# يجب عليك تعلمها
الجزء الاول
Words You Absolutely Should Know
PART I
Words You Absolutely Should Know
If you pride yourself as a good communicator, you absolutely must know the words in this section. If items on this list are unfamiliar to you, learn them immediately or risk being at an embarrassing loss for words!
abacus (AB-uh-kuss), noun طبلية
A device used to figure arithmetic equations= معادلات حسابية by moving beads along rods. = قضبان
Mrs. Danvers thought that the ABACUS, with its brightly colored beads, would entertain the first graders while illustrating the basic principles of addition and subtraction.
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abdicate (AB-di-kate), verbتنازل To formally give up a position or responsibility. To abdicate means to step down from a high government office or other powerful
position. Originally, the word referred primarily to royalty.
The King, as we all know, ABDICATED rather than give up the woman he loved.
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abet (uh-BET), verb حرض
To encourage or assist a plan or activity. To abet is to entice or help, usually in a misdeed. An accomplice to a robbery abets the crime.
Though Michael did not participate in the actual kidnapping, he left himself open to charges of ABETTING the perpetrators by hiding them from the police.
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abbreviated (uh-BREE-vee-ate-ud), adjective اختصر Shortened. Because the hour is late, I will limit myself to an ABBREVIATED version of my intended speech.
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abduct (ub-DUCT), verb خطف To take a person away secretly and illegally, often by use of force; to kidnap. My sister Ellen used to take such long showers that Dad would jokingly ask if she’ d been ABDUCTED by aliens.
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abject (AB-ject), adjective بائس حقير خسيس Reduced to a low state or condition; also, demonstrating hopelessness. I gave up golf when I realized I was an ABJECT failure on the green.
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abominate (uh-BOM-ih-nate), verb مقت كره
To loathe or hate; to view with extreme hostility.
Miss Green ABOMINATED the notion of children working twelve-hour days, and sought legislation forbidding companies from hiring minor workers.
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abrade (uh-BRADE), verb كشط حك برى
To wear away or rub off; to wear down in spirit. To abrade is to erode or break down. Sandpaper abrades the surface of wood.
The campaign had hoped for a hard-hitting, informative television commercial, but the ad—widely perceived as negative and mean- spirited—served only to ABRADE voter support.
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absolution (ab-suh-LOO-shun), noun الغفران التبرئة
The condition of having been forgiven or freed of guilt.
To Myron’s dismay, the judge did not consider his having paid for the damage to the other party’s car sufficient ABSOLUTION for the crime of driving while intoxicated.
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absolve (ah-ZOLV), verb غفر عفا To formally pronounce guiltless or blameless. To absolve is to relieve of any responsibility for an actual or alleged misdeed. In the legal sense, absolution carries with it implication that the authorities no longer hold that the individual committed the misdeed.
The judge ABSOLVED the accused of any wrongdoing.
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abstain (ub-STANE), verb امتنع زهد To refrain from; to refuse to partake in; to go without voluntarily. Maria, who had ABSTAINED from eating meat while in high school, was persuaded to try a cheeseburger on her graduation night.
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abstemious (ab-STEE-me-us), adjectiveمعتدل غير مسرف Consuming food and drink in moderation. Those who are abstemious restrict themselves to the bare necessities of life. In a larger sense, the word can refer to any austere or unassuming lifestyle.
Despite the hardships of his ABSTEMIOUS way of life, the monk radiated the confidence that comes with knowing one has chosen the correct path.
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abstruse (ab-STROOCE), adjective مبهم غامض عميق عويص
Complex and difficult to comprehend. Abstruse refers to something complex or specialized that requires special effort to grasp.
Scientists may understand Einstein’s theory of relativity, but for most laymen it remains an ABSTRUSE collection of surrealistic ideas.
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abyss (uh-BISS), noun هاوية جهنم اللاتكون في ما قبل الخليقة معظم الماء An endless black void; an emptiness; a huge hole with no bottom. After nine days of working on my term paper with no conclusion in sight, I felt more and more as if I were facing an ABYSS.
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accentuate (ak-SEN-choo-ate), verb برز شكل وضح وضع أكد To intensify or accent. To accentuate something is to emphasize or stress it. To strengthen or heighten the effect of something is to accentuate it. Brian’s new glasses ACCENTUATE his nose unflatteringly.
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accept (ak-SEPT), verb سلم وافق قبل أقر رضى صدق لبى To take into possession. (See, for comparison, the listing for except.) I’m happy to ACCEPT your invitation to dinner, Claude.
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accolade (AK-uh-lade), noun احتضان منح رتبة فارس وسام شرف معانقة A mark of acknowledgment or expression of praise. Originally, an accolade was the ceremonial bestowal of knighthood upon a person, with a sword tapped on each shoulder. That which confers praise or honor is an accolade.
The firm’s president had hung on his office wall many plaques, citations, and ACCOLADES.
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accord (ub-CORD), noun اتفاق انسجام ائتلاف طوعا مطابقة وفاق
A formal reaching of agreement. An accord is reached when a settlement or compromise of conflicting views occurs.
After a prolonged strike, when the issue of healthcare benefits was resolved, the representatives finally reached an ACCORD acceptable to both labor and management.
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accost (uh-KOST), verb دَنا منه بادر بالكلام خاطب
To greet or approach, usually in a confrontational way; to approach in order to confront.
I was having a wonderful time at Sara’s wedding until Uncle George ACCOSTED me at the bar and demanded to know when I planned to get a real job.
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acme (AK-me), noun قمة ذروة أوج
The highest point; summit.
Although his many fans might consider winning the Pulitzer the ACME of Marvin’s writing career, in his mind nothing would ever match the thrill of seeing his first novel in print.
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acquisitive (uh-KWIZZ-uh-tihv), adjective اكتئابي مولع بالاكتساب Someone marked by a hunger to attain and possess things. Fred stopped dating Laura after it became clear that she was disturbingly ACQUISITIVE.
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acrid (AK-rid), adjective لاذع جارح حريف حاد قارص مر Biting or harsh in odor or taste; deeply or violently bitter. Acrid refers to anything unpleasantly sharp and pungent to the senses of
smell or taste. Acrid can also be used to describe a bitter or harsh verbal exchange between persons.
Florence’s ACRID remarks did not sit well with the board of directors.
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acronym (AK-ruh-nim), noun اختصار أوائل حروف الكلمات اللفظة الاوائلية A word formed by combining the first letters of several other words. (Example: NOW is an acronym for the National Organization for Women.) Cindy believed that the secret to getting good grades on tests was to use ACRONYMS as memory aids.
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adamant (AD-uh-munt), adjective عنيد متصلب متعنت Unwilling to submit; stubborn and unyielding. Historically, adamant refers to a legendary stone of infinite hardness. (The word
diamond shares the same root.)
Despite the objections of their families, Robin and Tim were ADAMANT about moving away from the town in which they had been raised.
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adapt (uh-DAPT), verb تكيف تأقلم هيأ مثل لاءم
To adjust; to make something or oneself fit in to particular circumstances; to conform. (See, for comparison, the entry for adopt.)
Jim and Daisy worried that the cross-country move would upset their teenage daughter, but as it turned out Melanie ADAPTED to their new home more easily than her parents.
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addendum (uh-DEN-duhm), nounاضافة ملحق طرف سن الترس Something to be added; an addition. The treaty included an ADDENDUM setting out the terms of troop withdrawal.
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adept (uh-DEPT), adjective ماهر Proficient; expert; highly skilled. Adept refers to someone who is very good at performing a given task. Hans, an ADEPT formulator of crossword puzzles, sometimes seems to me to have memorized the entire dictionary.
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adhere (ad-HERE), verb تقيد التزم التصق التحم خلص الولاء اعتصم
To hold fast to, usually with a sense of honor or allegiance.
Even after his career in advertising forced him to move to New York City, Mason continued to ADHERE to the values of his strict Mormon upbringing.
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adjunct (AD-junkt), noun المساعد الملحق مساعد بروفيسور
An unessential addition; an appendage or complement.
Fast cars and designer clothes are only ADJUNCTS to a comfortable lifestyle, Lyle argued, while health insurance is something a family simply can’t do without.
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adobe (uh-DOE-bee), noun لبنه من الطين مبنى من الطين لبن A type of brick made of clay and straw; the clay used to form such bricks. Our anthropology professor informed us that ADOBE huts are viable only in climates with very little rainfall.
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adopt (uh-DOPT), verbتبنى اختار أقر اتخذ To accept or take as one’s own. (See, for comparison, the entry for adapt.) After last year’s car troubles, I’ve ADOPTED the philosophy that a good mechanic is worth every penny you pay him.
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adrenaline (uh-DREN-uh-lin), noun أدرينالين هرمون كظري منشط
A chemical produced in the body that gives one added strength and energy; epinephrine.
Having run up and down the basketball court for nearly an hour, Bob hoped for a burst of ADRENALINE to carry him through to the end of the game.
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adroit (uh-DROIT), adjectiveلبق نشط بارع حاذق داهيه ماهر Clever, expert, skilled with hands or feet
Basil Rathbone was an ADROIT swordsman.
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adulation (ad-yoo-LAY-shun), noun تزلف مداهنة
Extreme praise, admiration, or flattery, especially of a servile nature.
Adulation is generally taken to describe acclaim and admiration that is out of scope with its object.
Despite great hardship, upheaval, and death resulting from the violent tactics of the secret police, ADULATION of Stalin continued as though the country was paradise itself.
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adulterate (a-DUL-ter-ate), verb غش زيف To make impure or tainted. To adulterate is to reduce the quality of something— for instance, by substituting inferior ingredients. An unadulterated product is one that retains its original high quality and has not been tampered with in any way.
At the turn of the century, the sale of ADULTERATED dairy products in the U.S. caused a major scandal.
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adverse (AD-verse), adjectiveعكسي معاكس مناوئ متعسر وخيم متجه نحو الجذع Unfavorable; acting in opposition to. Also: tending to discourage. (See, for comparison, the entry for averse). Despite ADVERSE circumstances, Jenny and I managed, after a month of looking, to find an apartment we could afford.
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advocate (ADD-voe-kait), verb حمى ترافع أيد دافع In its noun form, “advocate” is pronounced differently (ADD-vuh-kitt) and means “one who supports or defends the cause of another.” As a verb, “advocate” is the act of pleading in favor of another. If you need a recommendation, I’ d be happy to ADVOCATE for you.
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affect (uh-FEKT), verb ولع ب تظاهر تكلف نزع الى الف اثر في حرك المشاعر قلد
To influence; to stir the emotions of; to produce an effect (in something).
(See, for comparison, the entry for effect.)
The memory of my parents’ hideous and protracted breakup AFFECTED my life profoundly, and made me vow to work harder at making my own marriage succeed.
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affinity (uh-FIN-i-tee), noun الألفة المصاهرة الشبه القرابة الانجذاب A natural liking or affection for something or someone. The king had an AFFINITY for those on his council who always said he was right.
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affirmative (uh-FIR-muh-tive), adjective إيجابي غير سلبي الجهة المؤيدة
Positive in nature; factually valid. Affirmative is the opposite of negative; its use means the subject has vouched for and affirmed the correctness of a statement or idea. When asked whether or not he lived at 1267 Main, the defendant answered in the AFFIRMATIVE.
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affliction (uh-FLICK-shun), noun مصيبة ومحنة Suffering; a state of pain. An affliction is a state of misery or disabling disease. Carl’s arthritis was at times quite painful, but he found the most remarkable ways to work around his AFFLICTION.
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aid (aid), verb ساعد To help. (See, for comparison, the entry for aide.) Please help our organization’s efforts to AID these refugees.
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aide (aid), noun معاون ضابط معاون An assistant or trusted helper. She served as the senator’s most important AIDE during his term in office.
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alacrity (uh-LACK-rih-tee), noun خفة سرعة نشاط رشاقة Eager, cheerful rapidity or promptness. Someone who is willing to extend themselves politely and quickly for another is said to show
alacrity.
Jane made a special effort to show ALACRITY her first day on the job.
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alibi (AL-uh-bye), noun عذر دفع بالغيبة ادعاء المتهم
A story or circumstance that proves one is innocent of a crime or misdeed; a credible excuse or explanation of innocence.
Mike promised Craig he’ d provide him with an ALIBI for the night of the bank robbery, but when the police questioned the men they found that the details of their stories didn’t match.
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allay (uh-LAY), verb عموما سكن أقام سكن الالم أبدا تهدئه To calm or help put aside fear or uneasiness. My report will help ALLAY suspicions that our profits have been falling.
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allege (uh-LEDGE), verb زعم دعا احتج أذرع To accuse someone of something—usually wrongdoing—without proof. Unless you can prove you didn’t eat the last cookie, I will have to ALLEGE that you’re the thief!
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allegiance (uh-LEE-junce), noun الولاء الإخلاص قسم يمين الولاء
Loyalty, particularly to a government.
Alex had promised his ALLEGIANCE to the family firm time and time again, but the new offer from their overseas competitor, he decided, was too good to turn down.
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allocate (AL-uh-kait), verbخصص عين حدد قسم To distribute something for a specific purpose or to a specific person or group. When mom ALLOCATES tasks, I’m always the one who has to take out the garbage.
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allude (uh-LOOD), verb لمح أشار لمع الى أشار مداورة
To make passing reference to. A person who gives a few details but does not describe an event openly and completely could be said to allude to that event. Similarly, someone who makes a brief reference to an incident in a certain novel is considered to have made an allusion to the work.
I am aware of the incident you are ALLUDING to, Mr. Mayor, but I am afraid you have been misinformed about the events of that night.
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alluring (uh-LOOR-ing), adjective فاتن جذاب مغري Tempting; possessing the power to entice. Although Kim was following a strict diet, the chocolates were too ALLURING for her to resist.
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ally (AL-lie), noun حليف نصير جمع A confederate or fellow associate in a cause. Also, as a verb: to join with another in a common pursuit. With Jones as my ALLY, I knew the project was more likely to be approved.
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already (awl-RED-ee), adverb سابقا قد قبل الان في ذلك الحين Before or at some previously specified time. My mother was ALREADY sitting in her place in church when I walked down the aisle.
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altar (ALL-tur), noun مذبح هيكل مذبح الكنيسة A platform in a church or synagogue. (See, for comparison, the entry for alter.) Father Miller stood and addressed us from the ALTAR.
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alter (ALL-tur), verb تغير تبدل حسن غير زور خصى عدل قلب To cause to change. (See, for comparison, the entry for altar.) I could tell that the documents had been ALTERED; they featured two different sets of handwriting in two shades of ink.
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altruism (AL-troo-iz-uhm), noun غيرية إيثار Unselfish devotion to the well being of others. Mother Theresa’s life was marked by ALTRUISM toward the poor and suffering of the world.
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ambidextrous (am-bih-DEK-struss), adjectiveقادر بارع الى حد استثنائي Capable of using both hands with equal skill. Ambidextrous is made up of two halves from old Latin words: “ambi,” meaning both, and “dexter,” meaning right. The idea is that an ambidextrous person is able to act as though he has “two right hands.”
Since the juggler was AMBIDEXTROUS, she could start her routine with a circular motion to either the left or the right.
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ambiguous (am-BIG-yoo-uss), adjective غامض مبهم ملتبس Unclear in meaning; open to more than one interpretation. (See, for comparison, the entry on ambivalent.) The letter from my mother was AMBIGUOUS as to the date of the family reunion, so we will have to call her to get the specifics.
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ambivalent (am-BIV-uh-lunt), adjective متردد ذو وجهتي نظر Uncertain or undecided. (See, for comparison, the entry on ambiguous.) I’m AMBIVALENT as to whether we should invite Ralph to the party; he’s a great storyteller, but he sometimes drinks too much.
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amend (uh-MEND), verb حسن عدل اصلح To modify or update. (See, for comparison, the entry on emend.) In light of the testimony we’ve heard tonight, Madame President, I’ d like to AMEND my earlier remarks.
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amenity (uh-MEN-ih-tee), noun لطف لطافة اعتدال
A pleasant manner or custom. Also: a component or feature that gives pleasure or satisfaction. While the primary meaning of amenity has to do with the customs of social interaction, its use in advertising and sales settings to mean “a convenient and desirable extra” has gained ground in recent years.
Chris’s home, which was once spare, now featured all the AMENITIES: a sauna, a plasma TV, and even a new swimming pool in the back.
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amiable (AY-me-uh-bul), adjective ودي ودود لطيف ظريف Possessing a pleasant, cordial nature. A person who has a happy disposition and is easy to get along with is said to be amiable.
Jeanne made it a point to speak to everyone at the party; she came across as quite an AMIABLE hostess.
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amicable (AM-ih-kuh-bull), adjective حبي سلمي ظريف متحاب
Generally, “amicable” means “characterized by goodwill or peace,” but the term is typically used to describe things most people don’t consider particularly amicable.
The Hudsons’ divorce is so AMICABLE that they often go out to dinner together.
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amnesty (AM-nuh-stee), noun عفو عام صفح Freedom from imprisonment for large numbers of people, initiated by a government. The prisoners of war waited years for AMNESTY.
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amorous (AM-er-us), adjective غرامي عشقي شهواني مفطور ميال عاشق Strongly disposed toward love or sexuality. Someone who is amorous is preoccupied with thoughts of love, especially sexual love. The young man’s AMOROUS attentions merely annoyed Rose.
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androgynous (an-DROJ-ih-nuss), adjective خنثوي ثنائي الجنس
Either specifically male nor female; appearing with both male and female characteristics.
Amy said her new short haircut was a breeze to maintain compared to the long mane she used to have, but I thought it made her look rather ANDROGYNOUS.
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anecdote (AN-ik-doht), noun حكاية نادرة طرفة قصة فكاهة نكته A short, interesting story, often amusing and biographical. The speaker filled his talk with funny ANECDOTES of his time in the U.S. Navy.
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animosity (an-ih-MOSS-ih-tee), noun عداء حقد حسد Intense hostility toward a person or thing, usually taking the form of action. Animosity is a bitter dislike directed at something or someone.
Clyde’s first few months on the job were fine, but after he was transferred to a new department he came to harbor real ANIMOSITY toward his supervisor.
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anomaly (uh-NOM-a-lee), noun شاذ شذوذ الخاصة A seemingly abnormal example; a deviation from established form. When something differs markedly from the expected order of things, it is an anomaly.
Bill, who was raised in a family of avid golfers, is something of an ANOMALY: he thinks the sport is boring.
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antagonist (an-TAG-uh-nist), noun خصم معارض غريم عضلة مقاومة لأخرى The “bad guy” in a story, novel, film, etc. The character who opposes a story’s main character. As an ANTAGONIST, you can’t get any better than John Milton’s version of Satan in Paradise Lost.
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antecedent (AN-tih-see-dent), noun العنصر الشرطي في قضية منطقية
سابق سالف ماضي المرء A trend, idea, fashion, historical event, etc., that came before. Also: an earlier word to which a pronoun refers. (In the sentence “The car was painted blue, though it had a huge red rust mark,” car is the antecedent of it.)
Remember, writers: the ANTECEDENT always goes first in the sentence.
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anticlimactic (an-tee-klie-MAK-tik), adjective منحدر
A disappointing decline in contrast to a previous rise; an average ending to a series of important events.
Mike got down on his knees and produced a small velvet box, only to reveal a tiny pewter thimble bearing a replica of the Golden Gate Bridge—which Elizabeth found ANTICLIMACTIC, to say the least.
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antiquity (an TI-kwi-tee), noun العصور القديمة العصور الوسطى Ancient times, often used in reference to Greek and Roman civilizations. The civilizations of ANTIQUITY have much to teach us today.
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antithesis (an-TITH-i-sis), noun نقيض عكس النقيضة مضاد طباق The opposite or highest possible contrast. Antithesis refers to the exact opposite of a given thing. Antithesis is also the name of a form in rhetoric in which two ideas are contrasted dramatically: “We will live as heroes or die in the attempt.”
Mr. Brown—haggard, unkempt, and exhausted—looked like the very ANTITHESIS of the charismatic achiever we’ d heard about.
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antonym (AN-tuh-nim), noun المعنى المتناقض الكلمات المتضادة A word having an opposite meaning to that of another word. “Rapid” and “slow” are ANTONYMS.
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apathy (APP-uh-thee), noun لامبالاة عدم اكتراث خمول The state of not caring, or seeming not to care, one way or the other how a situation resolves itself. Because the characters weren’t very convincing, their peril made me feel little more than APATHY.
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ape (AYP), verb قرد قلد To imitate someone else’s characteristics, mannerisms, voice, etc. Joey got suspended after he APED the teacher’s pronounced limp.
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apex (AY-pex), noun قمة اوج راس ذروة The highest point. The APEX of Dawn’s career came when her novel was made into a miniseries starring Elizabeth Taylor as the heroine.
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aplomb (uh-PLOM), noun ثقة بالنفس انتصاب وضع عمودي وقع منتصبا رباطة الجأش A sense of self-possession and calm amidst chaos. The police chief showed remarkable APLOMB amid the noise and confusion of the riot.
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apocalyptic (uh-pok-uh-LIP-tik), adjective المروع
Having to do with revelation or prophecy. Also: presaging imminent destruction or disaster. In part because the final book of the Bible, Revelation, outlines prophecies of the end of the world, apocalypse has come to suggest a cataclysmic conflict of forces, and apocalyptic to reflect a sense of imminent mass destruction.
The novel’s APOCALYPTIC ending may be appropriate, but it is still heartwrenchingly difficult to read of violence on this large a scale.
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apparel (uh-PAIR-ul), noun ملابس رداء حله كسوة كل ما يكسو
Clothing; something worn.
After sweating through class after class in the heavy wool uniform, I wanted to march to the principal’s office and demand to know why shorts were considered inappropriate APPAREL for school.
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apparition (ap-uh-RISH-un), noun شبح كل مايظهر غريب الظهور A ghostly figure; something appearing to be a ghost. The APPARITION waved its spectral hands and emitted a horrible moan.
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appease (uh-PEEZE), verb هدأ شبع سكن اشبع استرضى لطف
To placate; to soothe or satisfy.
I only wore the dress to APPEASE my mother, who had made pointed comments all week about people who went to weddings dressed like slobs.
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apportion (uh-POOR-shun), verb قسم وزع خَص فرق To divide and distribute something in an equitable manner. I don’t think we’ ll have any trouble APPORTIONING the blame for this problem. There’s plenty of blame to go around!
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appraise (uh-PRAZE), verb قدر قوم خمّن
To estimate (an item’s) value. (See, for comparison, the entry for apprise.)
This desk has been in our family for over a hundred years and I wouldn’t dream of selling it—so there’s really no use in getting it APPRAISED, is there?
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apprehension (ap-ri-HEN-sun), noun اعتقال خشية ادراك قلق خوف من شر مرتقب فهم Uneasiness about the future; suspicion of impending bad fortune. Also: the act of arresting or stopping. Another sense of apprehension is “idea or understanding.”
A vague feeling of APPREHENSION came over Gordon as he stepped into the old house.
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apprentice (uh-PREN-tiss), noun مبتدئ صبي متمرن في حرفة تلميذ ممتهن في صف One who is learning a trade or art form by assisting a veteran practitioner or professional.
Uncle Jake offered to let me work as an APPRENTICE in his plumbing business for the summer, but I had no interest in water pipes.
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apprise (uh-PRIZE), verb خبر علم To notify; to cause to be aware of. (See, for comparison, the entry for appraise.) Have you been APPRISED of the most recent news from home?
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arbitrary (AR-bih-trer-ee), adjective اعتباطي استبدادي كيفي متحاكم Unregulated by law or reason; determined by impulse. Arbitrary refers to decisions made, not according to established procedures or laws, but purely through the discretion of an individual. It carries a sense of capriciousness or even lack of responsibility.
The rules you have laid down for this contest are completely ARBITRARY and have no basis in past tournaments.
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archival (are-KIE-vul), adjective ارشيفي
Of or pertaining to important records or archives.
After the lab fire, the scientist was less disturbed by the loss of equipment and samples than by the destruction of the contents of his ARCHIVAL vault, a loss that set his work back at least six months.
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ardent (AR-dent), adjective متحمس غيور حماسي محتدم متوقد متوهج Intense, passionate, devoted; characterized by high emotion. Ardent people show great enthusiasm for causes and people close to
them.
Barbara, an ARDENT stamp collector, has the most impressive collection of French stamps in the school.
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arduous (AR-joo-us), adjective شاق صرف وعث مجهد متعب مرهق
Requiring exceptional effort or care. Something is arduous if it is mentally or physically challenging, or if it pushes one to the limit of one’s abilities.
Stacy has been preparing all week for the ARDUOUS marathon competition.
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aromatic (air-o-MAT-ik), adjective عطري فواح
Possessing a pleasant odor. An aromatic flower is one that is pleasing to the smell. Many sweet-scented things share a certain chemical structure known as an aromatic compound.
The herbs lent what would have been an ordinary meal a satisfying AROMATIC touch.
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ascend (uh-SEND), verbصعد اعتلى ارتفع طلع بخصوص حكم To climb or mount, especially a mountain. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first to ASCEND Mt. Everest.
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ascertain (ass-sur-TANE), verb تأكد حقق
To find out something by experimenting or by making inquiries.
Arriving to find the house locked and shuttered, I ASCERTAINED from the neighbors that my fiance had loaded up a moving van and fled the day before.
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ascribe (uh-SKRYBE), verb نسب الى عزا الى To attribute or assign causal responsibility to a person or thing. Ascribing something to someone is acknowledging their responsibility or creation of it.
This work has been ASCRIBED to Rousseau, but his authorship now seems uncertain.
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assent (uh-SENT), noun موافقة اجماع قبول To agree that an opinion, view, or proposal is correct; to concur, corroborate, or acquiesce. You forget, Mr. Jameson, that it is only with the ASSENT of the stockholders that the CEO can be ousted.
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assertion (uh-SUR-shun), noun توكيد أصرّار على حق دافع A positive statement or claim. An assertion is something claimed straightforwardly, without support of evidence or logical justification.
Your ASSERTION that my car was at the scene of the crime has no basis in fact.
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assimilate (uh-SIM-uh-late), verb هضم استوعب فهم In general, to assimilate is to absorb knowledge, food, etc., but you may hear it in regard to immigrants. In that sense, “assimilate”
refers to the act of becoming similar to those already living in one’s new environment.
You’re giving me so much new information that I’m having trouble ASSIMILATING all of it.
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assuage (uh-SWAJE), verb ازال اشبع هدأ اسكن لطف To ease; to make less severe; to mitigate. Gary tried to ASSUAGE his grief at the loss of his lover by taking a long trip to Europe.
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astute (uh-STUTE), adjectiveذكي داهية فطن ماهر Skilled; quick to learn or grasp; shrewd; sharp-witted. Carl was an ASTUTE investor who knew when to follow the crowd and when to ignore it.
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atrophy (A-truh-phee), verb ضمور ضمور عضوي توقف عن النمو To shrivel or shrink from lack of use. After sitting around on the couch all summer, my leg muscles had ATROPHIED so much that I had trouble walking to the mailbox!
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attrition (uh-TRISH-un), noun إنهاك احتكاك ندم تآكل The gradual wearing down of something or the gradual reduction of a group. Often, you’ll hear this word used in connection with a company that is trying to reduce its workforce.
The struggling company used a combination of early-retirement incentives and ATTRITION to reduce its workforce enough to continue to meet its payroll.
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audacious (aw-DAY-shuss), adjectiveجرئ متهور جسور مغامر Brazen, daring, or fearless. Audacious refers to bold, unrestrained, uncompromising behavior. It often carries a sense of bending
accepted rules or disregarding prevalent standards.
His AUDACIOUS behavior at the family reunion shocked even his brothers and sisters.
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auger (AW-gur), noun مثقب بريمة حفر A tool for drilling holes. (See, for comparison, the entry for augur.) I couldn’t use my father’s drill because the AUGER was missing.
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augment (og-MENT), verb زاد ازداد بادئة صرفية
To make bigger; increase; enhance.
The evening’s program—a series of soliloquies from Shakespeare—was AUGMENTED by a short reading from Bradley’s Notes on Hamlet.
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aura (OR-uh), noun هالة نسمة شعور A field of energy that some believe emanates from human beings. I’m sure Paul will be a successful politician because he exudes an AURA of trust and dependability.
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auspicious (aws-PISH-us), adjectiveميمون سعيد مبشر Promising; seemingly favorable or likrly to be accompanied by good fortune. Auspicious is usually used to describe encouraging
signals or reasons for optimism at the beginning of an undertaking.
The trip did not begin AUSPICIOUSLY; our car broke down within an hour.
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austere (aw-STEER), adjective صارم متزمت متقشف عابس قاس بسيط جداعار عن كل نية
Severe in appearance or nature; self disciplined or strict to a high degree. An austere person is self-controlled and somber. That which is without ornamentation or luxury is austere.
The interior of the monastery presented an appearance of AUSTERE beauty.
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autism (AW-tiz-um), noun أوتيتم مرض الانعزالية التوحد
A condition in which the sufferer has difficulty with or indifference to social contact, residing almost exclusively in his or her own world.
Often subjected to abuse and inhumane treatment two or three decades ago, those suffering from AUTISM are now more likely to receive a meaningful therapeutic regimen.
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auxiliary (auk-ZIL-yuh-ree), noun Backup, reserve, extra. مساعد إضافي احتياطي
“Don’t panic,” Mr. Forrest told his anxious staff after the office went black, “the AUXILIARY power will come on any minute now, and we’ ll be back in business.”
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avail (uh-VAYL), verbاستفاد استغل نفع افاد To be of benefit or use. Someone whose actions are to no avail acts in vain. In November, we decided to AVAIL ourselves of the opportunity for a vacation.
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avid (A-vid), adjective طماع نهم حاد شره طامع متكالب
Earnest; eager; passionate and committed.
Ralphie, an AVID Pittsburgh Steelers fan, owned posters, pennants, hats, socks, jackets, shirts, sweatshirts, and underwear bearing his team’s logo and colors, but his wife had drawn the line at a tattoo.
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avoid (uh-VOID), verb يتجنب تفادى ابطل ألغى To shun; to stay removed from. (See, for comparison, the entry for evade.) At all costs, AVOID the Chef ’s Surprise at Trudy’s Whistlestop Cafe.
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azure (AZH-uhr), adjective لازوردي ازرق سماوي
The color of the sky on a clear day; sky-blue.
His AZURE eyes and charming manner may attract women initially, but his conceited personality keeps them from staying interested for long.
