adjective
shaped like an X
• Botany (of leaves) arranged in opposite pairs, each pair being at right angles to the pair below
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Word 3082: Decussate
adjective
shaped like an X
• Botany (of leaves) arranged in opposite pairs, each pair being at right angles to the pair below
Word 3081: Mimesis
noun formal or technical
imitation, in particular
• representation or imitation of the real world in art and literature
• the deliberate imitation of the behavior of one group of people by another as a factor in social change
• Zoology another term for mimicry
imitation, in particular
• representation or imitation of the real world in art and literature
• the deliberate imitation of the behavior of one group of people by another as a factor in social change
• Zoology another term for mimicry
Word 3078: Smolt
noun
a young salmon (or trout) after the parr stage, when it becomes silvery and migrates to the sea for the first time
Word 3077: Epigone
noun ( pl. epigones or epigoni)
a less distinguished follower or imitator of someone, esp. an artist or philosopher
a less distinguished follower or imitator of someone, esp. an artist or philosopher
Word 3075: Metanoia
noun
change in one's way of life resulting from penitence or spiritual conversion
change in one's way of life resulting from penitence or spiritual conversion
Word 3074: Plaint
noun Brit. Law
an accusation; a charge
• chiefly poetic/literary a complaint; a lamentation
an accusation; a charge
• chiefly poetic/literary a complaint; a lamentation
Word 3073: Cleat
noun
a T-shaped piece of metal or wood, esp. on a boat or ship, to which ropes are attached
• one of a number of projecting pieces of metal, rubber, or other material on the sole of a shoe, designed to prevent the wearer from losing their footing
• ( cleats) athletic shoes with a cleated sole, typically used when playing football
• a projection on a spar or other part of a ship, to prevent slipping
• a small wedge, esp. one on a plow or scythe
Word 3072: Hyperborean
noun poetic/literary
an inhabitant of the extreme north
• ( Hyperborean) Greek Mythology a member of a race worshiping Apollo and living in a land of sunshine and plenty beyond the north wind
an inhabitant of the extreme north
• ( Hyperborean) Greek Mythology a member of a race worshiping Apollo and living in a land of sunshine and plenty beyond the north wind
Word 3071: Dithyramb
noun
a wild choral hymn of ancient Greece, esp. one dedicated to Dionysus
• a passionate or inflated speech, poem, or other writing
a wild choral hymn of ancient Greece, esp. one dedicated to Dionysus
• a passionate or inflated speech, poem, or other writing
Word 3069: Naiant
adjective [ postpositive] Heraldry
(of a fish or marine creature) swimming horizontally
Word 3068: Palingenesis
noun
1. Biology the exact reproduction of ancestral characteristics in ontogenesis
2. rebirth or regeneration
1. Biology the exact reproduction of ancestral characteristics in ontogenesis
2. rebirth or regeneration
Word 3065: Gi
noun ( pl. gis)
a lightweight two-piece white garment worn in judo and other martial arts. A gi typically consists of loose-fitting pants and a jacket that is closed with a cloth belt
Word 3064: Groundling
noun
1. a spectator or reader of inferior taste, such as a member of a theater audience who traditionally stood in the pit beneath the stage
2. a person on the ground as opposed to one in a spacecraft or aircraft
3. a fish that lives at the bottom of lakes and streams, esp. a gudgeon or loach
4. a creeping or dwarf plant
1. a spectator or reader of inferior taste, such as a member of a theater audience who traditionally stood in the pit beneath the stage
2. a person on the ground as opposed to one in a spacecraft or aircraft
3. a fish that lives at the bottom of lakes and streams, esp. a gudgeon or loach
4. a creeping or dwarf plant
Word 3063: Alameda
noun
(in Spain and Spanish-speaking regions) a public walkway or promenade shaded with trees
(in Spain and Spanish-speaking regions) a public walkway or promenade shaded with trees
Word 3060: Homologate
verb [ trans.] formal
express agreement with or approval of
• approve (a car, boat, or engine) for sale in a particular market or use in a particular class of racing
express agreement with or approval of
• approve (a car, boat, or engine) for sale in a particular market or use in a particular class of racing
Word 3057: Cofferdam
noun
a watertight enclosure pumped dry to permit construction work below the waterline, as when building bridges or repairing a ship
Word 3053: Viol
noun
a musical instrument of the Renaissance and baroque periods, typically six-stringed, held vertically and played with a bow
Word 3052: Causerie
noun ( pl. -ries pronunc. same)
an informal article or talk, typically one on a literary subject
an informal article or talk, typically one on a literary subject
Word 3051: Grub Street
noun
used in reference to a world or class of impoverished journalists and writers
used in reference to a world or class of impoverished journalists and writers
Word 3050: Jitney
noun ( pl. -neys) informal
a bus or other vehicle carrying passengers for a low fare
