chapter 1
pike -
1.
a shafted weapon having a pointed head, formerly used by infantry.
–verb (used with object)
2.
to pierce, wound, or kill with or as with a pike. –noun
peat-
1.
a highly organic material found in marshy or damp regions, composed of partially decayed vegetable matter: it is cut and dried for use as fuel.
2.
such vegetable matter used as fertilizer or fuel. –noun
precipice-
1.
a cliff with a vertical, nearly vertical, or overhanging
2.
a situation of great peril: on –noun face. the precipice of war.
beadle-
1.
a parish officer having various subordinate duties, as keeping order during services, waiting on
2. –noun the rector, etc. sexton ( def. 2 ) .
granite-
1.
a coarse-grained igneous rock composed chiefly of orthoclase and albite feldspars and of quartz, usually with lesser amounts of one or more other minerals, as mica, hornblende, or augite.
2.
anything compared to this rock in great hardness, firmness, or durability. –noun
inherited-
1.
to take or receive (property, a right, a title, etc.) by succession or will, as an heir: to inherit
2.
to receive as if by succession from predecessors: the problems the new government inherited from its predecessors.
3.
to receive (a genetic character) by the transmission of hereditary factors.
4.
to succeed (a person) as heir.
5.
to receive as one's portion; come into possession of: to inherit his brother's old clothes.–verb (used with object) the family business.
livery-
1.
a distinctive uniform, badge, or device formerly provided by someone of rank or title for his retainers, as in
2.
a uniform worn by servants.
3.
distinctive attire worn by an official, a member of a company or guild, etc.
4.
Also called livery company. British . a guild or company of
5.
characteristic dress, garb, or outward appearance: the green livery of summer.
6.
the care, feeding, stabling, etc., of horses for pay.
7.
8.
a company that rents out automobiles, boats, etc.
9.
Law . an ancient method of conveying a freehold by formal delivery of possession.–noun, plural -er·ies. time of war. the City of London entitled to wear such livery. livery stable.
strode-
simple past tense of –verb stride.
rampart-
1.
Fortification .
a.
a broad elevation or mound of
b.
such an elevation together with
2.
anything serving as a bulwark or defense.
–verb (used with object)
3.
to furnish with or as if with a rampart.–noun earth raised as a fortification around a place and usually capped with a stone or earth parapet. the parapet.
shied-
simple past tense and past participle of –verb shy.
Chapter 2
envied-
1.
a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc.
2.
an object of
3.
Obsolete . ill will.
–verb (used with object)
4.
to regard with envy; be
–verb (used without object)
5.
Obsolete . to be affected with envy.–noun envious feeling: Her intelligence made her theenvy of her classmates. envious of: He envies her the position she has achieved in her profession.
defied-
1.
to challenge
2.
to offer effective resistance to: a fort that defies attack.
3.
to challenge (a person) to do something deemed impossible: They defied him to dive off the bridge.
4.
Archaic . to challenge to a combat or contest.
–noun
5.
a challenge; a
constable-–noun
1.
an officer of
2.
Chiefly British . a police officer.
3.
an officer of high rank in medieval monarchies, usually the commander of all armed forces, especially in the absence of the ruler.
4.
the keeper or governor of a royal fortress or castle.
flogging-–verb (used with object), flogged, flog·ging.
1.
to beat with a whip, stick, etc., especially as punishment; whip; scourge.
2.
Slang .
a.
to sell, especially aggressively or vigorously.
b.
to promote; publicize.
canter-–noun
1.
an easy gallop.
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
2.
to move or ride at a canter.
mutton-–noun
the flesh of sheep, especially full-grown or more mature sheep, used as
moor-–noun
1.
a tract of open, peaty, wasteland, often overgrown with heath, common in high latitudes and altitudes where drainage is poor; heath.
2.
a tract of land preserved for
Chapter 3
cluster-–noun
1.
a number of things of
2.
a group of things or persons close together: There was a cluster of tourists at the gate.
3.
U.S. Army . a small metal design placed on a ribbon representing an awarded medal to indicate that the same medal has been awarded again: oak-leaf cluster.
4.
Phonetics . a succession of two or more
5.
Astronomy . a group of neighboring stars, held together by mutual gravitation, that have essentially the same age and composition and thus supposedly a common origin. Compare
–verb (used with object)
6.
to gather into a cluster or clusters.
7.
to furnish or cover with clusters.
–verb (used without object)
8.
to form a cluster or clusters: The
tarn-–noun
a small mountain lake or pool, especially one in a cirque.
litter-–noun
1.
objects strewn or scattered about; scattered rubbish.
2.
a condition of disorder or untidiness: We were appalled at
3.
a number of young brought forth by a multiparous animal at one birth: a litter of
4.
a framework of cloth stretched between two parallel bars, for the transportation of a sick or wounded person; stretcher.
5.
a vehicle carried by
6.
straw, hay, or the like, used as bedding for animals or as protection for plants.
7.
the layer of slightly decomposed organic material on the surface of the floor of the forest.
8.
–verb (used with object)
9.
to strew (a place) with scattered objects, rubbish, etc.: to be fined for littering the sidewalk.
10.
to scatter (objects) in disorder: They littered their toys from one end of the playroom to the other.
11.
to be strewn about (a place) in disorder (often followed by up ): Bits of paper littered the floor.
12.
to give birth to (young), as a multiparous animal.
13.
to supply (an animal) with litter for a bed.
14.
to use (straw, hay, etc.) for litter.
15.
to cover (a floor or other area) with straw, hay, etc., for litter.
–verb (used without object)
16.
to give birth to a litter: The
17.
to strew objects about: If
18.
pick of the litter,
a.
the best or choicest of the animals, especially puppies, in a litter.
b.
the best of any class, group, or available selection.
squires-–noun
1.
(in England) a country gentleman, especially
2.
(in the Middle Ages) a young man of noble birth
3.
a personal attendant, as of a person of rank.
4.
a man who accompanies or escorts a woman.
5.
a title applied to a justice of the peace, local judge, or other local dignitary of a rural district or small town.
–verb (used with object)
6.
to attend as, or in the manner of, a squire.
7.
to escort (a woman), as to a dance or social gathering.
crag-–noun
a steep, rugged rock; rough, broken, projecting part of a rock.
swarthy-–adjective, swarth·i·er, swarth·i·est.
(of skin color, complexion, etc.) dark.
remedies-–noun
1.
something that cures or relieves a disease or bodily disorder; a healing medicine, application, or treatment.
2.
something that corrects or removes an evil of any kind.
3.
Law . legal redress;
4.
Coining . a certain allowance at the mint for deviation from the standard weight and fineness of coins;
–verb (used with object)
5.
to cure, relieve, or heal.
6.
to restore to the natural or proper condition; put right: to remedy a matter.
7.
to counteract or remove: to remedy an evil.
dubiously-–adjective
1.
doubtful; marked by or occasioning doubt: a dubious reply.
2.
of doubtful quality or propriety; questionable: a dubious
3.
of uncertain outcome: in dubious battle.
4.
wavering or hesitating in opinion; inclined to doubt.the same kind, growing or held together; a bunch: a cluster of grapes. contiguous consonants in an utterance, as the str- cluster of strap. globular cluster, open cluster, stellar association. people clustered around to watch. the litter of the room. six kittens. people or animals, consisting of a bed or couch, often covered and curtained, suspended between shafts. cat litter. cathad littered in the closet. you litter, you may be fined. —Idiom the chief landed proprietor in a district. who as an aspirant to knighthood served a knight. the legal means of enforcing a right or redressing a wrong. tolerance. compliment; a dubious transaction.
skewer-
1.
a long pin of wood or metal for inserting through meat or other
2.
any similar pin for fastening or holding an item in place.
–verb (used with object)
3.
to fasten with or as if with a skewer.–noun food to hold or bind it in cooking. insolent-
1.
boldly rude or disrespectful; contemptuously impertinent; insulting: an insolent reply.
–noun
2.
an insolent person.–adjective
magistrate-
1.
a civil officer charged with
2.
a minor judicial officer, as a justice of the peace or the judge of a police court, having jurisdiction to try minor criminal cases and to conduct preliminary examinations of persons charged with serious crimes. –noun the administration of the law.
despair-
1.
loss of hope; hopelessness.
2.
someone or something that causes hopelessness: He is
–verb (used without object)
3.
to
–verb (used with object)
4.
Obsolete . to give up hope of–noun the despair of his mother. lose, give up, or be without hope (often followed by of ): to despair of humanity. Chapter 4
discontent-
1.
not
–noun
2.
Also, dis·con·tent·ment. lack of
3.
a restless desire or craving for something one does not have.
4.
a malcontent.
–verb (used with object)
5.
to make –adjective content; dissatisfied; discontented. content; dissatisfaction.discontented; dissatisfy; displease.
trodden-
a past participle of –verb tread.
pall-
1.
a cloth, often of velvet, for spreading over a coffin, bier, or tomb.
2.
a coffin.
3.
anything that covers, shrouds, or overspreads, especially with darkness or gloom.
4.
Ecclesiastical .
a.
b.
a linen cloth or a square cloth-covered piece of cardboard used to cover a chalice.
5.
Heraldry .
6.
Archaic . a cloth spread upon an altar; corporal.
7.
Archaic . a garment, especially a robe, cloak, or
–verb (used with object)
8.
to cover with or as with a pall.noun pallium ( def. 2b ) . pairle. the like.
charity-
1.
generous actions or donations to aid
2.
something given to a person or persons in need; alms: She asked for work, not charity.
3.
a charitable
4.
a charitable fund, foundation, or institution: He left his estate to a charity.
5.
benevolent feeling, especially toward those in need or in disfavor: She looked so poor that we fed her out of charity.
6.
leniency in judging others;
7.
Christian –noun, plural -ties. the poor, ill, or helpless: to devote one's life to charity. actor work. forbearance: She was inclined to view our selfish behavior with charity. love; agape.
doublets-
1.
a close-fitting outer garment, with or without sleeves and sometimes having a short skirt, worn by men in
2.
an undergarment, quilted and reinforced with
3.
a pair of like things; couple.
4.
one of a pair of like things; duplicate.
5.
Linguistics . one of two or more words in a language that are derived from the same source, especially when one is learned while the other is popular, as coy and quiet, both taken from the same
6.
Printing . an unintentional repetition in printed matter or proof.
7.
doublets, a throw of a pair of dice in which the same number of spots turns up on each die.
8.
Jewelry . a counterfeit gem made of two pieces, either of smaller gemstones, inferior stones, or glass. Compare
9.
Optics . a compound lens made of two thin lenses shaped so as to reduce chromatic and spherical aberrations. –noun the renaissance. mail, worn beneath armor. Latinword, quiet directly, and coy by way of Old french. imitation doublet, triplet ( def. 6 ) .
mourners-
1.
a person
2.
a person who attends a funeral to
3.
(at religious revival meetings) a person who professes penitence for sin, with desire for salvation. –noun who mourns. mourn for the deceased.
poverty-
1.
the state or condition of having little or no
2.
deficiency of necessary or desirable ingredients, qualities, etc.: poverty of
3.
scantiness; insufficiency: Their efforts to stamp out disease were hampered by a poverty of –noun money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor; indigence. the soil. Medical supplies.
chevied-
1.
to
2.
to harass; nag; torment.
–verb (used without object)
3.
to race; scamper.
–noun
4.
a hunting cry.
5.
a hunt, chase, or pursuit.
6.
the –verb (used with object) chase; run after. game of prisoner's base.
Chapter 5
suffocated-
1.
to kill by preventing
2.
to impede the respiration of.
3.
to discomfort by a lack of fresh or cool air.
4.
to overcome or extinguish; suppress.
–verb (used without object)
5.
to become suffocated; stifle; smother.