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baccalaureate (bak-uh-LOR-ee-it), nounالباكالوريا شهادة الثانوية The degree awarded upon completion of an undergraduate course of study. A baccalaureate, also called a bachelor’s degree, is the degree given to a college graduate. A baccalaureate is also a farewell address to a graduating class.
I received my BACCALAUREATE in 2003 from Brandeis University.
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balk (bock), verb اضاع فشل احبط توقف فجأة غلطة
To hesitate and refuse to go forward; to prevent from accomplishing an aim; to stop oneself in order to consider whether or not to go on. In baseball: to perform an illegal maneuver in the delivery of a throw from the pitching mound; an instance of such an illegal delivery.
At first Mona BALKED at the suggestion that she apply for the position in management; she did not like the idea of working late hours.
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ballistics (buh-LISS-tiks), noun المقذافية علم يدرس قوانين حركة القذائف The study of projectiles and impacts. Each of the scientists working on the missile project had extensive experience in BALLISTICS.
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baritone (BARE-uh-tone), nounجهيّر صوت رجالي اعلى من الجهر باريوم The second-deepest voice range on the scale, higher than bass and deeper than treble. Given his diminutive stature and shy demeanor, few suspected that Craig’s powerful BARITONE would dominate the choir.
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barometer (buh-ROM-uh-ter), noun مقياس الضغط الجوي كل مايسجل التغييرات
An instrument that measures air pressure and aids in weather prediction.
After a lesson on meteorology, Mr. Cantelli put a BAROMETER up on the classroom’s outer wall so that his students could practice predicting the weather.
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barrage (buh-ROZH), noun وابل سد خزان سد من نيران Concentrated outpouring or volley. A barrage is an overwhelming torrent of something, usually words, blows, or projectiles. The word was originally used only in a military sense.
The defense attorney subjected the witness to a BARRAGE of questions about the events of that night.
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bastion (BASS-chun), noun معقل حصن منطقة محصنة A stronghold or bulwark for protection. Because he is so shy, Peter uses his genius-level intellect as a BASTION to keep others at arm’s length.
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bazaar (buh-ZAR), noun سوق خيرية سوق شرقية البازار A marketplace, especially one in the open air. (See, for comparison, the entry for bizarre.)
As Ned and I ambled through the BAZAARS of Casablanca, we kept an eye out for enemy agents.
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beatific (bee-uh-TIFF-ic), adjective شديد الابتهاج Having a saintly or angelic character or demeanor. Charlie’s BEATIFIC smile always makes me wonder what he’s thinking about.
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bedlam (BED-lum), noun هرج ومرج مستشفى المجانين مجنون مكان يسوده الهرج The popular name for London’s Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem was “Bedlam.” Since the hospital catered to the insane, “bedlam” has come to denote any place or scene of uproar and confusion.
I always do my best to stay focused on my work and to avoid the BEDLAM around the water cooler.
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behemoth (bih-HE-muth), adjective شخص ضخم جدا البيهيموث فرس البحر
This Hebrew word appears in the Old Testament’s Book of Job and refers to a large animal most biblical scholars believe was a hippopotamus. At present, “behemoth” describes anything that has monstrous size or power.
What the heck’s wrong with Joe? Why did he buy that BEHEMOTH gas-guzzler?
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belated (bee-LAY-ted), adjectiveمتأخر Late or tardy; delayed. Belated refers to anything past due. Jane sent a BELATED birthday card, but still felt guilty about forgetting her mother’s birthday.
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belligerent (buh-LIJ-er-ent), adjective محارب مولع بالقتال مشترك بالحرب Aggresive or pugnacious; eager to instigate a fight. Belligerent is rooted in the Latin word for “war.” Don became overbearing and BELLIGERENT with his employees after his divorce, causing many of them to resign.
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bemused (bee-MYOOZD), adjective مرتبك The quality of being bewildered, perplexed, or lost in reflection. A person who is preoccupied or confused by something is bemused. Victor stared BEMUSED at the photograph of his father in full military dress—a man he had never thought of in quite that way.
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benchmark (BENCH-mark), nounالمؤشر علامة لعمال المساحة علامة توضع على الصخر A standard by which to measure; the exemplary performance or criterion. Anne’s stunning oration on human rights was recognized in our debating society as the BENCHMARK for years afterward.
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benevolent (be-NEV-i-lent), adjectiveخير خيري مطبوع على حب الخير هادف للنفع Marked by a tendency to do good toward others; kindly. A benevolent act is one in service to another. The word is derived from the Latin for “good wishes.”
There is a BENEVOLENT side to Mark one would not expect to see in a man so apparently cold.
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bequeath (bee-QUEETH), verb منحرف سلم تراثا
Bestow by means of a will. Bequeath is often used metaphorically to describe something handed down to a group of people from those of a past era.
More than anything else, it is the language we speak, BEQUEATHED to us by Byron and Shakespeare and Milton and a legion of others, that binds us to the English and them to us.
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bereaved (bih-REEVD), adjective or noun ثاكل سالب In a state of mourning; deeply sorrowful because of the loss of a loved one. As a noun, bereaved refers to the person in mourning
(and is usually preceded by the).
The most difficult part of Father Maurice’s job was providing solace for the BEREAVED in his parish.
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beseech (bih-SEECH), verb توسل التمس تضرع
To entreat, implore, or request earnestly. Beseech is a formal verb used to request something. In contemporary use, it reflects either great (or even fawning) politeness or urgency of the highest order.
We BESEECH you, Mr. Prime Minister: think twice before committing the lives of so many of our countrymen to this cause.
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bestial (BESS-chul), adjectiveوحشي بعيني همجي Of, pertaining to, or reminiscent of beasts. Something is bestial if it exhibits savagery or brutality. The colonel’s BESTIAL treatment of the prisoners of war was in violation of the Geneva Convention.
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bestow (bih-STOW), verb نشط منح استعمل وضع أعطى
To confer or give. One bestows an award, honor, or degree. The verb is usually followed by on or upon.
Though he lacked formal education, several universities had BESTOWED honorary degrees on Mr. Goldfarb.
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betrothed (bih-TROTHED), verbيخطب مخطوبة خطيب خطوبة Engaged to be married. Also, as a noun: the person to whom one is engaged. Marcia is BETROTHED to that handsome young captain she met in Miami.
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biopic (BI-opp-ick OR BI-oh-pick), noun بيوبيك !! People disagree how this word, short for “biographical motion picture,” should be pronounced. No matter how you say the word, a “biopic” is a film based on the lives of real, rather than fictional, people.
I was really impressed with the latest BIOPIC until I found out that much of the film’s storyline was factually inaccurate.
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biopsy (BIE-op-see), noun خزعة فحص نسيج الجسد استئصال نسيج للدراسة An instance of taking samples of tissue, cells, or fluids from a living body and analyzing these samples. Dr. Smith thought the lump was probably a benign cyst, not a tumor, but he scheduled a BIOPSY just to be sure.
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bizarre (bih-ZAR), adjectiveغريب شاذ عجيب Strange; incomprehensible; deviating from what is expected or in the rational order of things. (See, for comparison, the entry for
bazaar.)
As the drug began to take effect, Bill began to make BIZARRE remarks about large insects and dancing toasters.
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blithe (blithe), adjectiveمبتهج سعيد مرح Cheerful or merry in disposition; carefree or indifferent. A person who is blithe is unconcerned with petty cares or problems. Rod dismissed the accountant’s objections with a BLITHE wave of the hand.
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bloc (BLOK), nounكتلة جبهه قالب للقبعات مجموعة A group of persons or nations with various political beliefs united for a common cause. Former Eastern BLOC countries include Poland and Hungary.
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bludgeon (BLUD-jun), verb and nounهراوة To beat. As a noun, a bludgeon is a short, heavy stick. To bludgeon someone is to beat or strike him with a similar instrument. The detectives concluded that the victim had been BLUDGEONED repeatedly with a metal pipe.
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bluster (BLUS-ter), verbتبجح ثرثر توعد تهدد هدر بصخب To threaten swaggeringly or issue extravagant threats. Bluster is related to the same old word from which blow (as in “the wind blows”) is derived.
He seems fierce at first, but you must remember that he depends largely on BLUSTERING to get his way.
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bogey (BOE-gie), verb and nounشبح بعبع غول In golf, to post a score of one stroke over par on a hole; an instance of such a score. Jeff BOGEYED on the fourteenth hole.
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boisterous (BOY-struhss), adjectiveعاصف شديد صاخب Characterized by being very noisy and out of control. The bar’s BOISTEROUS crowd made it difficult to carry on a conversation.
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bolster (BOWL-ster), verbدعم سند ساند To strengthen, support, or prop up. Since Rhonda is a news junkie, she’s always able to BOLSTER with facts her opinions about world events.
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bombarded (bom-BARD-ud), verbقصف Under attack; also, peppered with queries, problems, accusations, etc. During the final class before the midterm exam, Professor Strang was BOMBARDED with questions from her panicky students.
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bombast (BOM-bast), noun كلام منمق كلام طنان
Haughty, overblown, or pompous talk or writing. Someone who engages in bombast indulges a taste for an exaggerated rhetorical style.
We expected a compelling argument from our attorney, but he came to court offering little more than BOMBAST.
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born (born), verbمولود بالفطرة مولود Carried to term in childbirth; given birth. (See, for comparison, the entry for borne.) My son David was BORN at about four in the afternoon.
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borne (born), verb التي تنقلها Supported; carried; brought forth or produced. (See, for comparison, the entry for born.) “BORNE” is the past participle of the verb “to bear” in all senses that do not involve childbirth.
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bough (bow), noun غصن فرع شجرة غصن رئيسي A branch of a tree. (See, for comparison, the entry for bow.) The BOUGHS of the apple tree hung heavy with fruit.
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bout (BOWT), nounنوبة مسابقة مباراة ملاكمة قتال A contest or fight. Also, something that lasts a short time. I quickly got over that BOUT of fever I picked up during my cruise.
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bow (bow), verbقوس انحنى أذعن سحق عبر عن شيئ خضع وتر عبر عن شيء بالانحناء To bend low; to yield. (See, for comparison, the entry for bough.) The Japanese ambassador BOWED in the direction of the prime minister.
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brake (brake), verbفصل ألياف الكتان فرمل كبح انكبح To control or stop. (See, for comparison, the entry for break.) The car’s BRAKING ability was truly remarkable; it felt as though I could stop on a dime.
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brash (brash), adjectiveمتهور هش صراخ صورة نوبة مرض عاصفة او وابل Impudent; hasty. Something done impetuously and quickly is brash. Brash can also refer to a certain zesty or irreverent quality that may be seen as refreshing.
The action you have taken is BRASH; you will regret your recklessness.
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brazen (BRAY-zun), adjectiveوقح نحاسي صفق معدني نحاسي اللون Bold or shameless in display; unconcerned with the reactions of others. None of us understood how Julia and Ted, each of whom is married, could have been so BRAZEN about their romance.
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breadth (bredth), nounاتساع عرض قطعة ذات عرض معين The side-to-side extent of something; width; expanse. (See, for comparison, the entry for breath.) The alley was so narrow that my car had a clearance of perhaps two inches beyond its BREADTH on either side.
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breath (breth), nounنسمة نفس هواء نفخة عبير الأزهار لحضة برهه تنفس The process or act of breathing; an inhalation or exhalation. (See, for comparison, the entry for breadth.) Take a deep BREATH; I’m about to give you some bad news.
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brooch (broach or brooch), nounبروش دبوس مزخرف An ornamental pin, usually large. Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without Aunt Gertrude in her green-flowered dress and ruby BROOCH.
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brunt (brunt), nounالوطأة العظمى The primary impact of a blow. The brunt of an attack is the point of its main force. If there is a war, rest assured that it is our country that will be asked to bear the BRUNT of it.
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buffalo (BUFF-uh-low), verbجاموس أربك أرهب When used as a verb, this familiar animal means to baffle thoroughly. I was completely BUFFALOED by Karen’s angry response to my courteous greeting.
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bulbous (BULL-buss), adjective بصلي الشكل ذو بصلة نام من بصلة
Shaped like a bulb, or bloated.
One look at my BULBOUS shape in the three-way mirror convinced me to join a gym right away.
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bull (bull), noun and verb ثور فحل المضارب على الصعود ذكر بعض الحيوان ضخم هراء شرطي
In addition to the animal, this word has a number of meanings. As a noun, a “bull” is someone who buys stocks expecting a price rise. It also denotes a formal proclamation by the Pope. As an adjective, “bull” means to act with force or to engage in idle, boastful talk.
The bouncer BULLED his way through the crowd to remove the man who was causing a disturbance.
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burqa (BURR-kuh), noun البرقع A completely enveloping outer garment worn by women in some Islamic traditions. Even though she is becoming thoroughly Americanized, Ameena continues faithfully to wear her BURQA.
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burnish (BURR-nish), verbصقل لمع تلميع صقل لمعان بريق To make shiny or lustrous due to rubbing or polishing. Every day, Sam lovingly BURNISHES his Lexus’s custom purple paint job.
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butte (byoot), noun التل التله A solitary hill on a large plain. The mission was situated atop a lonely-looking BUTTE outside of town.
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cajole (kuh-JOLE), verb داهن تملق تزلف الى
To coax; to persuade by using flattery; to wheedle.
My brother’s efforts to CAJOLE me out of my allowance, by reminding me that I would be a rich superstar in big-league baseball someday, were in vain.
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callus (KAL-us), noun نسيج لين الجسأة جزء من الجسم الدشبذ مادة طبية A hardened patch of skin. (See, for comparison, the entry for callous.) George had developed a CALLUS on his forefinger from his constant guitar playing.
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calzone (kal-ZONE), nounكالزوني نوع من البيتزا An Italian food roll resembling a turnover made by wrapping meat, cheese, or vegetables in dough. We asked Aunt Joan if she would bring her famous steak and cheese CALZONE to the party.
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canapé (KAN-uh-pay), noun An appetizer made by spreading meat, fish, or cheese on a small piece of toasted bread. While the guests waited for the bridal party, waiters strolled through the reception area with trays of champagne and CANAPÉS.
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candor (KAN-duhr), noun صراحة اخلاص لا تحيز طهارة براءة سلامة نية Openness or honesty. Someone who speaks directly or openly, without equivocation or doubletalk, can be said to speak with
candor.
Let me say with all CANDOR that I did not look forward to coming here today.
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cannon (KAH-nun), noun مدفع غفة عروة الجرس المعدنية إصابة A weapon used to fire large metal projectiles. (See, for comparison, the entry for canon.) The thunderous sound of CANNONS being fired resonated across the valley.
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canvas (KAN-vus), noun قماش شراع لوحة زيتية أشرعة خيام A type of coarse cloth. (See, for comparison, the entry for canvass.) Many of Van Gogh’s works were destroyed and sold as scrap CANVAS.
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canvass (KAN-vus), verbناقش التمس فحص بدقة طاف لتصعيد اصوات الناخبين To solicit (support, opinions, votes, etc.). (See, for comparison, the entry for canvas.) Virgil and I spent all Sunday walking around the city CANVASSING for our candidate.
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capital (KAP-ih-tul), nounعاصمة راس مال حرف كبير أساسي حرف استهلالي تاج العمود
متضمن اعداما مال A city designated as a seat of government. Also: economic resources. Also: excellent. (See, for comparison, the entry for capitol.) In Washington D.C., our nation’s CAPITAL, the three branches of government make their formal headquarters.
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capitalize (KAH-pih-tuh-lize), verb كتب طبع بحرف كبير حول الى راس مال مول استفاد To draw an advantage from. Also, in business terms, “capitalize” can mean funding a business or converting a business’s value to personal income.
By CAPITALIZING on the candidate’s mistake, her opponent managed to win the election.
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capitol (KAP-ih-tul), noun مبنى الكابيتول العاصمة The building in which a legislature meets. (See, for comparison, the entry for capital.) One of the highlights of our trip to Washington was our visit to the CAPITOL building.
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capitulate (kuh-PIT-yoo-late), verb استسلم أذعن كف عن المقاومة
To accede to a demand for surrender. Someone who yields a point under dispute can be said to capitulate to the other party.
The ambassador had been instructed to show flexibility on cultural exchanges, but not to CAPITULATE when it came to trade issues.
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cardiac (KAR-dee-ack), adjective قلبي متعلق بفم المعدة ذو علاقة بالقلب
Relating to the heart.
When their son’s pediatrician detected a heart murmur, the Simpsons insisted on having him examined by the best CARDIAC team in the city.
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careen (kuh-REEN), verb To lurch while moving; to swerve. Suddenly we hit a patch of oil, and our car CAREENED into the guardrail.
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caricature (KARE-ihk-uh-choor), nounرسم كاريكاتور رسم ساخر تشويه مبالغ فيه A grotesquely or absurdly exaggerated representation. Political cartoons are the most common examples of caricature, but many modes of expression make use of the form’s distortion and contrast.
The paintings of Toulouse-Lautrec are often rooted in CARICATURE, but they are more than mere cartoons.
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carnivorous (kar-NIV-uh-russ), adjective لاحم Flesh-eating. Mel and his photographer set off for three months in the Serengeti in search of the CARNIVOROUS wildlife of the region.
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cataclysmic (kat-uh-KLIZZ-mick), adjective جائحة Very destructive and causing great upheaval. The assassination of the prime minister was a CATACLYSMIC event that led to a lengthy civil war.
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catacomb (KAT-uh-kome), nounسرداب الموتى مقبرة تحت الارض مدبنة تحت الارض A chamber below the ground with openings for graves. During times of religious persecution, early Christians often had to worship alongside the dead in the CATACOMBS.
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catapult (KAT-uh-pult), verb and nounمنجنيق مرجام المجنفة To hurl or shoot (as from a sling); to provide or exhibit sudden upward movement. As a noun: an ancient military weapon designed to hurl arrows, stones, and other missiles.
When he heard the approaching sirens, Michael CATAPULTED out of bed.
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catheter (KATH-uh-tur), noun القسطرة انبوبة القسطر
A slim, flexible tube inserted in a bodily channel to maintain an opening to another internal opening.
The endless months in my hospital room took their toll on my spirits; one morning I contemplated tearing the CATHETER from my arm, grabbing a bathrobe, and simply stalking out of the place.
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caustic (KOSS-tick), adjective مادة كاوية لاذعة Corrosive or capable of burning. Something is caustic if it can eat away at something else. A person is caustic if he speaks sharply and maliciously.
The CAUSTIC nature of Jane’s speech caused all the members to reexamine their support of her candidacy.
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cavalry (CAV-ul-ree), nounفرسان سلاح الفرسان جنود الفروسية A group of soldiers on horseback. Cavalry is frequently confused with calvary (see calvary within), but their meanings are entirely different.
After three days of delay, the CAVALRY finally came to the rescue.
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censor (SEN-sur), noun الرقيب المسؤول عن احصاء السكان مراقبة المطبوعات المراقب بشكل عام
One who reviews for offensive or objectionable material, deleting that which is found to fall into such categories. (See, for comparison, the entry for censer.)
W.C. Fields was constantly at odds with Hays Commission CENSORS, who found fault with many of his references to alcohol and women.
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chafe (chayf), verb أغتاظ نكد غضب فرك التماسا للدفء ابلى بالحك To rub or irritate. (See, for comparison, the entry for chaff.) The new shoes CHAFED my heels the first day and left me with two prize-winning blisters.
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chagrin (shuh-GRIN), noun غم The emotion of humiliation or embarrassment arising from disheartening experience. To show chagrin is to give evidence of
disappointment and disquiet with oneself.
Much to my CHAGRIN, my application was rejected instantly.
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chalet (sha-LAY), nounالشاليه كوخ بيت سويسري A small country house, named after a type of Swiss cottage with overhanging eaves. We rented a CHALET on the edge of the mountain, and had immediate access to the ski slopes.
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chameleon (kuh-MEE-lee-un), noun حرباء شخص متقلب A lizard (chameleontidae and similar animals) with the ability to change the color of its skin for the purpose of camouflage; also, a person who shifts outlooks, opinions, or identities frequently or easily.
I’m afraid we haven’t been able to get Ian to give us his final opinion on the merger plans; he’s been something of a CHAMELEON on the issue.
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charismatic (kare-ihz-MAT-ik), adjective الكاريزما
Possessing a special quality associated with leadership, authority, confidence, and overall personal appeal. While we generally use charismatic in reference to a person, the word also refers to certain Christian sects and ideas that emphasize demonstrative or ecstatic worship.
The CHARISMATIC salesman seemed to sell himself as much as his product.
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chasm (KAZ-um), noun هوه فجوة صدع تباين شقة الخلاف A deep gorge; a deep hole in the earth’s surface. Dawn stood peering across the seemingly bottomless CHASM, meditating on the mysteries of nature.
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chastise (TCHAH-stize), verb عاقب عقاب To punish or scold severely in hopes that by so doing, new behavior will result. The teacher CHASTISED the student for being constantly disruptive.
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chateau (sha-TOE), noun قصر بيت ريفي ضخم قصر فرنسي إقطاعي حصن
A large country house; a French manor house or castle.
Eva liked to spend her summers at the family’s CHATEAU, strolling through the gardens and riding horseback over the expansive grounds.
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chic (sheek), adjective or noun اناقة انيق مطابق للزي الرسمي From the French meaning “skill,” “chic” means stylishness and elegance in dress or manner. Without spending very much, Lydia always seems able to look incredibly CHIC.
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chivalrous (SHIV-uhl-russ), adjectiveشهم فروسي متسم بالشرف Honorable; in keeping with a code of behavior reminiscent of that followed by medieval knights. Chivalrous applies especially to courteousness and/or consideration toward women, the poor, or the vanquished.
Those who expected a barbarian were surprised to find the renegade leader both even-tempered and CHIVALROUS in bearing.
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chord (kord), noun تناغم وتر عَصّب وتر الآله عاطفة
A combination of musical tones. (See, for comparison, the entry for cord.)
The major CHORDS in the key of C are the easiest for the beginning piano student to learn.
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cinematic (sin-uh-MAT-ik), adjective سينمائي
Reminiscent of or pertaining to the cinema; similar in imagery or approach to the visual styles employed in motion pictures.
The use of a large rotating disk on the stage allows the director to stage scenes in such a way that scenery and actors pass steadily across the stage as action proceeds, lending a CINEMATIC feel to the performance.
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cistern (SIS-tern), noun صهريج حوض خزان ارضي فنطاس حوض وعاء A large container or tank used for holding water, particularly rainwater. Mary watered her garden with rainwater collected in a CISTERN behind the garage.
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citadel (SIT-uh-del), nounقلعة معقل حصن A stronghold; literally, a strategically positioned fortress in control of a town or city. Something that is forfeited against attack or adversity may be referred to metaphorically as a citadel.
Gentlemen, this business is our CITADEL, and we must be prepared to defend it as such.
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cite (site), verbاستشهد دعا للمثول امام القضاء نوه شُيد To quote or refer to. (See, for comparison, the entry for site.) I’ve CITED your brilliant paper several times in my upcoming book, Dr. Wilson.
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citify (SIT-uh-fie), verbالتمدن التعود على الطرق المدنية تحضر To cause to become city-like. I’m afraid it will take more than a week in Chicago to CITIFY old Uncle Parker.
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clairvoyance (klare-VOY-uhnce), nounاستبصار حدة الإدراك Supernatural perceptive skills. Clairvoyance (from the French for “clear sight”) refers to the ability to perceive things normally out of the range of human intuition.
Michael claimed to have CLAIRVOYANCE, and even held a few playful “seances,” but no one took his claims seriously.
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clangor (KLAYN-gurr), nounضجة صاخبة قعقعة متواصلة A loud, repeating noise that can be unnerving. The CLANGOR of the parade actually frightened my daughter, rather than exciting her.
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clinch (klinch), verbاحتضن حسم لوى راس المسمار أمسك بأحكام To settle a matter decisively or definitely. Also, as a noun: a passionate embrace. Even Coach Jones admitted that his team had slacked off after they CLINCHED first place in their division.
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clique (klick), noun زمرة عصبية اتحاد في عصبة From the French meaning “latch,” a clique is a small, exclusive group, one that often looks down on those who do not belong to it. Shelly was pleased to find that her sorority was not riddled with in-fighting CLIQUES.
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clout (klowt), noun نفوذ ضربة قوة يد طويلة هدف
“Clout” has two common meanings. It either means someone who has a lot of influence, or it means to strike someone.
I was afraid we wouldn’t get into the exclusive club, but Reggie’s business connections give him a lot of CLOUT. We got in with no problem.
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cohabitate (koh-HAB-ih-tait), verb تتعايش To live together as man and wife, or to live together as though one were man and wife. I don’t know why Jim and Liza don’t go ahead and get married. They’ve been COHABITATING for six years now!
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cohort (KO-hort), noun جماعه An associate or companion with whom one is united through common experience. Cohort originally referred to one of the ten divisions of a Roman legion, consisting of men who had developed strong ties of comradeship.
Because Mark and his COHORTS had grown up together in the town, leaving for different colleges was quite difficult.
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collate (KOE-late), verb جمع قارن بين النصوص فحص كتاب وازن منحه رتبة كنيسة
To arrange (usually paper) in proper or logical order.
Chef LeBlanc’s assistant was responsible for writing down the recipes and COLLATING them for inclusion in the restaurant’s internal cookbook.
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collateral (kuh-LAT-uh-rul), nounالضمان مباشر ملازم Something pledged as security or insurance for the fulfillment of an obligation or payment. (Also, as an adjective: secondary or accompanying.)
Sheila offered her house as COLLATERAL in order to obtain the loan she needed to start her business.
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combustible (kum-BUS-tih-bul), adjective مادة قابلة للاحتراق محروق سريع الغضب
Susceptible to catching fire; able to be burned.
The local consumer group tried to help make neighborhood homes as safe as possible by publishing lists of products found to be poisonous, COMBUSTIBLE, or potentially hazardous to small children.
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commemorate (kum-MEM-uh-rate), verb احياء ذكرى احتفل بذكرى
To serve as a memorial for; to mark or celebrate as a significant event.
Arthur, a Korean War veteran, would COMMEMORATE Memorial Day by visiting the cemetery and placing flags on the graves of friends who had fallen in battle.
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compensate (KOM-pun-sate), verb تعويض عِوَض على كافأ عِوَض عن عادل
Something given in return for or to make up for services performed, or for something lost; something given in exchange.
Although management COMPENSATED George for crossing the picket line during the strike by giving him a promotion and a big raise, he had lost several friends as a result of his decision and regretted it bitterly.
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compile (kum-PILE), verb جمع الف صنف كتب To gather or put together in one place or form. The disc jockey asked Janet and Peter to COMPILE a list of the songs they would most like to hear at their wedding.
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complement (KOM-pluh-munt), verb and nounتكملة تتمة ل متمم مجموعة كاملة To accompany in a pleasing or harmonious style. Also, as a noun: something that completes or brings to perfection. (See, for comparison, the entry for compliment.)
That scarf you’re wearing certainly COMPLEMENTS your blouse.
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complementary (kom-pluh-MEN-tuh-ree), adjective مكمل متتام Serving to complete or to accompany in a harmonious fashion. (See, for comparison, the entry for complimentary.) The trick is to pick a living room style COMPLEMENTARY to the one we’ve already established in the kitchen.
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compliant (kum-PLY-ant), adjective مطيع مذعن مساير مطاوع لين العريكة
Submissive; yielding.
After we phoned the police a few times, our noisy neighbor found it in his heart to be more COMPLIANT when we asked him to keep down the racket.
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compliment (KOM-pluh-munt), verb جامل هنأ طرى هدى على سبيل المجاملة To praise or flatter. (See, for comparison, the entry for complement.) The waiter COMPLIMENTED Harry on his choice of wine.
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complimentary (kom-pluh-MEN-tuh-ree), adjective مجاني مدحي مجامل Expressing praise or admiration; also, extended without charge. (See, for comparison, the entry for complementary.) The play was uneven and only mildly interesting, but I couldn’t complain too much, as the tickets had been COMPLIMENTARY.
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compose (kum-POZE), verb تشكل ركب الف الألحان جمع سوى نظم وضد أنهى كتب To be the constituent components of; to make up. (See, for comparison, the entry for comprise.) Teamwork COMPOSES the essence of success in business.
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concord (KAHN-cord), nounتوافق انسجام تناغم رفاء سلام A state of agreement and harmony. While most siblings fight, the CONCORD among the Lewis triplets is nothing short of phenomenal.
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concise (kun-SICE), adjective موجز مختصر ايجازي
Clear and to the point; brief; expressing much with few words.
Rather than detail the grievances he had with his supervisor, Randy handed in a CONCISE resignation letter outlining his desire to move on to something new.
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concoct (kun-KOKT), verbاخترع دبر أعد حضر مزج دواؤه لفق To combine in the process of preparation. How on earth did Myra manage to CONCOCT a story like that for her mother on such short notice?
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concourse (KON-korse), nounالتقاء تجمع حشد احتشد ملتقى An assembly of a large number of people. A concourse can also be a large open area meant to accommodate public gatherings. He looked all around the CONCOURSE, but could not see Robin.
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concur (kun-KUR), verbاتفاق تعاون التقى تزامن To agree; to share the same opinion. The prosecutor felt that Jim’s crime deserved the maximum penalty, but the judge did not CONCUR.
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concurrence (kun-KER-runce), noun تزامن مزاحمة مسابقة تطابق منافسة The condition of being in agreement. To concur is to agree, so a concurrence is in effect when two or more people have “signed on”
to a given idea, plan, or judgment.
I will proceed with the acquisition; as president, I do not require anyone else’s CONCURRENCE.
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condensed (kun-DENSED), adjective المختصرة
Shortened; decreased in size; compressed, made more concise.
Cindy thought she could get through the class by reading only the CONDENSED versions of the novels that had been assigned, but she ended up failing both the midterm and the final.
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conduit (KAHN-dew-it), noun قناة أنبوب ترعة A means by which something is transmitted. A traveler from Malaysia turned out to be the CONDUIT for the deadly epidemic.
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confiscate (KON-fiss-kate), verb صادر الممتلكات مصادرة To deprive of (one’s property), especially as part of an official or governmental body. The news that his boat had been CONFISCATED by the IRS to satisfy his back tax debt hit Michael like a body blow.
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conform (kun-FORM), verb تكيف طابق كيف أطاع جعله مطابقا
To go along with what is popular; to follow the actions of others. Also: not to be in violation of (a rule, principle, ideal, or edict).