a bus or other vehicle carrying passengers for a low fare
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Word 3049: Fipple
noun
the mouthpiece of a recorder or similar wind instrument that is blown endwise, in which a thin channel cut through a block directs a stream of air against a sharp edge. The term has been applied to various parts of this, including the block and the channel
Word 3047: Plaint
noun Brit. Law
an accusation; a charge
• chiefly poetic/literary a complaint; a lamentation
an accusation; a charge
• chiefly poetic/literary a complaint; a lamentation
Word 3046: Cognoscenti
plural noun
people who are considered to be especially well informed about a particular subject
people who are considered to be especially well informed about a particular subject
Monday, November 15, 2010
Word 3043: Philistine
noun
1. a member of a non-Semitic (perhaps originally Anatolian) people of southern Palestine in ancient times, who came into conflict with the Israelites during the 12th and 11th centuries BC.
According to the Bible, the Philistines, from whom the country of Palestine took its name, came from Crete and settled the southern coastal plain of Canaan in the 12th century BC
2. (usu. philistine) a person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them
1. a member of a non-Semitic (perhaps originally Anatolian) people of southern Palestine in ancient times, who came into conflict with the Israelites during the 12th and 11th centuries BC.
According to the Bible, the Philistines, from whom the country of Palestine took its name, came from Crete and settled the southern coastal plain of Canaan in the 12th century BC
2. (usu. philistine) a person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them
Word 3042: Gravamen
noun ( pl. -vamina) chiefly Law
the essence or most serious part of a complaint or accusation
• a grievance
the essence or most serious part of a complaint or accusation
• a grievance
Word 3041: Pyrite
noun
a shiny yellow mineral consisting of iron disulfide and typically occurring as intersecting cubic crystals
Word 3040: Fig
noun (in phrase full fig)
smart clothes, esp. those appropriate to a particular occasion or profession
smart clothes, esp. those appropriate to a particular occasion or profession
Word 3039: Éclaircissement
noun archaic or poetic/literary
an enlightening explanation of something, typically someone's conduct, that has been hitherto inexplicable
an enlightening explanation of something, typically someone's conduct, that has been hitherto inexplicable
Word 3038: Coterie
noun ( pl. -ries)
a small group of people with shared interests or tastes, esp. one that is exclusive of other people
a small group of people with shared interests or tastes, esp. one that is exclusive of other people
Word 3037: Pale
noun
1. a wooden stake or post used as an upright along with others to form a fence
• figurative a boundary
2. Heraldry a broad vertical stripe down the middle of a shield
Word 3036: Twee
adjective Brit., chiefly derogatory
excessively or affectedly quaint, pretty, or sentimental
excessively or affectedly quaint, pretty, or sentimental
Word 3034: Morganatic
adjective
of or denoting a marriage in which neither the spouse of lower rank nor any children have any claim to the possessions or title of the spouse of higher rank
of or denoting a marriage in which neither the spouse of lower rank nor any children have any claim to the possessions or title of the spouse of higher rank
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Word 3033: Funicle
noun Botany
a filamentous stalk attaching a seed or ovule to the placenta
• Entomology a filamentous section of an insect's antenna, supporting the club
Word 3032: Middlebrow
adjective
(of art or literature or a system of thought) demanding or involving only a moderate degree of intellectual application, typically as a result of not deviating from convention
(of art or literature or a system of thought) demanding or involving only a moderate degree of intellectual application, typically as a result of not deviating from convention
Word 3029: Stile
noun
an arrangement of steps that allows people but not animals to climb over a fence or wall
Word 3028: Hansel
noun
a gift given for good luck at the beginning of the year or to mark an acquisition or the start of an enterprise
• the first installment of a payment
a gift given for good luck at the beginning of the year or to mark an acquisition or the start of an enterprise
• the first installment of a payment
Word 3026: Nepenthes
noun (also nepenthe) poetic/literary
a drug described in Homer's Odyssey as banishing grief or trouble from a person's mind
• any drug or potion bringing welcome forgetfulness
a drug described in Homer's Odyssey as banishing grief or trouble from a person's mind
• any drug or potion bringing welcome forgetfulness
Word 3025: Drey
noun ( pl. dreys)
the nest of a squirrel, typically in the form of a mass of twigs in a tree
Word 3019: Abulia
noun
an absence of willpower or an inability to act decisively, as a symptom of mental illness
an absence of willpower or an inability to act decisively, as a symptom of mental illness
Word 3013: Apotheosis
noun ( pl. -ses) [ usu. in sing.]