6.
to be uncomfortable due to a lack of fresh or cool air. –verb (used with object) theaccess of air to the blood through the lungs or analogous organs, as gills; strangle.
troupe-
1.
a company, band, or group of singers, actors, or other performers, especially one that travels about.–noun
thimbleful-
1.
the amount that a
2.
a small quantity, especially of liquid. –noun, plural -fuls. thimble will hold. stammer-
1.
to speak with involuntary breaks and pauses, or with spasmodic repetitions of syllables or sounds.
–verb (used with object)
2.
to say with a stammer (often followed by out ).
–noun
3.
a stammering
4.
a stammered utterance. –verb (used without object) mode of utterance. interjected-
1.
to insert between other things: to interject a clarification of a previous statement.
2.
Obsolete . to come between. –verb (used with object) tethered-
1.
a rope, chain, or
2.
the utmost length to which one can go in action; the utmost extent or limit of ability or resources.
–verb (used with object)
3.
to fasten or confine with or as if with a tether. —Idiom
4.
at the end of one's tether, at the end of one's resources, –noun the like, by which an animal is fastened to a fixed object so as to limit its range of movement. patience, or strengthbracken-
1.
a large
2.
a cluster or thicket of such ferns; an area overgrown with ferns and shrubs.–noun fern or brake, especially Pteridium aquilinum. vagabond-
1.
wandering from place to place without any settled
2.
leading an unsettled or carefree life.
3.
disreputable; worthless; shiftless.
4.
of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a vagabond: vagabond habits.
5.
having an uncertain or irregular course or direction: a vagabond voyage.
–noun
6.
a person, usually without a permanent home,
7.
an idle wanderer without a permanent home or visible means of support; tramp; vagrant.
8.
a carefree, worthless, or irresponsible person; rogue.–adjective home; nomadic: a vagabond tribe. who wanders from place to place; nomad. motto-
1.
a
2.
a sentence, phrase, or word expressing the spirit or purpose of a person, organization, city, etc., and often inscribed on a badge, banner, etc. –noun, plural -toes, -tos. maximadopted as an expression of the guiding principle of a person, organization, city, etc.emphatically-
1.
uttered, or to be uttered, with
2.
using
3.
forceful; insistent: a big, emphatic man; I must be emphatic about this particular.
4.
very impressive or significant; strongly marked; striking: the emphatic
5.
clearly or boldly outlined: It stands, like a great, stone dagger, emphatic against
6.
Grammar . of or pertaining to a form used to add
7.
Phonetics . having a secondary velar articulation, as certain dental consonants in
–noun
8.
an emphatic consonant.
Chapter 6
gizzard-–noun Zoology .
1.
Also called
2.
Also called
3.
the innards or viscera collectively, especially the intestine and stomach.–adjectiveemphasis; strongly expressive. emphasis in speech or action. beauty of sunset. thesky. emphasis, especially, in English, stressed auxiliary do in affirmative statements, as in He did call you or I do like it. arabic. ventriculus. a thick-walled, muscular pouch inthe lower stomach of many birds and reptiles that grinds food, often with the aid of ingested stones or grit. gastric mill. a similar structure in the foregut of arthropods and several other invertebrates, often lined with chitin and small teeth. dagger-
1.
a short, swordlike weapon with a pointed blade and a handle, used for stabbing.
2.
Also called
–verb (used with object)
3.
to stab with or as if with a dagger.
4.
Printing . to mark with a dagger. —Idiom
5.
look daggers at, to look at angrily, threateningly, or with hate. –noun obelisk. Printing . a mark (†) used especially for references. retorted-
1.
to reply to, usually in a sharp or retaliatory way; reply in kind to.
2.
to return (an accusation, epithet, etc.) upon
3.
to answer (an argument or the like) by another to the contrary.
–noun
4.
a severe, incisive, or witty reply, especially one that counters a first speaker's statement, argument, etc.
5.
the –verb (used with object) the person uttering it. act of retortingvacancies-
1.
the state of being
2.
a
3.
a
4.
an unoccupied position or office: a vacancy on
5.
lack of thought or intelligence; vacuity: a look of utter vacancy.
6.
Crystallography . (in a crystal) an imperfection resulting from an unoccupied lattice position. Compare
7.
Archaic . absence of activity; idleness. –noun, plural -cies. vacant; emptiness. vacant, empty, or unoccupied place, as untenanted lodgings or offices: This building still has no vacancies. gap; opening; breach. the Supreme Court. interstitial ( def. 3 ) . mocking-
1.
to attack or treat with ridicule,
2.
to ridicule by mimicry of action or speech; mimic derisively.
3.
to mimic, imitate, or counterfeit.
4.
to challenge; defy: His actions mock convention.
5.
to deceive, delude, or disappoint.
–verb (used without object)
6.
to use ridicule or derision; scoff; jeer (often followed by at ).
–noun
7.
a contemptuous or derisive imitative action or speech; mockery or derision.
8.
something mocked or derided; an object of derision.
9.
an imitation; counterfeit; fake.
10.
Shipbuilding .
a.
a hard pattern representing
b.
–adjective
11.
feigned; not real;
12.
mock up, to build a mock-up of. –verb (used with object) contempt, or derision. thesurface of a plate with a warped form, upon which the plate is beaten to shape after furnacing. bed ( def. 23 ) . sham: a mock battle. —Verb phrase sluicing-
1.
an artificial channel for conducting
2.
the body of water held back or controlled by a sluice gate.
3.
any contrivance for regulating a flow from or into a receptacle.
4.
a channel, especially one carrying off surplus water; drain.
5.
a stream of surplus water.
6.
an artificial stream or channel of water for moving solid matter: a lumbering sluice.
7.
Also called sluice box . Mining . a long, sloping trough or the like, with grooves on the bottom, into which water is directed to separate
–verb (used with object)
8.
to let out (water) by or as if by opening a sluice.
9.
to drain (a pond, lake, etc.) by or as if by opening a sluice.
10.
to open a sluice upon.
11.
to flush or cleanse with a rush of water: to sluice the decks of a boat.
12.
Mining . to wash in a sluice.
13.
to send (logs) down a
–verb (used without object)
14.
to flow or pour through or as if through a sluice. –noun water, often fitted with a gate (sluice gate) at the upper end for regulating the flow. gold from gravel or sand.sluiceway. curtsy-
1.
a respectful bow made by
–verb (used without object)
2.
to make a curtsy. –noun women and girls, consisting of bending the knees and lowering the body. contradict-
1.
to assert
2.
to speak contrary to the assertions of: to contradict oneself.
3.
(of an action or event) to imply a denial of: His way of life contradicts his stated principles.
4.
Obsolete . to speak or declare against; oppose.
–verb (used without object)
5.
to utter a contrary statement. –verb (used with object) the contrary or opposite of; deny directly and categorically. farthing-
1.
a former bronze coin of Great Britain, equal to one-fourth of a British penny: withdrawn in 1961.
2.
something of very small value: I don't care a farthing for your opinion. –noun meddle-
to involve oneself in a matter without right or invitation; interfere officiously and unwantedly: Stop meddling in my personal life! –verb (used without object), -dled, -dling.inquisitive-
1.
given to
2.
unduly or inappropriately curious; prying.
–noun
3.
an inquisitive person: thick curtains to frustrate inquisitives.–adjective inquiry, research, or asking questions; eager for knowledge; intellectually curious: an inquisitive mind.
Chapter 7
prejudiced-
1.
an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.
2.
any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable.
3.
unreasonable feelings, opinions, or attitudes, especially of a hostile
4.
such attitudes considered collectively: The war against prejudice is never-ending.
5.
damage or injury; detriment: a law that operated to
–verb (used with object)
6.
to affect with a prejudice, either favorable or unfavorable: His honesty and sincerity prejudiced us in his favor. —Idiom
7.
without prejudice, Law . without dismissing, damaging, or otherwise affecting a legal interest or demand. –noun nature, regarding a racial, religious, or national group. theprejudice of the majority. denounce-
1.
to condemn or censure openly or publicly: to denounce a politician as morally corrupt.
2.
to make a formal accusation against, as to
3.
to give formal notice of the termination or denial of (a treaty, pact, agreement, or the like).
4.
Archaic . to announce or proclaim, especially as something evil or calamitous.
5.
Obsolete . to portend. verb (used with object), -nounced, -nounc·ing. the police or in a court. aloof-
1.
at a distance, especially in feeling or interest; apart: They always stood aloof from their classmates.
–adjective
2.
reserved or reticent; indifferent; disinterested: Because of his shyness, he had –adverbthe reputation of being aloof. anxieties
1.
distress or uneasiness of mind caused by
2.
earnest but tense desire; eagerness: He had a keen anxiety to succeed in his work.
3.
Psychiatry . a state of apprehension and psychic tension occurring in some forms of mental disorder. –noun, plural -ties. fear of danger or misfortune: He felt anxiety aboutthe possible loss of his job. barbarous-
1.
uncivilized; wild; savage; crude.
2.
savagely cruel or harsh: The prisoners of war were given barbarous treatment.
3.
full of harsh sounds; noisy; discordant: an evening of wild and barbarous
4.
not conforming to classical standards or accepted usage, as language.
5.
foreign; alien.
6.
(among ancient Greeks) designating a person or thing of non-Greek origin. –adjectivemusic. plague-
1.
an epidemic disease that causes high mortality; pestilence.
2.
an infectious, epidemic disease caused by a bacterium, Yersinia pestis, characterized by fever, chills, and prostration, transmitted to humans from rats by means of
3.
any widespread affliction, calamity, or evil, especially one regarded as a direct punishment by
4.
any cause of trouble, annoyance, or vexation: Uninvited guests are a plague.
–verb (used with object)
5.
to trouble, annoy, or torment in any manner: The question of his future plagues him with doubt.
6.
to annoy, bother, or pester: Ants plagued the picnickers.
7.
to smite with a plague, pestilence, death, etc.; scourge: those whom the gods had plagued.
8.
to infect with a plague; cause an epidemic in or among: diseases that still plague the natives of Ethiopia.
9.
to afflict with any evil: He was plagued by allergies all his life. –noun the bites of fleas. Compare bubonic plague, pneumonic plague, septicemic plague. god: a plague of war and desolation. gist-
1.
the main or essential part of a matter: What was
2.
the ground of a legal action. –noun the gist of his speech? doleful-
sorrowful; mournful; –adjective melancholy: a doleful look on her face.destitute-
1.
without means of subsistence; lacking
2.
deprived of, devoid of, or lacking (often followed by of ): destitute of children.
–verb (used with object)
3.
to leave destitute. –adjective food, clothing, and shelter. parapet-
1.
Fortification .
a.
a defensive wall or elevation, as of
b.
an elevation raised above
2.
any low protective wall or barrier at the edge of a balcony, roof, bridge, or the like. –noun earth or stone, in a fortification. the main wall or rampart of a permanent fortification. pillion-
1.
a pad or cushion attached behind a saddle, especially as a seat for a woman.
2.
a pad, cushion, saddle, or
3.
a passenger's saddle or seat behind the driver's seat on a motorcycle. –noun the like, used as a passenger seat on a bicycle, motor scooter, etc. pauper-
1.
a person without any means of support, especially a destitute person
2.
a very poor person.–noun who depends on aid from public welfare funds or charity.cobbles-
1.
to mend (shoes, boots, etc.); patch.
2.
to put together roughly or clumsily. –verb (used with object) -bled, -bling. foul-
1.
grossly offensive to
2.
containing or characterized by offensive or noisome matter: foul air; foul stagnant
3.
filthy or dirty, as places, receptacles, clothes, etc.
4.
muddy, as a road.
5.
clogged or obstructed with foreign matter: a foul gas jet.
6.
unfavorable or stormy: foul
7.
contrary, violent, or unfavorable, as the wind.
8.
grossly offensive in a moral sense.
