Term
| cat•a•lyst (kàt¹l-îst) noun |
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Definition
| 1. One that precipitates a process or event, especially without being involved in or changed by the consequences. |
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Term
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Definition
1. A proposition that is maintained by argument.
2. A dissertation advancing an original point of view as a result of research, especially as a requirement for an academic degree.
3. A hypothetical proposition, especially one put forth without proof.
4. The first stage of the Hegelian dialectic process. |
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Term
| con•ten•tion (ken-tèn¹shen) noun |
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Definition
| 1. An assertion put forward in argument. |
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Term
| e•gre•gious (î-grê¹jes, -jê-es) adjective |
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Definition
| Conspicuously bad or offensive. See synonyms at flagrant. |
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Term
| hei•nous (hâ¹nes) adjective |
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Definition
| Grossly wicked or reprehensible; abominable: a heinous crime. |
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Term
| cur•tail (ker-tâl¹) verb, transitive |
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Definition
cur•tailed, cur•tail•ing, cur•tails
To cut short; abbreviate. See synonyms at shorten. |
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Term
| flip•pant (flîp¹ent) adjective |
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Definition
1. Marked by disrespectful levity or casualness; pert.
2. Archaic. Talkative; voluble.
flip¹pan•cy noun
— flip¹pant•ly adverb |
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Term
| aes•thete or es•thete (ès¹thêt) noun |
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Definition
1. One who cultivates an unusually high sensitivity to beauty, as in art or nature.
— 2. One whose pursuit and admiration of beauty is regarded as excessive or affected. |
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Term
| as•cet•ic (e-sèt¹îk) noun |
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Definition
A person who renounces material comforts and leads a life of austere self-discipline, especially as an act of religious devotion.
adjective
1. Leading a life of self-discipline and self-denial, especially for spiritual improvement. See synonyms at severe.
2. Pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic; self-denying and austere: an ascetic existence. |
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Term
| ba•nal (be-nàl¹, bâ¹nel, be-näl¹) adjective |
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Definition
| Drearily commonplace and often predictable; trite. See synonyms at trite. |
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Term
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Definition
| A succinct formulation of a fundamental principle, general truth, or rule of conduct. |
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Term
| nar•cis•sism (när¹sî-sîz´em) also nar•cism (-sîz´em) noun |
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Definition
1. Excessive love or admiration of oneself. See synonyms at conceit.
2. Erotic pleasure derived from contemplation or admiration of one's own body or self, especially as a fixation on or a regression to an infantile stage of development. |
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Term
| ex•cul•pate (èk¹skel-pât´, îk-skùl¹-) verb, transitive |
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Definition
ex•cul•pat•ed, ex•cul•pat•ing, ex•cul•pates
To clear of guilt or blame. |
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Term
| haugh•ty (hô¹tê) adjective |
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Definition
haugh•ti•er, haugh•ti•est
Scornfully and condescendingly proud. |
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Term
| con•de•scend (kòn´dî-sènd¹) verb, intransitive |
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Definition
con•de•scend•ed, con•de•scend•ing, con•de•scends
1. To descend to the level of one considered inferior; lower oneself.
2. To deal with people in a patronizingly superior manner. |
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