the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax
• the elevation of someone to divine status; deification
the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax
• the elevation of someone to divine status; deification
Word 3012: Macédoine
noun
a mixture of vegetables or fruit cut into small pieces and served as a salad
• figurative a medley or jumble
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Word 3007: Conventicle
noun historical
a secret or unlawful religious meeting, typically of people with nonconformist views
a secret or unlawful religious meeting, typically of people with nonconformist views
Word 3006: Gymkhana
noun
a day event comprising races and other competitions between horse riders or car drivers
a day event comprising races and other competitions between horse riders or car drivers
Word 3004: Althorn
noun
a musical instrument of the saxhorn family, esp. the alto or tenor saxhorn in E flat
Word 3001: Mandamus
noun Law
a judicial writ issued as a command to an inferior court or ordering a person to perform a public or statutory duty
a judicial writ issued as a command to an inferior court or ordering a person to perform a public or statutory duty
Word 3000: Aide-de-camp
noun ( pl. aides-de-camp pronunc. same)
a military officer acting as a confidential assistant to a senior officer
a military officer acting as a confidential assistant to a senior officer
Word 2998: Demotic
adjective
denoting or relating to the kind of language used by ordinary people; popular or colloquial
• relating to or denoting the form of modern Greek used in everyday speech and writing
• relating to or denoting a simplified, cursive form of ancient Egyptian script, dating from c. 650 BC and replaced by Greek in the Ptolemaic period
denoting or relating to the kind of language used by ordinary people; popular or colloquial
• relating to or denoting the form of modern Greek used in everyday speech and writing
• relating to or denoting a simplified, cursive form of ancient Egyptian script, dating from c. 650 BC and replaced by Greek in the Ptolemaic period
Word 2997: Plume
1. [ intrans.] spread out in a shape resembling a feather
• [ trans.] decorate with or as if with feathers
2. ( plume oneself) chiefly archaic (of a bird) preen itself
• figurative feel a great sense of self-satisfaction about something
• [ trans.] decorate with or as if with feathers
2. ( plume oneself) chiefly archaic (of a bird) preen itself
• figurative feel a great sense of self-satisfaction about something
Word 2996: Forswear
verb ( past -swore ; past part. -sworn) [ trans.] formal
agree to give up or do without (something)
agree to give up or do without (something)
Word 2995: Vagina dentata
noun
the motif of a vagina with teeth, occurring in folklore and fantasy and said to symbolize male fears of the dangers of sexual intercourse, esp. of castration
Word 2994: Decrement
noun
a reduction or diminution
• an amount by which something is reduced or diminished
• Physics the ratio of the amplitudes in successive cycles of a damped oscillation
a reduction or diminution
• an amount by which something is reduced or diminished
• Physics the ratio of the amplitudes in successive cycles of a damped oscillation
Word 2993: Solarium
noun ( pl. -lariums or -laria)
a room fitted with extensive areas of glass to admit sunlight
• a room equipped with sunlamps or tanning beds that can be used to acquire an artificial suntan
a room fitted with extensive areas of glass to admit sunlight
• a room equipped with sunlamps or tanning beds that can be used to acquire an artificial suntan
Word 2985: Deism
noun
belief in the existence of a supreme being, specifically of a creator who does not intervene in the universe. The term is used chiefly of an intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries that accepted the existence of a creator on the basis of reason but rejected belief in a supernatural deity who interacts with humankind
belief in the existence of a supreme being, specifically of a creator who does not intervene in the universe. The term is used chiefly of an intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries that accepted the existence of a creator on the basis of reason but rejected belief in a supernatural deity who interacts with humankind
Word 2984: Lunula
noun ( pl. -lae)
a crescent-shaped object or mark, in particular
• the white area at the base of a fingernail
• Printing one of a pair of parentheses
a crescent-shaped object or mark, in particular
• the white area at the base of a fingernail
• Printing one of a pair of parentheses
Word 2981: Troika
noun
1. a Russian vehicle pulled by a team of three horses abreast
• a team of three horses for such a vehicle
2. a group of three people working together, esp. in an administrative or managerial capacity
Word 2979: Exogenous
adjective
of, relating to, or developing from external factors
• Biology growing or originating from outside an organism