9.
abominable, wicked, or vile, as deeds, crime,
10.
scurrilous, profane, or obscene; offensive: foul language.
11.
contrary to the rules or established usages, as of a
12.
Baseball . pertaining to a foul ball or a foul line.
13.
limited in
14.
abounding in errors or in marks of correction, as a printer's proof, manuscript, or the like.
15.
Nautical .
a.
(of the underwater portion of a hull) encrusted and impeded with barnacles, seaweed, etc.
b.
(of a mooring place) involving inconveniences and dangers, as of colliding with vessels or other objects when swinging with the tide.
c.
(of the bottom of a body of water) affording a poor hold for an anchor ( opposed to
16.
North England and Scot. . not fair; ugly or unattractive.
17.
Obsolete . disfigured.
–adverb
18.
in a foul manner; vilely; unfairly.
19.
Baseball . into foul territory; so as to be foul: It looked like a homer when he hit it, but it went foul.
–noun
20.
something that is foul.
21.
a collision or entanglement: a foul between two racing sculls.
22.
a violation of the rules of a sport or game: The referee called it a foul.
23.
Baseball .
–verb (used with object)
24.
to make foul; defile; soil.
25.
to clog or obstruct, as a chimney or the bore of a gun.
26.
to collide with.
27.
to cause to become entangled or caught, as a rope.
28.
to defile; dishonor; disgrace: His reputation had been fouled by unfounded accusations.
29.
Nautical . (of barnacles, seaweed, etc.) to cling to (a hull) so as to encumber.
30.
Baseball . to hit (a pitched ball) foul (often followed by off or away ): He fouled off two curves before being struck out on a fastball. –adjective the senses; disgustingly loathsome; noisome: a foul smell. water. weather. slander, etc. sport or game; unfair: a foul blow. freedom of movement by obstruction, entanglement, etc.: a foul anchor.clean). foul ball.
Chapter 8
mercy-
1.
compassionate or kindly
2.
the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing: an adversary wholly without mercy.
3.
the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, especially to send to prison rather than invoke the
4.
an
5.
something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing: It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened. —Idiom
6.
at the mercy of, entirely in the power of; subject to: They were at the mercy of their captors. Also, at one's mercy–noun, plural -cies for 4, 5. forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner. death penalty. act of kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors. stammered-
1.
to speak with involuntary breaks and pauses, or with spasmodic repetitions of syllables or sounds.
–verb (used with object)
2.
to say with a stammer (often followed by out ).
–noun
3.
a stammering
4.
a stammered utterance. –verb (used without object) mode of utterance. dabbed-
1.
to pat or tap gently, as with something soft or moist: The child dabbed his eyes with
2.
to apply (a substance) by light strokes: He dabbed the ointment on the rash.
3.
to strike, especially lightly, as with the hand.
4.
Masonry . to dress (stonework) with a pointed tool.
5.
Western U.S. to throw (a rope or line) in an effort to lasso or catch something: Joe dabbed his rope on the steer.
–verb (used without object)
6.
to strike lightly; make a dab; pat: She dabbed at the stain on her dress.
–noun
7.
a quick or light blow; a pat, as with the hand or something soft.
8.
a small moist lump or
9.
a small quantity: a dab of powder. –verb (used with object) the handkerchief. mass: a dab of butter. daft-
1.
senseless, stupid, or foolish.
2.
insane; crazy.
3.
Scot. merry; playful; frolicsome.–adjective, -er, -est. witty-
1.
possessing
2.
characterized by
3.
British Dialect . intelligent; clever. –adjective, -ti·er, -ti·est. wit in speech or writing; amusingly clever in perception and expression: a witty writer. wit: a witty remark.malignant-
1.
disposed to cause harm, suffering, or distress deliberately; feeling or showing ill will or hatred.
2.
very dangerous or harmful in influence or effect.
3.
Pathology .
a.
tending to produce death, as bubonic plague.
b.
(of a tumor) characterized by uncontrolled growth; cancerous, invasive, or metastatic. –adjective scorn-
1.
open or unqualified contempt; disdain: His
2.
an object of derision or contempt.
3.
a derisive or contemptuous action or speech.
–verb (used with object)
4.
to treat or regard with contempt or disdain: They scorned the old beggar.
5.
to reject, refuse, or ignore with contempt or disdain: She scorned my help.
–verb (used without object)
6.
to mock; jeer. —Idiom
7.
laugh to scorn, to ridicule; deride: Her good advice was laughed to scorn. –noun faceand attitude showed the scorn he felt. miscellaneous-
1.
consisting of members or elements of different kinds; of mixed character: a book of miscellaneous essays on American
2.
having various qualities, aspects, or subjects: a miscellaneous discussion. –adjectivehistory. burly-
1.
large in bodily size;
2.
bluff; brusque. –adjective, -li·er, -li·est. stout; sturdy. congestion-
1.
overcrowding; clogging: severe traffic congestion.
2.
an excessive or abnormal accumulation of blood or other fluid in a body part or blood vessel: pulmonary congestion. –noun ford-
1.
a place where a river or other body of
–verb (used with object)
2.
to cross (a river, stream, etc.) at a ford. –noun water is shallow enough to be crossed by wading. lisped-
1.
a speech defect consisting in pronouncing s and z like or nearly like
2.
Phonetics . any unconventional articulation of the sibilants, as the pronunciation of s and z with the tongue between the teeth (lingual protrusion lisp), close to or touching the upper front teeth (dental lisp), or raised so that the breath is emitted laterally (lateral lisp).
3.
the
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
4.
to
5.
to speak imperfectly, especially in a childish manner. –noun the th- sounds of thin and this, respectively. act, habit, or sound of lisping. pronounce or speak with a lisp. minor-
1.
lesser, as in size, extent, or importance, or being or noting
2.
not serious, important, etc.: a minor wound; a minor role.
3.
having low rank, status, position, etc.: a minor official.
4.
under the legal age of full responsibility.
5.
Education . of or pertaining to a field of study constituting a student's minor.
6.
Music .
a.
(of an interval) smaller by a chromatic half step than the corresponding major interval.
b.
(of a chord) having a minor third between the root and the note next above it.
7.
of or pertaining to the minority.
8.
( initial capital letter ) (of two male students in an
–noun
9.
a person under the legal age of full responsibility.
10.
a person of inferior rank or importance in a specified group, class, etc.
11.
Education .
a.
a subject or a course of study pursued by a student, especially a candidate for a degree, subordinately or supplementarily to a major or principal subject or course.
b.
a subject for which less credit than a major is granted in college or, occasionally, in high school.
12.
Music . a minor interval, chord, scale, etc.
13.
Mathematics . the determinant of the matrix formed by crossing out the row and column containing a given element in a matrix.
14.
( initial capital letter )
15.
the minors, Sports . the minor leagues.
–verb (used without object)
16.
to choose or study as a secondary academic subject or course: to major in sociology and minor in
Chapter 9
receding-–verb (used without object), -ced·ed, -ced·ing.
1.
to go or move away; retreat; go to or toward a more distant point; withdraw.
2.
to become more distant.
3.
(of a color, form, etc., on a flat surface) to move away or be perceived as moving away from an observer, especially as giving
4.
to slope backward: a chin that recedes.
5.
to draw back or withdraw from a conclusion, viewpoint, undertaking, promise, etc. –adjective the lesser of two: a minor share. English public school who have the same surname) being the younger or lower in standing: Jackson Minor sits over here. Friar Minor. art history. the illusion of space. Compare advance ( def. 15 ) . apprentice-
1.
a person
2.
History/Historical . a person legally bound through indenture to a master craftsman in order to learn a trade.
3.
a learner; novice; tyro.
4.
U.S. Navy . an enlisted person receiving specialized training.
5.
a jockey with less than one year's experience who has won fewer than 40 races.
–verb (used with object)
6.
to bind to or place with an employer, master craftsman, or
–verb (used without object)
7.
to serve as an apprentice: He apprenticed for 14 years under a master silversmith. –noun who works for another in order to learn a trade: an apprentice to a plumber. thelike, for instruction in a trade. mimic-
1.
to imitate or copy in action, speech, etc., often playfully or derisively.
2.
to imitate in a servile or unthinking way; ape.
3.
to be an imitation of; simulate; resemble closely.
–noun
4.
a person
5.
a copy or imitation of something.
6.
a performer in a
–adjective
7.
imitating or copying something, often on a smaller scale: a mimic battle.
8.
apt at or given to imitating; imitative; simulative. –verb (used with object) who mimics, especially a performer skilled in mimicking others. mime. garret-
an attic, usually a small, wretched one–noun hampered-
1.
to hold back; hinder; impede: A steady rain hampered
2.
to interfere with; curtail: The dancers' movements were hampered by their
–noun
3.
Nautical . gear that, although necessary to the operations of a vessel, is sometimes in the way. –verb (used with object) the progress of the work. elaborate costumes. cue-
1.
anything said or done, on or off stage, that is followed by a specific line or action: An off-stage door slam was his cue to enter.
2.
anything that excites to action; stimulus.
3.
a hint; intimation; guiding suggestion.
4.
the part a person is to play; a prescribed or necessary course of action.
5.
a sensory signal used to identify experiences, facilitate memory, or organize responses.
6.
Archaic . frame of mind; mood.
–verb (used with object)
7.
to provide with a cue or indication; give a cue to; prompt: Will
8.
to insert, or direct to come in, in a specific place in a musical or dramatic performance (usually followed by in or into ): to cue in a lighting effect.
9.
to
10.
cue (someone) in, Informal . to inform; give instructions, information,
11.
miss a cue,
a.
to fail to respond to a cue.
b.
Informal . to miss the point: You could tell by his expression that he had missed a cue.–noun you cue me on my lines? search for and reach (a specific track on a recording) (sometimes followed by up ). —Idioms news, etc., to: Cue him in on the plans for the dance.
Chapter 10
inspired-
1.
aroused, animated, or imbued with
2.
resulting from such
3.
inhaled: inspired air.–adjective the spirit to do something, by or as if by supernatural or divine influence: an inspired poet. inspiration: an inspired poem; an inspired plan.tweaked-
1.
to pinch and pull with a jerk and twist: to tweak someone's ear; to tweak someone's nose.
2.
to pull or pinch
3.
to make a minor adjustment to: to tweak a
–noun
4.
an –verb (used with object) the nose of, especially gently: He tweaked the baby on greeting. computer program. act or instance of tweaking; a sharp, twisting pull or jerk.subsided-
1.
to sink to a low or lower level.
2.
to become quiet, less active, or less violent; abate: The laughter subsided.
3.
to sink or fall to –verb (used without object), -sid·ed, -sid·ing. the bottom; settle; precipitate: to cause coffee grounds to subside. groom-
1.
a bridegroom.
2.
a man or boy in charge of horses or
3.
any of several officers of the
4.
Archaic . a manservant.
–verb (used with object)
5.
to tend carefully as to person and dress; make neat or tidy.
6.
to clean, brush, and otherwise tend (a
7.
to prepare for a position, election, etc.: The mayor is being groomed for the presidency.
8.
(of an animal) to tend (itself or another) by removing dirt, parasites, or specks of other matter from the fur, skin, feathers, etc.: often performed as a social –noun the stable.English royal household. horse, dog, etc.). act. abated-
1.
to reduce in amount, degree, intensity, etc.; lessen; diminish: to abate a tax; to abate one's enthusiasm.
2.
Law .
a.
to put an end to or suppress (a nuisance).
b.
to suspend or extinguish (an action).
c.
to annul (a writ).
3.
to deduct or subtract: to abate part of
4.
to omit: to abate all mention of names.
5.
to remove, as in stone carving, or hammer down, as in metalwork, (a portion of a surface) in order to produce a figure or pattern in low relief.
–verb (used without object)
6.
to diminish in intensity, violence, amount, etc.: The
7.