As though eager to prove she had no intention of CONFORMING to her parents’ idea of the perfect daughter, Bridget left home at eighteen to become a truck driver.
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congeal (kuhn-JEEL), verb تحجر جمد عقد خثر حجر When discussing inanimate objects, something congeals when it thickens or gels. When discussing people’s attitudes, “congeal” means to become hard-headed and rigid.
Over time, the delusions that caused my father-in-law to launch a multitude of harebrained schemes CONGEALED until it was impossible to talk sense to him.
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congenial (kun-JEEN-ee-ul), adjective متجانس روحا وطبعا Having similar habits or tastes; temperamentally suitable. Congenial surroundings are those that yield a sense of being pleasant and inviting. (Congenial is sometimes confused with congenital, see below.)
He found Jane a CONGENIAL hostess: easy to engage in conversation and knowledgeable on topics of interest to others.
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conjecture (kun-JEK-shur), noun حدس حرز
Speculation based on inconclusive data or on evidence that is not complete. A conjecture can be considered a “best guess” unsupported by fact or observation.
The item that appeared in your column of December 16th is based totally on CONJECTURE, and is extremely misleading.
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conjugate (KAHN-juh-gut OR KAHN-juh-gate), verb وحد صرف قرن
To join together, especially in a pair or in pairs.
As soon as the music started, men and women began to CONJUGATE on the dance floor.
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conjure (KON-jur), verb ناشد شعوذ استحضر الأرواح سحر مارس السحر
To summon or bring about (as if by supernatural means). Someone who conjures up an image of something brings it to mind in a vivid way.
I cannot simply CONJURE up the figures you are looking for; the project will take some time.
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connoisseur (KAHN-uh-sue-er), nounمتذوق واع خبير This French word refers to someone who is an expert in a field, especially in one of the fine arts. Jake is a CONNOISSEUR of rare blues 78s.
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consensus (kun-SEN-sus), noun اجماع اتفاق جماعي في الرأي
Collective agreement.
There was a strong consensus around town that Mayor Bergeron was doing a poor job a CONSENSUS that extended to both of his children, his uncles, and his barber.
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conspicuous (kun-SPIK-yoo-uss), adjective بارز ظاهر واضح جلي راعي Strikingly noticeable; obvious. The present Supreme Court term has been marked by a CONSPICUOUS absence of controversial cases.
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consternation (kahn-ster-NAY-shun), noun ذعر رعب A sense of alarm, confusion, or amazement. The repeated arguments with my wife over the same issues filled me with CONSTERNATION.
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construe (kun-STROO), verbحلل فسر ترجم To interpret or guess the meaning of. Ann’s constant tardiness was CONSTRUED by her supervisor as an inability to balance the demands of her job and her family.
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contingent (kuhn-TIN-jent), adjective or noun فريق ممثل لبلاده تصادف مشروط ممكن منوط ب As a noun, “contingent” refers to people who are considered representative of a larger group. As an adjective, something contingent
is either accidental or dependent upon something else in order to occur.
Getting to the concert on time is CONTINGENT on you getting to my house by 7:30.
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contrite (kun-TRITE), adjective نادم منسحب الفؤاد صادر عن ندم Inclined to express penitence or apology. Myrtle’s CONTRITE speech did little to mitigate her supervisor’s frustration at the delay in the release of the Model X.
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convalescence (kon-vuh-LESS-unce), nounتفاهة التشافي The process of regaining one’s health after an illness. Convalescence is derived from the Latin for “to grow stronger.” Her CONVALESCENCE was impeded by the primitive medical facilities on the island.
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convene (kun-VEEN), verbعقد التأم اجتمع دعا للمثول To gather or assemble. The legislature will not CONVENE this year until February 1.
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convoluted (kon-vuh-LOO-tid), adjectiveملتف مفوف معقد Complicated and twisted; intermingled or intimately folded together. Convoluted means, literally, folded into a coil or spiral; it is
more commonly used to express an extreme state of complication and/or interdependency.
His argument, though perhaps sound to an expert in the field, seemed extremely CONVOLUTED to me.
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cord (kord), nounحبل رباط خيوط وتر قيطان نسيج فتيل بنطلون مصنوع من القيطان A thin piece of rope, plastic, etc. (See, for comparison, the entry for chord.) Today’s rock artists are used to performing with microphones that do not require CORDS.
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cordial (KORD-jull), adjective ودي حار قلبي عميق شديد Pleasant; marked by warmth or kindness.
The Fords extended a CORDIAL welcome to us as we arrived for the party.
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cosmic (KOZ-mik), adjectiveكوني واسع الى ابعد حد Of or pertaining to the universe as a whole; also, far-reaching or pervasive. It is my hope that the council will use our report as a blueprint for COSMIC, rather than cosmetic, changes in city government.
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cosmopolitan (kahz-muh-PAUL-uh-ton), adjectiveعالمي غير محلي Describes someone who is worldly and sophisticated. You would never think someone so COSMOPOLITAN was raised in a small town two hundred miles from the nearest city.
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council (KOWN-sul), nounمجلس مستشار مجمع كني مدلوله في مجلس نادٍ فرع محلي An assembly gathered together for deliberation or consultation. The neighborhood COUNCIL meets every Tuesday night to discuss issues of interest to our community.
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counsel (KOWN-sul), nounمستشار قانوني مشورة نصيحة خطة تشاور تداول A discussion of ideas or opinions. Katrina’s advisor was always available to COUNSEL her about work-related issues.
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counterculture (KOUNT-er-kuhl-chuhr), nounالثقافة المضادة A group of people—typically young people—whose actions and values oppose those of the larger society. Whether the nation is at war or at peace, it always spawns a COUNTERCULTURE.
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counterintuitive (kount-er-in-TOO-ih-tiv), adjective بديهي
An assertion or belief that does not seem logical but which, in practice, turns out to be true and accurate.
Since people have so much more control over local politics, it seems COUNTERINTUITIVE that people are more likely to vote for president of the United States than for city council members.
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covenant (KUH-vuh-nent), nounعهد ميثاق تعهد بموجب عقد اتفاقية A binding agreement entered into by two or more. According to the Bible, a covenant was made between the ancient Israelites and
Jehovah.
To James the arrangement was an informal understanding, but to Michael it was a holy COVENANT.
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covert (KO-vert), adjectiveخفي سقف ظليل Secret; covered over. Something that is covert is concealed or surreptitious. The COVERT operation was a success, but only a few people would ever know its significance.
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cow (cow), verbبقرة أنثى الفيل أنثى الحوت روع As a verb, “cow” means to intimidate, to frighten with a show of strength. Even after the Blitz’s repeated bombings, England was not COWED by Hitler’s Nazis.
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crag (kragg), nounحنجرة صخرة جرف شديد الانحدار عنق A steep rock formation rising higher than its surrounding rocks. Because this was my first rock-climbing experience, I regarded the huge CRAG we were approaching with some nervousness.
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credence (KREE-dence), noun تصديق اعتماد ايمان Acceptance as factual; legitimacy. Credence is belief or plausibility. His pacifist arguments lost CREDENCE when he admitted that he had worked for a defense contractor for some years.
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credible (KRED-ih-bul), adjective موثوق معقول Worthy of belief; plausible. (See, for comparison, the entry for creditable.) The prosecution’s witnesses seemed forthright and CREDIBLE, while those of the defense weren’t quite as believable.
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creditable (KRED-ih-tuh-bull), adjective جدير بالتصديق جدير بالاكبار كتاب اعتماد مالي Worthy of praise. (See, for comparison, the entry for credible.) You’ve done a CREDITABLE job on this project, Farnsworth; remind me to give you a raise.
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croissant (kruh-SONT or kwa-SON), noun كرواسون A crescent-shaped roll or pastry, sometimes prepared with a sweet or savory filling.
For Ellen, the CROISSANTS and fresh-squeezed orange juice were about the only things that made the company’s breakfast meetings bearable.
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cryptic (KRIP-tik), adjective خفي مبهم سري ملغم
Secret; coded; concealed from open understanding.
After making a few CRYPTIC comments on the impermanence of all artistic effort, Melody slunk into her room; we learned in the morning that she had burned every page of her manuscript.
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crystalline (KRISS-tuh-lean), adjective بلوري Extremely clear or clear-cut, resembling crystal. The docent’s CRYSTALLINE description of a springhouse was easily understood by the children.
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culminate (KUL-mih-nate), verb تكبد بلغ الأوج تأوج يبلغ الذروة To climax or reach a high point. Something that culminates concludes or reaches its fulfillment. The seemingly endless series of Union victories CULMINATE in Lee’s surrender at Appomatox.
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cumbersome (KUM-ber-sum), adjective ثقيل بطيء Hard to manage; awkward in handling due to bulk, weight, or extent. Something that is troublesome and unwieldy is cumbersome. The six-volume set is exhaustive, but rather CUMBERSOME; I prefer the abridged version.
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curvaceous (kurr-VAY-shuss), adjective رشيق Having shapely and voluptuous curves. In the five years since I last saw her, Brenda had blossomed from a beanpole tomboy into a CURVACEOUS young beauty.
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cusp (kusp), noun نتوء مصطلح لغة احد قرني الهلال طرف مستدق A point formed by the intersection of two curves. Just above the CUSP of the arch was a hook meant to hold a hanging plant.
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dabble (DAB-uhl), verb اشتغل بلل مارس الهواية لعب في الماء رطب رش الماء To work in something or concern oneself with something in an offhand manner. I always just thought I DABBLED in watercolors until the mayor saw one of my paintings and offered me a thousand dollars for it.
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dank (dank), adjective شديد الرطوبة رطب بارد Damp and chilly. That which is unpleasantly cold and moist is dank. Inside the cold, DANK recesses of the cave, Fred felt suddenly and terrifyingly isolated.
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daub (dawb), verb جصص لطخ لوث رسم بغير إتقان طين دهن بغير إتقان
To smear with a sticky substance; to paint a surface in a hurried fashion.
I can see you’ve DAUBED a little black grease paint under your nose, Frank, but I’m afraid a good Groucho costume will require more than that.
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deadlock (DED-lok), noun مأزق جمود اخفاق ورطة
An impasse resulting from two opposing and resistant forces.
With one member absent due to illness, the council found itself facing a four-to-four DEADLOCK after nearly two days of debate on the measure.
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debonair (deb-uh-NAIR), adjective مبتهج ذو كياسة Suave: sophisticated and charming. Debonair derives from the French for “of good lineage.” Paul’s DEBONAIR manner never abandoned him, even at the most difficult moments.
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debug (dee-BUG), verb صحح عالج التصحيح
To remove errors from (a computer program).
Although the initial programming work was complete, Aaron anticipated that the DEBUGGING process would be long and arduous.
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debutante (DEB-yoo-tont), noun فتاة تظهر لأول مرة في المناسبات الاجتماعية
A young woman making her debut into society; any unmarried young woman perceived to move in high social circles.
Amanda and her friends scanned the newspaper’s society column for a review of their DEBUTANTE ball.
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decipher (dih-CIE-fur), verb حل الشفرة فك العالق
To figure out or make sense of; to get the meaning of (particularly with relation to ancient or difficult writing).
“If we can DECIPHER the symbols on these scrolls,” said the archaeologist, “I believe we’ ll know exactly where to look for the tomb.”
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decree (dih-KREE), nounمرسوم قرار فرمان امر عال قضى حكم قضائي امر An official order or announcement, especially from the government or another recognized authority, that settles a matter with finality;
also, to issue such an order.
The DECREE mandating integration of public schools set off one of the most bitterly divisive conflicts in the town’s history.
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deduce (di-DOOSE), verb استنتج استدل استفاد تتبع منشأ
To infer; to derive from evidence or assumption. Deduce can also mean to trace down, but the logical sense is much more widespread.
Holmes looked around the garden and somehow DEDUCED that the killer was a man of middle age with thinning brown hair, approximately six feet tall.
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deem (deem), verb اعتبر حسب اعتقد رأى رأيا
To judge; to regard or assess.
For reasons the writer could not fathom, his boardroom scene, which contained no nudity or violence and only the mildest language, was DEEMED unsuitable for network broadcast.
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deescalate (dee-ES-kuh-late), verb To diminish in size, intensity, or extent. Deescalate is the opposite of escalate. The president’s decision to DEESCALATE the war won him considerable support on the nation’s college campuses.
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defer (dih-FUR), verb تأجيل اجل أرجأ أذعن نزل عند To delay or put off until another time; also, to yield with respect. With regard to the scheduling of our announcement, I DEFER to my friend the chairman.
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deference (DEF-er-ence), noun مراعاة إذعان احترام Due respect or submission to the ideas and/or judgment of another. Deference is the courtesy of yielding to a (presumably higher, senior, or more authoritative) entity.
In DEFERENCE to my family’s wishes, I am not discussing this issue with the media.
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deficient (dih-FISH-unt), adjective ناقص ضعيف شخص ضعيف العقل Lacking. As a result of a diet DEFICIENT in calcium, Cathy’s fingernails were very thin and easily broken.
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deft (deft), adjectiveماهر Skillful and quick in one’s movements or actions. The magician’s DEFT fingers seemed to make all manner of objects disappear and reappear.
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degenerate (di-JEN-er-it), adjective and nounمنحط منحل فاسد الأخلاق منحرف تناسليا متفسخ Having regressed or descended to a lower state. As a noun, degenerate means a person who has declined to a point of immorality or low refinement.
What began as an intellectually rigorous debate concluded as a DEGENERATE shouting match.
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deign (dane), verb تفضل تلطف تنازل اعطى To condescend; to lower oneself to a position or role considered unsuitable. Since Walter won that writing prize, he hasn’t DEIGNED to return any of my phone calls.
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delectable (de-LEK-tuh-bull), adjectiveلذيذ سار جدا Highly pleasing; enjoyable (especially of a food). Delectable is derived from the Latin root for “delightful.” The Thanksgiving table was crammed with DELECTABLE dishes, but they would not be eaten that night; the news from abroad had diminished everyone’s appetite.
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delete (duh-LEET), verb حذف شطب
To leave out or omit.
After a brief discussion with the principal, the members of the booster club decided to DELETE the section of their cheer that questioned the ancestry of the coach of the Brentwater football team.
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delusion (de-LOO-zhun), nounوهم خداع انخداع دَجَل ضلال غرور An accepted (but undetected) falsehood. To delude is to deceive or mislead; a delusion is an instance of that act. His DELUSIONS increased to such a point that rational discussion was impossible.
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demerit (dih-MARE-it), nounنقيصة عيب A mark resulting in a loss of privilege for an offender. Max received five DEMERITS from Mrs. Collins for his constant tardiness.
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demographics (dih-muh-GRAF-icks), noun التركيبة السكانية The study of people’s lifestyles, habits, spending, etc., typically for the purpose of targeting products for—or culling votes from— these different sub-groups.
The DEMOGRAPHICS suggested that the new flavor of juice would be a hit with young mothers.
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demure (di-MYOOR), adjective رزين محتشم متظاهر بالرزانة
Modest; affecting a reserved and shy appearance. Someone whose behavior is (outwardly, at least) sober, retiring, or sedate is demure.
Mr. Atkins found the Hallis twins DEMURE, and wondered at what they would say about him when he left.
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denounce (dih-NOWNTS), verb شجب استنكر اتهم ابلغ شعر رسميا بشجب To criticize or speak out against someone or something. Joan DENOUNCED Walter for his sexist opinions.
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denunciation (de-nun-see-AY-shun), noun استنكار شجب إشعار رسمي اتهام The act or example of denouncing. Denunciation is the act of accusing another (usually in a public forum) of some misdeed. Paul’s angry DENUNCIATION of his former company shocked even his friends.
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deplete (dih-PLEET), verb استنفد خفض استنزف
To use up completely; to exhaust.
Once the coal deposits in the valley had been DEPLETED, the town of Harlenville, which had thrived for thirty years, virtually ceased to exist.
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deplorable (de-PLORE-uh-bull), adjective بائس باعث على الاسى Extremely reproachful; worthy of censure. Something that is deplorable is wretched or grievous. Bill’s spelling was DEPLORABLE; all his friends told him it was hopeless to pursue a career as a proofreader.
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depreciation (dih-pree-shee-AY-shun), nounإلغاء قيمته خفض انتقاص من القيمة A decrease in value, quality, or power, particularly due to wear or age. Thanks to five years of DEPRECIATION, I couldn’t get more than $2,000 for that car if I took it back to the dealer now.
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derision (de-RIZH-un), noun سخرية موضوع سخرية
Ridicule. Derision is formed from the verb “deride,” meaning “to belittle or make light of something or someone.”
War seems imminent; our suggestions on finding a peaceful solution to this crisis have been met with DERISION from the other side.
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derring-do (DARE-ing-DOO), noun عمل جريء جسارة جرأة Heroic deeds; acts of bravery. Luke Skywalker’s challenges and feats of DERRING-DO are perhaps the most memorable elements of the Star Wars trilogy.
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designate (DEZ-ig-nate), verbاختار لمنصبه دل أشار صنف عين سمى لقب رمز To indicate; to point out or specify.
The Walker sisters DESIGNATED the last Thursday of each month as their evening to leave their husbands at home and go out to dinner together.
الجزء الثاني كلمات يجب عليك تعلمها
Words You Absolutely Should Know
PART I
Words You Absolutely Should Know
If you pride yourself as a good communicator, you absolutely must know the words in this section. If items on this list are unfamiliar to you, learn them immediately or risk being at an embarrassing loss for words!
despondency (di-SPON-dun-see), noun جزع قنوط كآبه Dejection; depression. Despondency is marked by a feeling that all hope is in vain. It took Cloris several weeks to emerge from the DESPONDENCY that accompanied her breakup.
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destitute (DESS-tih-tyoot), adjectiveمعدم معوز محروم عاطل عن فقير Lacking something necessary; often refers to extreme poverty. The DESTITUTE family still managed to put something into the collection plate every Sunday.
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detain (dih-TANE), verb اخر أعاق حجز سجن To delay; to keep from going on; to confine. The border police DETAINED the pair for two hours while they searched every inch of their vehicle for narcotics.
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deterrent (dih-TURR-ent), noun رادع عائق ضابط ردع مانع Something that prevents something from happening. My mom and dad’s presence at the condo acted as a DETERRENT to any hanky panky between me and my new girlfriend.
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detrimental (det-rih-MEN-tul), adjective ضار مؤذ شخص مضر متلف Damaging or harmful in effect. Your husband’s cruel words to the children will prove DETRIMENTAL to his cause during the custody hearing.
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deviate (DEE-vee-ate), verb انحرف شذ المنحرف جنسيا حرف To turn away from or go off course; change course or direction. As a noun (DEE-vee-ut), a person who departs from the standard or norm.
My daughter’s choice to wear cowboy boots with her wedding gown certainly DEVIATED from my standards of propriety, but there was no changing her mind.
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dexterity (dek-STARE-ih-tee), noun براعة مهارة خفة حذق
Adroitness; the quality of being skilled in using one’s hands and body.
I couldn’t hit a jump-shot to save my life, but my speed, DEXTERITY, and passing ability made me a valuable member of the varsity basketball team.
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dexterous (DEK-ster-uss), adjective حاذق سكر العنب بارع متقن
Skillful. Dexterous has its roots in the Latin for “right”—since that is the hand with which the majority of people are most skillful. Byron proved a DEXTEROUS carpenter, making few errors even in his earliest days as an apprentice.
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diagnostic (die-ug-NOSS-tik), adjective تشخيصي علم تشخيص الأمراض علامة مميزة Of or pertaining to diagnosis. Something used in evaluating a person’s or thing’s condition can be said to be diagnostic in nature. The mechanic ran a DIAGNOSTIC computer test on the car.
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dialect (DIE-uh-lekt), noun لهجة لغة محليه اللهجة المميزة لإقليم او جماعة
The aspects of a language (grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary, for instance) particular to a geographic region.
Armed with four years of high school Spanish, I set out confidently on my vacation to Madrid—only to find myself adrift in a sea of incomprehensible DIALECTS on my arrival.
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dicey (DIE-see), adjective مشبوه Characterized by being risky, chancy, and of uncertain outcome. Jordan was filled with confidence about hiking the unexplored terrain, but I found the prospect pretty DICEY myself.
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diffuse (diff-YOOZ), verb نشر الضوء فرق انتشر وزع To spread out and circulate through air, water, etc. As an adjective, the word is pronounced “diff-USE” and describes something that is scattered.
Serious allergies and colds were traced to mold DIFFUSED by the faulty air conditioning system.
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dilapidated (di-LAP-ih-date), adjective متهدم خرب مهلهل
To fall into disrepair. To dilapidate is to decay or break down.
The DILAPIDATED barn swayed, heaved, and finally collapsed before Caitlyn’s eyes.
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dilute (die-LOOT), verb مذاق خفق مزج السائل شعشع اضعف اللون To make the strength of something, such as a mixture, weaker by adding additional objects, ingredients, compounds, etc. to it. Frederica never DILUTES her words. She’ ll tell you exactly how she feels.
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diminish (dih-MIN-ish), verb
قلل قلص نقص أضعف حط من القيمة استدق أصبح مستدق الطرف قل To cause to be smaller; to decrease in size or importance. In pointing out these problems, I don’t mean for a moment to DIMINISH the achievements of your department this year.
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din (din), noun or verb ضج ضجيج وصم بالضجيج كرر بإلحاح حدث ضجة As a verb, “din” means to instill by constant repetition. As a noun, “din” is a noisy disturbance. I could barely hear the waiter above the DIN in the popular restaurant.
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diorama (di-uh-RA-mah), noun صور الخاصة
A small model of a scene featuring painted figures and backgrounds.
Using a cardboard box, paint, and plaster of Paris, Frank helped his son construct a working DIORAMA of a corner store for a school art project.
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diplomacy (dih-PLO-muh-see), noun دبلوماسية لباقة حسن تدبر The conduct of relations among nations. Diplomacy can also refer to a tact among individuals that calls to mind the great discretion and sensitivity required of diplomats.
When DIPLOMACY fails, it is too often the young who pay the price of death on the battlefield.
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dirge (durj), noun لحن حزين ترنيمة جنائزية نشيد وطني
A funeral song; a song of mourning.
The DIRGE from Cymbeline, according to Professor Alpert, is the only worthwhile passage to be found in that seldom-produced Shakespeare play.
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disburse (dis-BURSE), verb أنفق دفع وزع To pay out; to expend. After meeting with the president, our comptroller was finally authorized to DISBURSE the funds.
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discombobulate (diss-kum-BOB-yoo-late), verb يلخبط To confuse or throw into an awkward predicament. To say that someone is discombobulated is to say that he is utterly disconcerted. The frenzied pace of eight hours on the trading floor had left me utterly DISCOMBOBULATED.
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disconcerting (diss-kun-SERT-ing), adjective مقلق Ruffled; upset. That which upsets harmony or balance is disconcerting. Michelle’s escapades were quite DISCONCERTING to her parents.
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discreet (dis-KREET), adjective حصيف حذر كتوم سري عاقل حكيم
Displaying or possessing tact and restraint in behavior and speech.
Mel felt his mother had been less than DISCREET in marrying Claude so soon after her first husband’s funeral, and that she could easily have waited six months or so rather than three weeks.
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discrepancy (dis-KREP-un-see), noun تناقض Inconsistency; an instance of disagreement or difference. John was the only one to notice the DISCREPANCY between the cash register receipts and the amount of money in the drawer.
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discretion (dis-KRESH-un), noun حرية التصرف The ability or right to make decisions independently; also, the ability to be tactful and act with decorum. Tim’s use of profanity at the dinner party showed a startling lack of DISCRETION.
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disdain (diss-DANE), verb ازدراء To treat with contempt; to dismiss haughtily. To disdain is to reject due to unworthiness.
Mark DISDAINS Janet’s company; he cannot forgive her lapse at last September’s party.
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disgruntle (diss-GRUN-tull), verb يثير الاستياء To cause to become cross or discontented ناقم . To disgruntle is also to cause to feel cheated. After years of mistreatment, the striking employees felt DISGRUNTLED.
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disparity (diss-PARE-ih-tee), noun تفاوت The condition of being inequivalent or unequal. Disparity is inequality in age, measure, or extent. The DISPARITY between the two horses was obvious: one was a swaybacked old nag, the other a stunning thoroughbred.
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dispel (dis-PELL), verb يبدد يزيل تبديد To disperse; to drive away. After the rioters had been DISPELLED and the fires put out, an eerie quiet fell over the smoldering city streets.
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disperse (dis-PURSE), verb شتت فرق نثر بدد To cause to scatter or to break up. With a few angry words, the candidate DISPERSED the meeting and stormed off.
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disseminate (diss-SEM-ih-nate), verb نشر نثر بذر نشر أفكاره انتثر To scatter across a broad spectrum; to spread far and wide. To disseminate is to promulgate (a message, for instance). In DISSEMINATING this information, Mr. Powers placed innumerable foreign operatives at grave risk.
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dissipate (DISS-ih-pate), verb تبدد بدد شتت أنفق بحماقة انقشع انغمس بالملذات أسرف To dispel by means of dispersal. To dissipate is also to vanish or cease. The rain DISSIPATED and the flood waters receded.
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dissonance (DISS-uh-nunce), noun تنافر نشاز لا انسجام A harsh or inharmonious combination, especially of sounds. Elements of a logical argument that are in conflict can also be said to be
in dissonance.
I could have no peace; the city’s DISSONANCE poured unceasingly into my apartment.
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divergence (di-VER-gence), noun اختلاف انحراف تشعب
The act or process of departing from a given course or pattern. That which extends in separate directions from a single point experiences a divergence.
The DIVERGENCE in our opinions begins with the question of whether there can ever be a just war.
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divulge (dih-VULJ), verb كشف افشى سرا باح كشف To make public something that once was secret. Most information about John F. Kennedy’s extramarital inclinations was not DIVULGED until after the president’s death.
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DNA (dee enn ay), noun الحمض النووي
A molecule that carries genetic information in all life forms. The workings of DNA are central concerns of biology and genetics.
The fantasy film E.T. led us to believe that space aliens, like humans, possess DNA, but it is safe to say that scientists are fairly skeptical about the whole subject.
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docile (DOSS-ul), adjective منصاع طيع سهل الانقياد قابل للتعليم راغب للتعليم Easily taught. In addition, someone is docile if he is submissive and easily led. Susan was DOCILE in her younger days, but shows a real independent streak now.
dogged (DAW-gid), adjective Stubbornly obstinate in pursuit of a particular goal. Janice’s DOGGED determination to get to the truth of every story makes her an excellent reporter.
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dogmatic (dog-MAT-ik), adjective عقائدي جازم مقزز دوغماتي Adhering rigidly to a principle or belief. Someone who takes a dogmatic approach to an issue stays within ideological bounds at all
times, even when circumstances might seem to dictate another course.
The most DOGMATIC of the king’s advisors proved to be of little help during the crisis.
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doldrums (DOLE-drums), noun ركود وحزن A spell of low feeling; an instance of sadness or stagnation. Also: a specific belt of calms and light winds in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, difficult to navigate by sail.
Kyle is in the DOLDRUMS because he doesn’t have enough money to go to the concert with his buddies.
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domain (do-MANE), noun نطاق مجال ميدان حقل مقاطعة ملكية تامة
An area over which one rules; a field within which one has power, influence or authority; a sphere of influence.
The local hockey rink was truly Jon’s DOMAIN; when he steeped onto the ice, every other player stopped for a moment to watch him with mingled fear and respect.
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domesticate (do-MESS-ti-kate), verb دجن روض أهل تمدن جعله في مستوى إفهام عامة To make accustomed to home life. To domesticate often carries the sense of refining another’s “uncivilized” instincts. Though she had done her best to DOMESTICATE Charles, Prudence had to admit that he was still a difficult marriage partner.
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double-entendre (DUH-bul on-TON-druh), noun تورية ثنائي المفهوم ثنائي المعنى A statement in which one or many of the words may be interpreted in several ways, resulting in ambiguity; an expression that can be taken two ways, one of which often has sexual or threatening undertones.
Although Japanese adult comic books must abide by some very stringent codes forbidding profanity and the overt depiction of sexual activity, they often feature a barrage of steamy DOUBLE-ENTENDRES.
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dour (dowr), adjective عنيد صارم
Grim, stern, or sullen.
Nelson, the McKays’ DOUR old butler, always made me feel as though I had transgressed some grave social precept in coming to visit Marjorie.
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douse (dowce), verb غمر طمس اطفآ خلع ثيابه نضح بالماء To cover with a liquid thoroughly; to drench or soak. (See, for comparison, the entry for dowse.) Even after DOUSING the charcoal with lighter fluid, Uncle Al couldn’t seem to get the grill fired up.
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downside (DOWN-side), noun الجانب السلبي
A negative aspect attending a proposal or option; particularly, the potential hazard accompanying a business proposition.
The advantage of accepting your proposal, of course, is that it allows us to get the planes back in the air; the DOWNSIDE is that we must accept the decision of the arbitrator as final even if it goes against the interests of our stockholders.
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dwindle (DWIN-dul), verb تضاءل ضاءل تقلص To become smaller; to shrink or waste away; to decrease. I had planned to run away forever, but my DWINDLING supply of cookies and pennies forced me to return home by nightfall.
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dyslexia (dis-LEKS-ee-uh), noun عسر القراءة Unusual trouble with spelling or reading caused by a brain condition. Dyslexia is rooted in an impairment in interpreting spatial
relationships.
Judith’s DYSLEXIA frequently caused her to transpose letters in words.
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earthy (EARTH-ee), adjective ترابي عملي فظ
Be careful with this word. It CAN suggest someone who is down-to-earth and practical, but it also can be used as an insult, to suggest that someone is crude and tasteless.
Immediately after the accident, Jody forgot her usually impeccable manners and let loose a string of EARTHY accusations directed at the other driver.
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eccentric (ek-SEN-trik), adjective Unpredictable; erratic or marked by unconventional behavior. Someone who is given to odd behavior can be considered eccentric. Lionel’s ECCENTRIC behavior eventually led to problems with his father.
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eclectic (ek-LEK-tic), adjective غريب الأطوار شاذ منحرف عن المسار لا متراكز Choosing from a variety of sources or origins. Something that offers a diverse selection of items, styles, or approaches is said to be
eclectic.
Ryan’s anthology offers selections from authors from around the world, resulting in a rather ECLECTIC volume.
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ecology (ee-KAHL-uh-jee), noun علم البيئة علم التنبؤ The study of how organisms interact with each other and with their environment. You might also hear the adjective form of this word, which is “ecological.”