• chiefly Psychiatry (of a disease, symptom, etc.) caused by an agent or organism outside the body
• relating to an external group or society
of, relating to, or developing from external factors
• Biology growing or originating from outside an organism
• chiefly Psychiatry (of a disease, symptom, etc.) caused by an agent or organism outside the body
• relating to an external group or society
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Word 2976: Supernal
adjective chiefly poetic/literary
of or relating to the sky or the heavens; celestial
• of exceptional quality or extent
of or relating to the sky or the heavens; celestial
• of exceptional quality or extent
Word 2975: Fief
noun
1. historical an estate of land, esp. one held on condition of feudal service
2. a person's sphere of operation or control
1. historical an estate of land, esp. one held on condition of feudal service
2. a person's sphere of operation or control
Word 2972: Gnomon
noun
1. the projecting piece on a sundial that shows the time by the position of its shadow
2. Geometry the part of a parallelogram left when a similar parallelogram has been taken from its corner
1. the projecting piece on a sundial that shows the time by the position of its shadow
2. Geometry the part of a parallelogram left when a similar parallelogram has been taken from its corner
Word 2971: Apoptosis
noun Physiology
the death of cells that occurs as a normal and controlled part of an organism's growth or development
the death of cells that occurs as a normal and controlled part of an organism's growth or development
Word 2970: Neb
noun Scottish & N. English
a projecting part of something, in particular
• a nose or snout
• a bird's beak or bill
• the brim of a cap
a projecting part of something, in particular
• a nose or snout
• a bird's beak or bill
• the brim of a cap
Word 2967: Poultice
noun
a soft, moist mass of material, typically of plant material or flour, applied to the body to relieve soreness and inflammation and kept in place with a cloth
a soft, moist mass of material, typically of plant material or flour, applied to the body to relieve soreness and inflammation and kept in place with a cloth
Word 2966: Diathermy
noun
a medical and surgical technique involving the production of heat in a part of the body by high-frequency electric currents, to stimulate the circulation, relieve pain, destroy unhealthy tissue, or cause bleeding vessels to clot
a medical and surgical technique involving the production of heat in a part of the body by high-frequency electric currents, to stimulate the circulation, relieve pain, destroy unhealthy tissue, or cause bleeding vessels to clot
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Word 2964: Preen
verb [ intrans.]
(of a bird) straighten and clean its feathers with its beak
• (of a person) devote effort to making oneself look attractive and then admire one's appearance
• ( preen oneself) congratulate or pride oneself
(of a bird) straighten and clean its feathers with its beak
• (of a person) devote effort to making oneself look attractive and then admire one's appearance
• ( preen oneself) congratulate or pride oneself
Word 2963: False friend
noun
a word or expression that has a similar form to one in a person's native language, but a different meaning (for example English magazine and French magasin ‘shop’)
a word or expression that has a similar form to one in a person's native language, but a different meaning (for example English magazine and French magasin ‘shop’)
Word 2961: Pumice
noun
a very light and porous volcanic rock formed when a gas-rich froth of glassy lava solidifies rapidly
• (also pumice stone) a piece of such rock or a similar substance used as an abrasive, esp. for removing hard skin
Word 2960: Ahimsa
noun
(in the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain tradition) the principle of nonviolence toward all living things
(in the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain tradition) the principle of nonviolence toward all living things
Word 2959: Grimalkin
noun archaic
a cat (used esp. in reference to its characteristically feline qualities)
• a spiteful old woman
a cat (used esp. in reference to its characteristically feline qualities)
• a spiteful old woman
Word 2957: Escalator clause
noun
a clause in a contract that allows for an increase or a decrease in wages or prices under certain conditions
a clause in a contract that allows for an increase or a decrease in wages or prices under certain conditions
Word 2956: Mellotron
noun
an electronic keyboard instrument in which each key controls the playback of a single prerecorded musical sound
Word 2955: Theism
noun
belief in the existence of a god or gods, esp. belief in one god as creator of the universe, intervening in it and sustaining a personal relation to his creatures
belief in the existence of a god or gods, esp. belief in one god as creator of the universe, intervening in it and sustaining a personal relation to his creatures
Word 2949: Limescale
noun chiefly Brit.