Law . to end; become null and void. –verb (used with object) the cost. storm has abated. The pain in his shoulder finally abated. misspent-
simple past tense and past participle of
–adjective
2.
spent wrongly or unwisely; wasted: misspent youth. 1. misspend. quaint-
1.
having an old-fashioned attractiveness or charm; oddly picturesque: a quaint old
2.
strange, peculiar, or unusual in an interesting, pleasing, or amusing way: a quaint sense of humor.
3.
skillfully or cleverly made.
4.
Obsolete . wise; skilled. –adjective, -er, -est. house.
Chapter 11
estate-
1.
a piece of landed property, especially one of large extent with an
2.
Law .
a.
property or possessions.
b.
the legal position or status of an owner, considered with respect to property owned in land or other things.
c.
the degree or quantity of interest that a person has in land with respect to the
d.
interest, ownership, or property in land or other things.
e.
the property of a deceased person, a bankrupt, etc., viewed as an aggregate.
3.
British . a housing development.
4.
a period or condition of life: to attain to man's estate.
5.
a major political or social group or class, especially one once having specific political powers, as the clergy, nobles, and commons in France or the lords spiritual, lords temporal, and commons in England.
6.
condition or circumstances with reference to worldly prosperity, estimation, etc.; social status or rank.
7.
Obsolete . pomp or state.
8.
Obsolete . high social status or rank.
–verb (used with object)
9.
Obsolete . to establish in or as in an estate.–noun elaborate house on it: to have an estate in the country. nature of the right, its duration, or its relation to the rights of others. bosoms-
1.
the
2.
the breasts of a woman.
3.
the part of a garment that covers
4.
the breast, conceived of as the center of feelings or emotions.
5.
something likened to the human breast: the bosom of the
6.
a state of enclosing intimacy; warm closeness: the bosom of the
–adjective
7.
of, pertaining to, or worn on or over the bosom.
8.
intimate or confidential: a bosom
–verb (used with object)
9.
to take to the bosom; embrace; cherish.
10.
to hide from view; conceal. –noun breast of a human being. the breast. READ MOREearth. family. READ LESS #mid1{border-top:solid 1px #B5C5DD;border-bottom:solid 1px #B5C5DD;padding-bottom:8px;padding-top:8px;} friend. #mid2{border-top:solid 1px #B5C5DD;border-bottom:solid 1px #B5C5DD;padding-bottom:8px;padding-top:8px;}ecipsed-
1.
Astronomy .
a.
the obscuration of
b.
a similar phenomenon with respect to any other planet and either its satellite or the sun.
c.
the partial or complete interception of the light of one component of a binary star by the other.
2.
any obscuration of light.
3.
a reduction or loss of splendor, status, reputation, etc.: Scandal caused the eclipse of his career. –noun the light of the moon by the intervention of the earth between it and the sun (lunar eclipse) or the obscuration of the light of the sun by the intervention of the moon between it and a point on the earth (solar eclipse). heather-
1.
any of various heaths, especially Calluna vulgaris, of England and Scotland, having small, pinkish-purple
–adjective
2.
(of a yarn or fabric color) subtly flecked or mottled: all-cotton turtlenecks in your choice of five solid colors plus heather gray and heather green. –noun flowers. fortnight-
the –noun space of fourteen nights and days; two weeks.flattered-
1.
to try to please by complimentary remarks or attention.
2.
to praise or
3.
to represent favorably; gratify by falsification: The portrait flatters her.
4.
to
5.
to play upon the vanity or susceptibilities of; cajole, wheedle, or beguile: They flattered him into contributing heavily to the foundation.
6.
to please or gratify by compliments or attentions: I was flattered by their invitation.
7.
to feel satisfaction with (oneself), especially with reference to an accomplishment,
8.
to beguile with hope; encourage prematurely, falsely, etc.
–verb (used without object)
9.
to use –verb (used with object) compliment insincerely, effusively, or excessively: She flatters him by constantly praising his books. show to advantage: a hairstyle that flatters the face. act, or occasion: He flattered himself that the dinner had gone well.flattery. bumpkin-
an awkward, simple rustic; yokel–noun console-
to alleviate or lessen –verb (used with object), -soled, -sol·ing. the grief, sorrow, or disappointment of; give solace or comfort: Only his children could console him when his wife died.ransacked-
1.
to
2.
to search through for plunder; pillage: The enemy ransacked the entire town. –verb (used with object) search thoroughly or vigorously through (a house, receptacle, etc.): They ransacked the house for the missing letter.
Chapter 12
painter-
a rope, usually at –noun the bow, for fastening a boat to a ship, stake, etc. exultation-
the –noun act of exulting; lively or triumphant joy, as over success or victory.precariously-
1.
dependent on circumstances beyond one's control; uncertain; unstable; insecure: a precarious livelihood.
2.
dependent on
3.
exposed to or involving danger; dangerous; perilous; risky: the precarious life of an underseas diver.
4.
having insufficient, little, or no foundation: a precarious –adjective the will or pleasure of another; liable to be withdrawn or lost at the will of another: He held a precarious tenure under an arbitrary administration. assumption. scaffold-
1.
a temporary structure for holding workers and materials during
2.
an elevated platform on which a criminal is executed, usually by hanging.
3.
a raised platform or stage for exhibiting spectacles, seating spectators, etc.
4.
any raised framework.
5.
a suspended platform that is used by painters, window washers, and others for working on a tall structure, as a skyscraper.
6.
Metallurgy . any piling or fusion of materials in a blast furnace, obstructing the flow of gases and preventing the uniform
7.
a system of raised frameworks; scaffolding.
–verb (used with object)
8.
to furnish with a scaffold or scaffolding.
9.
to support by or place on a scaffold. –noun the erection, repair, or decoration of a building. descent of the charge. interposed-
1.
to place between; cause to intervene: to interpose an opaque body between a light and
2.
to put (a barrier, obstacle, etc.) between or in the way of.
3.
to put in (a remark, question, etc.) in the midst of a conversation, discourse, or the like.
4.
to bring (influence, action, etc.) to bear between parties, or on behalf of a party or person.
–verb (used without object)
5.
to come between other things; assume an intervening position or relation.
6.
to step in between parties at variance; mediate.
7.
to put in or make a remark by way of interruptionverb (used with object) the eye.tranquil-
1.
free from commotion or tumult; peaceful; quiet; calm: a tranquil country place.
2.
free from or unaffected by disturbing emotions; unagitated; serene; placid: a tranquil life.–adjective fetch-
1.
to go and bring back; return with; get: to go up a hill to fetch a pail of
2.
to cause to come; bring: to fetch a doctor.
3.
to sell for or bring (a price, financial return, etc.): The
4.
Informal . to charm; captivate: Her
5.
to take (a breath).
6.
to utter (a sigh, groan, etc.).
7.
to deal or deliver (a stroke, blow, etc.).
8.
to perform or execute (a movement, step, leap, etc.).
9.
Chiefly Nautical and British Dialect . to reach; arrive at: to fetch port.
10.
Hunting . (of a dog) to retrieve (game).
–verb (used without object)
11.
to go and bring things.
12.
Chiefly Nautical . to move or maneuver.
13.
Hunting . to retrieve
14.
to go by an indirect route; circle (often followed by around or about ): We fetched around through the outer suburbs.
–noun
15.
the
16.
the distance of fetching: a long fetch.
17.
Oceanography .
a.
an area where
b.
the length of such an area.
18.
the reach or stretch of a thing.
19.
a trick; dodge. –verb (used with object) water. horse fetched $50 more than it cost.beauty fetched the coldest hearts. game (often used as a command to a dog). act of fetching. ocean waves are being generated by the wind. sculled-
1.
an oar mounted on a fulcrum at
2.
either of a pair of oars rowed by one rower.
3.
a boat propelled by an oar or oars.
4.
a light, narrow racing boat for one, two, or sometimes four rowers, each equipped with a pair of oars.
5.
sculls, a race involving such boats. Compare
–verb (used with object)
6.
to propel or convey by means of a scull or sculls.
–verb (used without object)
7.
to propel a boat with a scull or sculls. –noun the stern of a small boat and moved from side to side to propel the boat forward. double sculls, single sculls.
Chapter 13
modesty-
1.
the quality of being
2.
regard for decency of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
3.
simplicity; moderation. –noun, plural -ties. modest; freedom from vanity, boastfulness, etc. embrace-
1.
to take or clasp in
2.
to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly: to embrace an idea.
3.
to avail oneself of: to embrace an opportunity.
4.
to adopt (a profession, a religion, etc.): to embrace
5.
to take in with the eye or the mind.
6.
to encircle; surround; enclose.
7.
to include or contain: An encyclopedia embraces a great number of subjects.
–verb (used without object)
8.
to join in an embrace.
–noun
9.
an –verb (used with object) the arms; press to the bosom; hug. buddhism. act or instance of embracing.farthing-
1.
a former bronze coin of Great Britain, equal to one-fourth of a British penny: withdrawn in 1961.
2.
something of very small value: I don't care a farthing for your opinion–noun crestfallen-
1.
dejected; dispirited; discouraged.
2.
having a drooping –adjective crest or head.manuscript-
1.
the original text of an author's work, handwritten or now usually typed, that is submitted to a publisher.
2.
any text not printed.
3.
a book or document written before
4.
writing, as distinguished from print.
–adjective
5.
handwritten or typed, not professionally printed. –noun the invention of printing.deposition-
1.
removal from an office or position.
2.
the
3.
the state of being deposited or precipitated: deposition of soil at the mouth of a river.–noun act or process of depositing: deposition of the documents with the Library of Congress. damsel-
a young woman or –noun Literary . girl; a maiden, originally one of gentle or noble birth.tumult-
1.
violent and noisy commotion or disturbance of a crowd or mob; uproar: The tumult reached its height during
2.
a general outbreak, riot, uprising, or other disorder: The tumult moved toward the embassy.
3.
highly distressing agitation of mind or feeling; turbulent mental or emotional disturbance: His placid facade failed to conceal the tumult of his mind. –noun thepremier's speech. quill-
1.
one of
2.
the hard, hollow, basal part of a feather.
3.
a feather, as of a goose, formed into a pen for writing.
4.
one of the hollow spines on a porcupine or hedgehog.
5.
a plectrum of a harpsichord.
6.
a roll of bark, as of cinnamon, formed in drying.
7.
a reed or other hollow stem on which yarn is wound.
8.
a bobbin or spool.
9.
a toothpick.
10.
Machinery .
a.
a hollow shaft or sleeve through which another independently rotating shaft may pass.
b.
a shaft, joined to and supported by two other shafts or machines, for transmitting motion from one to the other.
c.
a rotating toolholder used in boring or facing internal angles.
11.
a musical pipe, especially one made from a hollow reed. –noun the large feathers of the wing or tail of a bird. methodically-
1.
performed, disposed, or acting in a systematic way; systematic; orderly: a methodical person.
2.
painstaking, especially slow and careful; deliberate. –adjective starched -
1.
a white, tasteless, solid
2.
a commercial preparation of this substance used to stiffen textile fabrics in laundering.
3.
starches, foods rich in natural starch.
4.
stiffness or formality, as of manner: He is so full of starch he can't relax.
5.
Informal . vigor;
–verb (used with object)
6.
to stiffen or treat with starch.
7.
to make stiff or rigidly formal (sometimes followed by up ). –noun carbohydrate, (C 6 H 1 0 O 5 ) n , occurring in the form of minute granules in the seeds, tubers, and other parts of plants, and forming an important constituent of rice, corn, wheat, beans, potatoes, and many other vegetable foods.energy; stamina; boldness. –verb (used with object) the power of; resist boldly or openly: to defy parental authority. defiance. the peace, having police and minor judicial functions, usually in a small town, rural district, etc. food.game
pike -
1.
a shafted weapon having a pointed head, formerly used by infantry.
