessly around the pitch in a daze. CNN, Hillsborough: 'The crowd cheered as the lad showed signs of life', Peter Went, 20 April 2009
fraudulent [ FRAW-juh'-luh' nt ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. deceitful or based on fraud USAGE EXAMPLE 1: User Content that includes information that is false, misleading, inaccurate, fraudulent, or deceptive, or that promotes illegal activities is prohibited. National Geographic, COMMUNITY AT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC RULES FOR MEMBERS
frenetic [ fruh'-NET-ik ]
[adjective] MEANING : frantic, desperate or frenzied USAGE EXAMPLE 1: With just a few minutes to go, the frenetic crowd cheered the home team to score. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: These laid back islands are a world away form the frenetic glamour of Miami Beach. CNN, Insider tips to make the most of Miami, 4 December 2008
frenzied [ FREN-zeed ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. marked by wild enthusiasm or excitement 2. violent, frantic, agitated or wild USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The meditative time will soothe your frenzied brain, while the caffeine will give you just enough of a kick start to get through the rest of your day. Readers Digest, Shedding the Afternoon Office Rut.
fret [ fret ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (intr.v.) to brood or express discontent or worry 2. (intr.v.) to gnaw into, corrode or erode 3. (tr.v.) to vex, trouble or annoy 4. (tr.v.) to erode or corrode away or gnaw into 5. (n.) a mental state of being vexed, annoyed or irritated 6. (n.) erosion or corrosion USAGE EXAMPLE 1: His nature caused him to frown upon the world and fret in a show of discontent. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: After years of wearing down metal frets and having pieces of his guitar rip off or malfunction during shows, Van Halen says he's built a guitar that even he can't destroy. CNN, Eddie Van Halen reinvents the guitar, By Denise Quan, February 4, 2009
fringe [ frinj ]
[noun,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a decorative edge or border that has hanging cords and strips 2. (n.) a periphery or edge
3. (tr.v.) to furnish or decorate with a fringe 4. (tr.v.) to form a fringe or border for USAGE EXAMPLE 1: She styled her hair with a cute little fringe covering her forehead. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: People also reported other fringe benefits such as better general health and reduced weight and smoking. BBC, Football therapy - for the mentally ill, Jane Elliott, 29 September 2008
fritter [ FRIT-er ]
[noun,intransitive verb,transitive verb] MEANING : 1. (n.) a shred or a small piece, portion or fragment2. (tr.v.) to squander or waste 3. (tr.v.) to shred or break into tiny fragments 4. (intr.v.) to dwindle, dissipate, degenerate or shrink USAGE EXAMPLE 1: He is an expert tracker, who made use of a single fritter to solve his last case. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The speech made reference both to the healthcare and education reforms Mr Obama plans, and also the desire not to fritter away tax dollars. BBC, Determined Obama vows to renew US, 25 February 2009
frivolity [ fri-VOL-i-tee ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. triviality, silliness or lightness 2. frippery, bagatelle or something has little or no importance USAGE EXAMPLE 1: In 19th century England, frivolity was frowned upon. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: His instantly recognizable suits are directional yet classic, practical but with a touch of frivolity, eye catching but discreet. CNN, How Boateng changed face of tailoring, By Sylvia Smith for CNN, January 13, 2006
frond [ frond ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. a leaflike thallus 2. a large leaf, especially like that of a palm or fern, that has been divided finely USAGE EXAMPLE 1: Every branch sways, every frond moves when you bump or shoot it, and every tree trunk below a certain thickness can be snapped and collapsed. abcNEWS, Crysis Screenshots: Best-Looking PC Game Ever?, November 13, 2007
frugal [ FROO-guh'l ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. economical, sparing or thrifty 2. inexpensive or meagre USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The wage the poor old man earned was inadequate to provide anything but a frugal meal for
himself and his family. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: The Communist Party corruption watchdog has reminded officials they should be living a frugal life. BBC, Chinese warned off lavish gifts, Chris Hogg, 29 December 2008
fruition [ froo-ISH-uh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. achievement, realization or attainment 2. a state or condition of bearing fruit or actualization 3. enjoyment or contentment USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The very thought, that his plans were to reach fruiton, made him euphoric. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: Last week we outlined the potential benefits deflation could hold for those over 75, and this week's findings show these benefits in fruition. Telegraph, Inflation: Better news for pensioners at last, By Emma Wall, 11 Feb 2009
frump [ fruhmp ]
[noun] MEANING : 1) An unattractive, drab woman or girl 2) An old-fashioned, staid person USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The band, whose website defines a frump as "an unappreciated woman", describes itself an "allmum garage band" and "group of women who need to make some noise". The Telegraph, 'Mom rock' will teach the punks a thing or two, By Catherine Elsworth, 18 Jul 2005
fulmination [ fuhl-muh'-NEY-shuh'n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. censure or denunciation 2. violent explosion USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The fulmination of the coach caused the team to hang their heads in shame. USAGE EXAMPLE 2: In this remote and idiosyncratic corner of Spain the fulminations from Madrid about Gibraltar's alleged responsibility have not found much sympathy. Telegraph, Tanker's dark tide engulfs 'golden' coast, Isambard Wilkinson, 20 November 2002
funereal [ fyoo-NEER-ee-uh' l ]
[adjective] MEANING : 1. suitable for, characteristic of or pertaining to a funeral 2. gloomy, sad or mournful USAGE EXAMPLE 1: The Ghalauri cremation ground was steeped in funereal gloom. The Times of India, Adulterated liquor kills 13 in Patiala, Gur Kirpal Singh Ashk, 13 February 2003.
fusion [ FYOO-zhuh' n ]
[noun] MEANING : 1. melting or liquefaction 2. mixture, amalgamation or blending of two or more things, elements or styles or genres of music 3. a coalition or union of two or more political parties in order to form a government 4. (physics) combining of two or more nuclei to form a heavier nucleus that is accompanied by the release of energy USAGE EXAMPLE 1: According to Professor Julian Vincent from Bath University it is this sort of application in which design is truly biomimetic and represents an authentic fusion of biology and engineering. CNN, Borrowing from nature, By Matthew Knight, April 1, 2008