a whitish deposit on the inside of pipes, pots, and kettles, caused by minerals leeched from the water
a whitish deposit on the inside of pipes, pots, and kettles, caused by minerals leeched from the water
Word 2948: Sudd
noun ( the sudd)
an area of floating vegetation in a stretch of the White Nile, thick enough to impede navigation
Word 2947: Goober
noun informal
1. (also goober pea) a peanut
2. often offensive a person from the southeastern U.S., esp. Georgia or Arkansas
• offensive an unsophisticated person; a yokel
1. (also goober pea) a peanut
2. often offensive a person from the southeastern U.S., esp. Georgia or Arkansas
• offensive an unsophisticated person; a yokel
Word 2944: Pleasance
noun
a secluded enclosure or part of a garden, esp. one attached to a large house
Word 2943: Fulguration
noun
1. Medicine the destruction of small growths or areas of tissue using diathermy
2. poetic/literary a flash like that of lightning
1. Medicine the destruction of small growths or areas of tissue using diathermy
2. poetic/literary a flash like that of lightning
Word 2942: Orthogonal
adjective
1. of or involving right angles; at right angles
2. Statistics (of variates) statistically independent
• (of an experiment) having variates that can be treated as statistically independent
1. of or involving right angles; at right angles
2. Statistics (of variates) statistically independent
• (of an experiment) having variates that can be treated as statistically independent
Word 2938: Golden handshake
noun informal
a payment given to someone who is laid off or retires early
a payment given to someone who is laid off or retires early
Word 2936: Effloresce
verb
1. [ intrans.] (of a substance) lose moisture and turn to a fine powder upon exposure to air
• (of salts) come to the surface of brickwork, rock, or other material and crystallize there
• (of a surface) become covered with salt particles
2. reach an optimum stage of development; blossom
1. [ intrans.] (of a substance) lose moisture and turn to a fine powder upon exposure to air
• (of salts) come to the surface of brickwork, rock, or other material and crystallize there
• (of a surface) become covered with salt particles
2. reach an optimum stage of development; blossom
Word 2935: Nebuly
adjective Heraldry
divided or edged with a line formed of deeply interlocking curves
Word 2934: Southpaw
noun
a left-handed person, esp. a boxer who leads with the right hand or a baseball pitcher
a left-handed person, esp. a boxer who leads with the right hand or a baseball pitcher
Word 2932: Iterative
adjective
relating to or involving iteration, esp. of a mathematical or computational process
• Linguistics denoting a grammatical rule that can be applied repeatedly
• Grammar another term for frequentative
relating to or involving iteration, esp. of a mathematical or computational process
• Linguistics denoting a grammatical rule that can be applied repeatedly
• Grammar another term for frequentative
Word 2931: Heat haze
noun
an obscuration of the atmosphere in hot weather, esp. a shimmering in the air near the ground that distorts distant views
Word 2929: Hecatomb
noun
(in ancient Greece or Rome) a great public sacrifice, originally of a hundred oxen
• figurative an extensive loss of life for some cause
(in ancient Greece or Rome) a great public sacrifice, originally of a hundred oxen
• figurative an extensive loss of life for some cause
Word 2927: Felix culpa
noun Christian Theology
the sin of Adam viewed as fortunate, because it brought about the blessedness of the Redemption
• an apparent error or disaster with happy consequences
the sin of Adam viewed as fortunate, because it brought about the blessedness of the Redemption
• an apparent error or disaster with happy consequences
Word 2926: Spile
noun
1. a small wooden peg or spigot for stopping a cask
• a small wooden or metal spout for tapping the sap from a sugar maple
2. a large, heavy timber driven into the ground to support a superstructure
Word 2925: Knacker
noun Brit.
