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ab·ste·mi·ous
[ab-stee-mee-uh[image]s]
adjective
1.
sparing or moderate in eating and drinking; temperate in diet.
2.
characterized by abstinence: an abstemious life.
3.
sparing: an abstemious diet.
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om·niv·o·rous
[om-niv-er-uh[image]s]
adjective
1.
eating both animal and plant foods.
2.
eating all kinds of foods indiscriminately.
3.
taking in everything, as with the mind: an omnivorous reader.
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lu·gu·bri·ous
[loo-goo-bree-uh[image]s, -gyoo-]
adjective
mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially in an affected,exaggerated, or unrelieved manner: lugubrious
songs of lost love.
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adjective
1.
characterized by or showing servile complaisance ordeference; fawning: an obsequious bow.
2.
servilely compliant or deferential: obsequious servants.
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adjective
1.
having keen mental perception and understanding;discerning: to exhibit perspicacious judgment.
2.
Archaic . having keen vision.
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Definition
adjective
1.
having analogy; corresponding in some particular: A brainand a computer are analogous.
2.
Biology . corresponding in function, but not evolved fromcorresponding organs, as the wings of a bee and those of ahummingbird.
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adjective
showing or expressing contempt or disdain; scornful.
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Definition
adjective
1.
hazy, vague, indistinct, or confused: a nebulous recollection ofthe meeting; a nebulous distinction between pride and conceit.
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adjective
1.
having a pleasant odor; fragrant.
2.
odorous or smelling (usually followed by of ): redolent of garlic.
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in existence; still existing; not destroyed or lost: There are only three extant copies of the document.
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adjective
1.
incisive or keen, as language or a person; caustic; cutting:trenchant wit.
2.
vigorous; effective; energetic: a trenchant policy of politicalreform.
3.
clearly or sharply defined; clear-cut; distinct.
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adjective Literary .
powerful; mighty; potent.
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adjective
1.
not animate; lifeless.
2.
spiritless; sluggish; dull.
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adjective
not prudent; lacking discretion; incautious; rash.
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verb (used with object)
1.
to consume (liquids) by drinking; drink: He imbibed greatquantities of iced tea.
2.
to absorb or soak up, as water, light, or heat: Plants imbibemoisture from the soil.
3.
to take or receive into the mind, as knowledge, ideas, orthe like: to imbibe a sermon; to imbibe beautiful scenery.
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an issuing forth suddenly and violently; outburst; outbreak.
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es·ca·late
[es-kuh-leyt]
verb (used with object), verb (used without object), -lat·ed, -lat·ing.
to increase in intensity, magnitude, etc.: to escalate a war; atime when prices escalate.
escalation- the act of escalating
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noun
a name, title, or designation. |
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noun
1.
lack of the means of subsistence; utter poverty.
2.
deprivation, lack, or absence.
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noun
a destructive fire, usually an extensive one.
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noun
1.
the act or process of falling into an inferior condition orstate; deterioration; decay: Some historians hold that the fall ofRome can be attributed to internal decadence.
2.
moral degeneration or decay; turpitude.
3.
unrestrained or excessive self-indulgence.
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Definition
noun
1.
wealth, riches, or affluence.
2.
abundance, as of resources or goods; plenty.
3.
the state of being opulent.
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noun
1.
a punishment undergone in token of penitence for sin.
2.
a penitential discipline imposed by church authority.
3.
a sacrament, as in the Roman Catholic Church, consisting in a confession of sin, made with sorrow and with the intention of amendment, followed by the forgiveness of the sin.
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Definition
noun
1.
lack of interest or concern: We were shocked by their indifference toward poverty.
2.
unimportance; little or no concern: Whether or not to attend the party is a matter of indifference to him.
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Definition
adjective
1.
inspiring awe: an awesome sight.
2.
showing or characterized by awe.