–verb (used with object)
2.
to pierce, wound, or kill with or as with a pike. –noun
peat-
1.
a highly organic material found in marshy or damp regions, composed of partially decayed vegetable matter: it is cut and dried for use as fuel.
2.
such vegetable matter used as fertilizer or fuel. –noun
precipice-
1.
a cliff with a vertical, nearly vertical, or overhanging
2.
a situation of great peril: on –noun face. the precipice of war.
beadle-
1.
a parish officer having various subordinate duties, as keeping order during services, waiting on
2. –noun the rector, etc. sexton ( def. 2 ) .
granite-
1.
a coarse-grained igneous rock composed chiefly of orthoclase and albite feldspars and of quartz, usually with lesser amounts of one or more other minerals, as mica, hornblende, or augite.
2.
anything compared to this rock in great hardness, firmness, or durability. –noun
inherited-
1.
to take or receive (property, a right, a title, etc.) by succession or will, as an heir: to inherit
2.
to receive as if by succession from predecessors: the problems the new government inherited from its predecessors.
3.
to receive (a genetic character) by the transmission of hereditary factors.
4.
to succeed (a person) as heir.
5.
to receive as one's portion; come into possession of: to inherit his brother's old clothes.–verb (used with object) the family business.
livery-
1.
a distinctive uniform, badge, or device formerly provided by someone of rank or title for his retainers, as in
2.
a uniform worn by servants.
3.
distinctive attire worn by an official, a member of a company or guild, etc.
4.
Also called livery company. British . a guild or company of
5.
characteristic dress, garb, or outward appearance: the green livery of summer.
6.
the care, feeding, stabling, etc., of horses for pay.
7.
8.
a company that rents out automobiles, boats, etc.
9.
Law . an ancient method of conveying a freehold by formal delivery of possession.–noun, plural -er·ies. time of war. the City of London entitled to wear such livery. livery stable.
strode-
simple past tense of –verb stride.
rampart-
1.
Fortification .
a.
a broad elevation or mound of
b.
such an elevation together with
2.
anything serving as a bulwark or defense.
–verb (used with object)
3.
to furnish with or as if with a rampart.–noun earth raised as a fortification around a place and usually capped with a stone or earth parapet. the parapet.
shied-
simple past tense and past participle of –verb shy.
Chapter 2
envied-
1.
a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc.
2.
an object of
3.
Obsolete . ill will.
–verb (used with object)
4.
to regard with envy; be
–verb (used without object)
5.
Obsolete . to be affected with envy.–noun envious feeling: Her intelligence made her theenvy of her classmates. envious of: He envies her the position she has achieved in her profession.
defied-
1.
to challenge
2.
to offer effective resistance to: a fort that defies attack.
3.
to challenge (a person) to do something deemed impossible: They defied him to dive off the bridge.
4.
Archaic . to challenge to a combat or contest.
–noun
5.
a challenge; a
constable-–noun
1.
an officer of
2.
Chiefly British . a police officer.
3.
an officer of high rank in medieval monarchies, usually the commander of all armed forces, especially in the absence of the ruler.
4.
the keeper or governor of a royal fortress or castle.
flogging-–verb (used with object), flogged, flog·ging.
1.
to beat with a whip, stick, etc., especially as punishment; whip; scourge.
2.
Slang .
a.
to sell, especially aggressively or vigorously.
b.
to promote; publicize.
canter-–noun
1.
an easy gallop.
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
2.
to move or ride at a canter.
mutton-–noun
the flesh of sheep, especially full-grown or more mature sheep, used as
moor-–noun
1.
a tract of open, peaty, wasteland, often overgrown with heath, common in high latitudes and altitudes where drainage is poor; heath.
2.
a tract of land preserved for
Chapter 3
cluster-–noun
1.
a number of things of
2.
a group of things or persons close together: There was a cluster of tourists at the gate.
3.
U.S. Army . a small metal design placed on a ribbon representing an awarded medal to indicate that the same medal has been awarded again: oak-leaf cluster.
4.
Phonetics . a succession of two or more
5.
Astronomy . a group of neighboring stars, held together by mutual gravitation, that have essentially the same age and composition and thus supposedly a common origin. Compare
–verb (used with object)
6.
to gather into a cluster or clusters.
7.
to furnish or cover with clusters.
–verb (used without object)
8.
to form a cluster or clusters: The
tarn-–noun
a small mountain lake or pool, especially one in a cirque.
litter-–noun
1.
objects strewn or scattered about; scattered rubbish.
2.
a condition of disorder or untidiness: We were appalled at
3.
a number of young brought forth by a multiparous animal at one birth: a litter of
4.
a framework of cloth stretched between two parallel bars, for the transportation of a sick or wounded person; stretcher.
5.
a vehicle carried by
6.
straw, hay, or the like, used as bedding for animals or as protection for plants.
7.
the layer of slightly decomposed organic material on the surface of the floor of the forest.
8.
–verb (used with object)
9.
to strew (a place) with scattered objects, rubbish, etc.: to be fined for littering the sidewalk.
10.
to scatter (objects) in disorder: They littered their toys from one end of the playroom to the other.
11.
to be strewn about (a place) in disorder (often followed by up ): Bits of paper littered the floor.
12.
to give birth to (young), as a multiparous animal.
13.
to supply (an animal) with litter for a bed.
14.
to use (straw, hay, etc.) for litter.
15.
to cover (a floor or other area) with straw, hay, etc., for litter.
–verb (used without object)
16.
to give birth to a litter: The
17.
to strew objects about: If
18.
pick of the litter,
a.
the best or choicest of the animals, especially puppies, in a litter.
b.
the best of any class, group, or available selection.
squires-–noun
1.
(in England) a country gentleman, especially
2.
(in the Middle Ages) a young man of noble birth
3.
a personal attendant, as of a person of rank.
4.
a man who accompanies or escorts a woman.
5.
a title applied to a justice of the peace, local judge, or other local dignitary of a rural district or small town.
–verb (used with object)
6.
to attend as, or in the manner of, a squire.
7.
to escort (a woman), as to a dance or social gathering.
crag-–noun
a steep, rugged rock; rough, broken, projecting part of a rock.
swarthy-–adjective, swarth·i·er, swarth·i·est.
(of skin color, complexion, etc.) dark.
remedies-–noun
1.
something that cures or relieves a disease or bodily disorder; a healing medicine, application, or treatment.
2.
something that corrects or removes an evil of any kind.
3.
Law . legal redress;
4.
Coining . a certain allowance at the mint for deviation from the standard weight and fineness of coins;
–verb (used with object)
5.
to cure, relieve, or heal.
6.
to restore to the natural or proper condition; put right: to remedy a matter.
7.
to counteract or remove: to remedy an evil.
dubiously-–adjective
1.
doubtful; marked by or occasioning doubt: a dubious reply.
2.
of doubtful quality or propriety; questionable: a dubious
3.
of uncertain outcome: in dubious battle.
4.
wavering or hesitating in opinion; inclined to doubt.the same kind, growing or held together; a bunch: a cluster of grapes. contiguous consonants in an utterance, as the str- cluster of strap. globular cluster, open cluster, stellar association. people clustered around to watch. the litter of the room. six kittens. people or animals, consisting of a bed or couch, often covered and curtained, suspended between shafts. cat litter. cathad littered in the closet. you litter, you may be fined. —Idiom the chief landed proprietor in a district. who as an aspirant to knighthood served a knight. the legal means of enforcing a right or redressing a wrong. tolerance. compliment; a dubious transaction.
skewer-
1.
a long pin of wood or metal for inserting through meat or other
2.
any similar pin for fastening or holding an item in place.
–verb (used with object)
3.
to fasten with or as if with a skewer.–noun food to hold or bind it in cooking. insolent-
1.
boldly rude or disrespectful; contemptuously impertinent; insulting: an insolent reply.
–noun
2.
an insolent person.–adjective
magistrate-
1.
a civil officer charged with
2.
a minor judicial officer, as a justice of the peace or the judge of a police court, having jurisdiction to try minor criminal cases and to conduct preliminary examinations of persons charged with serious crimes. –noun the administration of the law.
despair-
1.
loss of hope; hopelessness.
2.
someone or something that causes hopelessness: He is
–verb (used without object)
3.
to
–verb (used with object)
4.
Obsolete . to give up hope of–noun the despair of his mother. lose, give up, or be without hope (often followed by of ): to despair of humanity. Chapter 4
discontent-
1.
not
–noun
2.
Also, dis·con·tent·ment. lack of
3.
a restless desire or craving for something one does not have.
4.
a malcontent.
–verb (used with object)
5.
to make –adjective content; dissatisfied; discontented. content; dissatisfaction.discontented; dissatisfy; displease.
trodden-
a past participle of –verb tread.
pall-
1.
a cloth, often of velvet, for spreading over a coffin, bier, or tomb.
2.
a coffin.
3.
anything that covers, shrouds, or overspreads, especially with darkness or gloom.
4.
Ecclesiastical .
a.
b.
a linen cloth or a square cloth-covered piece of cardboard used to cover a chalice.
5.
Heraldry .
6.
Archaic . a cloth spread upon an altar; corporal.
7.
Archaic . a garment, especially a robe, cloak, or
–verb (used with object)
8.
to cover with or as with a pall.noun pallium ( def. 2b ) . pairle. the like.
charity-
1.
generous actions or donations to aid
2.
something given to a person or persons in need; alms: She asked for work, not charity.
3.
a charitable
4.
a charitable fund, foundation, or institution: He left his estate to a charity.
5.
benevolent feeling, especially toward those in need or in disfavor: She looked so poor that we fed her out of charity.
6.
leniency in judging others;
7.
Christian –noun, plural -ties. the poor, ill, or helpless: to devote one's life to charity. actor work. forbearance: She was inclined to view our selfish behavior with charity. love; agape.
doublets-
1.
a close-fitting outer garment, with or without sleeves and sometimes having a short skirt, worn by men in
2.
an undergarment, quilted and reinforced with
3.
a pair of like things; couple.
4.
one of a pair of like things; duplicate.
5.
Linguistics . one of two or more words in a language that are derived from the same source, especially when one is learned while the other is popular, as coy and quiet, both taken from the same
6.
Printing . an unintentional repetition in printed matter or proof.
7.
doublets, a throw of a pair of dice in which the same number of spots turns up on each die.
8.
Jewelry . a counterfeit gem made of two pieces, either of smaller gemstones, inferior stones, or glass. Compare
9.
Optics . a compound lens made of two thin lenses shaped so as to reduce chromatic and spherical aberrations. –noun the renaissance. mail, worn beneath armor. Latinword, quiet directly, and coy by way of Old french. imitation doublet, triplet ( def. 6 ) .
mourners-
1.
a person
2.
a person who attends a funeral to
3.
(at religious revival meetings) a person who professes penitence for sin, with desire for salvation. –noun who mourns. mourn for the deceased.
poverty-
1.
the state or condition of having little or no
2.
deficiency of necessary or desirable ingredients, qualities, etc.: poverty of
3.
scantiness; insufficiency: Their efforts to stamp out disease were hampered by a poverty of –noun money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor; indigence. the soil. Medical supplies.
chevied-
1.
to
2.
to harass; nag; torment.
–verb (used without object)
3.
to race; scamper.
–noun
4.
a hunting cry.
5.
a hunt, chase, or pursuit.
6.
the –verb (used with object) chase; run after. game of prisoner's base.
Chapter 5
suffocated-
1.
to kill by preventing
2.
to impede the respiration of.
3.
to discomfort by a lack of fresh or cool air.
4.
to overcome or extinguish; suppress.
–verb (used without object)
5.
to become suffocated; stifle; smother.