a person whose business is the disposal of dead or unwanted animals, esp. those whose flesh is not fit for human consumption
a person whose business is the disposal of dead or unwanted animals, esp. those whose flesh is not fit for human consumption
Word 2922: Porringer
noun historical
a small bowl, typically with a handle, used for soup, stew, or similar dishes
Word 2921: Dotty
adjective ( dottier, dottiest) informal
(of a person, action, or idea) somewhat mad or eccentric
(of a person, action, or idea) somewhat mad or eccentric
Word 2920: Tapetum
noun Zoology
a reflective layer of the choroid in the eyes of many animals, causing them to shine in the dark
a reflective layer of the choroid in the eyes of many animals, causing them to shine in the dark
Word 2919: Exclusionary rule
noun
a law that prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence in a criminal trial
a law that prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence in a criminal trial
Word 2918: Snaffle
noun (also snaffle bit)
(on a bridle) a simple bit, typically a jointed one, used with a single set of reins
• (also snaffle bridle) a bridle with such a bit
Word 2916: Gentrify
verb [ trans.]
renovate and improve (esp. a house or district) so that it conforms to middle-class taste
• [ usu. as adj.] ( gentrified) make (someone or their way of life) more refined or dignified
renovate and improve (esp. a house or district) so that it conforms to middle-class taste
• [ usu. as adj.] ( gentrified) make (someone or their way of life) more refined or dignified
Word 2914: Chador
noun
a large piece of dark-colored cloth, typically worn by Muslim women, wrapped around the head and upper body to leave only the face exposed
Word 2913: Trichology
noun
the branch of medical and cosmetic study and practice concerned with the hair and scalp
the branch of medical and cosmetic study and practice concerned with the hair and scalp
Word 2912: Holding pattern
noun
the flight path maintained by an aircraft awaiting permission to land
• a state or period of no progress or change
the flight path maintained by an aircraft awaiting permission to land
• a state or period of no progress or change
Word 2911: Entropy
noun Physics
a thermodynamic quantity representing the unavailability of a system's thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in the system. (Symbol: S)
• figurative lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder
• (in information theory) a logarithmic measure of the rate of transfer of information in a particular message or language
a thermodynamic quantity representing the unavailability of a system's thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in the system. (Symbol: S)
• figurative lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder
• (in information theory) a logarithmic measure of the rate of transfer of information in a particular message or language
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Word 2910: Quiff
noun chiefly Brit.
a piece of hair, esp. on a man, brushed upward and backward from the forehead
Word 2909: Horrent
adjective poetic/literary
1. (of a person's hair) standing on end
2. feeling or expressing horror
1. (of a person's hair) standing on end
2. feeling or expressing horror
Word 2908: Kitchen police
noun [usu. treated as pl.] military slang
enlisted personnel detailed to help the cook by washing dishes, peeling vegetables, and performing other kitchen duties
• the assigned duty of these personnel
enlisted personnel detailed to help the cook by washing dishes, peeling vegetables, and performing other kitchen duties
• the assigned duty of these personnel
Word 2907: Duffer
noun informal
an incompetent or stupid person, esp. an elderly one
• a person inexperienced at something, esp. at playing golf
an incompetent or stupid person, esp. an elderly one
• a person inexperienced at something, esp. at playing golf
Word 2906: Labellum
noun ( pl. -bella)
1. Entomology each of a pair of lobes at the tip of the proboscis in some insects
2. Botany a central petal at the base of an orchid flower, typically larger than the other petals and of a different shape
Word 2905: Diestrus
noun Zoology
(in most female mammals) a period of sexual inactivity between recurrent periods of estrus
(in most female mammals) a period of sexual inactivity between recurrent periods of estrus
Word 2904: Sanitarium
noun ( pl. -tariums or -taria)
an establishment for the medical treatment of people who are convalescing or have a chronic illness
an establishment for the medical treatment of people who are convalescing or have a chronic illness
Word 2901: Whang
verb [ intrans.]