1590s, "profoundly reverential," from awe + -some. Meaning "inspiring awe" is from 1670s; weakened colloquial sense of "impressive, very good" is recorded by 1961 and was in vogue from after c.1980. Related: Awesomely; awesomeness. |
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Definition
noun
1.
a change or variation occurring in the course of something.
2.
interchange or alternation, as of states or things.
1560s, from M.Fr. vicissitude (14c.), from L. vicissitudinem (nom. vicissitudo) "change," from vicissim "changeably, in turn," fromvicis "a turn, change" (see vicarious). Related: Vicissitudes.
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a descendant.
c.1300, "a shoot or twig," from O.Fr. sion, cion (Mod.Fr. scion, Picard chion), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Frankish *kid-, from P.Gmc. *kidon-, from PIE *geie- "to sprout, split, open." Figurative use is attested from 1580s; meaning "an heir, a descendant" is from 1814, from the "family tree" image. |
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Definition
adjective
1.
offensive to good taste, especially as being excessive;overdone or gross: fulsome praise that embarrassed her deeply;fulsome décor.
2.
excessively or insincerely lavish: fulsome admiration.
M.E. compound of ful "full" (see full (adj.)) + -som (see -some). Sense evolved from "abundant, full" (mid-13c.) to "plump, well-fed" (mid-14c.) to "overgrown, overfed" (1640s) and thus, of language, "offensive to taste or good manners" (1660s). Since the 1960s, however, it commonly has been used in its original, favorable sense, especially in fulsome praise. Related: Fulsomely;fulsomeness.
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Definition
noun, plural -ses [-seez]
any complete change in appearance, character,circumstances, etc.
1530s, "change of form or shape, especially by witchcraft," from L. metamorphosis, from Gk. metamorphosis "a transforming," from metamorphoun "to transform," from meta- "change" (see meta-) + morphe "form" (see Morpheus). |
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adjective
in kind; unlike; incongruous
1620, from M.L. heterogeneus, from Gk. heterogenes, from heteros "different" (see hetero-) + genos "kind, gender, race stock" (see genus). Earlier in same sense was heterogeneal (c.1600).
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Definition
noun, plural -na [-nuh] or, especially for 3, -nons.
1.
a fact, occurrence, or circumstance observed or observable:to study the phenomena of nature.
2.
something that is impressive or extraordinary.
3.
a remarkable or exceptional person; prodigy; wonder.
1570s, "fact, occurrence," from L.L. phænomenon, from Gk. phainomenon "that which appears or is seen," noun use of neut. prp. of phainesthai "to appear," passive of phainein (see phantasm). Meaning "extraordinary occurrence" first recorded 1771. Plural is phenomena.
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Definition
adjective
1.
made, done, presented, etc., in good faith; withoutdeception or fraud: a bona fide statement of intent to sell.
1540s, from L., lit. "in good faith," ablative of bona fides "good faith" (see faith). Originally used as an adverb, later (18c.) also as an adjective. The opposite is mala fide.
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Term
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Definition
noun
1.
( often initial capital letter [image]) Pali, nibbana. Buddhism . freedomfrom the endless cycle of personal reincarnations, with theirconsequent suffering, as a result of the extinction ofindividual passion, hatred, and delusion: attained by theArhat as his goal but postponed by the Bodhisattva.
2.
( often initial capital letter [image]) Hinduism . salvation through theunion of Atman with Brahma; moksha.
a place or state characterized by freedom from or oblivionto pain, worry, and the external world.
1836, from Skt. nirvana-s "extinction, disappearance" (of the individual soul into the universal), lit. "to blow out, a blowing out" ("not transitively, but as a fire ceases to draw;" a literal Latinization would be de-spiration), from nis-, nir- "out" + va "to blow" (see wind (n.)).
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Definition
verb (used with object), -posed, -pos·ing.
to place close together or side by side, especially for comparisonor contrast.
1851, from Fr. juxtaposer (1835), from L. iuxta (see juxtaposition) + Fr. poser (see pose (v.1)). Related: Juxtaposed; juxtaposing.