The study of ECOLOGY led scientists to discover global warming.
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ecosystem (EE-ko-sis-tuhm), noun النظام البيئي
The interaction of all living organisms within a particular environment.
Carl has created an interesting new ECOSYSTEM in his room, since his domain includes everything from uneaten slices of pizza to filthy sweatsocks.
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ecstatic (eck-STAT-ick), adjective شاطئ وجد Describes a feeling of great delight, even rapture. June was ECSTATIC when she learned she had gotten the job.
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eddy (EDD-ee), noun دوامة تيار عكسي
A small current of air or water that flows against the main current; a small whirlpool or whirlwind.
Because it had a strong undertow and a multitude of unpredictable EDDIES, the sound was considered dangerous for even the strongest and most experienced swimmers.
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effect (ih-FECT), noun تأثير انطباع وقع نتيجة فحوى جوهر مفعول ثمرة ممتلكات منقولة A thing taking place as the result of a cause. Also, as a verb (often pronounced ee-FEKT), to cause or influence (a change); to bring about a hoped-for outcome. (See, for comparison, the entry for affect.)
The entrepreneur’s entry into the race had the EFFECT of splitting the Republican vote.
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effeminate (eh-FEM-uh-nit), adjective مخنث متخنث متأنث
More reminiscent of women than men. Effeminate was once a positive description of female refinement; today, it is more common as a derogatory word used to question a male’s masculinity. (Contrast this word with effete, below.)
Dean, a quiet, thoughtful boy, was sometimes labeled as EFFEMINATE by his crueler classmates.
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eke (eek), verb
To supplement through adversity. Also: to survive or subsist by means of hard labor or strenuous effort. Eke (usually used with “out”) is derived from the Greek for “augment.”
Roger managed to EKE out an existence by working two jobs.
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elapse (ee-LAPS), verb To pass or go by (said of time). Two hours ELAPSED at the dentist’s office before my name was finally called.
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elicit (ih-LISS-it), verb To bring out. To elicit is to evoke or stimulate so as to yield a response. Elicit is occasionally confused with illicit, which means
“improper or illegal.”
Of the many responses our broadcast ELICITED, I like Mrs. Miller’s the best.
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elitism (ih-LEE-tiz-um), noun
Adherence to the belief that leadership is best managed by an elite (a group considered to be the highest or best class). Elitism often carries negative overtones of snobbery.
We have not worked so long for democracy to see it exchanged halfheartedly for ELITISM.
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elliptical (ih-LIP-tuh-kuhl), adjective In addition to meaning “shaped like an ellipse,” “elliptical” describes writing or speech that is intentionally obscure. I could not follow the professor’s ELLIPTICAL arguments, so I dropped his course.
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eloquent (EL-oh-kwent), adjective Fluent and persuasive in speech or expression. Eloquent people are convincing and pleasant to listen to. Lincoln and Douglas, both ELOQUENT debaters, knew that much more was at stake in their public meetings than a Senate seat.
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elusive (ee-LOO-siv), adjective
Difficult to perceive, comprehend, or describe. An elusive issue or point is one that would require real work to grasp completely.
Our goals are easily understood; the nature of the obstacles we face is somewhat more ELUSIVE.
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emanate (EM-uh-nate), verb To issue forth as from a source. To emanate is to flow from a point. The sounds EMANATING from the room next door were not comforting.
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emancipate (ee-MAN-si-pate), verb To liberate. That which emancipates frees from restraint or oppression. Lincoln’s decision to EMANCIPATE the slaves is considered by many to be the most significant event of the period.
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embellish (em-BELL-ish), verb To ornament and beautify. To embellish is to improve in appearance by adornment; an embellishment, then, can be a fanciful
addition (or, by extension, even a convenient exaggeration of the facts).
Marie’s gown was EMBELLISHED with tiny pearls.
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embodiment (em-BOD-ee-ment), noun
The incarnation (of a given thing or idea); the condition of being embodied. To be the embodiment of something is to be so imbued with it as to be its physical representation.
Jane was usually the EMBODIMENT of tact; her slip at the party was most uncharacteristic.
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embroil (im-BROIL), verb To force someone into a situation or to cause someone to become involved in a situation. Even though I was apathetic about the argument at first, I soon found myself EMBROILED in it.
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embryo (EMM-bree-oh), noun Something that is undeveloped or that is just beginning. Walt’s home-based business was the EMBRYO that launched his industrial empire.
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emigrant (EM-ih-grunt), noun
One who leaves a country or region for the purpose of settling in another.
The Irish potato famine of the 1840s turned many relatively prosperous citizens into penniless EMIGRANTS bound for the United States.
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eminence (EM-ih-nunce), noun Superiority or outstanding notability. An eminent person is one of great achievements or high rank. Eminence may be used as part of a formal form of address.
His EMINENCE Cardinal Powers has asked me to respond to your letter.
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eminent (EM-ih-nunt), adjective
Prominent or noted; of high esteem; outstanding and distinguished.
I found the prospect of studying physics under an EMINENT professor like Dr. Maxwell, who had just won a Nobel prize, daunting to say the least.
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emissary (EM-ih-sare-ee), noun An agent acting in the interests of another party. An emissary is one sent to undertake a mission or task as a representative. The president’s EMISSARY left on a special plane from Washington; his time of return was unknown.
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empathize (EM-puh-thize), verb To share another’s emotions. To empathize with someone is to understand and identify with his situation and feelings. Although I can EMPATHIZE with your plight, there is very little I can do to help.
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emphatic (em-FA-tik), adjective Highlighted; extremely expressive. Something that is delivered with forceful or undeniable emphasis is emphatic. Beth was EMPHATIC about collecting the overdue invoice.
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emulate (EM-yoo-late), verb
To strive to match or better by means of imitation. Someone who emulates another uses that person’s actions as a model for future success or mastery.
David always felt that the key to his success was his decision to EMULATE his father in his professional and home life.
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encore (ON-kore), noun
Sustained applause, cheers and the like meant to encourage a performer or performers to appear again after the formal conclusion of a performance.
It didn’t seem possible that the maestro could ignore the our emphatic demands for an ENCORE, but when the houselights went up we all began to file slowly out of the auditorium.
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encumber (in-KUHM-ber), verb In legal terms, encumber means to place a lien on something. Generally, encumber means to load something—or someone—down with burdens.
No wonder you can’t lift your backpack. It’s ENCUMBERED with all sorts of stuff you don’t need!
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endeavor (in-DEV-ur), verb
To strive for or attempt; to try to reach.
For the better part of a decade, Michael had ENDEAVORED to turn his novel into something that would touch the souls of everyone who read it.
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engross (in-GROSS), verb To completely consume one’s attention. I was so ENGROSSED in the novel that I didn’t hear Melinda calling my name at first.
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enmesh (en-MESH), verb To involve, entangle, or implicate. Literally, enmesh means to catch with a mesh net; the word has acquired a broader metaphorical
sense as well.
The judge suddenly found himself ENMESHED in the ins and outs of local politics.
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enmity (EN-mi-tee), noun Mutual antagonism or hatred. To show enmity toward a person is to harbor animosity or bitterness toward him. The ENMITY between the feuding families only increased with the passage of time.
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ennoble (in-OH-bull), verb
To elevate or confer dignity upon someone or something.
Historians ENNOBLED that rotting shack on the edge of town after they determined that the home was once an important stop on the Underground Railroad.
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ensemble (on-SOMB-ul), noun A group of individuals performing together as, for example, a cast of actors or musicians; also, an outfit composed of complementary clothing and accessories.
Mort’s time with the jazz ENSEMBLE was humbling after his long career as a solo star, but it was the best musical experience he’ d ever had.
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enshrine (en-SHRINE), verb To cherish as though sacred; to preserve as if held within a shrine. To enshrine something is to memorialize it with the special
reverence associated with religious ceremonies.
There is a movement to ENSHRINE Shoeless Joe Jackson in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but I do not think him a suitable candidate.
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enthrall (en-THRALL), verb To hold spellbound. To enthrall is to captivate or mesmerize. Garbo’s performance was simply ENTHRALLING.
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entity (EN-tuh-tee), noun Something that exists separately. Entity can also refer more broadly to existence or being. The accounting department operated as a separate ENTITY.
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entourage (ON-too-rahj), noun
A group of associates; people who commonly surround, protect, and attend to someone of importance.
Melanie had hoped to score a front-page story by interviewing the reclusive movie star, but she never made it past his ENTOURAGE.
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entrepreneurial (on-truh-pruh-NOOR-ee-uhl), adjective Entrepreneurs start their own businesses . . . usually a risky venture. Therefore, someone who is entrepreneurial is willing to take risks, especially in order to turn a profit.
As Elaine sold more and more of her handmade jewelry, she tapped into her hitherto unknown ENTREPRENEURIAL spirit.
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environmentalist (in-VI-run-men-tull-ist), noun Someone who places a high value on the environment and works to protect or conserve it. My daughter became an amateur ENVIRONMENTALIST after her first nature hike.
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eon (EE-on), noun A very long, indefinite period of time; seemingly forever; a span of time beyond comprehension. (In the disciplines of geometry and astronomy, however, eons have specific durations.)
After what felt like several EONS, the tow truck finally arrived and we were able to haul our car back to the campground.
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epic (EP-ik), adjective Of major proportions; extraordinary. Rosa Park’s refusal to go to the back of the bus would take on legendary status in the EPIC struggle for civil rights.
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epilepsy (EP-ih-lep-see), noun A condition characterized by seizures and tremblings resulting from abnormal rhythmic impulses in the brain. Researchers believe that many of the “demonic possessions” recounted in the Bible were actually instances of EPILEPSY.
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equidistant (ee-kwih-DIS-tunt), adjective
Describes two objects, places, people, etc. that are exactly the same distance from one vantage point.
Even though the homes of my parents and my in-laws are EQUIDISTANT from us, it takes longer to reach my folks because they live on the other side of mountainous two-lane roads.
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equity (ECK-wuh-tee), noun The state of not showing bias or favoritism. Mr. Harris always manages to exhibit EQUITY toward all of his students.
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equivocal (ee-KWIV-uh-kul), adjective Capable of varying interpretation. Also: dubious, uncertain, or suspect. To say a statement is equivocal is usually to cast doubt on the
sincerity or truthfulness of the person making it.
The EQUIVOCAL nature of Paul’s replies caused many to wonder about his suitability for the post.
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eradicate (ee-RAD-ih-cate), verb To do away with utterly. To eradicate something is to wipe it out and leave no sign of it. “Until we have ERADICATED poverty,” the priest vowed, “our struggle will continue.”
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erratic (ih-RAT-ik), adjective Inconsistent; lacking a set course. Something that wanders or fluctuates unpredictably can be considered erratic. Elaine’s ERRATIC writing style irritated her superiors, who bad no time to puzzle over an indecipherable and meandering memo.
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esoteric (ess-oh-TARE-ik), adjective Comprehensible only to a particular, restricted category of people. To say something is esoteric is to say it lacks broad appeal. The novel is likely to be enthralling to those familiar with the Revolutionary War period; others may find it ESOTERIC.
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espresso (es-PRESS-oh), noun A potent, dark coffee brewed by means of forced steam. The ESPRESSO machine had to be one of the most useless birthday presents I’ d ever received, given my caffeine intolerance.
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estrange (ih-STRANGE), verb To alienate or remove from a position or relationship. A family member who is estranged by others in the family is no longer regarded as part of the group.
Her estranged brother made many attempts to visit, but Michelle would have no part of any such plan.
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etching (ETCH-ing), noun
An impression on metal or glass made by means of corrosive acid; a picture or design produced by using this process to impart a design on a plate with acid.
The ornate images on our paper currency are the result of intricate ETCHINGS meant to foil counterfeiters.
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eulogy (YOO-luh-gee), noun
Speech or writing in praise of a person, typically used for a person who has recently died. Keep in mind that an ELEGY denotes a mournful poem, one not necessarily written for a particular person.
Diane delivered a EULOGY for her uncle that managed to be simultaneously sad and heartwarming.
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euphemism (YOU-fuh-miz-um), noun A word or expression used as a substitute for one that may be considered offensive or distasteful. My Aunt Polly’s quaint EUPHEMISM for “toilet” was “ freshening-up room.”
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euphoria (yoo-FOR-ee-uh), noun A state of happiness and well-being that could be perceived by others as manic. The adjective form is “euphoric.” As the home team sank the three-pointer in the final seconds and won the game, EUPHORIA erupted in the bar.
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evade (ee-VADE), verb To sidestep or dodge; to flee from (a pursuer). (See, for comparison, the entry for avoid.) The fugitives EVADED the authorities for three months, but were finally apprehended near Scottsdale, Arizona.
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evasive (ee-VAY-siv), adjective Prone to hiding. Also: deliberately ambiguous in speech or response. An evasive answer is one that is meant to yield as little meaningful information to the questioner as possible.
The defense attorney found the witness hostile and EVASIVE on the stand.
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evocative (ih-VOCK-uh-tive), adjective Describes something that tends to draw forth—or evoke—feelings, thoughts, responses, etc. Lydia’s perfume was EVOCATIVE of a spring day in the woods.
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evoke (ee-VOKE), verb To call forth or summon. To evoke is also to bring back to life through appeal to memory. The sight of the old mansion EVOKED many bittersweet memories for Charles.
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exalted (ig-ZALT), adjective Glorified or praised; held up high in honor. Colvin’s album earned the kind of EXALTED commendations usually reserved for major new works of literature.
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except (ek-SEPT), verb To exclude; also, to express opposition or disagreement to by means of argument. (See, for comparison, the listing for accept.) I want everyone we know to come to the dinner party, my old boyfriend EXCEPTED.
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excerpt (EK-surpt), noun
To quote or reproduce a portion of a book, play, poem, etc.
Although it may not have been his intention, the rock singer was helping to educate his young audience by using EXCERPTS from the sonnets of Shakespeare in his lyrics.
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exemplify (egg-ZEMP-lih-fie), verb To illustrate with an example or to serve as an example of something. Beethoven’s music EXEMPLIFIES both the heights of joy and the depths of despair.
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exert (ig-ZURT), verb To expend effort. “Please don’t EXERT yourself,” Alice sneered sarcastically to her husband Fred as he lay on the couch while she vacuumed.
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exfoliate (ecks-FOAL-ee-ate), verb To remove the surface of something—such as skin—in flakes or scales. Andrea’s skin is always perfect because she EXFOLIATES twice a day.
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exhilarated (ig-ZILL-uh-rate-ud), verb
To make lively; to excite or energize.
Those evening runs in the cool air of the spring were always EXHILARATING, especially after a day spent cooped up in a stuffy office.
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exhume (egg-ZYOOM), verb The primary meaning of “exhume” is to dig something up, such as a body or buried treasure. In addition, one can exhume anything by rescuing it from obscurity.
The film’s soundtrack managed to EXHUME the career of the songwriter, who hadn’t had a hit in more than three decades.
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exodus (EX-uh-duss), noun A going out; a departure, particularly of a large group of people. After the film reel jammed for the third time, there was a mass EXODUS of angry patrons.
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exonerate (ig-ZON-uh-rate), verb
To clear or free from blame or guilt; to restore (one’s reputation).
After the charges were thrown out and Brian was completely EXONERATED, he was free to continue his work in the securities industry.
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expatriate (ecks-PAY-tree-it), noun Someone who chooses to leave his or her home country and to resettle in another. The word gained currency in the early twentieth century, when many American writers, musicians, and artists chose to leave America and settle in Europe.
Even though she had lived in France for many years, Trudy never considered herself a true EXPATRIATE because her love for America remained so strong.
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expletive (EK-splih-tive), noun An exclamation, interjection, or profane oath. An expletive is also a “filler” word that holds a grammatical position but has no independent meaning, such as the word “it” in “It is imperative that you read this.”
A shower of EXPLETIVES descended on the umpire from the stands.
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explicit (ik-SPLISS-it), adjective
Detailed; revealing in full expression; emphatically stated.
I felt that certain EXPLICIT scenes in Last Tango in Paris were not quite right for five-year-olds, and urged the twins to select a Barney videocassette instead.
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extrapolate (ik-STRAP-uh-late), verb To arrive at an estimate by examining unknown values. To extrapolate is to make a supposition or model based on shifting or tenuous information.
While there were no eyewitnesses, we can EXTRAPOLATE the victim’s movements that night based on his past activities.
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exuberant (ig-ZOO-burr-uhnt), adjective Extremely enthusiastic. I was EXUBERANT about my unexpected holiday bonus.
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exurb (ECK-surb), noun A mostly self-contained community that lies well beyond a city’s suburbs and which is often inhabited by the wealthy or upper- middle class.
I could track my family’s fortunes by our addresses. The lean years were spent in the city’s urban core. Then came a move to the suburbs. Finally, we hit the big time and relocated to an EXURB.
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facade (fuh-SOD), noun
The ornamental front of a building; also, a false or misleading appearance; a contrived surface meant to deceive.
Not many took the time to look beyond the FACADE of the burly, rough-hewn pig farmer to see the kind-hearted, gentle soul that resided deep inside Big Jim.
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facilitate (fuh-SILL-uh-tate), verb To help, to ease the way. My knowledge of Moroccan customs FACILITATED our team’s negotiations in that country.
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facsimile (fak-SIM-uh-lee), noun An exact copy, imitation, or reproduction. The centerpiece of Victor’s library was a FACSIMILE of the First Folio of the collected plays of Shakespeare.
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faction (FAK-shun), noun A group of persons united within an organization for a common purpose. The meetings of the board of directors were marked by perpetual squabbling between its two bitterly antagonistic FACTIONS.
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fajita (fuh-HEE-tuh), noun A soft flat tortilla shell filled with chicken or beef (or both) and assorted vegetables; Spanish in origin. This restaurant is famous for its FAJITAS, but I prefer the chimichangas myself.
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falafel (fuh-LOFF-ul), noun Fried food balls or patties consisting of spicy ground vegetables, such as fava beans or chick peas, originating in the Middle East. Moody’s in Central Square offers a delicious Middle Eastern dinner special featuring FALAFEL and lentil soup, for under $5.00.
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fallow (FAL-low), adjective Describing land: uncultivated; plowed but not seeded for a season or more in order to improve the soil. Also: not active or in use. Brenda’s creative forces have lain FALLOW since she completed that third novel of hers.
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falsetto (fal-SET-oh), noun A male singing voice higher than the normal range for that voice. Also: a person who sings falsetto. Our soprano is home with the flu, so poor old Mike is going to have to sing FALSETTO.
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falter (FALL-tur), verb
To hesitate, stumble, or waver; to move uncertainly.
Stan had FALTERED so many times in his attempts to ask Julie for a date that his friends began to wonder whether he had ever contemplated simply giving up and becoming a monk.
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faze (faze), verb
To bother; to disturb or annoy.
We thought Seth would be angry when he found out Phillip was dating his old girlfriend, but the news didn’t seem to FAZE him a bit.
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feral (FEER-uhl), adjective Wild and uncontrolled (said especially of animals who were once domesticated). Feral can also mean “natural.” The islands of Hawaii suffer from a severe infestation of FERAL pigs not native to the area.
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ferment (furr-MENT), verb To cause agitation or excitement, typically in order to incite drastic change. High oil prices began to FERMENT efforts to find alternative fuel sources.
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ferret (FARE-ut), verb To drive or force out; to discover by forcing out. Colonel Gonzalez declared that he would take any measure necessary to FERRET the rebels out of the hillsides.
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fibrous (FIE-bruss), adjective Made up of fibers; sinewy; of or pertaining to something that can be separated into fibers.
With horror I realized that the FIBROUS mass the dog was dragging through the rose bushes was my cashmere sweater—or what was left of it.
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fidelity (fih-DEL-ih-tee), noun Faithfulness to duties; observance of responsibilities. One maintains fidelity in marriage by honoring a vow of sexual faithfulness. The published book’s FIDELITY to the author’s original text is suspect.
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finesse (fih-NESS), verb
Using subtle charm and style to resolve a problem; smooth, skillful maneuvering.
David’s legendary ability to FINESSE his way out of any situation was taxed to the extreme when his wife returned early from a business trip and found him in the hot tub with his secretary.
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finis (fih-NEE), noun The end or conclusion; also, as an adjective: finished. Many people considered Mr. Clinton’s presidential campaign FINIS in the weeks before the New Hampshire primary.
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First Amendment (first uh-MEND-munt), noun An article of the United States Constitution guaranteeing citizens the right to freedom of speech and the free exercise of religion. A court order suppressing this story would be a blatant violation of our newspaper’s FIRST AMENDMENT rights.
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fissure (FISH-er), noun or verb A narrow opening produced by a crack or other form of accidental or purposeful separation. As a verb, “fissure” describes the act of splitting.
The explosion was traced to a small FISSURE that had developed on the bottom of the fuel tank.
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fitful (FIT-fuhl), adjective Occurring irregularly or intermittently. I felt rotten in the morning, after a night of FITFUL sleep.
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fixate (FICK-sate), verb To focus one’s attention on, often to an alarming degree. Roy is getting too old to FIXATE on partying and casual relationships.
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flagrant (FLAY-grunt), adjective
Obvious and very noticeable in a notorious or scandalous way.
The fact that the referees let only one team get away with a series of FLAGRANT fouls caused many in the crowd to believe the game was fixed.
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flashback (FLASH-back), noun
To interject a scene containing events from the past into a chronological series of present-day events; an instance of such a scene.
Casablanca’s FLASHBACK scenes of the two lovers during their time in Paris give us a sense of the love they shared—and the magnitude of Rick’s loss.
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flashpoint (FLASH-point), noun Denotes either the site at which significant—typically violent—action has occurred or a place or situation that is likely to erupt in violence.
The murder of the prime minister was a flashpoint for global warfare.
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flaunt (flont), verb
To display (oneself or a possession) in an ostentatious way. Flaunt is often confused with flout (see flout below), but the words have completely different meanings.
Mr. Miller’s habit of wearing many jewelled rings is one of the many ways he has found to FLAUNT his wealth.
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flimsy (FLIM-zee), adjective
Lightweight; cheap; unsturdy; of poor quality.
The department store circular advertised an amazing sale on bureaus, desks, and other furniture, but when we got to the store we found that all the items we were interested in were constructed from FLIMSY particleboard, not pine or oak.
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flounce (flownts), verb To move about with exaggerated motion or in a spasmodic manner. The actress flounced about as she entered the premiere with her entourage.
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flounder (FLOWN-dur), verb
To struggle clumsily. (See, for comparison, the entry for founder.) Also: a fish.
My FLOUNDERING efforts to open the door while holding five packages were the object of some amusement to my roommate, but he did not offer to relieve me of any of them.
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flout (flowt), verb To brazenly or openly break a law, regulation, or tradition. Flout is often confused with flaunt (see flaunt above), but the words have completely different meanings.
To begin the baseball game without singing the national anthem would be to FLOUT a tradition of more than a century.
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fluctuate (FLUK-choo-ate), verb
To waver between one thing and another; to change or shift back and forth constantly.
The dietitian said we should not worry if our weight FLUCTUATED between two and five pounds in either direction of our goal as long as we were able to maintain a weight in that range.
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flue (floo), noun
A duct or tube used for the passage of smoke.
David vowed to spend Christmas Eve staring up the FLUE so he could alert the family the moment Santa arrived, but he fell asleep after only a short time at his post.
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fluency (FLOO-un-see), noun Ready and unhindered expression. Alice’s FLUENCY in Spanish proved a real advantage during our trip to Mexico.
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flummox (FLUHM-ucks), verb To completely bewilder or confuse. No matter how much I study, mathematics continues to FLUMMOX me.
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foist (foist), verb
To pawn off (something undesirable). To foist something on someone is to assign it or pass it along to him despite his wishes.
This project was FOISTED on us because everyone believed it was impossible, and because we were considered the worst department in the organization.
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forage (FOR-uj), verb To search or hunt for food and provisions. I awoke just in time to find the dog FORAGING in our picnic basket.
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forcible (FORCE-ih-bul), adjective Powerful; using force to achieve a goal. The editors of the campus paper were shocked at the campus police’s FORCIBLE entry into their offices.
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formidable (FOR-mih-duh-bull), adjective Capable of inspiring fear or respect. Something that is formidable is challenging or difficult to overcome. Alfred faced a FORMIDABLE opponent; he knew he had to plan carefully.
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formulaic (form-you-LAY-ick), adjective Made according to a formula, usually used in a negative way. John stopped watching television because he was fed up with the FORMULAIC junk networks palmed off as “entertainment.”
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forsake (for-SAKE), verb To abandon. Emily has FORSAKEN California for an island in the Indian Ocean.
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forum (FOR-um), noun
A gathering, meeting, or program held for the purpose of discussing matters of public or common concern.
“Although I am sure your neighbor’s constantly barking dog is irritating, Mrs. Wakefield,” the chairman intoned, “the purpose of this FORUM is to discuss the proposed waste site.”
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foyer (FOY-ur), noun
Hall; vestibule; entryway; a lobby (as in a theater or hotel).
“If the FOYER is any indication of what I’ ll find on the upper floors,” I thought to myself, “my new office is going to be a real dump.”
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fraught (frot), adjective Loaded or filled with; accompanied by; involving. Buck accepted the task, although he knew it was FRAUGHT with peril.
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frenzy (FREN-zee), noun
A state of wild excitement; extreme emotional or mental agitation.
What with studying for the bar exam and planning her wedding, Sara had been in an almost constant FRENZY for nearly two months.
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frivolity (frih-VOL-ih-tee), noun Unworthy of serious note; insubstantial. To engage in frivolity is to behave in a lighthearted or even ludicrous way. We have no time for FRIVOLITY; tomorrow morning, the manager is coming.
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fruition (froo-ISH-un), noun That which has arisen from development, possession, use, or effort. The achievement of something desired or labored for is the
fruition of that deed.
The novel was, in a sense, the FRUITION of a lifetime of work for Melville.
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funereal (fyoo-NIR-ee-uhl), adjective Reminiscent of a funeral. That which is dark, brooding, and mournful is funereal. The FUNEREAL tone of the meeting was not at all what we had in mind to raise morale.
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furlough (FUR-low), noun
A leave of absence, especially for a member of the armed forces; the act of granting this leave.
During his FURLOUGH Dan concentrated on finding a job in the private sector, as he was scheduled to be discharged from the Navy in three months.
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furor (FYOOR-ur), noun Widespread excitement or anger; fury or uproar among persons or institutions. Governor White’s indictment for embezzlement caused a FUROR in the state.
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furrow (FUR-oh), noun or verb A furrow is a narrow groove in the ground, such as one formed by a plow. Thus, one furrows when one creates grooves or wrinkles in something.
I could tell mom didn’t believe my story as she began to FURROW her brow.
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furtive (FUR-tiv), adjective Stealthy. That which is surreptitious or sly is furtive. Marie’s FURTIVE designs were soon detected and exposed.
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futility (fyoo-TILL-ih-tee), noun That which is characterized by uselessness. Something that is impractical or vainly undertaken shows futility. The FUTILITY of attempting to reason with Paula could no longer be denied; Michael gave up trying.
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gallantry (GAL-un-tree), noun Something displaying dashing bravery or chivalry. Gallantry pertains to an air of courage and nobility. His GALANTRY Although we expected to confront to solve this problem; what is needed is cold cash.
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galore (guh-LORE), adjective
In abundance; plentiful.
Once Mom hit the lottery, she promised, it would be presents GALORE for all of us: new cars, clothes, jewelry, vacations, and just about anything else we wanted.
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galvanize (GAL-vuh-nize), verb
To stimulate into action; to motivate (as if with an electric shock).
After considerable national debate over the merits of entering into a “European war,” the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor GALVANIZED American public opinion as nothing else could.
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garner (GAR-nur), verb To amass, gather, or accumulate. To garner something is to acquire it over a period. William GARNERED much praise for his writing but little cash.
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garret (GARE-ut), noun An attic room; also, a secluded, generally unfinished area near the top of a structure used as an observation post or as a place for privacy and refuge.
Although he had a computer and printer set up in his downstairs study, Christopher found that he did his best writing sitting up in the GARRET with a pad of paper and a pencil.
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gaudy (GAHW-dee), adjective Showy; tasteless. Something that bespeaks tackiness or excessive ornamentation is gaudy. For some reason, Cheryl always adorns herself with the GAUDIEST jewelry imaginable.
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gaunt (gawnt), adjective
Extremely thin; haggard, as by deprivation or worry.
The televised images of the hostages showed the world a series of GAUNT faces, worn by months of torture and captivity, reading words that had obviously been written for them.
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gauntlet (GONT-let), noun A challenge. To “throw down the gauntlet” in medieval times, was to issue a challenge to a duel. This deadline is not simply a goal for this department; it is a GAUNTLET that has been thrown before us.
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gazebo (guh-ZEE-boe), noun
A small outdoor structure, roofed but open on the sides, usually placed in a backyard or a park.
The GAZEBO in the church courtyard was freshened up with a new coat of white paint every spring in preparation for outdoor weddings.
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generic (juh-NARE-ik), adjective
Of or pertaining to all members of a group or category; also, unprotected by trademark; common and unremarkable.
Senator Smith used the press conference as an opportunity to deliver his GENERIC speech on the role of the media in the development of public policy.
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genial (JEEN-yul), adjective Kindly or pleasant in disposition. A genial attitude is one of warmth and openness. Although we expected to confront the enemy in full force, we encountered only GENIAL townsfolk.
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ghoulish (GOO-lish), adjective Having a morbid fascination with subjects like death, disease, serial killers, etc. I wouldn’t call Jim GHOULISH, but his favorite activity is to tour local cemeteries and to take pictures of area funeral homes.
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girth (girth), noun The circumference of something. “Girth” often is used as a nice way to say “fat.” My mind was boggled as I tried to conceive of the GIRTH of the planet Jupiter.
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gist (jist), noun The main point; the essential meaning, the core or heart of a message.
The GIST of the letter from the grievance committee is that the workers are tired of being unappreciated and underpaid.
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gnocchi (NYAW-kee), noun
An Italian pasta dish; small round balls of pasta.
Dawn ordered GNOCCHI for Ellen, her five-year-old, but the little girl seemed to enjoy playing with the little things more than eating them.
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goad (goad), verb To stimulate, urge, or prod, especially toward a given action. Originally, a goad was a pointed stick used to prod animals. Brian decided not to write his name on the wall, despite his friends’ attempts to GOAD him into doing so.