6.
to be uncomfortable due to a lack of fresh or cool air. –verb (used with object) theaccess of air to the blood through the lungs or analogous organs, as gills; strangle.
troupe-
1.
a company, band, or group of singers, actors, or other performers, especially one that travels about.–noun
thimbleful-
1.
the amount that a
2.
a small quantity, especially of liquid. –noun, plural -fuls. thimble will hold. stammer-
1.
to speak with involuntary breaks and pauses, or with spasmodic repetitions of syllables or sounds.
–verb (used with object)
2.
to say with a stammer (often followed by out ).
–noun
3.
a stammering
4.
a stammered utterance. –verb (used without object) mode of utterance. interjected-
1.
to insert between other things: to interject a clarification of a previous statement.
2.
Obsolete . to come between. –verb (used with object) tethered-
1.
a rope, chain, or
2.
the utmost length to which one can go in action; the utmost extent or limit of ability or resources.
–verb (used with object)
3.
to fasten or confine with or as if with a tether. —Idiom
4.
at the end of one's tether, at the end of one's resources, –noun the like, by which an animal is fastened to a fixed object so as to limit its range of movement. patience, or strengthbracken-
1.
a large
2.
a cluster or thicket of such ferns; an area overgrown with ferns and shrubs.–noun fern or brake, especially Pteridium aquilinum. vagabond-
1.
wandering from place to place without any settled
2.
leading an unsettled or carefree life.
3.
disreputable; worthless; shiftless.
4.
of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a vagabond: vagabond habits.
5.
having an uncertain or irregular course or direction: a vagabond voyage.
–noun
6.
a person, usually without a permanent home,
7.
an idle wanderer without a permanent home or visible means of support; tramp; vagrant.
8.
a carefree, worthless, or irresponsible person; rogue.–adjective home; nomadic: a vagabond tribe. who wanders from place to place; nomad. motto-
1.
a
2.
a sentence, phrase, or word expressing the spirit or purpose of a person, organization, city, etc., and often inscribed on a badge, banner, etc. –noun, plural -toes, -tos. maximadopted as an expression of the guiding principle of a person, organization, city, etc.emphatically-
1.
uttered, or to be uttered, with
2.
using
3.
forceful; insistent: a big, emphatic man; I must be emphatic about this particular.
4.
very impressive or significant; strongly marked; striking: the emphatic
5.
clearly or boldly outlined: It stands, like a great, stone dagger, emphatic against
6.
Grammar . of or pertaining to a form used to add
7.
Phonetics . having a secondary velar articulation, as certain dental consonants in
–noun
8.
an emphatic consonant.
Chapter 6
gizzard-–noun Zoology .
1.
Also called
2.
Also called
3.
the innards or viscera collectively, especially the intestine and stomach.–adjectiveemphasis; strongly expressive. emphasis in speech or action. beauty of sunset. thesky. emphasis, especially, in English, stressed auxiliary do in affirmative statements, as in He did call you or I do like it. arabic. ventriculus. a thick-walled, muscular pouch inthe lower stomach of many birds and reptiles that grinds food, often with the aid of ingested stones or grit. gastric mill. a similar structure in the foregut of arthropods and several other invertebrates, often lined with chitin and small teeth. dagger-
1.
a short, swordlike weapon with a pointed blade and a handle, used for stabbing.
2.
Also called
–verb (used with object)
3.
to stab with or as if with a dagger.
4.
Printing . to mark with a dagger. —Idiom
5.
look daggers at, to look at angrily, threateningly, or with hate. –noun obelisk. Printing . a mark (†) used especially for references. retorted-
1.
to reply to, usually in a sharp or retaliatory way; reply in kind to.
2.
to return (an accusation, epithet, etc.) upon
3.
to answer (an argument or the like) by another to the contrary.
–noun
4.
a severe, incisive, or witty reply, especially one that counters a first speaker's statement, argument, etc.
5.
the –verb (used with object) the person uttering it. act of retortingvacancies-
1.
the state of being
2.
a
3.
a
4.
an unoccupied position or office: a vacancy on
5.
lack of thought or intelligence; vacuity: a look of utter vacancy.
6.
Crystallography . (in a crystal) an imperfection resulting from an unoccupied lattice position. Compare
7.
Archaic . absence of activity; idleness. –noun, plural -cies. vacant; emptiness. vacant, empty, or unoccupied place, as untenanted lodgings or offices: This building still has no vacancies. gap; opening; breach. the Supreme Court. interstitial ( def. 3 ) . mocking-
1.
to attack or treat with ridicule,
2.
to ridicule by mimicry of action or speech; mimic derisively.
3.
to mimic, imitate, or counterfeit.
4.
to challenge; defy: His actions mock convention.
5.
to deceive, delude, or disappoint.
–verb (used without object)
6.
to use ridicule or derision; scoff; jeer (often followed by at ).
–noun
7.
a contemptuous or derisive imitative action or speech; mockery or derision.
8.
something mocked or derided; an object of derision.
9.
an imitation; counterfeit; fake.
10.
Shipbuilding .
a.
a hard pattern representing
b.
–adjective
11.
feigned; not real;
12.
mock up, to build a mock-up of. –verb (used with object) contempt, or derision. thesurface of a plate with a warped form, upon which the plate is beaten to shape after furnacing. bed ( def. 23 ) . sham: a mock battle. —Verb phrase sluicing-
1.
an artificial channel for conducting
2.
the body of water held back or controlled by a sluice gate.
3.
any contrivance for regulating a flow from or into a receptacle.
4.
a channel, especially one carrying off surplus water; drain.
5.
a stream of surplus water.
6.
an artificial stream or channel of water for moving solid matter: a lumbering sluice.
7.
Also called sluice box . Mining . a long, sloping trough or the like, with grooves on the bottom, into which water is directed to separate
–verb (used with object)
8.
to let out (water) by or as if by opening a sluice.
9.
to drain (a pond, lake, etc.) by or as if by opening a sluice.
10.
to open a sluice upon.
11.
to flush or cleanse with a rush of water: to sluice the decks of a boat.
12.
Mining . to wash in a sluice.
13.
to send (logs) down a
–verb (used without object)
14.
to flow or pour through or as if through a sluice. –noun water, often fitted with a gate (sluice gate) at the upper end for regulating the flow. gold from gravel or sand.sluiceway. curtsy-
1.
a respectful bow made by
–verb (used without object)
2.
to make a curtsy. –noun women and girls, consisting of bending the knees and lowering the body. contradict-
1.
to assert
2.
to speak contrary to the assertions of: to contradict oneself.
3.
(of an action or event) to imply a denial of: His way of life contradicts his stated principles.
4.
Obsolete . to speak or declare against; oppose.
–verb (used without object)
5.
to utter a contrary statement. –verb (used with object) the contrary or opposite of; deny directly and categorically. farthing-
1.
a former bronze coin of Great Britain, equal to one-fourth of a British penny: withdrawn in 1961.
2.
something of very small value: I don't care a farthing for your opinion. –noun meddle-
to involve oneself in a matter without right or invitation; interfere officiously and unwantedly: Stop meddling in my personal life! –verb (used without object), -dled, -dling.inquisitive-
1.
given to
2.
unduly or inappropriately curious; prying.
–noun
3.
an inquisitive person: thick curtains to frustrate inquisitives.–adjective inquiry, research, or asking questions; eager for knowledge; intellectually curious: an inquisitive mind.
Chapter 7
prejudiced-
1.
an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.
2.
any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable.
3.
unreasonable feelings, opinions, or attitudes, especially of a hostile
4.
such attitudes considered collectively: The war against prejudice is never-ending.
5.
damage or injury; detriment: a law that operated to
–verb (used with object)
6.
to affect with a prejudice, either favorable or unfavorable: His honesty and sincerity prejudiced us in his favor. —Idiom
7.
without prejudice, Law . without dismissing, damaging, or otherwise affecting a legal interest or demand. –noun nature, regarding a racial, religious, or national group. theprejudice of the majority. denounce-
1.
to condemn or censure openly or publicly: to denounce a politician as morally corrupt.
2.
to make a formal accusation against, as to
3.
to give formal notice of the termination or denial of (a treaty, pact, agreement, or the like).
4.
Archaic . to announce or proclaim, especially as something evil or calamitous.
5.
Obsolete . to portend. verb (used with object), -nounced, -nounc·ing. the police or in a court. aloof-
1.
at a distance, especially in feeling or interest; apart: They always stood aloof from their classmates.
–adjective
2.
reserved or reticent; indifferent; disinterested: Because of his shyness, he had –adverbthe reputation of being aloof. anxieties
1.
distress or uneasiness of mind caused by
2.
earnest but tense desire; eagerness: He had a keen anxiety to succeed in his work.
3.
Psychiatry . a state of apprehension and psychic tension occurring in some forms of mental disorder. –noun, plural -ties. fear of danger or misfortune: He felt anxiety aboutthe possible loss of his job. barbarous-
1.
uncivilized; wild; savage; crude.
2.
savagely cruel or harsh: The prisoners of war were given barbarous treatment.
3.
full of harsh sounds; noisy; discordant: an evening of wild and barbarous
4.
not conforming to classical standards or accepted usage, as language.
5.
foreign; alien.
6.
(among ancient Greeks) designating a person or thing of non-Greek origin. –adjectivemusic. plague-
1.
an epidemic disease that causes high mortality; pestilence.
2.
an infectious, epidemic disease caused by a bacterium, Yersinia pestis, characterized by fever, chills, and prostration, transmitted to humans from rats by means of
3.
any widespread affliction, calamity, or evil, especially one regarded as a direct punishment by
4.
any cause of trouble, annoyance, or vexation: Uninvited guests are a plague.
–verb (used with object)
5.
to trouble, annoy, or torment in any manner: The question of his future plagues him with doubt.
6.
to annoy, bother, or pester: Ants plagued the picnickers.
7.
to smite with a plague, pestilence, death, etc.; scourge: those whom the gods had plagued.
8.
to infect with a plague; cause an epidemic in or among: diseases that still plague the natives of Ethiopia.
9.
to afflict with any evil: He was plagued by allergies all his life. –noun the bites of fleas. Compare bubonic plague, pneumonic plague, septicemic plague. god: a plague of war and desolation. gist-
1.
the main or essential part of a matter: What was
2.
the ground of a legal action. –noun the gist of his speech? doleful-
sorrowful; mournful; –adjective melancholy: a doleful look on her face.destitute-
1.
without means of subsistence; lacking
2.
deprived of, devoid of, or lacking (often followed by of ): destitute of children.
–verb (used with object)
3.
to leave destitute. –adjective food, clothing, and shelter. parapet-
1.
Fortification .
a.
a defensive wall or elevation, as of
b.
an elevation raised above
2.
any low protective wall or barrier at the edge of a balcony, roof, bridge, or the like. –noun earth or stone, in a fortification. the main wall or rampart of a permanent fortification. pillion-
1.
a pad or cushion attached behind a saddle, especially as a seat for a woman.
2.
a pad, cushion, saddle, or
3.
a passenger's saddle or seat behind the driver's seat on a motorcycle. –noun the like, used as a passenger seat on a bicycle, motor scooter, etc. pauper-
1.
a person without any means of support, especially a destitute person
2.
a very poor person.–noun who depends on aid from public welfare funds or charity.cobbles-
1.
to mend (shoes, boots, etc.); patch.
2.
to put together roughly or clumsily. –verb (used with object) -bled, -bling. foul-
1.
grossly offensive to
2.
containing or characterized by offensive or noisome matter: foul air; foul stagnant
3.
filthy or dirty, as places, receptacles, clothes, etc.
4.
muddy, as a road.
5.
clogged or obstructed with foreign matter: a foul gas jet.
6.
unfavorable or stormy: foul
7.
contrary, violent, or unfavorable, as the wind.
8.
grossly offensive in a moral sense.