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Definition
adjective
of marriage or wedlock; matrimonial; conjugal: connubial love.
1650s, from L. connubialis, variant of conubialis "pertaining to wedlock," from conubium "marriage," from com- "together" (seecom-) + nubere "to wed" (see nubile). |
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adjective
dealing with very profound, difficult, or abstruse subjectmatter: a recondite treatise.
1640s, "removed or hidden from view," from L. reconditus, pp. of recondere "store away," from re- "away, back" (see re-) +condere "to store, hide, put together," from con- "together" + -dere "to put, place," comb. form of dare "to give" (see date (1)). Meaning "removed from ordinary understanding, profound" is from 1650s; of writers or sources, "obscure," it is recorded from 1817.
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Definition
verb (used without object)
to make objection, especially on the grounds of scruples;take exception; object: They wanted to make him the treasurer,but he demurred.
c.1200, "to linger, tarry, delay," from O.Fr. demorer "delay, retard," from L. demorari "to linger, loiter, tarry," from de- (see de-) + morari "to delay," from mora "a pause, delay," from PIE *mere-. Main modern sense of "raise objections" is first attested 1630s. Related: Demurred; demurring. |
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Definition
verb (used with object), -at·ed, -at·ing.
to relieve or lessen without curing; mitigate; alleviate.
"to alleviate without curing," 1540s, from M.L. palliatus, lit. "cloaked," from pp. of L.L. palliare "cover with a cloak, conceal," from L. pallium "cloak" (see pall (n.)). Related: Palliated; palliating. |
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Definition
noun
a teacher; schoolteacher.
late 14c., "schoolmaster, teacher," from O.Fr. pedagogue "teacher of children," from L. paedagogus "slave who escorted children to school and generally supervised them," later "a teacher," from Gk. paidagogos, from pais (gen. paidos) "child" (see pedo-) +agogos "leader," from agein "to lead" (see act). Hostile implications in the word are at least from the time of Pepys.
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Definition
adjective
of the nature of a catastrophe, or disastrous event; calamitous:a catastrophic failure of the dam.
1837, from catastrophe + -ic. |
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Definition
noun
a person who specializes in anthropology.
1798, from anthropology + -ist. |
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Definition
fet·ish
[fet-ish, fee-tish]
noun
an object regarded with awe as being the embodiment orhabitation of a potent spirit or as having
magical potency.
1610s, fatisso, from Port. feitiço "charm, sorcery," from L. facticius "made by art," from facere "to make" (see factitious). L.facticius in Spanish has become hechizo "magic, witchcraft, sorcery." Probably introduced by Portuguese sailors and traders as a name for charms and talismans worshipped by the inhabitants of the Guinea coast of Africa. Popularized in anthropology by C. de Brosses' "Le Culte des Dieux Fétiches" (1760), which influenced the word's spelling in English (Fr. fétiche, also from the Portuguese word). Figurative sense of "something irrationally revered" is Amer.Eng. 1837. Any material image of a religious idea is an idol; a material object in which force is supposed to be concentrated is a Fetish; a material object, or a class of material objects, plants, or animals, which is regarded by man with superstitious respect, and between whom and man there is supposed to exist an invisible but effective force, is a Totem. [J. Fitzgerald Lee, "The Greater Exodus," London, 1903]
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Term
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Definition
noun
1.
any object made by human beings, especially with a view tosubsequent use.
2.
a handmade object, as a tool, or the remains of one, as ashard of pottery, characteristic of an earlier time or culturalstage, especially such an object found at an archaeologicalexcavation.
1821, artefact, "anything made by human art," from It. artefatto, from L. arte "by skill" (ablative of ars "art;" see art (n.)) +factum "thing made," from facere "to make, do" (see factitious). The spelling with -i- is by 1884, by influence of the Latin stem. Archaeological application dates from 1890. Artifactual (also artefactual) is recorded from 1950.