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goulash (GOO-losh), noun A stew made with beef, vegetables, and paprika. The chef ’s famous GOULASH was an old family recipe that had been handed down from his Hungarian ancestors for generations.
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grandeur (GRAN-jur), noun The quality of being grand; extravagance in scale or appearance. Grandeur refers to magnificence. The Emerald City’s GRANDEUR exceeded anything Dorothy had ever seen.
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grapple (GRAP-ul), verb To struggle (with an opponent or enemy); to attempt to pin down or throw to the ground. Alert Secret Service agents GRAPPLED with the armed intruder and wrestled him to the ground before any shots were fired.
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gratis (GRAT-iss), adjective
Free of charge.
I liked visiting Renee when she was working at the ice cream parlor, but the GRATIS sundaes and banana splits she always offered were impossible to resist—and they weren’t helping my diet much.
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gratuity (gruh-TOO-ih-tee), noun A tip; extra money given for service beyond the amount required by the bill. I make it a point never to leave a GRATUITY if the service has been truly horrible.
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gravitate (GRAV-ih-tate), verb To have a natural inclination toward or to be strongly attracted to something (or someone). As soon as we entered the electronics store, my kids GRAVITATED toward the video games.
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greenhouse effect (GREEN-HOUSE-uh-fect), noun
Many believe the greenhouse effect is the cause of global warming. A greenhouse traps heat because the short waves of solar radiation easily go through glass. Once the sun’s light passes through the glass and hits something, it is converted to longer-waved heat radiation, which cannot pass back out of the greenhouse. On Earth, the burning of fossil fuels has created something akin to the panes of glass on a greenhouse. The sun’s rays can pass into the planet’s atmosphere, but then, once converted to heat radiation, they are trapped inside our atmosphere.
Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth, brought attention to the perils of the GREENHOUSE EFFECT.
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grimace (GRIM-uss), noun A facial expression showing disgust or discomfort. A grimace is a sharp facial contortion indicating pain, dissatisfaction, or disgust. Billy made a GRIMACE at the thought of eating his vegetables.
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grisly (GRIZ-lee), adjective
Gruesome.
The final confrontation with Brando’s character, GRISLY though it is, effectively follows through on the themes of ritual sacrifice established earlier in the film.
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grope (groap), verb To reach about blindly. Grope can also be used figuratively to describe someone who acts in uncertainty of purpose. He GROPED for the right words, but could not manage to come up with an acceptable explanation.
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grovel (GROV-ul), verb
To lie prostrate, especially when done as a sign of humility. Another meaning of grovel is to give oneself over completely to subservience.
To see his sister reduced to GROVELING for approval in this way was almost too much for Ryan to take.
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guile (gile), noun
Cunning; treacherous deceit. Someone who exercises guile is insidious and misleading.
In laying the groundwork for embezzlement on such a large scale, Donald showed considerable GUILE and no small amount of daring.
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guru (GOO-roo), noun
An inspiring spiritual or intellectual leader; a revered teacher.
Though I found the self-help seminar to be helpful enough, I wasn’t as awed as some others in the course, who made the instructor out to be some kind of GURU.
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gyrate (JIE-rate), verb To spin; to wind or coil. “What you kids do today isn’t dancing,” said Grandma; “all you do is jump and GYRATE willy-nilly.”
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hacienda (ha-see-EN-duh), noun
A large estate or plantation.
After spending his junior year living on a HACIENDA while he studied Spanish in Madrid, Oscar had a tough time readjusting to his tiny dorm room.
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haggle (HAG-ul), verb To bargain with; to dicker or negotiate on price or terms. I think Tom enjoyed the process of HAGGLING at the flea market more than the items he bought.
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hale (hale), adjective Healthy and vigorous; disease-free. Lydia had been assured by the surgeon that she’d be HALE and hearty again in two weeks.
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hallucinogenic (huh-loo-sih-noe-JEN-ik), adjective
Reminiscent of or pertaining to a drug or other substance that causes imaginary visions or delusions.
It seems difficult to believe that any person would knowingly administer HALLUCINOGENIC drugs to a seven-year-old child, Your Honor, but such are the facts before us in this case.
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haphazard (hap-HAZ-urd), adjective Irregular; governed by chance. Something that is done in a haphazard manner is not guided by a system or regular method. After a few HAPHAZARD guesses at the box’s contents, Steve gave up.
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hardscrabble (HARD-scrabb-uhl), adjective Describes a task, activity, profession, etc. that is extremely arduous yet offers little reward in return. My family comes from dirt farmers who barely survived their HARDSCRABBLE existence.
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harlequin (HAR-luh-kwin), noun A comic character from the Italian commedia tradition, usually masked and wearing a tight-fitting costume. Instead of the standard joker, the ornamental deck of playing cards featured a HARLEQUIN in colorful attire.
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harrowing (HARE-roe-ing), adjective Extremely distressing; disturbing or frightening in the extreme. After her HARROWING ride down a hill in a car with failed brakes, Monica vowed never to drive again.
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harry (HAR-ee), verb To harass and annoy to an excessive degree. The bill collectors HARRIED Susan until she felt forced to declare bankruptcy.
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heed (heed), verb
To pay attention to; to take into consideration; as a noun, an instance of notice or attention.
Don’t HEED my brother George; he always tries to make me look bad in front of my dates.
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heirloom (AIR-loom), noun A possession of commercial or sentimental value handed down from generation to generation. As the oldest child, I was given the most precious family HEIRLOOM, our old grandfather clock, when my mother passed away.
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helter-skelter (HEL-tur SKEL-tur), adjective
Haphazard; lacking order or purpose; confused in manner or array.
While the children ran HELTER-SKELTER through the living room, Mrs. Moore tried to light the candles on her son’s birthday cake and set out party bags.
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hereditary (huh-RED-ih-tare-ee), adjective
Passed through the genes from parents to their children.
Although the doctors of his time believed him to be suffering from a host of exotic contagious illnesses, experts now believe that George III’s madness was caused by HEREDITARY factors.
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heterogeneous (het-er-uh-JEEN-ee-us), adjective Different. Heterogeneous means consisting of utterly dissimilar parts or styles. Marie invited a HETEROGENEOUS group: poets, potters, mechanics, bureaucrats, and who knows who else.
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hierarchy (HIE-uh-rar-kee), noun A system (of people, concepts, groups, etc.) in which there is a ranking of entities one above another. A hierarchy often refers to a
formal chain of command.
The famous psychologist Abraham Maslow has established a HIERARCHY of human needs.
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highbrow (HIE-brow), adjective
Intelligent and cultured; also, one who is pretentious or snobby about intelligence and culture.
Al liked going to gallery shows to see the work of new artists, but he found the HIGHBROW analysis of some of his fellow patrons almost unbearable.
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highfalutin (hi-fuh-LOO-tin), adjective
Pompous; pretentious; overblown and extravagant.
Al said he’ d rather have root canal work than attend another one of Gina’s HIGHFALUTIN dinner parties and suffer in humiliation for not using the proper utensils for each course.
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hologram (HOLL-uh-gram), noun
A three-dimensional image created electronically and without a lens.
The HOLOGRAM was such a convincing illusion that the dog actually barked at the image of its owner, apparently expecting to be fed.
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homogeneous (ho-mo-JEE-nee-uss), adjective The same throughout; made up of like parts; not heterogeneous. The island supported a small HOMOGENEOUS population of aboriginal tribes.
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homonym (HOM-uh-nim), noun A word that sounds the same as another word. “To” and “two” are homonyms. I think in this sentence you have confused the word “real” with its HOMONYM “reel.”
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horde (hord), noun
A large crowd; a swarm of people.
Outside the department store, HORDES of angry shoppers, having been told that the doors would swing open at eight o’clock sharp, began to press against the huge window.
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hormonal (HOR-moan-uhl), adjective
A hormone is a substance released by the body to affect physiological activity. Thus, “hormonal” describes someone who acts as though he or she is being affected by hormones.
The HORMONAL shouts of teenagers and preteens annoyed me so much that I left the concert before the encore.
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horrific (hor-RIFF-ik), adjective Horrifying; scary; terrifying. Mr. Benton insisted on reading the newspaper’s account of the HORRIFIC train wreck out loud during lunch.
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hybrid (HIE-brid), adjective The result of a mixture or combination of two dissimilar things (as in two breeds of animals, or two types of flowers). Raymond spent all of his free time in the greenhouse perfecting his beautiful HYBRID orchids.
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hyperbole (hie-PUR-buh-lee), noun Extravagant overstatement. To exaggerate something for the purpose of effect is to use hyperbole. I think you can safely regard his promise to eat his hat if proven wrong as HYPERBOLE.
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idle (EYE-dul), adjective
Not put to use; inactive. Also: lacking in substance. (See, for comparison, the entry for idol.)
When the phone service went down, our customer service operators had to sit IDLE at their stations, which drove Mr. Brown to distraction.
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idol (EYE-dul), noun A worshiped image; a figure of a god. Also, any personage who is the object of devotion. (See, for comparison, the entry for idle.) That flamenco dancer she went to see last week is my sister Cassandra’s latest IDOL.
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idolatry (eye-DOLL-uh-tree), noun The worship of a physical object as though it were a god or idol; to display an unusual and worshipful attachment to an object. Buddy’s IDOLATRY of his shiny new Corvette led a couple of his friends to remark that he would take it to bed with him if he could.
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imam (ih-MAHM), noun The governing priest at a mosque. I was wary of attending the mosque, but I quickly found the IMAM welcoming and pleasant.
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immaculate (im-MAK-yoo-lut), adjective Spotless; utterly free from fault, blemish, or stain. Something that is immaculate is impeccably clean. After the boys had finished the cleanup job, the garage looked IMMACULATE.
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immeasurable (ih-MEZH-er-uh-bull), adjective Describes a quantity that cannot be measured because it seems to be limitless. I was gladdened by the IMMEASURABLE love my daughter clearly felt for her fiancé.
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immerse (im-MURCE), verb To plunge into or surround with liquid. Radios, electric shavers, and other electrical appliances can deliver lethal electric shocks if IMMERSED in water while plugged in.
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imminent (IM-uh-nunt), adjective
Likely to happen at any time; impending.
With his plane’s departure IMMINENT, Greg gave his little girl a hug for the last time, kissed her on the forehead, and headed toward the gate.
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impale (im-PALE), verb
To pierce with a sharp object; to pin or hold down.
Carol, with her flair for the dramatic, urged her husband to fix the loose pickets on the fence before one of the neighborhood children was IMPALED.
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impeccable (im-PEK-uh-buhl), adjective Flawless; faultless. James Bond wore IMPECCABLE evening dress, marred only by the bulge where his gun was concealed.
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impede (im-PEED), verb
To obstruct progress; to block.
The fire regulations are quite clear on the question of storage in this hallway; nothing is allowed to IMPEDE access to the main exit.
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imperative (im-PAIR-uh-tiv), adjective and noun
Essential, obligatory, or mandatory. As a noun, an imperative is a command or an essential objective. Imperative also has a grammatical sense referring to verbs that command or exhort. (For instance, in the sentence “Sit, Rex!” the word sit is in the imperative.)
It is IMPERATIVE that the soldiers evacuate as soon as possible.
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imperceptible (im-pur-SEP-tuh-bull), adjective So subtle as to be unnoticeable. Imperceptible refers to that which is so gradual or unnoticeable it is virtually impossible to perceive. The distinctions you draw in this paragraph are IMPERCEPTIBLE to the average reader.
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impervious (im-PURR-vee-us), adjective Impenetrable. Also: impossible to alter or affect. Impervious usually means incapable of being changed from a given course. We tried to dissuade Millicent from sending the children to Montana, but she was IMPERVIOUS.
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impetuous (im-PET-you-us), adjective Impulsive. That which is driven by sudden force or emotion is impetuous. Dirk’s IMPETUOUS remark may well cost him his job.
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implacable (ihm-PLACK-uh-bull), adjective Describes someone who cannot be calmed or pacified. “Implacable” can also serve as a synonym for “stubborn.” No matter what I did to try to please my mother, she remained grim and IMPLACABLE.
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implicit (im-PLISS-it), adjective Implied or understood, though not expressed directly. An implicit understanding is one that two parties abide by but do not set out in specific language.
There was an IMPLICIT agreement between the two not to bring up the subject of Michael’s first wife.
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impregnable (im-PREG-nuh-bull), adjective Stubbornly resistant. Something that is impregnable is unshakeable and/or unconquerable. The town proved IMPREGNABLE, despite the army’s repeated assaults.
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impromptu (im-PRAHMP-too), adjective
Spontaneous; not planned or rehearsed; conceived on the spur of the moment.
Sonya’s IMPROMPTU New Year’s Eve dinner party ended up being more fun than any of the formal affairs our group of friends had attended for New Years past.
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inadvertent (in-ud-VERT-unt), adjective Unintentional; not on purpose; accidentally. I INADVERTENTLY called attention to Glenda’s tardiness by asking the boss what time it was just as she walked in the door.
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inanimate (in-AN-ih-mutt), adjective Reminiscent of an object that is not alive or animated; lacking in movement. Ben gazed at the wax figure as if he expected the INANIMATE figure to come to life.
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inauguration (in-og-yuh-RAY-shun), noun The act of ushering into office with a formal ceremony; an instance of marking or acknowledging the beginning of something in a ceremonious fashion.
President Clinton’s INAUGURATION featured a poem composed for the occasion by Maya Angelou and read by the poet.
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incantation (in-kan-TAY-shun), noun The repeated chanting of words or phrases believed to have magical powers. I believe Tom’s dismissal of the rosary as a primitive set of INCANTATIONS shows how small a role religious faith plays in his life.
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incapacitate (in-kuh-PASS-ih-tate), verb To disable; to deprive of strength, ability, or skill. Uncle Jimmy missed an entire month of work due to a bout of pneumonia that left him completely INCAPACITATED.
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incarcerate (in-KAHR-suh-rate), verb To jail or imprison. I never thought I’ d be INCARCERATED just for failing to pay over one hundred parking tickets!
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incessant (in-SESS-unt), adjective Continuous. Incessant derives from the Latin roots for “without end.” His INCESSANT questions can become quite annoying.
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incisive (in-SYE-siv), adjective Penetrating or sharp in analysis, observation, etc. Incisive derives from the Latin root for “cutting.” An INCISIVE Times review of the play notes that the dialogue is similar in many places to passages from the works of Proust.
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incoherent (in-koh-HEER-unt), adjective Not capable of being understood due to a lack of logical meaning. After he’s had one too many, I can’t help laughing at Bob’s INCOHERENT speech.
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incredible (in-KRED-ih-bull), adjective Unbelievable; so remarkable as to be hard or impossible to accept. (See, for comparison, the entry for incredulous.) The charges I am making against Mr. White may seem INCREDIBLE, but the evidence will show that they are absolutely true.
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incredulous (in-KRED-you-luss), adjective Skeptical; refusing or reluctant to believe. (See, for comparison, the entry for incredible.) Dan was absolutely INCREDULOUS when I told him I was the sole winner of the $10 million lottery.
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increment (IN-kruh-munt), noun One in a series of additions; an increase in size or number. The letter informed Nina that she would receive checks from the estate in $50,000 INCREMENTS over the course of twenty years.
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incumbent (in-KUHM-bent), adjective or noun As a noun, “incumbent” means the holder of an office. As an adjective, the word suggests responsibility, such as the responsibility with which an officeholder is entrusted.
I’ve got to stop procrastinating, Stewart thought. It’s INCUMBENT upon me to finish this proposal by Friday!
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indelible (in-DELL-ih-bul), adjective Un-removable. An indelible mark is one that is not easily erased or cleansed away. Carl leaves an INDELIBLE impression on those he meets.
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indeterminate (in-dee-TUHR-mih-nut), adjective Not having a specific length or extent. The wait at the Department of Motor Vehicles was both INDETERMINATE and interminable.
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indomitable (in-DOM-ih-tuh-bull), adjective Describes someone who acts in the face of fear, someone with unconquerable will. Nadia’s courage was INDOMITABLE, even though she faced much larger opponents.
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induct (in-DUCT), verb To install as a member with formal ceremony; to install in office. Many baseball fans feel it’s a shame that Pete Rose will probably never be INDUCTED into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
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inept (in-EPT), adjective Inappropriate. Someone who lacks judgment, discretion, or ability can be said to be inept. Williams, an INEPT craftsman, soon found that his goods would never fetch top dollar.
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inequity (in-ECK-wih-tee), noun A person who, or situation that, is unfair, biased, or demonstrates favoritism. The INEQUITY of your proposal borders on being insulting.
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inert (in-URT), adjective Inactive; unmoving; extremely slow in moving or reacting. We came home from the supermarket to find our INERT son on the sofa and the lawn still not mowed.
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infallible (in-FAL-uh-bul), adjective Incapable of making a mistake. Something that is regarded as beyond error might be said to be infallible. You have no need to worry about the security of this mission, gentlemen; the HAL 9000 computer is INFALLIBLE.
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infraction (in-FRACK-shun), noun A violation or breach, as of rules. One citizen stood up and demanded to ask questions of the city council, a direct INFRACTION of protocol.
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infrastructure (IN-fruh-struk-chur), noun Foundation; underlying base. An infrastructure is the collection of essential primary components or a system, organization, or structure.
The architect guessed that the INFRASTRUCTURE had probably begun to erode at the turn of the century; the building was now beyond repair.
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ingratiate (in-GRAY-she-ate), verb To work very hard to gain someone’s favor, most likely with an eye toward receiving something in return at a future date. Paul tried hard to INGRATIATE himself with his fiancee’s stern parents.
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inherent (in-HARE-unt), adjective Intrinsic; necessary. An important or essential part of something can be said to be inherent. Dwayne’s INHERENT reluctance to entrust newcomers with tasks of any significance was a major problem for the company.
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initiative (ih-NISH-uh-tiv), noun Personal enterprise and responsibility. If you were to show a little more INITIATIVE, you would not keep being passed over for a promotion.
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innate (ih-NATE), adjective Possessed at birth. Something that is inborn or central to a person or thing can be said to be innate. Sol’s INNATE sense for what will make a good plan has served him well since be was a small boy.
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innocuous (ih-NOK-yoo-us), adjective Harmless. Also: lacking conflict or drama. Something is innocuous if it shows minimal significance, interest, or prominence. The editor rejected my first news story, which I found fascinating but he considered INNOCUOUS.
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innovate (IN-uh-vate), verb To introduce something new or to make significant changes to something, such as an invention, that already exists. The familiar adjective form is “innovative.”
The inventors spent their day, tinkering and INNOVATING, until they came up with the perfect mousetrap. The world quickly beat a path to their door.
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innumerable (in-NOOM-ur-uh-bul), adjective Too many to be numbered or counted (but often used simply to express the idea “very numerous”). Over the past three months, Michelle has put in INNUMERABLE hours of overtime on this project.
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inquiry (IN-kwuh-ree), noun In general, an inquiry is a question, but the word suggests an investigation that seeks the answer to profound or perplexing questions. The detective’s INQUIRY netted significant evidence, which led to the crime’s perpetrators.
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inseparable (in-SEP-uh-ruh-bull), adjective Incapable of being separated or parted. Jean and Michael have been INSEPARABLE since they met online.
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insurgence (in-SUR-junce), noun Revolt or uprising. An insurgence is a revolt against the government or existing authority. The INSURGENCE against the dictator’s regime was welcomed enthusiastically by the country’s farmers.
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insurrection (in-sur-REK-shun), noun
A rebellion against a government or ruling power.
Before the president could get the treaty through Congress, however, he would have to attend to an INSURRECTION of sorts that had arisen in the left flank of his own party.
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intangible (in-TAN-juh-bul), adjective
Incapable of being touched, felt, or calculated.
Friends berated me for breaking up with Matthew, but there was something INTANGIBLE missing from the relationship, something I couldn’t do without.
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integrated (IN-tuh-gray-ted), adjective
Describes the harmonious assemblage of various parts into a whole.
Even though both Mike and Carol had children from previous marriages, their new union quickly created an INTEGRATED family unit.
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intercede (in-tur-SEED), verb
To offer aid or action on another’s behalf; to interrupt (a conflict or altercation) to help another.
Much to my amazement, my big brother, whose main goal in life had always seemed to be to torment me, INTERCEDED when the school bully tried to attack me.
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interim (IN-ter-im), noun The meantime. An interim is the period of time between one event and another. The INTERIM—which lasted over a month—was filled with work and planning in preparation for the second series of meetings.
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intermediary (in-ter-MEE-dee-air-ee), noun or adjective As a noun, an intermediary is a go-between, a middleman. As an adjective, the word describes someone who is a middleman or go- between.
My brother acted as an INTERMEDIARY in the dispute between our mom and me.
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intermittent (in-tur-MIT-nt), adjective Characterized by a cycle of stopping and starting. An intermittent storm is one that comes and goes. Frank was bothered by an INTERMITTENT pain in his ankle.
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interstellar (in-tur-STEL-lur), adjective
Occurring or situated between the stars.
Due to problems with the base’s satellite transmitter, INTERSTELLAR communication with the space shuttle was extremely difficult.
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intrepid (in-TREP-id), adjective Brave. Those who are fearless and show great courage are intrepid. The INTREPID climber made her way down the icy mountain alone.
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intrigue (in-TREEG), adjective To arouse suspicion or curiosity; to engender a sense of mystery. As a noun: a plot. Keith’s INTRIGUING plan caught our attention, but we had a nagging suspicion it wouldn’t work.
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introspection (in-tro-SPEK-shun), noun Self-examination; interior meditation. To think closely on one’s feelings, thoughts, and inclinations is to spend time in introspection. The weekend at the cabin provided Clive with an opportunity for some much-needed INTROSPECTION.
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invert (in-VURT), verb To reverse; to change to an opposite orientation or course. After complaining of poor vision all morning, Kathy found out that her problem was an INVERTED left contact lens.
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iota (eye-O-tuh), noun A minute quantity; an extremely small amount. The fact that the prisoner’s reprieve omits his middle initial doesn’t matter one IOTA, Warden Holloway.
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irrefutable (ihr-ree-FYOO-tuh-bull), adjective
Describes something that cannot be disproved or refuted. The evidence is IRREFUTABLE. You’re under arrest!
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irrevocable (ih-REV-uh-kuh-bull), adjective Cannot be rescinded or revoked. Once you walk out that door, Pete, your decision is IRREVOCABLE!
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itinerary (eye-TIN-uh-rare-ee), noun A list of things to be done and seen while on a trip; a summary of the arrivals, departures, and other particulars of one’s projected travels.
I had hoped this vacation would give me a chance to relax, but after glancing at the ITINERARY, I feel I’m likely to come back more exhausted than before I left.
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its (its), pronoun Belonging to it. (For comparison, see the entry for it’s.) This job of mine has ITS ups and downs.
it’s (its), contraction It is. (For comparison, see the entry for its.) IT’S certainly a lovely morning!
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jargon (JAR-gun), noun
The specialized language or vocabulary of a particular profession, trade, or hobby.
Throughout, the book asks the reader to make sense of some rather sophisticated JARGON likely to be comprehensible only to those familiar with accounting procedures.
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jeopardize (JEP-ur-dize), verb To put in danger of being harmed or adversely affected. Only after he had narrowly avoided being arrested did Marcus realize that his behavior could JEOPARDIZE his future as a lawyer.
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jettison (JET-ih-sun), verb
To cast off or overboard. When a captain jettisons items from a boat, he is sacrificing their value for the advantage of decreased weight on the ship. Similarly, to jettison can be to abandon something once thought valuable that has become a burden.
The project seemed promising initially, but now, with the looming possibility they could be accused of conflict of interest, Ted and Jan decided to JETTISON their plans.
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jilt (jilt), verb To cast (a lover) aside, to discard or dismiss unfeelingly. After being JILTED so abruptly by Michael, Jane found it hard to trust men enough to enter another relationship.
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jingoism (JING-go-iz-um), noun Staunch, extreme patriotism or chauvinism; calculatedly overblown patriotic rhetoric used for political advantage. This kind of JINGOISM has no place in national political discourse, sir!
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jostle (JOS-l), verb To bump or disrupt by means of incidental contact. To make one’s way by elbowing or pushing (as through a crowd) is to jostle. Mark JOSTLED through the crowd, but could not find Sharon.
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jovial (JOE-vee-ul), adjective Possessing a joyous, happy nature; good-hearted. Holly’s JOVIAL spirit in the face of such adversity was an inspiration to us all.
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jubilation (joo-bih-LAY-shun), noun
Extreme joy; a mood of high celebration.
Fifteen years in the maternity ward had not dulled the feeling of JUBILATION Doctor Meade experienced every time she helped bring new life into the world.
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judicious (joo-DISH-us), adjective Demonstrating good judgment, as well as the ability to be prudent and politic. Darlene is JUDICIOUS in everything . . . except boyfriends!
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juncture (JUNK-chur), noun
A point in time, especially an important one.
“Thank you for your optimism,” said Senator Byron, “but I feel that celebrating my victory at this JUNCTURE would be premature.”
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juxtapose (juk-stuh-poz), verb Place side by side for purposes of comparison and contrast. The commander in chief JUXTAPOSED the two courses of action for his generals.
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karma (KAR-muh), noun In Hinduism and Buddhism, the law or force dictating that current circumstances result from one’s past actions, decisions, or lifestyle; consequences of one’s past. Also: the general principle of cause and effect underlying the operations of the universe.
Greg put his car trouble down to the “bad automotive KARMA” that he felt had accompanied him since he overcharged for the used Volkswagen he sold in 1968.
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keynote (KEE-note), adjective A prime theme, subject, or underlying element. A keynote address is given on a topic of relevance to a specific audience. The KEYNOTE speaker addressed the many problems related to productivity that faced our organization.
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kin (kin), noun One’s relatives. Eric was not used to spending such a long period of time away from his KIN in Ohio.
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kinetic (kih-NET-ik), adjective
Pertaining to motion. Kinetic energy is the energy associated with the movement of a system or body.
The artist’s KINETIC sculptures captured spectator interest by means of grand sweeps, sudden plunges of pendulums, and dropping globes.
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kiosk (KEE-osk), noun
A small vending booth.
Once out of the subway station, I picked up a copy of the New York Times at a newspaper KIOSK.
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knell (nell), noun
A sound emanating from a bell; the toll of a bell, particularly a bell rung as part of a funeral ceremony.
Though she couldn’t bring herself to attend her uncle’s funeral, Brenda stood on the hill above the graveyard and listened to the KNELL of the church bells.
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kudos (KOO-dos), noun Honor or accolades. The word kudos, occasionally used with a singular verb, is more commonly construed as a plural noun. The KUDOS he received for his first novel were nothing compared to the glowing reviews that greeted his second.
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kung fu (kung FOO), noun An Oriental art of self-defense, the strategy of which is to strike quick, successive blows to an opponent’s weak spots using fluid hand and leg moves.
The mugging shook Adam up so badly that he began taking KUNG FU lessons the next day, hoping to protect himself in the future.
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Kwanzaa (KWAHN-zuh), noun This Swahili word denotes a harvest festival celebrated, from December 26 to January 1, by some African Americans. Reggie’s family began to celebrate KWANZAA last year.
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largess (lar-ZHESS), noun Generously bestowed gifts. Largess (sometimes spelled largesse; can also refer to a generous nature. Her father’s LARGESS was the only thing standing between Barbara and bankruptcy.
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latent (LAY-tunt), adjective Existing and having the power to become visible or manifest, but for the time being remaining unseen or unknown. The virus remained LATENT in his system for some time, causing him unknowingly to infect those he came in close contact with.
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latke (LOT-kuh), noun A Jewish potato pancake, often eaten during Hanukkah. Mrs. Bloom always made her famous LATKES for the children during the holiday season.
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laureate (LORE-ee-ut), adjective and noun Honored as a result of achievements. As a noun, laureate refers to a person who has been singled out for a particular high honor or award.
The group included a remarkable cross-section of accomplished scientists, some of whom were Nobel LAUREATES.
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lax (lacks), adjective Undisciplined, careless, or negligent. I was surprised by the LAX security at the armory.
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lay (lay), verb To set something down in a certain position; to place (an object) upon something. (See, for comparison, the entry for lie.) Unlike the verb “to lie,” the verb “to LAY” must take a direct object, as in “That script really laid an egg.”
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lead (led), noun A metal. Also, as a verb (pronounced leed), to take charge or guide. (See, for comparison, the entry for led.) Most service stations have stopped selling gasoline containing LEAD.
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led (led), verb The past tense of the verb “to lead.” (See, for comparison, the entry for lead.) To our great relief, Vernon LED us out of the forest without a compass.
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lesser (LESS-ur), adjective Smaller; littler. (See, for comparison, the entry for lessor.) Sometimes in life we must choose the LESSER of two evils.
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lethargic (luh-THAR-jik), adjective
Sluggish; inactive to such a degree as to resemble sleep or unconsciousness. A lethargic person is difficult to rouse to action.
After many long hours of work, Pat and Corey stared at each other, LETHARGIC but unable to accept the necessity of calling it a night.
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levitate (LEV-ih-tayt), verb To float, hover, or rise in the air, particularly as a result of supernatural or magical powers. The audience watched breathlessly as the magician seemed to make his assistant LEVITATE high above the stage.
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liberal (LIB-uh-rul), adjective Generous in giving; tolerant of different ideas and people; in politics, favoring democratic reform; progressive. According to the tourist guide, Mario’s was famous for its LIBERAL portions of lasagna, ravioli, and garlic bread.
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lie (lie), verb To recline; to rest. Also: to tell an untruth. Also: a falsehood. (See, for comparison, the entry for lay.) “I’m just LYING here doing nothing,” Rick LIED, pointing to the tiny microphone and motioning for Trudy to keep quiet.
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linchpin (LYNCH-pin), noun Specifically, a linchpin is a pin pushed through an axle to keep a wheel in place. In general, “linchpin” denotes someone or something essential to holding together a complicated situation, business, organization, etc.
Once Mr. Crane, the LINCHPIN of the organization, retired, the business fell apart due to squabbling and infighting.
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lionize (LIE-uh-nize), verb To praise excessively; to idolize. For years young baseball fans LIONIZED Babe Ruth, whose many indiscretions were usually overlooked by the press.
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liqueur (li-KER), noun An alcoholic beverage flavored with fruit, nuts, seeds, spices, herbs, or a combination of these ingredients. After diner, the hostess gave us a choice of several exotic LIQUEURS; I chose Frangelico because I love the taste of hazelnuts.