make or produce a resonant noise
• [ trans.] strike or throw heavily and loudly
make or produce a resonant noise
• [ trans.] strike or throw heavily and loudly
Word 2900: Runnel
noun
a narrow channel in the ground for liquid to flow through
• a brook or rill
• a small stream of a particular liquid
a narrow channel in the ground for liquid to flow through
• a brook or rill
• a small stream of a particular liquid
Word 2899: Caruncle
noun
a fleshy outgrowth, in particular
• a wattle of a bird such as a turkey
• the red prominence at the inner corner of the eye
• any outgrowth from a seed near the micropyle, attractive to ants that aid the seed's dispersal
a fleshy outgrowth, in particular
• a wattle of a bird such as a turkey
• the red prominence at the inner corner of the eye
• any outgrowth from a seed near the micropyle, attractive to ants that aid the seed's dispersal
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Word 2897: Four-flush
verb [ intrans.] informal
(in poker) bluff when holding a weak hand, particularly a four flush
• keep up a pretense; bluff
(in poker) bluff when holding a weak hand, particularly a four flush
• keep up a pretense; bluff
Word 2896: Harrumph
verb [ intrans.]
clear the throat noisily
• grumpily express dissatisfaction or disapproval
clear the throat noisily
• grumpily express dissatisfaction or disapproval
Vancouver High School English Tutor & Vancouver University English Tutor
Vancouver High School English Tutor & Vancouver University English Tutor; Vancouver English Tutor; Burnaby English Tutor
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Please call 778-triple9-7028 or email me with details of your needs. Thanks!
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Word 2891: Bork
verb [ trans.] informal
obstruct (someone, esp. a candidate for public office) through systematic defamation or vilification
obstruct (someone, esp. a candidate for public office) through systematic defamation or vilification
Word 2890: Pageboy
noun
1. a woman's hairstyle consisting of a shoulder-length bob with the ends rolled under
2. a male page, esp. in a hotel or attending a bride at a wedding
Word 2889: Escape clause
noun
a clause in a contract that specifies the conditions under which one party can be freed from an obligation
a clause in a contract that specifies the conditions under which one party can be freed from an obligation
Word 2888: Chapbook
noun historical
a small pamphlet containing tales, ballads, or tracts, sold by peddlers
• a small paperback booklet, typically containing poems or fiction
a small pamphlet containing tales, ballads, or tracts, sold by peddlers
• a small paperback booklet, typically containing poems or fiction
Word 2886: Ocher
noun
an earthy pigment containing ferric oxide, typically with clay, varying from light yellow to brown or red
• a pale brownish yellow color
Word 2885: Fictile
adjective
made of earth or clay by a potter
• of or relating to pottery or its manufacture
• capable of being molded; plastic
made of earth or clay by a potter
• of or relating to pottery or its manufacture
• capable of being molded; plastic
Word 2884: Conversazione
noun ( pl. -nes or -ni)
a scholarly social gathering held for discussion of literature and the arts
a scholarly social gathering held for discussion of literature and the arts
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Word 2881: Sight glass
noun
a transparent tube or window through which the level of liquid in a reservoir or supply line can be checked visually
a transparent tube or window through which the level of liquid in a reservoir or supply line can be checked visually
Word 2880: Homespun
adjective
1. simple and unsophisticated
2. (of cloth or yarn) made or spun at home
• denoting a coarse handwoven fabric similar to tweed
1. simple and unsophisticated
2. (of cloth or yarn) made or spun at home
• denoting a coarse handwoven fabric similar to tweed
Word 2879: Buck-passing
noun
the practice of shifting the responsibility for something to someone else
the practice of shifting the responsibility for something to someone else
Word 2874: Loden
noun
a thick waterproof woolen cloth
• the dark green color in which such cloth is often made
Word 2872: Dribs and drabs
plural noun ( in dribs and drabs) informal
in small scattered or sporadic amounts
in small scattered or sporadic amounts
Word 2871: Suzerain
noun
a sovereign or state having some control over another state that is internally autonomous
• historical a feudal overlord
a sovereign or state having some control over another state that is internally autonomous
• historical a feudal overlord
Word 2870: Zither
noun
a musical instrument consisting of a flat wooden sound box with numerous strings stretched across it, placed horizontally and played with the fingers and a plectrum. It is used esp. in central European folk music
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