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Definition
ta·boo
[tuh-boo, ta-] adjective, noun,plural ta·boos, verb, ta·booed, ta·boo·ing.
a prohibition or interdiction of anything; exclusion from useor practice. Synonyms: ban, proscription, embargo,interdiction; no-no.
1777 (in Cook's "A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean"), "consecrated, inviolable, forbidden, unclean or cursed," explained in some English sources as being from Tongan (Polynesian language of the island of Tonga) ta-bu "sacred," from ta "mark" + bu"especially." But this may be folk etymology, as linguists in the Pacific have reconstructed an irreducable Proto-Polynesian *tapu, from Proto-Oceanic *tabu "sacred, forbidden" (cf. Hawaiian kapu "taboo, prohibition, sacred, holy, consecrated;" Tahitian tapu"restriction, sacred;" Maori tapu "be under ritual restriction, prohibited"). The noun and verb are English innovations first recorded in Cook's book.
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Definition
noun
1.
Classical Mythology . the shield or breastplate of Zeus orAthena, bearing at its center the head of the Gorgon.
2.
protection; support: under the imperial aegis.
3.
sponsorship; auspices: a debate under the aegis of the League ofWomen Voters.
"protection," 1793, "shield of Zeus," from L. aegis, from Gk. Aigis, the name of the shield of Zeus, said by Herodotus to be related to aix (gen. aigos) "goat," from PIE *aig- "goat" (cf. Skt. ajah, Lith. ozys "he-goat"), as the shield was of goatskin. Athene's aigiswas a short goat-skin cloak, covered with scales, set with a gorgon's head, and fringed with snakes.
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Term
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Definition
adjective
1.
of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or befitting a man; masculine; manly: virile strength.
2.
having or exhibiting masculine energy, forcefulness, or strength in a marked degree.
3.
characterized by a vigorous, masculine spirit: a virile literary style.
late 15c., from O.Fr. viril, from L. virilis "of a man, manly," from vir "a man, a hero," from PIE *uiHro "freeman" (cf. Skt. virah, Avestan vira-, Lith. vyras, O.Ir. fer, Welsh gwr, Goth. wair, O.E. wer "man"). Virile member for "penis" is recorded from 1540s.
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Term
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Definition
adjective
1.
showing a decline or deterioration of physical strength ormental functioning, especially short-term memory andalertness, as a result of old age or disease.
2.
of or belonging to old age or aged persons; gerontological; geriatric.
1660s, "suited to old age," from Fr. sénile, from L. senilis "of old age," from senex (gen. senis) "old, old man," from PIE base *sen-"old" (cf. Skt. sanah "old;" Avestan hana- "old;" O.Pers. hanata- "old age, lapse of time;" Armenian hin "old;" Gk. enos "old, of last year;" Lith. senas "old," senis "an old man;" Goth. sineigs "old" (used only of persons), sinistra "elder, senior;" O.N. sina "dry standing grass from the previous year;" O.Ir. sen, O.Welsh hen "old"). Meaning "weak or infirm from age" is first attested 1848.
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| Pompeia, Caesar's wife was suspected of wrongdoing, so he divorced her. He could no longer be associated with her. He said, "she must remain above suspicion." |
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| A code of laws made by Draco. Their measures were so severe that they were said to be written in letters of blood; hence, any laws of excessive rigor. |
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| In mythology, a Chimera was a female lion that had a tail with the head of a snake at the end and a goat's head sticking out of its back. Chimera was related to other creatures such as Cerberus and the Hydra. Chimerical means unreal, imaginary, highly unrealistic. |
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Definition
adjective
1.
tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental: a maudlin story of a little orphan and her lost dog. From Mary Magdelene who is always portrayed as red eyed and weeping.
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Term
| to take the wind out of one's sails |
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Definition
| to make someone feel less confident about something; to make feel less determined |
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Definition
| to be interested one second and not a second later; to be for something and then not later on. |
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Definition
| to be in low spirits; apathetic |
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