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literal (LIT-uh-rul), adjective
Meaning exactly what is said or written; not open to interpretation.
Mr. Pickney’s unyielding, LITERAL-minded interpretations of his supervisor’s directives left him very little flexibility in handling unanticipated crises in his department.
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loath (loath), adjective Unwilling; reluctant. (See, for comparison, the entry for loathe.) George wanted to go to the party, but his wife was LOATH to leave little Amy, who had the flu, with a sitter.
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loathe (loathe), verb To hate or detest. (See, for comparison, the entry for loath) My wife has always LOATHED the Three Stooges, a cultural lapse on her part that I am perfectly willing to forgive.
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lope (lope), noun and verb A long, galloping stride. As a verb: to move using such a stride. My horse was LOPING along at an easy pace until a car backfired suddenly, causing him to break into a terrified gallop.
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ludicrous (LOO-dih-kruss), adjective Absurd to the point of being laughable. Something that is obviously implausible or impractical could be considered ludicrous. Your proposal that I accept a 75 percent pay cut is LUDICROUS, Mr. Robinson.
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lurid (LOOR-id), adjective Gruesome or sensationalistic. Something likely to elicit horror, lust, shock, or disgust could be considered lurid. The LURID illustrations made it clear to Pamela that this was no children’s book she had bought.
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lustrous (LUS-truss), adjective Radiant; shining. Lustrous refers to that which possesses a sheen or glow. Lustrous can also mean “brilliant” in the sense of outstanding or exceptional.
Gina’s LUSTROUS eyes shimmered in the candlelight.
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lyrical (LEER-ih-kull), adjective Musical; flowing; expressive. The LYRICAL quality of Ash’s poetry often masks a harsh, mournful world view.
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malady (MAL-uh-dee), noun An illness or unwholesome condition. A malady is a disorder or disease causing discomfort. Jason’s MALADY, if it had gone undiagnosed, could have taken his life.
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malevolent (muh-LEV-uh-lent), adjective Malicious. Someone who is unrepentantly and viciously ill-willed is malevolent. Glen cast a MALEVOLENT glance at his opponent.
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malice (MAL-iss), noun The desire to commit harmful or unfair acts. Someone who intends to commit an act known to be immoral, unlawful, or likely to
cause harm shows malice.
The defendant clearly showed MALICE in stating that he intended to kill Mrs. Powers.
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malignant (muh-LIG-nunt) adjective Posing a serious threat or harm. A malignant tumor can cause death. They had feared the growth would be found MALIGNANT, but it turned out to be benign.
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manatee (MAN-uh-tee), noun A large mammal reminiscent of a seal found in shallow waters off the coast of Florida. Unfortunately, the MANATEE has joined the ever-growing list of animals in danger of extinction.
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mandate (MAN-date), noun
Authoritative command, endorsement, or instruction. A mandate is also an order issued by one court of law to another, lower court.
Having received only 40 percent of the vote nationwide, President Lincoln could hardly claim a national MANDATE for his policies.
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mandolin (man-duh-LINN), noun An eight-stringed fretted instrument similar to a lute. Patrick called the MANDOLIN player over to serenade the table while he asked Jeannie for her hand in marriage.
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maniacal (muh-NYE-uh-kull), adjective Insane. Also: overly emphatic or nervous. Maniacal is often used ironically to describe a person’s near-fanatical devotion to a certain pursuit.
Chuck’s obsession with baseball statistics bordered on the MANIACAL.
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material (muh-TEER-ee-ul), noun Physical substance; essence; something from which things are or can be constituted. (See, for comparison, the entry for materiel.) With the right MATERIALS, Dave, we could build a treehouse out back.
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matriarch (MAY-tree-ark), noun A woman who presides over a family or group. A woman who holds the dominant position in an organization or family can be said to be the group’s matriarch.
Millicent Bryant, MATRIARCH of the large Bryant family, made her customary speech at the reunion.
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matrix (MAY-trix), noun A place, situation, or object that acts as the point of origin or development for something else; a mold. The art department was the MATRIX of all of the company’s great creative works.
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maverick (MAV-er-ik), noun Free and independent of outside association or contact. A maverick is an independent-minded person who resists the influence of a group. (The word referred originally to a horse or steer that escapes from a herd and runs alone.)
Although Ryan portrayed himself as a MAVERICK, he owed favors to the same special interest groups his opponent did.
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mean (meen), noun In mathematics, an intermediate value or average of a series of figures. (See, for comparison, the entry for median.) The MEAN of the series (0, 3, 6, 7, 9) is five.
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median (MEE-dee-un), noun In mathematics, a middle number in a series of numbers. (See, for comparison, the entry for mean.) The MEDIAN of the series (0, 3, 6, 7, 9) is six.
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medley (MED-lee), noun A group of varying elements; a mixture; in music, a series of songs or melodies connected as one. Dinner at the club that night was especially tasty: chicken piccata, wild rice, and a MEDLEY of winter vegetables.
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melodious (muh-LOW-dee-us), adjective Pleasant or agreeable to the ear. Melodious refers to that which features a pleasing succession of sounds. The MELODIOUS tones of his mother’s voice always reminded Wayne of his childhood.
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melodrama (MELL-uh-drah-muh), noun A performance or script that exaggerates dramatic situations, making such situations laughable and unbelievable. The adjective form,which you may see, is “melodramatic.”
Unless you want to endure constant MELODRAMA, Dave, don’t get involved with Shirley.
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memento (muh-MEN-toe), noun A souvenir. I took home a variety of sea shells as MEMENTOS of my beach vacation.
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memoir (MEM-wahr), noun A series of written reminiscences about people, places, and events composed by and from the point of view of someone with intimate knowledge of the details.
The pretense extended even to the former president’s MEMOIRS, in which he repeated his assertion that he had no knowledge of how or why the crucial minutes were erased from the tape.
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menagerie (muh-NAZH-uh-ree), noun
A group of wild animals collected for exhibition; any exotic grouping of people or elements.
Wilma thought of her eccentric staff not so much as a group of artists, but as a strange MENAGERIE of very creative people who had to be approached with deference.
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menorah (muh-NORE-uh), noun A nine-branched candelabrum used during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. In our office we display both a Christmas tree and a brass MENORAH during the holiday season.
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mentor (MEN-tor), noun A counselor or teacher. In contemporary use, mentor usually refers to a senior figure (in business or politics, for instance) who aids the progress of a junior figure’s career.
Bart respected and revered his MENTOR, but he knew the time had come to move on to another company.
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metamorphosis (met-uh-MORE-fuh-siss), noun
A transformation, as by magic or other supernatural influence. Someone or something undergoing a change in form can be said to undergo a metamorphosis.
Darryl’s friends viewed his entry into reactionary politics with some concern; because of his past history, they feared his METAMORPHOSIS into a militant.
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meteor (MEE-tee-or), noun Glowing matter from space, typically stone or metal, that passes through and lights up the sky; a shooting star. Apparently, the vast majority of reported UFOs turn out to be METEORS.
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millenium (muh-LEN-ee-um), noun A period of one thousand years. In Christian theology, the millenium is a thousand-year span during which Christ is to rule human affairs.
The members of the small church prayed for the early arrival of the MILLENIUM.
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mimic (MIM-ik), verb
To imitate (mannerisms or speech), usually in a playful or mocking way.
Jerome, who could MIMIC Mr. Harris’s squeaky voice with great precision, never missed an opportunity to display his talents to the class when the instructor left the room.
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mince (mince), verb To chop into small pieces; figuratively, to use evasive or indirect language. Also: to walk affectedly, taking short steps. “Don’t MINCE words with me, Henry,” my boss growled; “ if you aren’t going to meet the deadline, tell me so.”
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misconstrue (mis-kun-STROO), verb To get the wrong idea; to misunderstand or misinterpret. Tom MISCONSTRUED Linda’s friendliness as flirting—until he met her boyfriend.
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mitigate (MIH-tih-gate), verb
To moderate. To mitigate is to lessen in impact or degree, or to cause to become less intense or severe.
The international situation had seemed tense until a number of MITIGATING factors—notably the overthrow of General Sanchez— came into play.
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modicum (MOD-ih-kuhm), noun A moderate or token amount. Paul always complains about actors who have transformed a MODICUM of talent into successful careers.
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modulate (MOJ-uh-late), verb To vary. In music, to modulate is to change from one key to another. The radio announcer began MODULATING his voice in order to counter criticisms that be spoke in a monotone.
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mollify (MOL-uh-fy), verb To allay (a person’s) anger. Mollify can also mean “to lessen the impact of.” The umpire’s attempts to MOLLIFY the two screaming managers with some risque humor were to no avail.
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monarchy (MON-ark-ee), noun
Government by a single ruler claiming a hereditary right to sovereignty; an example or instance of perceived royal lineage.
King George III’s troubled reign, highlighting the disadvantages of MONARCHY as a form of government, was characterized by civil unrest in the colonies, mental incapacity in the sovereign, and the usual pack of useless hangers-on at court.
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monogamy (muh-NOG-uh-mee), noun
The practice of being faithful to a single married partner. The opposite of monogamy is polygamy.
The priest reminded the couple that they should not get married without thoroughly examining their feelings toward maintaining a life of MONOGAMY.
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monotonous (muh-NOT-uh-nuss), adjective
Failing to excite interest; boring, tedious, repetitive, and dull; literally, possessing only one tone or note.
Mike admitted that screwing the caps on soda bottles on an assembly line was MONOTONOUS work, but he claimed it paid surprisingly well.
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mortify (MORE-tih-fy), verb To humiliate. To mortify is also to discipline (one’s body) through austerity or self-denial. Mrs. Jones’s mother was MORTIFIED at the thought of her daughter attending the dance unescorted.
mullah (MYOO-luh), noun An Islamic title of respect for one who teaches or is learned in sacred law. The MULLAH came to my son’s school and discussed the fundamentals of the Islamic faith.
الجزء الثالث كلمات يجب عليك تعلمها
Words You Absolutely Should Know
PART I
Words You Absolutely Should Know
If you pride yourself as a good communicator, you absolutely must know the words in this section. If items on this list are unfamiliar to you, learn them immediately or risk being at an embarrassing loss for words!
mundane (mun-DANE), adjective Ordinary or everyday. That which is common or pertains to the concerns of the workaday world is mundane. Everett’s concerns were MUNDANE enough: keep a roof over his head, track down the occasional meal.
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munitions (myoo-NISH-unz), noun
The materials of war; weapons or ammunition.
Neil felt his training with the army’s MUNITIONS unit put him in good standing for a position with the police department’s bomb squad.
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murky (MURR-key), adjective Unclear, obscure, and unsettling. I was afraid of what creatures might be hiding just below the surface of the MURKY river.
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narcotic (nahr-KAH-tick), noun Something that produces a soothing—especially a mind-numbing—effect. Her incessant bragging acted on me like a NARCOTIC.
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nautical (NAW-tih-kul), adjective
Of the sea, ships, or sailors.
Mr. Petty’s den is decorated in a NAUTICAL motif featuring wallpaper with anchors, paintings of colonial ships, and an authentic ship’s wheel hanging on the wall.
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nemesis (NEM-i-sis), noun An opponent motivated by revenge. A person’s nemesis is one who will stop at nothing to “settle a score.” Things looked bleak: Harold’s NEMESIS, Mike, was in charge of all hiring decisions.
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nepotism (NEP-uh-tiz-um), noun
The practice of favoring relatives.
The company practiced shameless NEPOTISM, regularly passing up qualified applicants and hiring the underqualified sons, daughters, and cousins of board members.
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nirvana (nir-VAW-nuh), noun A point or state of spiritual perfection. Nirvana has a number of theological definitions, but is usually understood to mean “a transcendent state beyond the concerns of existence.”
Some of the monks had meditated and maintained complete silence for years in an attempt to achieve NIRVANA.
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nocturnal (nok-TUR-nal), adjective Pertaining to night. Activities that occur only at night are nocturnal. Owls are perhaps the best known species of NOCTURNAL birds.
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nomad (NO-mad), noun
One who roams from place to place, having no real roots or home.
Ever since Grandma and Grandpa retired and sold their home, they’ve lived like NOMADS, traveling the country in a reconditioned Winnebago.
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nominal (NAHM-uh-null), adjective In name only; not in reality. Mr. Goldberg is only the NOMINAL head of the firm. Everyone knows his wife’s the real brains of the outfit.
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nonchalance (NON-shu-lonce), noun
The quality of being unconcerned with worldly cares. A cool, carefree person can be said to be nonchalant.
Astaire’s NONCHALANCE was appealing to the audience of the time, which was on the whole weighed down with the many cares of the Depression.
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nosh (nahsh), verb This Yiddish word for “nibble or gnaw” has come to mean just that: the process of nibbling or snacking on something. Before we go to the movie, let’s NOSH on some of these chips.
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notoriety (noe-tuh-RIE-uh-tee), noun Fame; wide publicity (particularly for sensational reasons); also, having an unfavorable reputation. The musical gained NOTORIETY as word spread that it featured bawdy songs and plenty of nudity.
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nougat (NOO-gut), noun A type of candy containing nuts and honey. The new candy bar contained an appealing mixture of NOUGAT, caramel, and milk chocolate.
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novice (NOV-iss), noun
One who is new to a profession, trade, or sport; a beginner.
You shouldn’t take too much pride in having checkmated me in twelve moves, Steve; I’m a NOVICE and you’re a nationally rated player.
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noxious (NOK-shuss), adjective Harmful; injurious. That which has a corrupting or debilitating influence is noxious. The NOXIOUS weed soon took over the entire crop, which eventually failed.
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nuance (NOO-ahnts), noun A subtle difference in expression, meaning, tone, etc. The NUANCES of Brenda’s expression alert me to her mood.
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obligatory (uh-BLIG-uh-tore-ee), adjective Required as an obligation. To say a duty is obligatory is to say that one is bound by morality, law, or tradition to perform it. The coaches, who hated each other bitterly, nevertheless exchanged the OBLIGATORY handshakes at the end of the game.
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oblivion (uh-BLIV-ee-un), noun The state of being beyond memory and utterly forgotten. To say something is in oblivion is to say it is lost to human recollection. To Tim, the fact that his book was being allowed to go out of print meant that he as an author had been consigned to OBLIVION.
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oblivous (uh-BLIV-ee-uss), adjective Not mindful. Someone who is oblivious displays little awareness of surroundings. We warned Jan about the consequences of her actions, but she was OBLIVIOUS to us.
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obstinate (OB-sti-nut), adjective Unyielding. Someone who holds firmly to an opinion, attitude, or approach despite obstacles could be said to be obstinate. Melvin, OBSTINATE to the end, refused to talk to Mr. Smith about settling the case out of court.
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obtain (ub-TANE), verb
To get or acquire.
With his green card set to expire in a few months, Olaf searched for an American woman who could marry him so that he could OBTAIN citizenship.
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odyssey (ODD-uh-see), noun A long journey that entails danger or adventure. Odyssey derives from Homer’s poem The Odyssey, which describes such a journey undertaken by the character Odysseus.
The film Easy Rider recounts the ODYSSEY of two counterculture motorcyclists in search of America.
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off-the-record (off-the-REK-erd), adjective
Not intended for publication.
Senator Power’s frank admission that he had never read the United States Constitution was probably intended as an OFF-THE- RECORD comment.
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ogre (O-gur), verb A legendary man-eating monster; a brute or wicked person. As a child, Vern believed that a huge OGRE lived in his bedroom closet.
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ominous (OM-ih-nuss), adjective
Foreboding or menacing. Something that is ominous foretells the possibility of future harm or evil.
The day began with sunny weather, but by 2 p.m. an OMINOUS sky threatened to ruin our outing.
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omnipresent (ahm-nuh-PREZ-ent), adjective Occurring, or seeming to occur, everywhere at once. As the day awoke, the sound of early birds was OMNIPRESENT.
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omniscient (om-NISS-see-unt), adjective
All-knowing. Omniscient refers to having absolute knowledge.
Contrary to what you may have heard, Professor Powers is not OMNISCIENT; he still has a thing or two to learn about chairing the biology department.
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omnivorous (om-NIV-er-uss), adjective Accustomed to eating both animal and vegetable food items. Omnivorous (derived from the Latin for “eating everything”) can also mean “voracious,” in the sense of taking all that is offered.
The Cantonese, I am told, are OMNIVOROUS, and it is said that the traveler is best advised not to inquire too closely into exactly what he is eating.
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opaque (oh-PAKE), adjective Impenetrable to light. That which does not allow light to pass through is opaque. Karl was unable to make out exactly what was happening behind the OPAQUE screen that had been set in front of him.
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optimal (OP-tih-mul), adjective Best; favored. The optimal time for something is the best possible time. As you know, we were not working in OPTIMAL conditions: it was snowing heavily and the wind was blowing at over 40 m.p.h.
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opulent (OP-yoo-lent), adjective Rich. Something characterized by wealth or affluence (an extravagant dinner party, for instance) could be considered opulent. Without the money from Powers, Hans knew he would be unable to maintain his OPULENT lifestyle.
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origami (or-ih-GAH-mee), noun The Japanese art of cutting and folding paper. After studying ORIGAMI in her craft class, Aunt Janice decided to decorate her entire Christmas tree with miniature paper figures.
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ornate (or-NATE), adjective Overwrought or decorated elaborately. That which is flashy or extravagantly ornamented is ornate. The furniture in the living room was as ORNATE as it was uncomfortable.
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overarching (oh-ver-ARCH-ing), adjective Central or principally important. I quickly ascertained that compassion was not the OVERARCHING reason for her line of questioning.
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pact (pakt), noun
An agreement or promise.
When they were each ten years old, Louise and Barbara made a solemn PACT to grow up together, attend the same college, work for the same company, and live in the same house.
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pagan (PAY-gun), adjective or noun Someone who is not aligned with the world’s major religions or a description of someone who does not belong to these major
religions. Often, the word suggests someone who is hedonistic or irreligious.
Jean is forever telling her friends that being a PAGAN does not mean that she worships Satan.
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palatial (puh-LAY-shul), adjective
Having the grand, luxurious characteristics of a palace; resembling a palace.
Mr. Laramie offered to hold the reception at his PALATIAL seaside mansion, but the social committee opted for a hotel ballroom in the city.
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palpable (PALP-uh-bull), adjective Touchable or able to be perceived. That which is palpable is tangible or undeniably present. A PALPABLE sense of excitement filled the air of the city before the big game.
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pandemonium (pan-duh-MOAN-ee-um), noun Chaos. Pandemonium refers to wild, uproarious, and noisy tumult. PANDEMONIUM broke out in the streets of the city after the local team won the pennant.
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panorama (pan-uh-RAM-uh), noun An extensive, unobstructed view of a wide area. Despite my lifelong aversion to flying, I couldn’t help admiring the breathtaking PANORAMA of San Francisco below me.
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pantomime (PAN-tuh-mime), verb
The conveyance of ideas, words, emotions, or stories without the use of words.
My attempt to describe the accident in PANTOMIME to the villagers I encountered was pathetic; I bitterly regretted my decision not to study French before our trip.
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paradox (PAIR-uh-doks), noun A seemingly self-contradictory statement that expresses a valid idea or potentially true statement. Paradox can also mean “a conclusion that, while reached by conventional logical methods, nevertheless cancels itself out.”
Before announcing the test grades, Mrs. Miller reminded her students of the PARADOX that a teacher often must be cruel in order to be kind.
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paralysis (puh-RAL-ih-siss), noun Loss or damage of movement ability; the loss of feeling in a part of the body due to disease or injury. Paralysis is used figuratively to
refer to the inability of a person or institution to take action in a given situation.
Lacking firm direction from its founder, the company soon reached a state of PARALYSIS.
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paraphrase (PARE-uh-frase), verb
To restate in different words. Also, as a noun: an instance of such restating.
To call this work a new translation of the original Greek texts is an overstatement; it is a capable, but by no means groundbreaking, PARAPHRASE of existing English editions.
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parody (PARE-uh-dee), noun A satirically humorous imitation or mocking interpretation of a well-known work, person, or institution. “Life in Hell” is an irreverent PARODY of parents, school, and the working world.
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partisan (PAR-tih-zun), adjective
Showing a marked inclination or bias. Also, as a noun: one who is partial to a particular side or view.
As a Democrat, I realize that my PARTISAN role in opposing the governor’s policies may cause some of the Republicans in this body to doubt my truthfulness in this matter.
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patronize (PAY-truh-nize), verb This word CAN mean simply to give a business your patronage, but “patronize” usually has a negative meaning, suggesting that one is being condescending toward another.
Just because I didn’t graduate from college doesn’t mean you can PATRONIZE me whenever we try to have an intellectual discussion!
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penal (PEE-nul), adjective Related to or pertaining to punishment or imprisonment; having to do with a prison system. President Clinton once remarked that the White House, in his view, represented the crown jewel of the federal PENAL system.
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percolate (PUR-kuh-layt), verb To pass or make pass through a porous body. I was dying for a cup of fresh brewed coffee, but as I didn’t have time to wait for it to PERCOLATE, I had to settle for instant.
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perennial (puh-REN-ee-ull), adjective
Enduring. That which gives evidence of lasting indefinitely can be considered perennial. (Certain plants that have a long blooming cycle are called perennials.)
The nation’s PERENNIAL budget crisis took an ugly new turn this week.
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perforated (PUR-fur-aye-tud), adjective Featuring holes or openings, especially at regular intervals. The magazine coupon was PERFORATED along the side for easy removal.
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perimeter (puh-RIM-ih-tur), noun The outer edge of an enclosed shape or area. Perimeter can also refer to the distance described by this edge. In the early morning hour, Jake would take a walk along the PERIMETER of the yard.
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periphery (puh-RIFF-uh-ree), noun The area at the extreme of a given boundary. The outskirts of a town, for instance, are on the periphery of the town. There among the homeless, at the furthest PERIPHERY of society, Maria found her calling.
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permeate (PURR-mee-ate), verb To penetrate. Something that permeates spreads throughout. Joan’s stories are PERMEATED with a sense of spiritual mystery.
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perpetuate (purr-PETCH-oo-ate), verb To make everlasting; to prolong memory or use (of a thing). To perpetuate someone’s memory is to cause that person’s life to be recalled after his death.
The rumor that I am resigning has been PERPETUATED by a number of sources, all completely unreliable.
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perquisite (PURK-wuh-zit), noun
An incidental privilege other than payment that accompanies a position of responsibility; also, an extra payment beyond what is owed. Often shortened to “perk.”
Among the president’s PERQUISITES were two front-row seats to all the Celtics’ regular-season home games.
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pervasive (purr-VAY-siv), adjective Having infiltrated or penetrated. A pervasive rumor is one that has been circulated widely. The prejudice against handicapped persons is no longer as PERVASIVE as in years past.
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petulant (PET-yoo-lunt), adjective Impatiently peevish. Someone who shows great annoyance or irritation with minor problems could be said to be petulant. He dismissed their questions with a PETULANT wave of the hand and quickly changed the subject.
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philanthropy (fih-LAN-thruh-pee), noun Generosity or benevolence toward mankind. Someone who acts out of philanthropy is someone who commits resources to the betterment of his fellow man. (A philanthropist is one who bestows wealth on public institutions or people in need.)
Toward the end of his life, Andrew Carnegie was a model of PHILANTHROPY.
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phonics (FON-iks), noun The study of the sounds and acoustics of language. David’s teacher’s insistence that studying PHONICS was not necessary to develop good reading skills struck us as odd.
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pictorial (pick-TOR-ee-ul), adjective Relating to or consisting of pictures. National Geographic offers a PICTORIAL introduction to people and cultures we may never have known about before.
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picturesque (PIK-chuh-resk), adjective Reminiscent of or suggesting a (painted) picture. A striking or unusually interesting scene can be considered picturesque. The film’s PICTURESQUE setting is not enough to make up for its scant plot.
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piety (PIE-uh-tee), noun Devotion; religious reverence. Someone who shows a marked inclination to worship God is said to show piety.
Joseph Smith—a man not noted for his PIETY—suddenly started attending religious services.
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pigment (PIG-munt), noun A dry coloring substance meant to be mixed with fluid; any matter that produces color. The use of PIGMENTS developed only in the late nineteenth century is proof positive that this painting is not one of Vermeer’s.
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pilaf (PEEL-af), noun
A flavored rice dish served alone or with meat, poultry, or vegetables.
The restaurant is certainly trying to cater to the needs of the health-conscious, offering more chicken, fish, and vegetable entrées than before, and allowing diners a choice of rice PILAF or fries.
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pinnacle (PIN-uh-kul), noun The topmost point. To reach the apex or highest point of something is to reach its pinnacle. Fred reached the PINNACLE of his profession when he was named chairman of the history department.
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pious (PIE-uss), adjective
Devout; dedicated to God and the practice of one’s faith or religion.
Joseph had always seemed to be the most PIOUS of all of us, so no one in our class was surprised when he announced that he’ d found his calling in the ministry.
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pixie (PIK-see), noun An elf or fairy. The villages believed the mysterious theft to be the work of mischievous PIXIES and trolls.
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placard (PLACK-urd), noun A notice or sign set out on stiff paper or board. The umpire asked us to remove our PLACARD from the bleacher wall, claiming that it obstructed the view of the hitters.
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placebo (pluh-SEE-bo), noun A medicine having no fixed medical purpose or healing property given either to pacify a patient or, as a control method, to test the effectiveness of another drug.
A placebo is administered as though it were a medication or drug, yet is neutral from a medical standpoint.
Scientists are still uncertain as to exactly what causes the PLACEBO effect, in which some patients taking a “ fake” drug actually improve.
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placid (PLAH-sid), adjective Undisturbed; smooth. That which appears calm or undisturbed on the surface can be said to be placid. The PLACID country surroundings were just the change Caitlyn needed after three months in noisy Manhattan.
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plague (playg), noun
A broad-based affliction. A plague is a widespread calamity usually associated with a severe and sudden incidence of disease in a population. (Plague can refer to divine intervention or, figuratively, to any sudden and widespread reversal of fortune affecting a group: “a plague of bank closures.”)
Fortunately, humans have not encountered a severe outbreak of the bubonic PLAGUE for centuries.
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plaited (PLAY-tud), adjective
Braided.
Julia usually wore her hair neatly PLAITED, but she drew more than a few looks when she let it fall to its full length—nearly to her waist—for the company party.
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plausible (PLAW-zuh-bull), adjective Having the ring of truth, though not a proven fact. Rhonda’s excuse for tardiness was PLAUSIBLE, but I still think she was just out drinking all night.
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pliant (PLY-unt), adjective Supple. Something that is modified or altered easily is pliant. You must mold papier mache quickly; it is not PLIANT for long.
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plight (plite), noun Predicament, especially one arising from a solemn obligation. A plight is an unfortunate or desperate situation. Out of sympathy for the public television station’s PLIGHT, Glenn made a large donation.
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plod (plod), verb To trudge along slowly, as if weighed down. The tour guide noticed Nelson PLODDING along behind the rest of the group and guessed that he was not a big fan of Monet.
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plucky (PLUK-ee), adjective
Brave; courageous.
It was the gnomelike Mario, the last person Sergeant Denton would have termed a PLUCKY young cadet, who ended up winning a medal for risking his own life to save his comrades.
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poignant (POY-nyunt), adjective Appealing to the emotions. That which is acutely painful or affecting is poignant. The film’s final scene is meant to be POIGNANT, but I found it cloying.
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poise (poyze), noun Stability of outlook or emotional state, especially when facing trying circumstances. Also, as a verb: to set on a potentially hazardous surface, such as a narrow edge.
Ruth-Anne’s POISE during the rigorous interview impressed us all.
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polarize (PO-luh-rize), verb
To encourage elements or components to occupy opposite ends of a spectrum. Something that divides or sows discord is said to polarize.
The scandal left the two wings of the party completely POLARIZED.
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posterity (pah-STAIR-ih-tee), noun Future generations, considered collectively. The president believes POSTERITY will judge his administration a successful one.
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postmortem (post-MORE-tuhm), noun Traditionally, “postmortem” has referred to the examination of a body after death, but pundits have picked up on the word and use it to describe a political, cultural, social, etc. event, after the event’s occurrence.
Pundits spent weeks doing POSTMORTEMS of the lengthy primaries once the primaries finally ended.
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postpartum (post-PAR-tum), adjective
Occurring after pregnancy and birth.
In the weeks following the delivery, Janice felt quite low at times, but her obstetrician assured her that hers was a standard case of POSTPARTUM depression and would soon pass.
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potent (PO-tunt), adjective Strong; powerful. The poor review of Henry’s play served as a POTENT incentive for him to labor more carefully over the next one.
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potentate (POT-n-tate), noun A powerful person. An influential political or business figure could be considered a potentate. The First Lady was thoroughly at ease with foreign POTENTATES and diplomats from the administration’s first day.
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pragmatic (prag-MA-tik), adjective Practical. Something that is pragmatic is useful or apt. The governor, in this case, decided not to take the advice of the ideologues, opting instead for a PRAGMATIC approach.
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prattle (PRAT-ul), noun
Meaningless babble; idle chatter.
I had stopped at the diner to have breakfast and read the morning paper, but the endless PRATTLE of the waitress made it impossible for me to get beyond the front page.
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precedence (PRESS-uh-dunce), noun
The act or right of preceding; an instance or claim of coming first in order or priority.
To his credit, the president of the toy company agreed that the safety of children took PRECEDENCE over profits and promptly recalled the defective item from the stores.
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precedent (PRESS-i-dent), noun A previous parallel incident justifying a present action. A precedent is an example from the past that is either identical to a current situation or similar enough to it to use as a guide.
There is no PRECEDENT for the action the defense is requesting, Your Honor.
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precipice (PRESS-ih-pis), noun A cliff. To be “on the precipice” can also be to be on the verge of a dangerous course of action. Though the view is spectacular here, I don’t advise walking near the PRECIPICE.
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precocious (pri-KO-shuss), adjective Prematurely advanced, especially with regard to mental ability. A child who vies for attention by displaying adult-like social or mental skills is also said to be precocious.
Bill, a PRECOCIOUS nine-year-old, could already do algebra and geometry.
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predecessor (PRED-uh-sess-er), noun Something or someone succeeded or replaced by another. Jane knew it would be difficult to live up to the standards set by her PREDECESSOR.
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predestined (pre-DESS-tind), adjective Controlled by the fates; governed by higher powers and foreordained. After his meeting with the fortuneteller, Jim honestly believed he was PREDESTINED to meet and marry a woman from Argentina.