9.
abominable, wicked, or vile, as deeds, crime,
10.
scurrilous, profane, or obscene; offensive: foul language.
11.
contrary to the rules or established usages, as of a
12.
Baseball . pertaining to a foul ball or a foul line.
13.
limited in
14.
abounding in errors or in marks of correction, as a printer's proof, manuscript, or the like.
15.
Nautical .
a.
(of the underwater portion of a hull) encrusted and impeded with barnacles, seaweed, etc.
b.
(of a mooring place) involving inconveniences and dangers, as of colliding with vessels or other objects when swinging with the tide.
c.
(of the bottom of a body of water) affording a poor hold for an anchor ( opposed to
16.
North England and Scot. . not fair; ugly or unattractive.
17.
Obsolete . disfigured.
–adverb
18.
in a foul manner; vilely; unfairly.
19.
Baseball . into foul territory; so as to be foul: It looked like a homer when he hit it, but it went foul.
–noun
20.
something that is foul.
21.
a collision or entanglement: a foul between two racing sculls.
22.
a violation of the rules of a sport or game: The referee called it a foul.
23.
Baseball .
–verb (used with object)
24.
to make foul; defile; soil.
25.
to clog or obstruct, as a chimney or the bore of a gun.
26.
to collide with.
27.
to cause to become entangled or caught, as a rope.
28.
to defile; dishonor; disgrace: His reputation had been fouled by unfounded accusations.
29.
Nautical . (of barnacles, seaweed, etc.) to cling to (a hull) so as to encumber.
30.
Baseball . to hit (a pitched ball) foul (often followed by off or away ): He fouled off two curves before being struck out on a fastball. –adjective the senses; disgustingly loathsome; noisome: a foul smell. water. weather. slander, etc. sport or game; unfair: a foul blow. freedom of movement by obstruction, entanglement, etc.: a foul anchor.clean). foul ball.
Chapter 8
mercy-
1.
compassionate or kindly
2.
the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing: an adversary wholly without mercy.
3.
the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, especially to send to prison rather than invoke the
4.
an
5.
something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing: It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened. —Idiom
6.
at the mercy of, entirely in the power of; subject to: They were at the mercy of their captors. Also, at one's mercy–noun, plural -cies for 4, 5. forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner. death penalty. act of kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors. stammered-
1.
to speak with involuntary breaks and pauses, or with spasmodic repetitions of syllables or sounds.
–verb (used with object)
2.
to say with a stammer (often followed by out ).
–noun
3.
a stammering
4.
a stammered utterance. –verb (used without object) mode of utterance. dabbed-
1.
to pat or tap gently, as with something soft or moist: The child dabbed his eyes with
2.
to apply (a substance) by light strokes: He dabbed the ointment on the rash.
3.
to strike, especially lightly, as with the hand.
4.
Masonry . to dress (stonework) with a pointed tool.
5.
Western U.S. to throw (a rope or line) in an effort to lasso or catch something: Joe dabbed his rope on the steer.
–verb (used without object)
6.
to strike lightly; make a dab; pat: She dabbed at the stain on her dress.
–noun
7.
a quick or light blow; a pat, as with the hand or something soft.
8.
a small moist lump or
9.
a small quantity: a dab of powder. –verb (used with object) the handkerchief. mass: a dab of butter. daft-
1.
senseless, stupid, or foolish.
2.
insane; crazy.
3.
Scot. merry; playful; frolicsome.–adjective, -er, -est. witty-
1.
possessing
2.
characterized by
3.
British Dialect . intelligent; clever. –adjective, -ti·er, -ti·est. wit in speech or writing; amusingly clever in perception and expression: a witty writer. wit: a witty remark.malignant-
1.
disposed to cause harm, suffering, or distress deliberately; feeling or showing ill will or hatred.
2.
very dangerous or harmful in influence or effect.
3.
Pathology .
a.
tending to produce death, as bubonic plague.
b.
(of a tumor) characterized by uncontrolled growth; cancerous, invasive, or metastatic. –adjective scorn-
1.
open or unqualified contempt; disdain: His
2.
an object of derision or contempt.
3.
a derisive or contemptuous action or speech.
–verb (used with object)
4.
to treat or regard with contempt or disdain: They scorned the old beggar.
5.
to reject, refuse, or ignore with contempt or disdain: She scorned my help.
–verb (used without object)
6.
to mock; jeer. —Idiom
7.
laugh to scorn, to ridicule; deride: Her good advice was laughed to scorn. –noun faceand attitude showed the scorn he felt. miscellaneous-
1.
consisting of members or elements of different kinds; of mixed character: a book of miscellaneous essays on American
2.
having various qualities, aspects, or subjects: a miscellaneous discussion. –adjectivehistory. burly-
1.
large in bodily size;
2.
bluff; brusque. –adjective, -li·er, -li·est. stout; sturdy. congestion-
1.
overcrowding; clogging: severe traffic congestion.
2.
an excessive or abnormal accumulation of blood or other fluid in a body part or blood vessel: pulmonary congestion. –noun ford-
1.
a place where a river or other body of
–verb (used with object)
2.
to cross (a river, stream, etc.) at a ford. –noun water is shallow enough to be crossed by wading. lisped-
1.
a speech defect consisting in pronouncing s and z like or nearly like
2.
Phonetics . any unconventional articulation of the sibilants, as the pronunciation of s and z with the tongue between the teeth (lingual protrusion lisp), close to or touching the upper front teeth (dental lisp), or raised so that the breath is emitted laterally (lateral lisp).
3.
the
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
4.
to
5.
to speak imperfectly, especially in a childish manner. –noun the th- sounds of thin and this, respectively. act, habit, or sound of lisping. pronounce or speak with a lisp. minor-
1.
lesser, as in size, extent, or importance, or being or noting
2.
not serious, important, etc.: a minor wound; a minor role.
3.
having low rank, status, position, etc.: a minor official.
4.
under the legal age of full responsibility.
5.
Education . of or pertaining to a field of study constituting a student's minor.
6.
Music .
a.
(of an interval) smaller by a chromatic half step than the corresponding major interval.
b.
(of a chord) having a minor third between the root and the note next above it.
7.
of or pertaining to the minority.
8.
( initial capital letter ) (of two male students in an
–noun
9.
a person under the legal age of full responsibility.
10.
a person of inferior rank or importance in a specified group, class, etc.
11.
Education .
a.
a subject or a course of study pursued by a student, especially a candidate for a degree, subordinately or supplementarily to a major or principal subject or course.
b.
a subject for which less credit than a major is granted in college or, occasionally, in high school.
12.
Music . a minor interval, chord, scale, etc.
13.
Mathematics . the determinant of the matrix formed by crossing out the row and column containing a given element in a matrix.
14.
( initial capital letter )
15.
the minors, Sports . the minor leagues.
–verb (used without object)
16.
to choose or study as a secondary academic subject or course: to major in sociology and minor in
Chapter 9
receding-–verb (used without object), -ced·ed, -ced·ing.
1.
to go or move away; retreat; go to or toward a more distant point; withdraw.
2.
to become more distant.
3.
(of a color, form, etc., on a flat surface) to move away or be perceived as moving away from an observer, especially as giving
4.
to slope backward: a chin that recedes.
5.
to draw back or withdraw from a conclusion, viewpoint, undertaking, promise, etc. –adjective the lesser of two: a minor share. English public school who have the same surname) being the younger or lower in standing: Jackson Minor sits over here. Friar Minor. art history. the illusion of space. Compare advance ( def. 15 ) . apprentice-
1.
a person
2.
History/Historical . a person legally bound through indenture to a master craftsman in order to learn a trade.
3.
a learner; novice; tyro.
4.
U.S. Navy . an enlisted person receiving specialized training.
5.
a jockey with less than one year's experience who has won fewer than 40 races.
–verb (used with object)
6.
to bind to or place with an employer, master craftsman, or
–verb (used without object)
7.
to serve as an apprentice: He apprenticed for 14 years under a master silversmith. –noun who works for another in order to learn a trade: an apprentice to a plumber. thelike, for instruction in a trade. mimic-
1.
to imitate or copy in action, speech, etc., often playfully or derisively.
2.
to imitate in a servile or unthinking way; ape.
3.
to be an imitation of; simulate; resemble closely.
–noun
4.
a person
5.
a copy or imitation of something.
6.
a performer in a
–adjective
7.
imitating or copying something, often on a smaller scale: a mimic battle.
8.
apt at or given to imitating; imitative; simulative. –verb (used with object) who mimics, especially a performer skilled in mimicking others. mime. garret-
an attic, usually a small, wretched one–noun hampered-
1.
to hold back; hinder; impede: A steady rain hampered
2.
to interfere with; curtail: The dancers' movements were hampered by their
–noun
3.
Nautical . gear that, although necessary to the operations of a vessel, is sometimes in the way. –verb (used with object) the progress of the work. elaborate costumes. cue-
1.
anything said or done, on or off stage, that is followed by a specific line or action: An off-stage door slam was his cue to enter.
2.
anything that excites to action; stimulus.
3.
a hint; intimation; guiding suggestion.
4.
the part a person is to play; a prescribed or necessary course of action.
5.
a sensory signal used to identify experiences, facilitate memory, or organize responses.
6.
Archaic . frame of mind; mood.
–verb (used with object)
7.
to provide with a cue or indication; give a cue to; prompt: Will
8.
to insert, or direct to come in, in a specific place in a musical or dramatic performance (usually followed by in or into ): to cue in a lighting effect.
9.
to
10.
cue (someone) in, Informal . to inform; give instructions, information,
11.
miss a cue,
a.
to fail to respond to a cue.
b.
Informal . to miss the point: You could tell by his expression that he had missed a cue.–noun you cue me on my lines? search for and reach (a specific track on a recording) (sometimes followed by up ). —Idioms news, etc., to: Cue him in on the plans for the dance.
Chapter 10
inspired-
1.
aroused, animated, or imbued with
2.
resulting from such
3.
inhaled: inspired air.–adjective the spirit to do something, by or as if by supernatural or divine influence: an inspired poet. inspiration: an inspired poem; an inspired plan.tweaked-
1.
to pinch and pull with a jerk and twist: to tweak someone's ear; to tweak someone's nose.
2.
to pull or pinch
3.
to make a minor adjustment to: to tweak a
–noun
4.
an –verb (used with object) the nose of, especially gently: He tweaked the baby on greeting. computer program. act or instance of tweaking; a sharp, twisting pull or jerk.subsided-
1.
to sink to a low or lower level.
2.
to become quiet, less active, or less violent; abate: The laughter subsided.
3.
to sink or fall to –verb (used without object), -sid·ed, -sid·ing. the bottom; settle; precipitate: to cause coffee grounds to subside. groom-
1.
a bridegroom.
2.
a man or boy in charge of horses or
3.
any of several officers of the
4.
Archaic . a manservant.
–verb (used with object)
5.
to tend carefully as to person and dress; make neat or tidy.
6.
to clean, brush, and otherwise tend (a
7.
to prepare for a position, election, etc.: The mayor is being groomed for the presidency.
8.
(of an animal) to tend (itself or another) by removing dirt, parasites, or specks of other matter from the fur, skin, feathers, etc.: often performed as a social –noun the stable.English royal household. horse, dog, etc.). act. abated-
1.
to reduce in amount, degree, intensity, etc.; lessen; diminish: to abate a tax; to abate one's enthusiasm.
2.
Law .
a.
to put an end to or suppress (a nuisance).
b.
to suspend or extinguish (an action).
c.
to annul (a writ).
3.
to deduct or subtract: to abate part of
4.
to omit: to abate all mention of names.
5.
to remove, as in stone carving, or hammer down, as in metalwork, (a portion of a surface) in order to produce a figure or pattern in low relief.
–verb (used without object)
6.
to diminish in intensity, violence, amount, etc.: The
7.