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preeminent (pre-EM-ih-nunt), adjective Superior to others. The young Stalin’s plan was to reach a PREEMINENT position in the party hierarchy by any means necessary.
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preemptive (pre-EMP-tive), adjective Possessing and acting on a prior right (for instance, as one who has the first claim to purchase a property). Similarly, to take a preemptive action is to act before others can.
The old miner had a PREEMPTIVE claim to the property, and so our purchase of it was impossible.
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premise (PREM-iss), noun
The idea or statement that stands as the base of a theory or argument; also, the conceit underlying the action of a work of fiction or drama.
The story’s PREMISE—that all of us can win the lottery if we only play it enough times—is so farfetched as to be laughable, but the piece is not, alas, intended as a comedy.
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prenatal (pre-NAY-tull), adjective Occurring before childbirth. Dr. Ellis advised all her patients to follow a sound PRENATAL regimen that included a diet rich in protein, calcium, and iron.
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prerogative (puh-ROGG-uh-tive), noun A right or privilege limited to a particular person in a particular situation. The manager exercised his PREROGATIVE to stop the bickering during the staff meeting.
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pretense (PREE-tence), noun An instance of pretending. To make a pretense of surprise, for instance, is to falsely act or claim to be surprised. We will prove here that the lease was signed under false PRETENSES.
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prevail (prih-VAIL), verb To succeed and become dominant, or to be widespread. The challenger ultimately PREVAILED over the two-time heavyweight champion.
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principal (PRIN-sih-pul), adjective First in importance. Also, as a noun: the main performer in a dramatic production; also, the head of an elementary or high school.(See, for comparison, the entry for principle.)
My PRINCIPAL objection to your plan is that it is completely unethical, but I might also add that it is not likely to yield any significant income for our company.
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principle (PRIN-sih-pul), noun
A common truth or law; a standard of behavior. (See, for comparison, the entry for principal).
Melanie’s assertion that our former Congressman is an overweight graft artist without a single moral PRINCIPLE was out of line; he’s lost a good deal of weight in recent months.
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pristine (PRISS-teen), adjective Unspoiled; primitive. Something that is pristine is original and uncorrupted by later influence. The PRISTINE wilderness had an invigorating effect on Charles, who had never gone camping before.
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prodigy (PRAW-dih-gee), noun A person possessing extraordinary skill or talent. A prodigy can also be a wonder or marvelous example. The young Mozart, a famous child PRODIGY, played the piano with the skill of a master.
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progressive (pruh-GRESS-iv), adjective Forward-moving, especially with regard to social or political issues. A progressive politician is one who is associated with reform movements or similar causes.
Governor Dowling’s retirement is seen as a severe blow to the entire PROGRESSIVE movement.
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proliferate (pro-LIF-uh-rate), verb To multiply or come into being rapidly. To proliferate can also mean to spread or become more common at an accelerated pace. After the film’s success, a number of cheap imitations PROLIFERATED for a time.
prolific (pruh-LIFF-ick), adjective Extremely fruitful and productive. Joyce Carol Oates is one of America’s most PROLIFIC writers, turning out three or four books a year.
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propriety (pruh-PRY-uh-tee), noun Conformity to standards appropriate to a given situation. My typically foul-mouthed boyfriend was a model of PROPRIETY the first time he met my folks.
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proselytize (PROSS-ih-li-tize), verb
To convert (a person) from one religion to another.
Thus it was that our main goal of PROSELYTIZING the natives was temporarily abandoned in favor of the more pressing and immediate object of surviving their raids on our settlement.
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prosthesis (pross-THEE-sis), noun An artificially constructed member meant to replace a damaged or missing part of the human body. Several months after the accident, Greg was fitted for a PROSTHESIS for his lower left leg that would allow him to walk again.
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prostrate (PROSS-trait), adjective or verb Lying face down on the ground due to being weary, overthrown, or helpless; or the act of putting someone in such a prone position. The quarterback lay PROSTRATE for several minutes after he was sacked.
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protege (PRO-tuh-zhay), noun Someone aided by another influential person. A protege is a person who is protected, encouraged, or helped (for instance, in career matters) by another of superior status or rank.
Everyone expected Dean to name Bill (his PROTEGE) to the new post.
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protocol (PRO-tuh-call), noun
Formal etiquette, especially as practiced in diplomatic circles. Protocol can also refer to established rankings followed in a social gathering.
Her inability to adhere to official PROTOCOL led to her dismissal from the embassy staff.
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prototype (PRO-tuh-type), noun The original model of something. A prototype is the experimental or trial version of a system or invention. The PROTOTYPE underwent several modifications before Ben felt comfortable showing it to potential investors.
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providence (PROV-ih-dnce), noun Divine care. To trust in providence is to hold an assurance that God will provide for needs or guide one’s actions. (Providence can also mean “thrift.”)
Despite Mother’s assurance that PROVIDENCE will see to our needs, I feel I should try to find a job.
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provocative (pruh-VOK-uh-tive), adjective Stimulating or combative. Someone who is provocative tends to focus on controversial issues. Despite Ed’s PROVOCATIVE attitude—or perhaps because of it—he won the respect of his supervisor on the creative team.
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proximity (prok-SIM-ih-tee), noun Close or near in time, location, or relation. The PROXIMITY of my desk to Irma’s meant that I would be subject to her endless, tedious stories about her crocheting classes.
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prudent (PROOD-nt), adjective Exercising due care with regard to one’s interests. Something that is prudent is judicious or carefully considered. I believe the merger was a PRUDENT course of action, one that will solidify our cash position immediately.
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psychosomatic (sy-ko-suh-MAH-tik), adjective Pertaining to disorders having emotional or mental (rather than evident physical) causes. Psychosomatic can also refer to that which involves both mind and body.
Although the first doctor she consulted insisted that Jane’s symptoms were PSYCHOSOMATIC, the second found signs of physical illness.
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pundit (PUN-dit), noun
An educated or authoritative person whose opinion is generally respected.
The political PUNDITS had all decreed that Truman would be defeated in a head-to-head contest with Governor Dewey, but the voters had other ideas.
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puny (PYOO-nee), adjective Very little; being small in stature or strength. A brilliant but rather PUNY child, Jason often had to endure the taunts and abuse of the school bully.
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purge (purj), verb To free (someone or something) of all that is perceived as bad; to take steps to cleanse or purify. I tried to PURGE my system of the flu virus by drinking endless glasses of fruit juice, but I still ended up missing a week of work.
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qualm (kwalm), noun A misgiving or pang of conscience (at one’s course of action). To have qualms about a particular action is to wonder whether or not it is right.
He had no QUALMS about leaving his job; he had given the company three very good years.
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quaver (KWAY-vur), verb To tremble, shake, or quiver. Eddie’s hand QUAVERED as he extended the box containing the diamond ring across the table toward Helene.
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quibble (KWIB-uhl), verb or noun As a noun, “quibble” means either an instance of using evasive language to avoid the subject at hand OR an example of petty criticism. The verb is the act of using evasive language or the act of offering petty criticism.
“Do you love me?” Janice asked. Paul QUIBBLED for some time, pointing out how much she meant to him and how happy he was to be with her. Janice knew the answer to her question was “no.”
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quirk (kwurk), noun
An idiosyncrasy; an odd behavioral or personality characteristic.
I hope you can overlook Mr. Johnson’s QUIRK of using rough language with outside salespeople.
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quizzical (KWIZ-ih-kul), adjective Puzzled. Chris gave his boss a QUIZZICAL look upon being told he would not receive any pay for the next month.
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rampage (RAM-page), noun An instance reminiscent of frenzied violence; a destructive period of self-indulgent behavior. “The tiniest mistake sends my boss on a RAMPAGE,” the senior staffer moaned.
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rampant (RAM-punt), adjective
Widespread; unrestrained.
The obedience trainer told us that because we had allowed our RAMPANT dogs to run through our old apartment, we would have a hard time keeping them confined to one area of the new house.
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rankle (RANG-kul), verb To cause irritation or festering resentment. Someone who is peeved by a perceived slight or oversight is said to be rankled. The criticism he received for his plan RANKLED Paul for some time.
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rapport (rah-PORE), noun A trusting and peaceful mutual relationship. Although the Wilsons found their neighbors odd at first, the four soon developed a strong RAPPORT.
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raucous (RAW-kuss), adjective
Rowdy; boisterous; disorderly and wild. Also: harsh or grating to the ear.
My parents’ fears that we would use their vacation as an opportunity to stage RAUCOUS parties in the den were not entirely without foundation.
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ravage (RAV-ij), verb To wreak havoc or inflict ruinous damage upon. My online Mongol hordes RAVAGED the simulated village.
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ravenous (RAV-uh-nuss), adjective Powerfully hungry. Ravenous can also mean intensely eager to be satisfied. I am RAVENOUS, but fortunately dinner will be served soon.
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rebuff (re-BUFF), noun An instance of rejection or expressed disapproval. To receive a rebuff is to be sharply and summarily turned down. Tim suffered his employer’s REBUFF shortly after proposing the new project.
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rebuke (rih-BYOOK), noun or verb Sharp, stern disapproval or, as a verb, its expression. Al’s drunken behavior earned a sharp REBUKE from his wife.
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recede (rih-SEED), verb To move back or away. My brother is so sensitive about his RECEDING hairline that he’s started wearing a hat whenever he goes out in public.
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reciprocal (rih-SIP-ri-kul), adjective
Given in return for something else; mutually negotiated.
Many economists feel that the U.S. economy cannot truly improve until the United States is able to negotiate a RECIPROCAL trade agreement with the Japanese.
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reciprocate (rih-SIP-ro-kate), verb To give or act in turn following the lead of another. Someone who reciprocates reproduces the courtesy, gift, or example of another. Mr. Powers has shown evidence that he wants to end the feud; the least you can do is RECIPROCATE.
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reclusive (ri-KLOO-siv), adjective Hermitlike. Someone who shuts himself off from the influences of the world could be considered reclusive. The RECLUSIVE millionaire lived the life of a hermit, never leaving his home.
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recompense (REK-um-pense), verb and noun To give compensation (for suffering or injury, for instance). As a noun, recompense means “that which is given in compensation.” There is no RECOMPENSE for the loss you have suffered, Mrs. Williams.
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reconcile (REK-un-sile), verb To settle or bring into agreement. One can reconcile conflicts, contradictory columns of figures, or even internal emotions that seem at odds with each other.
How is the White House to RECONCILE these conflicting signals from the Kremlin?
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reconnaissance (ri-KON-uh-sunce), noun
A search (of an area) made for the purpose of gaining information likely to yield military advantage. Reconnaissance is borrowed from the French.
The pilot knew that a RECONNAISSANCE mission such as this one would be difficult and dangerous.
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reconnoiter (rek-uh-NOY-ter), verb To engage in reconnaissance. (See above.) Reconnoiter is from an old French verb meaning “to explore.” Your mission is to RECONNOITER the area and meet back here at 0800 hours.
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recoup (rih-KOOP), verb To regain or recover the equivalent of something lost. John robotically placed coins in the slot machine, trying desperately to RECOUP his losses.
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rectify (REK-tih-fie), verb To put right. Someone who rectifies a calculation corrects the mathematical errors it contains. Ellen RECTIFIED her previous mistakes and filed the report.
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redundant (rih-DUN-dunt), adjective
Superfluous. That which fulfills the role of something already in place and functional is redundant.
Many of the functions of the shuttle vehicle are deliberately designed to be REDUNDANT in order to provide backup systems in case primary systems fail.
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refurbish (re-FUR-bish), verb To renovate or repair. To refurbish is to restore to a state of attractive completion. The housing project’s volunteers REFURBISHED the abandoned apartments in record time.
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regale (rih-GALE), verb
To entertain; to give delight. Also, to provide pleasure, particularly by means of food, spectacle, or the like.
In this film, although the millionaire REGALES the innocent country girl with beautiful gifts and a lavish week on the town, money isn’t enough to win her heart in the end.
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regress (rih-GRESS), verb To return to an earlier state of being. Every time Dan gets around Lydia he REGRESSES to some sort of infantile state.
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relapse (RE-laps), noun
A return or slip back into an old condition, state, or mindset.
Mom warned me that I’ d have a RELAPSE of the flu if I stood out in the cold watching the football game for three hours, and she was right.
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relegate (REL-uh-gate), verb
To assign or place in a position, often one of low prestige or power; to set out of sight; banish.
Although the press release described Lou’s new position as a promotion, he and everyone else in the organization knew he was being RELEGATED to a less prominent spot in the hierarchy after the fiasco of the Darwin project.
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relentless (ri-LENT-lis), adjective Unceasingly harsh. Something that is unyieldingly intense or severe is relentless. Under the RELENTLESS questioning of the prosecutor, Diane lost her composure.
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relevance (REL-uh-vence), noun The quality of being pertinent. That which has a connection or apt association has relevance. These sales figures have no RELEVANCE for our purposes; they are at least six years old.
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relevant (REL-uh-vunt), adjective Pertaining to or having bearing, influence, or relation to the matter at hand. The defense attorney argued vehemently—but in vain—that the accused’s past history was not RELEVANT to the case.
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relinquish (ri-LING-kwish), verb To give up. Someone who surrenders or forswears a thing relinquishes it. The King RELINQUISHED his throne to marry the woman he loved.
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relish (REL-ish), verb To enjoy heartily; also, an instance of great enjoyment. (Also: a sweet pickle dish composed of various vegetables.) On particularly difficult days, Barbara RELISHED a private fantasy of kicking Mr. Wilkins in the shins.
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reminisce (rem-uh-NISS), verb
To recall the past; to remember; to have memories.
I used to like to sit on the porch swing with Grandma on those cool summer nights and listen to her REMINISCE about her childhood in Italy.
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rendezvous (RON-day-voo), noun A meeting; especially, a secret meeting between lovers. Claire knew that if her mother found out about her RENDEZVOUS with Elton, she would be grounded for at least a week.
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renounce (re-NOWNCE), verb To abandon or deny any connection with. Someone who renounces something severs all ties to it. Only by RENOUNCING all desire for possessions, the monks believed, could one attain enlightenment.
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renowned (rih-NOWND), adjective Famous or well-known. We were all thrilled to learn that a RENOWNED author of your caliber had agreed to teach at the university this semester, sir.
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repercussion (ree-per-KUSH-un), noun
An echo; reverberation; also, the result of an action, often negative.
The REPERCUSSIONS of Ben’s cheating were more severe than he had expected: a failing grade for the class and a two-week suspension.
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replica (REP-lih-kuh), noun A copy, imitation, or facsimile of an original. While Steve was in Paris he bought a REPLICA of the Mona Lisa for his mother.
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reprieve (ri-PREEV), noun A suspension or delay from imminent proceedings. A reprieve is a respite. The inmate won a last-minute REPRIEVE from the governor.
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reproach (ri-PROACH), verb and noun To express stern disapproval of. As a noun, reproach means scornfully stated disdain. Your many efforts to get on Harvey’s good side have succeeded only in winning his REPROACH.
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requisite (REK-wi-zit), adjective Necessary. That which is required or essential is requisite. Having failed to fill out the REQUISITE forms, Lydia missed the opportunity to enter her work in the fair.
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rescind (ri-SIND), verb Reverse (for instance, an order, command, or edict). To rescind an instruction is to overrule it. The order of detention is hereby RESCINDED; you may return to your native country at your earliest convenience, Mr. Dawson.
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resilience (ri-ZIL-yunce), noun The ability to rebound. That which bounces back shows resilience. Joanne’s RESILIENCE was remarkable; she recovered from the operation in record time.
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resilient (rih-ZIL-yunt), adjective
Having the ability to survive; likely to rebound, particularly from hardship.
Although Rudy failed to make the team during his freshman year, he was RESILIENT and dedicated enough to earn a spot the next year.
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resonant (REZ-uh-nunt), adjective Pertaining to or reminiscent of a sound (often deep and pleasant) that echoes or continues. The calm, RESONANT tone of the professor’s voice was, after a night without sleep, very nearly enough to put me asleep.
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resonate (REZ-uh-nate), verb To vibrate or sound in a way similar to something else. In addition, that which matches or complements an existing pattern can be said to resonate with that pattern.
The sound of clicking footsteps RESONATED through the cavernous hallway.
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resurgence (ri-SUR-jents), noun Reappearance or revival. Something that has a resurgence returns to a position of prominence or visibility. A RESURGENCE of popularity for bell-bottom slacks is not expected this season, but the experts have been wrong before.
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resurrect (rez-uh-REKT), verb To bring back from the dead. Figuratively, to resurrect something (a fashion, for instance) is to reintroduce it after it has been dismissed as no longer relevant or appropriate.
It astounds me that you have gone to the trouble to RESURRECT these completely discredited ideas.
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resuscitate (rih-SUS-ih-tate), verb To revive someone after he or she has passed out or died. The crowd cheered as the lifeguard RESUSCITATED the drowning victim.
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retraction (rih-TRAK-shun), noun
A formal renunciation of statements considered or determined to be false or injurious to reputation.
After erroneously linking Mr. Vining to organized crime figures, the paper was forced to issue a front-page RETRACTION explaining and acknowledging its mistake.
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retribution (ret-ruh-BYOO-shun), noun Punishment (as from God) for past wrongdoing. Retribution can also refer to divine reward for the just, but the negative sense is more common.
Some saw the Mafia don’s debilitating illness as a form of divine RETRIBUTION for a life of crime.
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retroactive (ret-ro-AK-tiv), adjective
Effective back to a stated point in time. Something that is made retroactive is extended as though it had been taking place since a certain past date.
We will be raising your salary to $100,000 a year, Perkins, RETROACTIVE to January 1.
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retrospect (RET-ruh-spekt), noun Hindsight. Retrospect derives from the Latin roots for “backward” and “vision.” In RETROSPECT, the decision to launch the attack at night now seems like a catastrophic error.
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reverberate (rih-VUR-buh-rate), verb To echo back and forth, rebound, or recoil. The sound of the gunshot REVERBERATED throughout the canyon.
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riff (riff), noun In music, especially jazz and rock, a short melodic phrase repeated as background or used as a main theme. Once the bass player started playing the insistent opening RIFF to “My Girl,” people poured out onto the dance floor.
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rudimentary (roo-duh-MEN-tuh-ree), adjective Basic. That which is elementary is rudimentary. This thesis is full of RUDIMENTARY errors in grammar, to say nothing of several significant lapses in style.
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sacrilege (SACK-ruh-lij), noun The violation of anything sacred or anything someone may consider sacred. The bar patrons found Dan’s negative words about the Yankees a SACRILEGE.
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salient (SAY-lee-unt), adjective
Striking, obvious.
Let’s not get bogged down in the details of the bonus plan; the SALIENT point is, we’ve provided our editors with a measurable financial incentive to do the very best acquisitions work they can.
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salivate (SAL-ih-vate), verb To secrete saliva. To salivate over something is to eagerly anticipate eating it; the word has seen some figurative use in this sense. We now know that dogs will SALIVATE upon hearing a bell they associate with food, even if the food is not present.
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sangria (sang-GREE-uh), noun
A cocktail of Mexican origin consisting of wine and fruit juices.
The cool cantina, with its seemingly endless supply of enchiladas and SANGRIA, was just what we needed after a long day of sightseeing in the hot Acapulco sun.
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satire (SA-tire), noun
A humorous work employing sarcasm or irony in order to ridicule, expose, or make light of a person, institution, or practice.
I wonder how many of the young children now streaming to theaters to watch this cartoon are accompanied by adults who can appreciate its subtle SATIRE of consumer culture.
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scanty (SCAN-tee), adjective Insufficient; noticeably lacking. The food at this restaurant is certainly good, but the portions are a little too SCANTY for the price we’re paying.
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scapegoat (SKAPE-goat), noun A person considered responsible for a fiasco or mishap who was not in fact totally responsible for it. Scapegoat derives from an
ancient practice of selecting a goat to accept the sins of a community.
I will not act as SCAPEGOAT in this affair; you all had a vote in the matter, and you all voted yes, just as I did.
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scathing (SKAY-thing), adjective Violently critical. Scathing usually refers to speech or writing about another’s conduct or performance. The SCATHING review by the Times theater critic had the anticipated effect: the show closed within two weeks.
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scrutinize (SKROOT-n-ize), verb To review extremely closely. Someone who examines an object or document in minute detail scrutinizes it. It is your job to SCRUTINIZE these applications carefully for any inaccuracies or misleading statements.
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sear (sear), verb To burn or scorch, or to cause to dry up and wither. While I was on vacation, the heat SEARED my plants, leaving them nothing but lifeless brown stalks.
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seasonable (SEE-zun-uh-bull), adjective Timely; in keeping with or appropriate to the season. (See, for comparison, the entry for seasonal.) In December, the outside of our building is done up in SEASONABLE green and red lights.
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seasonal (SEE-zun-ul), adjective
Happening as a result of regular and anticipated changes occurring at a specific time of the year.
Don’t worry; that dramatic drop in sales for February is a SEASONAL dip experienced to one degree or another by everyone in our industry.
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seclude (sih-KLOOD), adjective To hide or keep apart; to keep in isolation. The two met in a woody, SECLUDED area of the estate to be sure their conversation would not be overheard.
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secular (SEK-yuh-lur), adjective
Not religious in form or content; worldly.
Although the Cardinal had a long list of ecclesiastical issues to review with me, he began our interview with a few wholly SECULAR remarks on the poor fortunes of the Red Sox this year.
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seethe (seethe), verb
To boil. In addition, someone who internalizes agitation or anger can be said to seethe.
Still SEETHING from his defeat at the hands of the Dodgers on Tuesday, Gibson took the mound with a look of unwavering determination last night.
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semaphore (SEM-uh-fore), noun A method of (usually seafaring) communication or signaling based on the positionings of the arms of a standing person or the similar positioning of flags (with one held in each hand).
Mark’s attempt to render the complete works of Goethe in SEMAPHORE makes for a dedicated, if not exactly enthralling, piece of long-term performance art.
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serendipity (sare-un-DIP-ih-tee), noun The quality of coming upon important insights or discoveries by accident. To experience serendipity is to encounter fortunate
coincidence.
It was pure SERENDIPITY that, nearly fainting with hunger, I came upon the stock of supplies that night.
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serenity (suh-REN-ih-tee), noun
Peacefulness in outlook; a lack of agitation.
Although she had always been a whirlwind of activity while we were growing up, my sister Alice seems to be enjoying the SERENITY of convent life.
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serpentine (SUR-pun-teen), adjective Snakelike. That which is reminiscent of serpents is serpentine. Most salespeople resent the stereotype of their profession as SERPENTINE and ruthless.
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severity (suh-VARE-uh-tee), adjective
Great force or concentration; harshness.
The SEVERITY of Milton’s remarks about my proposal’s deficiencies came as a shock to me; he had told me before the meeting that he liked the idea.
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shear (sheer), verb To clip or cut. (See, for comparison, the entry for sheer.) I’m afraid I’m not much good at SHEARING sheep; I can’t cut the fleece evenly.
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sheer (sheer), adjective Absolute; utter. Also: transparent. (See, for comparison, the entry for shear.) To work on a project for twenty-four hours straight is SHEER madness, Roland.
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shun (shun), verb
To keep away from or avoid.
Wade’s parents thought he would be glad they had agreed to chaperone the school dance, and seemed surprised when he SHUNNED them for the entire evening.
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singsong (SING-song), adjective
Rendered chantingly or with a musical air; spoken in a manner reminiscent of singing.
Bert taunted Arthur with a SINGSONG recitation of his most embarrassing incidents at school.
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singularity (sing-you-LAIR-ih-tee), noun A peculiarity or unique quality. Fiona’s SINGULARITY in fashion makes her—for good or ill—the talk of most parties she attends.
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site (site), noun A place or spot. (See, for comparison, the entry for cite.) We will build the new library and treasure hall on this SITE.
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skepticism (SKEP-tih-siz-um), noun An instance of doubt or uncertainty. Your SKEPTICISM that we will be able to finish the work on time is understandable, given our history of delivering material late.
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skittish (SKIT-ish), adjective Nervous and lacking confidence. Someone who is uneasy about approaching a task can be said to be skittish about it. Lisa is still a bit SKITTISH about the computer, George; perhaps you can give her a hand.
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sluggish (SLUG-gish), adjective
Lacking vitality or alertness; lethargic.
As the hours drew on, I pecked away at my keyboard dutifully; toward morning, however, I could tell that I was getting SLUGGISH.
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sobriety (so-BREYE-uh-tee), noun Clear-headedness. Sobriety is generally used to signify freedom from the influence of alcoholic drink. My guess is that W.C. Fields had as few moments of SOBRIETY in real life as he had in the movies.
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sociopolitical (so-she-oh-puh-LIT-uh-kuhl), adjective
Describes the combination of social and political factors that affects certain people, groups, classes, etc.
Depending on his audience, the politician either emphasized or distanced herself from the SOCIOPATHIC background of her family.
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solace (SOL-uss), noun Consolation. To give solace is to sympathize with and console. The fact that he had thrown three touchdowns was little SOLACE to Jim: all he could think about was losing the game.
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solicitous (suh-LISS-ih-tuss), adjective Openly concerned or worried (about the condition of another). Someone who is attentively eager to help is solicitous. Joan could not have been more SOLICITOUS to Peter while he was sick.
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solidarity (sol-uh-DARE-ih-tee), noun Unity arising from a common purpose or situation. As the project’s deadline got closer and closer, the assembled team showed an amount of SOLIDARITY that it earlier had lacked.
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soliloquy (suh-LIL-uh-kwee), noun In drama, a speech given by a character when no one else is present on stage. A soliloquy can also be any discourse a person gives
to himself, or an account of a person’s interior thoughts.
Hamlet’s third act SOLILOQUY was delivered in a strange, choppy manner that I found most unsettling.
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somber (SOM-ber), adjective
Depressing; joyless.
The SOMBER expression on my boss’s face before our meeting made me wonder whether the long-rumored layoff was finally to be ordered, but as it turned out he had simply slept poorly.
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soprano (suh-PRAN-oh), noun The uppermost singing voice in boys and women.
Every woman in the a capella group had a good voice, but to me the tall SOPRANO in the blue sweater stood out as an exceptional musical talent.
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sovereignty (sov-rin-tee), noun Power or legitimacy as a nation. A nation’s sovereignty refers to its self-determination and right to exist as a separate, independent entity.
The border incursion should be accepted for what it is: an affront against the SOVEREIGNTY of our country.
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spasmodic (spaz-MOD-ik), adjective Characteristic of a spasm; brief and fitful. The regime’s SPASMODIC attempts at reform had yet to bring prosperity to the nation’s citizens.
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spectral (SPEK-trul), adjective Reminiscent of ghosts or spirits; gruesome and otherwordly. Scrooge's SPECTRAL visitors take different forms, but each is interested in the same thing: the redemption of the old man’s heart.
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spiel (shpeel), noun A long, extravagant argument or speech designed to persuade. I let the salesman recite his SPIEL just to be polite, but the guy impressed me so much I ended up buying a vacuum cleaner.
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spinster (SPIN-ster), noun A single woman, especially a middle-aged one. Spinster usually carries negative connotations of unattractiveness and being past one’s prime; there is no parallel expression that carries the same sense about an unmarried man.
Although Charles had expected a gathering of SPINSTERS at the club meeting, be was greeted at the door by none other than the starting quarterback for the local college football team.
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sporadic (spo-RAD-ik), adjective Irregular. That which occurs at unpredictable intervals is sporadic. SPORADIC gunfire echoed down the streets all night.
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spurn (spurn), verb
To reject with disdain.
Ginger had thought of trying to locate the child she had given up for adoption fifteen years before, but she was afraid he would SPURN her attempts to see him.
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squall (skwall), noun
A sudden, violent burst of wind often accompanied by snow or rain.
Although it wasn’t snowing all that hard, we had to delay our trip because the SQUALLS made visibility too poor for safe driving on the hill’s narrow roads.
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stalemate (STALE-mate), noun In chess, a condition in which neither side is in checkmate and the game cannot proceed because no legal move can be made; also, any situation in which progress, movement, or negotiation has becomes impossible.
I thought I had beaten Joreth when I captured the knight he had left undefended, but he was such a strong player that he was able to maneuver a STALEMATE.
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stalwart (STOL-wert), adjective
Firm of purpose; steadfast. Stalwart can also mean courageous.
Because the flight had been delayed by more than ten hours, only the most STALWART fans stayed up to greet the rock group at the airport.
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stationary (STAY-shun-air-ee), adjective
Unmoving; fixed in place. (See, for comparison, the entry for stationery.)
Although the cart was designed to be wheeled freely, a set of clamps could be engaged that would allow it to serve as a STATIONARY post for nurses’ supplies.
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stationery (STAY-shun-air-ee), noun
Writing paper. (See, for comparison, the entry for stationary.)
Following her wedding, Amy had STATIONERY embossed with her married name.
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stereotype (STAIR-ee-o-type), noun and verb
A commonly accepted notion that presents an oversimplified or inaccurate viewpoint (of a racial group’s behavior, for instance). As a verb, to stereotype someone is to assign him characteristics in keeping with a popular image of the group he belongs to, whether or not he possesses those characteristics.
Most salespeople resent the STEREOTYPE of their profession as serpentine and ruthless.
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stoke (stoke), verb To poke or feed (a fire); to supply with fuel. My opponent’s remarks are meant to STOKE the fires of intolerance, not help us learn to live with one another.
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stucco (STUCK-oh), noun A plaster or cement wall finish. The real estate agent explained that STUCCO homes were very popular in this area of southern California.
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stupefy (STOO-puh-fie), verb To make numb with amazement; to stun into helplessness. The prospect of working until the morning hours left me STUPEFIED, but there was no alternative.
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subjective (sub-JEK-tiv), adjective Originating in one’s personal observation. To say that something is subjective is to say that it may be influenced by individual prejudice and represents only a particular person’s viewpoint.
Mind you, this is only a SUBJECTIVE observation, but my feeling is that that restaurant serves the worst Chinese food in the city.
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sublime (suh-BLYME), adjective Grand or lofty. That which is splendid is sublime. Many people can make a pretty good pot of spaghetti; mine, however, is SUBLIME.
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subsequent (SUB-suh-kwunt), adjective
After; following in time.
The butler at first denied that he’ d had anything to do with the murder, but the SUBSEQUENT testimony of three witnesses eventually convinced him to confess.
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subservient (sub-SER-vee-unt), adjective Bending to the will of another. Someone who is subservient is servile. Stan always became meek and SUBSERVIENT in his boss’s presence.