Law . to end; become null and void. –verb (used with object) the cost. storm has abated. The pain in his shoulder finally abated. misspent-
simple past tense and past participle of
–adjective
2.
spent wrongly or unwisely; wasted: misspent youth. 1. misspend. quaint-
1.
having an old-fashioned attractiveness or charm; oddly picturesque: a quaint old
2.
strange, peculiar, or unusual in an interesting, pleasing, or amusing way: a quaint sense of humor.
3.
skillfully or cleverly made.
4.
Obsolete . wise; skilled. –adjective, -er, -est. house.
Chapter 11
estate-
1.
a piece of landed property, especially one of large extent with an
2.
Law .
a.
property or possessions.
b.
the legal position or status of an owner, considered with respect to property owned in land or other things.
c.
the degree or quantity of interest that a person has in land with respect to the
d.
interest, ownership, or property in land or other things.
e.
the property of a deceased person, a bankrupt, etc., viewed as an aggregate.
3.
British . a housing development.
4.
a period or condition of life: to attain to man's estate.
5.
a major political or social group or class, especially one once having specific political powers, as the clergy, nobles, and commons in France or the lords spiritual, lords temporal, and commons in England.
6.
condition or circumstances with reference to worldly prosperity, estimation, etc.; social status or rank.
7.
Obsolete . pomp or state.
8.
Obsolete . high social status or rank.
–verb (used with object)
9.
Obsolete . to establish in or as in an estate.–noun elaborate house on it: to have an estate in the country. nature of the right, its duration, or its relation to the rights of others. bosoms-
1.
the
2.
the breasts of a woman.
3.
the part of a garment that covers
4.
the breast, conceived of as the center of feelings or emotions.
5.
something likened to the human breast: the bosom of the
6.
a state of enclosing intimacy; warm closeness: the bosom of the
–adjective
7.
of, pertaining to, or worn on or over the bosom.
8.
intimate or confidential: a bosom
–verb (used with object)
9.
to take to the bosom; embrace; cherish.
10.
to hide from view; conceal. –noun breast of a human being. the breast. READ MOREearth. family. READ LESS #mid1{border-top:solid 1px #B5C5DD;border-bottom:solid 1px #B5C5DD;padding-bottom:8px;padding-top:8px;} friend. #mid2{border-top:solid 1px #B5C5DD;border-bottom:solid 1px #B5C5DD;padding-bottom:8px;padding-top:8px;}ecipsed-
1.
Astronomy .
a.
the obscuration of
b.
a similar phenomenon with respect to any other planet and either its satellite or the sun.
c.
the partial or complete interception of the light of one component of a binary star by the other.
2.
any obscuration of light.
3.
a reduction or loss of splendor, status, reputation, etc.: Scandal caused the eclipse of his career. –noun the light of the moon by the intervention of the earth between it and the sun (lunar eclipse) or the obscuration of the light of the sun by the intervention of the moon between it and a point on the earth (solar eclipse). heather-
1.
any of various heaths, especially Calluna vulgaris, of England and Scotland, having small, pinkish-purple
–adjective
2.
(of a yarn or fabric color) subtly flecked or mottled: all-cotton turtlenecks in your choice of five solid colors plus heather gray and heather green. –noun flowers. fortnight-
the –noun space of fourteen nights and days; two weeks.flattered-
1.
to try to please by complimentary remarks or attention.
2.
to praise or
3.
to represent favorably; gratify by falsification: The portrait flatters her.
4.
to
5.
to play upon the vanity or susceptibilities of; cajole, wheedle, or beguile: They flattered him into contributing heavily to the foundation.
6.
to please or gratify by compliments or attentions: I was flattered by their invitation.
7.
to feel satisfaction with (oneself), especially with reference to an accomplishment,
8.
to beguile with hope; encourage prematurely, falsely, etc.
–verb (used without object)
9.
to use –verb (used with object) compliment insincerely, effusively, or excessively: She flatters him by constantly praising his books. show to advantage: a hairstyle that flatters the face. act, or occasion: He flattered himself that the dinner had gone well.flattery. bumpkin-
an awkward, simple rustic; yokel–noun console-
to alleviate or lessen –verb (used with object), -soled, -sol·ing. the grief, sorrow, or disappointment of; give solace or comfort: Only his children could console him when his wife died.ransacked-
1.
to
2.
to search through for plunder; pillage: The enemy ransacked the entire town. –verb (used with object) search thoroughly or vigorously through (a house, receptacle, etc.): They ransacked the house for the missing letter.
Chapter 12
painter-
a rope, usually at –noun the bow, for fastening a boat to a ship, stake, etc. exultation-
the –noun act of exulting; lively or triumphant joy, as over success or victory.precariously-
1.
dependent on circumstances beyond one's control; uncertain; unstable; insecure: a precarious livelihood.
2.
dependent on
3.
exposed to or involving danger; dangerous; perilous; risky: the precarious life of an underseas diver.
4.
having insufficient, little, or no foundation: a precarious –adjective the will or pleasure of another; liable to be withdrawn or lost at the will of another: He held a precarious tenure under an arbitrary administration. assumption. scaffold-
1.
a temporary structure for holding workers and materials during
2.
an elevated platform on which a criminal is executed, usually by hanging.
3.
a raised platform or stage for exhibiting spectacles, seating spectators, etc.
4.
any raised framework.
5.
a suspended platform that is used by painters, window washers, and others for working on a tall structure, as a skyscraper.
6.
Metallurgy . any piling or fusion of materials in a blast furnace, obstructing the flow of gases and preventing the uniform
7.
a system of raised frameworks; scaffolding.
–verb (used with object)
8.
to furnish with a scaffold or scaffolding.
9.
to support by or place on a scaffold. –noun the erection, repair, or decoration of a building. descent of the charge. interposed-
1.
to place between; cause to intervene: to interpose an opaque body between a light and
2.
to put (a barrier, obstacle, etc.) between or in the way of.
3.
to put in (a remark, question, etc.) in the midst of a conversation, discourse, or the like.
4.
to bring (influence, action, etc.) to bear between parties, or on behalf of a party or person.
–verb (used without object)
5.
to come between other things; assume an intervening position or relation.
6.
to step in between parties at variance; mediate.
7.
to put in or make a remark by way of interruptionverb (used with object) the eye.tranquil-
1.
free from commotion or tumult; peaceful; quiet; calm: a tranquil country place.
2.
free from or unaffected by disturbing emotions; unagitated; serene; placid: a tranquil life.–adjective fetch-
1.
to go and bring back; return with; get: to go up a hill to fetch a pail of
2.
to cause to come; bring: to fetch a doctor.
3.
to sell for or bring (a price, financial return, etc.): The
4.
Informal . to charm; captivate: Her
5.
to take (a breath).
6.
to utter (a sigh, groan, etc.).
7.
to deal or deliver (a stroke, blow, etc.).
8.
to perform or execute (a movement, step, leap, etc.).
9.
Chiefly Nautical and British Dialect . to reach; arrive at: to fetch port.
10.
Hunting . (of a dog) to retrieve (game).
–verb (used without object)
11.
to go and bring things.
12.
Chiefly Nautical . to move or maneuver.
13.
Hunting . to retrieve
14.
to go by an indirect route; circle (often followed by around or about ): We fetched around through the outer suburbs.
–noun
15.
the
16.
the distance of fetching: a long fetch.
17.
Oceanography .
a.
an area where
b.
the length of such an area.
18.
the reach or stretch of a thing.
19.
a trick; dodge. –verb (used with object) water. horse fetched $50 more than it cost.beauty fetched the coldest hearts. game (often used as a command to a dog). act of fetching. ocean waves are being generated by the wind. sculled-
1.
an oar mounted on a fulcrum at
2.
either of a pair of oars rowed by one rower.
3.
a boat propelled by an oar or oars.
4.
a light, narrow racing boat for one, two, or sometimes four rowers, each equipped with a pair of oars.
5.
sculls, a race involving such boats. Compare
–verb (used with object)
6.
to propel or convey by means of a scull or sculls.
–verb (used without object)
7.
to propel a boat with a scull or sculls. –noun the stern of a small boat and moved from side to side to propel the boat forward. double sculls, single sculls.
Chapter 13
modesty-
1.
the quality of being
2.
regard for decency of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
3.
simplicity; moderation. –noun, plural -ties. modest; freedom from vanity, boastfulness, etc. embrace-
1.
to take or clasp in
2.
to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly: to embrace an idea.
3.
to avail oneself of: to embrace an opportunity.
4.
to adopt (a profession, a religion, etc.): to embrace
5.
to take in with the eye or the mind.
6.
to encircle; surround; enclose.
7.
to include or contain: An encyclopedia embraces a great number of subjects.
–verb (used without object)
8.
to join in an embrace.
–noun
9.
an –verb (used with object) the arms; press to the bosom; hug. buddhism. act or instance of embracing.farthing-
1.
a former bronze coin of Great Britain, equal to one-fourth of a British penny: withdrawn in 1961.
2.
something of very small value: I don't care a farthing for your opinion–noun crestfallen-
1.
dejected; dispirited; discouraged.
2.
having a drooping –adjective crest or head.manuscript-
1.
the original text of an author's work, handwritten or now usually typed, that is submitted to a publisher.
2.
any text not printed.
3.
a book or document written before
4.
writing, as distinguished from print.
–adjective
5.
handwritten or typed, not professionally printed. –noun the invention of printing.deposition-
1.
removal from an office or position.
2.
the
3.
the state of being deposited or precipitated: deposition of soil at the mouth of a river.–noun act or process of depositing: deposition of the documents with the Library of Congress. damsel-
a young woman or –noun Literary . girl; a maiden, originally one of gentle or noble birth.tumult-
1.
violent and noisy commotion or disturbance of a crowd or mob; uproar: The tumult reached its height during
2.
a general outbreak, riot, uprising, or other disorder: The tumult moved toward the embassy.
3.
highly distressing agitation of mind or feeling; turbulent mental or emotional disturbance: His placid facade failed to conceal the tumult of his mind. –noun thepremier's speech. quill-
1.
one of
2.
the hard, hollow, basal part of a feather.
3.
a feather, as of a goose, formed into a pen for writing.
4.
one of the hollow spines on a porcupine or hedgehog.
5.
a plectrum of a harpsichord.
6.
a roll of bark, as of cinnamon, formed in drying.
7.
a reed or other hollow stem on which yarn is wound.
8.
a bobbin or spool.
9.
a toothpick.
10.
Machinery .
a.
a hollow shaft or sleeve through which another independently rotating shaft may pass.
b.
a shaft, joined to and supported by two other shafts or machines, for transmitting motion from one to the other.
c.
a rotating toolholder used in boring or facing internal angles.
11.
a musical pipe, especially one made from a hollow reed. –noun the large feathers of the wing or tail of a bird. methodically-
1.
performed, disposed, or acting in a systematic way; systematic; orderly: a methodical person.
2.
painstaking, especially slow and careful; deliberate. –adjective starched -
1.
a white, tasteless, solid
2.
a commercial preparation of this substance used to stiffen textile fabrics in laundering.
3.
starches, foods rich in natural starch.
4.
stiffness or formality, as of manner: He is so full of starch he can't relax.
5.
Informal . vigor;
–verb (used with object)
6.
to stiffen or treat with starch.
7.
to make stiff or rigidly formal (sometimes followed by up ). –noun carbohydrate, (C 6 H 1 0 O 5 ) n , occurring in the form of minute granules in the seeds, tubers, and other parts of plants, and forming an important constituent of rice, corn, wheat, beans, potatoes, and many other vegetable foods.energy; stamina; boldness. –verb (used with object) the power of; resist boldly or openly: to defy parental authority. defiance. the peace, having police and minor judicial functions, usually in a small town, rural district, etc. food.game
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