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subsistence (sub-SIST-unce), noun
The means required to support one’s existence.
Mr. Best, I’ve gone five years without a raise, and inflation has turned what was once a reasonable wage into a SUBSISTENCE- level compensation.
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subvert (sub-VUHRT), verb To undermine, corrupt, or overthrow. Sherry considers herself a rebel because she loves to SUBVERT society’s traditions.
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suffrage (SUFF-rudge), noun
The right to vote.
Today’s apathetic voters (or, more precisely, nonvoters) seem to have little appreciation of how hard previous generations had to fight for the principle of universal SUFFRAGE.
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sultry (SUL-tree), adjective Very hot and moist; characterized by heat. Also: likely to arouse passion or romance. I passed the SULTRY summer evenings in a beach chair with a margarita in hand, staring out at the expanse of tropical ocean.
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sundry (SUN-dree), adjective Various. Sundry can also mean “an unspecified number more than two.” SUNDRY inexpensive plastic items were spread out on a table at the front of the store.
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superdelegate (SOO-per-del-uh-get), noun An elected party official or a party leader chosen to a national political convention as an uncommitted delegate. The SUPERDELEGATE had to decide the winner of the hotly-contested primary.
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superfluous (soo-PER-floo-uss), adjective
Unnecessary. That which exceeds what is essential is superfluous.
The film’s long production number was eventually cut from the final version because test audiences felt it was SUPERFLUOUS to the main plot.
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superlative (soo-PER-luh-tiv), adjective To the highest possible degree. Something that is superlative is of surpassing quality or power. Boris’s SUPERLATIVE skills as a chess player are well known around campus.
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supplant (suh-PLANT), verb
To replace with something—or someone—else.
After Linda moved in, Roy found many of his most-treasured pieces of unique—some might say ugly—artwork SUPPLANTED with tasteful, traditional watercolors.
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surly (SUR-lee), adjective
Sullen; gruff; morose.
Shiela, in the SURLY mood that accompanies her every working morning since the divorce, barked that I had no right to ask her for the report that was due last week.
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surrogate (SUR-uh-gut), noun One who acts in the place of another. Surrogate is derived from a Latin verb meaning “to nominate in one’s place.” Although he was not related to Eric, Dean found himself acting as a SURROGATE brother to him.
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surveillance (sur-VAY-lunce), noun
An instance of watching something closely, usually in a scrutinizing fashion.
The police set up SURVEILLANCE in the house across the street from the escaped con’s girlfriend, as they were sure he would try to visit her.
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sustenance (SUS-tuh-nunce), noun Means of supporting life. After the bombing, the city’s hungry occupants wandered through nearby wooded areas in search of SUSTENANCE.
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swelter (SWEL-tur), verb To suffer from extreme heat. Jasmine and I found ourselves lost in the middle of the jungle, SWELTERING in the tropical heat.
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symmetry (SIM-ih-tree), noun The quality of showing complementary forms or aesthetically pleasing proportions. Symmetry is structural balance. The sculpture’s lack of SYMMETRY is unnerving to the casual observer, and that is exactly what the artist has in mind.
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symposium (sim-POSE-ee-um), noun A meeting for discussion; especially, a gathering of experts before an audience whose members may pose questions. The SYMPOSIUM was a disaster; both professors arrived an hour late, after most of the audience had given up and left.
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synchronize (SINK-ruh-nize), verb
To cause something to take place at the exact same time (as another event); to cause to occur in unison.
As this is an operation requiring the utmost accuracy from all team members, I suggest we SYNCHRONIZE watches now before beginning our assignments.
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synonym (SIN-uh-nim), noun A word with a meaning similar or identical to that of another word in a language. “Masculine” and “male” are SYNONYMS.
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synopsis (sih-NOP-sis), noun A summary. A synopsis is a brief recounting of the principal points of something. A full SYNOPSIS of the play’s plot would give away a delightful surprise ending, so I will not attempt one here.
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taboo (tuh-BOO), noun Anything deemed absolutely unacceptable or immoral by a social order. Also: forbidden or off-limits. Anthropologists have found that incest is a universal TABOO in human culture.
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tactile (TACK-tul), adjective Of or pertaining to the sense of touch. At this stage, your baby’s need for TACTILE stimulation is intense; she must be held, stroked, and cuddled regularly.
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talkathon (TALK-uh-thon), noun
An extended speech or discourse, especially one featuring excessive posturing.
I was told that this meeting was meant to explore the pros and cons of locating the waste site near our town, but I see we’ve moved toward a TALKATHON on the long-term benefits of the nuclear power industry.
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tam-o’-shanter (TAM-o-shan-ter), noun
A floppy Scottish hat with a tight headband.
Angus MacGregor, a man fiercely proud of his heritage, usually took the opportunity of a company picnic to don a kilt and TAM- O’-SHANTER and play his bagpipe.
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tandem (TAN-dum), adjective One after another. To walk in tandem is to walk in single file. We gave Mom and Dad a TANDEM bicycle for Christmas this year.
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tangible (TAN-juh-bull), adjective Real; touchable. That which exists corporeally is tangible. The prosecution has offered many theories and speculations, but no TANGIBLE evidence linking my client to the murder.
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taut (taut), adjective Tight; firm. This toy telephone will not work unless you pull the tin cans far enough apart to make the string TAUT.
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teem (team), verb To abound or swarm. I was nauseated by the sight of ants TEEMING all over a discarded hot dog bun.
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teetotaler (tee-TOE-tuh-ler), noun Someone who does not drink alcohol under any circumstances. Teetotaler was formed from the verb teetotal, coined during the Temperance movement of the nineteenth century. No wine for me, thanks; I’ve been a TEETOTALER since high school.
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telegenic (tell-uh-JEN-ic), adjective
Likely to make a good appearance on television.
When he’s not doing his newscast, he’s awkward and withdrawn, but once the camera is on, Lenny comes across as appealing, confident, and incredibly TELEGENIC.
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teleprompter (TEL-uh-promp-tur), noun
An automated means of displaying lines to be read by actors. The teleprompter is a device used in place of cue cards.
The show’s most amusing moment—the failure of the TELEPROMPTER that forced actors to improvise—had had nothing to do with its script.
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temper (TEM-per), verb To moderate or lessen the impact or harshness of something. Tom TEMPERED his harsh words with a warm smile.
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tempo (TEM-po), noun
The speed or pace of something (particularly, of music).
Our aerobics instructor will only play music with a fast TEMPO and a strong beat, although there are times, generally after a hard day at work, when I feel like introducing her to the wonders of Mantovani.
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tenacious (tuh-NAY-shuss), adjective Unyielding; stubborn. Someone who is tenacious is hard put to give up. Bill was a tough campaigner who put up a TENACIOUS fight for the nomination, but in the end he came up short.
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tentative (TEN-tuh-tiv), adjective Given to or showing hesitation; lacking in resolution or consistency. The parents were able to capture their child’s first TENTATIVE steps on videotape.
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tenure (TEN-yur), noun The holding of a post or property, especially with regard to status as a permanent employee. Tenure can also refer to the period such a post is held.
After sixteen years in the department, Professor Milligan was finally granted TENURE.
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terse (turce), adjective
Pithy; brief; concise.
Although I tried to pump Jim for information about his new girlfriend, his TERSE answers were a polite way of letting me know it was none of my business.
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than (than or then), conjunctive A conjunction used to introduce the second element of an unequal comparison. (See, for comparison, the entry for then.) Bert is shorter THAN Velma is.
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then (then), adverb At that time. (See, for comparison, the entry for than.) You should have known me back THEN!
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their (thare), pronoun Belonging to that group. (See, for comparison, the entries for there and they’re.) Many celebrities zealously guard THEIR privacy.
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therapeutic (thare-uh-PYOO-tik), adjective
Having to do with cures for illness. That which is remedial is therapeutic.
The problem is not physical illness, but stress; I think you will find that a weekend in the country will have a strong THERAPEUTIC effect.
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there (thare), adverb In that place. (See, for comparison, the entries for their and they’re.) Although I’ve always wanted to visit Barcelona, I’ve never found the time or money I needed to vacation THERE.
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they’re (thare), pronoun contraction They are. (See, for comparison, the entries for their and there.) Mom and Dad just told me that THEY’RE planning to renovate the dining room.
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threshold (THRESH-old), noun
An entranceway; a piece of stone or wood positioned under a doorway; also, the beginning or initiation of anything.
Those who were present for the final meeting agreed afterward that the countries had reached a new THRESHOLD in trade relations.
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throng (throng), noun A large crowd. As the desperate editor stood on the tenth-floor ledge, a THRONG of spectators gathered on the street below.
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tiered (teerd), adjective
Constructed or arranged in layers or levels.
In talking to bakeries about a wedding cake for my daughter, I was flabbergasted to learn that some of the elaborate TIERED cakes cost over a thousand dollars.
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tint (tint), noun and verb
A color or a degree of a color; a slight variation in shade. As a verb: to add or alter color, generally in a subtle way.
My mother was aghast when my sister Cassandra came back from her first semester at college with her golden-blonde-hair TINTED a pale orange.
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tirade (TIE-raid), noun An extended outburst of harsh talk. Someone who delivers a tirade gives a lengthy, overblown speech. I did not come here to listen to a TIRADE about how inconsiderate my son is in class.
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titanic (tie-TAN-ic), adjective
Of enormous strength, influence, or size.
The TITANIC explosion in the movie’s final scene required several hundred pounds of dynamite and was filmed from eleven different angles.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------titillate (TIT-ih-late), verb To arouse or excite in a pleasing way. Something that titillates tickles one’s fancy. These stories about the sex lives of past presidents may be TITILLATING, but they wouldn’t have passed for hard news in my day.
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topical (TOP-ih-kuhl), adjective
Having to do with issues of current or local interest.
Glenda is always reading magazines so she can keep up with TOPICAL issues and have something to say when encountering new clients.
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torrential (to-REN-shul), adjective Reminiscent of or pertaining to severe storms. That which is intense or unyieldingly powerful is torrential. A TORRENTIAL rain kept the children inside all day.
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torrid (TORE-id), adjective Parching and burning, like desert heat, or ardent and passionate, like love. Their TORRID affair began when they met at a business convention.
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torte (tort), noun A cake made with eggs and very little flour. A torte has nothing to do with a tort (See within.) Mrs. Carrigan’s Linzer TORTES are the best I have ever tasted.
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totter (TOT-tur), verb To walk or move with unsteady steps; to sway at ground level. The sight of Mr. Bass TOTTERING home from another night at Mulvaney’s Pub was enough to make a teetotaler out of anyone.
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tousle (TAU-zul), verb
To muss up or dishevel.
Lynne admired the model’s TOUSLED hair, but she knew that what looked sexy on a long, elegant face like that would look like an accident with a blender on her.
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tout (towt), verb To publicize in a boastful, extravagant manner. The studio TOUTED its latest picture as “the greatest story ever told.”
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trajectory (truh-JEK-tuh-ree), noun
The curving path followed by a projectile in flight.
The bullet’s TRAJECTORY from the warehouse window would be completely consistent with the injury suffered by the victim, Your Honor.
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transgression (trans-GRESH-un), noun A violation of a rule. To break a law or guideline is to commit a transgression. David was perhaps a little too eager to cross over into Mr. Peterson’s yard to play ball, but this was a minor TRANSGRESSION.
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tranquility (tran-KWIL-ih-tee), noun Peacefulness; the state of being undisturbed. After all the insanity of the deadline week, I was looking forward to the TRANQUILITY of my annual vacation in Vienna.
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transcend (tran-SEND), verb To rise above common levels. The young violinist’s performance at the recital TRANSCENDED all of his teacher’s expectations.
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transgress (trans-GRESS), verb To violate a principle or moral law. After having TRANSGRESSED once, an agonized Henry knew he would never violate the club’s rules again.
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transient (TRAN-zee-unt), adjective Existing only temporarily; brief; fleeting; transitory. With seven children to care for, my wife and I knew that tranquility in the house was a TRANSIENT thing.
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transition (tran-ZISH-un), noun A change; a passage from one state or form to another. Mark made the TRANSITION from actor to director with relative ease.
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transpire (tran-SPIRE), verb To take place. That which happens transpires. Mrs. Potter, please tell the court exactly what TRANSPIRED that night as you remember it.
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transpose (trans-POZE), verb
To reverse or change the position of. To transpose A and B is to put A in B’s place, and vice versa.
The two frames of the film had been mysteriously TRANSPOSED, so that it now looked as though the man’s head moved forward suddenly instead of backward.
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traumatize (TRAW-muh-tize), verb To cause to undergo mental or physical distress. Many of the patients in the ward had been TRAUMATIZED over the years by abusive staff.
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trepidation (trep-ih-DAY-shun), noun A state of fear or agitation. To have an apprehension is to have a trepidation. At first, I approached the task of writing this book with some TREPIDATION.
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trimester (try-MESS-tur), noun A period spanning three months. For Beth, as for most women, the last few weeks of the final TRIMESTER of pregnancy was a challenging time.
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trooper (TROO-pur), noun A military or police officer. (See, for comparison, the entry for trouper.) I tried to talk my way out of the speeding ticket, but the TROOPER wouldn’t hear any of it.
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trouper (TROO-pur), noun
An actor, especially a veteran performer who is able to come through no matter what; also, any person who is remarkably dependable. (See, for comparison, the entry for trooper.)
Nancy drove through a snowstorm to man the desk on Saturday—what a TROUPER!
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tryst (trist), noun A prearranged meeting, especially one between lovers. Tryst derives from an old verb meaning “to make an arrangement with.” We’ve decided to celebrate our second honeymoon with a weekend TRYST at the Ambassador Hotel.
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tumultuous (too-MUL-choo-uss), adjective Chaotic, especially as a result of a popular outcry. That which is in a violent uproar is tumultuous. After the board of trustees rejected the students’ proposal, there were TUMULTUOUS protests on campus.
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tutorial (too-TORE-ee-ul), noun A software program offering step-by-step instruction and demonstration in the use of another program; a component of a software program that offers instruction in the main program’s use. Also: of or pertaining to tutors.
The manual that came with the software was woefully inadequate, but, fortunately, the program featured an excellent TUTORIAL.
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ubiquitous (yoo-BIK-wi-tuss), adjective
Seemingly everywhere at once. That which is ubiquitous is so common as to appear to be all places.
By the early fifties, that UBIQUITOUS symbol of independence, the automobile, had influenced virtually every facet of American life.
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ulterior (ul-TEER-ee-ur), adjective Being beyond what is obvious or put forth; lying beyond a recognized boundary. I flatly reject the notion that my proposal to your daughter is occasioned by any ULTERIOR motive, sir.
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ultimatum (ul-tih-MAY-tum), noun One’s last set of demands. To issue an ultimatum is to outline a set of terms that cannot be compromised. Either pay the rent by midnight on the thirty-first, or be thrown out in the street: that was Simon’s ULTIMATUM.
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unanimity (yoo-nuh-NIM-ih-tee), noun Agreement without dissent. I was genuinely surprised at the UNANIMITY with which my proposal was accepted by the board.
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unbecoming (un-bee-KUM-ing), adjective Unseemly; likely to detract from one’s reputation or character. I think your use of street language during the confirmation hearing was most UNBECOMING, George.
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unblinking (un-BLINGK-ing), adjective
Not displaying emotion or response. Also: unwavering in devotion.
Victor’s UNBLINKING reaction to the judge’s sentence left observers with no further insights on the motives that led him to commit the crime.
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uncalled-for (un-KALD-for), adjectival phrase Improper or unjustified; also, superfluous. That reference to my father’s bankruptcy was UNCALLED-FOR, Senator.
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uncanny (un-CAN-ee), adjective Strange; mysterious or otherwordly. Greg’s shooting ability is UNCANNY; I’ve seen him sink twenty foul shots in a row.
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underdog (UN-dur-dog), noun A person or entity expected to fail or to fare poorly. San Diego, a decided UNDERDOG, somehow managed to pull out a win against the division-leading Miami team.
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underwhelm (un-dur-HWELM), verb To fail to impress or excite. (Informal.) After all the hype money could buy, the play opened to a wave of reviews written by unanimously UNDERWHELMED critics.
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unequaled (un-EE-kwuld), adjective
Unmatched; without serious competition.
The salesman bragged of the car’s “UNEQUALED level of trouble-free performance,” but it broke down within two weeks of the time we bought it.
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unfaltering (un-FALL-tur-ing), adjective Unwavering; steadfast. Frank’s UNFALTERING composure on the witness stand, even under intense cross-examination, impressed us all.
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ungrammatical (un-gruh-MAT-ih-kul), adjective
In violation of grammatical rules.
Fred’s use of such UNGRAMMATICAL sentences as “Him and me want to talk at you” didn’t score him any points with the college president.
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unilateral (yoo-ni-LAT-ur-el), adjective Undertaken independently, although likely to have implications for others (for instance, allies, associates, or family members). A unilateral decision is one made with no consultation of affected parties.
The allies resolved that no member country would take any UNILATERAL act that might threaten mutual security.
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unique (yoo-NEEK), adjective
Singular; alone in a particular class.
Professor Watson would always scold me when I described something as “very UNIQUE” as something that is UNIQUE is by definition unparalleled, and therefore cannot be modified with a word like very.
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unkempt (un-KEMPT), adjective Disheveled or messy; lacking care in aspect or look. The witness’s story was believable, but the defendant’s lawyer worried about his UNKEMPT appearance.
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unmitigated (un-MIH-tih-gay-tud), adjective Complete and without exception; unalloyed; sheer or outright. Ron, who had worked on his article for six months, read the acceptance letter from the New Yorker with UNMITIGATED joy.
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unobtrusive (un-ub-TROO-siv), adjective
Not easily seen or noticed; not showy in nature.
The guards dressed in civilian clothes, taking seriously the pop star’s request that his security detail be as UNOBTRUSIVE as possible.
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unorthodox (un-ORTH-uh-docks), adjective Characterized by breaking with custom and tradition due to independence of spirit. The teacher’s UNORTHODOX methods got many students to develop an appreciation for learning.
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unprecedented (un-PRESS-uh-dent-ud), adjective New; unparalleled; not having been done before. The studio granted Lewisohn UNPRECEDENTED access to the group’s session tapes and related recording materials.
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unremitting (un-ruh-MITT-ing), adjective Persistent; relentless. An UNREMITTING rain spoiled our plans for a picnic.
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untold (un-TOLD), adjective Not counted. Also: not revealed. Greg used UNTOLD pads of paper in constructing the first draft of his epic.
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unwarranted (un-WORE-un-tud), adjective Groundless; lacking factual basis. The defense will prove each and every one of these UNWARRANTED accusations to be false, Your Honor.
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unwitting (un-WIT-ting), adjective
Unaware; unintentional. Also: unintended.
Greg was shocked to learn that he had been the UNWITTING stooge of a foreign espionage organization.
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upheaval (up-HEE-vul), noun A sudden, violent change. Given the sense of UPHEAVAL in the department after the director’s resignation, it’s not too surprising that productivity has fallen.
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upside (UP-side), noun The positive aspect of a situation; particularly, the potential profit in a business proposal. The UPSIDE of investing in the Russian company was considerable, but there were considerable risks as well.
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upstage (up-STAYJ), verb To distract attention from (a person undertaking an act supposedly of primary interest). To upstage, in the theatrical sense, is to stand behind the main action of a scene and distract the audience.
I am not accustomed to being UPSTAGED during a presentation, Peter.
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upthrust (UP-thrust), noun Quick, strong upward movement in the national economy or in the stock market. This financial writer feels that the current UPTHRUST in the market cannot be sustained.
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usury (YOO-sur-ee), noun Excessive interest on a loan. Someone who demands extravagant payment in exchange for money lent out practices usury. The rates you are charging for this loan you consider “ fair,” sir, border on USURY.
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utopia (yoo-TOE-pee-uh), noun
A (theoretical) perfect society or paradise. Utopia was coined by using Greek forms to produce a word meaning “nowhere.”
Any notion that granting eighteen-year-olds the right to vote would turn the country into a pastoral, strife-free UTOPIA was quickly disproven.
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vagabond (VAG-uh-bond), adjective Leading the life of a person who has no home; transient. Ivan’s VAGABOND existence was not easy, but he was inured to it.
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valiant (VAL-yunt), adjective Courageous, bold; brave. I made a VALIANT effort to complete the project by the deadline, but in the end I had to get an extension from my boss.
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validate (VAL-ih-date), verb To substantiate or confirm; to make valid. I won’t VALIDATE your accusations with a response.
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vamoose (vah-MOOSE), verb To depart in haste; to leave hurriedly. We’ve got a full day of travel ahead of us; let’s VAMOOSE.
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vanguard (VAN-gard), noun The most advanced groups (of a military force or social movement, for instance). That which is at the forefront is in the vanguard. Dali was the first to admit that he took full financial advantage of his position at the VANGUARD of the Surrealist movement.
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vanquish (VAN-kwish), verb To defeat, as in combat. Having VANQUISHED the enemy, the general returned victorious to his native land.
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vehement (VEE-uh-ment), adjective
Strongly felt or marked by high emotion. That which is forceful and emphatic is vehement.
Congress overrode the President’s veto after many members had openly expressed their VEHEMENT dissatisfaction with Administration policy.
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veneer (vuh-NEER), noun
A thin surface layer; a coating; a superficial surface or deceptive appearance.
Though it was not readily apparent to those who hadn’t seen the supervisor in action, his VENEER of calm and approachability masked the temper and tolerance of a three-year-old.
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vent (vent), verb To relieve pressure by giving expression to something, in the way a vent allows steam to escape. The boss made me so mad that I didn’t feel back to normal until I was able to VENT to my wife about the situation.
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verification (veh-rih-fih-KAY-shun), noun Something that confirms. I could find no VERIFICATION of the author’s claim that he had met with Hemingway in the early twenties.
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veritable (VER-ih-tuh-bull), adjective Authentic; true. That which is undeniably legitimate or actual is veritable. The cardboard boxes contained a VERITABLE treasure trove of Civil War artifacts, probably worth tens of thousands of dollars.
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vernacular (ver-NAK-yoo-lur), noun and adjective The mode of expression in language accepted in a given circle. As an adjective, vernacular describes the quality of being common to a particular group’s or region’s speech.
I saw that Clement was once again intoxicated—or “blasted,” to use the VERNACULAR he seems to prefer.
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versatile (VER-suh-tl), adjective Capable of doing many tasks, or prone to frequent changes. Mike is a VERSATILE baseball player because he can play the infield or the outfield with equal aplomb.
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vertigo (VUR-tih-go), noun A sensation of dizziness and disorientation. Vertigo is a feeling of tilting or spinning. Jane was overcome with a sudden bout of VERTIGO as the ship left port.
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vestige (VESS-ti), noun
A remaining sample of something no longer common. That which represents something now lost is a vestige.
The last VESTIGE of truly nomadic Indian life was wiped out at Wounded Knee; from that point on, Native Americans would be forced either to assimilate with the settlers or to live on the reservation.
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vex (vex), verb To irritate or bother. Although his school friends constantly teased him about his ballet lessons, Ken never allowed their comments to VEX him.
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vial (VIE-ul), noun
A small container (usually glass) used to hold liquids, medicines, and the like.
The doctor gave me a small VIAL of the drug for use over the weekend, and a written prescription so I could get more from the pharmacy on Monday.
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vigilant (VIJ-uh-lunt), adjective Alert and watchful in order to detect danger. My VIGILANT watchdog barks at the slightest sound.
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vindicate (VIN-dih-kate), verb Proven correct or innocent despite previous indications to the contrary. To be vindicated is to have one’s name cleared after being
falsely suspected of something.
The test results VINDICATED the athlete: there was no trace of any illicit substance in his bloodstream.
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virile (VIR-ul), adjective Forcefully masculine. Someone who is virile is characterized by the drive and energy thought to be common among men. It was hard for me to picture my grandfather as the VIRILE young man beaming out from that old photograph.
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virtually (VUR-choo-uh-lee), adverb
Existing in effect, although not in actual fact or form.
Paul had been worried about his first day at work for weeks, so it came as a surprise to him when he passed his first day in the office with VIRTUALLY no nervousness.
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viscosity (vis-KOSS-ih-tee), noun The thickness of a liquid. The mechanic working on my car recommended I switch to a brand of motor oil with a higher VISCOSITY.
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vivacious (vy-VAY-shuss), adjective Spirited. That which is full of life is vivacious. The novelist’s characters are saucy and VIVACIOUS, but the situations they face are, alas, deadly dull.
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vivid (VIV-id), adjective Brilliant; resplendent and gaily colored. Also: described or capable of describing with great precision and detail; related in such a way as to leave a distinct impression.
Julius, a boy with a VIVID imagination, could amuse himself in his room for hours making up stories and adventures for his toy soldiers.
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volatile (VOL-uh-tull), adjective Potentially unstable. That which is likely to shift or change suddenly is volatile. We should have known that asking those two to work together after the divorce would lead to a VOLATILE work environment.
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voluptuous (vuh-LUP-shoo-uss), adjective
Sensually enjoyable. Voluptuous can also refer to that which calls to mind sensual pleasure.
The bestselling writer showed up fashionably late in a long black limousine, accompanied by a VOLUPTUOUS companion whose name we never learned.
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voracious (vo-RAY-shuss), adjective Greedily hungry. Someone who is gluttonous or ravenous is voracious. Tom is a VORACIOUS reader; I believe he has been through every volume in our public library.
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vortex (VOR-tex), noun A whirlpool or whirlwind; a spinning mass of liquid or flame capable of drawing objects into it; something regarded as capable of drawing other entities into its current with great strength.
Even as the two nations slipped inexorably toward the VORTEX of war, the mainstream press focused on trivialities.
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waft (waft), verb To carry lightly, as if caught in a breeze. The scent of bread WAFTED from the corner bakery.
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wallow (WALL-lo), verb
To immerse oneself in utterly. Literally, to wallow in something is to roll around in it.
Joan’s reviews were certainly unflattering, but in my opinion, she WALLOWED in self-pity after opening night and did the cast and crew of the show a disservice.
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wan (wahn), adjective Without color; pallid; pale. Frankie looked thin and WAN after his long bout of mononucleosis.
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wane (wane), verb
To decrease in size, power, or intensity; to diminish; to decline.
Stanley took up French, dancing, backgammon—he even learned the basics of horticulture—anything to rekindle his girlfriend’s WANING interest in their relationship.
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wary (WARE-ee), adjective On guard; watchful of danger; leery; suspicious.
Although the new project has undeniable potential, I’m WARY about Ted’s claim that he can bring the product to market by the first of January.
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watershed (WAH-ter-shed), noun An important event that serves to distinguish two separate phases. Literally, a watershed is a ridge that diverts water in a new direction.
The new arms agreement is being touted as a WATERSHED in East-West relations.
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waver (WAY-vur), verb
To sway; to quiver or flutter; also, to move back and forth on an issue before making a final decision.
Although the administration did its utmost to secure legislative support for the controversial initiative, three WAVERING senators announced their opposition to it last night, thus guaranteeing that the bill will never make its way out of committee.
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wean (ween), verb To withdraw from a habit or form of enjoyment. The phrase “wean on” suggests accustoming someone to something at an early age. Sasha is a great pianist because she was practically WEANED on Beethoven.
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whimsical (WIM-zih-kul), adjective Fanciful; given to acting on sudden notions or ideas. John is known as a real sourpuss around the office, but as his college roommate I can tell you he has his WHIMSICAL side.
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whittle (HWIT-ul), verb To shape a piece of wood and make it smooth by shaving or carving off pieces. I thought WHITTLING was a pretty useless activity until I saw the beautiful walking stick Uncle Zeke had whittled for Grandpa.
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who’s (hooze), contraction Who is. (See, for comparison, the entry for whose.) WHO’S going to the fair with me tonight?
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whose (hooze), possessive pronoun Belonging to whom. (See, for comparison, the entry for who’s.) WHOSE idea was it to go to the fair tonight?
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wily (WILE-ee), adjective Cunning; shrewd; clever or crafty. Our WILY little puppy quickly learned that he could escape from the yard by digging a hole under the fence.
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withered (WITH-urd), adjective
Shriveled; wrinkled and dried up.
It made Tim sad to realize that the oak tree he had such fun climbing as a child was now too WITHERED and old for his son to ascend safely.
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woeful (WOH-ful), adjective Filled with sorrow; in a sorry state, filled with woe. When the home team lost the game in the final seconds, the WOEFUL crowd gasped then went silent.
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wok (wok), noun A bowl-shaped skillet used in Oriental cooking. Jeb, who could work wonders in the kitchen with his WOK, treated us to an excellent stir-fried vegetable and chicken dish.
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wrest (rest), verb
To take away; to pull away forcefully.
When it comes to dealing with friends who are drunk and want to drive home by themselves, Mr. Powell advocates tactful suggestions, shrewd negotiation, and, if all else fails, an outright attempt to WREST the keys away from the person.
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writhe (rythe), verb To twist (the body), especially in reaction to pain or strong sensation. To writhe is to twist the body or squirm.
The injured dog WRITHED in agony, but soon calmed down when the vet administered a local anesthetic.
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wunderkind (VOON-dur-kind), noun
Child prodigy.
Although he died young, Mozart, a WUNDERKIND whose career in music began at the age of six, had a career that spanned two and a half decades.
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yarmulke (YAR-mul-kuh), noun A skullcap-like headpiece worn by Jewish men (especially those following Orthodox or Conservative traditions). The yarmulke is worn during religious services or prayer.
Winston was unsure whether he was supposed to wear a YARMULKE at the wedding; after all, he was a Gentile.
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your (yore), possessive pronoun Belonging to you. (See, for comparison, the entry for you’re.) Where is YOUR jacket, David?
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you’re (yore), contraction You are. (See, for comparison, the entry for your.) Are you sure YOU’RE going to go to the party tonight?
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zealot (ZEL-ut), noun
A fervent or fanatical partisan (in favor of a certain cause). A zealot is a person who shows great zeal.
Although he did not mind overlooking an occasional error in procedure, Mr. Fallow was a ZEALOT when it came to posting correct numbers for an accounting period.
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zenith (ZEE-nith), noun The highest point attained. A zenith is the apex of something. Koufax’s career reached its ZENITH in 1963, when he won 25 games and was awarded the Cy Young Award unanimously.
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zest (zest), noun Gusto; vigor; spice; enjoyment. Annabel’s ZEST for life led her enthusiastically into modern dance, mountain climbing, and untold hours of volunteer work.
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